S-1/A
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2021.

Registration No. 333-260194

 

 

 

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

 

 

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   5961   20-8442468
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)

195 Humboldt Avenue

Chico, California 95928

Telephone: (530) 343-3545

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

 

 

David McCreight

Chief Executive Officer

195 Humboldt Avenue

Chico, California 95928

Telephone: (530) 343-3545

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

 

 

Copies to:

 

Marc D. Jaffe
Tad J. Freese

Adam J. Gelardi
Latham & Watkins LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Telephone: (212) 906-1200
Facsimile: (212) 751-4864

 

Naomi Beckman-Straus

General Counsel

195 Humboldt Avenue

Chico, California 95928

Telephone: (530) 343-3545

 

Kristin VanderPas

Dave Peinsipp

Denny Won

Cooley LLP
3 Embarcadero Center, 20th Floor

San Francisco, California 94111
Telephone: (415) 693-2000
Facsimile: (415) 693-2222

 

 

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

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, as amended, or the Securities Act, 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, please 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 “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer.” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

Amount

to be

registered(1)

 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per share(2)

  Proposed
maximum
aggregate
  offering price(1)  
 

Amount of

  registration fee(3)

Common stock, par value $0.001 per share

  6,612,500   $19.00   $125,637,500   $11,646

 

 

(1)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(2)

Includes the offering price of 862,500 shares of common stock that may be sold if the option to purchase additional shares of common stock granted by the Registrant to the underwriters is exercised.

(3)

Of this amount, the Registrant previously paid $9,270 of the total registration fee in connection with the previous 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 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information contained in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2021

5,750,000 Shares

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

This is the initial public offering of shares of common stock of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. We are offering 5,750,000 shares of common stock.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price will be between $16.00 and $19.00 per share.

Upon completion of this offering, and assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, our executive officers, directors, and principal stockholders will own, in the aggregate, approximately 79.8% of our outstanding common stock. These stockholders will be able to exercise significant control over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and approval of significant corporate transactions and will have significant control over our management and policies.

We have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “LVLU.”

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements in this prospectus and may elect to do so in future filings.

Principal Global has indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of approximately $15.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price per share and on the same terms as the other purchasers in this offering. However, because these indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, the underwriters may determine to sell more, less or no shares in this offering to any or all of these stockholders, or any or all of these stockholders may determine to purchase more, less or no shares in this offering. The underwriters will receive the same underwriting discount on any shares purchased by these stockholders as they will on any other shares sold to the public in this offering.

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 27 to read about factors you should consider before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

     Per Share      Total  

Initial public offering price

   $              $          

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)

   $        $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $        $    

 

(1)

See the section titled “Underwriting” for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters.

We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 862,500 shares of common stock from us at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York on             , 2021.

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC            BofA Securities                  Jefferies

 

Baird                            Cowen                    KeyBanc Capital Markets    Piper Sandler

Telsey Advisory Group

 

 

Prospectus dated             , 2021


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LOGO

Lulus

 


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LOGO

Our Vision To be the most beloved woman’s brand for affordable luxury fashion through curated, exclusive products at reasonable prices, Superior Customer Service, and a personalized shopping experience


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LOGO

Lulus by the Numbers Scale and Growth Profit Drivers 2.5mm 94% Active Customers1 of reorder products sold without moving to sale pricing2 7.5mm+ 65% social media followers1 of sales from repeat customers2 40%+ 2x YTD 2021 YoY net revenue growth1A 90%+ 03 2021 YoY net revenue growth4 ratio of 1st order contribution profit to CAC3 1. As of October 3, 2021. Financial information as of and for the period ended October 3, 2021 is based on management estimates and has not been audited or reviewed by our independent accountants. As such, the information is subject to change. Year over year net revenue growth figures are based on the midpoint of the estimated range for the period ended October 3, 2021 that is included elsewhere in this prospectus. 2. During 1H 2021. 3. Average for the cohorts acquired between 2017 and 1H 2021. We define CAC as our brand and performance marketing expenses attributable to acquiring new customers, including, but not limited to, agency costs and marketing team costs but excluding any applicable equity-based compensation, divided by the number of customers who placed their first order with us in a given period. 4. Net revenue growth based on unaudited preliminary estimated results.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     27  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     68  

MARKET AND INDUSTRY INFORMATION

     70  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     71  

DIVIDEND POLICY

     72  

CAPITALIZATION

     73  

DILUTION

     76  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     79  

BUSINESS

     106  

MANAGEMENT

     122  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     130  

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

     144  

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     148  

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS

     151  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     156  

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     160  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

     162  

UNDERWRITING

     166  

LEGAL MATTERS

     175  

EXPERTS

     175  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     175  

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1  

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. Neither we nor the underwriters (or any of our or their respective affiliates) have authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. Neither we nor the underwriters (or any of our or their respective affiliates) take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the underwriters (or any of our or their respective affiliates) are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is only accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus.

Through and including             , 2021 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

For investors outside the United States: Neither we nor the underwriters (or any of their respective affiliates) have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction, other than the United States, where action for that purpose is required. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of our shares and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

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Basis of Presentation

On August 28, 2017, we executed a reorganization of our corporate structure. Our original parent company was called Lulu’s Holdings, LLC. This entity was converted to a limited partnership, and is now known as Lulu’s Holdings, L.P. (the “LP”). We formed two new subsidiaries, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., the issuer in this offering, and Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC, to sit between the partnership and our operating company. Our operating company, previously known as Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, Inc., was converted from a California corporation to a Delaware limited liability company, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the issuer. Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to the terms “Lulus,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” refer to Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Our fiscal year is a “52-53 week” year ending on the Sunday closest in proximity to December 31, such that each quarterly period will be 13 weeks in length, except during a 53 week year when the fourth quarter will be 14 weeks. References herein to “fiscal 2020” and/or “2020” relate to the year ended January 3, 2021, references herein to “fiscal 2019” and/or “2019” relate to the year ended December 29, 2019, and references herein to “fiscal 2018” and/or “2018” relate to the year ended December 30, 2018. The years ended December 29, 2019 and December 30, 2018 were 52 week years, and the year ended January 3, 2021 was a 53 week year.

Throughout this prospectus, we provide a number of key performance indicators used by management and typically used by our competitors in our industry. These and other key performance indicators are discussed in more detail in the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Operating and Financial Metrics.” In this prospectus, we also reference Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America) financial measure. See “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data” for a discussion of Adjusted EBITDA, as well as a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA. Net income (loss) is the most directly comparable financial measure to Adjusted EBITDA required by, or presented in accordance, with GAAP.

We define certain terms and other terms used throughout this prospectus as follows:

 

   

Active Customers is defined as the number of customers who have made at least one purchase across our platform in the prior 12-month period.

 

   

Total Orders Placed is defined as the number of customer orders placed across our platform during a particular period. An order is counted on the day the customer places the order. We do not adjust the number of Total Orders Placed for any cancellation or return that may have occurred subsequent to a customer placing an order.

 

   

Average Order Value (“AOV”) is defined as the sum of the total gross sales before returns across our platform in a given period, plus shipping revenue, less discounts and markdowns, divided by the Total Orders Placed in that period.

 

   

Gross Margin is defined as gross profit as a percentage of our net revenue. Gross profit is equal to our net revenue less cost of revenue.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors,” “Forward-Looking Statements,” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before deciding whether to invest in our common stock.

Overview

Lulus is a customer-driven, digitally-native fashion brand primarily serving Millennial and Gen Z women. We focus relentlessly on giving our customers what they want. We do this by using data coupled with human insight to deliver a curated and continuously evolving assortment of on-point, affordable luxury fashion. Our customer obsession sets the tone for everything we do, from our personalized online shopping experience to our exceptional customer service.

We are focused on building authentic personal relationships with our customers and offering them coveted products they cannot purchase elsewhere. We incorporate the pulse of the consumer by engaging with her where she is: across the web, on social media and across our platform, through reviews, feedback and one-on-one interactions with our Style Advisors, Fit Experts and Bridal Concierge. Customers express their love for our brand on social media and by word-of-mouth (both in-person and online). As of October 3, 2021, we had more than 7.5 million followers, up from 5.5 million followers as of September 27, 2020, across our social media platforms where the popular #lovelulus hashtag has generated billions of impressions. Consumer surveys in 2019 and 2021 show that Lulus outperforms its peers significantly in net promoter score, customer satisfaction, overall value, and likelihood of repurchase; these metrics demonstrate our customers’ genuine affinity for our brand.

A key differentiator of our business model from traditional fashion retail is our use of data to optimize almost all elements of our business. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in our product creation and curation cycle. Traditional merchandising approaches are risk and capital intensive, characterized by extended in-house design cycles, seasonal assortment decisions, deep buys, limited customer feedback, and high markdowns. Unlike traditional retailers, we leverage a “test, learn, and reorder” strategy to bring hundreds of new products to market every week; we test them in small batches, learn about customer demand and then quickly reorder winning products in higher volume to optimize profitability. This strategy allows us to rapidly convert new products into profitable sales on a consistent and repeatable basis while minimizing fashion and trend risk. We sell thousands of unique products each month across a broad range of categories and during the six months ended July 4, 2021, 70% of our sales were from reorders and 94% of our reorder products were sold without moving to sale pricing. This is up from 66% of sales from reorders and 89% of our reorder products sold without moving to sale pricing during the six months ended June 28, 2020.

We are proud of our large, diverse community of loyal customers. During the twelve months ended October 3, 2021, we served 2.5 million Active Customers. In the first six months of our 2021 fiscal year, 88% of units sold were Lulus brand products up from 86% in the first six months of the 2020 fiscal year. Our target customer initially meets us in her 20s and stays with us through her 30s and beyond. We design a broad assortment of affordable luxury fashion for many of life’s moments. Our affordable luxury positioning, underscored by our sub-$50 average unit retail price (“AUR”), means that we are highly accessible and appeal to a broad segment of the market. We define AUR as the sum of the total gross sales before returns across our platform in a given period, plus shipping revenue, less discounts and markdowns, divided by the total number of units sold in that period.

 

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Our company culture is defined by our core values: “All Voices, All In, Always Evolving.” “All Voices” means every voice, at every level, is valued and encouraged. We are a team made up of individuals, and diversity and self-expression are welcome. We treat each other with respect. We listen actively and are open and honest with each other. “All In” means we are “all in” on ensuring the best possible customer experience, from placing the order to opening the package upon delivery, and every interaction along the way. We pitch in to support our team members and get the job done. “Always Evolving” means we are digital natives, changing and evolving along with our customers and technology. We are never satisfied with the status quo. We constantly seek to improve ourselves, our product, and our Company. We take pride in the growth of our teams, promoting top performers and infusing our Company with new and fresh ideas from outside hires. We strive to embody these core values in our connections with our customers as well as our employees.

Our Industry

Apparel is a Massive Market, but Traditional Brick and Mortar Brands and Retailers Are Under Pressure

Euromonitor, a consumer market research company, estimates that the aggregate apparel and footwear industry in the United States represented a $369.8 billion market in 2019. While the industry temporarily contracted in 2020 to $285.7 billion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is expected to grow to $395.2 billion by 2025, representing an expected CAGR of 7% from 2020.

Traditional brick and mortar apparel brand and retail models are increasingly under pressure. From 2016 to 2019, we believe online penetration in the U.S. apparel industry increased from 17% to 25%, and this category shift is expected to continue with online penetration reaching 38% by the end of this year and 49% by 2025. Offline retail models have generally failed to keep up with changing consumer preferences and are burdened by vast, inflexible physical store footprints, inventory management challenges, demand seasonality and a highly promotional environment as competitors seek to capture any sales available to cover high fixed costs. Additionally, offline models face a prolonged and unattractive merchandising and buying cycle that requires brands and retailers to forecast fashion trends and consumer demand several quarters into the future. This traditional model also results in higher initial retail prices due to the wholesale-to-retail markup. Finally, Millennial and Gen Z consumers increasingly prefer to shop online, which has forced many traditional retailers to respond by closing a significant portion of their previously profitable physical stores over the last several years.

Brick and mortar businesses, especially in the apparel, footwear and accessories industry, were acutely challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic as they were generally considered “non-essential” by federal, state and local authorities. Most non-essential brick and mortar stores were temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some were permanently closed. Businesses without adequate online capabilities suffered in comparison to omnichannel businesses as well as digitally-native brands.

Omnichannel Models and e-commerce Marketplaces Are Taking Share, but Have Inherited Challenges of Brick and Mortar Brands and Retailers

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers were generally spending less time shopping offline and more time shopping online. According to DataReportal, the typical consumer now spends 2 hours and 25 minutes on social media each day, equating to roughly one full waking day of their life each week. According to Branded Research, this trend towards online consumption of media and adoption

 

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of e-commerce is even more pronounced among the youngest generations, with 58% of Gen Z consumers saying they are online “almost constantly.” This massive segment of the population represents the first generations to have come of age communicating, learning, and shopping online and on their mobile devices. This has resulted in a new “discovery journey” for consumers, whereby brand and product discovery, evaluation and purchase increasingly occur online. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated online penetration by driving product adoption of e-commerce from new consumers and deeper engagement and more buying from existing digital purchasers.

The rapid growth of e-commerce has been primarily driven by two new business models: first, brick and mortar retailers adopting omnichannel models; and second, the emergence of a new generation of online department stores. As brick and mortar retailers have moved online, they market products to consumers through legacy offline channels (e.g., department stores and owned stores) as well as emerging online channels (e.g., e-commerce retailers and owned websites). Consistent with broader industry trends, growth in the online businesses of these traditional brands and retailers has generally outpaced growth in their respective offline businesses. In addition, a new generation of online department stores offers consumers the convenience to shop online for a variety of third-party or private label brands. These online venues have the advantage of being able to offer a broader assortment and more personalized shopping experience relative to their offline counterparts.

While both the omni-channel and online department store models represent an improvement from the traditional offline-only model, they continue to be burdened by many of the challenges of their brick and mortar predecessors. Key among these challenges is a prolonged merchandising and buying cycle that requires brands and retailers to forecast fashion trends and consumer demand several quarters into the future. As a result of a prolonged merchandising and buying cycle, inventory management becomes a critical pain point, whereby inventory shortage results in lost sales, while inventory surplus results in significant markdowns, which impair margins and damage brand equity for omni-channel and brick and mortar retailers. Other challenges include the wholesale-to-retail markup, which results in higher initial retail prices as well as potential margin erosion, since consumers can easily price-shop third-party brands online and purchase from the lowest-cost provider, and the burden of having long-term brick and mortar leases, which proved to be a significant problem during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, legacy and e-commerce retailers may be conflicted when developing and promoting their own private label brands, and are often reliant on third-party brands, which can pose supply risk.

Digitally-Native Brands Are Best Positioned to Win

Against this backdrop, we believe that digitally-native brands are best positioned to succeed due to the following key attributes they possess:

 

   

Ability to offer their own brands without reliance on third-party brands;

 

   

Direct engagement with customers;

 

   

Large, real-time customer-centric datasets offering insights across the business;

 

   

Significantly faster merchandise creation driven by real-time customer feedback and purchase patterns;

 

   

Technology that is purpose-built for e-commerce;

 

   

Asset-light distribution model; and

 

   

Opportunity to selectively test and open temporary retail stores.

 

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Lulus: A Customer-Driven Fashion Brand

Lulus is a customer-driven fashion brand that leverages the power of digitally-native e-commerce. We have built a community of loyal customers by listening to them and engaging with them. When we ask our customers to describe Lulus, they tell us they think of the brand as “affordable,” “quality,” and “trendy.” We take a deliberate, measured approach to developing products that feature high-end, stylistic details as well as flattering silhouettes that empower our customer to look and feel her best, whether in the office, at home or out on the weekend. As a result of our brand authenticity and focus on delivering what our customer wants, we have earned deep customer loyalty and brand affinity. Based on a 2019 survey conducted by Stax, an independent consumer market research firm, which we independently updated in 2021 (the “2021 Brand Survey”), Lulus customers recommend Lulus to their friends and family at a materially higher rate than the other brands and retailers from which they purchase. This positive brand promotion is reflected in higher net promoter scores than our competition and is supported by our strong word-of-mouth customer acquisition. According to the 2021 Brand Survey, over a third of the active Lulus customer respondents first ordered with us after seeing a friend or family member wearing Lulus products or receiving a recommendation. According to the same survey, our aided brand awareness remains modest at 17% among women 18 years of age and older in the United States, implying significant opportunity to continue to attract new customers.

Our Customer

We are proud of our large, diverse community of loyal customers. Our target customer initially meets us in her 20s and stays with us through her 30s and beyond. The Lulus brand spans many categories, including dresses, tops, bottoms, bridal, intimates, swimwear, footwear, and accessories. A customer who might have discovered Lulus when shopping for her college events can continue to shop our broad assortment that caters to events later in life such as bridal parties and weddings as well as for desk to date and everything in between.

Our affordable luxury positioning is underscored by our sub-$50 AUR, which we believe helps us to appeal to a broad segment of the market. On average, our customer’s household income is $82,000. According to the 2021 Brand Survey, our customers spend a median of $1,175 on their fashion purchases per year. In the twelve months ended July 4, 2021, our Active Customers spent $129 on average, implying an 11% share of wallet based on an assumed average wallet of $1,175, which is the median amount our customers spend on fashion purchases per year according to the 2021 Brand Survey. This is up from $122 average spend by Active Customers for the twelve months ended June 28, 2020. We believe our strong customer loyalty, affordable pricing, and significant category expansion opportunity help position us to grow our share of wallet over time.

During the twelve months ended October 3, 2021, we served 2.5 million Active Customers, up from 2.3 million Active Customers during the twelve months ended September 27, 2020. On social media, we benefit from the longevity and strength of our social presence and as of October 3, 2021, we had more than 7.5 million followers, up from 5.5 million followers as of September 27, 2020, across our social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, and have a strong network of paid and free product influencers who serve as genuine Lulus ambassadors. As of July 4, 2021, as many as 20% of our followers on social media were based outside of the United States.

Why We Win

 

   

Customer-Driven Fashion Brand: Lulus is one of the first digitally-native fashion brands in the United States primarily serving Millennial and Gen Z women. Over the last decade, the Lulus

 

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customer has come to us for on-point fashion that is high quality yet affordable. We take pride in our ability to offer more luxurious fabrics and incorporate elevated stylistic details into our products relative to what is offered by other comparably-priced brands. As a result, our customers consistently remark on the quality of our products, as well as the newness of our assortment, with an average of 236 products released each week during the six months ended July 4, 2021 (up from 206 products per week during the six months ended June 28, 2020). Our obsessive focus on customer experience creates deep personal connections, which in turn rewards us with customer loyalty and word-of-mouth sharing of the brand, which, according to the 2021 Brand Survey, has been our leading driver of new customer acquisition. While other brands rely on internal design teams to create styles that reflect a particular brand aesthetic, we listen first and foremost to customer feedback and then focus our efforts on creating and curating an assortment that she will love.

 

   

Customer-Centric Experience: We are passionate about building a brand synonymous with exceptional customer service. We have effectively brought the boutique experience online, developing one-on-one relationships with our customers in order to learn and then address their individual needs. We provide customer service on multiple channels—phone, email, chat, SMS, and social media—to meet our customer where she is most comfortable. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, our CSAT customer satisfaction score after interactions with customer service was 93% (based on a 23% response rate), up from the fiscal year 2020 CSAT score of 92% (based on a 24% response rate). Our custom-built digital platform allows customers to share their Lulus experience and get answers to questions without the hassle of taking the search offline. Our extensive database of over 750,000 customer reviews, including over 100,000 photo reviews, and access to personalized assistance help customers identify the perfect style and fit. The number one reason our customers contact us is for personalized fit and styling assistance. Unlike many e-commerce retailers who offer a variety of different brands with inconsistent sizing, by owning our brand we are able to offer standardized sizing across the Lulus assortment, simplifying the shopping experience and giving our customer confidence that she is selecting the best fit. Customers can also filter reviews by size, and we share our customers’ photographs wearing the products, helping customers visualize themselves in clothing on bodies like their own.

 

   

Leveraging Data to Best Serve our Customer: We have built a massive dataset which gives us strong insight into our customers. Millions of customers have interacted with us, leaving detailed reviews, interacting with our on-demand Style Advisors, Fit Experts, and Bridal Concierge, and completing checkout surveys. Across Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, our over 7.5 million followers engage with us through their comments, feedback, and photographs, and support of our brand with their digital followers. In aggregate, this dataset gives us a deep understanding of our customers’ preferences. Our business is driven by the symbiosis between our dataset, marketing strategy, product creation, and curation process.

 

   

Marketing and Engagement Strategy: We engage with our customer where she is, in authentic and personalized ways: through our website, mobile app, email, SMS, and on social media. This strategy helps drive brand awareness while fostering deep connections with our customers. Over the last thirteen years, we have built our digital footprint through strong relationships with customers and influencers and we benefit from longevity and consistency of message. Our authentic partnerships with brand ambassadors span the full spectrum of followership and engagement levels, from nano- and micro-influencers, to college ambassadors and celebrities, all of whom wear and genuinely love our brand. These genuine brand ambassadors, driven by a strong emotional connection to Lulus, help drive authentic

 

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brand awareness and customer engagement. Our free, organic and low-cost initiatives coupled with profitable performance media drive traffic to our platform, which is custom-built to allow for continuous updating and personalization for each customer. Our unified cross-platform strategy consistently reinforces the same brand values, with our marketing approach resulting in attractive customer acquisition, strong retention and compelling lifetime value characteristics. We believe our marketing spend as a percentage of net revenue is highly attractive relative to peer direct-to-consumer e-commerce brands and can support significant future growth at attractive economics.

 

   

Data-Driven Product Creation Strategy: Our innovative product creation strategy leverages the power of data and our “test, learn, and reorder” approach to bring new styles online almost every weekday. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, we brought to market an average of 236 products per week compared to 206 products per week during the six months ended June 28, 2020. Traditional merchandising approaches are characterized by extended in-house design cycles, seasonal assortment decisions, deep buys, limited customer feedback, and high markdowns. We leverage our large customer dataset to upend this traditional approach, rapidly bringing new designs to market that we know our customers will love. This means we are not limited to offering just one style or aesthetic across our assortment as is typical with most brands. In lieu of maintaining dedicated in-house product design overhead, we source raw designs from a broad network of creative and manufacturing partners who ensure that we see trends in real-time and often produce products exclusively for Lulus. Next, our creative buyers use our understanding of trends and data-driven customer preference to customize designs for fit, style, and color, creating branded products exclusive to Lulus. We then test these products with limited initial orders, which drive traffic and “need to own” scarcity among our customers. Then, our proprietary reorder algorithm utilizes real-time customer demand and other data to inform subsequent reorder decisions. Because we are trend adapters rather than trend creators, we do not have to forecast expected future demand for a particular style or design, which is a challenge that most of our competitors face each season. As a result, we are able to optimize our inventory levels to meet customer demand and minimize markdowns. Customer feedback via reviews and social media help us to refine products in advance of reordering, further enhancing our product and minimizing returns. During the first six months ended July 4, 2021, 94% of our reorder products were sold without moving to sale pricing, which is up from 89% during the six months ended June 28, 2020.

 

   

Highly Experienced and Proven Team: We are led by a highly experienced management team committed to building a great digitally-native brand based on customer obsession, grounded in analytics, and supported by the latest technology. Our team is led by our Chief Executive Officer David McCreight and co-Presidents Crystal Landsem and Mark Vos. Our management team has significant experience in successfully growing direct and omni-channel businesses across various industries, including retail, advertising and technology while working at leading companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Alibaba, Anthropologie, Havas Media, MAC Cosmetics, Michael Kors, Nordstrom, SunGard, Target, and Urban Outfitters.

Product Creation and Curation Model

Our product creation and curation model leverage a “test, learn, and reorder” strategy to bring hundreds of new products to market every week; we test them in small batches, learn about customer demand, and then quickly reorder winning products in higher volume to optimize profitability.

 

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Lulus’ Product Creation and Curation Process

 

LOGO

 

   

Product Ideation and Curation: Our team of creative buyers, strategically located in the Los Angeles Fashion District, reviews hundreds of styles daily. We collaborate with a network of more than 300 suppliers, who serve as our design and manufacturing partners. These suppliers often give us priority access and exclusivity to designs, given the strong relationships we have built over the last two decades. This collaboration is guided by our ongoing dialogue with our customer. With the benefit of real-time data around customer preferences and trends, our team interprets those trends and selects and develops styles. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, we reviewed tens of thousands of products and brought to market nearly 6,000 products. We follow this process in the creation of new products as well as when iterating on and updating popular products based on customer feedback.

 

   

Customize: Following the selection of a design, we customize our products across multiple key criteria including style, fabric, print, color, length, fit, and quality.

 

   

Test: We then place a limited initial order, which we market online to test customer demand. We systematically display products across several categories in a variety of page and sort positions to gauge customer reaction.

 

   

Learn / Analyze: We then measure each product against our proprietary reorder algorithm, evaluate real-time customer feedback and make timely product modifications prior to reordering. This limits the inventory risk that most traditional retail brands struggle with when ordering inventory in bulk.

 

   

Reorder: All of this data helps us determine whether a product meets or exceeds our profitability target, at which point we reorder it in larger quantity. Over time, we have enhanced our evaluation processes and increased our rate of successful testing, driving our reorder as a percent of total net revenue from approximately 41% in fiscal year 2015 to approximately 66% in fiscal year 2020, and approximately 72% in the six months ended July 4, 2021. We believe our ability to test, learn, and reorder in a rapid manner enables us to sell a higher percentage of product at full retail price, minimize returns, and capture the associated margin benefit.

 

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This efficient, data-driven process, coupled with human insight, allows us to respond to fashion trends with incredible speed and precision while significantly reducing risk in our business. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, Lulus branded products made up approximately 88% of units sold. In addition to our own brand, we also sell a highly curated assortment of other established and emerging brands to create a boutique shopping experience. By doing so, we are able to selectively test new categories and collect insights that we can leverage to further develop our own brand.

Marketing and Engagement

Our marketing strategy leverages our strong visual brand presence to build awareness and drive engagement with our large, diverse community of loyal customers. We integrate the power of data across multiple channels to offer a singular brand voice that speaks to Millennial and Gen Z women. We meet the Lulus customer wherever she is, enabling her discovery of the brand and providing her numerous opportunities to interact with others in the Lulus community. Through this engagement with our customers, we strive to build personal connections that are authentic and durable.

How We Attract and Engage Customers

We attract and engage customers through a combination of owned, earned, and paid media.

 

   

Owned: Owned media primarily consists of our website, mobile app, social media platforms, email, and SMS, which we actively manage in order to be accessible and responsive to both our current and prospective customers. Through brand content posted on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, we maintain an ongoing dialogue with an audience of more than 7.5 million followers. We leverage this direct connection to drive engagement by sharing authentic, original content and creating engaging experiences like exclusive brand contests and limited-time promotions.

 

   

Earned: In the early 2000s, we began sending products to and building relationships with influencers in the fashion business. Today, we enjoy positive, authentic brand exposure both online and offline. This consists of customers sharing of our content, social media influencer endorsement, as well as exposure in blogs, magazines, and television. We have built a competitive advantage through our long-term commitment to a broad-based influencer marketing approach, developing longstanding relationships with true customers and brand ambassadors who love Lulus as much as we do. This has proven scalable and cost effective. We have a network of thousands of paid and free product influencers who serve as genuine Lulus ambassadors. Our #lovelulus hashtag has garnered billions of impressions, while our extensive online backlink history, earned organically over many years, helps us to drive significant free, organic, and low-cost traffic to our platform.

 

   

Paid: Paid media primarily consists of paid advertisement on search engines such as Google and Bing, and social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. As one of the first digitally-native brands, we have built a robust online infrastructure over time. We are especially well-positioned to leverage our data and expertise to effectively drive demand generation through performance media channels, which we use to augment the reach and impact of our owned digital properties and earned media. In addition, our strong partnerships with the key players in the performance space including Google, as well as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, give us access to early betas and pilot programs to test new advertising opportunities before they are broadly available.

 

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How We Drive Conversion

Upon attracting a new or existing customer to our website or mobile experience, we seek to maximize conversion through a variety of strategies.

 

   

Brand Strength and Exclusivity: As a digitally-native fashion brand, we benefit from the ability to focus our resources, as well as our customers’ attention, primarily on the Lulus brand, without the distraction or complexity of managing and marketing a large multi-brand portfolio. As a result, we focus on offering the best possible assortment of Lulus products for our customers. Our drive to provide our customers with products that cannot be found elsewhere creates reengagement opportunities through new product drops while also protecting us from comparison shopping and competitor pricing. Our customers look to our elevated content for styling inspiration and ideas; they value our curated collections and our single-brand focus, which differentiate us from other e-commerce retailers that function as online department stores.

 

   

Product Reviews: One of the most important aspects of our digital shopping experience is our extensive database of proprietary customer product reviews, which we first enabled in 2012 and now amounts to over 750,000 reviews. Our website has the functionality to allow customers to upload their own product photos along with their reviews, which bring the products to life on a diverse array of body types. To date, customers have uploaded over 100,000 photos from verified purchases. Customers tell us that these reviews and photos help them find products that they love and fit them well. In 2021, we began highlighting select review photos alongside our on-model photos to better enable customers to envision our products on a diverse array of body shapes and skin tones. Reviews provide our customers with an opportunity to share their experience with a past purchase, fostering a diverse and inclusive community in which customers share style and fit feedback, which in turn informs other customers’ purchase decisions. All of our customer-written reviews and photos can be sorted and filtered by various criteria that allow shoppers to make informed decisions based on how our products fit others in the community with similar body types, thus increasing both propensity to purchase and the likelihood that the product will look and fit as expected.

 

   

Boutique Styling Experience: We strive to offer exceptional customer service before, during, and after each purchase. We accomplish this by continuously improving the boutique experience on our platform through features such as our product recommendation engine and targeted messaging and with our in-house team of customer service associates who maintain deep expertise of our brand, products, and systems. Our Style Advisors, Fit Experts, and Bridal Concierge offer styling suggestions via live chat, phone, email, and SMS, facilitating a seamless shopping experience from browse to purchase and even post-purchase. Customer benefits such as free shipping on orders above a minimum price point, expedited shipping, and a customer-friendly free returns policy serve to bolster the affordable luxury boutique experience while eliminating the friction of online shopping.

 

   

Personalized and Optimized Shopping Experience: We customize and personalize our interactions with each Lulus customer by monitoring information such as how she arrives on our site, her on-site behavior, and what she buys. By monitoring real-time behavior and trends, analyzing customer transaction and engagement data, and absorbing feedback, we develop a better understanding of customer desire and behavior. As a result, we can more accurately predict what will drive conversion. Our customer insights, predictive capabilities, product recommendations, and custom-built website work seamlessly together to offer each customer a personalized experience across web, mobile, our mobile app, email, and SMS.

 

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These strategies work in unison to help drive order conversion. Whether she is browsing social media or providing feedback on a recent purchase, we engage with our customer across a multitude of touchpoints throughout the discovery and purchase journey.

Our Growth Strategies

Grow Brand Awareness and Attract New Customers

Due to the mass market appeal of our brand, we believe there is a significant opportunity to bring new customers into the Lulus community through increased brand awareness. As of July 2021, according to the 2021 Brand Survey, our aided brand awareness among women of 18 years of age and older in the United States was 17%. According to the same survey, about half of the respondents have become aware of our brand through word-of-mouth, social media posts by Lulus or influencers, or product references from family and friends. We intend to grow awareness of the Lulus brand and attract new customers through the following strategies:

 

   

Further investment in performance digital marketing strategies (e.g., performance search marketing via Google, social advertising via Facebook and Instagram, and remarketing);

 

   

Exploration and expansion of new marketing channels, including public and private radio/streaming platforms, podcasts, shoppable video commerce platforms (e.g., YouTube), outdoor media, on-demand video, and television;

 

   

Continued expansion of our brand ambassador program at all engagement tiers, including celebrity, micro- and nano-influencers, and college ambassadors to introduce Lulus to new audiences;

 

   

Expansion of marketing programs that leverage word-of-mouth referral in a scalable online platform through email, text, and social media;

 

   

Further development and testing of physical retail opportunities to expand on brand awareness, such as in-store partnerships with third-party retailers and small-format pop-ups and showrooms; and

 

   

Continued development of brand partnerships, with a clear focus on brands with strong customer affinity and crossover potential. This includes collaborations with apparel brands and influencers, as well as adjacent category opportunities such as beauty, home, and lifestyle.

Enhance and Retain Existing Customer Relationships

We have a large and growing Lulus community and we served 2.5 million Active Customers during the twelve months ended October 3, 2021. We continue to leverage data-driven customer insights to develop strong customer relationships and become a one-stop shop for Gen Z and Millennial women. For example, we have had success leveraging data-driven insights across categories to offer personalized suggestions and reminders at targeted points in time, and we are focused on expanding these capabilities to provide enhanced real-time recommendations and post-purchase engagement. Additionally, we continually develop and evaluate new tools and programs designed to improve the key customer metrics that drive our business, such as frequency of purchase and Average Order Value through the following strategies:

 

   

Optimization of our website and mobile experience through continued A/B and multivariate testing;

 

   

Improvement of customer segmentation and personalization features;

 

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Leveraging our expanded multi-region distribution facilities to offer faster order delivery and developing new shipping options for loyal customers;

 

   

Development of our loyalty program to engender even deeper brand engagement, drive repeat purchase behavior and increase wallet share;

 

   

Enhancement of our customer service through the expansion of our Style Advisors, Fit Experts, and Bridal Concierge dedicated to creating a truly personalized digital boutique experience;

 

   

Continued development of our affordable luxury brand positioning and content; and

 

   

Incorporating new technology that enhances our customers’ experience.

We have learned that enhancing our existing customers’ experience drives increased word-of-mouth (in-person and online) recommendations, which in turn helps grow brand awareness.

Pursue Category Expansion

We believe there is tremendous potential to continue to drive growth in our underpenetrated categories. We have a significant opportunity to grow our share of total apparel budget with expansion into these underdeveloped areas. For example, our recent success in bridal and swimwear demonstrates our ability to successfully launch and grow share in new categories. Our deep and personal engagement with our customers through product reviews, exit surveys and social media feedback helps us understand the product categories they are most interested in shopping and will continue to inform the breadth and depth of the categories we offer. According to the 2021 Brand Survey, a significant percentage of Lulus customers sampled indicated they would be interested in purchasing Lulus merchandise in categories in which we are currently underpenetrated.

Due to our customer data-driven product creation strategy, we have the ability to test new categories with minimal upfront investment and risk. New categories are opened with a controlled assortment of branded and partner products through which we learn to understand customer demand via our reorder algorithms. Our ability to leverage our existing categories to introduce and grow new ones has resulted in customer repeat orders with strong product diversification.

Pursue International Expansion

While we expect the majority of our near-term growth to continue to come from the United States, we believe that serving international customers represents a long-term growth opportunity. To date, we have shipped our merchandise to over 100 countries, while spending minimal dollars on marketing outside of the United States, demonstrating our global appeal and broader market opportunity. We intend to increase our focus on global performance media and to optimize our platform and distribution processes for international customers, allowing for more flexibility across languages and currencies. We believe that providing a localized shopping experience will significantly enhance our ability to serve customers in international markets. Over time, we believe the Lulus brand has the potential to succeed in many other developed and major developing markets.

Recent Developments

Preliminary Results for the Three Months Ended October 3, 2021 (Unaudited)

We have not yet completed our closing procedures for the three months ended October 3, 2021. Presented below are certain estimated preliminary unaudited financial results and key operating

 

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metrics for the three months ended October 3, 2021. These ranges are based on the information available to us at this time. We have provided estimated ranges, rather than specific amounts, because these results are preliminary and subject to change. These ranges reflect our management’s best estimate of the impact of events during the quarter.

These estimates should not be viewed as a substitute for our interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these preliminary financial results and key operating metrics. These estimated preliminary results and key operating metrics should be read together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Risk Factors,” our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto, and our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Additionally, the estimates reported below include certain financial measures that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. Management believes that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for comparing our ongoing results of operations. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative to, or a substitute for, net income (loss), operating income (loss) margin or other financial statement data presented in our consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. We may calculate or present these non-GAAP financial measures differently than other companies who report measures with the same or similar names, and as a result, the non-GAAP measures we report may not be comparable.

All of the data presented below has been prepared by and is the responsibility of management. Neither our independent registered public accounting firm, nor any other independent accountants, have audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the estimated preliminary financial results contained herein, nor have they expressed any opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.

The following includes our unaudited preliminary estimated results as of and for the three months ended October 3, 2021:

 

     Three Months Ended  
     September 27, 2020
(Actual)
    October 3, 2021
(Estimated)
 
           (Low)     (High)  
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Preliminary Estimated Financial Results:

      

Net revenue

   $ 54,533     $ 104,538     $ 106,320  

Cost of revenue

   $ 30,128     $ 55,137     $ 55,553  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

   $ 24,405     $ 49,401     $ 50,767  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 377     $ 3,307     $ 3,850  

Gross margin(1)

     44.8 %      47.3 %      47.7 % 

Adjusted EBITDA(1)(2)

   $ 5,249     $ 11,078     $ 11,885  

Adjusted EBITDA Margin(1)(2)

     9.6 %      10.6 %      11.2 % 

 

(1)

See the definitions of key operating and financial metrics in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Operating and Financial Metrics.”

 

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(2)

The following table provides a reconciliation for Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin:

 

     Three Months Ended  
     September 27, 2020
(Actual)
    October 3, 2021
(Estimated)
 
           (Low)     (High)  
    

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

Net income

   $ 377     $ 3,307     $ 3,850  

Depreciation and amortization

     795       730       695  

Interest expense

     3,959       3,649       3,612  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     (246     1,388       1,616  

Management fees(a)

     157       156       165  

Equity-based compensation(b)

     207       1,848       1,947  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 5,249     $ 11,078     $ 11,885  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

     9.6 %      10.6 %      11.2 % 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Represents management fees and expenses paid pursuant to the professional services agreement with the Sponsor and Institutional Venture Partners for consulting and other services.

  (b)

Represents equity-based compensation expense related to vesting of Class P unit awards and equity-based compensation expense for stock options and special compensation awards.

For the three months ended October 3, 2021, we expect revenue to be between $104.5 million and $106.3 million, compared to $54.5 million for the three months ended September 27, 2020. The expected increase in revenue from the three months ended September 27, 2020 to the three months ended October 3, 2021 is primarily due to increases in active customers and customer spend coupled with fewer markdowns and promotional discounts compared to the same period of the prior year. The higher revenue was partially offset by higher sales returns compared to the same period of the prior year due to a shift in sales mix toward product categories with higher return rates.

For the three months ended October 3, 2021, we expect Cost of revenue to be between $55.1 million and $55.6 million, compared to $30.1 million for the three months ended September 27, 2020. The expected increase in Cost of revenue in the three months ended October 3, 2021 compared to the three months ended September 27, 2020 is mostly driven by the increase in net revenue. Additionally, there was a shift in sales mix to higher gross margin products combined with lower markdowns and discounts, driving the cost of revenue as a percentage of net sales down in the three months ended October 3, 2021 compared to the same period of the prior year.

For the three months ended October 3, 2021, we expect net income to be between $3.3 million and $3.9 million, compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended September 27, 2020. The expected increase in net income from the three months ended September 27, 2020 to the three months ended October 3, 2021 is primarily due to higher gross profit partially offset by higher selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, and a higher income tax provision.

For the three months ended October 3, 2021, we expect gross margin to be between 47.3% and 47.7%, compared to 44.8% for the three months ended September 27, 2020. The expected increase in gross margin from the three months ended September 27, 2020 to the three months ended October 3, 2021 is primarily due to decreases in markdowns and discounts driven by higher customer demand.

 

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For the three months ended October 3, 2021, we expect Adjusted EBITDA to be between $11.1 million and $11.9 million, compared to $5.2 million for the three months ended September 27, 2020. For the three months October 3, 2021, we expected Adjusted EBITDA margin to be between 10.6% and 11.2%, compared to 9.6% for the three months ended September 27, 2020. The expected increase in our Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin in the three months ended October 3, 2021 compared to the three months ended September 27, 2020 is primarily due to increases in net revenue and decreases in operating costs as a percentage of net revenue.

As of October 3, 2021, cash and cash equivalents were $40.9 million and restricted cash was $0.5 million. As of September 27, 2020, cash and cash equivalents were $35.9 million and restricted cash was $0.5 million.

Refinancing of Our Existing Indebtedness

In connection with this offering, we anticipate entering into a new $50.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “New Revolving Facility”). We intend to use borrowings under the New Revolving Facility to refinance existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes, including funding working capital.

The New Revolving Facility will mature three years after closing, and borrowings thereunder will accrue interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (x) the term daily secured overnight financing (“SOFR”) rate, plus the applicable SOFR adjustment and plus a margin of 1.75% per annum or (y) the base rate plus a margin of 0.75% (with the base rate being the highest of the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, the prime rate and term SOFR for a period of one month plus 1.00%). Additionally, we expect a commitment fee of 37.5 basis points will be assessed on unused commitments under the New Revolving Facility.

We expect to enter into the New Revolving Facility substantially concurrently with the completion of this offering; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into the New Revolving Facility on the terms described herein or at all.

Risk Factors Summary

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks described in the section titled “Risk Factors” before making a decision to invest in our common stock. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, and results of operations would likely be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our common stock would likely decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Below is a summary of some of the principal risks that we face.

 

   

If we are not able to successfully maintain our desired merchandise assortment or manage our inventory effectively, we may be unable to attract a sufficient number of customers or sell sufficient quantities of our merchandise, which could result in excess inventories, markdowns, and foregone sales;

 

   

The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may in the future have an adverse effect our labor workforce availability, supply chain, business, financial condition, and results of operations in ways that remain unpredictable;

 

   

Our success depends on our ability to anticipate, identify, measure, and respond quickly to new and rapidly changing fashion trends, customer preferences and demands, and other factors;

 

   

Our efforts to acquire or retain customers may not be successful, which could prevent us from maintaining or increasing our sales;


 

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We may be unable to maintain a high level of engagement with our customers and increase their spending with us, which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

 

   

If we fail to provide high-quality customer support, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

 

   

Our business depends on our ability to maintain a strong community around the Lulus brand with engaged customers and influencers. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our existing brand community if we receive customer complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to consumers’ expectations, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

 

   

We operate in the highly competitive retail apparel industry, and the size and resources of some of our competitors may allow them to compete more effectively than we can, which could adversely impact our growth and market share, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

 

   

We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy;

 

   

We rely on third parties to drive traffic to our platform, and these providers may change their algorithms or pricing in ways that could negatively affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

 

   

Our use of social media, influencers, affiliate marketing, email, text messages, and direct mail may adversely impact our brand and reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties;

 

   

As we pursue our international growth strategy, we will become subject to international business uncertainties;

 

   

We rely on consumer discretionary spending and may be adversely affected by economic downturns and other macroeconomic conditions or trends;

 

   

System security risk issues, including any real or perceived failure to protect confidential or personal information against security breaches and disruption of our internal operations or information technology systems, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

 

   

We continually update, augment and add technology systems, which could potentially disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations;

 

   

Our business relies heavily on email and other messaging services, and any restrictions on the sending of emails or messages or an inability to timely deliver such communications could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations;

 

   

Our business, including our costs and supply chain, is subject to risks associated with sourcing, manufacturing, and warehousing;

 

   

We have two distribution facilities and disruptions to the operations at these locations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations;

 

   

We rely upon independent third-party transportation providers for substantially all of our merchandise shipments and any disruptions or increased transportation costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations; and

 

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We may be subject to liability and other risks if we, our suppliers or the manufacturers of our merchandise infringe upon the trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property rights of third parties, including the risk that we could acquire merchandise from our suppliers without the full right to sell it.

Our Equity Sponsor

H.I.G. Capital, LLC (“H.I.G.” or our “Sponsor”) is a leading global private equity and alternative assets firm with more than $45 billion in equity capital under management. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G., through various affiliates and subsidiaries, has invested in and managed more than 300 companies with combined revenues in excess of $30 billion. H.I.G.’s investors include leading financial institutions, insurance companies, university endowments, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds.

Upon completion of this offering, affiliates of H.I.G. will control 13,411,352 shares of our common stock (representing 35.9% of all common stock outstanding, or 35.1% of all common stock outstanding if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares from us in full).

Corporate Information

We were organized in California on January 23, 2007 under the name Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, Inc. Through a series of reorganizations we currently operate our business as Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. and through our indirect wholly-owned operating subsidiary Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC. Our principal offices are located at 195 Humboldt Avenue, Chico, California 95928. Our telephone number is (530) 343-3545. We maintain a website at www.lulus.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and you should not rely on any such information in making the decision as to whether to purchase our common stock.

We own or have the rights to use various trademarks, service marks, and trade names referred to in this prospectus, including, among others, LULUS® and LOGO ®. Solely for convenience, we refer to trademarks, service marks, and trade names in this prospectus without the , SM, and ® symbols. Such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent permitted by law, our rights to our trademarks, service marks, and trade names. Other trademarks, service marks, or trade names appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (3) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” as defined in the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three year period. Any reference herein to “emerging growth company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the JOBS Act.

An emerging growth company may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:

 

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being permitted to present only two years of audited financial statements in this prospectus and only two years of related “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our registration statements, including this prospectus;

 

   

not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”);

 

   

reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements, and registration statements, including in this prospectus; and

 

   

exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations in this prospectus and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.

An emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that any decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable. We have elected to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act.

 

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The Offering

 

Common stock offered by us

   5,750,000 shares (6,612,500 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full).

Option to purchase additional shares of common stock

  


The underwriters also have the option to purchase up to an additional 862,500 shares of common stock from us at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters can exercise this option at any time within 30 days from the date of this prospectus.

Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

  


37,190,187 shares (38,052,687 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full).

Use of proceeds

  

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from our sale of 5,750,000 shares of common stock in this offering will be approximately $89.3 million (or approximately $103.4 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full), assuming an initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, to redeem all existing Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) and Series B-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series B-1 Preferred Stock”) for $17.9 million, to repay $71.4 million of our term loan with Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch (the “Term Loan”) and use the remainder, if any, for general corporate purposes. As of the date of this prospectus, other than with respect to the redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock and the repayment of indebtedness and as described above, the principal purposes of this offering are to increase our capitalization and financial flexibility, create a public market for our common stock, increase our brand awareness and facilitate access to the public equity markets for us and our stockholders. We intend to use borrowings under our New Revolving Facility, together with cash on-hand, to repay in full all remaining and outstanding amounts under our


 

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Term Loan. As of July 4, 2021, we had $107.7 million of borrowings outstanding under our Term Loan, which matures in August 2022. The effective interest rate under our Term Loan was 12.9% for the six months ended July 4, 2021. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Indication of Interest

   Principal Global has indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of approximately $15.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price per share and on the same terms as the other purchasers in this offering. However, because these indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, the underwriters may determine to sell more, less or no shares in this offering to any or all of these stockholders, or any or all of these stockholders may determine to purchase more, less or no shares in this offering. The underwriters will receive the same underwriting discount on any shares purchased by these stockholders as they will on any other shares sold to the public in this offering.

Risk factors

   Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 27 of this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before investing in our common stock.

Proposed Nasdaq trading symbol

   “LVLU.”

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 31,440,187 shares of our common stock (including our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), on an as-converted basis, along with the issuance of 263,618 shares of our common stock to LP immediately prior to the completion of this offering) outstanding as of July 4, 2021 and excludes the following:

 

   

3,719,000 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive programs and/or subject to outstanding equity awards as described in “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Plans”;

 

   

322,793 shares subject to options to acquire shares of our common stock that were granted to Mr. McCreight under the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, in connection with his commencement of employment with us in April 2021, of which options to purchase 161,397 shares will accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable upon completion of this offering, with any shares acquired upon exercise of such options subject to a holding period of 12 months following the completion of this offering. The terms of these options are described in more detail in “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Arrangements”;

 

   

55,796 restricted stock units, each of which represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, to be granted to Mr. McCreight immediately following the completion of this


 

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offering. Of these restricted stock units, 27,898 restricted stock units will accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable upon completion of this offering, with any shares acquired upon vesting of such restricted stock units subject to a holding period of 12 months following the completion of this offering. The terms of this award are described in more detail in in “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Arrangements”; and

 

   

an award to Mr. Mc Creight of (i) $3.0 million fully vested shares of our common stock on or promptly following March 31, 2022 and (ii) $3.0 million fully vested shares of our common stock on or promptly following March 31, 2023, in each case to be made under the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. Omnibus Equity Plan, subject to his continued employment through such date, with the number of shares to be calculated based on the volume weighted average closing price per share of our common stock over the ten-trading day period beginning on the date of the completion of this offering.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained in this prospectus reflects and assumes the following:

 

   

the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock into an aggregate of 13,714,286 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

the issuance of 263,618 shares of our common stock to LP immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

the redemption and extinguishment of all outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series B-1 Preferred Stock for a total consideration of approximately $17.9 million upon the closing of this offering;

 

   

the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the adoption of our amended and restated bylaws, which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

the liquidation of LP in which the unit holders of LP will receive shares of common stock in exchange for their units of LP, which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

an initial public offering price of $17.50 per share of our common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus; and

 

   

no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase an aggregate of 862,500 additional shares of common stock from us.

The number of shares of our common stock to be issued upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock depends on the initial public offering price in this offering. Based upon the assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock would convert into an aggregate of 13,714,286 shares of common stock. For illustrative purposes only, the table below shows the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock expected to be outstanding after this offering at the low, mid, and high point of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus:

 

Assumed Initial Public Offering Price Per Share ($)

   Total Shares of Common Stock
Outstanding After this
Offering
 

$16.00

     38,427,985  

$17.50

     37,190,187  

$19.00

     36,148,497  

 

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Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data

The following tables present our summary historical consolidated financial and other data for the years ended December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021, and as of July 4, 2021. We have derived the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) data and the consolidated statements of cash flow data for the years ended December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021 from our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have derived the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) data and the consolidated statements of cash flow data for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of July 4, 2021 from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results of operations, and the results of operations for the six months ended July 4, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual consolidated financial statements and reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are necessary for a fair statement of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements. You should read the information set forth below together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto, and our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    Year Ended     Six Months Ended  
    December 29,
2019
    January 3,
2021
    June 28,
2020
    July 4,
2021
 
                (unaudited)  
    (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Data:

       

Net revenue

  $ 369,622     $ 248,656     $  139,596     $  172,541  

Cost of revenue

    208,418       138,364       77,080       90,008  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    161,204       110,292       62,516       82,533  

Selling and marketing expenses

    72,875       47,812       26,413       28,499  

General and administrative expenses

    73,386       67,155       43,325       36,240  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

    14,943       (4,675     (7,222     17,794  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net:

       

Interest expense

    (15,206     (16,037     (7,940     (7,424

Other income, net

    239       137       66       58  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

    (14,967     (15,900     (7,874     (7,366
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

    (24     (20,575     (15,096     10,428  

Income tax (provision) benefit

    (445     1,271       (433     (3,459
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)

  $ (469   $ (19,304   $ (15,529   $  6,969  

Deemed dividend to preferred stockholder

          (504     (504      

Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities

                      (2,751
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholder:

       

Basic and Diluted

  $ (469   $ (19,808   $ (16,033   $ 4,218  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholder:

       

Basic and Diluted

  $ (0.03   $ (1.13   $ (0.92   $ 0.24  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used to compute net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholder:

       

Basic and Diluted

    17,462,283       17,462,283       17,462,283       17,462,283  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Year Ended
January 3, 2021
    Six Months Ended
July 4, 2021
 
           (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except share and per
share data)
 

Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Operations Data(1):

    

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholder

   $ (19,808   $ 4,218  

Add: Deemed contribution from the redemption of Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock

     1,412       1,420  

Add: Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities

           2,751  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (18,396   $ 8,389  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used to compute net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholder, basic and diluted

     17,462,283       17,462,283  

Pro forma adjustment to reflect the issuance of additional shares of common stock to LP

     263,618       263,618  

Pro forma adjustment to reflect the assumed conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock

     12,342,857       13,714,286  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used to compute pro forma net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

     30,068,758       31,440,187  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (0.61   $ 0.27  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Year Ended     Six Months Ended  
     December 29,
2019
    January 3,
2021
    June 28,
2020
    July 4,
2021
 
                 (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Data:

        

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 11,874     $ 4,856   $ 13,870   $ 29,835

Net cash used in investing activities

     (4,042     (1,913     (1,290     (962

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (9,721     6,755       10,481       (12,292

 

     As of July 4, 2021  
     Actual     Pro Forma(2)     Pro Forma As
Adjusted(3)(4)
 
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except share and per share
data)
 

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

      

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(5)

   $ 32,640     $ 14,740     $ 21,252  

Total current assets

     65,823       47,923       54,435  

Total assets

     129,516       111,616       118,053  

Revolving line of credit

                 25,000  

Long-term debt, current portion

     10,125       10,125        

Total current liabilities

     57,434       57,434       72,189  

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     94,449       94,449        

Total liabilities

     154,077       154,077       74,383  

Redeemable preferred stock

     19,320              

Convertible preferred stock

     117,038              

Common stock

     18       31       37  

Additional paid-in capital

     11,735       130,180       219,492  

Accumulated deficit

     (172,672     (172,672     (175,859

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (160,919     (42,461     43,670  

 

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(1)

See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended January 3, 2021 and Note 2 to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended July 4, 2021 for an explanation of the calculations of our basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders. The unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders was computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding adjusted to give effect to (a) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, which we expect to occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering, using the if-converted method as though the conversion had occurred as of the beginning of the period into an aggregate of 12,342,857 and 13,714,286 shares of common stock for the year ended January 3, 2021 and the six months ended July 4, 2021, respectively, (b) the redemption and extinguishment of all outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock upon the closing of this offering as if the redemption had occurred as of the later of the original issue date of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock or the beginning of the period for a total consideration of approximately $15.0 million for the year ended January 3, 2021 and $17.9 million for the six months ended July 4, 2021 and (c) the issuance of 263,618 shares of our common stock to LP immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

(2)

The unaudited pro forma balance sheet data as of July 4, 2021 assumes (a) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock as of July 4, 2021 into an aggregate of 13,714,286 shares of common stock, which we expect to occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (b) the redemption and extinguishment of all outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock for a total consideration of approximately $17.9 million upon the closing of this offering and (c) the issuance of 263,618 shares of our common stock to LP immediately prior to the completion of this offering. The unaudited pro forma stockholders’ (deficit) equity does not assume any proceeds from this offering.

(3)

Gives effect to the pro forma adjustments described in footnote (2) above plus (a) the sale and issuance of 5,750,000 shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, (b) the entry into the New Revolving Facility substantially concurrently with the completion of this offering, (c) the repayment of our Term Loan and any amount outstanding under our revolving credit facility with Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch (the “Revolving Facility”) of $107.7 million and accrued interest of $0.1 million upon the closing of this offering using the proceeds of this offering, cash on-hand and borrowings of $25.0 million under our New Revolving Facility, (d) the write-off of the discount and debt issuance costs of $3.2 million related to our Term Loan and Revolving Facility and (e) the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the adoption of our amended and restated bylaws immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

(4)

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of our pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, total current assets, total assets, additional paid-in capital and total stockholder’s (deficit) equity by $5.3 million, assuming the number of shares offered, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions, and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of our pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, total current assets, total assets, additional paid-in capital and total stockholder’s (deficit) equity by

 

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  $16.3 million, assuming that the assumed initial offering price to the public remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price, the number of shares offered, and the other terms of this offering determined at pricing.
(5)

Restricted cash represents $0.5 million of the total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of July 4, 2021.

Key Operating and Financial Metrics

We use the following metrics to analyze operating and financial metrics to assess the performance of our business and to make decisions on where to allocate capital, time, and technology resources.

 

     Year Ended     Six Months Ended  
     December 29,
2019
    January 3,
2021
    June 28,
        2020        
    July 4,
        2021        
 
     (in thousands, except percentages
and Average Order Value)
    (in thousands, except percentages
and Average Order Value)
 

Key Operating and Financial Metrics:

        

Active Customers(1)

     2,884       2,001       1,310       1,457  

Total Orders Placed(1)

     5,307       3,400       1,938       2,259  

Average Order Value(1)

   $ 110     $ 106     $ 110     $ 117  

Gross Margin(1)

     43.6     44.4     44.8     47.8

Net income (loss)

   $ (469   $ (19,304   $ (15,529   $ 6,969  

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

   $ 21,021     $ 18,911     $ 13,760     $ 23,164  

Adjusted EBITDA margin(2)

     5.7     7.6     9.9     13.4

 

(1)

See the definitions of key operating and financial metrics in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Operating and Financial Metrics.” As defined therein, Active Customers and Total Orders Placed are for the six and twelve months prior to the period end dates, as applicable.

(2)

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effect of equity-based compensation expense, management fees, and transaction fees, which represent the write-off of offering costs deferred during 2019 upon abandonment of a prior offering in 2020. We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA calculated as a percentage of net revenue. We caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by our competitors, because not all companies and analysts calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin in the same manner. We present Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin because we consider both to be important supplemental measures of our performance and believe that both measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Management believes that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for comparing our ongoing results of operations.


 

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Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin:

 

   

as a measurement of operating performance because it assists us in comparing the operating performance of our business on a consistent basis, as it removes the impact of items not directly resulting from our core operations;

 

   

for planning purposes, including the preparation of our internal annual operating budget and financial projections;

 

   

to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of our operational strategies; and

 

   

to evaluate our capacity to expand our business.

By providing these non-GAAP financial measures, together with reconciliations, we believe we are enhancing investors’ understanding of our business and our results of operations, as well as assisting investors in evaluating how well we are executing our strategic initiatives.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative to, or a substitute for, net income (loss), operating income (loss) margin or other financial statement data presented in our consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Some of the limitations are:

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;

 

   

although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future and such measures do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and

 

   

other companies in our industry may calculate such measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

Due to these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using these non-GAAP measures only supplementally. As noted in the table below, Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments to exclude the impact of depreciation and amortization, interest expense, income taxes, management fees, transaction fees, which represent the write-off of offering costs deferred during 2019 upon abandonment of a prior offering in 2020, and equity-based compensation. It is reasonable to expect that some of these items will occur in future periods. However, we believe these adjustments are appropriate because the amounts recognized can vary significantly from period to period, do not directly relate to the ongoing operations of our business and may complicate comparisons of our internal results of operations and results of operations of other companies over time. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments for other items that we do not expect to regularly record following this offering. Each of the normal recurring adjustments and other adjustments described in this paragraph and in the reconciliation table below help management with a measure of our core operating performance over time by removing items that are not related to day-to-day operations.

 

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The following table provides a reconciliation for Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin:

 

     Year Ended     Six Months Ended  
     December 29,
2019
    January 3,
2021
    June 28,
2020
    July 4,
2021
 
                 (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Net income (loss)

   $ (469   $ (19,304   $ (15,529   $ 6,969  

Depreciation and amortization

     3,041       3,216       1,654       1,421  

Interest expense

     15,206       16,037       7,940       7,424  

Income taxes

     445       (1,271     433       3,459  

Management fees(a)

     758       626       313       317  

Write-off of previously capitalized transaction fees(b)

           1,950       1,950        

Equity-based compensation(c)

     2,040       9,086       8,428       2,093  

Series B / B-1 equity-based compensation(d)

           8,571       8,571       1,481  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 21,021     $ 18,911     $ 13,760     $ 23,164  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

     5.7     7.6     9.9     13.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Represents management fees and expenses paid pursuant to the professional services agreement with the Sponsor and Institutional Venture Partners for consulting and other services.

(b)

Represents the write-off of offering costs deferred during 2019 upon abandonment of a prior offering in 2020.

(c)

Represents equity-based compensation expense related to vesting of Class P unit awards which, in fiscal year 2020, included $8.8 million related to the modification to the Class P units. In the six months ended July 4, 2021, this also includes equity-based compensation expense for stock options and special compensation awards granted during that period.

(d)

Represents the excess of fair value over the consideration paid for Series B Preferred Stock that was issued to an employee, the Sponsor, and Institutional Venture Partners in June 2020. Represents the excess of fair value over the consideration paid for Series B-1 Preferred Stock that was issued to executives in March 2021.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Investors should consider carefully the following risk factors and all of the other information in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes to those statements, before deciding to invest in our common stock. If any of the following risks actually occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. As a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline and investors could lose part or all of their investment.

Risks Related to Our Business

Our business depends on our ability to maintain a strong community around the Lulus brand with engaged customers and influencers. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our existing brand community if we receive customer complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to consumers’ expectations, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We believe that maintaining our brand image, particularly with our core target customers, is important to maintaining and expanding our customer base and sales. Maintaining and enhancing our brand image may require us to make additional investments in areas such as merchandising, marketing, online operations, online displays and other promotions, and employee training. These investments may be substantial and may not ultimately be successful. If we are unable to maintain or enhance our brand image, brand awareness, and reputation, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Over the course of 2020, we offered over 23,000 styles through our platform. Lulus brand products comprised approximately 85% of our units sold in 2020. Our ability to identify new styles and maintain and enhance our existing brand is critical to retaining and expanding our base of customers. A significant portion of our customers’ experience depends on third parties outside of our control, including suppliers and logistics providers such as UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. If these third parties do not meet our or our customers’ expectations or if they increase their rates, our business may suffer irreparable damage or our costs may increase. In addition, maintaining and enhancing relationships with third-party brands may require us to make substantial investments, and these investments may not be successful. Also, if we fail to promote and maintain our brand, or if we incur excessive expenses in this effort, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. We anticipate that, as our market becomes increasingly competitive, maintaining, and enhancing our brand may become increasingly difficult and expensive.

Customer complaints or negative publicity about our website or mobile app, products, merchandise quality, product delivery times, customer data handling and security practices or customer support, especially on social media, blogs, and in reviews, could rapidly and severely diminish consumer use of our website or mobile app and customer and supplier confidence in us, and result in harm to our brand. We believe that much of the growth in our customer base to date has originated from word-of-mouth, including social media and our influencer-driven marketing strategy. If we are not able to develop and maintain positive relationships with our network of influencers or our online customer community, our ability to promote and maintain or enhance awareness of Lulus and leverage social media platforms to drive visits to www.lulus.com or our mobile app may be adversely affected.

 

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may in the future have an adverse effect on our labor workforce availability, supply chain, business, financial condition, and results of operations in ways that remain unpredictable.

The impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is severe, widespread and continues to evolve. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and governmental authorities around the world have implemented measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These measures, including quarantines, travel bans, business closures and other heightened restrictions suggested or mandated by governmental authorities or otherwise elected by companies as a preventive measure, have adversely affected workforces, customers, consumer sentiment, economies, and financial markets, and, along with decreased consumer spending, have led to an economic downturn in many of our markets. It is impossible to predict all the effects and the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the situation continues to rapidly evolve.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting disruptions to our suppliers’ production facilities could materially affect our operations. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our business through the suspension, postponement and cancellation of in-person social, professional and formal events, including business conferences, graduations, bridal parties and weddings. The suspension, postponement and cancellation of in-person social, professional and formal events due to the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the volume of events for which our customer base requires our products, and had an adverse impact on our revenue. Although many in-person social, professional and formal events have recommenced in recent months, the rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which remains a material uncertainty and risk with respect to us, our performance, and our financial results. Our ability to generate revenue is related to in-person social, professional and formal events taking place, and we may not generate as much revenue in the long-run as we would have generated without the cancellations or postponements in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, at certain points in 2020, we temporarily closed most of our offices, and we may have to do so again as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop and related government orders evolve, particularly around the novel Delta variant that is spreading throughout the United States. A large number our employees continue to work remotely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If a natural disaster, power outage, connectivity issue, or other event occurred that impacted our employees’ ability to work remotely, it could be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible, for us to continue our business effectively for a period of time, particularly if such event also impacted our offices and other areas of work. Further, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and as certain businesses return to on-site operations, we may experience disruptions if our employees or third-party providers’ employees become ill and are unable to perform their duties, and our operations, or the operations of one or more of our third-party providers, is impacted. The increase in remote working may also result in related consumer privacy, information technology security, and fraud concerns. In addition, the challenges to working caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions may have an impact on our employees’ wellness, which could impact employee retention, productivity and our culture. See “Business—Overview—Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Response.”

The COVID-19 outbreak has the potential to cause a disruption in our supply chain and may adversely impact economic conditions in North America, Europe, China, and elsewhere. These and other disruptions, as well as poor economic conditions generally, may lead to a decline in our sales and operating results. In addition, the continuation of the global outbreak of coronavirus may adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries and could result in a sustained reduction in the demand for our products, delayed or cancelled orders by customers, or unanticipated inventory accumulation or shortages. A decline in the sales and operating results of our products could in turn

 

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materially and adversely affect our ability to pursue our growth strategy. Each of these results would reduce our future sales and profit margins, which in turn could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We are unable to accurately predict the ultimate impact on our operations that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have on our operations going forward due to uncertainties that will be dictated by the length of time that such disruptions continue, which will, in turn, depend on the currently unknowable duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of governmental regulations that might be imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the efficiency and efficacy of vaccination programs and overall changes in consumer behavior.

Furthermore, the global deterioration in economic conditions, which may have an adverse impact on discretionary consumer spending, could also impact our business. A reduction in consumer spending or disposable income could affect us more significantly than companies in other industries and companies with a more diversified product offering due in part to the fact that the discretionary retail items and specialty retail products we sell are discretionary purchases for consumers. In the past, governments have taken unprecedented actions in an attempt to address and rectify these extreme market and economic conditions by providing liquidity and stability to financial markets. If these actions are not successful, the return of adverse economic conditions could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our efforts to acquire or retain customers may not be successful, which could prevent us from maintaining or increasing our sales.

Our success depends on our ability to acquire customers in a cost-effective manner. In order to expand our customer base, we must appeal to and acquire customers who have historically used other means of commerce in shopping for apparel and may prefer alternatives to our offerings, such as traditional brick-and-mortar retailers and the websites and mobile apps of our competitors. We have made significant investments related to customer acquisition and expect to continue to spend significant amounts to acquire additional customers. For example, we engage in social media marketing campaigns and maintain relationships with thousands of social media and celebrity influencers. Such campaigns can be expensive and may not result in cost-effective acquisition of customers. We cannot assure that the benefit of acquiring new customers will exceed the cost. If we fail to deliver a quality shopping experience, or if consumers do not perceive the products we offer to be of high value and quality, we may not be able to acquire new customers. If we are unable to acquire or retain customers who purchase products in numbers sufficient to grow our business, we may not be able to generate the scale necessary to drive beneficial network effects with our suppliers, our net revenue may decrease, and our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

We also seek to engage with our customers and build awareness of our brands through sponsoring unique events and experiences such as Lulus Style Studio events, which are experiences we create for our customers and influencers. We anticipate that our marketing initiatives may become increasingly expensive as competition increases, and generating a meaningful return on those initiatives may be difficult. If our marketing efforts are not successful in promoting awareness of our brands and products, driving customer engagement or attracting new customers, or if we are not able to effectively manage our marketing expenses, our business, financial condition, and results of operations will be adversely affected.

We obtain a significant amount of traffic via social networking platforms or other online channels used by our current and prospective customers. As e-commerce and social networking platforms continue to rapidly evolve, we must continue to maintain and establish relationships with these

 

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channels and may be unable to develop or maintain these relationships on acceptable terms. We also acquire and retain customers through paid search/product listing ads, paid social, retargeting, affiliate marketing, and personalized email and direct mail marketing. If we are unable to cost-effectively drive traffic to our website or mobile app, our ability to acquire new customers and our financial condition would suffer.

We may be unable to maintain a high level of engagement with our customers and increase their spending with us, which could harm our business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

A high proportion of our net revenue comes from repeat purchases by existing customers, especially those existing customers who are highly engaged and purchase a significant amount of merchandise from us. If existing customers no longer find our merchandise appealing, they may make fewer purchases and may stop shopping with us. Even if our existing customers find our merchandise appealing, if customer buying preferences change, they may decide to purchase less merchandise over time. Additionally, if customers who purchase a significant amount of merchandise from us were to make fewer purchases or stop shopping with us, then our sales may decline. A decrease in the number of our customers or a decrease in their spending on the merchandise we offer could negatively impact our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations. Further, we believe that our future success will depend in part on our ability to increase sales to our existing customers over time and, if we are unable to do so, our business may suffer.

Our success depends on our ability to anticipate, identify, measure, and respond quickly to new and rapidly changing fashion trends, customer preferences and demands and other factors.

Our core market of apparel, footwear, and accessories for women is subject to new and rapidly changing fashion trends, constantly evolving consumer preferences and demands, and a modest brand loyalty. Accordingly, our success is dependent on our ability to anticipate, identify, measure and respond to the latest fashion trends and customer demands, and to translate such trends and demands into appropriate, desirable product offerings in a timely manner. A select team of our employees is primarily responsible for performing this analysis and making initial product decisions, and they rely on feedback on fashion trends from a variety of sources, which may not accurately predict evolving fashion trends. Our failure to anticipate, identify or react swiftly and appropriately to new and changing styles, trends or desired customer preferences or to accurately anticipate and forecast demand for certain product offerings is likely to lead to lower demand for our merchandise, which could cause, among other things, sales declines, excess inventories, a greater number of markdowns and lower margins. Further, if we are not able to anticipate, identify and respond to changing fashion trends and customer preferences, we may lose customers and market share to our competitors who are able to better anticipate, identify and respond to such trends and preferences. In addition, because our success depends on our brand image, our business could be materially adversely affected if new product offerings are not accepted by our customers. We cannot assure investors that our new product offerings will be met with the same level of acceptance as our past product offerings or that we will be able to adequately respond to fashion trends or the preferences of our customers in a timely manner or at all. If we do not accurately anticipate, identify, forecast, or analyze fashion trends and sales levels, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.

We rely on third parties to drive traffic to our platform, and these providers may change their algorithms or pricing in ways that could negatively affect our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.

Our success depends on our ability to attract customers cost effectively. With respect to our marketing channels, we rely heavily on relationships with providers of online services, search engines,

 

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social media, directories, and other websites and e-commerce businesses to provide content, advertising banners, and other links that direct customers to our websites. We rely on these relationships to provide significant traffic to our website. In particular, we rely on digital platforms, such as Google and Facebook, as important marketing channels. Digital channels change their algorithms periodically, and our rankings in organic searches and visibility in social media feeds may be adversely affected by those changes, as has occurred from time to time, requiring us to increase our spending on paid marketing to offset the loss in traffic. Search engine companies may also determine that we are not in compliance with their guidelines and consequently penalize us in their algorithms as a result. Even with an increase in marketing spend to offset any loss in search engine optimization traffic as a result of algorithm changes, the recovery period in organic traffic may span multiple quarters or years. If digital platforms change or penalize us with their algorithms, terms of service, display and featuring of search results, or if competition increases for advertisements, we may be unable to cost-effectively attract customers.

Our relationships with digital platforms are not covered by long-term contractual agreements and do not require any specific performance commitments. In addition, many of the platforms and agencies with whom we have advertising arrangements provide advertising services to other companies, including retailers with whom we compete. As competition for online advertising has increased, the cost for some of these services has also increased. A significant increase in the cost of the marketing providers upon which we rely could adversely impact our ability to attract customers cost effectively and harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

Use of social media, influencers, affiliate marketing, email, text messages, and direct mail may adversely impact our brand and reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties.

We use social media including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, as well as affiliate marketing, email, SMS, and direct mail as part of our multi-channel approach to marketing, and we encourage our customers to use social media while shopping. We also maintain relationships with thousands of social media influencers, who serve as our brand ambassadors, and engage in sponsorship initiatives. Laws and regulations governing the use of these platforms and other digital marketing channels are rapidly evolving. It may become more difficult for us or our partners to comply with such laws, and future data privacy laws and regulations or industry standards may restrict or limit our ability to use some or all of the marketing strategies on which we currently rely. The failure by us, our employees or third parties acting at our direction to abide by applicable laws and regulations in the use of these platforms could adversely impact our reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties. In addition, our employees or third parties acting at our direction may knowingly or inadvertently make use of social media in ways that could lead to the loss or infringement of intellectual property, as well as the public disclosure of proprietary, confidential or sensitive personal information of our business, employees, customers, or others. Any such inappropriate use of social media tools could also cause business interruptions and reputational damage.

Customers value readily available information concerning retailers and their goods and services and often act on such information without further investigation and without regard to its accuracy. Information concerning us, whether accurate or not, may be posted on social media platforms at any time and may have a disproportionately adverse impact on our brand, reputation, or business. The harm may be immediate without affording us an opportunity for redress or correction and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In addition, an increase in the use of social media for product promotion and marketing may cause an increase in the burden on us to monitor compliance of such materials, and increase the risk that such materials could contain problematic product or marketing claims in violation of applicable

 

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regulations. For example, in some cases, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has sought enforcement action where an endorsement has failed to clearly and conspicuously disclose a financial relationship between an influencer and an advertiser.

Negative commentary regarding us, our products, or influencers and other third parties who are affiliated with us may also be posted on social media platforms and may be adverse to our reputation or business. Influencers with whom we maintain relationships could engage in behavior or use their platforms to communicate directly with our customers in a manner that reflects poorly on our brand and may be attributed to us or otherwise adversely affect us. It is not possible to prevent such behavior, and the precautions we take to detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Our target customers often value readily available information and often act on such information without further investigation and without regard to its accuracy. The harm may be immediate, without affording us an opportunity for redress or correction.

We have not historically used traditional advertising channels, and if we become unable to continue to connect with our target customer base, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We utilize organic, content, affiliate marketing, email, SMS, direct mail, paid search, and social media marketing to capture the interest of our customers and drive them to our platform. We historically have not used traditional advertising channels, such as newspapers, magazines, and television, which are used by some of our competitors. In the future, we expect to increase our use of social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube for marketing purposes. If our marketing efforts are not successful, there may be no immediately available or cost-effective alternative marketing channel for us to use to build or maintain brand awareness. As we execute our growth strategy, our ability to successfully integrate into our target customers’ communities or to expand into new markets will be dependent on our ability to connect with our target customers through marketing channels. Failure to successfully connect with our target customers in new and existing markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We may not accurately forecast income and appropriately plan our expenses.

We base our current and future expense levels on our operating forecasts and estimates of future income. Income and results of operations are difficult to forecast because they generally depend on the volume and timing of the orders we receive, which are uncertain. Additionally, our business is affected by general economic and business conditions around the world. A softening in income, whether caused by changes in customer preferences or a weakening in global economies, may result in decreased net revenue levels, and we may be unable to adjust our spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected shortfall in income. This inability could cause our (loss)/income after tax in a given quarter to be (higher)/lower than expected. We also will make certain assumptions when forecasting the amount of expense we expect related to our future share based payments, which includes the expected volatility of our share price, the expected life of share awards granted and the expected rate of share awards forfeitures. These assumptions are partly based on historical results. If actual results differ from our estimates, our net income in a given quarter may be lower than expected or our net loss in a given quarter may be higher than expected.

Our business depends on the transportation of a large number of products. Our ability to accurately forecast and plan expenses could be adversely impacted by limitations on fuel supplies or increases in fuel prices that result in higher costs of transportation and distribution of our products. Although we are able to update our forecasts and estimates based on current data and modify the pricing of our products accordingly, there is often a lag before such modified pricing is reflected in our

 

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operating results, and there is a limit to how much of any fuel price or other distribution cost increases we can pass onto our customers. Any such limits may adversely affect our results of operations.

If we fail to provide high-quality customer support, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our ongoing customer support is important to the successful marketing and sale of our merchandise. Providing this support requires that our customer support personnel have fashion, retail, technical, and other knowledge and expertise, making it difficult for us to hire qualified personnel and scale our support operations. The demand on our customer support organization will increase as we expand our business and pursue new customers, and such increased support could require us to devote significant development services and support personnel, which could strain our team and infrastructure and reduce our profit margins. If we do not help our customers quickly resolve issues and provide effective ongoing customer support, our ability to sell additional merchandise to existing and future customers could suffer and our reputation would be harmed. If we are unable to hire and retain customer support personnel capable of consistently providing customer support at a high level, as demonstrated by their enthusiasm for our culture, understanding of our customers, and knowledge of the merchandise that we offer, our ability to expand our business may be impaired.

Our business is affected by seasonality, which could result in fluctuations in our results of operations.

We experience moderate fluctuations in aggregate sales volume during the year. Historically, our net revenue has been highest in our second fiscal quarter. The seasonality of our business has resulted in variability in our total net revenue quarter-to-quarter. In addition, our customers may change their order patterns and buying habits, including frequency of purchase and/or number of items per order. As a result, we may not be able to accurately predict our quarterly sales. Accordingly, our results of operations are likely to fluctuate significantly from period to period. This seasonality, along with other factors that are beyond our control, including general economic conditions, changes in consumer preferences, weather conditions, including the effects of climate change, the availability of import quotas, transportation disruptions and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, could adversely affect our business and cause our results of operations to fluctuate.

We are subject to payment-related risks that could increase our operating costs, expose us to fraud or theft, subject us to potential liability and potentially disrupt our business.

We accept payments online via credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna and PayPal, which subjects us to certain regulations and risk of fraud, and we may in the future offer new payment options to customers that would be subject to additional regulations and risks. We pay interchange and other fees in connection with credit card payments, which may increase over time and adversely affect our results of operations. While we use third parties to process credit and debit card payments, we are subject to payment card association operating rules and certification requirements, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and rules governing electronic funds transfers. If we fail to comply with applicable rules and regulations or experience a security breach involving payment card information, we may be subject to fines, assessments and/or higher transaction fees and may lose our ability to accept online payments or other payment card transactions. If any of these events were to occur, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We may incur significant losses from customer and or credit card fraud.

We have in the past incurred and may in the future incur losses from various types of fraud, including stolen credit card numbers, claims that a customer did not authorize a purchase, merchant

 

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fraud, and customers who have closed bank accounts or have insufficient funds in open bank accounts to satisfy payments, and any such losses may be significant. In addition to the direct costs of such losses, if the fraud is related to credit card transactions and becomes excessive, it could potentially result in us paying higher fees or losing the right to accept credit cards for payment. In addition, under current credit card practices, we are liable for fraudulent credit card transactions because we do not obtain a cardholder’s signature. Our failure to adequately prevent fraudulent transactions could damage our reputation, result in litigation or regulatory action and lead to expenses that could substantially impact our results of operations.

Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations.

Our results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of those for the entire year because our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations. We generally expect demand to be greater in the calendar second quarter compared to the rest of the year. We believe that this seasonality has affected and will continue to affect our results of operations.

Our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto include an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

In connection with the preparation of our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the six months ended July 4, 2021, our management evaluated whether there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and has determined that substantial doubt existed as to whether our cash and cash equivalents as of the date of this filing would be sufficient for the repayment of amounts outstanding under the Term Loan upon its maturity in August 2022. We intend to repay the $97.6 million outstanding principal amount under the Term Loan with the net proceeds from this offering and by obtaining additional equity or debt financing. We cannot assure that we will be successful in obtaining sufficient funds to repay the amounts outstanding under the Term Loan at maturity in August 2022. In addition, we cannot assure that any future financing will be available on favorable terms or at all.

Risks Related to Our Growth

The estimates of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth included in this prospectus may prove to be inaccurate, and even if the markets in which we compete achieve the forecasted growth, our business may not grow at similar rates, or at all.

Market opportunity estimates and growth forecasts included in this prospectus are subject to significant uncertainty and are based on assumptions and estimates which may not prove to be accurate. The estimates and forecasts included in this prospectus relating to size and expected growth of our target market may prove to be inaccurate. Even if the markets in which we compete meet the size estimates and growth forecasts included in this prospectus, our business may not grow at similar rates, or at all. Our growth is subject to many factors, including our success in implementing our business strategy, which is subject to many risks and uncertainties.

We may be unable to sustain our growth, and we may become unprofitable in the future.

Although our net revenue and profitability have grown rapidly from 2014 through 2019, this should not be considered as indicative of our future performance. As we grow our business, we expect our net revenue growth rates to slow in future periods due to a number of reasons, which may include slowing demand for our merchandise, increasing competition, a decrease in the growth of our overall market, and our failure to capitalize on growth opportunities or the maturation of our business.

 

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Our expenses have increased in recent periods, and we expect expenses to increase substantially in the near term, particularly as we make significant investments in our marketing initiatives, expand our operations and infrastructure, develop and introduce new merchandise offerings and hire additional personnel. Investors in our common stock should recognize that we may not always pursue short-term profits but are often focused on long-term growth and this may impact the return on investment. In addition, in connection with operating as a public company, we will incur additional significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. If our net revenue does not increase to offset increases in our operating expenses, we may not be profitable in future periods.

We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy.

Our future growth, profitability and cash flows depend upon our ability to successfully implement our business strategy, which, in turn, is dependent upon a number of factors, including our ability to:

 

   

grow our brand awareness and attract new customers;

 

   

enhance and retain our existing customer relationships;

 

   

pursue category expansion; and

 

   

pursue international expansion.

We cannot assure that we can successfully achieve any or all of the above initiatives in the manner or time period that we expect. Further, achieving these objectives will require investments which may result in short-term costs without generating any net revenue and, therefore, may be dilutive to our earnings. We cannot provide any assurance that we will realize, in full or in part, the anticipated benefits we expect our strategy will achieve. The failure to realize those benefits could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our current growth plans may place a strain on our existing resources and could cause us to encounter challenges we have not faced before.

As we expand, our operations will become more complex. We have grown rapidly, with our net revenue increasing from $133 million in 2016 to $370 million in 2019. While our net revenue growth decreased from $370 million in 2019 to $249 million in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect to continue to grow rapidly in future periods. We expect our growth to bring new challenges. Among other difficulties that we may encounter, this growth may place a strain on our existing infrastructure, including our distribution facilities, information technology systems, financial controls, merchandising, and operations personnel. We may also place increased demands on our suppliers, to the extent we increase the size of our merchandise orders. The increased demands that our growth plans may place on our infrastructure may cause us to operate our business less efficiently or effectively, which could cause a deterioration in the performance of our business. New order delivery times could lengthen as a result of the strains that growth may place on our existing resources, and our growth may make it otherwise difficult for us to respond quickly to changing trends, customer preferences and other factors. This could impair our ability to continue to offer on-trend merchandise which could result in excess inventory, greater markdowns, loss of market share and decreased sales which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In addition, our planned expansion may place increased demands on our existing operational, managerial, administrative, and other resources. Specifically, our inventory management systems and personnel processes may need to be further upgraded to keep pace with our growth strategy. We cannot anticipate all of the demands that our expanding operations will impose on our business, and

 

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our failure to appropriately address these demands could have an adverse effect on business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We may not be able to manage our growth effectively, and such rapid growth may adversely affect our corporate culture.

We have rapidly and significantly expanded our operations and anticipate expanding further as we pursue our growth strategies. Such expansion increases the complexity of our business and places a significant strain on our management, operations, technical systems, financial resources, and internal control over financial reporting functions. Our current and planned personnel, systems, procedures, and controls may not be adequate to support and effectively manage our future operations.

Our collaborative culture is important to us, and we believe it has been a major contributor to our success. We may have difficulties maintaining our culture or adapting it sufficiently to meet the needs of our future and evolving operations as we continue to grow, including as we expand internationally. In addition, our ability to maintain our culture as a public company, with the attendant changes in policies, practices, corporate governance, and management requirements may be challenging. Failure to maintain our culture could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

As we pursue our international growth strategy, we will become subject to international business uncertainties.

We intend to increase sales of our products to customers located outside the United States. Further, we may establish additional relationships in other countries to grow our operations. The substantial up-front investment required, the lack of consumer awareness of our products in jurisdictions outside of the United States, differences in consumer preferences and trends between the United States and other jurisdictions, the risk of inadequate intellectual property protections and differences in packaging, labeling and related laws, rules and regulations are all substantial matters that need to be evaluated prior to doing business in new territories. We cannot assure that our international efforts will be successful. International sales and increased international operations may be subject to risks such as:

 

   

difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations;

 

   

burdens of complying with a wide variety of laws and regulations, including more stringent regulations relating to data privacy and security, particularly in the EU;

 

   

adverse tax effects and foreign exchange controls making it difficult to repatriate earnings and cash;

 

   

political and economic instability;

 

   

natural disasters;

 

   

trade restrictions;

 

   

differing employment practices and laws and labor disruptions;

 

   

the imposition of government controls;

 

   

an inability to use or to obtain adequate intellectual property protection for our key brands and products;

 

   

tariffs and customs duties and the classifications of our goods by applicable governmental bodies;

 

   

a legal system subject to undue influence or corruption;

 

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a business culture in which illegal sales practices may be prevalent;

 

   

logistics and sourcing;

 

   

military conflicts; and

 

   

acts of terrorism.

The occurrence of any of these risks could negatively affect our international business and consequently our overall business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Industry

The global apparel industry is subject to intense pricing pressure.

The apparel industry is characterized by low barriers to entry for both suppliers and marketers, global sourcing through suppliers located throughout the world, trade liberalization, continuing movement of product sourcing to lower cost countries, regular promotional activity and the ongoing emergence of new competitors with widely varying strategies and resources. These factors have contributed, and may continue to contribute in the future, to intense pricing pressure and uncertainty throughout the supply chain. Pricing pressure has been exacerbated by the availability of raw materials in recent years. This pressure could have adverse effects on our business and financial condition, including:

 

   

reduced gross margins across our product lines and distribution channels;

 

   

increased supplier demands for allowances, incentives, and other forms of economic support; and

 

   

increased pressure on us to reduce our product costs and operating expenses.

We operate in the highly competitive retail apparel industry, and the size and resources of some of our competitors may allow them to compete more effectively than we can, which could adversely impact our growth and market share, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We operate in the highly competitive retail apparel industry. We compete on the basis of a combination of factors, including our quality, concept, price, breadth, and style of merchandise, as well as our online experience and level of customer service, our brand image, and our ability to anticipate, identify and respond to new and changing fashion trends and customer demands. While we believe that we compete primarily with apparel retailers and internet businesses that specialize in women’s apparel, footwear, and accessories, we also face competition from national and regional department stores, specialty retailers, fast-fashion retailers, value retailers, and mass merchants. In addition, our expansion into markets served by our competitors and entry of new competitors or expansion of existing competitors into our markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We also compete with a wide variety of large and small retailers for customers, suppliers, influencers and personnel. The competitive landscape we face, particularly among apparel retailers, is subject to rapid change as new competitors emerge and existing competitors change their offerings. We cannot assure investors that we will be able to continue to compete successfully and navigate the shifts in the competitive landscape in our markets.

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for traditional brick-and-mortar retailers to invest significant resources in their e-commerce operations, including traditional retailers

 

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that either did not have e-commerce operations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic or only had a nascent platform. As a result of these significant investments, the e-commerce market for apparel has become extremely competitive, and we now face competition from a broad range of national and international firms. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected demand for apparel and fashion as retail categories, this increased competition has resulted in greater and continued downward price pressure, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Many of our existing and potential competitors are, and many of our potential competitors may be, larger and have greater name recognition and access to greater financial, marketing and other resources than us. Therefore, these competitors may be able to adapt to changes in trends and customer desires more quickly, devote greater resources to the marketing and sale of their products, generate greater brand recognition or adopt more aggressive pricing policies than we can. Many of our competitors also utilize advertising and marketing media which we have not historically used, including advertising via newspapers, magazines, and television, which may provide them with greater brand recognition than we have. As a result, we may lose market share, which could reduce our sales and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our competitors may also sell certain products or substantially similar products through outlet centers or discount stores, increasing the competitive pressure for those products. We cannot assure investors that we will continue to be able to compete successfully against existing or future competitors. Our expansion into markets served by our competitors and entry of new competitors or expansion of existing competitors into our markets could have a material adverse effect on us. Competitive forces and pressures may intensify as our presence in the retail marketplace grows.

We do not possess exclusive rights to many of the elements that comprise our online experience and merchandise offerings. Some apparel retailers offer a personalized shopping experience that in certain ways is similar to the one we strive to provide to our customers. Our competitors may seek to emulate facets of our business strategy, including “test, learn, and reorder,” speed-to-market and online experience, which could result in a reduction of any competitive advantage or special appeal that we might possess. In addition, some of our merchandise offerings are sold to us on a non-exclusive basis. As a result, our current and future competitors, especially those with greater financial, marketing, or other resources, may be able to duplicate or improve upon some or all of the elements of our online experience or merchandise offerings that we believe are important in differentiating our website and our customers’ shopping experience. If our competitors were to duplicate or improve upon some or all of the elements of our online experience or product offerings, our competitive position could suffer, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We rely on consumer discretionary spending and may be adversely affected by economic downturns and other macroeconomic conditions or trends.

Our business and results of operations are subject to global economic conditions and their impact on consumer discretionary spending. Customer purchases of discretionary retail items and specialty retail products, which include our apparel, footwear, and accessories, may be adversely affected by economic conditions such as employment levels, salary and wage levels, the availability of customer credit, inflation, high interest rates, high tax rates, high fuel prices, and customer confidence with respect to current and future economic conditions. Customer purchases may decline during recessionary periods or at other times when unemployment is higher, fuel prices are higher or disposable income is lower. These risks may be exacerbated for retailers like us that focus significantly on selling discretionary fashion merchandise to customers who seek value. Customer willingness to

 

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make discretionary purchases may decline, may stall or may be slow to increase due to national and regional economic conditions.

Our sales may be particularly susceptible to economic and other conditions in certain regions or states. Considerable uncertainty and volatility remains in the national and global economy, and any further or future slowdowns or disruptions in the economy could adversely affect online shopping traffic and customer discretionary spending and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, we may not be able to maintain our recent rate of growth in net revenue if there is a decline in customer spending.

Risks Related to Our Merchandise and Inventory

If we are not able to successfully maintain our desired merchandise assortment or manage our inventory effectively, we may be unable to attract a sufficient number of customers or sell sufficient quantities of our merchandise, which could result in excess inventories, markdowns, and foregone sales.

We offer our customers a broad merchandise assortment with new styles introduced virtually every day in small batches. This enables us to learn about customer demand using our proprietary reorder algorithm, which allows us to reorder winning products in higher volume. We cannot assure investors that we will be able to continue to stock a broad assortment of merchandise at our current frequency. If we are unable to offer a broad merchandise assortment or manage our inventory effectively, customers may choose to visit our website less frequently, our brand could be impaired, we could lose sales, and our ability to compete successfully and our market share may decline. Further, any failure to manage our merchandise assortment could lead to excess inventories which could lead to markdowns. We have experienced logistics issues that have adversely affected our ability to manage our inventory in the past and may experience such issues in the future. If we are unable to successfully maintain our desired merchandise assortment, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our ability to obtain merchandise on a timely basis at competitive prices could suffer as a result of any deterioration or change in our supplier relationships or events that adversely affect our suppliers or their ability to obtain financing for their operations.

We have many important supplier relationships. We do not own or operate any manufacturing facilities. Instead, we purchase nearly all of our merchandise from third-party suppliers. In the year ended January 3, 2021, our top 18 suppliers accounted for approximately 50% of our purchases, with no single supplier accounting for more than 7.3% of our purchases. In the twelve months ended July 4, 2021, our top 16 suppliers accounted for approximately 50% of our purchases, with no single supplier accounting for more than 8.8% of our purchases. Our business and financial performance depend in large part on our ability to evaluate merchandise quickly for style and then modify if needed or to improve the quality, look, and fit of the item. We must also be able to quickly source merchandise and place orders in order to successfully execute our strategy of rapidly responding to evolving fashion trends. Merchandise may not be available to meet our fashion needs on a timely basis, at competitive prices, or at all. Due to the nature of our product strategy, we do not have long-term commitments with any of our suppliers, and we generally operate without any contractual assurances of continued supply, pricing, or access to new products. Our standard terms and conditions do not commit us or our suppliers to any particular quantities, which are established on a purchase order basis.

Our supplier relationships, and therefore our business, could be materially adversely affected if our suppliers:

 

   

raise the prices they charge us;

 

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change pricing terms to require us to pay upfront or upon delivery;

 

   

reduce our access to styles, brands, and merchandise by entering into broad exclusivity arrangements with our competitors or otherwise in the marketplace;

 

   

sell similar merchandise to our competitors with similar or better pricing, many of whom already purchase merchandise in significantly greater volume and, in some cases, at lower prices than we do;

 

   

lengthen their lead times;

 

   

decrease the quality of their merchandise;

 

   

initiate or expand sales of apparel, footwear, and accessories to retail customers directly through their own stores, catalogs, or on the internet and compete with us directly; or

 

   

otherwise choose to discontinue selling merchandise to us.

The success of our business is driven in part by the price-value proposition we offer our customers. If the costs of the raw materials, for example cotton, synthetics, and trim, or other inputs, such as energy costs or prevailing wages, used in producing our merchandise increase, our suppliers may look to pass these cost increases along to us. The price and availability of such raw materials may fluctuate significantly, depending on many factors which are outside of our control, including commodity prices, crop yields, and weather patterns. In addition, the costs of other inputs are also outside of our control. If our suppliers attempt to pass any cost increases on to us and we refuse to pay the increases, we could lose those suppliers, resulting in the risk that we could not fill our purchase orders in a timely manner or at all. If we pay the increases, we could either attempt to raise retail prices for our merchandise, which could adversely affect our sales and our brand image, or choose not to raise prices, which could adversely affect the profitability of our merchandise sales. As a result, any increase in the cost of raw materials or other inputs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We historically have established good working relationships with many suppliers, some of which have more limited resources, production capacities and operating histories than others. Market and economic events that adversely impact our suppliers could impair our ability to obtain merchandise in sufficient quantities. Such events include difficulties or problems associated with our suppliers’ business, finances, ability to import or ship merchandise as a result of strikes, labor disruptions or other events, costs, production, insurance, and reputation. We cannot assure investors that we will be able to acquire desired merchandise in sufficient quantities on acceptable terms or at all in the future, especially if we need significantly greater amounts of inventory in connection with the growth of our business, or that we will be able to get such merchandise delivered to our distribution facilities or our third-party logistics provider on a timely basis. We may need to develop new relationships, as our current suppliers may be unable to supply us with needed quantities and we may not be able to find similar merchandise on the same terms. If we are unable to acquire suitable merchandise in sufficient quantities, at acceptable prices with adequate delivery times due to the loss of or a deterioration or change in our relationship with one or more of our key suppliers or if events harmful to our suppliers occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

If new trade restrictions are imposed or existing trade restrictions become more burdensome, our ability to source imported merchandise efficiently and cost effectively could be materially adversely affected.

We purchase a portion of our inventory from foreign manufacturers, including those based in China, which is either directly imported by us from foreign suppliers or imported by domestic importers.

 

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Suppliers, to the extent they obtain merchandise from outside of the United States, are subject to trade restrictions, including tariffs, safeguards, or quotas, changes to which could increase the cost or reduce the supply of merchandise available to us. Under the World Trade Organization Agreement, effective January 1, 2005, the United States and other World Trade Organization member countries removed quotas on goods from World Trade Organization members, which in certain instances we believe affords our suppliers greater flexibility in importing textile and apparel products from World Trade Organization countries from which they source our merchandise. However, as the removal of quotas resulted in an import surge from China, the United States imposed safeguard quotas on a number of categories of goods and apparel from China and may impose additional quotas in the future. These and other trade restrictions could have a significant impact on our suppliers’ sourcing patterns in the future. The extent of this impact, if any, and the possible effect on our purchasing patterns and costs, cannot be determined at this time. We cannot predict whether any of the countries in which our suppliers’ merchandise is currently manufactured or may be manufactured in the future will be subject to additional trade restrictions imposed by the United States or foreign governments, nor can we predict the likelihood, type or effect of any restrictions. Trade restrictions, including increased tariffs or quotas, embargoes, safeguards, and customs restrictions against items we offer, as well as U.S. or foreign labor strikes, work stoppages or boycotts, could increase the cost or reduce the supply of merchandise to our suppliers, and we would expect the costs to be passed along in increased prices to us, which we may be unable to pass on to our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Merchandise returns could harm our business.

We allow our customers to return merchandise, subject to our return policy. If merchandise return economics become more costly, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be harmed. Further, we modify our policies relating to returns from time to time, which may result in customer dissatisfaction or an increase in the number of merchandise returns. Supplier non-compliance can also result in increased returns. From time to time our products are damaged in transit, which can increase return rates and harm our brand. Competitive pressures could cause us to alter our return policies or our shipping policies, which could result in an increase in damaged products and an increase in merchandise returns.

Risks Related to Our Technology Infrastructure

System security risk issues, including any real or perceived failure to protect confidential or personal information against security breaches and disruption of our internal operations or information technology systems, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

External parties, such as experienced computer programmers and hackers, or even internal users (including both employees and non-employees with authorized access), may be able to penetrate or create systems disruptions or cause shutdowns of our networks, systems and applications or those of third-party companies with which we have contracted to provide services. We collect and use personal information about our employees, customers and others, and sometimes rely upon third-party service providers to maintain or process data on our behalf and to provide security for the information in their possession. Any real or perceived compromise of such information could deter customers from using our platform, subject us to governmental investigations and/or enforcement actions, fines and penalties, litigation, claims and other liabilities, and harm our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, we could incur significant expenses or disruptions of our operations in connection with system failures or other factors beyond our control. Such failures or breaches in our information systems could also result in the disclosure, misappropriation or misuse of or unauthorized access to our confidential,

 

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proprietary, or personal information, disruption of our operations or damage to our networks and systems. An increasing number of websites, including several large internet companies, have recently disclosed breaches of their security, some of which have involved increasingly sophisticated and highly targeted attacks on portions of their sites. For example, online businesses have been targeted with attacks aimed at compromising the security of payment card information submitted by customers for online purchases, including by injecting malicious code or scripts on website pages or by gaining unauthorized access to payment systems. As an online retailer, we may be targeted with similar attempts.

Although we take steps to protect our networks, systems, applications and data, we or our service providers may be unable to anticipate, defend against, or timely identify and respond to such activity, including hacking, malware, viruses, social engineering (such as phishing or other scams), extortion, account takeover attacks, denial or degradation of service attacks, supply chain attacks, computer and network vulnerabilities or the negligence and malfeasance of individuals with authorized access to our data. For example, an unauthorized actor interfered with one of our payment processing systems during a five-day period in August 2016, and intermittently may have been able to intercept approximately 12,500 payment card numbers used for purchases by customers entering a new payment card on our website during that period. We remediated the incident and notified affected customers and state regulators of the incident in accordance with our response plan. In addition to remediating the issue, we have subsequently implemented various additional security measures to prevent and mitigate the attack vectors used to gain access to the www.lulus.com file system. When we notified potentially affected customers, we provided them with information on how to help detect and prevent abuse of their personal and credit card information. The incident did not appear to have any negative impact on customers’ purchasing confidence. In addition, sophisticated hardware and operating system software and applications that we buy or license from third parties may contain defects in design or manufacture, including “bugs” and other problems that could unexpectedly interfere with the security and operation of the systems. The costs to us to eliminate or alleviate security problems, viruses and bugs, or any problems associated with the outsourced services provided to us, could be significant, and efforts to address these problems could result in interruptions, delays or cessation of service that may impede our sales, distribution, or other critical functions and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, many governments have enacted laws or regulations that require companies to notify individuals about certain types of security incidents or breaches, and any such disclosures may lead to negative publicity and may deter customers from shopping on our platform. It is also possible that security breaches affecting our competitors or others in our industry could also result in negative publicity that indirectly harms our reputation. Increasing public, industry, and governmental focus on privacy and data security may continue to lead to additional guidance or legislative and regulatory action, and the increased emphasis on privacy may lead customers to request that we take additional measures to enhance security or restrict the manner in which we collect and use customer information to gather insights into customer behavior and craft our marketing programs. As a result, we may have to modify our business systems and practices with the goal of further improving data security, which could result in reduced net revenue, increased expenditures and operating complexity. Any compromise of our security or security breach could result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, significant legal and financial exposure or damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our existing general liability and cybersecurity insurance may not cover any, or cover only a portion of any, potential claims or expenses related to security breaches that affect us or may not be adequate to indemnify us for all or any portion of liabilities that may be imposed. In addition, we cannot assure investors that the limitations on liability in our contracts would be enforceable or adequate or would otherwise protect us from any such liabilities with respect to any particular claim. Any imposition

 

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of liability that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of insurance coverage would increase our operating expenses and reduce our net income, if any, or increase our net loss.

We continually update, augment and add technology systems, which could potentially disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Over the years, we have found a balance between developing proprietary applications that are optimized for and tailored to our business and customers’ needs on the one hand, and best-in-class third-party solutions on the other hand. We periodically evaluate whether our proprietary application solutions can be replaced by either more advanced or more cost effectively scaled third-party solutions. While currently our order and warehouse management systems are developed in-house, when suitable third-party solutions become available, we might replace our internal systems depending on the growth and the demands of the business.

For example, in 2017 we implemented a data warehouse solution that in near real-time integrates data from our proprietary software applications and third-party software applications to unlock the various data silos and allow for holistic business intelligence analysis and reporting. The actionable insights we have been able to gather from these analytics have allowed us to detect and act on trends sooner, identify improvement opportunities and implement predictive analysis models to gain efficiencies.

Additionally, from time to time, our systems require modifications and updates, including by adding new hardware, software, and applications; maintaining, updating, or replacing legacy programs; and integrating new service providers, and adding enhanced or new functionality. Although we are actively selecting systems and vendors and implementing procedures to enable us to maintain the integrity of our systems when we modify them, there are inherent risks associated with modifying or replacing systems, and with new or changed relationships, including accurately capturing and maintaining data, realizing the expected benefit of the change and managing the potential disruption of the operation of the systems as the changes are implemented. The failure of our information systems and the third-party systems we rely on to perform as designed, or our failure to implement and operate them effectively, could disrupt our business or subject us to liability and thereby harm our profitability.

The risks associated with the above systems changes, as well as any failure of such systems to operate effectively, could disrupt and adversely impact the promptness and accuracy of our merchandise distribution, transaction processing, financial accounting and reporting, and our internal controls over financial reporting, the efficiency of our operations and our ability to properly forecast earnings and cash requirements. We could be required to make significant additional expenditures to remediate any such failures or problems in the future.

We may not be able to successfully implement these new systems or, if implemented, we may still face unexpected disruptions or cost overruns in the future, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We rely significantly on technology and systems to support our supply chain, payments, financial reporting and other key aspects of our business. Any failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of those systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our ability to effectively manage our business depends significantly on our information systems and platforms provided by third parties, which we use primarily to manage items, purchase orders, stock ledgers and allocation and supply chain planning. To manage the growth of our operations and

 

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personnel, we will need to continue to improve and expand our operational and financial systems, transaction processing and internal controls and business processes; in doing so, we could encounter transitional issues and incur substantial additional expenses. If we are unable to maintain our current relationships with these service providers, there is no assurance that we will be able to locate replacements on a timely basis or on acceptable terms. The failure of our information systems to operate effectively, problems with transitioning to upgraded or replacement systems or expanding them, or a breach in security of these systems, could materially adversely affect the promptness and accuracy of our merchandise distribution, transaction processing, financial accounting and reporting, the efficiency of our operations and our ability to properly forecast earnings and cash requirements. We could be required to make significant additional expenditures to remediate any such failure, problem or breach. Any such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Further, we house many of our systems offsite at third-party data centers. Our data centers may be subject to cyber-attacks or other technology-related incidents, and also break-ins, sabotage and intentional acts of vandalism that could cause disruptions in our ability to serve our customers and protect data. Some of our systems are not fully redundant, and our disaster recovery planning cannot account for all eventualities. The occurrence of a natural disaster, intentional sabotage or other anticipated problems could result in lengthy interruptions to our service. Any errors or vulnerability in our systems or damage to or failure of our systems, or a third-party data center hosting our data, could result in interruptions in our operations and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In addition, we may now and in the future implement new systems to increase efficiencies and profitability. We may encounter transitional issues and incur substantial additional expenses in connection with any implementation or change to existing processes, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our business relies heavily on email and other messaging services, and any restrictions on the sending of emails or messages or an inability to timely deliver such communications could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our business is highly dependent upon email and other messaging services for promoting our brand and platform. We send promotional emails to inform customers of new products, shipping specials and other offers, and transactional emails to communicate updates to customer orders and returns. We believe these messages are an important part of our customer experience. If we are unable to successfully deliver emails or other messages to our subscribers, or if subscribers decline to open or read our messages, our net revenue and profitability would be materially adversely affected. Changes in how web and mail services block, organize and prioritize email may reduce the number of subscribers who receive or open our emails. For example, Google’s Gmail service has a feature that organizes incoming emails into categories (for example, primary, social and promotions). Such categorization or similar inbox organizational features may result in our emails being delivered in a less prominent location in a subscriber’s inbox or viewed as “spam” by our subscribers and may reduce the likelihood of that subscriber reading our emails. Actions by third parties to block, impose restrictions on or charge for the delivery of emails or other messages could also adversely impact our business. From time to time, emails service providers or other third parties may block bulk email transmissions or otherwise experience technical difficulties that could result in our inability to successfully deliver emails or other messages to customers. Changes in the laws or regulations that limit our ability to send such communications or impose additional requirements upon us in connection with sending such communications would also materially adversely impact our business. Our use of email and other messaging services to send communications to customers may also result in legal claims against us, which may cause us increased expense, and if successful might result in fines or orders with costly

 

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reporting and compliance obligations or might limit or prohibit our ability to send emails or other messages. We also rely on social media platforms to communicate with our customers and to encourage our customers to engage with our brand. Changes to the terms of these social networking services to limit promotional communications, any restrictions that would limit our ability or our customers’ ability to send communications through their services, disruptions or downtime experienced by these social media platforms or decline in the use of or engagement with social media platforms by consumers could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Risks Related to the Supply of Our Products

Our business, including our costs and supply chain, is subject to risks associated with sourcing, manufacturing, and warehousing.

We currently source nearly all of the merchandise we offer from third-party suppliers, and as a result we may be subject to price fluctuations or demand disruptions. Our results of operations would be negatively impacted by increases in the prices of our merchandise, and we have no guarantees that prices will not rise. In addition, as we expand into new categories and product types, we expect that we may not have strong purchasing power in these new areas, which could lead to higher prices than we have historically seen in our current categories. We may not be able to pass increased prices on to customers, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Moreover, in the event of a significant disruption in the supply of the fabrics or raw materials used in the manufacture of the merchandise we offer, the suppliers we work with might not be able to locate alternative suppliers of materials of comparable quality at an acceptable price. For example, natural disasters could increase raw material costs, impacting pricing with certain of our suppliers, or cause shipping delays for certain of our merchandise. Any delays, interruption, damage to, or increased costs in the manufacture of the merchandise we offer could result in higher prices to acquire the merchandise or non-delivery of merchandise altogether and could adversely affect our results of operations.

We believe that we have strong supplier relationships, and we work continuously with our suppliers to manage cost increases. Our overall profitability depends, in part, on the success of our ability to mitigate rising costs or shortages of raw materials used to manufacture our merchandise. Cotton, synthetics and other raw materials used to manufacture our merchandise are subject to availability constraints and price volatility impacted by a number of factors, including supply and demand for fabrics, weather, government regulations, economic climate, and other unpredictable factors. In addition, our sourcing costs may fluctuate due to labor conditions, transportation, or freight costs, energy prices, currency fluctuations, or other unpredictable factors. The cost of labor at many of our third-party suppliers has been increasing in recent years, and we believe it is unlikely that such cost pressures will abate.

Most of our merchandise is shipped from our suppliers by ocean vessel. If a disruption occurs in the operation of ports through which our merchandise is imported, we may incur increased costs related to air freight or use of alternative ports. Shipping by air is significantly more expensive than shipping by ocean and our margins and profitability could be reduced. Shipping to alternative ports could also lead to delays in receipt of our merchandise. We rely on third-party shipping companies to deliver our merchandise to us. Failures by these shipping companies to deliver our merchandise to us or lack of capacity in the shipping industry could lead to delays in receipt of our merchandise or increased expense in the delivery of our merchandise. Any of these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In addition, we cannot guarantee that merchandise we receive from suppliers will be of sufficient quality or free from damage, or that such merchandise will not be damaged during shipping, while

 

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stored in one of our distribution facilities, or when returned by customers. While we take measures to ensure merchandise quality and avoid damage, including evaluating supplier product samples, conducting inventory inspections and inspecting returned product, we cannot control merchandise while it is out of our possession or prevent all damage while in our distribution facilities. We may incur additional expenses and our reputation could be harmed if customers and potential customers believe that our merchandise is not of sufficiently high quality or may be damaged.

We have two distribution facilities and disruptions to the operations at these locations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our distribution facilities are located in Chico, California and Easton, Pennsylvania. All of our merchandise is shipped from our suppliers to one of our distribution facilities or to a third-party consolidation center (which then ships to our distribution facilities) and then packaged and shipped from our distribution facilities to our customers. The success of our business depends on our timely receipt of merchandise so we can continuously bring new, on-trend products online for sale. The success of our business also depends on customer orders being timely processed and delivered to meet promised delivery dates and satisfy our customers. The efficient flow of our merchandise requires that we have adequate capacity and uninterrupted service in our distribution facilities to support both our current level of operations and the anticipated increased levels that may follow from our growth plans. In order to accommodate future growth, we will either need to expand and upgrade our existing distribution facilities or open additional distribution facilities. Upgrading our existing distribution facilities or transferring our operations to a facility with greater capacity will require us to incur additional costs, which could be significant, and may require us to secure additional favorable real estate or may require us to obtain additional financing. Appropriate locations or financing for the purchase or lease of such additional real estate may not be available at reasonable costs or at all. Our failure to provide adequate order fulfillment, secure additional distribution capacity when necessary, or retain a suitable third-party logistics provider could impede our growth plans. Further increasing this capacity could increase our costs, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In addition, if we encounter difficulties associated with our distribution facilities or if they were to shut down or be unable to operate for any reason, including because of fire, natural disaster, power outage, or other event, we could face inventory shortages, resulting in “out-of-stock” conditions on our website, and delays in shipments, resulting in significantly higher costs and longer lead times distributing our merchandise. In addition, operations and distribution staff would need to find an alternative location, causing further disruption to our business and operations and increased costs associated with opening a new location.

Without stronger disaster recovery, business continuity and document retention plans, if we encounter difficulties or disasters with our distribution facilities or corporate offices, our critical systems, operations and information may not be restored in a timely manner, or at all, and this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We rely on third-party suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers, and they may not continue to produce products or provide services that are consistent with our standards or applicable regulatory requirements, which could harm our brand, cause consumer dissatisfaction, and require us to find alternative suppliers of our products or services.

We do not own or operate any manufacturing facilities. We use multiple third-party suppliers who source from manufacturers based primarily in China and, to a lesser extent, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, India, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, United States, and Vietnam, to source and manufacture all of our products under our owned brand and third-party brands. We engage

 

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our third-party suppliers and manufacturers on a purchase order basis combined with customary terms and conditions and are not party to any long-term contracts containing purchase obligations. The ability of these third parties to supply and manufacture our products may be affected by competing orders placed by other clients and the demands of those clients. If we experience significant increases in demand, or need to replace a significant number of existing suppliers or manufacturers, we cannot assure that additional supply and manufacturing capacity will be available when required on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, or that any supplier or manufacturer will allocate sufficient capacity to us in order to meet our requirements.

In addition, quality control problems, such as the use of materials and delivery of products that do not meet our quality control standards and specifications or comply with applicable laws or regulations, could harm our business. We do not regularly inspect our suppliers and quality control problems could result in regulatory action, such as restrictions on importation, products of inferior quality or product stock outages or shortages, harming our sales, and creating inventory write-downs for unusable products.

Further, our third-party manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors may:

 

   

have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with ours;

 

   

take actions contrary to our instructions, requests, policies or objectives;

 

   

be unable or unwilling to fulfill their obligations under relevant purchase orders, including obligations to meet our production deadlines, quality standards, pricing guidelines and product specifications, and to comply with applicable regulations, including those regarding the safety and quality of products;

 

   

have financial difficulties;

 

   

encounter raw material or labor shortages;

 

   

encounter increases in raw material or labor costs which may affect our procurement costs;

 

   

disclose our confidential information or intellectual property to competitors or third parties;

 

   

engage in activities or employ practices that may harm our reputation; and

 

   

work with, be acquired by, or come under control of, our competitors.

Any failure by us or our suppliers to comply with product safety, labor or other laws, or our standard terms and conditions, or to provide safe factory conditions for their workers may damage our reputation and brand and harm our business.

The merchandise we sell to our customers is subject to regulation by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (the “CPSC”) and similar state and international regulatory authorities. As a result, such merchandise could be in the future subject to recalls and other remedial actions. Product safety, labeling, and licensing concerns may require us to voluntarily remove selected merchandise from our inventory. Such recalls or voluntary removal of merchandise can result in, among other things, lost sales, diverted resources, potential harm to our reputation, and increased customer service costs and legal expenses, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Some of the merchandise we sell may expose us to product liability claims and litigation or regulatory action relating to personal injury or environmental or property damage. Although we maintain liability insurance, we cannot be certain that our coverage will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred or that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms or at all. In addition, some of our agreements with our suppliers may not indemnify us from product liability for a particular supplier’s merchandise or our suppliers may not have sufficient resources or insurance to satisfy their indemnity and defense obligations.

 

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We purchase our merchandise from numerous domestic and international suppliers. Our standard vendor terms and conditions require suppliers to comply with applicable laws. Failure of our suppliers to comply with applicable laws and regulations and contractual requirements could lead to litigation against us, resulting in increased legal expenses and costs. In addition, the failure of any such suppliers to provide safe and humane factory conditions and oversight at their facilities could damage our reputation with customers or result in legal claims against us.

Our current and future products may experience quality problems from time to time that could result in negative publicity, litigation, product recalls and warranty claims, which could result in decreased net revenue and harm to our brand.

We cannot assure that we will be able to detect, prevent or fix all defects that may affect our merchandise. Inconsistency of legislation and regulations may also affect the costs of compliance with such laws and regulations. Such problems could hurt the image of our brand, which is critical to maintaining and expanding our business. Any negative publicity or lawsuits filed against us related to the perceived quality of our products could harm our brand and decrease demand for our products.

We rely upon independent third-party transportation providers for substantially all of our merchandise shipments and any disruptions or increased transportation costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We currently rely upon independent third-party transportation providers for substantially all of our merchandise shipments, including shipments to all of our distribution facilities and our customers. Our shipments are subject to risks, including increases in fuel prices, which would increase our distribution costs, and employee strikes and inclement weather, which may impact the third party’s ability to provide delivery services that adequately meet our needs. For example, it can take as long as six to seven days to get shipments from our distribution facilities. If we change shipping companies, we could face logistical difficulties that could adversely impact deliveries and we would incur costs and expend resources in connection with such change. Moreover, we may not be able to obtain terms as favorable as those received from the independent third-party transportation providers we currently use, which would increase our costs. Historically, the shipping and handling fees we charge our customers are intended to partially offset the related shipping and handling expenses. Pure-play and omni-channel retailers are increasing their focus on delivery services, as customers are increasingly seeking faster, guaranteed delivery times and low-price or free shipping. To remain competitive, we may be required to offer discounted, free or other more competitive shipping options to our customers, including expedited delivery services, which may result in declines in our shipping and handling fees and increased shipping and handling expense. Any increase in shipping costs or any other significant shipping difficulties or disruptions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Risks Related to Regulation, Taxation and Litigation

We may be subject to liability and other risks if we, our suppliers or the manufacturers of our merchandise infringe upon the trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property rights of third parties, including the risk that we could acquire merchandise from our suppliers without the full right to sell it.

We purchase merchandise that may be subject to copyrights, design patents, trademark, trade dress or otherwise may incorporate protected intellectual property. Typically we are not involved in the manufacture of any of the merchandise that we purchase from our suppliers for sale to our customers, and we do not independently investigate whether our suppliers or the manufacturers with whom they do business hold intellectual property rights to the merchandise we purchase. Third parties have and

 

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may bring legal claims, or threaten to bring legal claims, against us that their intellectual property rights are being infringed or violated by our use of intellectual property if our suppliers or the manufacturers of our merchandise infringe upon the intellectual property rights of third parties. Litigation or threatened litigation, regardless of merit, could be costly, time consuming to defend, require us to redesign or rebrand our products or packaging, if feasible, distract our senior management from operating our business and require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements in order to obtain the right to use a third party’s intellectual property. Any such royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we were to be found liable for any such infringement, we could be required to pay substantial damages which our indemnifying suppliers may not be able to fully pay, and could be subject to injunctions preventing further infringement. In addition, any payments we are required to make and any injunctions with which we are required to comply as a result of infringement claims could be costly. While our standard terms and conditions require our suppliers to indemnify us against third-party intellectual property claims, certain agreements with our suppliers may not indemnify us from intellectual property claims for a particular supplier’s merchandise or our suppliers may not have sufficient resources or insurance to satisfy their indemnity and defense obligations. Any legal claims or litigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

If a third party claims to have licensing rights with respect to merchandise we purchased from a supplier, or if we acquire unlicensed merchandise, we may be obligated to remove this merchandise from our platform, incur costs associated with this removal if the distributor or supplier is unwilling or unable to reimburse us and be subject to liability under various civil and criminal causes of action, including actions to recover unpaid royalties and other damages and injunctions. Additionally, we could need to purchase new merchandise to replace any we remove. Any such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We may be unable to protect our trademarks or other intellectual property rights.

We believe that our trademarks are integral to our business and our success in building our brand image and customer loyalty. We rely on trademark registrations and common law trademark rights to protect the distinctiveness of our brand and have registered, or have applied to register, those trademarks that we believe are important to our business with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in many foreign countries. We cannot assure that our applications will be approved or that these registrations will prevent imitation of our name, merchandising concept, website design or merchandise or the infringement of our other intellectual property rights by others. Third parties may also oppose our trademark applications or otherwise challenge our use of the trademarks. In certain cases, the merchandise we sell is purchased on a non-exclusive basis from suppliers that also sell to our competitors. While we use our brand name on these items, our competitors may seek to replicate aspects of our business strategy and online experience, thereby diluting the experience we offer and adversely affecting our brand and competitive position. Imitation of our name, concept, website design or merchandise in a manner that projects lesser quality or carries a negative connotation of our brand image could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We cannot be certain that the actions we have taken to establish, police and protect our trademarks or our resources will be adequate to prevent imitation of our merchandise by others or to prevent others from seeking to block sales of our merchandise as a violation of the trademarks or proprietary rights of others. If disputes arise in the future, we may not be able to successfully resolve these types of conflicts to our satisfaction. In the event that our trademarks are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our products, which could result in loss of brand recognition and could require us to devote resources to advertising and marketing new brands. Although we cannot currently estimate the likelihood of success of any such lawsuit or ultimate resolution of such a

 

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conflict, such a conflict, regardless of outcome, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Litigation may be necessary to protect our trademarks and other intellectual property rights or to enforce these rights. Any litigation or claims brought by us could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Unfavorable changes or failure by us to comply with evolving internet and e-commerce regulations could substantially harm our business and results of operations.

We are subject to general business regulations and laws as well as regulations and laws specifically governing the internet and e-commerce. These regulations and laws may involve taxes, privacy and data security, customer protection, the ability to collect and/or share necessary information that allows us to conduct business on the internet, marketing communications and advertising, content protection, electronic contracts or gift cards. Furthermore, the regulatory landscape impacting internet and e-commerce businesses is constantly evolving.

We collect personally identifiable information and other data from our employees, customers, prospective customers and others. We use this information to provide services and relevant products to our customers, to support, expand and improve our business, and to tailor our marketing and advertising efforts. We may also share customers’ personal data with certain third parties as authorized by the customer or as described in our privacy policy.

As a result, we are subject to or affected by laws, governmental regulation and other legal obligations related to data protection, privacy and information security in certain countries where we do business, and there has been and will continue to be new proposed laws and regulations and changes to existing legal frameworks that govern how we collect, use, share, and process personal data.

In the United States, the federal government and various state governments have adopted or proposed guidelines or rules for the collection, distribution, use and storage of information collected from or about individuals or their devices. For example, in 2020, the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), came into force, and provides new data privacy rights for California consumers and new operational requirements for covered companies. Specifically, the CCPA mandates that covered companies provide new disclosures to California consumers and afford such consumers new data privacy rights that include, among other things, the right to request a copy from a covered company of the personal information collected about them, the right to request deletion of such personal information, and the right to request to opt-out of certain sales of such personal information. The California Attorney General can enforce the CCPA, including seeking an injunction and civil penalties for violations. The CCPA also provides a private right of action for certain data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation. Additionally, a new privacy law, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), was approved by California voters in the November 3, 2020 election. The CPRA, which takes effect on January 1, 2023 and significantly modifies the CCPA, could result in further uncertainty and require us to incur additional costs and expenses in an effort to comply. In addition, on March 2, 2021, Virginia enacted the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, or CDPA, which becomes effective on January 1, 2023, and on June 8, 2021, Colorado enacted the Colorado Privacy Act, or CPA, which takes effect on July 1, 2023. The CPA and CDPA are similar to the CCPA and CPRA but aspects of these state privacy statutes remain unclear, resulting in further legal uncertainty and potentially requiring us to modify our data practices and policies and to incur substantial additional costs and expenses in an effort to comply. Complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) in Europe, the CCPA, CPRA, CDPA, CPA, or other laws, regulations, amendments to or re-interpretations of existing laws and regulations, and contractual or other obligations relating to

 

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privacy, data protection, data transfers, data localization, or information security may require us to make changes to our services to enable us or our customers to meet new legal requirements, incur substantial operational costs, modify our data practices and policies, and restrict our business operations. Any actual or perceived failure by us to comply with these laws, regulations, or other obligations may lead to significant fines, penalties, regulatory investigations, lawsuits, significant costs for remediation, damage to our reputation, or other liabilities. Other state regulators and the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) with authority to enforce federal and state customer protection laws may also impose standards for the online collection, use and dissemination of data.

Foreign privacy laws are also undergoing a period of rapid change, have become more stringent in recent years and may increase the costs and complexity of offering our products and services in new geographies. In Canada, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA, and various provincial laws require that companies give detailed privacy notices to consumers; obtain consent to use personal information, with limited exceptions; allow individuals to access and correct their personal information; and report certain data breaches. In addition, Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation, or CASL, prohibits email marketing without the recipient’s consent, with limited exceptions. Failure to comply with PIPEDA, CASL or provincial privacy or data protection laws could result in significant fines and penalties or possible damage awards. In Europe, the European Union (the “EU”) has adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”) which went into effect in May 2018 and introduced stringent requirements for processing personal data. The GDPR has increased compliance burdens, including by mandating extensive documentation requirements and granting certain rights to individuals to control how we collect, use, disclose, retain and leverage information about them or how we obtain consent from them. The processing of sensitive personal data, such as physical health condition, may impose heightened compliance burdens under the GDPR and is a topic of active interest among foreign regulators. In addition, the GDPR provides for breach reporting requirements, more robust regulatory enforcement and greater penalties for noncompliance than previous data protection laws, including fines of up to 20 million or 4% of a noncompliant company’s global annual revenues for the preceding financial year, whichever is greater.

In July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union invalidated the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework, a mechanism for companies to comply with data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the EU to the United States. Additionally, in September 2020, the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner of Switzerland issued an opinion concluding that the Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield did not provide an adequate level of protection for data transfers from Switzerland to the United States under Swiss data protection law. We make use of alternative data transfer mechanisms such as standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission, or the SCCs. On June 4, 2021, the European Commission adopted new SCCs under the GDPR for personal data transfers outside the EEA, which may require us to expend significant resources to update our contractual arrangements and to comply with such obligations. Further, data protection authorities may require measures to be put in place in addition to SCCs for transfers to countries outside of the European Economic Area, or EEA, as well as Switzerland and the United Kingdom, or UK. Our third-party service providers may also be affected by these changes. In addition to other impacts, we may experience additional costs to comply with these changes, and we and our customers face the potential for regulators in the EEA, Switzerland, or the UK to apply different standards to the transfer of personal data from the EEA, Switzerland, or the UK to the United States and other non-EEA countries, and to block, or require ad hoc verification of measures taken with respect to certain data flows from the EEA, Switzerland, and the UK to the United States and other non-EEA countries. We also may be required to engage in new contract negotiations with third parties that aid in processing data on our behalf, to the extent that any of our service providers or consultants have been relying on invalidated or insufficient contractual protections for compliance with evolving interpretations of and guidance for cross-border data transfers pursuant to the GDPR. In such cases, we may not be able to

 

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find alternative service providers, which could limit our ability to process personal data from the EEA, Switzerland, or the UK and increase our costs.

The UK has implemented legislation similar to the GDPR, including the UK Data Protection Act and legislation similar to the GDPR referred to as the UK GDPR, which provides for fines of up to the greater of 17.5 million British Pounds or 4% of a company’s worldwide turnover, whichever is higher. Additionally, the relationship between the UK and the EU in relation to certain aspects of data protection law remains unclear following the UK’s exit from the EU, including with respect to regulation of data transfers between EU member states and the UK. On June 28, 2021, the European Commission announced a decision of “adequacy” concluding that the UK ensures an equivalent level of data protection to the GDPR, which provides some relief regarding the legality of continued personal data flows from the EEA to the UK. Some uncertainty remains, however, as this adequacy determination must be renewed after four years and may be modified or revoked in the interim. We cannot fully predict how the Data Protection Act, the UK GDPR, and other UK data protection laws or regulations may develop in the medium to longer term nor the effects of divergent laws and guidance regarding how data transfers to and from the UK will be regulated.

As we continue to expand and new laws are enacted or existing laws change, we may be subject to new laws, regulations or standards or new interpretations of existing laws, regulations or standards, which could require us to incur additional costs and restrict our business operations. Furthermore, these obligations may be interpreted and applied inconsistently from one jurisdiction to another and may conflict with other requirements or our practices. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with rapidly evolving data protection laws and regulations, policies (including our own stated privacy policies), legal obligations, contractual obligations or industry standards, or any security incident that results in the unauthorized release or transfer of personally identifiable information or other customer data, may result in governmental investigations and/or enforcement actions, litigation (including customer class actions), claims by our customers and other third parties, fines, penalties and other liabilities, damage to our reputation or adverse publicity, and could cause our customers to lose trust in us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects.

If our suppliers fail to comply with applicable laws, including a failure to use acceptable labor practices, or if our suppliers suffer disruptions in their businesses, we could suffer adverse business consequences.

Our suppliers source the merchandise we sell from manufacturers both inside and outside of the United States. Although each of our purchase orders is subject to our terms and conditions, which require compliance with all applicable laws including labor and employment, immigration, customs, environmental and product safety, we do not own, supervise or control our suppliers or the manufacturers that produce the merchandise we sell. In the past we have purchased merchandise from our suppliers solely within the United States. In the future, we expect to increase direct purchases from suppliers outside the United States, which may expose us to additional risks. The violation, or perception of any violation, of any labor, immigration, product safety, or other laws by any of our suppliers, their U.S. and non-U.S. manufacturers, or our direct suppliers, such as use of forced or child labor, or the divergence of the labor practices followed by any of our suppliers or these manufacturers from those generally accepted in the United States, could damage our brand image or subject us to boycotts by our customers or activist groups which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Any event causing a sudden disruption of manufacturing or imports, including the imposition of additional import restrictions, could interrupt, or otherwise disrupt the shipment of finished products to us by our suppliers. Political and financial instability outside the United States, strikes, adverse weather

 

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conditions or natural disasters that may occur or acts of war or terrorism in the United States or worldwide, may affect the production, shipment or receipt of merchandise. These factors, which are beyond our control, may require us to modify our current business practices or incur increased costs and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Changes in laws, including employment laws and laws related to our merchandise, could make conducting our business more expensive or otherwise cause us to change the way we do business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We are subject to numerous regulations, including labor and employment, truth-in-advertising, California’s Proposition 65 and other environmental laws and regulations, customer protection and zoning and occupancy laws and ordinances that regulate retailers generally or govern the promotion and sale of merchandise and the operation of warehouse facilities. If these regulations were to change or were violated by our management, employees, or suppliers, the costs of certain goods could increase, or we could experience delays in shipments of our goods, be subject to fines or penalties or suffer reputational harm, which could reduce demand for our merchandise and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition to increased regulatory compliance requirements, changes in laws could make the ordinary conduct of our business more expensive or require us to change the way we do business.

Laws related to employee benefits and treatment of employees, including laws related to limitations on employee hours, immigration laws, child labor laws, supervisory status, leaves of absence, wages, mandated health benefits or overtime pay, could also increase compensation and benefits costs. Moreover, changes in product safety or other customer protection laws, could lead to increased costs to us for some merchandise, or additional labor costs associated with readying merchandise for sale. It is often difficult for us to plan and prepare for potential changes to applicable laws, and future actions or increased costs related to these changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Amendments to existing tax laws, rules or regulations or enactment of new unfavorable tax laws, rules or regulations could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Many of the underlying laws, rules or regulations imposing taxes and other obligations were established before the growth of the internet and e-commerce. Tax authorities in non-U.S. jurisdictions and at the U.S. federal, state and local levels are currently reviewing the appropriate treatment of companies engaged in internet commerce and considering changes to existing tax or other laws that could regulate our transmissions and/or levy sales, income, consumption, use or other taxes relating to our activities, and/or impose obligations on us to collect such taxes. For example, many U.S. states have enacted or are enacting new sales tax laws following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, as discussed below under “—The application of indirect taxes could adversely affect our business and results of operations.” We cannot predict the effect of current attempts to impose taxes on commerce over the internet. If such tax or other laws, rules or regulations were amended, or if new unfavorable laws, rules or regulations were enacted, the results could increase our tax payments or other obligations, prospectively or retrospectively, subject us to interest and penalties, decrease the demand for our services if we pass on such costs to the consumer, result in increased costs to update or expand our technical or administrative infrastructure or effectively limit the scope of our business activities if we decided not to conduct business in particular jurisdictions. As

 

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a result, these changes may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

In addition, various governments and intergovernmental organizations could introduce proposals for tax legislation, or adopt tax laws, that may have a significant adverse effect on our worldwide effective tax rate, or increase our tax liabilities, the carrying value of deferred tax assets, or our deferred tax liabilities. For example, the U.S. federal government could enact significant changes to the taxation of business entities including, among others, a permanent increase in the corporate income tax rate, an increase in the tax rate applicable to the global intangible low-taxed income and elimination of certain exemptions, and the imposition of minimum taxes or surtaxes on certain types of income. As another example, in October 2015, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (the “OECD”) released a final package of recommended tax measures for member nations to implement in an effort to limit “base erosion and profit shifting” (the “BEPS”) by multinational companies. Since then, the OECD has continued to monitor key areas of action and issue additional reports and guidance on implementation of the BEPS recommendations. Multiple jurisdictions, including some of the countries in which we operate, have begun implementing recommended changes aimed at addressing perceived issues within their respective tax systems that may lead to reduced tax liabilities among multinational companies. It is possible that other jurisdictions in which we operate or do business could react to the BEPS initiative or their own concerns by enacting tax legislation that could adversely affect us through increasing our tax liabilities.

The application of indirect taxes could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

The application of indirect taxes, such as sales and use tax, value-added tax, provincial taxes, goods and services tax, business tax and gross receipt tax, to our business and to our retailers and brands is a complex and evolving issue. Significant judgment is required to evaluate applicable tax obligations. As a result, amounts recorded may be subject to adjustments by the relevant tax authorities. In many cases, the ultimate tax determination is uncertain because it is not clear how new and existing statutes might apply to our business or to the businesses of our retailers and brands. One or more states, the federal government or other countries may seek to impose additional reporting, record-keeping or indirect tax collection obligations on businesses like ours that facilitate e-commerce. For example, state and local taxing authorities in the United States and taxing authorities in other countries have identified e-commerce platforms as a means to calculate, collect and remit indirect taxes for transactions taking place over the internet. Multiple U.S. states have enacted related legislation and other states are now considering similar legislation. Such legislation could require us to incur substantial costs in order to comply, including costs associated with legal advice, tax calculation, collection, remittance and audit requirements, which could make selling in such markets less attractive and could adversely affect our business. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court held in South Dakota v. Wayfair that a U.S. state may require an online retailer to collect sales taxes imposed by that state, even if the retailer has no physical presence in that state, thus permitting a wider enforcement of such sales tax collection requirements. Most U.S. states have enacted or are enacting new sales tax laws following the decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair.

U.S. import taxation levels may increase and could harm our business.

Increases in taxes imposed on goods imported to the United States have been proposed by U.S. lawmakers and the President of the United States and, if enacted, may impede our growth and negatively affect our results of operations. The majority of our inventory is made outside of the United States and would be subject to increased taxation if new taxes on imports were imposed. Such taxes would increase the cost of our inventory and would raise retail prices of our merchandise to the extent we pass the increased costs on to customers, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

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A failure to comply with current laws, rules and regulations or changes to such laws, rules and regulations and other legal uncertainties may adversely affect our business, financial performance, results of operations or business growth.

Our business and financial performance could be adversely affected by unfavorable changes in or interpretations of existing laws, rules, and regulations or the promulgation of new laws, rules and regulations applicable to us and our businesses, including those relating to the internet and e-commerce, including geo-blocking and other geographically based restrictions, internet advertising and price display, customer protection, anti-corruption, antitrust and competition, economic and trade sanctions, tax, banking, data security, data protection, and privacy. As a result, regulatory authorities could prevent or temporarily suspend us from carrying on some or all of our activities or otherwise penalize us if our practices were found not to comply with applicable regulatory or licensing requirements or any binding interpretation of such requirements. Unfavorable changes or interpretations could severely damage our reputation and our relationship with our customers, associates and investors as well as decrease demand for our services, limit marketing methods and capabilities, affect our margins, increase costs or subject us to additional liabilities.

For example, there are, and will likely continue to be, an increasing number of laws and regulations pertaining to the internet and e-commerce that may relate to liability for information retrieved from or transmitted over the internet, display of certain taxes and fees, online editorial and customer-generated content, user privacy, data security, behavioral targeting and online advertising, taxation, liability for third-party activities and the quality of services. Furthermore, the growth and development of e-commerce may prompt calls for more stringent customer protection laws and more aggressive enforcement efforts, which may impose additional burdens on online businesses generally.

Likewise, the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls (“OFAC”), the U.S. Department of State, as well as other foreign regulatory authorities continue to enforce economic and trade regulations and anti-corruption laws, across industries. U.S. trade sanctions relate to transactions with designated foreign countries and territories, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region of Ukraine, as well as specifically targeted individuals and entities that are identified on U.S. and other blacklists, and those owned by them or those acting on their behalf. Anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), generally prohibit direct or indirect corrupt payments to government officials and, under certain laws, private persons to obtain or retain business or an improper business advantage.

Although we have policies and procedures in place designed to promote compliance with laws and regulations, which we review and update as we expand our operations in existing and new jurisdictions in order to proportionately address risks of non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations, our employees, partners, or agents could take actions in contravention of our policies and procedures, or violate applicable laws or regulations. As regulations continue to develop and regulatory oversight continues to focus on these areas, we cannot guarantee that our policies and procedures will ensure compliance at all times with all applicable laws or regulations. In the event our controls should fail or we are found to be not in compliance for other reasons, we could be subject to monetary damages, civil and criminal monetary penalties, withdrawal of business licenses or permits, litigation, and damage to our reputation and the value of our brand.

As we expand our operations in existing and new jurisdictions internationally, we will need to increase the scope of our compliance programs to address the risks relating to the potential for violations of the FCPA and other anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws. Further, the promulgation of new laws, rules and regulations, or the new interpretation of existing laws, rules and regulations, in each case that restrict or otherwise unfavorably impact the ability or manner in which we or our retailers and brands conduct business could require us to change certain aspects of our business, operations and

 

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commercial relationships to ensure compliance, which could decrease demand for services, reduce net revenue, increase costs or subject us to additional liabilities.

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

We have substantial indebtedness and we may incur additional indebtedness in the future, which may require us to use a substantial portion of our cash flow to service debt and limit our financial and operating flexibility.

We have substantial indebtedness and we may incur additional indebtedness in the future. As of July 4, 2021, we had a total of $107.7 million of indebtedness outstanding under our Team Loan. Upon the completion of this offering, after giving effect to the use of proceeds described in this prospectus, we expect to have repaid all amounts outstanding under our credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch. Our existing and future indebtedness will require interest payments and need to be repaid or refinanced, and could require us to divert funds identified for other purposes to service our debt, could result in cash demands and impair our liquidity position and could result in financial risk for us. Diverting funds identified for other purposes for debt service may adversely affect our growth prospects. If we cannot generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service our debt, we may need to refinance our debt, dispose of assets, or issue equity to obtain necessary funds. We do not know whether we would be able to take any of these actions on a timely basis, on terms satisfactory to us, or at all.

Our level of indebtedness has important consequences to investments in our common stock. For example, our level of indebtedness might:

 

   

require us to use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to pay interest and principal on our debt, which would reduce the funds available to us for working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes;

 

   

limit our ability to pay future dividends;

 

   

limit our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, expansion plans, and other investments, which may limit our ability to implement our business strategy;

 

   

heighten our vulnerability to downturns in our business, the retail apparel industry, or in the general economy and limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the retail apparel industry; or

 

   

prevent us from taking advantage of business opportunities as they arise or successfully carrying out our plans to expand our product offerings.

Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations or future borrowings may be unavailable to us in amounts sufficient to enable us to make payments on our indebtedness or to fund our operations. If we are unable to service our debt or repay or refinance our indebtedness when due, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.

Our Term Loan matures on August 28, 2022. In projecting our future cash flows out one year from the date that our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements are issued, it appears we will have insufficient funds to satisfy this financial obligation unless we complete this offering. We cannot assure that we will be successful in obtaining sufficient funds to repay amounts outstanding under the Term Loan at maturity in August 2022. In addition, we cannot assure that any future financing will be available on favorable terms or at all.

 

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We intend to repay the $97.6 million principal amount outstanding under the Term Loan with the net proceeds from this offering and by obtaining additional equity or debt financing. If we are unable to raise additional capital when desired, or if we cannot expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on business opportunities because we lack sufficient capital, our business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations would be adversely impacted.

The terms of our existing senior secured credit facilities do, and the terms of any additional debt financing may, restrict our current and future operations, and our debt may be downgraded, which could adversely affect our ability to manage our operations and respond to changes in our business.

Our existing Credit Facility contains, and any additional debt financing we may incur would likely contain, covenants that restrict our operations, including limitations on our ability to grant liens, incur additional debt, pay dividends, redeem our common stock, make certain investments and engage in certain merger, consolidation or asset sale transactions. A failure by us to comply with the covenants or financial ratios contained in our Credit Facility or any additional debt financing we may incur could result in an event of default, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding to be due and payable and exercise other remedies. If the indebtedness under Credit Facility or any additional debt financing we may incur were to be accelerated, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Reserve—Credit Facilities” for additional information on the terms of our Credit Facility.

A decrease in the ratings that rating agencies assign to our short and long-term debt may negatively impact our access to the debt capital markets and increase our cost of borrowing, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service our indebtedness.

It is possible that we will in the future draw down on our Revolving Facility or enter into new debt obligations. Our ability to make scheduled payments or to refinance such debt obligations depends on numerous factors, including the amount of our cash balances and our actual and projected financial and operating performance. We may be unable to maintain a level of cash balances or cash flows sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our existing or future indebtedness. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets or operations, seek additional capital, or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. We may not be able to take any of these actions, and even if we are, these actions may be insufficient to permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. In addition, in the event of our breach of the Credit Facility, we may be required to repay any outstanding amounts.

Risks Related to Our Company and Our Ownership Structure

Our management team currently manages a private company and the transition to managing a public company will present new challenges.

Following the completion of this offering, we will be subject to various regulatory requirements, including those of the SEC and Nasdaq. These requirements include record keeping, financial reporting and corporate governance rules and regulations. While certain members of our management

 

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team have experience managing a public company, we do not have the resources typically found in a public company. Our internal infrastructure may not be adequate to support our increased reporting obligations, and we may be unable to hire, train, or retain necessary staff and may be reliant on engaging outside consultants or professionals to overcome our lack of experience or personnel. If our internal infrastructure is inadequate, we are unable to engage outside consultants or are otherwise unable to fulfill our public company obligations, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Concentration of ownership among our existing executive officers, directors and principal stockholders may prevent new investors from influencing significant corporate decisions.

Upon completion of this offering, and assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, our executive officers, directors, and principal stockholders will own, in the aggregate, approximately 79.3% of our outstanding common stock. These stockholders will be able to exercise significant control over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and approval of significant corporate transactions and will have significant control over our management and policies. This concentration of influence could be disadvantageous to other stockholders with interests different from those of our officers, directors, and principal stockholders and could have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock.

In addition, these stockholders could take actions that have the effect of delaying or preventing a change-in-control of us or discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares, which could prevent stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares. These actions may be taken even if other stockholders oppose them.

Anti-takeover provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of us more difficult, limit attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management and limit the market price of our common stock.

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as amended and restated in connection with this offering, may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or changes in our management. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will include provisions that:

 

   

authorize our board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) to issue, without further action by the stockholders, up to 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock;

 

   

subject to certain exceptions, including that entities affiliated with H.I.G., IVP and CPPIB hold at least 50% of our common stock, require that any action to be taken by our stockholders be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting and not by written consent;

 

   

specify that special meetings of our stockholders can be called only by a majority of our Board of Directors, the Chair of our Board of Directors or our Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our Board of Directors;

 

   

establish that our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each class serving three-year staggered terms;

 

   

prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors; and

 

   

provide that vacancies on our Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of directors then in office, even though less than a quorum.

 

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These provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our Board of Directors, which is responsible for appointing the members of our management.

In addition, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we have opted out of the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with any “interested” stockholder (any stockholder with 15% or more of our capital stock) for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became an “interested” stockholder. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain a provision that provides us with protections similar to Section 203 of the DGCL and will prevent us from engaging in a business combination with a person who acquires at least 15% of our common stock for a period of three years from the date such person acquired such common stock, unless board or stockholder approval is obtained prior to the acquisition, except that it will provide that H.I.G. or any affiliate thereof, or any person or entity to which any of the foregoing stockholders transfers shares of our voting stock (subject to specified exceptions), in each case regardless of the total percentage of our voting stock owned by such stockholder or such person or entity, shall not be deemed an “interested stockholder” for purposes of this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and therefore not subject to the restrictions set forth in this provision.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the federal district courts of the United States as the sole and exclusive forums for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with the Company or our directors, officers, or other employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be effective on the closing of this offering will provide that, unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (1) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (2) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors or officers to the Company or our stockholders, (3) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or (4) action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Additionally, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be effective on the closing of this offering will further provide that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act, including all causes of action asserted against a defendant to such complaint. The choice of forum provisions would not apply to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction, as Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all claims brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, actions by our stockholders to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder must be brought in federal court. We note that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce the choice of forum provision with respect to claims under the federal securities laws, and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This choice-of-forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability

 

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to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and Board of Directors. These provisions may also result in increased costs for investors seeking to bring a claim against us or any of our directors, officers, or other employees.

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. is a holding company with no operations of its own and, as such, it depends on its subsidiaries for cash to fund its operations and expenses, including future dividend payments, if any.

As a holding company, our principal source of cash flow will be distributions or payments from our operating subsidiaries. Therefore, our ability to fund and conduct our business, service our debt, and pay dividends, if any, in the future will depend on the ability of our subsidiaries and intermediate holding companies to make upstream cash distributions or payments to us, which may be impacted, for example, by their ability to generate sufficient cash flow or limitations on the ability to repatriate funds whether as a result of currency liquidity restrictions, monetary or exchange controls, or otherwise. Our operating subsidiaries and intermediate holding companies are separate legal entities, and although they are directly or indirectly wholly owned and controlled by us, they have no obligation to make any funds available to us, whether in the form of loans, dividends, or otherwise. In addition, our operating Company and indirectly owned subsidiary, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC, is restricted under the terms of the Credit Facility from paying dividends to us except in limited circumstances.

Risks Related to This Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for shares of our common stock and an active trading market for our common stock may never develop or be sustained.

Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our common stock. An active market for our common stock may not develop following the completion of this offering, or if it does develop, may not be maintained. If an active trading market does not develop, investors may have difficulty selling any of our common stock they have bought. The initial public offering price for the shares of our common stock will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the open market following this offering. Consequently, we cannot assure investors of their ability to sell shares of common stock when desired or the prices that may obtained for shares of common stock.

We expect that our stock price will fluctuate significantly, which could cause the value of investments in our common stock to decline, and investors may not be able to resell their shares at a price at or above the initial public offering price.

Securities markets worldwide have experienced, and are likely to continue to experience, significant price and volume fluctuations. The market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of our common stock regardless of our results of operations. The trading price of our common stock is likely to be volatile and subject to significant price fluctuations in response to many factors, including:

 

   

market conditions or trends in our industry or the economy as a whole and, in particular, in the retail sales environment;

 

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changes in our merchandise mix and supplier base;

 

   

timing of promotional events;

 

   

changes in key personnel;

 

   

entry into new markets;

 

   

changes in customer preferences and fashion trends;

 

   

announcements by us or our competitors of new product offerings or significant acquisitions, divestitures, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments;

 

   

actions by competitors;

 

   

inventory shrinkage beyond our historical average rates;

 

   

changes in operating performance and stock market valuations of other retail companies;

 

   

investors’ perceptions of our prospects and the prospects of the retail industry;

 

   

fluctuations in quarterly results of operations, as well as differences between our actual financial results and results of operations and those expected by investors;

 

   

the public’s response to press releases or other public announcements by us or third parties, including our filings with the SEC and/or negative earnings or other announcements by us or other retail apparel companies;

 

   

announcements, media reports, or other public forum comments related to litigation, claims, or reputational charges against us;

 

   

guidance, if any, that we provide to the public, any changes in this guidance, or our failure to meet this guidance;

 

   

changes in financial estimates or ratings by any securities analysts who follow our common stock, our failure to meet these estimates, or the failure of those analysts to initiate or maintain coverage of our common stock;

 

   

the development and sustainability of an active trading market for our common stock;

 

   

downgrades in our credit ratings or the credit ratings of our competitors;

 

   

investor perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with our common stock relative to other investment alternatives;

 

   

future sales of our common stock by our officers, directors, and significant stockholders;

 

   

other events or factors, including those resulting from system failures and disruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, war, acts of terrorism, other natural disasters, or responses to these events; and

 

   

changes in accounting principles.

These and other factors may cause the market price and demand for shares of our common stock to fluctuate substantially, which may limit or prevent investors from readily selling their shares of our common stock and may otherwise negatively affect the liquidity of our common stock. As a result of these factors, our quarterly and annual results of operations and sales may fluctuate significantly. Accordingly, results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any other quarter or for any year and sales for any particular future period may decrease. In the future, our results of operations may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors. In that event, the price of our common stock would likely decrease. In the past, when the market price of a stock has been volatile, security holders have often instituted class action litigation against the company that

 

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issued the stock. If we become involved in this type of litigation, regardless of the outcome, we could incur substantial legal costs and our management’s attention could be diverted from the operation of our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Future sales of our common stock in the public market could cause the market price of our common stock to decrease significantly.

Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market following this offering by our existing stockholders, upon the exercise of stock options granted in the future or by persons who acquire shares in this offering may cause the market price of our common stock to decrease significantly. The perception that such sales could occur could also depress the market price of our common stock. Any such sales could also create public perception of difficulties or problems with our business and might also make it more difficult for us to raise capital through the sale of equity securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate.

Upon the completion of this offering, we will have outstanding 37,190,187 shares of common stock, of which:

 

   

5,750,000 shares are shares that we are selling in this offering and, unless purchased by affiliates, may be resold in the public market immediately after this offering; and

 

   

31,440,187 shares will be “restricted securities,” as defined under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and eligible for sale in the public market subject to the requirements of Rule 144, all of which are subject to lock-up agreements and will become available for resale in the public market beginning 180 days after the date of this prospectus (subject to earlier termination as described in “Shares Eligible for Future Sale-Lock-Up Agreements”).

In addition, we have reserved 3,719,000 shares of common stock for issuance under our equity incentive plans. See “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Plans.”

With limited exceptions as described under the caption “Underwriting,” the lock-up agreements with the underwriters of this offering prohibit a stockholder from selling, contracting to sell or otherwise disposing of any common stock or securities that are convertible or exchangeable for common stock or entering into any arrangement that transfers the economic consequences of ownership of our common stock for at least 180 days from the date of the prospectus (subject to earlier termination as described in “Shares Eligible for Future Sale-Lock-Up Agreements”) filed in connection with our initial public offering, although the lead underwriters may, in their sole discretion and at any time without notice, release all or any portion of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements. Upon a request to release any shares subject to a lock-up, the lead underwriters would consider the particular circumstances surrounding the request including, but not limited to, the length of time before the lock-up expires, the number of shares requested to be released, reasons for the request, the possible impact on the market for our common stock and whether the holder of our shares requesting the release is an officer, director or other affiliate of ours. As a result of these lock-up agreements, notwithstanding earlier eligibility for sale under the provisions of Rule 144, none of these shares may be sold until at least 180 days after the date of this prospectus (subject to earlier termination as described in “Shares Eligible for Future Sale-Lock-Up Agreements”). See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” and “Underwriting.”

As restrictions on resale expire or as shares are registered, our share price could drop significantly if the holders of these restricted or newly registered shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These sales might also make it more difficult for us to raise capital through the sale of equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.

 

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See the information under the heading “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a more detailed description of the shares that will be available for future sales upon completion of this offering.

We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock and, consequently, the ability of common stockholders to achieve a return on investment will depend on appreciation, if any, in the price of our common stock.

Investors should not rely on an investment in our common stock to provide dividend income. Because we do not expect to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future, investors may be forced to sell their shares in order to realize a return on their investment, if any. We do not anticipate that we will pay any dividends to holders of our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our financial condition, capital requirements, legal requirements, earnings, and other factors. Our ability to pay dividends is restricted by the terms of our Credit Facility and might be restricted by the terms of any indebtedness that we incur in the future. Consequently, investors in our common stock should not rely on dividends in order to receive a return on their investment. Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any return on their investment. As a result, investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock. See “Dividend Policy.”

If investors purchase shares of common stock sold in this offering, they will incur immediate and substantial dilution as a result of this offering.

The initial public offering price per share is substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering. As a result, investors will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the book value of our assets after subtracting the book value of our liabilities. Based on our pro forma net tangible book value as of July 4, 2021, and assuming an offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, investors will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the amount of $17.83 per share. See “Dilution.”

Participation in this offering by Principal Global or our existing stockholders and/or their affiliated entities could reduce the public float for our shares.

Principal Global has indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of approximately $15.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price per share and on the same terms as the other purchasers in this offering. However, because these indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, the underwriters may determine to sell more, less or no shares in this offering to any or all of these stockholders, or any or all of these stockholders may determine to purchase more, less or no shares in this offering. The underwriters will receive the same underwriting discount on any shares purchased by these stockholders as they will on any other shares sold to the public in this offering.

If Principal Global is allocated all or a portion of the shares in which it has indicated an interest in purchasing in this offering or is allocated more shares than it has indicated an interest in purchasing in this offering, and Principal Global purchases any such shares, or if any of our existing stockholders and/or their affiliated entities purchase shares in this offering, such purchase could reduce the available public float for our shares if Principal Global or any of our existing stockholders holds these shares long-term.

 

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General Risk Factors

There are claims made against us from time to time that can result in litigation that could distract management from our business activities and result in significant liability or damage to our brand.

As a growing company with expanding operations, we increasingly face the risk of litigation and other claims against us. Litigation and other claims may arise in the ordinary course of our business and include employee claims, commercial disputes, intellectual property issues, privacy and customer protection claims, and product-oriented allegations. These claims can raise complex factual and legal issues that are subject to risks and uncertainties and could require significant management time and allocation. Litigation and other claims and regulatory proceedings against us could result in unexpected expenses and liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We depend on our senior management personnel and may not be able to retain or replace these individuals or recruit additional personnel, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our future success is substantially dependent on the continued service of our senior management, particularly David McCreight, our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. McCreight has extensive experience in our industry and is familiar with our business, systems, and processes. The loss of services of Mr. McCreight or any other of our key employees could impair our ability to manage our business effectively, as we may not be able to find suitable individuals to replace them on a timely basis or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, any departures of key personnel could be viewed in a negative light by investors and analysts, which could cause our common stock price to decline. We do not maintain key person insurance on any employee.

In addition to our CEO, we have other employees in positions, including those employees responsible for our merchandising, marketing, software development, accounting, finance, information technology, and operations departments, that, if vacant, could cause a temporary disruption in our operations until such positions are filled, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Our success depends in part upon our ability to attract, motivate, and retain a sufficient number of employees who understand our business, customers, brand and corporate culture. Our planned growth will require us to hire and train even more personnel to manage such growth. If we are unable to hire and retain personnel capable of consistently performing at a high level, our ability to expand our business may be impaired.

If securities analysts or industry analysts downgrade our shares, publish negative research or reports, or do not publish reports about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us, our business and our industry. If one or more analysts adversely change their recommendation regarding our shares or our competitors’ stock, our share price would likely decline. If one or more analysts cease coverage of us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our share price or trading volume to decline. As a result, the market price for our common stock may decline below the initial public offering price and shares of our common stock may not be resold at or above the initial public offering price.

 

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Our results of operations could be adversely affected by natural disasters, public health crises, political crises, or other catastrophic events.

Our principal offices and one of our distribution facilities are located in Chico, California, an area which has a history of wildfires, and are thus vulnerable to damage. We also operate offices in other cities and states, and have a distribution facility in another state. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other adverse weather and climate conditions; unforeseen public health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics; political crises, such as terrorist attacks, war, and other political instability; or other catastrophic events, whether occurring in the United States or internationally, could disrupt our operations in any of our offices and distribution facilities or the operations of one or more of our third-party providers or suppliers. For example, in the fall of 2018 there was a wildfire near Chico, California where our headquarters and one of our distribution facilities are located. In particular, these types of events could impact our merchandise supply chain, including our ability to ship merchandise to customers from or to the impacted region, our suppliers’ ability to ship merchandise or our ability to operate our platform. In addition, these types of events could negatively impact customer spending in the impacted regions. Sales of certain seasonal apparel items are dependent in part on the weather and may decline when weather conditions do not favor the use of this apparel. To the extent any of these events occur, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We are an emerging growth company, and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised financial accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the extended transition period for adopting new or revised financial accounting standards under the JOBS Act as an emerging growth company.

For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may also take advantage of other exemptions from certain reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, exemption from any rules that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board requiring mandatory audit firm rotations or a supplement to the report of independent registered public accounting firm, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute arrangements, and reduced financial reporting requirements. Investors may find our common stock less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions, which could result in a less active trading market for our common stock, increased price fluctuation, and a decrease in the trading price of our common stock.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (3) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” as defined in the rules under the Exchange Act, or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.

 

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Our internal control over financial reporting does not currently meet the standards required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

As a privately held company, we have not been required to evaluate our internal control over financial reporting in a manner that meets the standards of publicly traded companies required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, starting with the second annual report that we file with the SEC as a public company, and generally requires in the same report a report by our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, under the recently enacted JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years subsequent to becoming a public company.

Once we are no longer an emerging growth company, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting on an annual basis. The rules governing the standards that must be met for our management to assess our internal control over financial reporting are complex and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation and the incurrence of significant additional expenditures.

In connection with the implementation of the necessary procedures and practices related to internal control over financial reporting, we may identify deficiencies that we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the deadline imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. In addition, we may encounter problems or delays in completing the implementation of any requested improvements and/or in obtaining a favorable attestation from our independent registered public accounting firm. We will be unable to issue securities in the public markets through the use of a shelf registration statement if we are not in compliance with the applicable provisions of Section 404. Furthermore, failure to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment could limit our ability to report our financial results accurately and timely and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain executive management and qualified board members.

As a privately held company, we were not required to comply with certain corporate governance and financial reporting practices and policies required of a publicly traded company. As a publicly traded company, we will incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we were not required to incur in the recent past, particularly after we are no longer an emerging growth company as defined under the JOBS Act. After this offering, we will be required to file with the SEC annual and quarterly information and other reports that are specified in Section 13 of the Exchange Act. We will also be required to ensure that we have the ability to prepare financial statements that are fully compliant with all SEC reporting requirements on a timely basis. We will also become subject to other reporting and corporate governance requirements, including the requirements of Nasdaq, and certain provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, which will impose significant compliance obligations upon us. As a public company, we will, among other things have to:

 

   

prepare and distribute periodic public reports and other stockholder communications in compliance with our obligations under the federal securities laws and applicable Nasdaq rules;

 

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create or expand the roles and duties of our Board of Directors and committees of the board;

 

   

institute more comprehensive financial reporting and disclosure compliance functions;

 

   

enhance our investor relations function;

 

   

establish new internal policies, including those relating to disclosure controls and procedures; and

 

   

involve and retain to a greater degree outside counsel and accountants in the activities listed above.

These changes will require a significant commitment of additional resources and many of our competitors already comply with these obligations. We may not be successful in complying with these obligations and the significant commitment of resources required for complying with them could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, if we fail to implement the requirements with respect to our internal accounting and audit functions, our ability to report our results of operations on a timely and accurate basis could be impaired and we could suffer adverse regulatory consequences or violate Nasdaq listing standards. There could also be a negative reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of investor confidence in us and the reliability of our consolidated financial statements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The changes necessitated by becoming a public company require a significant commitment of resources and management oversight that has increased and may continue to increase our costs and might place a strain on our systems and resources. As a result, our management’s attention might be diverted from other business concerns. If we fail to maintain an effective internal control environment or to comply with the numerous legal and regulatory requirements imposed on public companies, we could make material errors in, and be required to restate, our consolidated financial statements. Any such restatement could result in a loss of public confidence in the reliability of our consolidated financial statements and sanctions imposed on us by the SEC.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains statements about future events and expectations that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future financial and operating performance and growth plans, taking into account the information currently available to us. These statements are not statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations of future results we express or imply in any forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

If we are not able to successfully maintain our desired merchandise assortment or manage our inventory effectively, we may be unable to attract a sufficient number of customers or sell sufficient quantities of our merchandise, which could result in excess inventories, markdowns, and foregone sales;

 

   

Our success depends on our ability to anticipate, identify, measure, and respond quickly to customer data on new and rapidly changing fashion trends, customer preferences and demands, and other factors;

 

   

Our efforts to acquire or retain customers may not be successful, which could prevent us from maintaining or increasing our sales;

 

   

We may be unable to maintain a high level of engagement with our customers and increase their spending with us, which could harm our business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations;

 

   

If we fail to provide high-quality customer support, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations;

 

   

Our business depends on our ability to maintain a strong community around the Lulus brand with engaged customers and influencers. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our existing brand community if we receive customer complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to consumers’ expectations, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations;

 

   

Our business, including our costs and supply chain, is subject to risks associated with sourcing, manufacturing, and warehousing;

 

   

We rely upon independent third-party transportation providers for substantially all of our merchandise shipments and any disruptions or increased transportation costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations;

 

   

We have two distribution facilities and disruptions to the operations at these locations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations;

 

   

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on our labor workforce availability, supply chain, business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations;

 

   

If our suppliers fail to comply with applicable laws, including a failure to use acceptable labor practices, or if our suppliers suffer disruptions in their businesses, we could suffer adverse business consequences; and

 

   

System security risk issues, including any real or perceived failure to protect confidential or personal information against security breaches and disruption of our internal operations or information technology systems, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.

 

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Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “continues,” “estimates,” “expects,” “goal,” “objectives,” “intends,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plans,” “potential,” “near-term,” “long-term,” “projections,” “assumptions,” “projects,” “guidance,” “forecasts,” “outlook,” “target,” “trends,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We qualify any forward-looking statements included in this prospectus entirely by these cautionary factors. Other risks, uncertainties and factors, including those discussed under “Risk Factors,” could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements we make. We assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements included in this prospectus for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

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MARKET AND INDUSTRY INFORMATION

We are responsible for the disclosure in this prospectus. Market data and industry information used throughout this prospectus is based on management’s knowledge of the industry and the good faith estimates of management. We also relied, to the extent available, upon management’s review of independent industry surveys and publications and other publicly available information prepared by a number of sources, including Euromonitor International Limited (“Euromonitor”), Branded Research and DataReportal. In addition, we relied on surveys performed by Stax Inc. (“Stax”), which we independently updated in 2021, for market and industry information. All of the market data and industry information used in this prospectus involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. While we believe the estimated market position, market opportunity, and market size information included in this prospectus is generally reliable, such information, which is derived in part from management’s estimates and beliefs, is inherently uncertain and imprecise. Projections, assumptions, and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the industry in which we operate are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors,” “Forward-Looking Statements,” and elsewhere in this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in our estimates and beliefs and in the estimates prepared by independent parties.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from our issuance and sale of 5,750,000 shares of common stock in this offering will be approximately $89.3 million, or approximately $103.4 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares from us in full, based on the assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $5.3 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each 1.0 million share increase or decrease in the number of shares we are offering would increase or decrease, as applicable, the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $16.3 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price stays the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. We do not expect that a change in the initial price to the public or the number of shares by these amounts would have a material effect on the uses of the proceeds from this offering, although it may accelerate the time at which we will need to seek additional capital.

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, to:

 

   

redeem all existing Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock for $17.9 million;

 

   

repay $71.4 million of our Term Loan; and

 

   

use the remainder, if any, for general corporate purposes.

As of the date of this prospectus, other than with respect to the repayment of indebtedness and redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock as described above, the principal purposes of this offering are to increase our capitalization and financial flexibility, create a public market for our common stock, increase our brand awareness and facilitate access to the public equity markets for us and our stockholders. We intend to use borrowings under our New Revolving Facility, together with cash on-hand, to repay in full all remaining and outstanding amounts under our Term Loan. As of July 4, 2021, we had $107.7 million of borrowings outstanding under our Term Loan, which matures in August 2022. The effective interest rate under our Term Loan was 12.9% for the six months ended July 4, 2021. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Credit Facilities” and “Description of Certain Indebtedness” for a more detailed description of our Credit Facility.

The expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our present plans and business conditions. The timing and amount of our actual expenditures will be based on many factors, including cash flows from operations and the anticipated growth of our business. Pending their use, we intend to invest the net proceeds of this offering in a variety of capital-preservation investments, including short and intermediate-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities, and government securities.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

During 2016 and 2017, we paid cash dividends in the aggregate amounts of $27.5 million and $61.2 million, respectively. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for the operation and expansion of our business. Accordingly, following this offering, we do not anticipate declaring or paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our results of operations, capital requirements, financial condition, prospects, contractual arrangements, any limitations on payment of dividends present in our current and future debt agreements, and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant. In addition, the terms of our Credit Facility restrict our ability to pay dividends to limited circumstances. We may also be subject to covenants under future debt arrangements that place restrictions on our ability to pay dividends.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and capitalization as of July 4, 2021, on:

 

   

an actual basis;

 

   

a pro forma basis as of July 4, 2021, giving effect to: (i) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock as of July 4, 2021 into an aggregate of 13,714,286 shares of common stock, which we expect to occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (ii) the redemption and extinguishment of all outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock for a total consideration of approximately $17.9 million upon the closing of this offering and (iii) the issuance of 263,618 shares of our common stock to LP immediately prior to the completion of this offering; and

 

   

a pro forma as adjusted basis to reflect: (i) the pro forma adjustments described above, (ii) the sale and issuance of 5,750,000 shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and the application of the net proceeds thereof as described in the “Use of Proceeds,” (iii) the entry into the New Revolving Facility substantially concurrently with the completion of this offering, (iv) the repayment of our Term Loan and any amount outstanding under our Revolving Facility in connection with the closing of this offering using the proceeds of this offering, cash on-hand and borrowings of $25.0 million under our New Revolving Facility, (v) the write-off of the discount and debt issuance costs of $3.2 million related to our Term Loan and Revolving Facility, and (vi) the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the adoption of our amended and restated bylaws immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

This table should be read together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto, and our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of July 4, 2021  
     Actual     Pro Forma     Pro Forma
As Adjusted(1)
 
           (unaudited)        
     (in thousands, except share and
per share amounts)
 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(2)

   $ 32,640     $ 14,740     $ 21,252  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt:

      

Term Loan

     107,686       107,686       —    

Revolving Facility

     —           25,000  

Less: debt issuance costs

     (3,112     (3,112     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt, net of issuance costs

     104,574       104,574       25,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redeemable preferred stock: $0.001 par value; 10,000,001 shares authorized; 8,950,001 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     19,320       —         —    

Convertible preferred stock: $0.001 par value; 3,129,635 shares authorized; 3,129,634 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     117,038       —         —    

 

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     As of July 4, 2021  
     Actual     Pro Forma     Pro Forma
As Adjusted(1)
 
           (unaudited)        
     (in thousands, except share and
per share amounts)
 

Stockholder’s (deficit) equity:

      

Common stock: $0.001 par value; 24,000,000 shares authorized; 17,462,283 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 31,440,187 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; and 37,190,187 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

   $ 18     $ 31     $ 37  

Additional paid-in capital

     11,735       130,180       219,492  

Accumulated deficit

     (172,672     (172,672     (175,859
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholder’s (deficit) equity

     (160,919     (42,461     43,670  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 80,013     $ 62,113     $ 68,670  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, additional paid-in capital, total stockholder’s (deficit) equity, and total capitalization by $5.3 million, assuming the number of shares offered, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of our pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, additional paid-in capital, total stockholder’s (deficit) equity and total capitalization by $16.3 million, assuming that the assumed initial offering price to the public remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price, the number of shares offered, and the other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

(2)

Restricted cash represents $0.5 million of the total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of July 4, 2021.

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 31,440,187 shares of our common stock (including our Series A Preferred Stock, on an as-converted basis, along with the issuance of 263,618 shares of our common stock to LP immediately prior to the completion of this offering) outstanding as of July 4, 2021 and excludes:

 

   

3,719,000 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive programs and/or subject to outstanding equity awards as described in “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Plans”;

 

   

322,793 shares subject to options to acquire shares of our common stock that were granted to Mr. McCreight under the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, in connection with his commencement of employment with us in April 2021, of which options to purchase 161,397 shares will accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable upon completion of this offering, with any shares acquired upon exercise of such options subject to a holding period of 12 months following the completion of this offering. The terms of these options are described in more detail in “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Arrangements”;

 

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55,796 restricted stock units, each of which represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, to be granted to Mr. McCreight immediately following the completion of this offering. Of these restricted stock units, 27,898 restricted stock units will accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable upon completion of this offering, with any shares acquired upon vesting of such restricted stock units subject to a holding period of 12 months following the completion of this offering. The terms of this award are described in more detail in “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Arrangements”; and

 

   

an award to Mr. McCreight of (i) $3.0 million fully vested shares of our common stock on or promptly following March 31, 2022 and (ii) $3.0 million fully vested shares of our common stock on or promptly following March 31, 2023, in each case to be made under the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. Omnibus Equity Plan, subject to his continued employment through such date, with the number of shares to be calculated based on the volume weighted average closing price per share of our common stock over the ten-trading day period beginning on the date of the completion of this offering.

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after the completion of this offering. Dilution results from the fact that the per share offering price of our common stock is in excess of the book value per share attributable to new investors.

Our historical net tangible book deficit as of July 4, 2021, was $216.9 million, or $12.42 per share of common stock. Our historical net tangible book deficit per share represents the amount of total tangible assets (which excludes goodwill, tradename and intangible assets) less total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and convertible preferred stock, divided by the number of outstanding shares of common stock.

As of July 4, 2021, our pro forma net tangible book deficit was $98.5 million, or $3.13 per share, as adjusted for (i) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock into an aggregate of 13,714,286 shares of common stock, which we expect to occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (ii) the redemption and extinguishment of all outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock for a total consideration of approximately $17.9 million upon the closing of this offering and (iii) the issuance of 263,618 shares of our common stock to LP immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

After giving effect to (i) the pro forma adjustments described above, (ii) the sale and issuance of shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, (iii) the repayment of our Term Loan and any amount outstanding under our Revolving Facility in connection with the closing of this offering using the proceeds of this offering, cash on-hand and borrowings of $25.0 million under our New Revolving Facility, and (iv) the write-off of the discount and debt issuance costs related to our Term Loan and Revolving Facility of $3.2 million, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book deficit at July 4, 2021 would have been approximately $12.3 million, representing $0.33 per share. This represents an immediate decrease in pro forma net tangible book deficit of $2.80 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $17.83 per share to new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price. Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors is determined by subtracting pro forma as adjusted net tangible book deficit per share after this offering from the assumed initial public offering price per share paid by new investors.

The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis to new investors:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share of common stock

     $ 17.50

Historical net tangible book deficit per share as of July 4, 2021,

   $ (12.42 )  

Increase per share attributable to the pro forma adjustments

     9.29    
  

 

 

   

Pro forma net tangible book deficit per share as of July 4, 2021

     (3.13  

Decrease in pro forma net tangible book deficit per share attributable to new investors participating in this offering

     2.80    
  

 

 

   

Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book deficit per share after giving effect to this offering and the pro forma adjustments

       (0.33
    

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering

     $ 17.83
    

 

 

 

The pro forma as adjusted dilution information discussed above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

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Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease or increase, as applicable, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book deficit per share by $0.14 per share and would increase or decrease, as applicable, the dilution per share to investors participating in this offering by $0.86 per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each 1.0 million share increase or decrease in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book deficit per share by $0.43 or increase the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book deficit per share by $0.46, respectively, and decrease or increase the dilution per share to investors participating in this offering by $0.43 and $0.46, respectively, assuming the assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of our common stock would increase to $0.05 per share, representing an immediate increase to existing stockholders of $3.18 per share and an immediate dilution of $17.45 per share to investors participating in this offering.

The following table summarizes as of July 4, 2021, on the pro forma as adjusted basis described above, the total number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total cash consideration paid to us, or to be paid, and the average price per share paid, or to be paid, by our existing investors and by new investors purchasing shares in this offering, at an assumed initial public offering price of $17.50 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us:

 

     Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Weighted-
Average Price Per
Share
 
     Number      Percent     Amount      Percent  

Existing stockholders

     31,440,187        84.5   $ 147,164,000        59.4   $ 4.68  

New investors

     5,750,000        15.5   $ 100,625,000        40.6   $ 17.50  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     37,190,187        100   $ 247,789,000        100   $ 6.66  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

If the underwriters were to fully exercise their option to purchase 862,500 additional shares of our common stock from us, the percentage of shares of our common stock held by existing investors would be 82.6%, and the percentage of shares of our common stock held by new investors would be 17.4%.

The foregoing tables and calculations (other than the historical net tangible book value calculation) are based on 31,440,187 shares of our common stock (including our Series A Preferred Stock, on an as-converted basis, along with the issuance of 263,618 shares of our common stock to LP immediately prior to the completion of this offering) outstanding as of July 4, 2021 and excludes the following:

 

   

3,719,000 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive programs and/or subject to outstanding equity awards as described in “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Plans.”

 

   

322,793 shares subject to options to acquire shares of our common stock that were granted to Mr. McCreight under the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, in connection with his commencement of employment with us in April 2021, of which options to purchase 161,397 shares will accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable upon

 

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completion of this offering, with any shares acquired upon exercise of such options subject to a holding period of 12 months following the completion of this offering. The terms of these options are described in more detail in “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Arrangements”;

 

   

55,796 restricted stock units, each of which represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, to be granted to Mr. McCreight immediately following the completion of this offering. Of these restricted stock units, 27,898 restricted stock units will accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable upon completion of this offering, with any shares acquired upon vesting of such restricted stock units subject to a holding period of 12 months following the completion of this offering. The terms of this award are described in more detail in “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Arrangements”; and

 

   

an award to Mr. McCreight of (i) $3.0 million fully vested shares of our common stock on or promptly following March 31, 2022 and (ii) $3.0 million fully vested shares of our common stock on or promptly following March 31, 2023, in each case to be made under the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. Omnibus Equity Plan, subject to his continued employment through such dates, with the number of shares to be calculated based on the volume weighted average closing price per share of our common stock over the ten-trading day period beginning on the date of the completion of this offering.

To the extent that outstanding options are exercised, new options or other securities are issued under our equity incentive plans, or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the section titled “Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” our historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

Overview

Lulus is a customer-driven, digitally-native fashion brand primarily serving Millennial and Gen Z women. We focus relentlessly on giving our customers what they want. We do this by using data coupled with human insight to deliver a curated and continuously evolving assortment of on-point, affordable luxury fashion. Our customer obsession sets the tone for everything we do, from our personalized online shopping experience to our exceptional customer service.

We are focused on building authentic personal relationships with our customers and offering them coveted products they cannot purchase elsewhere. We incorporate the pulse of the consumer by engaging with her where she is: across the web, on social media and across our platform, through reviews, feedback and one-on-one interactions with our Style Advisors, Fit Experts and Bridal Concierge. Customers express their love for our brand on social media and by word-of-mouth (both in-person and online). As of October 3, 2021, we had more than 7.5 million followers, up from 5.5 million followers as of September 27, 2020, across our social media platforms where the popular #lovelulus hashtag has generated billions of impressions. Consumer surveys in 2019 and 2021 show that Lulus outperforms its peers significantly in net promoter score, customer satisfaction, overall value and likelihood of repurchase; these metrics demonstrate our customers’ genuine affinity for our brand.

A key differentiator of our business model from traditional fashion retail is our use of data to optimize almost all elements of our business. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in our product creation and curation cycle. Traditional merchandising approaches are risk and capital intensive, characterized by extended in-house design cycles, seasonal assortment decisions, deep buys, limited customer feedback, and high markdowns. Unlike traditional retailers, we leverage a “test, learn, and reorder” strategy to bring hundreds of new products to market every week; we test them in small batches, learn about customer demand and then quickly reorder winning products in higher volume to optimize profitability. This strategy allows us to rapidly convert new products into profitable sales on a consistent and repeatable basis while minimizing fashion and trend risk. We sell thousands of unique products each month across a broad range of categories and during the six months ended July 4, 2021, 70% of our sales were from reorders and 94% of our reorder products were sold without moving to sale pricing. This is up from 66% of sales from reorders and 89% of our reorder products sold without moving to sale pricing during the six months ended June 28, 2020.

In lieu of the overhead of maintaining a dedicated in-house product design team, we source raw designs from a broad network of design and manufacturing partners, who ensure that we see trends in real-time and often produce products exclusively for Lulus. Our creative buyers then use our data-driven understanding of trends and customer preference to customize designs for fit, style, and color, creating branded products exclusive to Lulus. We then test these products with limited initial orders, which drive traffic and “need to own” scarcity among our customers, and our proprietary reorder algorithm utilizes real-time purchase data to inform subsequent reorder decisions. Because we are trend adapters rather than trend creators, we do not have to forecast expected future demand for unproven styles or designs, which is a challenge that most of our competitors face each season. As a

 

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result, we are able to optimize our inventory levels to meet customer demand and minimize returns as well as markdowns. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, we brought to market an average of 236 products per week compared to 206 products per week during the six months ended June 28, 2020. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, 94% of our reorder products were sold without moving to sale pricing, compared to 94% and 89% in the fiscal years 2019 and 2020, respectively. We fulfill our customers’ orders from our leased distribution facilities in Chico, California and Easton, Pennsylvania.

We are proud of our large, diverse community of loyal customers. Our target customer initially meets us in her 20s and stays with us through her 30s and beyond. We design a broad assortment of affordable luxury fashion for many of life’s moments. We engage with our customer where she is, in authentic and personalized ways: through our website, mobile app, email, SMS, and on social media. This strategy helps drive brand awareness while fostering deep connections with our customers. Over the last thirteen years, we have built our digital footprint through strong relationships with customers and influencers and we benefit from longevity and consistency of message. Our authentic partnerships with brand ambassadors span the full spectrum of followership and engagement levels, from nano- and micro-influencers, to college ambassadors and celebrities, all of whom wear and genuinely love our brand. These genuine brand ambassadors, driven by a strong emotional connection to Lulus, help drive authentic brand awareness and customer engagement. Our free, organic, and low-cost initiatives coupled with profitable performance media drive traffic to our platform, which is custom-built to allow for continuous updating and personalization for each customer. Our unified cross-platform strategy consistently reinforces the same brand values, with our marketing approach resulting in attractive customer acquisition, strong retention, and compelling lifetime value characteristics. During the twelve months ended October 3, 2021, we served 2.5 million Active Customers.

Our business model has resulted in strong historical growth and profitability. Between fiscal years 2016 and 2019, we grew our net revenue by 179%. Net revenue grew by 75% from 2016 to 2017, 28% from 2017 to 2018 and 24% from 2018 to 2019. We grew our Adjusted EBITDA margin from 6% in fiscal year 2019 to 8% in fiscal year 2020, while our operating income (loss) margin declined from 4% to (2)% during the same period.

 

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History

We began as a brick and mortar boutique in 1996, but in the midst of rising consumer adoption of e-commerce and growing influence of social media, we shifted to an online-only model in order to reach our target customer where she prefers to engage. We believe we were one of the first brands to leverage the power of bloggers and influencers to drive customer engagement. Over the last decade, we have successfully grown our net revenue and our customer base on a national scale through continued commitment to efficient product development, including exclusive products that can only be found on our website, and superior customer service.

 

LOGO

Key Operating and Financial Metrics

We collect and analyze operating and financial data to assess the performance of our business and optimize resource allocation. The following table sets forth our key performance indicators for the periods presented.

 

     Year Ended     Six Months Ended  
     December 29,
2019
    January 3,
2021
    June 28,
2020
    July 4,
2021
 
     (in thousands, except percentages
and Average Order Value)
    (in thousands, except percentages
and Average Order Value)
 

Active Customers

     2,884       2,001       1,310       1,457  

Total Orders Placed

     5,307       3,400       1,938       2,259  

Average Order Value

   $ 110     $ 106     $ 110     $ 117  

Gross Margin

     43.6     44.4     44.8     47.8

Net income (loss)

   $ (469   $ (19,304   $ (15,529   $ 6,969  

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 21,021     $ 18,911     $ 13,760     $ 23,164  

Adjusted EBITDA Margin(1)

     5.7     7.6     9.9     13.4

 

(1)

For a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure and why we consider them useful, see “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data.”

 

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Active Customers

We define an active customer as the number of customers who have made at least one purchase across our platform in the prior 12-month period. We consider the number of Active Customers to be a key performance metric on the basis that it is directly related to consumer awareness of our brand, our ability to attract visitors to our digital platform, and our ability to convert visitors to paying customers.

Total Orders Placed

We define Total Orders Placed as the number of customer orders placed across our platform during a particular period. An order is counted on the day the customer places the order. We do not adjust the number of Total Orders Placed for any cancellation or return that may have occurred subsequent to a customer placing an order. We consider Total Orders Placed as a key performance metric on the basis that it is directly related to our ability to attract and retain customers as well as drive purchase frequency. Total Orders Placed, together with Average Order Value, is an indicator of the net revenue we expect to generate in a particular period.

Average Order Value

We define Average Order Value (“AOV”) as the sum of the total gross sales before returns across our platform in a given period, plus shipping revenue, less discounts and markdowns, divided by the Total Orders Placed in that period. AOV reflects average basket size of our customers. AOV may fluctuate as we continue investing in the development and introduction of new Lulus merchandise and as a result of our promotional discount activity.

Gross Margin

We define Gross Margin as gross profit as a percentage of our net revenue. Gross profit is equal to our net revenue less cost of revenue.

Our Gross Margin varies across Lulus products and third-party branded products. Gross Margin on sales of Lulus products are generally higher than Gross Margin on sales of third-party branded products, which we offer for customers to “round out” the basket. Lulus merchandise represented approximately 87% and 85% of units sold in fiscal years 2019 and 2020, respectively. Lulus merchandise represented approximately 86% and 88% of units sold during the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021, respectively. We do not expect this mix to change materially going forward.

Certain of our competitors and other retailers report cost of revenue differently than we do. As a result, the reporting of our gross profit and Gross Margin may not be comparable to other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that we calculate as income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of equity-based compensation expense, management fees, and transaction fees. Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by management to evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans and make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. In particular, the exclusion of certain expenses in calculating Adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis and, in the case of exclusion of the impact of equity-based compensation, excludes an item that we do not consider to be indicative of our core operating performance. See

 

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“Prospectus Summary-Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data” for information regarding our use of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented.

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

Adjusted EBITDA Margin is a non-GAAP financial measure that we calculate as Adjusted EBITDA (as defined above) as a percentage of our net revenue.

Factors Affecting Our Performance

Our financial condition and results of operations have been, and will continue to be, affected by a number of factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including what is discussed below. See “Risk Factors.”

Customer Acquisition

Our business performance depends in part on our continued ability to cost-effectively acquire new customers. We define customer acquisition cost, or CAC, as our brand and performance marketing expenses attributable to acquiring new customers, including, but not limited to, agency costs and marketing team costs but excluding any applicable equity-based compensation, divided by the number of customers who placed their first order with us in a given period. As a digital brand, our marketing strategy is primarily focused on brand awareness marketing and digital advertising in channels like search, social, and programmatic – platforms that enable us to engage our customer where she spends her time, and in many cases also quickly track the success of our marketing, which allows us to adjust and optimize our marketing spend. Our marketing strategy has led to an average customer acquisition cost of $15 for the cohorts acquired between 2017 and the six months ended July 4, 2021.

 

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To measure the effectiveness and return on our marketing spend, we analyze our customers’ first order contribution profit as compared to CAC. First order contribution profit is defined as gross profit less fulfillment and selling and distribution expenses. For the cohorts acquired between 2017 and the first half of 2021, we generated a ratio of first order contribution profit to CAC of 2.0x, on average. Since 2020, this metric has improved as we have driven sequential improvement in both CAC and first order contribution profit.

 

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We also measure the effectiveness of our marketing spend by analyzing customer lifetime value, or LTV. We define LTV as the cumulative contribution profit attributable to a particular customer cohort, which we define as all of our customers who made their initial purchase within a given fiscal year. We define contribution profit as gross profit less fulfillment, selling and distribution expenses and the portion of marketing expenses attributable to the retention of the particular customer cohort.

For example, as of July 4, 2021, the LTV of the 2017 cohort was approximately $61, which is 5.7 times the $11 cost of acquiring those customers. We have also compared the LTV to CAC ratio for the 2017, 2018, and 2019 cohorts across one-year, two-year and three-year periods to illustrate the effectiveness of our customer acquisition over time. As of July 4, 2021, the one-year, two-year, and three-year LTV / CAC averages across these cohorts are 2.8x, 3.2x, and 4.1x, respectively. We believe this LTV to CAC development over the years is a testament to our ability to acquire customers efficiently and profitably.

Customer Retention

Our continued success depends in part on our ability to retain and drive repeat purchases from our existing customers. We monitor retention across our entire customer base. Our goal is to attract and convert visitors into active customers and foster relationships that drive repeat purchases. During the twelve months ended October 3, 2021, we served 2.5 million Active Customers. Included in those Active Customers are “repeat customers” which we define as customers who have made a prior

 

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purchase with us in any period. Of the sales generated during the six months ended July 4, 2021, approximately 65% came from repeat customers. Since 2018, we have consistently increased the percentage of our revenue generated from repeat customers on a yearly basis.

 

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Inventory Management

We utilize a data-driven strategy that leverages our proprietary reorder algorithm to manage inventory as efficiently as possible. Our “test, learn, and reorder” approach consists of limited inventory purchases followed by the analysis of proprietary data including real-time transaction data and customer feedback, which then informs our selection and customization of popular merchandise prior to reordering in larger quantities. While our initial orders are limited in size and financial risk and our supplier partners are highly responsive, we nonetheless purchase inventory in anticipation of future demand and therefore are exposed to potential shifts in customer preferences and price sensitivity over time. As we continue to grow, we will adjust our inventory purchases to align with the current needs of the business.

Investment in Our Operations and Infrastructure

We will continue to invest in our operations and infrastructure to facilitate further growth of our business. While we expect our expenses to increase accordingly, we will harness the strength of our existing platform and our on-trend fashion expertise to make informed investment decisions. We intend to invest in headcount, inventory, fulfillment, logistics, and our software and data capabilities in order to improve our platform, expand into international markets, and drive operational efficiencies. We cannot guarantee that increased spending on these investments will be cost effective or result in future growth in our customer base. However, we set a high bar for approval of any capital spending initiative. We believe that our disciplined approach to capital spending will enable us to generate positive returns on our investments over the long term.

 

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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a material impact on the global fashion apparel, accessories and footwear industry as a significant portion of in-person social, professional, and formal events over the last 18 months were postponed or cancelled.

Historically, our business model has resulted in strong historical growth. Between fiscal years 2016 and 2019, we grew our net revenue by 179% to $370 million, or an annual compounded growth rate of 41%. Net revenue grew by 75% from 2016 to 2017, 28% from 2017 to 2018 and 24% from 2018 to 2019. In fiscal year 2020, our net revenue declined by 33% to $249 million as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the three and six months ended July 4, 2021, we grew our net revenue by 69% and 24%, respectively, compared to the same periods of the prior year.

Shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we proactively implemented initiatives to ensure the health and safety of employees and customers, while also addressing the financial impact and returning the business to growth in fiscal year 2021. These initiatives included prudent expense and aggressive liquidity management to successfully manage the business through the challenging operating environment. We implemented a number of measures to minimize cash outlays, including reducing discretionary marketing and other expenses. Additionally, in June 2020, we modified our Credit Facility to amend covenants and adjust certain payment terms. We also borrowed $5.3 million under our Revolving Facility, which was subsequently repaid in March 2021. As the world has begun to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and in-person socialization has begun to return, beginning in March 2021, our business has experienced rapid recovery, growing faster than a number of e-commerce apparel businesses that are less correlated to social interaction and other activities outside of the home.

We expect ongoing volatility in these trends as the continued impact from COVID-19 remains uncertain. We may take further actions that impact our business operations as may be required by federal, state, or local authorities or that we determine to be in the best interests of our employees and our customers. For additional discussion of risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our Company, see “Risk Factors—The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may in the future have an adverse effect on our labor workforce availability, supply chain, business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations in ways that remain unpredictable.”

Components of Our Results of Operations

Net Revenue

Net revenue consists primarily of gross sales, net of merchandise returns and promotional discounts, generated from the sale of apparel, footwear, and accessories. Net revenue excludes sales taxes assessed by governmental authorities. We recognize net revenue at the point in time when control of the ordered product is transferred to the customer, which we determine to have occurred upon shipment.

Net revenue is impacted by our number of customers and their spending habits, Average Order Value, product assortment and availability, and marketing and promotional activities. During any given period, we may seek to increase sales by increasing promotional discounts, and in other periods we may instead seek to increase sales by increasing our selling and marketing expenses. We consider both actions together, so increased promotional discounts in a period, which would reduce net revenue accordingly in such period, might also result in lower selling and marketing expenses in such period. Similarly, if we increase selling and marketing expenses in a given period, promotional discounts may be correspondingly reduced, thereby improving net revenue. We expect our net revenue to increase in absolute dollars as we grow our business, although our net revenue growth rate may slow in future periods.

Cost of Revenue and Gross Margin

Cost of revenue consist of the product costs of merchandise sold to customers; shipping and handling costs, including all inbound, outbound, and return shipping expenses; rent, insurance,

 

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business property tax, utilities, depreciation and amortization, and repairs and maintenance related to our distribution facilities; and charges related to inventory shrinkage, damages, and our allowance for excess or obsolete inventory. Cost of revenue is primarily driven by growth in orders placed by customers, the mix of the product available for sale on our site, and transportation costs related to inventory receipts from our suppliers. We expect our cost of revenue to fluctuate as a percentage of net revenue primarily due to how we manage our inventory and merchandise mix.

Gross profit is equal to our net revenue less cost of revenue. We calculate Gross Margin as gross profit as a percentage of our net revenue. Our Gross Margin varies across Lulus, exclusive to Lulus, and third-party branded products. Exclusive to Lulus consists of products that we develop with design partners and have exclusive rights to sell across our platform, but that do not bear the Lulus brand. Gross Margin on sales of Lulus and exclusive to Lulus merchandise is generally higher than Gross Margin on sales of third-party branded products, which we offer for customers to “round out” the shopping basket. Lulus merchandise represented approximately 86% and 88% of units sold during the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021, respectively. We expect our Gross Margin to increase modestly over the long term, as we continue to optimize our distribution capabilities and gain more negotiation leverage with suppliers as we scale, although our Gross Margin may fluctuate from period to period depending on the interplay of these factors.

Selling and Marketing Expenses

Our selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of customer service, payment processing fees, advertising, and targeted online performance marketing. Selling and marketing expenses also include our spend on brand marketing channels, including compensation and free clothing to social media influencers, events, and other forms of online and offline marketing related to growing and retaining the customer base. As discussed in “Net Revenue” above, in any given period, the amount of our selling and marketing expense can be affected by the use of promotional discounts in such period. We expect our selling and marketing expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we continue to invest in increasing brand awareness.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and benefits costs, including equity-based compensation for our employees involved in general corporate functions including finance, merchandising, marketing, and technology, as well as costs associated with the use by these functions of facilities and equipment, including depreciation, rent, and other occupancy expenses. General and administrative expenses are primarily driven by increases in headcount required to support business growth and meeting our obligations as a public company.

In the near term, we also expect to incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. We expect that compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as well as rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC, will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time consuming and costly. In that regard, we expect to hire additional accounting and financial staff with appropriate public company experience and technical accounting knowledge. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we continue to grow our business.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net consists primarily of interest expense and other miscellaneous income.

 

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Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes represents federal, state, and local income taxes. The effective rate differs from statutory rates due to adjustments for allowable credits, deductions, and the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, as applicable. Our effective tax rate will change from quarter to quarter based on recurring and nonrecurring factors including, but not limited to, the geographical mix of earnings, enacted tax legislation, state and local income taxes, the impact of permanent tax adjustments, tax audit settlements, and the interaction of various tax strategies.

Our Results of Operations

The following tables set forth our consolidated results of operations for the periods presented and as a percentage of net revenue:

 

     Year Ended     Six Months Ended  
     December 29,
2019
    January 3,
2021
    June 28,
2020
    July 4,
2021
 
    

(in thousands)

 
           (unaudited)  

Net revenue

   $ 369,622     $ 248,656     $ 139,596     $ 172,541  

Cost of revenue

     208,418       138,364       77,080       90,008  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     161,204       110,292       62,516       82,533  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Selling and marketing expenses

     72,875       47,812       26,413       28,499  

General and administrative expenses

     73,386       67,155       43,325       36,240  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

     14,943       (4,675     (7,222     17,794  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net:

        

Interest expense

     (15,206     (16,037     (7,940     (7,424

Other income, net

     239       137       66       58  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

     (14,967     (15,900     (7,874     (7,366
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (24     (20,575     (15,096     10,428  

Income tax (provision) benefit

     (445     1,271       (433     (3,459
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (469   $ (19,304   $ (15,529   $ 6,969  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Year Ended     Six Months Ended  
     December 29,
2019
    January 3,
2021
    June 28,
2020
    July 4,
2021
 
                 (unaudited)  

Net revenue

     100     100     100     100

Cost of revenue

     56       56       55       52  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     44       44       45       48  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Selling and marketing expenses

     20       19       19       17  

General and administrative expenses

     20       27       31       21  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

     4       (2     (5     10  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net:

        

Interest expense

     (4     (6     (6     (4

Other income, net

                        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

     (4     (6     (6     (4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

           (8     (11     6  

Income tax (provision) benefit

                 —                   —             (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

         (8 )%      (11 )%      4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comparisons for the Six Months Ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021

Net Revenue

 

     Six Months Ended      Change  
     June 28,
2020
     July 4,
2021
     Amount      %  
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Net revenue

   $ 139,596      $ 172,541      $ 32,945        24

Net revenue increased in the six months ended July 4, 2021 by $32.9 million, or 24%, compared to the six months ended June 28, 2020. Consumer spending increased in the six months ended July 4, 2021 as COVID-19 vaccinations began to roll out and lockdown restrictions were lifted. More customers began shopping for special occasions, events and travel that had been postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was demonstrated by an 11% increase in Active Customers during the six months ended July 4, 2021 compared to the same period of the prior year. We saw improvements in key revenue drivers, specifically a 17% increase in the number of Total Orders Placed and a 6% increase in Average Order Value for the six months ended July 4, 2021 compared to the same period of the prior year. As of July 4, 2021, we had adequate levels of inventory, which drove fewer markdowns and promotional discounts compared to the same period of the prior year. The favorable drivers of the higher net revenue were partially offset by an increase in the Company’s return rate, which was approximately 130 basis points higher in the six months ended July 4, 2021 as customer shopping and return behavior started to revert to pre-COVID levels.

Cost of Revenue

 

     Six Months Ended      Change  
     June 28,
2020
     July 4,
2021
     Amount      %  
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Cost of revenue

   $ 77,080      $ 90,008      $ 12,928        17

 

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Cost of revenue increased in the six months ended July 4, 2021 by $12.9 million, or 17%, compared to the six months ended June 28, 2020, partially explained by the increase in our net revenue. Additionally, there was a shift in sales mix to higher gross margin products in the six months ended July 4, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 28, 2020. This is largely because customers resumed shopping for higher margin items, such as special occasion and formal dresses, as the pandemic restrictions eased and weddings, events and parties became more prevalent.

Selling and Marketing Expenses

 

     Six Months Ended      Change  
     June 28,
2020
     July 4,
2021
     Amount      %  
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Selling and marketing expenses

   $ 26,413      $ 28,499      $ 2,086        8

Selling and marketing expenses increased in the six months ended July 4, 2021 by $2.1 million, or 8%, compared to the six months ended June 28, 2020. Discretionary marketing spend was suppressed in the six months ended June 28, 2020 in response to lower customer demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We began to slowly ramp up marketing spend in the first six months of fiscal 2021 resulting in a $0.5 million increase in online marketing expenses to acquire new customers and retain existing customers compared to same period in the prior year. Other marketing expenses, including photo shoot costs, increased by $0.4 million in the six months ended July 4, 2021, compared to the same period of the prior year. In addition, merchant processing fees increased by $1.2 million in the six months ended July 4, 2021 compared to the same period of the prior year due to the increase in net revenue.

General and Administrative Expenses

 

     Six Months Ended      Change  
     June 28,
2020
     July 4,
2021
     Amount     %  
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

General and administrative expenses

   $ 43,325      $ 36,240      $ (7,085     (16 )% 

General and administrative expenses decreased by $7.1 million in the six months ended July 4, 2021, or 16%, compared to the six months ended June 28, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to a $13.5 million decrease in equity-based compensation expense due to a $7.5 million decrease in expense related to Class P units as there were no modifications to Class P unit awards in the six months ended July 4, 2021, and a $7.1 million decrease in expense related to Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock as the expense related to the Series B Preferred Stock issuance during the six months ended June 28, 2020 was higher than the expense related to the Series B-1 Preferred Stock issuance during the six months ended July 4, 2021, partially offset by a $1.1 million increase in expense related to stock options and special compensation awards issued in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. In the six months ended June 28, 2020, there was a $2.0 million write off of previously capitalized IPO costs that did not recur during the six months ended July 4, 2021. The decrease was partially offset by a $7.4 million increase in payroll and benefits expense as a result of $2.1 million higher direct labor costs in line with higher sales volumes, higher bonus expense of $3.0 million due to improved business results and $2.3 million higher fixed headcount costs as the previous year costs were suppressed due to the furloughs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was also a $0.8 million increase in hardware, software and fulfillment and office supplies and a $0.4 million increase in state sales tax related expense.

 

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Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased in the six months ended July 4, 2021 by $0.5 million, or 6%, compared to the six months ended June 28, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to reduced amount of borrowings outstanding net of the higher average interest rate under our Credit Facility for the six months ended June 28, 2020 compared to the six months ended July 4, 2021.

Income Tax (Provision) Benefit

Our income tax provision in the six months ended July 4, 2021 increased by $3.0 million, or 699%, to $3.5 million. The increase in the income tax provision was primarily due to an increase in our income before taxes, partially offset by a decrease in non-deductible equity-based compensation expenses.

Comparisons for the Years Ended December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021

Net Revenue

 

     Year Ended      Change  
     December 29,
2019
     January 3,
2021
     Amount     %  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Net revenue

   $ 369,622      $ 248,656      $ (120,966     (33 )% 

Net revenue decreased in fiscal year 2020 by $121.0 million, or 33%, compared to the prior year. The decrease in net revenue was primarily driven by a decrease of 36% in the number of Total Orders Placed by customers caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumer spending declined in fiscal year 2020 due to the economic uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions, which resulted in a 31% decrease in Active Customers compared to the prior year. While we saw improvements in units per transaction (“UPT”) and Average Order Value net of returns, our fiscal year 2020 sales were heavier in markdowns and promotional discounts compared to fiscal year 2019 in order to reduce event related inventory on hand. UPT represents the average number of items that a customer purchases per transaction. It is calculated by dividing the total number of items sold for a given period by the total number of orders placed during that same time period. A higher UPT indicates that customers are purchasing more items per transaction, while a lower UPT indicates that customers are purchasing fewer items per transaction.

Cost of Revenue

 

     Year Ended      Change  
     December 29,
2019
     January 3,
2021
     Amount     %  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Cost of revenue

   $ 208,418      $ 138,364      $ (70,054     (34 )% 

Cost of revenue decreased in fiscal year 2020 by $70.1 million, or 34%, compared to the prior year, consistent with the decrease in our net revenue.

Selling and Marketing Expenses

 

     Year Ended      Change  
     December 29,
2019
     January 3,
2021
     Amount     %  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Selling and marketing expenses

   $ 72,875      $ 47,812      $ (25,063     (34 )% 

 

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Selling and marketing expenses decreased in fiscal year 2020 by $25.1 million, or 34%, compared to the prior year. The decrease was primarily driven by our efforts to reduce discretionary marketing expenses and cash outlays in response to lower customer demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We reduced our online marketing investment to acquire new customers and retain existing customers by $21.3 million in fiscal year 2020 compared to the prior year. Other marketing expenses also decreased by $0.8 million. In addition, merchant processing fees decreased by $3.0 million in fiscal year 2020 compared to the prior year due to the decline in net revenue.

General and Administrative Expenses

 

     Year Ended      Change  
     December 29,
2019
     January 3,
2021
     Amount     %  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

General and administrative expenses

   $ 73,386      $ 67,155      $ (6,231     (9 )% 

General and administrative expenses decreased by $6.2 million, or 9%, compared to the prior year. The decrease was primarily driven by a $15.9 million decrease in payroll and benefits expense as a result of lower direct labor costs in line with lower sales volumes, as well as a shift of approximately 60% of our employees to furlough in response to the COVID-19 pandemic who gradually returned to work throughout the year, a $3.0 million decrease in professional services, legal and accounting fees, and a $4.3 million decrease in hardware, software and fulfillment and office supplies. These decreases were partially offset by a $13.1 million increase in equity-based compensation due to award modifications and grants in fiscal year 2020, which included a $6.1 million charge for the excess of fair value over consideration paid for the Series B Preferred Stock issued to an employee in June 2020. There was also a $2.3 million increase in management fees driven by recognition of the excess of fair value over consideration paid for Series B Preferred Stock issued to the Sponsor and Institutional Venture Partners in June 2020.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased in fiscal year 2020 by $0.8 million, or 5%, compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to increased borrowings under our Credit Facility and higher variable interest rates in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019.

Income Tax (Provision) Benefit

Our income tax provision in fiscal year 2019 decreased by $1.7 million to an income tax benefit of $1.3 million in fiscal year 2020. The change in the income tax provision for fiscal year 2020 as compared to fiscal year 2019 was primarily due to an increase in our loss before taxes and a one-time benefit in fiscal year 2020 for the release of certain interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a result of settlements with taxing authorities, partially offset by an increase in non-deductible equity-based compensation expenses.

Quarterly Results of Operations

The following tables set forth our unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of operations data in dollars and as a percentage of revenue for the periods presented. The unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of operations data were prepared on the same basis as the audited annual consolidated financial statements and reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are necessary for a fair statement of the unaudited quarterly financial information set forth in such data. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that

 

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may be expected in the future and operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year. You should read this data together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto as well as the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The following table sets forth our selected unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of operations data for the periods presented:

 

    Three Months Ended  
    Mar. 31,
2019
    June 30,
2019
    Sept. 29,
2019
    Dec. 29,
2019
    Mar. 29,
2020
    June 28,
2020
    Sept. 27,
2020
    Jan. 3,
2021
    Apr. 4,
2021
    July 4,
2021
 
    (unaudited)  
    (in thousands)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

                   

Net revenue

  $ 85,690     $ 108,644     $ 91,656     $ 83,632     $ 78,224     $ 61,372     $ 54,533     $ 54,527     $ 68,967     $ 103,574  

Cost of revenue

    49,774       60,411       50,315       47,918       42,208       34,872       30,128       31,156       37,854       52,154  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    35,916       48,233       41,341       35,714       36,016       26,500       24,405       23,371       31,113       51,420  

Selling and marketing expenses

    17,139       21,978       17,124       16,634       16,811       9,602       9,481       11,918       13,435       15,064  

General and administrative expenses

    19,454       19,696       17,453       16,783       17,206       26,119       10,854       12,976       15,089       21,151  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

    (677     6,559       6,764       2,297       1,999       (9,221     4,070       (1,523     2,589       15,205  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net:

                   

Interest expense

    (3,596     (3,738     (4,062     (3,810     (3,700     (4,240     (3,959     (4,138     (3,807     (3,617

Other income

    55       74       64       46       55       11       20       51       6       52  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

    (3,541     (3,664     (3,998     (3,764     (3,645     (4,229     (3,939     (4,087     (3,801     (3,565
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (4,218     2,895       2,766       (1,467     (1,646     (13,450     131       (5,610     (1,212     11,640  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (991     926       856       (346     (434     867       (246     (1,458     163       3,296  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)

  $ (3,227   $ 1,969     $ 1,910     $ (1,121   $ (1,212   $ (14,317   $ 377     $ (4,152   $ (1,375   $ 8,344  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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The following table sets forth our unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of operations data for each of the periods indicated as a percentage of net revenue:

 

    Three Months Ended  
    Mar. 31,
2019
    June 30,
2019
    Sept. 29,
2019
    Dec. 29,
2019
    Mar. 29,
2020
    June 28,
2020
    Sept. 27,
2020
    Jan. 3,
2021
    Apr. 4,
2021
    July 4,
2021
 
    (unaudited)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

                   

Net revenue

    100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0

Cost of revenue

    58.1       55.6       54.9       57.3       54.0       56.8       55.2       57.1       54.9       50.4  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    41.9       44.4       45.1       42.7       46.0       43.2       44.8       42.9       45.1       49.6  

Selling and marketing expenses

    20.0       20.2       18.7       19.9       21.5       15.6       17.4       21.9       19.5       14.5  

General and administrative expenses

    22.7       18.1       19.0       20.1       22.0       42.6       19.9       23.8       21.9       20.4  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

    (0.8     6.0       7.4       2.7       2.5       (15.0     7.5       (2.8     3.7       14.7  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net:

                   

Interest expense

    (4.2     (3.4     (4.4     (4.6     (4.7     (6.9     (7.3     (7.6     (5.5     (3.5

Other income

    0.1       0.1       0.1       0.1       0.1                   0.1             0.1  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

    (4.1     (3.3     (4.3     (4.5     (4.6     (6.9     (7.3     (7.5     (5.5     (3.4
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (4.9     2.7       3.1       (1.8     (2.1     (21.9     0.2       (10.3     (1.8     11.3  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (1.2     0.9       0.9       (0.4     (0.6     1.4       (0.5     (2.7     0.2       3.2  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)

    (3.7 )%      1.8     2.2     (1.4 )%      (1.5 )%      (23.3 )%      0.7     (7.6 )%      (2.0 )%      8.1
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that we calculate as income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of equity-based compensation expense, management fees, and transaction fees. Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by management to evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans and make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. In particular, the exclusion of certain expenses in calculating Adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis and, in the case of exclusion of the impact of equity-based compensation, excludes an item that we do not consider to be indicative of our core operating performance. See “Prospectus Summary-Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data” for information regarding our use of Adjusted EBITDA.

 

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The following table sets forth the reconciliation of our unaudited quarterly net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods:

 

    Three Months Ended  
    Mar. 31,
2019
    June 30,
2019
    Sept. 29,
2019
    Dec. 29,
2019
    Mar. 29,
2020
    June 28,
2020
    Sept. 27,
2020
    Jan. 3,
2021
    Apr. 4,
2021
    July 4,
2021
 
    (unaudited)  
    (in thousands)  

Net income (loss)

  $ (3,227   $  1,969     $  1,910     $  (1,121)     $ (1,212   $ (14,317   $ 377     $  (4,152)     $ (1,375   $ 8,344  

Interest expense

    3,596       3,738       4,062       3,810       3,700       4,240       3,959       4,138       3,807       3,617  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (991     926       856       (346     (434     867       (246     (1,458     163       3,296  

Depreciation and amortization

    698       754       780       809       841       813       795       767       725       696  

Equity-based compensation expense

    563       564       563       350             16,999       207       451       1,913       1,661  

Management fees

    288       157             313       157       156       157       156       157       160  

Write-off of previously capitalized transaction fees

                            2,156       (206                        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 927     $ 8,108     $ 8,171     $ 3,815     $ 5,208     $ 8,552     $  5,249     $ (98   $ 5,390     $  17,774  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Quarterly Trends

We experience moderate seasonal fluctuations in aggregate sales volume during the year. Seasonality in our business does not follow that of traditional retailers, such as a typical concentration of revenue in the holiday quarter. Historically, our net revenue is highest in our second fiscal quarter due to higher demand for special event dresses and spring and summer fashion. The seasonality of our business has resulted in variability in our total net revenue quarter-to-quarter. As a result, we believe that comparisons of net revenue and results of operations for a given quarter to net revenue is and results of operations for the corresponding quarter in the prior fiscal year are generally more meaningful than comparisons of net revenue and results of operations for sequential quarters. Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic-effected quarters (quarters ended March 29, 2020 through April 4, 2021), our year-over-year quarterly net revenue growth has been in the double-digits.

Our quarterly gross profit fluctuates primarily based on how we manage our inventory and merchandise mix and has typically been in line with fluctuations in net revenue. When quarterly gross profit fluctuations have been unfavorable relative to the fluctuations in sales, these situations have been driven by non-recurring, external factors, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic in fiscal year 2020, which led to increased promotional discounts and higher markdowns in order to optimize our inventory mix and quantities.

Selling and marketing expenses generally fluctuate with net revenue. Further, in any given period, the amount of our selling and marketing expense can be affected by the use of promotional discounts in such period. In addition, we may increase or decrease marketing spend to assist with optimizing inventory mix and quantities.

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and benefit costs and vary quarter to quarter due to changes in the number of seasonal workers to meet demand based on our seasonality. Our general and administrative expenses during the three months ended June 28, 2020 were notably higher as a percentage of net revenue than in other quarters, due to the recognition of large non-recurring, non-cash equity-based compensation expense.

 

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Periods of quarterly net losses have been driven by non-recurring factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and significant equity-based compensation charges, both of which had impacts on the quarters during fiscal year 2020, as well as the first quarter of 2021.

Seasonality

Our results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of those for the entire year because our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations. We generally expect demand to be greater in our second fiscal quarter compared to the rest of the year. We believe that this seasonality has affected and will continue to affect our results of operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are cash generated from operating activities, proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock and borrowings under our Credit Facility. Our primary requirements for liquidity and capital are payroll and general operating expenses, capital expenditures associated with distribution, network expansion and capitalized software and debt service requirement.

As of July 4, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $32.1 million and restricted cash of $0.5 million. While we believe that our cash and cash equivalents and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to finance our continued core operations for at least the next 12 months from September 20, 2021, there is substantial doubt that we will have sufficient funds to repay the $97.6 million outstanding under our Term Loan when due in August 2022. While we expect to obtain additional financing through the capital markets, we cannot assure that we will be successful in obtaining sufficient funds to repay the amounts outstanding under the Term Loan at maturity in August 2022.

In the event that additional financing is required from outside sources, we cannot assure that such financing will be available on favorable terms or at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital when desired, or if we cannot expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on business opportunities because we lack sufficient capital, our business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations would be adversely impacted.

We cannot assure that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that we are able to secure additional debt or equity financing on acceptable terms, or at all, to enable us to service our indebtedness in the future. Our future operating performance and our ability to service or extend our indebtedness will be subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Credit Facilities

On August, 28, 2017, our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC entered into a $145.0 million credit facility, (the “Credit Facility”) with Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as the administrative agent and collateral agent for all lenders, with $135.0 million committed as a term loan (the “Term Loan”) and $10.0 million committed as a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”). The proceeds from the Term Loan were used to repay other long-term debt and to pay dividends to LP, and the proceeds of the Revolving Facility are available for general working capital and other corporate purposes.

In May 2019, we entered into a waiver and fourth amendment of our Credit Facility. As part of the waiver and amendment, certain terms and covenants were modified, and the lenders waived our default for failure to comply with certain leverage ratio levels from the original Credit Facility agreement.

 

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In June 2020, we entered into a waiver and fifth amendment of our Credit Facility. As part of the waiver and amendment, certain terms and covenants were modified, and the lenders waived our default for failure to comply with certain leverage ratio levels as modified under the fourth amendment. The fifth amendment deferred principal payments of $7.5 million for the Term Loan to the maturity date and resulted in a portion of interest being payable in kind, which was added to the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan and the Revolving Facility, and increased interest rates on both the Term Loan and the Revolving Facility.

From and after June 5, 2020 and until the first day of the month beginning after we deliver a compliance certificate evidencing compliance with the maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio maintenance covenant (the date of such delivery, the “Compliance Date”), the Term Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to (i) an adjusted LIBOR rate (the “Adjusted LIBOR Rate”) (subject to a minimum floor of 1.00%) plus 9.50% or (ii) a base rate equal to the greater of the “prime rate,” the federal funds effective rate plus 12 of 1.0% and the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (the “Base Rate”) plus 8.50%, of which 2.50% is paid in kind by adding such percent to the outstanding principal balance of Term Loan. At all times thereafter, the Term Loan bear interest at either (i) a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (subject to a minimum floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC ranging from 7.00% to 9.00% per annum or (ii) the Base Rate plus an applicable margin of ranging from 6.00% to 8.00% per annum based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC.

From and after June 5, 2020 and until the first day of the month beginning after the Compliance Date, the loans under the Revolving Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (subject to a minimum floor of 0.00%) plus 8.50% or (ii) the Base Rate plus 7.50%, of which 1.50% is paid in kind by adding such percent to the outstanding principal balance of the loans under the Revolving Facility. At all times thereafter, loans under the Revolving Facility bear interest at either (i) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (subject to a floor of 0.00%) plus an applicable margin based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC ranging from 5.00% to 6.00% per annum or (ii) the Base Rate plus an applicable margin based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC ranging from 4.00% to 5.00% per annum. See “Description of Certain Indebtedness.”

As of July 4, 2021, there were $107.7 million of borrowings outstanding under the Term Loan. As of July 4, 2021, there were no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility and $0.9 million of letters of credit outstanding resulting in $9.2 million of remaining borrowing capacity under the Revolving Facility. As of July 4, 2021, the interest rate on the Term Loan was the Adjusted LIBOR Rate plus 9.50% and the loans under the Revolving Facility bore interest at variable rates with a minimum of 7.00%.

In April 2021, we entered into the sixth amendment to our Credit Facility. As part of the amendment, we modified the minimum liquidity covenant under the Credit Facility to increase the minimum amount required pursuant to such covenant from $2.5 million to $10.0 million. Upon receipt of proceeds from this offering, we are required, under the terms of the sixth amendment to our Credit Facility, to pay off all outstanding debt under the Credit Facility before any proceeds are used by the Company. We are also restricted under the terms of the sixth amendment to our Credit Facility from declaring and paying any dividends to our stockholders.

Principal amounts outstanding under the Term Loan will be due and payable in full on August 28, 2022. All obligations under the Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent LLC, our direct wholly-owned subsidiary, and, subject to certain exceptions, each of its current and future domestic subsidiaries. The Credit Facility contains certain covenants restricting our activities. In March 2021, we repaid $8.6 million of the outstanding principal amount under our Revolving Facility.

 

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Additionally, in connection with this offering, we anticipate entering into a new $50.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The New Revolving Facility will mature three years after closing, and borrowings thereunder will accrue interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (x) the term SOFR rate, plus the applicable SOFR adjustment and plus a margin of 1.75% per annum or (y) the base rate plus a margin of 0.75% (with the base rate being the highest of the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, the prime rate and term SOFR for a period of one month plus 1.00%). We expect the New Revolving Facility will contain a financial maintenance covenant requiring a maximum total leverage ratio of no more than 2.50:1.00, stepping down to 2.00:1.00 after 18 months. We expect a commitment fee of 37.5 basis points will be assessed on unused commitments under the New Revolving Facility. We intend to use borrowings under the New Revolving Facility to refinance existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes, including funding working capital.

As of January 3, 2021, we had non-cancelable operating leases for our corporate offices and warehouses expiring at various dates through 2026, some of which have renewal provisions.

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of January 3, 2021 were as follows (in thousands):

 

Fiscal Year Ending:

   Amounts  

2021

   $ 2,879  

2022

     2,789  

2023

     2,230  

2024

     1,777  

2025

     1,830  

Thereafter

     153  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 11,658  
  

 

 

 

On September 30, 2021, we signed a new seven-year term lease for warehouse space commencing December 2021 and expiring in January 2029, with annual rental payments ranging from $1.9 million to $2.5 million per year.

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to redeem all existing Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock for $17.9 million, to repay $71.4 million of our Term Loan and use the remainder, if any, for general corporate purposes. See “Description of Certain Indebtedness” and “Use of Proceeds.”

Cash Flow Analysis

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended     Six Months Ended  
     December 29,
2019
    January 3,
2021
    June 28,
2020
    July 4,
2021
 
     (in thousands)  
           (unaudited)  

Net cash (used in) provided by:

        

Operating activities

   $ 11,874     $ 4,856     $ 13,870     $ 29,835  

Investing activities

     (4,042     (1,913     (1,290     (962

Financing activities

     (9,721     6,755       10,481       (12,292
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (1,889   $ 9,698     $ 23,061     $ 16,581  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Operating Activities

Cash from operating activities consists primarily of net loss adjusted for certain non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs, interest expense capitalized to principal of debt, equity-based compensation, and the effect of changes in working capital and other activities.

In the six months ended July 4, 2021, net cash provided by operating activities was $29.8 million and consisted of net income of $7.0 million, changes in operating assets and liabilities of $17.2 million and non-cash items of $5.6 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities related primarily to an $18.5 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities due primarily to a $10.7 million increase in the returns reserve as a result of higher sales coupled with a higher return rate, as well as an increase in accrued compensation and benefits of $4.5 million, $1.6 million increase in sales taxes payable, $1.2 million increase in marketing, shipping and vendor accruals, $0.6 million increase in stored value card liability, and $0.5 million increase in deferred revenue, all due to the higher sales in the period. There was also a $6.0 million increase in income tax payable and $2.4 million increase in accounts payable due to higher balances for both merchandise and non-merchandise accounts payable as a result of the higher sales in the period. These were partially offset by increases in inventory and assets for recovery of $4.3 million and $3.6 million, respectively. Other noncurrent liabilities decreased by $0.6 million and accounts receivable and prepaids and other current assets increased by $1.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Non-cash items primarily related to equity-based compensation expense of $3.6 million, depreciation and amortization of $1.4 million, amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost of $1.4 million, and interest expense capitalized to principal of the Term Loan and the Revolving Facility of $1.4 million, offset by deferred income taxes of $2.1 million.

In the six months ended June 28, 2020, net cash provided by operating activities was $13.9 million and consisted of net loss of $15.5 million, changes in operating assets and liabilities of $6.7 million and non-cash items of $22.7 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities related primarily to a decrease in inventory and accounts receivable of $10.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively, along with a $1.0 million decrease in prepaids and other current assets. Other increases to cash were driven by a $0.7 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. These were partially offset by decreases in accounts payable and other noncurrent liabilities of $6.0 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Non-cash items primarily related to equity-based compensation expense of $17.0 million, depreciation and amortization of $1.7 million, amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost of $1.1 million, the write-off of deferred IPO costs of $2.0 million, and deferred income taxes of $0.7 million.

In fiscal year 2020, net cash provided by operating activities was $4.9 million and consisted of net loss of $19.3 million, changes in operating assets and liabilities of $2.9 million and non-cash items of $27.0 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities related primarily to a decrease in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and accounts payable of $9.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively, partially offset by decreases in inventory and assets for recovery of $9.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively. Non-cash items primarily related to equity-based compensation expense of $17.7 million, depreciation and amortization of $3.2 million, amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost of $2.5 million, the write-off of deferred offering costs of $2.0 million, and interest expense capitalized to principal of the Term Loan and the Revolving Facility of $1.7 million.

In fiscal year 2019, net cash provided by operating activities was $11.9 million and consisted of net loss of $0.5 million, changes in operating assets and liabilities of $6.8 million and non-cash items of $5.5 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily reflect cash inflows due to increases in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and other noncurrent liabilities of $5.3 million, $3.1 and $2.7 million, respectively, partially offset by increases in inventory and accounts receivable of $1.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively. Non-cash items primarily related to depreciation and amortization of $3.0 million, amortization of debt issuance costs of $2.0 million and equity-based compensation expense of $2.0 million offset by deferred income taxes of $1.6 million.

 

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Investing Activities

Our primary investing activities have consisted of purchases of equipment to support our overall business growth and internally developed software for the continued development of our proprietary technology infrastructure. Purchases of property and equipment may vary from period-to-period due to timing of the expansion of our operations. We have no material commitments for capital expenditures.

In the six months ended July 4, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was $1.0 million. This was attributable to capital expenditures relating to equipment for our general operations, software and hardware purchases, and internally developed software.

In the six months ended June 28, 2020, net cash used in investing activities was $1.3 million. This was attributable to capital expenditures relating to equipment for our general operations, software and hardware purchases, and internally developed software.

In fiscal year 2020, net cash used in investing activities was $1.9 million. This was attributable to capital expenditures relating to equipment for our general operations, software and hardware purchases, and internally developed software.

In fiscal year 2019, net cash used in investing activities was $4.0 million. This was attributable to capital expenditures relating to equipment for our general operations, software and hardware purchases, and internally developed software.

Financing Activities

Financing activities consist primarily of borrowings and repayments related to our Credit Facility and issuance of preferred stock.

In the six months ended July 4, 2021, net cash used in financing activities was $12.3 million, which was attributable to the net proceeds from the issuance of our Series B-1 Preferred Stock of $1.4 million, offset by repayments on our Term Loan of $5.1 million and the repayment of borrowings under our Revolving Facility of $8.6 million.

In the six months ended June 28, 2020, net cash provided by financing activities was $10.5 million, which was attributable to the net proceeds from the issuance of our Series B Preferred Stock of $7.3 million and net proceeds from borrowings under our Revolving Facility of $5.3 million, offset by repayment on advance from LP of $2.0 million.

In fiscal year 2020, net cash provided by financing activities was $6.8 million, which was attributable to the issuance of our Series B Preferred Stock of $7.3 million and net proceeds from borrowings under our Revolving Facility of $4.5 million, offset by repayments on our Term Loan of $2.5 million and repayment on advance from LP of $2.0 million.

In fiscal year 2019, net cash used in financing activities was $9.7 million, which was largely attributable to repayments on our Term Loan of $12.7 million and payment of deferred offering costs of $2.2 million, offset by net proceeds from borrowings under our Revolving Facility of $4.0 million and advance from LP of $2.0 million.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to a variety of markets and other risks including the effects of change in interest rates, inflation and foreign currency translation and transaction risks.

 

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Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to interest rate risk primarily related to the effect of interest rate changes on borrowings outstanding under our Credit Facility. As of July 4, 2021, we had $107.7 million of Term Loan outstanding under our Credit Facility with an effective interest rate for the six months ended July 4, 2021 of 12.9%. As of July 4, 2021, we had no loans outstanding under our Revolving Facility with an effective interest rate for the six months ended July 4, 2021 of 9.6%. Based on the outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility, we estimate that a 1.0% increase in the average interest rate on our borrowings would have increased interest expense by $1.2 million for the six months ended July 4, 2021. The impact on future interest expense resulting from future changes in interest rates will depend largely on the gross amount of our borrowings at that time.

Foreign Currency Risk

All of our sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, and therefore, our net revenue is not currently subject to significant foreign currency risk. Our purchase of inventory and operating expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars. To date, foreign currency transaction gains and losses have not been material to our consolidated financial statements, and we have not engaged in any foreign currency hedging transactions.

Inflation Risk

We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations. We continue to monitor the impact of inflation to minimize its effects through pricing strategies, productivity improvements and cost reductions. If our costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases. Our inability or failure to do so could harm our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

In preparing our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, we must make decisions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures. Such decisions include the selection of the appropriate accounting policies to be applied and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. In reaching such decisions, we apply judgments based on our understanding and analysis of the relevant circumstances, historical experience, and business valuations. Actual amounts could differ from those estimated at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared.

Our significant accounting policies are described in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Some of those significant accounting policies require us to make difficult, subjective, or complex judgements or estimates. An accounting estimate is considered to be critical if it meets both of the following criteria: (i) the estimate requires assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate is made and (ii) different estimates reasonably could have been used, or changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period may have a material impact on the presentation of our financial condition, changes in financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations. Our critical accounting estimates include the following:

Revenue Recognition

We generate revenue from the sale of merchandise products sold directly to end customers. We recognize revenue when the product is transferred to the customer, which is generally upon shipment. We estimate a reserve of future returns based on historical return rates. There is judgment in utilizing

 

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historical trends for estimating future returns. Our refund liability for sales returns is included in returns reserve on the consolidated balance sheets and represents the expected value of the refund that will be due to our customers. We also have a corresponding asset for recovery that represents the expected net realizable value of the merchandise inventory to be returned.

Equity-Based Compensation

Stock Options

The Company grants stock option awards to certain employees, officers, directors, and other nonemployee service providers. The Company accounts for equity-based compensation expense by calculating the estimated fair value of each award at the grant date or modification date by applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The model utilizes the estimated per share fair value of the Company’s underlying common stock at the measurement date, the expected or contractual term of the option, the expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rates, and the expected dividend yield of the common stock. Equity-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period the employee or non-employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which is generally the vesting period.

The Company bases its estimates of expected volatility on the historical volatility of comparable companies from a representative peer group selected based on industry, financial, and market capitalization data and recognizes forfeitures as they occur.

Determining the grant date fair value of options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires management to make assumptions and judgments. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and, if different assumptions had been used, stock-based compensation expense could have been materially different from the amounts recorded.

Class P Units

We record equity-based compensation related to equity awards (consisting of Class P units) granted through our majority owner, LP. The LP’s Class P units are available to be issued as incentive compensation to employees, officers, directors, and other nonemployee service providers or consultants of the Company.

Through June 2020, we concluded that LP’s Class P units were not a substantive class of equity and any associated pre-vesting distributions allocated to LP’s Class P units were recorded as equity-based compensation once the contingent payment becomes probable of payment, which is upon vesting of the Class P units.

During June and July 2020, all outstanding Class P units were modified to update forfeiture terms related to employment requirements and vesting conditions were added to some of the Class P units. Due to the modifications to the employment requirements, we concluded that the Class P units are a substantive class of equity to be accounted for under FASB ASC Topic No. 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”).

Equity-based compensation is measured at the grant date or modification date for all equity-based awards made to employees and nonemployees based on the fair value of the awards. Awards with only service conditions are recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally four years.

Certain of the outstanding Class P units which were modified in fiscal year 2020 now vest upon the satisfaction of both a service condition and a performance condition. The service-based vesting

 

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condition for these Class P units is satisfied over four years. When the performance-based vesting condition becomes probable, which is upon the completion of a qualifying distribution event, the Company will immediately record cumulative stock-based compensation expense using the accelerated attribution method for the awards that have met the service-based vesting condition. The Company has not recognized any stock-based compensation expense for the performance-based

Class P units as a qualifying distribution event has not occurred.

The fair value of the Class P units at the modification dates during fiscal year 2020 was estimated using a two-step process. First, our enterprise value was established using generally accepted valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flow analysis and comparable public company analysis. These methods consider operating and financial performance including estimating future cash flows and discounting those cash flows at an appropriate rate, the lack of liquidity of capital stock and general and industry specific economic outlook, among other factors. The fair value of LP is determined based on the fair value of our common stock. Second, LP’s enterprise value was allocated among the various classes of units that comprise the capital structure of LP using the Black-Scholes option-pricing method. The option-pricing method treats all levels of the capital structure as call options on the enterprise’s value, with the exercise price based on the “breakpoints” between each of the different claims on the securities. The inputs necessary for the option-pricing model include LP’s current enterprise value, breakpoints (the various characteristics for each class of equity, including liquidation preferences and priority distributions, in accordance with the limited partnership agreement and the Class P units), term, risk-free rate, and volatility.

See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information concerning certain of the specific assumptions and methodologies we used to determine the estimated fair value of our Class P units. Certain of such assumptions involve inherent uncertainties and the application of significant judgment. As a result, if factors or expected outcomes change and we use significantly different assumptions or estimates, equity-based compensation could be materially different.

Series B and Series B-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock

During June 2020, the Company issued and sold 7,500,001 shares of Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”) at $1.00 per share to the general partner and a limited partner of LP and the holders of Series A Preferred Stock. The Company received gross cash proceeds of $7.5 million and incurred issuance costs associated with the Series B Preferred Stock issuance of $0.2 million. For accounting purposes, the Company determined the fair value of the Series B Preferred Stock to be $2.21 per share at issuance. During March 2021, the Company issued and sold 1,450,000 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock at $1.00 per share to current executives of the Company. The Company received gross cash proceeds of $1.5 million and incurred nominal issuance costs associated with the Series B-1 Preferred Stock issuance. For accounting purposes, the Company determined the fair value of the Series B-1 Preferred Stock to be $2.02 per share at issuance.

The Company has elected to record its Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock at the greater of its redemption value or the issuance date fair value, net of issuance costs, as it is probable of becoming redeemable due to the passage of time. Any excess of fair value over the consideration paid was recorded as equity-based compensation for shares purchased by entities related to current employees, board members, and service providers and as a deemed dividend for shares purchased by an existing holder of Series A Preferred Stock.

The fair value of the Series B Preferred Stock was estimated using a two-step process. First, the Company’s enterprise value was established using generally accepted valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flow analysis and comparable public company analysis. These methods consider operating and financial performance including estimating future cash flows and discounting

 

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those cash flows at an appropriate rate, the lack of liquidity of capital stock and general and industry specific economic outlook, among other factors. Second, the Company’s enterprise value was allocated among the various classes of outstanding securities using the Black-Scholes option-pricing method. The option-pricing method treats all levels of the capital structure as call options on the enterprise’s value, with the exercise price based on the “breakpoints” between each of the different claims on the securities. The inputs necessary for the Series B Preferred Stock option-pricing model include the Company’s then-current enterprise value, breakpoints (the various characteristics for each class of equity, including liquidation preferences and priority distributions), time to liquidity of 3 years, risk-free rate of 0.21%, and volatility of 72.0%. The inputs necessary for the Series B-1 Preferred Stock option-pricing model include the Company’s then-current enterprise value, breakpoints (the various characteristics for each class of equity, including liquidation preferences and priority distributions), time to liquidity ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 years depending on the scenario, risk-free rate of 0.11%, and volatility of 78.0%. Certain of such assumptions involve inherent uncertainties and the application of significant judgment. As a result, if factors or expected outcomes change and we use significantly different assumptions or estimates, equity-based compensation could be materially different.

Goodwill and Tradename

Goodwill is stated as the excess of the acquisition price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a purchase acquisition and is not amortized. Our tradename is an indefinite-lived intangible asset and is not amortized. We review goodwill and our tradename for impairment at least annually (on the first day of the fourth quarter) or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired. When testing goodwill for impairment, we first perform an assessment of qualitative factors (“Step 0 Test”). The qualitative assessment includes assessing the totality of relevant events and circumstances that affect the fair value or carrying value of our reporting unit. These events and circumstances include macroeconomic conditions, industry and competitive environment conditions, overall financial performance, reporting unit specific events, and market considerations. We also consider recent valuations of our reporting unit, including the magnitude of the difference between the most recent fair value estimate and the carrying value, as well as both positive and adverse events and circumstances, and the extent to which each of the events and circumstances identified may affect the comparison of our reporting unit’s fair value with its carrying value. If the qualitative assessment results in a conclusion that it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, then no further testing is performed for our reporting unit.

When testing our tradename for impairment, we first perform an assessment of qualitative factors. If qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of our tradename is less than its carrying amount, we test the tradename for impairment at the asset level. We determine the fair value of our tradename and compare it to the carrying value. If the carrying value of our tradename exceeds the fair value, we recognize an impairment loss in an amount equal to the excess.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies—Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements,” to our consolidated financial statements and Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies—Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements,” to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information about recent accounting pronouncements, the timing of their adoption, and our assessment, to the extent we have made one, of their potential impact on our financial position and our results of operations.

 

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JOBS Act Accounting Election

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period until we are no longer an emerging growth company or until we affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period. Accordingly, our consolidated financial statements and our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

 

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BUSINESS

Overview

Lulus is a customer-driven, digitally-native fashion brand primarily serving Millennial and Gen Z women. We focus relentlessly on giving our customers what they want. We do this by using data coupled with human insight to deliver a curated and continuously evolving assortment of on-point, affordable luxury fashion. Our customer obsession sets the tone for everything we do, from our personalized online shopping experience to our exceptional customer service.

We are focused on building authentic personal relationships with our customers and offering them coveted products they cannot purchase elsewhere. We incorporate the pulse of the consumer by engaging with her where she is: across the web, on social media and across our platform, through reviews, feedback and one-on-one interactions with our Style Advisors, Fit Experts and Bridal Concierge. Customers express their love for our brand on social media and by word-of-mouth (both in-person and online). As of October 3, 2021, we had more than 7.5 million followers, up from 5.5 million followers as of September 27, 2020, across our social media platforms, where the popular #lovelulus hashtag has generated billions of impressions. Consumer surveys in 2019 and 2021 show that Lulus outperforms its peers significantly in net promoter score, customer satisfaction, overall value, and likelihood of repurchase; these metrics demonstrate our customers’ genuine affinity for our brand.

A key differentiator of our business model from traditional fashion retail is our use of data to optimize almost all elements of our business. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in our product creation and curation cycle. Traditional merchandising approaches are risk and capital intensive, characterized by extended in-house design cycles, seasonal assortment decisions, deep buys, limited customer feedback, and high markdowns. Unlike traditional retailers, we leverage a “test, learn, and reorder” strategy to bring hundreds of new products to market every week; we test them in small batches, learn about customer demand and then quickly reorder winning products in higher volume to optimize profitability. This strategy allows us to rapidly convert new products into profitable sales on a consistent and repeatable basis while minimizing fashion and trend risk. We sell thousands of unique products each month across a broad range of categories and during the six months ended July 4, 2021, 70% of our sales were from reorders and 94% of our reorder products were sold without moving to sale pricing. This is up from 66% of sales from reorders and 89% of our reorder products sold without moving to sale pricing during the six months ended June 28, 2020.

We are proud of our large, diverse community of loyal customers. During the twelve months ended October 3, 2021, we served 2.5 million Active Customers. In the first six months of our 2021 fiscal year, 88% of units sold were Lulus brand products up from 86% in the first six months of the 2020 fiscal year. Our target customer initially meets us in her 20s and stays with us through her 30s and beyond. We design a broad assortment of affordable luxury fashion for many of life’s moments. Our affordable luxury positioning, underscored by our sub-$50 average unit retail price (“AUR”), means that we are highly accessible and appeal to a broad segment of the market. We define AUR as the sum of the total gross sales before returns across our platform in a given period, plus shipping revenue, less discounts and markdowns, divided by the total number of units sold in that period.

Our company culture is defined by our core values: “All Voices, All In, Always Evolving.” “All Voices” means every voice, at every level, is valued and encouraged. We are a team made up of individuals, and diversity and self-expression are welcome. We treat each other with respect. We listen actively and are open and honest with each other. “All In” means we are “all in” on ensuring the best possible customer experience, from placing the order to opening the package upon delivery, and every interaction along the way. We pitch in to support our team members and get the job done. “Always Evolving” means we are digital natives, changing and evolving along with our customers and

 

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technology. We are never satisfied with the status quo. We constantly seek to improve ourselves, our product, and our Company. We take pride in the growth of our teams, promoting top performers and infusing our Company with new and fresh ideas from outside hires. We strive to embody these core values in our connections with our customers as well as our employees.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Response

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a material impact on the global fashion apparel, accessories and footwear industry as a significant portion of in-person social, professional and formal events over the last 18 months were postponed or cancelled.

Historically, our business model has resulted in strong historical growth. Between fiscal years 2016 and 2019, we grew our net revenue by 179% to $370 million. Net revenue grew by 75% from 2016 to 2017, 28% from 2017 to 2018 and 24% from 2018 to 2019. In fiscal year 2020, our net revenue declined by 33% to $249 million as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the three and six months ended July 4, 2021, we grew our net revenue by 69% and 24%, respectively, compared to the same periods of the prior year.

Shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we proactively implemented initiatives to ensure the health and safety of employees and customers, while also addressing the financial impact and returning the business to growth in fiscal year 2021. These initiatives included prudent expense and aggressive liquidity management to successfully manage the business through the challenging operating environment. We implemented a number of measures to minimize cash outlays, including reducing discretionary marketing and other expenses. Additionally, in June 2020, we modified our existing credit agreement to amend covenants and adjust certain payment terms. We also borrowed $5.3 million of loans under our Revolving Facility, which was subsequently repaid in March 2021. As the world has begun to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and in-person socialization has begun to return, beginning in March 2021 our business has experienced rapid recovery, growing faster than a number of e-commerce apparel businesses that are less correlated to social interaction and other activities outside of the home.

Our Industry

Apparel is a Massive Market, but Traditional Brick and Mortar Brands and Retailers Are Under Pressure

Euromonitor, a consumer market research company, estimates that the aggregate apparel and footwear industry in the United States represented a $369.8 billion market in 2019. While the industry temporarily contracted in 2020 to $285.7 billion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is expected to grow to $395.2 billion by 2025, representing an expected CAGR of 7% from 2020.

Traditional brick and mortar apparel brand and retail models are increasingly under pressure. From 2016 to 2019, we believe online penetration in the U.S. apparel industry increased from 17% to 25%, and this category shift is expected to continue with online penetration reaching 38% by the end of this year and 49% by 2025. Offline retail models have generally failed to keep up with changing consumer preferences and are burdened by vast, inflexible physical store footprints, inventory management challenges, demand seasonality and a highly promotional environment as competitors seek to capture any sales available to cover high fixed costs. Additionally, offline models face a prolonged and unattractive merchandising and buying cycle that requires brands and retailers to forecast fashion trends and consumer demand several quarters into the future. This traditional model

 

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also results in higher initial retail prices due to the wholesale-to-retail markup. Finally, Millennial and Gen Z consumers increasingly prefer to shop online, which has forced many traditional retailers to respond by closing a significant portion of their previously profitable physical stores over the last several years.

Brick and mortar businesses, especially in the apparel, footwear and accessories industry, were acutely challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic as they were generally considered “non-essential” by federal, state and local authorities. Most non-essential brick and mortar stores were temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some were permanently closed. Businesses without adequate online capabilities suffered in comparison to omnichannel businesses as well as digitally-native brands.

Omnichannel Models and E-commerce Marketplaces Are Taking Share, but Have Inherited Challenges of Brick and Mortar Brands and Retailers

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers were generally spending less time shopping offline and more time shopping online. According to DataReportal, the typical consumer now spends 2 hours and 25 minutes on social media each day, equating to roughly one full waking day of their life each week. According to Branded Research, this trend towards online consumption of media and adoption of e-commerce is even more pronounced among the youngest generations, with 58% of Gen Z consumers saying they are online “almost constantly.” This massive segment of the population represents the first generations to have come of age communicating, learning, and shopping online and on their mobile devices. This has resulted in a new “discovery journey” for consumers, whereby brand and product discovery, evaluation and purchase increasingly occur online. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated online penetration by driving product adoption of e-commerce from new consumers and deeper engagement and more buying from existing digital purchasers.

The rapid growth of e-commerce has been primarily driven by two new business models: first, brick and mortar retailers adopting omnichannel models; and second, the emergence of a new generation of online department stores. As brick and mortar retailers have moved online, they market products to consumers through legacy offline channels (e.g., department stores and owned stores) as well as emerging online channels (e.g., e-commerce retailers and owned websites). Consistent with broader industry trends, growth in the online businesses of these traditional brands and retailers has generally outpaced growth in their respective offline businesses. In addition, a new generation of online department stores offers consumers the convenience to shop online for a variety of third-party or private label brands. These online venues have the advantage of being able to offer a broader assortment and more personalized shopping experience relative to their offline counterparts.

While both the omni-channel and online department store models represent an improvement from the traditional offline-only model, they continue to be burdened by many of the challenges of their brick and mortar predecessors. Key among these challenges is a prolonged merchandising and buying cycle that requires brands and retailers to forecast fashion trends and consumer demand several quarters into the future. As a result of a prolonged merchandising and buying cycle, inventory management becomes a critical pain point, whereby inventory shortage results in lost sales, while inventory surplus results in significant markdowns, which impair margins and damage brand equity for omni-channel and brick and mortar retailers. Other challenges include the wholesale-to-retail markup, which results in higher initial retail prices as well as potential margin erosion, since consumers can easily price-shop third-party brands online and purchase from the lowest-cost provider, and the burden of having long-term brick and mortar leases, which proved to be a significant problem during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, legacy and e-commerce retailers may be conflicted when developing and promoting their own private label brands, and are often reliant on third-party brands, which can pose supply risk.

 

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Digitally-Native Brands Are Best Positioned to Win

Against this backdrop, we believe that digitally-native brands are best positioned to succeed due to the following key attributes they possess:

 

   

Ability to offer their own brands without reliance on third-party brands;

 

   

Direct engagement with customers;

 

   

Large, real-time customer-centric datasets offering insights across the business;

 

   

Significantly faster merchandise creation driven by real-time customer feedback and purchase patterns;

 

   

Technology that is purpose-built for e-commerce;

 

   

Asset-light distribution model; and

 

   

Opportunity to selectively test and open temporary retail stores.

Lulus: A Customer-Driven Fashion Brand

Lulus is a customer-driven fashion brand that leverages the power of digitally-native e-commerce. We have built a community of loyal customers by listening to them and engaging with them. When we ask our customers to describe Lulus, they tell us they think of the brand as “affordable,” “quality,” and “trendy.” We take a deliberate, measured approach to developing products that feature high-end, stylistic details as well as flattering silhouettes that empower our customer to look and feel her best, whether in the office, at home or out on the weekend. As a result of our brand authenticity and focus on delivering what our customer wants, we have earned deep customer loyalty and brand affinity. Based on the 2021 Brand Survey, Lulus customers recommend Lulus to their friends and family at a materially higher rate than the other brands and retailers from which they purchase. This positive brand promotion is reflected in higher net promoter scores than our competition and is supported by our strong word-of-mouth customer acquisition. According to the 2021 Brand Survey, over a third of the active Lulus customer respondents first ordered with us after seeing a friend or family member wearing Lulus products or receiving a recommendation. According to the same survey, our aided brand awareness remains modest at 17% among women 18 years of age and older in the United States, implying significant opportunity to continue to attract new customers.

Our Customer

We are proud of our large, diverse community of loyal customers. Our target customer initially meets us in her 20s and stays with us through her 30s and beyond. The Lulus brand spans many categories, including dresses, tops, bottoms, bridal, intimates, swimwear, footwear, and accessories. A customer who might have discovered Lulus when shopping for her college events can continue to shop our broad assortment that caters to events later in life such as bridal parties and weddings as well as for desk to date and everything in between.

Our affordable luxury positioning is underscored by our sub-$50 AUR, which we believe helps us to appeal to a broad segment of the market. On average, our customer’s household income is $82,000. According to the 2021 Brand Survey, our customers spend a median of $1,175 on their fashion purchases per year. In the twelve months ended July 4, 2021, our Active Customers spent $129 on average, implying an 11% share of wallet based on an assumed average wallet of $1,175, which is the median amount our customers spend on fashion purchases per year according to the 2021 Brand Survey. This is up from $122 average spend by Active Customers for the twelve months ended June 28, 2020. We believe our strong customer loyalty, affordable pricing, and significant category expansion opportunity help position us to grow our share of wallet over time.

 

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During the twelve months ended October 3, 2021, we served 2.5 million Active Customers, up from 2.3 million Active Customers during the twelve months ended September 27, 2020. On social media, we benefit from the longevity and strength of our social presence and as of July 4, 2021, we had more than 7.5 million followers, up from 5.5 million followers as of September 27, 2020, across our social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, and have a strong network of paid and free product influencers who serve as genuine Lulus ambassadors. As of July 4, 2021, as many as 20% of our followers on social media were based outside of the United States. Additionally, as of July 4, 2021, we had over two million subscribers to our daily email and SMS text message updates.

Why We Win

 

   

Customer-Driven Fashion Brand:    Lulus is one of the first digitally-native fashion brands in the United States primarily serving Millennial and Gen Z women. Over the last decade, the Lulus customer has come to us for on-point fashion that is high quality yet affordable. We take pride in our ability to offer more luxurious fabrics and incorporate elevated stylistic details into our products relative to what is offered by other comparably-priced brands. As a result, our customers consistently remark on the quality of our products, as well as the newness of our assortment, with an average of 236 products released each week during the six months ended July 4, 2021(up from 206 products per week during the six months ended June 28, 2020). Our obsessive focus on customer experience creates deep personal connections, which in turn rewards us with customer loyalty and word-of-mouth sharing of the brand, which, according to the 2021 Brand Survey, has been our leading driver of new customer acquisition. While other brands rely on internal design teams to create styles that reflect a particular brand aesthetic, we listen first and foremost to customer feedback and then focus our efforts on creating and curating an assortment that she will love.

 

   

Customer-Centric Experience:    We are passionate about building a brand synonymous with exceptional customer service. We have effectively brought the boutique experience online, developing one-on-one relationships with our customers in order to learn and then address their individual needs. We provide customer service on multiple channels—phone, email, chat, SMS, and social media—to meet our customer where she is most comfortable. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, our CSAT customer satisfaction score after interactions with customer service was 93% (based on a 23% response rate), up from the fiscal year 2020 CSAT score of 92% (based on a 24% response rate). Our custom-built digital platform allows customers to share their Lulus experience and get answers to questions without the hassle of taking the search offline. Our extensive database of over 750,000 customer reviews, including over 100,000 photo reviews, and access to personalized assistance help customers identify the perfect style and fit. The number one reason our customers contact us is for personalized fit and styling assistance. Unlike many e-commerce retailers who offer a variety of different brands with inconsistent sizing, by owning our brand we are able to offer standardized sizing across the Lulus assortment, simplifying the shopping experience and giving our customer confidence that she is selecting the best fit. Customers can also filter reviews by size, and we share our customers’ photographs wearing the products, helping customers visualize themselves in clothing on bodies like their own.

 

   

Leveraging Data to Best Serve our Customer:    We have built a massive dataset which gives us strong insight into our customers. Millions of customers have interacted with us, leaving detailed reviews, interacting with our on-demand Style Advisors, Fit Experts, and Bridal Concierge, and completing checkout surveys. Across Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, our over 7.5 million followers engage with us through their comments, feedback, and photographs, and support of our brand with their digital

 

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followers. In aggregate, this dataset gives us a deep understanding of our customers’ preferences. Our business is driven by the symbiosis between our dataset, marketing strategy, product creation, and curation process.

 

   

Marketing and Engagement Strategy:    We engage with our customer where she is, in authentic and personalized ways: through our website, mobile app, email, SMS, and on social media. This strategy helps drive brand awareness while fostering deep connections with our customers. Over the last thirteen years, we have built our digital footprint through strong relationships with customers and influencers and we benefit from longevity and consistency of message. Our authentic partnerships with brand ambassadors span the full spectrum of followership and engagement levels, from nano- and micro-influencers, to college ambassadors and celebrities, all of whom wear and genuinely love our brand. These genuine brand ambassadors, driven by a strong emotional connection to Lulus, help drive authentic brand awareness and customer engagement. Our free, organic and low-cost initiatives coupled with profitable performance media drive traffic to our platform, which is custom-built to allow for continuous updating and personalization for each customer. Our unified cross-platform strategy consistently reinforces the same brand values, with our marketing approach resulting in attractive customer acquisition, strong retention and compelling lifetime value characteristics. We believe our marketing spend as a percentage of net revenue is highly attractive relative to peer direct-to-consumer e-commerce brands and can support significant future growth at attractive economics.

 

   

Data-Driven Product Creation Strategy:    Our innovative product creation strategy leverages the power of data and our “test, learn, and reorder” approach to bring new styles online almost every weekday. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, we brought to market an average of 236 products per week compared to 206 products per week during the six months ended June 28, 2020. Traditional merchandising approaches are characterized by extended in-house design cycles, seasonal assortment decisions, deep buys, limited customer feedback, and high markdowns. We leverage our large customer dataset to upend this traditional approach, rapidly bringing new designs to market that we know our customers will love. This means we are not limited to offering just one style or aesthetic across our assortment as is typical with most brands. In lieu of maintaining dedicated in-house product design overhead, we source raw designs from a broad network of creative and manufacturing partners who ensure that we see trends in real-time and often produce products exclusively for Lulus. Next, our creative buyers use our understanding of trends and data-driven customer preference to customize designs for fit, style, and color, creating branded products exclusive to Lulus. We then test these products with limited initial orders, which drive traffic and “need to own” scarcity among our customers. Then, our proprietary reorder algorithm utilizes real-time customer demand and other data to inform subsequent reorder decisions. Because we are trend adapters rather than trend creators, we do not have to forecast expected future demand for a particular style or design, which is a challenge that most of our competitors face each season. As a result, we are able to optimize our inventory levels to meet customer demand and minimize markdowns. Customer feedback via reviews and social media help us to refine products in advance of reordering, further enhancing our product and minimizing returns. During the first six months ended July 4, 2021, 94% of our reorder products were sold without moving to sale pricing, which is up from 89% during the six months ended June 28, 2020.

 

   

Highly Experienced and Proven Team:    We are led by a highly experienced management team committed to building a great digitally-native brand based on customer obsession, grounded in analytics, and supported by the latest technology. Our team is led by our Chief Executive Officer David McCreight and co-Presidents Crystal Landsem and Mark Vos. Our management team has significant experience in successfully growing direct and omni-channel businesses across various industries, including retail, advertising and technology while working

 

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at leading companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Alibaba, Anthropologie, Havas Media, MAC Cosmetics, Michael Kors, Nordstrom, SunGard, Target, and Urban Outfitters.

Product Creation and Curation Model

Our product creation and curation model leverage a “test, learn, and reorder” strategy to bring hundreds of new products to market every week; we test them in small batches, learn about customer demand, and then quickly reorder winning products in higher volume to optimize profitability.

Lulus’ Product Creation and Curation Process

 

 

LOGO

 

   

Product Ideation and Curation:    Our team of creative buyers, strategically located in the Los Angeles Fashion District, reviews hundreds of styles daily. We collaborate with a network of more than 300 suppliers, who serve as our design and manufacturing partners. These suppliers often give us priority access and exclusivity to designs, given the strong relationships we have built over the last two decades. This collaboration is guided by our ongoing dialogue with our customer. With the benefit of real-time data around customer preferences and trends, our team interprets those trends and selects and develops styles. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, we reviewed tens of thousands of products and brought to market nearly 6,000 products. We follow this process in the creation of new products as well as when iterating on and updating popular products based on customer feedback.

 

   

Customize:    Following the selection of a design, we customize our products across multiple key criteria including style, fabric, print, color, length, fit, and quality.

 

   

Test:    We then place a limited initial order, which we market online to test customer demand. We systematically display products across several categories in a variety of page and sort positions to gauge customer reaction.

 

   

Learn / Analyze:    We then measure each product against our proprietary reorder algorithm, evaluate real-time customer feedback and make timely product modifications prior to reordering. This limits the inventory risk that most traditional retail brands struggle with when ordering inventory in bulk.

 

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Reorder:    All of this data helps us determine whether a product meets or exceeds our profitability target, at which point we reorder it in larger quantity. Over time, we have enhanced our evaluation processes and increased our rate of successful testing, driving our reorder as a percent of total net revenue from approximately 41% in fiscal year 2015 to approximately 66% in fiscal year 2020, and approximately 72% in the six months ended July 4, 2021. We believe our ability to test, learn, and reorder in a rapid manner enables us to sell a higher percentage of product at full retail price, minimize returns, and capture the associated margin benefit.

This efficient, data-driven process, coupled with human insight, allows us to respond to fashion trends with incredible speed and precision while significantly reducing risk in our business. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, Lulus branded products made up approximately 88% of units sold. In addition to our own brand, we also sell a highly curated assortment of other established and emerging brands to create a boutique shopping experience. By doing so, we are able to selectively test new categories and collect insights that we can leverage to further develop our own brand.

Marketing and Engagement

Our marketing strategy leverages our strong visual brand presence to build awareness and drive engagement with our large, diverse community of loyal customers. We integrate the power of data across multiple channels to offer a singular brand voice that speaks to Millennial and Gen Z women. We meet the Lulus customer wherever she is, enabling her discovery of the brand and providing her numerous opportunities to interact with others in the Lulus community. Through this engagement with our customers, we strive to build personal connections that are authentic and durable.

How We Attract and Engage Customers

We attract and engage customers through a combination of owned, earned, and paid media.

 

   

Owned:    Owned media primarily consists of our website, mobile app, social media platforms, email, and SMS, which we actively manage in order to be accessible and responsive to both our current and prospective customers. Through brand content posted on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, we maintain an ongoing dialogue with an audience of over 7.5 million followers. We leverage this direct connection to drive engagement by sharing authentic, original content and creating engaging experiences like exclusive brand contests and limited-time promotions.

 

   

Earned:    In the early 2000s, we began sending products to and building relationships with influencers in the fashion business. Today, we enjoy positive, authentic brand exposure both online and offline. This consists of customers sharing of our content, social media influencer endorsement, as well as exposure in blogs, magazines, and television. We have built a competitive advantage through our long-term commitment to a broad-based influencer marketing approach, developing longstanding relationships with true customers and brand ambassadors who love Lulus as much as we do. This has proven scalable and cost effective. We have a network of thousands of paid and free product influencers who serve as genuine Lulus ambassadors. Our #lovelulus hashtag has garnered billions of impressions, while our extensive online backlink history, earned organically over many years, helps us to drive significant free, organic, and low-cost traffic to our platform.

 

   

Paid:    Paid media primarily consists of paid advertisement on search engines such as Google and Bing, and social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. As one of the first digitally-native brands, we have built a robust online infrastructure over time. We are especially well-positioned to leverage our data and expertise to effectively drive demand generation through performance media channels, which we use to augment the reach and impact of our

 

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owned digital properties and earned media. In addition, our strong partnerships with the key players in the performance space including Google, as well as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, give us access to early betas and pilot programs to test new advertising opportunities before they are broadly available.

How We Drive Conversion

Upon attracting a new or existing customer to our website or mobile experience, we seek to maximize conversion through a variety of strategies.

 

   

Brand Strength and Exclusivity:    As a digitally-native fashion brand, we benefit from the ability to focus our resources, as well as our customers’ attention, primarily on the Lulus brand, without the distraction or complexity of managing and marketing a large multi-brand portfolio. As a result, we focus on offering the best possible assortment of Lulus products for our customers. Our drive to provide our customers with products that cannot be found elsewhere creates reengagement opportunities through new product drops while also protecting us from comparison shopping and competitor pricing. Our customers look to our elevated content for styling inspiration and ideas; they value our curated collections and our single-brand focus, which differentiate us from other e-commerce retailers that function as online department stores.

 

   

Product Reviews:    One of the most important aspects of our digital shopping experience is our extensive database of proprietary customer product reviews, which we first enabled in 2012 and now amounts to over 750,000 reviews. Our website has the functionality to allow customers to upload their own product photos along with their reviews, which bring the products to life on a diverse array of body types. To date, customers have uploaded over 100,000 photos from verified purchases. Customers tell us that these reviews and photos help them find products that they love and fit them well. In 2021, we began highlighting select review photos alongside our on-model photos to better enable customers to envision our products on a diverse array of body shapes and skin tones. Reviews provide our customers with an opportunity to share their experience with a past purchase, fostering a diverse and inclusive community in which customers share style and fit feedback, which in turn informs other customers’ purchase decisions. All of our customer-written reviews and photos can be sorted and filtered by various criteria that allow shoppers to make informed decisions based on how our products fit others in the community with similar body types, thus increasing both propensity to purchase and the likelihood that the product will look and fit as expected.

 

   

Boutique Styling Experience:    We strive to offer exceptional customer service before, during, and after each purchase. We accomplish this by continuously improving the boutique experience on our platform through features such as our product recommendation engine and targeted messaging and with our in-house team of customer service associates who maintain deep expertise of our brand, products, and systems. Our Style Advisors, Fit Experts, and Bridal Concierge offer styling suggestions via live chat, phone, email, and SMS, facilitating a seamless shopping experience from browse to purchase and even post-purchase. Customer benefits such as free shipping on orders above a minimum price point, expedited shipping, and a customer-friendly free returns policy serve to bolster the affordable luxury boutique experience while eliminating the friction of online shopping.

 

   

Personalized and Optimized Shopping Experience:    We customize and personalize our interactions with each Lulus customer by monitoring information such as how she arrives on our site, her on-site behavior, and what she buys. By monitoring real-time behavior and trends, analyzing customer transaction and engagement data, and absorbing feedback, we develop a better understanding of customer desire and behavior. As a result, we can more accurately predict what will drive conversion. Our customer insights, predictive capabilities, product

 

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recommendations, and custom-built website work seamlessly together to offer each customer a personalized experience across web, mobile, our mobile app, email, and SMS.

These strategies work in unison to help drive order conversion. Whether she is browsing social media or providing feedback on a recent purchase, we engage with our customer across a multitude of touchpoints throughout the discovery and purchase journey.

Our Growth Strategies

Grow Brand Awareness and Attract New Customers

Due to the mass market appeal of our brand, we believe there is a significant opportunity to bring new customers into the Lulus community through increased brand awareness. As of July 2021, according to the 2021 Brand Survey, our aided brand awareness among women of 18 years of age and older in the United States was 17%. According to the same survey, about half of the respondents have become aware of our brand through word-of-mouth, social media posts by Lulus or influencers, or product references from family and friends. We intend to grow awareness of the Lulus brand and attract new customers through the following strategies:

 

   

Further investment in performance digital marketing strategies (e.g., performance search marketing via Google, social advertising via Facebook and Instagram, and remarketing);

 

   

Exploration and expansion of new marketing channels, including public and private radio/streaming platforms, podcasts, shoppable video commerce platforms (e.g., YouTube), outdoor media, on-demand video, and television;

 

   

Continued expansion of our brand ambassador program at all engagement tiers, including celebrity, micro- and nano-influencers, and college ambassadors to introduce Lulus to new audiences;

 

   

Expansion of marketing programs that leverage word-of-mouth referral in a scalable online platform through email, text, and social media;

 

   

Further development and testing of physical retail opportunities to expand on brand awareness, such as in-store partnerships with third-party retailers and small-format pop-ups and showrooms; and

 

   

Continued development of brand partnerships, with a clear focus on brands with strong customer affinity and crossover potential. This includes collaborations with apparel brands and influencers, as well as adjacent category opportunities such as beauty, home, and lifestyle.

Enhance and Retain Existing Customer Relationships

We have a large and growing Lulus community and we served 2.5 million Active Customers during the twelve months ended October 3, 2021. We continue to leverage data-driven customer insights to develop strong customer relationships and become a one-stop shop for Gen Z and Millennial women. For example, we have had success leveraging data-driven insights across categories to offer personalized suggestions and reminders at targeted points in time, and we are focused on expanding these capabilities to provide enhanced real-time recommendations and post-purchase engagement. Additionally, we continually develop and evaluate new tools and programs designed to improve the key customer metrics that drive our business, such as frequency of purchase and Average Order Value through the following strategies:

 

   

Optimization of our website and mobile experience through continued A/B and multivariate testing;

 

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Improvement of customer segmentation and personalization features;

 

   

Leveraging our expanded multi-region distribution facilities to offer faster order delivery and developing new shipping options for loyal customers;

 

   

Development of our loyalty program to engender even deeper brand engagement, drive repeat purchase behavior and increase wallet share;

 

   

Enhancement of our customer service through the expansion of our Style Advisors, Fit Experts, and Bridal Concierge dedicated to creating a truly personalized digital boutique experience;

 

   

Continued development of our affordable luxury brand positioning and content; and

 

   

Incorporating new technology that enhances our customers’ experience.

We have learned that enhancing our existing customers’ experience drives increased word-of-mouth (in-person and online) recommendations, which in turn helps grow brand awareness.

Pursue Category Expansion

We believe there is tremendous potential to continue to drive growth in our underpenetrated categories. We have a significant opportunity to grow our share of total apparel budget with expansion into these underdeveloped areas. For example, our recent success in bridal and swimwear demonstrates our ability to successfully launch and grow share in new categories. Our deep and personal engagement with our customers through product reviews, exit surveys and social media feedback helps us understand the product categories they are most interested in shopping and will continue to inform the breadth and depth of the categories we offer. According to the 2021 Brand Survey, a significant percentage of Lulus customers sampled indicated they would be interested in purchasing Lulus merchandise in categories in which we are currently underpenetrated.

Due to our customer data-driven product creation strategy, we have the ability to test new categories with minimal upfront investment and risk. New categories are opened with a controlled assortment of branded and partner products through which we learn to understand customer demand via our reorder algorithms. Our ability to leverage our existing categories to introduce and grow new ones has resulted in customer repeat orders with strong product diversification.

Pursue International Expansion

While we expect the majority of our near-term growth to continue to come from the United States, we believe that serving international customers represents a long-term growth opportunity. To date, we have shipped our merchandise to over 100 countries, while spending minimal dollars on marketing outside of the United States, demonstrating our global appeal and broader market opportunity. We intend to increase our focus on global performance media and to optimize our platform and distribution processes for international customers, allowing for more flexibility across languages and currencies. We believe that providing a localized shopping experience will significantly enhance our ability to serve customers in international markets. Over time, we believe the Lulus brand has the potential to succeed in many other developed and major developing markets.

Technology

The www.lulus.com website, mobile app, merchandising, customer, order, and warehouse management systems are proprietary, purpose-built solutions with the goal of delivering the best possible customer experience and operational efficiency. From payment card industry compliant checkout to the software running on handheld barcode scanners in order fulfillment, these key software

 

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processes are developed, maintained, and enhanced by our in-house engineering and data teams to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations in a scalable way. Data-driven insights are core to what we do at Lulus. Technology drives and supports our business in several foundational areas, like our merchandising test, learn and reorder model, our cost-efficient marketing, and high operational efficiency.

Our proprietary reorder system is informed and powered by our data warehouse with predictive data modeling and business intelligence. Sales analyses across hundreds of product attributes and assortment architecture and trend analyses inform our buyers’ selection of new styles.

After a new product launches, its customer demand and return signal data, product profitability, seasonality, and product demand prediction are taken into consideration to advise our reorder buyers which products to reorder, when those reorders should arrive, and in what quantities. To close the loop, reorder styles and their attributes form the basis for new products, either by color additions or style extensions. Our business intelligence system identifies and informs our merchandising team of these new product opportunities.

We combine purpose-built technology systems with customer focused engineering and data teams, to provide us with deep customer behavior insights. Integrating information from many available sources, from customer actions and feedback on the platforms to predictive analysis, continuously enhances our understanding of customer preference. This understanding allows us to activate personalization across our platform and in our various marketing channels. Our extensive first-party data supports building numerous customer segments that are synchronized dynamically and in near real time with various marketing channel audiences such that we can communicate with our customers directly in these marketing channels as well as leverage the marketing channels’ look alike audiences capabilities to communicate with potential new customers that have a higher probability of liking what Lulus has to offer them.

We also use our technology to optimize our operational efficiency as e-commerce fulfillment and reverse logistics are critical to profitability. For example, since 2016, we have purchased over $600 million of inventory, of which 1% or less was reserved or written off. In our experience, integrated third party order, inventory, and warehouse management systems are not optimized for supporting our business model, which is characterized by high SKU velocity, low to no SKU affinity, quick order-to-to-ship requirements, short return-to-refund timelines, and fast inventory turnover. For example, for the twelve months ended July 4, 2021, our inventory turnover was 8.1x, which ranks near the top of other e-commerce players. We have built our own proprietary, integrated e-commerce backend system that automatically manages the cost of meeting and exceeding promised order delivery timelines, optimizes the quality of reverse logistics with quick refunds to customers, minimizes order picking footsteps while maximizing freeing up pick locations specific to the fulfillment centers we operate, as well as inbound inventory and reverse logistics inventory allocations to minimize split shipment cost and maximize customer satisfaction.

We have built our software development and deployment cycles such that software changes can be deployed daily after being verified by fully automated testing, as well as by human functional testing. We work with reputable cloud services providers across multiple data centers, with fully redundant infrastructure within each data center, as well as with full failover capability between data centers, which allows us to serve our customers at virtually any time. Our infrastructure is flexible and scalable to provide our customers with the best possible shopping experience.

Security and Data Protection

We are committed to the security of our customers’ data and personal information. We aggregate and analyze data in order to optimize the customer experience internally, and do not monetize the

 

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information we collect by selling it to third parties for their own external purposes. We utilize both on-premise and cloud-based technologies and undertake technical and other administrative measures to ensure the protection of our systems and customer data. We use various in-house and third-party tools to support our security policies and procedures including user access controls, server monitoring, (web) firewalls, security content policies, and data encryption. We also use external certified security partners to test for vulnerabilities in our software and infrastructure, and assist in our security practices, which are designed to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. Finally, we have implemented processes and procedures to allow customers to review and remove their non-transactional account data.

Competition

The women’s apparel, footwear, and accessories industry is large, fragmented, highly competitive and rapidly evolving. The industry consists of various brands and retailers that employ several different operating models at varying price points, and consumers have the option to shop both offline and online. Our competition includes traditional brands and retailers who market to consumers via offline and online channels. Our competition also includes e-commerce retailers that generally operate as online department stores for third-party and/or private label brands. Further, we may face new competitors and increased competition from existing competitors as we increase our brand awareness, expand our categories, and pursue international expansion.

Competition in our industry is based on, among other things, quality, concept, price, breadth, and style of merchandise, as well as customer service, brand image, brand quality, strength of brand relationships, and ability to anticipate, identify, and respond to new and changing fashion trends. Because we are an early mover in our category, we believe we have a significant head start on becoming the go-to brand for Millennial and Gen Z consumers. As one of the first digitally-native brands, Lulus is well-positioned to capitalize on our deep digital footprint, social media infrastructure, loyal and active customer community, and product creation model. As a vertically integrated business, we retain full control of critical aspects of our business including brand, product, marketing, distribution, and customer service. Our long operating history means that we have collected a valuable dataset over the last decade while refining an efficient, scalable business model. However, many of our competitors are larger and have substantially greater financial, marketing, and other resources than we do. Moreover, we recognize that we do not possess exclusive rights to many of the elements that comprise our product offerings. Our competitors can and have emulated facets of our business strategy, which could further result in a reduction of any competitive advantage or special appeal that we might possess.

Our Facilities

We do not own any real property. Our corporate headquarters are located in an approximately 7,500 square foot facility in Chico, California that is leased under an agreement expiring in March 2023 with one option to renew for an additional three-year term. We also operate a facility primarily used for customer support in Chico, California in an approximately 10,000 square foot facility that is leased under an agreement expiring in December 2022 with one option to renew for an additional two-year term.

We operate two distribution facilities: an approximately 110,000 square foot facility located in Chico, California under lease agreements expiring in December 2022, with one option to renew for an additional three-year term and an approximately 258,000 square foot facility located in Easton, Pennsylvania under a lease agreement expiring January 31, 2026, with one option to renew for an additional five-year term. Some of our facilities located in Chico are leased from related persons. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Leasing Arrangements” for additional information.

 

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Our creative buying and inventory planning offices are located in Los Angeles, California in an approximately 18,000 square foot facility that is leased under an agreement expiring in December 2023 with two options to renew for an additional four-year term each.

We are in the process of expanding distribution center capacity at existing facilities, which we expect to complete within the next twelve months, and we are also planning to add a third distribution center in 2022, in an approximately 140,000 square foot facility located in California that is leased under an agreement expiring in January 2029 with one option to renew for an additional five-year term.

Trademark and Intellectual Property

Our trademarks, including LULUS® and LOGO ®, are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We also own the registrations for LULU’S®, LOVELULUS®, and COVETED CURATED COLLECTED®. We own the domain name www.lulus.com. We believe the Lulus® trademark has significant value in the marketing of our merchandise. We have registrations in Canada, the EU, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, China, and several other countries, as well as additional pending international applications. We vigorously protect our intellectual property rights.

We rely on an intellectual property license in our standard vendor terms and conditions to obtain rights to display our suppliers’ intellectual property, including supplier-provided images and trademarks, in connection with our sales of their products. We also rely on proprietary know-how and confidential information and employ various methods, including entering into confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements with our employees and third parties, including our suppliers, service providers and potential business partners, to protect our intellectual property and proprietary information. Our employees and contractors also generally enter into agreements obligating them to assign to us all rights related to intellectual property created in connection with their employment or engagement with us.

Circumstances outside our control could pose a threat to our intellectual property rights. For example, effective intellectual property protection may not be available in the United States or other countries or territories in which we may operate in the future. Also, the efforts we have taken to protect our trademarks and confidential information may not be sufficient or effective. We may be unable to prevent competitors from acquiring domain names or marks that are similar to, infringe upon or diminish the value of our domain names, marks, copyrights and our other intellectual property rights. Any significant impairment of our intellectual property rights could harm our business or our ability to compete. Also, protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights is costly and time-consuming. Any unauthorized disclosure or use of our confidential information could make it more expensive to do business and harm our operating results.

Companies in the e-commerce, apparel, retail, and other industries may own large numbers of patents, copyrights, and marks and may frequently request license agreements, threaten litigation or file suit against us based on allegations of infringement or other violations of intellectual property rights. We routinely offer select third-party goods, promote third-party content and feature third-party brands. We have been subject to, and expect to continue to face, allegations that we have infringed or otherwise violated the marks, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property or proprietary rights of third parties. Any intellectual property infringement claims or similar claim against us, regardless of merit, could be time-consuming and expensive to settle or litigate and could divert our management’s attention and other resources. These claims also could subject us to significant liability for damages and could result in our having to stop using technology, content, branding or business methods found to be in violation of another party’s rights. Further, although we contractually require our suppliers to indemnify us against any liability for claims that arise out of their brands and their materials being

 

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featured across our platform, suppliers may not be solvent or financially able to indemnify us. We might be required or may opt to seek a license for rights to intellectual property rights held by others, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Even if a license is available, we could be required to pay significant royalties, which would increase our operating expenses. We may also be required to develop alternative non-infringing technology, content, branding or business methods, which could require significant effort and expense and which we may not be able to perform efficiently or at all. If we cannot use, license or develop technology, content, branding, or business methods for any allegedly infringing aspect of our business, we may be unable to compete effectively. Further, as we face increasing competition and as our business grows, we will likely face more claims of infringement.

Regulation and Legislation

We are subject to labor and employment laws, laws governing advertising and promotions, privacy laws, safety regulations, customer protection regulations and other laws that regulate retailers and govern the promotion and sale of merchandise and warehouse facilities. We monitor changes in these laws and believe that we are in material compliance with applicable laws.

We are also subject to a number of domestic and foreign laws and regulations that affect companies conducting business on the internet, many of which are still evolving and could be interpreted in ways that could harm our business. These laws and regulations include federal and state consumer protection laws and regulations, which address, among other things, the privacy and security of consumer information, sending of commercial email, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.

Under applicable federal and state laws and regulations addressing privacy and data security, we must provide notice to consumers of our policies with respect to the collection and use of personal information, our sharing of personal information with third parties, and notice of any changes to our data handling practices. In some instances, we may be obligated to give customers the right to prevent sharing of their personal information with third parties. Under applicable federal and state laws, we also are required to adhere to a number of requirements when sending commercial email to consumers, including identifying advertising and promotional emails as such, ensuring that subject lines are not deceptive, giving consumers an opportunity to opt-out of further communications and clearly disclosing our name and physical address in each commercial email. Regulation of privacy and data security matters is an evolving area, with new laws and regulations enacted frequently. For example, California enacted legislation effective January 1, 2020 that, among other things, requires certain disclosures to California consumers, and affords such consumers new abilities to opt out of certain sales of personal information. Other states are following suit. In addition, under applicable federal and state unfair competition laws, including the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act and FTC regulations, we must, and our network of influencers may be required to, accurately identify product offerings, not make misleading claims on our websites or in advertising, and use qualifying disclosures where and when appropriate. The growth and demand for e-commerce could result in more stringent domestic and foreign consumer protection laws that impose additional compliance burdens on companies that transact substantial business on the internet.

Our international business is subject to additional laws and regulations, including restrictions on imports from, exports to, and services provided to persons located in certain countries and territories, as well as foreign laws and regulations addressing topics such as advertising and marketing practices, customs duties and taxes, privacy, data protection, information security and consumer rights, any of which might apply by virtue of our sales in foreign countries and territories or our contacts with consumers in such foreign countries and territories. For example, the United States and China and the United States and Mexico, where certain of our products are manufactured, have recently engaged in

 

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an escalating trade war, which has led to each side threatening tariffs that could adversely affect our business and results of operations or cause us to relocate manufacturing to other countries and territories, which could disrupt our operations. In addition, the EU has implemented the GDPR which imposes stringent requirements regarding the handling of personal data of individuals from the EU and provides for substantial penalties for noncompliance. More generally, many foreign jurisdictions have laws, regulations, or other requirements relating to privacy, data protection, and consumer protection, and countries and territories are adopting new legislation or other obligations with increasing frequency. Many of these laws may require consent from consumers for the use of data for various purposes, including marketing, which may reduce our ability to market our products.

In many jurisdictions, there is great uncertainty whether or how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, sales and other taxes, libel and personal privacy apply to the internet and e-commerce. New legislation or regulation, the application of laws and regulations from jurisdictions whose laws do not currently apply to our business or the application of existing laws and regulations to the internet and e-commerce could result in significant additional obligations on our business or may necessitate changes to our business practices. These obligations or required changes could have an adverse effect on our cash flows and results of operations. Further, any actual or alleged failure to comply with any of these laws or regulations by us, our suppliers or our network of influencers could hurt our reputation, brand and business, force us to incur significant expenses in defending against proceedings or investigations, distract our management, increase our costs of doing business, result in a loss of customers and suppliers and may result in the imposition of monetary penalties. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—A failure to comply with current laws, rules and regulations, or changes to such laws, may adversely affect our business, financial performance, results of operations, or business growth.”

Our Personnel and Human Capital Resources

As of July 4, 2021, we had 744 total employees, 689 of which were full-time employees and 55 were part-time employees. We use contingent labor in varying levels throughout the year to augment our workforce. None of our employees are represented by a labor union, and we have had no labor-related work stoppages. We believe that we have good relationships with our employees.

Our human capital resources objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing, and integrating our existing and additional employees. The principal purposes of our equity incentive plans are to attract, retain, and motivate selected employees, consultants, and directors through the granting of stock-based compensation awards and cash-based performance bonus awards.

Legal Proceedings

We are from time to time subject to various legal proceedings and claims, including employment claims, wage and hour claims, intellectual property claims, contractual and commercial disputes and other matters that arise in the ordinary course of our business. While the outcome of these and other claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe that the outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations. We are not presently a party to any legal proceedings that we believe would, if determined adversely to us, materially and adversely affect our future business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Directors and Executive Officers

The following table sets forth certain information regarding members of our Board of Directors and our executive officers as of September 20, 2021.

 

Name

   Age     

Position

Executive Officers

David McCreight

     58      Chief Executive Officer and Director

Crystal Landsem

     38      Co-President and Chief Financial Officer

Mark Vos

     52      Co-President and Chief Information Officer

Non-Employee Directors

Thomas Belatti

     30      Director

John Black(3)

     57      Director

Debra Cannon(*)

     70      Director

Evan Karp(1)

     45      Director

Eric Liaw(2)(3)

     43      Director

Michael Mardy(1)(2)

     72      Director

Danielle Qi(1)(2)(3)

     37      Director

Colleen Winter(*)

     51      Director

 

(*)

Dr. Cannon and Ms. Winter have given us notice of their intention to resign and retire as directors of the Company upon effectiveness of the registration statement to which this prospectus relates. Our Board of Directors is conducting a search for replacement directors to fill the vacancies created by the retirements of Dr. Cannon and Ms. Winter.

(1)

Member of the audit committee.

(2)

Member of the compensation committee.

(3)

Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee.

Set forth below is a description of the business experience of the foregoing persons.

Executive Officers

David McCreight.    Mr. McCreight has served as our Chief Executive Officer since April 2021 and on our Board of Directors since April 2021. Previously, he was the CEO of Anthropologie Group, Inc. from 2011 to 2018. He also served as the President of URBN, Inc. from 2016 to 2018, and as President at Under Armour, Inc. from 2008 to 2010. He is currently a board member of CarMax, Inc. and Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. Mr. McCreight received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.

Mr. McCreight’s broad apparel and direct-to-consumer experience as our Chief Executive Officer provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Crystal Landsem.    Ms. Landsem has served as our Co-President since July 2020 and Chief Financial Officer since September 2015. Previously, she was the Co-Founder and CFO of sqwrl LLC, a consulting and project management services firm, where she provided interim CFO services including oversight of finance and accounting functions, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, accounting, and analysis for small to mid-sized e-commerce companies from August 2015 to January 2016.

Ms. Landsem also served as the Director of Finance for 11 Main, an Alibaba Group Company, where she was responsible for the administrative, financial, and risk management operations of five U.S.-based Alibaba companies from May 2012 to August 2015. Ms. Landsem holds a CPA in California and received her B.A. in Accounting from California State University-Chico.

 

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Mark Vos.    Mr. Vos has served as our Co-President since July 2020 and Chief Information Officer since January 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Vos held roles of increasing responsibility at the Company since October 2015. Previously, Mr. Vos was the Co-Founder and CEO of sqwrl LLC, a consulting and project management services firm from July 2015 to March 2016. He also served as Senior Director of Engineering at 11 Main, an Alibaba Group Company, from December 2013 to July 2015.

Mr. Vos holds a Masters in International Management from Universität zu Köln, Germany and a MSc in Business Administration from Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Non-Employee Directors

Thomas Belatti.    Mr. Belatti has served on our Board of Directors since June 2021. Mr. Belatti has served as a Vice President at H.I.G. since July 2019, focusing primarily on the technology-enabled services, internet, media, consumer, and healthcare sectors.

Prior to H.I.G., Mr. Belatti was with McCarthy Capital, a private equity firm focused on lower middle market companies in a wide range of industries from July 2015 to May 2017. He began his career at BMO Capital Markets, where he advised technology and business services companies.

Mr. Belatti received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Belatti’s experience working with companies in a wide range of industries, including the internet and consumer sectors, and knowledge of complex financial matters provide him with valuable and relevant experience in strategic planning, corporate finance, financial reporting, and leadership of complex organizations, and provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

John Black.    Mr. Black has served on our Board of Directors since October 2017. Mr. Black is currently a Senior Advisor at H.I.G. Growth Partners. Previously, he served as the Head of H.I.G. Growth Equity, the dedicated growth equity investment group for H.I.G. Capital, LLC since March 2010.

Since joining H.I.G. in 1996, Mr. Black has led or had a significant role in more than forty H.I.G. investments in a wide range of industries including technology, media, healthcare, consumer oriented, and business service companies. His investments have supported management in the development and implementation of their growth strategies in a wide range of transaction dynamics including owner-operated/family business recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, take-private transactions, consolidations and minority growth equity investments.

Prior to H.I.G., Mr. Black was a senior professional with several leading firms working with lower middle market businesses to identify and implement operational initiatives to enable the businesses to realize their full growth potential. Mr. Black has held several executive level management positions including chief operating officer and chief financial officer. Mr. Black began his career in the Corporate Finance Group at Ernst & Young.

Mr. Black received his Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University.

Mr. Black’s experience as an executive level manager and leadership roles in a wide range of industries and business situations provides him with valuable and relevant experience in finance, accounting, reporting, operational matters, and leadership of complex organizations, and provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

 

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Debra A. Cannon.    Dr. Cannon is one of the Co-Founders of our Company and has served on our Board of Directors since July 2014. Dr. Cannon received her B.A. in American studies and an Honorary Doctorate from California State University, Chico. Dr. Cannon is not expected to continue serving on our Board of Directors following the completion of this offering.

As a result of Dr. Cannon’s extensive experience in the retail industry and her service as our Co-Founder, she brings to the board, among other skills and qualifications, her significant knowledge and understanding of the industry and our business and her extensive operating experience.

Evan Karp.    Mr. Karp has served on our Board of Directors since August 2017 and as a board member of Lulu’s Holdings, L.P. since July 2014. Mr. Karp has been a Managing Director at H.I.G. Growth Partners, focusing on e-commerce, tech-enabled business services, and consumer-oriented investments since January 2018. Prior to that he was a Principal at H.I.G from May 2012 to December 2017. Prior to H.I.G. Growth Partners, Mr. Karp was a Principal at Parallel Investment Partners (formerly d/b/a SKM Growth Investors) investing primarily in consumer oriented, multi-channel businesses and served as a board representative for numerous portfolio companies from July 2001 to April 2012.

Prior to joining Parallel, he was an Associate at J.H. Whitney & Co. He began his career at Salomon Smith Barney focusing on telecom mergers & acquisitions advisory services. In addition to Lulus, Mr. Karp currently serves on the boards of Accounting Seed, Inc and Cocona Labs. He Previously served on the boards of other H.I.G. companies including SCUF Gaming, Money Solver and Pet Services Operating Company.

Mr. Karp graduated from the Business Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Finance.

Mr. Karp’s involvement with his respective firms’ investments in many e-commerce and branded consumer companies over the past 20 years, including investments in the retail industry, in-depth knowledge and industry experience, coupled with his skills in private financing and strategic planning, provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Eric Liaw.    Mr. Liaw has served as a member of our Board of Directors since April 2018. Since March 2011, Mr. Liaw has served in roles of increasing responsibility at Institutional Venture Partners, a venture capital firm, where he currently serves as a general partner. From August 2003 to January 2011, Mr. Liaw served in several roles at Technology Crossover Ventures, a venture capital firm, including most recently as a vice president. From 2014 to February 2019, Mr. Liaw served on the board of directors of Mindbody, Inc. Mr. Liaw currently serves on the board of directors of The Honest Company, Inc. and ZipRecruiter, Inc. Mr. Liaw also serves on the boards of directors of a number of privately held companies.

Mr. Liaw holds a B.A. degree in Economics with a minor in Computer Science and an M.S. degree in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University.

Mr. Liaw’s involvement with his respective firms’ investments in many e-commerce and branded consumer companies, including investments in the retail industry, in-depth knowledge and industry experience, coupled with his skills in private financing and strategic planning, provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Michael Mardy.    Mr. Mardy has served on our Board of Directors and as audit committee chair since October 2017. Mr. Mardy currently serves on the board of directors of Vince Holding Corp. and acts as the audit committee chair. Mr. Mardy previously served on the board of directors of David’s Tea

 

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Inc. Mr. Mardy served as Executive Vice President and director of specialty retailer, Tumi Holding Inc. from July 2003 to August 2016. Prior to joining Tumi, from 1996 to 2002, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Keystone Foods LLC, a processor and distributor, supplying the quick service restaurant industry. From 1982 to 1996, he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and in various other finance positions at Nabisco Biscuit Company, a snack food and consumer products company. Mr. Mardy served on the board of directors of Keurig Green Mountain Inc. from 2007 until 2016 and ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc. from 2003 until 2013 acting as audit committee chair and a member of their respective compensation committees. Mr. Mardy had also served on the New York Stock Exchange Advisory Board from 2014 until 2016 and is a trustee of the New Jersey chapter of the financial Executive Institute.

Mr. Mardy holds an MBA from Rutgers University and undergraduate degree from Princeton University. He is a member of the American institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, as well as a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Mr. Mardy’s experience as a chief financial officer in the consumer products industry and vast knowledge of operations provide him with valuable and relevant experience in management, operations and leadership of complex organizations, as well as extensive industry knowledge, and provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Danielle Qi.    Danielle Qi has served on our Board of Directors since August 2017 and as a board member of Lulu’s Holdings, L.P. since July 2017. Ms. Qi has served as a Managing Director at H.I.G. since April 2021, focusing primarily on the internet, consumer, media, and technology-enabled services sectors, prior to which she was a Principal and Vice President at H.I.G. since July 2018 and July 2015, respectively.

Prior to H.I.G., Ms. Qi was with Alliance Holdings, a private equity firm focused on lower middle market companies in a wide range of industries from December 2012 to June 2015.

Ms. Qi received a B.S. in Economics (The Wharton School) and B.A. in History from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Ms. Qi’s experience working with companies in a wide range of industries, including the internet, consumer, media, and technology-enabled services sectors and knowledge of complex financial matters provides her with valuable and relevant experience in strategic planning, corporate finance, financial reporting, and leadership of complex organizations, and provides her with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Colleen Winter.    Ms. Winter is one of the Co-Founders of our Company and served as the Chief Executive Officer from our Company’s founding in January 2007 until July 2020, and has been a member of our Board of Directors since July 2014. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Geography and Urban Planning. Ms. Winter is not expected to continue serving on our Board of Directors following the completion of this offering.

As a result of Ms. Winter’s extensive experience in the retail industry and her prior service as our Chief Executive Officer, she brings to the Board of Directors, among other skills and qualifications, her significant knowledge and understanding of the industry and our business and her extensive operating experience.

 

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Family Relationships

Debra A. Cannon is the mother of Colleen Winter. There are no other family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.

Board of Directors

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our Board of Directors will consist of seven directors, as long as any shares of common stock are outstanding, and that our Board of Directors will be divided into three classes, with one class being elected at each annual meeting of stockholders. Each director will serve a three-year term, with termination staggered according to class. Class I will initially consist of two directors, Class II will initially consist of two directors, and Class III will initially consist of three directors.

Upon the consummation of this offering, our Board of Directors will initially consist of seven directors.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that directors may only be removed by the affirmative vote of the remaining members of our Board of Directors or the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of common stock then entitled to vote on the election of directors and, once entities affiliated with H.I.G., IVP and CPPIB no longer hold at least 50% of our common stock, only for cause.

Director Independence

Our Board of Directors has assessed the independence of each of our directors and has determined that each of Michael Mardy and Eric Liaw are independent under the Nasdaq listing standards. As required by the Nasdaq listing standards, our independent directors will meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only independent directors are present.

Board Committees

Our Board of Directors will establish an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Each committee will operate under a charter that will be approved by our Board of Directors. Each committee will have the composition and responsibilities described below. Members serve on these committees until their resignations or until otherwise determined by our Board of Directors. The charter and composition of each committee will be effective upon the consummation of this offering. The charter of each committee will be available on our website.

Audit Committee

The primary purposes of our audit committee are to assist our Board of Directors’ oversight of:

 

   

the integrity of our consolidated financial statements;

 

   

our internal financial reporting and compliance with our disclosure controls and procedures;

 

   

the qualifications, engagement, compensation, independence and performance of our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

our independent registered public accounting firm’s annual audit of our consolidated financial statements and any engagement to provide other services;

 

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the performance of our internal audit function;

 

   

our legal and regulatory compliance; and

 

   

the application of our code of business conduct and ethics as established by management and our Board of Directors.

Upon the consummation of this offering, and prior to the listing of our common stock, our audit committee will be composed of Michael Mardy, Evan Karp and Danielle Qi. Michael Mardy will serve as chair of the audit committee. Michael Mardy qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as such term has been defined by the SEC in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that Michael Mardy meets the definition of an “independent director” for the purposes of serving on the audit committee under applicable Nasdaq rules and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. We intend to comply with these independence requirements for all members of the audit committee within the time periods specified under such rules. The audit committee will be governed by a charter that complies with the rules of Nasdaq.

Compensation Committee

The primary purposes of our compensation committee are to:

 

   

assist our Board of Directors in discharging its responsibilities regarding compensation of our executive officers;

 

   

review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and evaluate our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives;

 

   

review and determine the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers;

 

   

make recommendations to our Board of Directors with respect to our incentive and equity-based compensation plans;

 

   

provide oversight of our compensation policies, plans, and benefit programs including reviewing and administering all compensation and employee benefit plans, policies and programs; and

 

   

produce, approve, and recommend to our Board of Directors for approval reports on compensation matters required to be included in our annual proxy statement or annual report.

Upon the consummation of this offering, and prior to the listing of our common stock, our compensation committee will be composed of Eric Liaw, Michael Mardy and Danielle Qi. Eric Liaw will serve as the chair of the compensation committee. We intend to comply with the independence requirements for all members of the compensation committee within the time periods specified under such rules. Our Board of Directors will adopt a written charter for our compensation committee.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The primary purposes of our nominating and corporate governance committee are to:

 

   

recommend to our Board of Directors for approval the qualifications, qualities, skills, and expertise required for Board of Directors membership;

 

   

identify potential members of our Board of Directors consistent with the criteria approved by our Board of Directors and select and recommend to our Board of Directors the director nominees for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders or to otherwise fill vacancies;

 

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evaluate and make recommendations regarding the structure, membership, and governance of the committees of our Board of Directors;

 

   

develop and make recommendations to our Board of Directors with regard to our corporate governance policies and principles; and

 

   

oversee the annual review of our Board of Directors’ performance.

Upon the consummation of this offering, and prior to the listing of our common stock, our nominating and corporate governance committee will be composed of John Black, Eric Liaw and Danielle Qi. John Black will serve as the chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee. We intend to comply with the independence requirements for all members of the nominating and corporate governance committee within the time periods specified under such rules. Our Board of Directors will adopt a written charter for our nominating and corporate governance committee.

Director Compensation

Historically, we have not had a formalized non-employee director compensation program. However, we have paid each of our non-employee directors who are not associated with our institutional investors, Debra Cannon and Michael Mardy, an annual cash retainer of $120,000 for their services as members of our Board of Directors. In addition, we reimburse our non-employee directors for travel and other necessary business expenses incurred in the performance of their services for us.

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned by our non-employee directors during the year ended January 3, 2021.

 

Name

   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
     All Other
Compensation
($)(1)
     Total ($)  

Evan Karp

     —          —          —    

Danielle Qi

     —          —          —    

John Black

     —          —          —    

Michael Mardy

   $ 120,000        —        $ 120,000  

Debra Cannon

   $ 120,000        15,600      $ 135,600  

Eric Liaw

     —          —          —    

 

(1)

Amounts represent the incremental value of the monthly allowance provided by us to Dr. Cannon to buy products from us.

None of our non-employee directors held unexercised options or unvested equity awards as of January 3, 2021.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

We will adopt a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. Following this offering, a current copy of the code will be posted on our website. Any amendment to our code of conduct, or any waiver of its requirements for which disclosure is required, will be disclosed on our website promptly following the date of such amendment.

Disclosure Committee and Charter

We do not have a disclosure committee and disclosure committee charter. After this offering, we plan to establish a disclosure committee and will operate under a charter. The purpose of a disclosure

 

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committee would be to provide assistance to the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer in fulfilling their responsibilities regarding the identification and disclosure of material information about us and the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of our financial reports.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Upon the completion of this offering, none of our executive officers will serve on the compensation committee or Board of Directors of any other company of which any members of our compensation committee or any of our directors is an executive officer.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be liable for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty, except for liability relating to any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, violations under Section 174 of the DGCL or any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors. The indemnification agreements will provide the directors with contractual rights to indemnification, expense advancement and reimbursement, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL.

We have customary directors’ and officers’ indemnity insurance in place for our directors and executive officers.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The following is a discussion and analysis of compensation arrangements of our 2020 named executive officers (“NEOs”). This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current plans, considerations, expectations, and determinations regarding future compensation programs. Actual compensation programs that we adopt may differ materially from currently planned programs as summarized in this discussion. As an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies.

We seek to ensure that the total compensation paid to our named executive officers is reasonable and competitive. Compensation of such executives is structured around the achievement of individual performance and near-term corporate targets as well as long-term business objectives. Our NEOs are employed with the Company and all employee compensation matters have historically been decided by the Board of Directors of the Company except for grants of equity awards, which have been made by the board of managers of LP. Following the closing of this offering, all compensation matters in respect to our NEOs will be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors or its compensation committee. All references to “we,” “us,” or “our” in this Executive Compensation section will refer to the Company for actions taken in respect of non-equity compensation prior to the completion of this offering, LP for actions taken in respect of equity compensation prior to the completion of this offering and to the Company for actions taken on and after the completion of this offering.

Our NEOs for 2020 were as follows:

 

   

Crystal Landsem, Co-President and Chief Financial Officer;

 

   

Mark Vos, Co-President and Chief Information Officer; and

 

   

Colleen Winter, Former Chief Executive Officer.

2020 Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officers for the year ended January 3, 2021.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary ($)     Non-Equity
Incentive
Compensation($)(1)
    Stock
Awards
($)(2)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(4)
    Total
($)
 

Crystal Landsem

    2020       394,329       99,138       3,376,454       —         3,869,921  

Co-President and Chief Financial Officer

           

Mark Vos

    2020       394,329       99,138       3,376,454       —         3,869,921  

Co-President and Chief Information Officer

           

Colleen Winter

    2020       249,915       —         6,050,000 (3)      15,600       6,315,515  

Former Chief Executive Officer

           

 

(1)

Amounts represent the annual performance-based cash bonuses earned by our named executive officers based on the achievement of certain performance objectives during 2020. Please see the descriptions of the annual performance bonuses paid to our named executive officers under the section titled “2020 Bonuses” below.

(2)

For Ms. Landsem and Mr. Vos, amounts represent $1,088,330 for the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards issued to them during 2020 and $2,288,124 for the incremental fair value of

 

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  certain equity awards that were modified in 2020, including Class P Units that were granted to the officers in 2016, in each case, computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718.
(3)

For Ms. Winter, the amount in this column represents equity-based compensation expense recognized and computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 in June 2020 with respect to the purchase by entities affiliated with Ms. Winter of Series B Preferred Stock. The amount does not represent any cash compensation to Ms. Winter or an equity award that the Board of Directors determined to award to her as part of its executive officer compensation program. Rather, Ms. Winter made an investment in the Company, along with other investors, by purchasing Series B Preferred Stock. The investment triggered an equity-based compensation expense under ASC Topic 718, which is the reason for the disclosure here. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date and modification date fair value of the Class P Units are included in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus.

(4)

Amounts represent $15,600 for the incremental value of the monthly allowance provided by us to Ms. Winter to buy products from us.

Narrative to Summary Compensation Table

2020 Bonuses

We maintain an annual performance-based cash bonus program in which each of our NEOs participated in 2020. Each such NEO’s target bonus was expressed as a percentage of the NEO’s annual base salary and was eligible to be achieved by meeting company goals at target level. The 2020 annual bonuses for Ms. Landsem, Mr. Vos and Ms. Winter, were targeted at 50% of their respective base salaries. Our Board of Directors has historically reviewed these target percentages to ensure they are adequate but does not follow a formula. Instead, our Board of Directors set these rates based on each NEO’s experience in his or her role with us and the level of responsibility held by the NEO, which we believe directly correlates to his ability to influence corporate results.

For determining performance bonus amounts for our 2020 NEOs, our Board of Directors set certain corporate performance goals after receiving input from our Chief Executive Officer, where company profitability goals need to be met. Following its review and determinations of corporate performance for 2020, our Board of Directors determined that based on the Company’s financial performance, partial bonuses would be paid. The actual amount of the 2020 annual bonus paid to each NEO for 2020 performance are set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table in the column titled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

Equity-Based Compensation

We have issued Class P Units of LP to our NEOs (except for Ms. Winter) from time to time in recognition of their service to us and to align their interests with the interests of our stockholders. On July 22, 2019, we issued 142,018 Class P Units of LP to each of Ms. Landsem and Mr. Vos. These units vest monthly over four years from July 22, 2019, subject to her or his continued service to us through the applicable vesting date.

On October 30, 2020, we issued 239,571 additional Class P Units of LP to each of Ms. Landsem and Mr. Vos. 3/48ths of these units vested as of October 30, 2020, and the remainder of the units vest monthly over 45 months from October 30, 2020, subject to continued service to us through the applicable vesting date.

All unvested Class P Units held by Ms. Landsem and Mr. Vos are subject to 100% acceleration upon a “Sale of the Partnership” (as defined in the Lulu’s Holdings L.P. Agreement of Limited Partnership), subject to continued service to us through the Sale of the Partnership. Additionally, upon the listing of our shares (or the shares of a parent or subsidiary entity of the Company) on a national

 

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securities exchange as a result of an initial public offering, direct listing, or business combination with a “SPAC” that does not constitute a Sale of the Partnership (a “P Unit Listing Event”), all unvested Class P Units (or equity securities received in respect of the Class P Units or into which such Class P Units are converted in connection with such P Unit Listing Event) held by Ms. Landsem and Mr. Vos shall continue to vest pursuant to their existing schedule, except that, as a result of an amendment to our agreements with Ms. Landsem and Mr. Vos dated October 11, 2021, on the first anniversary of such P Unit Listing Event, the vesting of the remainder of such equity securities shall fully accelerate, subject to continued employment with us through such date. Further, if Ms. Landsem or Mr. Vos’s employment is terminated by us without cause (as defined in the applicable Class P Unit award agreements) within the 120 day period preceding a Sale of the Partnership or preceding the first anniversary of a P Unit Listing Event, then the vesting of their unvested Class P Units (or equity securities received in respect of the Class P Units or into which such Class P Units are converted) shall fully accelerate as of the date of the Sale of the Partnership (for a termination preceding a Sale of the Partnership) or the date of such termination of employment (for a termination preceding the first anniversary of a P Unit Listing Event).

During the year ended January 3, 2021, Ms. Landsem and Mr. Vos vested into $351,067 and $367,954, respectively, from LP, of accumulated distributions with respect to outstanding incentive awards of Class P Units in LP. Immediately before the completion of this offering, LP will liquidate and the unit holders of LP will receive shares of our common stock in exchange for their LP units. Any such shares of common stock received in respect of unvested Class P Units of LP shall be subject to vesting and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the corresponding Class P Units.

We intend to adopt the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. Omnibus Equity Plan (“the Omnibus Equity Plan”), in order to facilitate the grant of cash and equity incentives to directors, employees (including our named executive officers) and consultants of our company and certain of its affiliates and to enable us to obtain and retain services of these individuals, which is essential to our long-term success. The Omnibus Equity Plan will be effective on the day before the date our registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective, subject to approval of such plan by our stockholders. For additional information about the Omnibus Equity Plan, please see the section titled “Equity Compensation Plans” below.

Other Elements of Compensation

Retirement Savings and Health and Welfare Benefits

The Company currently maintains a 401(k) retirement savings plan for our employees, including our named executive officers, who satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan on the same terms as other full-time employees. The Company matches 100% of each participating employee’s deferral up to a maximum of 4% of eligible compensation. The Company may make additional discretionary matching contributions up to 6% of eligible compensation. We believe that providing a vehicle for tax-deferred retirement savings though our 401(k) plan adds to the overall desirability of our executive compensation package and further incentivizes our employees, including our named executive officers, in accordance with our compensation policies.

All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans, including medical, dental and vision benefits; medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts; short-term and long-term disability insurance; and life and AD&D insurance.

 

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Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

We provide limited perquisites to our named executive officers, such as the products allowance provided to Ms. Winter, as described below under “Employment Agreements—Colleen Winter,” when our Board, with input from the compensation committee determines that such perquisites are necessary or advisable to fairly compensate or incentivize our employees.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table summarizes the number of LP Class P Units underlying outstanding incentive awards for Ms. Landsem and Mr. Vos. Ms. Winter does not hold any outstanding equity awards as of January 3, 2021. In connection with this offering, LP will distribute to NEOs who hold Class P Units a number of shares of Company common stock with an aggregate value equal to the value of LP Class P Units, and the Class P Units will cease to remain outstanding.

 

    

 

    Class P Unit Awards  

Name

   Vesting
Commencement
Date
    Number of
Units That
Have Not
Vested (#)
     Market Value
of Units
That Have
Not Vested ($)(3)
 

Crystal Landsem

     7/22/2019 (1)      90,832        501,393  
     10/30/2020 (2)      215,140        1,187,573  

Mark Vos

     7/22/2019 (1)      90,832        501,393  
     10/30/2020 (2)      215,140        1,187,573  

 

(1)

The Class P Units vest as to 1/48th of the total Class P Units on each monthly anniversary of the vesting commencement date, subject to the NEO’s continued service to us through the applicable vesting date. The vesting of the Class P Units will fully accelerate upon a Sale of the Partnership. Additionally, the vesting of the Class P Units is subject to acceleration upon the first anniversary of a P Unit Listing Event, or upon certain terminations of employment without cause, each as described above under “Narrative to Summary Compensation Table – Equity-Based Compensation.”

(2)

The Class P Units vest as to 3/48th of the total Class P Units on the vesting commencement date and as to 1/48th of the total Class P Units on each monthly anniversary of the vesting commencement date, subject to the NEO’s continued service to us through the applicable vesting date. The vesting of the Class P Units will fully accelerate upon a Sale of the Partnership. Additionally, the vesting of the Class P Units are subject to acceleration upon the first anniversary of a P Unit Listing Event, or upon certain terminations of employment without cause, each as described above under “Narrative to Summary Compensation Table – Equity-Based Compensation.”

(3)

The value reported is determined using the value of $5.52 per unit as of December 31, 2020, which value was determined pursuant to a valuation performed by a third party valuation firm.

Executive Compensation Arrangements

Employment Agreements

We have not entered into employment agreements with Ms. Landsem or Mr. Vos.

Colleen Winter.    We entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Winter on July 25, 2014, which set forth the terms and conditions of her employment as our Chief Executive Officer. In addition to her base salary, Ms. Winter was also eligible for participation in the Company’s annual incentive bonus plans. Ms. Winter was entitled to participate in all applicable health and welfare benefit

 

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programs for which other executive employees of the Company are generally eligible. She was also entitled to 6 weeks of paid vacation per calendar year. She also received a $1,300 monthly allowance to buy products from the Company.

Ms. Winter’s employment was terminated on July 21, 2020.

David McCreight.    We and our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC entered into an employment agreement with Mr. McCreight on April 15, 2021, which sets forth the terms and conditions of his employment as our Chief Executive Officer. The employment agreement provides for an initial two-year term of employment with automatic one-year extensions thereafter unless we or Mr. McCreight provide the other with at least 60 days prior written notice not to extend. The agreement also provides for an annual base salary at the rate of $1 million per year, eligibility to participate in our health and welfare benefit programs available for senior management employees, and four weeks of paid vacation per calendar year (including 2021). Additionally, Mr. McCreight is entitled to annual cash bonus payments of $1 million for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022 and is eligible for a performance-based bonus for subsequent fiscal years based on our annual incentive plan to be administered by our Board of Directors and/or compensation committee at a target amount of $1 million.

Upon commencement of his employment with us, we granted Mr. McCreight the following awards under the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan: (i) options to purchase 322,793 shares of our common stock and (ii) two special compensation awards.

The options have a term of ten years, an exercise price of $11.35 per share, and vest and become exercisable as follows (in each case subject to Mr. McCreight’s continued employment with us through each such vesting date): (i) as to 275,133 of the options in 24 substantially equal monthly installments beginning on April 31, 2023 and ending on March 31, 2025 (the “Base Options”) and (ii) as to 47,660 of the options in 24 substantially equal monthly installments beginning on April 31, 2023 and ending on March 31, 2025 (the “Preferred Conversion Options”), but only if a Listing Event (as defined in the employment agreement) has occurred in connection with which our Series A Preferred Stock has converted to shares of our common stock on at least a one-to-one basis (the “Preferred Conversion Vesting Condition”). Upon a Listing Event, subject to Mr. McCreight’s continued employment with us on the date of the Listing Event, (i) the Base Options that would have become vested and exercisable on the last 12 scheduled monthly vesting dates shall immediately become vested and exercisable and (ii) if the Preferred Conversion Vesting Condition occurs in connection with the Listing Event, then the Preferred Conversion Options that would have become vested and exercisable on the last 12 scheduled monthly vesting dates shall immediately become vested and exercisable, in each case, with any shares acquired pursuant to any exercise of any such accelerated options being subject to a one-year holding period. The consummation of this offering would constitute a Listing Event and satisfy the Preferred Conversion Vesting Condition. If a Change of Control (as defined in the employment agreement) occurs after the offering, then all the Base Options and Preferred Conversion Options will immediately fully vest.

Mr. McCreight’s employment agreement provides that, if, in connection with a Listing Event, shares of our Series A Preferred Stock convert into shares of our common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis (any such additional number of shares into which the Series A Preferred Stock convert on a greater than one-to-one basis, “Surplus Common Shares”) our Board of Directors will in good faith structure a grant to Mr. McCreight, expected to be in the form of shares of our restricted common stock or restricted stock units (each of which represents the right to receive one share of our common stock), with an aggregate value that is designed to approximate the “spread value” of options to purchase a number of shares of our common stock equal to 1.5% of the Surplus Common Shares,

 

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where the spread is calculated based on the offering price and an $11.35 exercise price. Based upon the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, this award will be for 55,796 restricted stock units.

Assuming the consummation of this offering occurs on or prior to March 31, 2022 and we do not undergo a Change of Control (as defined in the employment agreement) before that date, then, subject to his continued employment through March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, on or as soon as reasonably practicable following each such date, we will issue Mr. McCreight $3 million worth of our fully-vested common shares (calculated based on the volume weighted average closing price per share of our common stock over the ten-trading-day period beginning on the date of the consummation of this offering).

In the event Mr. McCreight is terminated by us without Cause, including due to our non-renewal of employment agreement, or resigns for Good Reason (each, as defined in the employment agreement and summarized below), Mr. McCreight will be entitled to the following severance benefits (subject to his timely execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims in our favor): (i) a lump sum cash payment equal to his then-current annual base salary, (ii) COBRA premium reimbursements for 12 months following termination, (iii) any then-unpaid special compensation award(s) payable in fully vested shares of our common stock (assuming such termination occurs after the consummation of this offering), and (iv) if termination occurs on or after April 15, 2022, 100% vesting of any then-unvested Options (provided that the Preferred Conversion Options shall only vest if the Preferred Conversion Vesting Condition has occurred prior to termination).

In addition to standard confidentiality, intellectual property, and non-disclosure restrictions, Mr. McCreight is bound by an employee and independent contractor non-solicitation covenant that applies during employment and for 24 months following termination and a non-competition covenant that applies during employment and for 12 months following termination. The employment agreement also provides, however, that if Mr. McCreight became a resident of California, the non-competition covenant and the no-hire provision of the non-solicitation covenant will cease to apply.

For purposes of the employment agreement:

 

   

“Cause” is generally defined to mean, subject to certain notice and cure rights: (i) the material failure by Mr. McCreight to reasonably and substantially perform his duties under the employment agreement (other than as a result of physical or mental illness or injury) or to comply with a lawful directive or order of the Board of Directors; (ii) willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of his duties; (iii) breach of fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty to any member of the Company; (iv) engagement in fraud, embezzlement, or any other act of material dishonesty; (v) commission of any felony or other serious crime involving moral turpitude; (vi) material breach of his obligations under any agreement between him and any member of the Company; (vii) material breach of the Company’s material written policies or procedures (other than policies related to sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, or sex-based discrimination), or (viii) conduct that constitutes sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, or sex-based discrimination.

 

   

“Good Reason” is generally defined to mean, subject to certain notice requirements and cure rights: (i) prior to April 15, 2023, any reduction of or failure to pay Mr. McCreight’s base salary or annual bonus as set forth in the McCreight Agreement, (ii) following April 15, 2023, a material decrease in his base salary (other than as part of an across-the-board base salary reduction of 10% or less applicable to all similarly-situated employees of the Company) or target bonus opportunity, (iii) a material diminution in his title, reporting structure, duties, authorities, or responsibilities (other than temporarily while physically or mentally incapacitated

 

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or as required by applicable law), (iv) a material breach by the Company of the material terms of employment agreement, (v) requiring him to relocate to California or some other geographical location more than 45 miles from his current residence, or (vi) requiring him to materially increase the number of business travel days set forth in the agreement.

Equity Compensation Plans

The following summarizes the material terms of the long-term incentive compensation plan in which our named executive officers will be eligible to participate following the consummation of this offering, our incentive award agreements evidencing Class P Units of LP and our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, under which we have previously made periodic grants of equity and equity-based awards to our named executive officers and other key employees.

Omnibus Equity Plan

We intend to adopt the Omnibus Equity Plan, which will be effective on the day prior to the date our registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective. The principal purpose of the Omnibus Equity Plan is to attract, retain and motivate selected employees, consultants and directors through the granting of equity-based compensation awards and cash-based performance bonus awards. The material terms of the Omnibus Equity Plan are summarized below.

Share Reserve.    Under the Omnibus Equity Plan, 3,719,000 shares of our common stock will be initially reserved for issuance pursuant to a variety of equity-based compensation awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards and other equity-based awards. The number of shares initially reserved for issuance or transfer pursuant to awards under the Omnibus Equity Plan will be increased by (i) the number of shares represented by awards outstanding under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“2021 Plan Awards”) that become available for issuance under the counting provisions described below following the effective date and (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year beginning in 2022 and ending in 2031, equal to the lesser of (A) 4% of the shares of stock outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of shares of stock as determined by our Board of Directors; provided, however, that no more than 18,500,000 shares of stock may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options.

The following counting provisions will be in effect for the share reserve under the Omnibus Equity Plan:

 

   

to the extent that an award (including a 2021 Plan Award) terminates, expires or lapses for any reason or an award is settled in cash without the delivery of shares, any shares subject to the award at such time will be available for future grants under the Omnibus Equity Plan;

 

   

to the extent shares are tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant, exercise price or tax withholding obligation with respect to any award under the Omnibus Equity Plan or a 2021 Plan Award, such tendered or withheld shares will be available for future grants under the Omnibus Equity Plan;

 

   

to the extent shares subject to stock appreciation rights are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of stock appreciation rights on exercise thereof, such shares will be available for future grants under the Omnibus Equity Plan;

 

   

to the extent that shares of our common stock are repurchased by us prior to vesting so that shares are returned to us, such shares will be available for future grants under the Omnibus Equity Plan;

 

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the payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding awards (including a 2021 Plan Award) will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the Omnibus Equity Plan; and

 

   

to the extent permitted by applicable law or any exchange rule, shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by us or any of our subsidiaries will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the Omnibus Equity Plan.

Administration.    The compensation committee of our Board of Directors is expected to administer the Omnibus Equity Plan unless our Board of Directors assumes authority for administration. Each member of the compensation committee is intended to qualify as a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and an “independent director” within the meaning of the rules of the applicable stock exchange, or other principal securities market on which shares of our common stock are traded. The Omnibus Equity Plan provides that the Board of Directors or compensation committee may delegate its authority to grant awards to employees other than executive officers and certain senior executives of the Company to a committee consisting of one or more members of our Board of Directors or one or more of our officers, other than awards made to our non-employee directors, which must be approved by our full Board of Directors.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Omnibus Equity Plan, the administrator has the authority to select the persons to whom awards are to be made, to determine the number of shares to be subject to awards and the terms and conditions of awards, and to make all other determinations and to take all other actions necessary or advisable for the administration of the Omnibus Equity Plan. The administrator is also authorized to adopt, amend or rescind rules relating to administration of the Omnibus Equity Plan. Our Board of Directors may at any time remove the compensation committee as the administrator and revest in itself the authority to administer the Omnibus Equity Plan. The full Board of Directors will administer the Omnibus Equity Plan with respect to awards to non-employee directors.

Eligibility.    Options, SARs, restricted stock and all other equity-based and cash-based awards under the Omnibus Equity Plan may be granted to individuals who are then our officers, employees or consultants or are the officers, employees or consultants of certain of our subsidiaries. Such awards also may be granted to our directors. Only employees of our company or certain of our subsidiaries may be granted incentive stock options (“ISOs”).

Awards.    The Omnibus Equity Plan provides that the administrator may grant or issue stock options, SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, other stock- or cash-based awards and dividend equivalents, or any combination thereof. Each award will be set forth in a separate agreement with the person receiving the award and will indicate the type, terms and conditions of the award.

 

   

Nonstatutory Stock Options (“NSOs”) will provide for the right to purchase shares of our common stock at a specified price which may not be less than fair market value on the date of grant, and usually will become exercisable (at the discretion of the administrator) in one or more installments after the grant date, subject to the participant’s continued employment or service with us and/or subject to the satisfaction of corporate performance targets and individual performance targets established by the administrator. NSOs may be granted for any term specified by the administrator that does not exceed ten years.

 

   

Incentive Stock Options will be designed in a manner intended to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and will be subject to specified restrictions contained in the Code. Among such restrictions, ISOs must have an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the

 

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date of grant, may only be granted to employees, and must not be exercisable after a period of ten years measured from the date of grant. In the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns (or is deemed to own) at least 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our capital stock, the Omnibus Equity Plan provides that the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant and the ISO must not be exercisable after a period of five years measured from the date of grant.

 

   

Restricted Stock may be granted to any eligible individual and made subject to such restrictions as may be determined by the administrator. Restricted stock, typically, may be forfeited for no consideration or repurchased by us at the original purchase price if the conditions or restrictions on vesting are not met. In general, restricted stock may not be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions are removed or expire. Purchasers of restricted stock, unlike recipients of options, will have voting rights and will have the right to receive dividends, if any, prior to the time when the restrictions lapse, however, extraordinary dividends will generally be placed in escrow, and will not be released until restrictions are removed or expire.

 

   

Restricted Stock Units may be awarded to any eligible individual, typically without payment of consideration, but subject to vesting conditions based on continued employment or service or on performance criteria established by the administrator. Like restricted stock, restricted stock units may not be sold, or otherwise transferred or hypothecated, until vesting conditions are removed or expire. Unlike restricted stock, stock underlying restricted stock units will not be issued until the restricted stock units have vested, and recipients of restricted stock units generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.

 

   

Stock Appreciation Rights SARs may be granted in connection with stock options or other awards, or separately. SARs granted in connection with stock options or other awards typically will provide for payments to the holder based upon increases in the price of our common stock over a set exercise price. The exercise price of any SAR granted under the Omnibus Equity Plan must be at least 100% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. SARs under the Omnibus Equity Plan will be settled in cash or shares of our common stock, or in a combination of both, at the election of the administrator.

 

   

Other Stock or Cash Based Awards are awards of cash, fully vested shares of our common stock and other awards valued wholly or partially by referring to, or otherwise based on, shares of our common stock. Other stock or cash based awards may be granted to participants and may also be available as a payment form in the settlement of other awards, as standalone payments and as payment in lieu of base salary, bonus, fees or other cash compensation otherwise payable to any individual who is eligible to receive awards. The plan administrator will determine the terms and conditions of other stock or cash based awards, which may include vesting conditions based on continued service, performance and/or other conditions.

 

   

Dividend Equivalents represent the right to receive the equivalent value of dividends paid on shares of our common stock and may be granted alone or in tandem with awards other than stock options or SARs. Dividend equivalents are credited as of dividend payments dates during the period between a specified date and the date such award terminates or expires, as determined by the plan administrator. In addition, dividend equivalents with respect to shares covered by a performance award will only be paid to the participant at the same time or times and to the same extent that the vesting conditions, if any, are subsequently satisfied and the performance award vests with respect to such shares.

Any award may be granted as a performance award, meaning that the award will be subject to vesting and/or payment based on the attainment of specified performance goals.

 

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Change in Control.    In the event of a change in control, unless the plan administrator elects to terminate an award in exchange for cash, rights or other property, or cause an award to accelerate in full prior to the change in control, such award will continue in effect or be assumed or substituted by the acquirer, provided that any performance-based portion of the award will be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable award agreement. In the event the acquirer refuses to assume or replace awards granted, prior to the consummation of such transaction, awards issued under the Omnibus Equity Plan will be subject to accelerated vesting such that 100% of such awards will become vested and exercisable or payable, as applicable. The administrator may also make appropriate adjustments to awards under the Omnibus Equity Plan and is authorized to provide for the acceleration, cash-out, termination, assumption, substitution or conversion of such awards in the event of a change in control or certain other unusual or nonrecurring events or transactions.

Adjustments of Awards.    In the event of any stock dividend or other distribution, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, recapitalization, repurchase, or any other corporate event affecting the number of outstanding shares of our common stock or the share price of our common stock that would require adjustments to the Omnibus Equity Plan or any awards under the Omnibus Equity Plan in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the potential benefits intended to be made available thereunder, the administrator will make appropriate, proportionate adjustments to: (i) the aggregate number and type of shares subject to the Omnibus Equity Plan; (ii) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards and terms and conditions of outstanding awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect to such awards); and (iii) the grant or exercise price per share of any outstanding awards under the Omnibus Equity Plan.

Amendment and Termination.    The administrator may terminate, amend or modify the Omnibus Equity Plan at any time and from time to time. However, we must generally obtain stockholder approval to the extent required by applicable law, rule, or regulation (including any applicable stock exchange rule). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an option may be amended to reduce the per share exercise price below the per share exercise price of such option on the grant date and options may be granted in exchange for, or in connection with, the cancellation or surrender of options having a higher per share exercise price without receiving additional stockholder approval.

No ISOs may be granted pursuant to the Omnibus Equity Plan after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Omnibus Equity Plan, and no additional annual share increases to the Omnibus Equity Plan’s aggregate share limit will occur from and after such anniversary. Any award that is outstanding on the termination date of the Omnibus Equity Plan will remain in force according to the terms of the Omnibus Equity Plan and the applicable award agreement.

Award Agreements Evidencing Class P Units

The Board of Directors of LP previously granted incentive awards of Class P Units to certain eligible employees and non-employee directors pursuant to award agreements entered into with each individual. These Class P Units vest over time, subject to the holder’s continued service to the Company through each applicable vesting date. Immediately before the completion of this offering, the LP will liquidate and the unit holders of LP will receive shares of our common stock in exchange for their LP units. Any such shares of common stock received in respect of unvested Class P Units of LP shall be subject to vesting and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the corresponding Class P Units.

 

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2021 Equity Incentive Plan

Our Board of Directors adopted the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan in April 2021. The 2021 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the discretionary grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units to our employees and consultants, or employees and consultants of our subsidiaries, and our directors. Incentive stock options may be granted only to our employees or employees of our subsidiaries.

Authorized Shares. The 2021 Equity Incentive Plan will be terminated in connection with this offering, and no awards will be granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan after the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan is terminated. The 2021 Equity Incentive Plan will continue to govern outstanding awards granted thereunder. As of September 20, 2021, options to purchase an aggregate of 322,793 shares of our common stock were outstanding under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. We have also granted a special compensation award under the plan to our current Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which shares of our common stock will be delivered if certain vesting conditions are met, as outlined in his employment agreement and special compensation award agreement.

Plan Administration.    Our Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of our Board of Directors administers our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and the awards granted under it. Subject to the terms of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, the administrator has the authority which service providers will receive awards, to grant Awards and to set all terms and conditions of awards (including, but not limited to, vesting, exercise and forfeiture provisions). In addition, the administrator shall have the authority to take all actions and make all determinations contemplated by the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan as it deems advisable. The administrator may correct any defect or ambiguity, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or any award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or appropriate to carry the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and any Awards into effect. The administrator’s determinations under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan made in the administrator’s sole discretion are final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or in any award.

The administrator has the power to modify outstanding awards under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. The administrator has the authority, with the consent of any adversely affected option holder, to substitute another award of the same or a different type, change the date of exercise or settlement, and converting an incentive stock option to a nonstatutory stock option.

Awards.    The administrator, in its sole discretion, establishes the terms of all awards granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, consistent with the terms of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions provided in the award agreement and the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

Stock Options.    Stock options may be granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. Options granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan generally must have an exercise price per share at least equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock as of the date of grant. The term of an incentive stock option may not exceed 10 years, except that with respect to any participant who owns more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of our outstanding stock or any subsidiary, the term must not exceed five years and the exercise price per share must equal at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the grant date. The administrator will determine the methods of payment of the exercise price of an option. After termination of service of an employee, director, or consultant, he or she may exercise his or her option for the period of time as specified in the applicable option agreement. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, options generally will remain exercisable (to the extent vested) for thirty days following service

 

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termination or six months following service termination due to disability or death. However, in no event may an option be exercised later than its maximum term.

Restricted Stock Awards.    Restricted stock awards are granted pursuant to restricted stock award agreements adopted by the administrator. The administrator determines the terms and conditions of restricted stock awards, including vesting and forfeiture terms. If a participant’s service relationship with us ceases for any reason, we may receive through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right any or all of the shares of our common stock held by the participant that have not vested as of the date the participant terminates service with us.

Restricted Stock Units.    Restricted stock units s are granted pursuant to restricted stock unit award agreements adopted by the administrator. Upon vesting, which may be tied to achievement of a performance condition or other requirements, an restricted stock units may be settled by cash, shares, or in some combination of both as deemed appropriate by the administrator or in any other form of consideration set forth in the restricted stock unit award agreement. Additionally, dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares covered by a restricted stock unit award. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, restricted stock units that have not vested will be forfeited upon the participant’s cessation of continuous service for any reason.

Non-Transferability of Awards.    Unless determined otherwise by the administrator, awards granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan may not be transferred other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise provided under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and, are exercisable during the option holder’s lifetime only by the option holder. A restricted stock award may only be transferred as permitted in the restricted stock award agreement.

Certain Transactions.    In the event of any change made in, or other events that occur with respect to the common stock subject to the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or subject to an award granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan through a dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, common stock, other securities, or other property), reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, repurchase, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, or sale or exchange of common stock or other securities, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase common stock or other securities, or other similar corporate transaction or event, as determined by the administrator, affects the common stock such that an adjustment is determined by the administrator to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits provided for under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, the administrator will make appropriate adjustments to the class and maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options and the class and number of shares and exercise price, strike price, or purchase price, if applicable, of all outstanding stock awards. The 2021 Equity Incentive Plan provides that in the event of transactions listed in the preceding sentence, a change in control or any unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting our company or the financial statements or financial condition of our company, the administrator may, in its discretion, provide that each outstanding award will vest, be cancelled in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property, be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or substituted for by awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the administrator, be replaced with other rights or property or terminate and cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the applicable event.

Amendment; Termination.    Subject to the terms of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, our Board of Directors may terminate, amend or modify the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or any portion thereof at any time, although certain amendments require stockholder approval. As noted above, no further awards will be granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan after it is terminated in connection with this

offering. However, all awards outstanding under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan will continue to be governed by their existing terms following termination of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We intend to adopt and ask our stockholders to approve the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP will become effective upon the day prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement to which this prospectus relates, but we do not intend to implement our ESPP until a later date to be determined by our compensation committee. The ESPP is designed to allow our employees to purchase shares of our common stock with their accumulated payroll deductions. The ESPP is divided into two components: the “Section 423 Component” and the “Non-Section 423 Component”. The Section 423 Component is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code. The Non-Section 423 Component is not intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code and will be used to grant stock options to certain non-U.S. employees and certain U.S. employees who are employed by certain of our subsidiaries which are not corporations.

Administration. Subject to the terms and conditions of the ESPP, our compensation committee will administer the ESPP. Our compensation committee can delegate administrative tasks under the ESPP to the services of an agent and/or employees to assist in the administration of the ESPP. The administrator will have the discretionary authority to administer and interpret the ESPP. Interpretations and constructions of the administrator of any provision of the ESPP or of any rights thereunder will be conclusive and binding on all persons. We will bear all expenses and liabilities incurred by the ESPP administration.

Shares Available for Awards. The maximum number of shares of our common stock which are authorized for sale under the ESPP is equal to the sum of (a) 743,803 shares of common stock and (b) an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2022 and ending in 2031, equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the shares of common stock outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (ii) such number of shares of common stock as is determined by our Board of Directors. However, no more than 5,578,527 shares of our common stock may be issued under the ESPP. The shares reserved for issuance under the ESPP may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares of common stock or reacquired shares.

Eligibility. Employees eligible to participate in the ESPP for a given offering period generally include employees who are employed by us or one of our designated subsidiaries on the first day of the offering period, or the enrollment date. Our employees (and, if applicable, any employees of our subsidiaries) who customarily work less than five months in a calendar year or are customarily scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week will not be eligible to participate in the ESPP. An employee who owns (or is deemed to own through attribution) 5% or more of the combined voting power or value of all our classes of stock or of one of our subsidiaries will not be allowed to participate in the ESPP.

Participation. Employees will enroll under the ESPP by completing a payroll deduction form permitting the deduction from their compensation of at least 1% of their compensation but not more than 15% of their compensation. Such payroll deductions may be expressed as either a whole number percentage or a fixed dollar amount, and the accumulated deductions will be applied to the purchase of shares on each purchase date.

Offering. Under the ESPP, participants are offered the option to purchase shares of our common stock at a discount during a series of successive offering periods, the duration and timing of which will be determined by the ESPP administrator. However, in no event may an offering period be longer than 27 months.

The option purchase price will be the lower of 85% of the closing trading price per share of our common stock on the first trading date of an offering period in which a participant is enrolled or 85% of the closing trading price per share on the purchase date.

 

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Unless a participant has previously canceled his or her participation in the ESPP before the purchase date, the participant will be deemed to have exercised his or her option in full as of each purchase date. Upon exercise, the participant will purchase the number of whole shares that his or her accumulated payroll deductions will buy at the option purchase price, subject to the participation limitations listed above.

A participant may cancel his or her payroll deduction authorization at any time prior to the end of the offering period. Upon cancellation, the participant will have the option to either (i) receive a refund of the participant’s account balance in cash without interest or (ii) exercise the participant’s option for the current offering period for the maximum number of shares of common stock on the applicable purchase date, with the remaining account balance refunded in cash without interest. Following at least one payroll deduction, a participant may also decrease (but not increase) his or her payroll deduction authorization once during any offering period. If a participant wants to increase or decrease the rate of payroll withholding, he or she may do so effective for the next offering period by submitting a new form before the offering period for which such change is to be effective.

A participant may not assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution) payroll deductions credited to a participant’s account or any rights to exercise an option or to receive shares of our common stock under the ESPP, and during a participant’s lifetime, options in the ESPP shall be exercisable only by such participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition will not be given effect.

Adjustments. In the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of our common stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the common stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of common stock effected without receipt of consideration by us, we will proportionately adjust the aggregate number of shares of our common stock offered under the ESPP, the number and price of shares which any participant has elected to purchase under the ESPP and the maximum number of shares which a participant may elect to purchase in any single offering period. If there is a proposal to dissolve or liquidate us, then the ESPP will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, and any offering period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new purchase date to take place before the date of our dissolution or liquidation. We will notify each participant of such change in writing before the new exercise date. If we undergo a merger with or into another corporation or sell all or substantially all of our assets, each outstanding option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or the parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. If the successor corporation refuses to assume the outstanding options or substitute equivalent options, then any offering period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new purchase date to take place before the date of our proposed sale or merger. We will notify each participant of such change in writing before the new exercise date.

Amendment and Termination. Our Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the ESPP at any time. However, our Board of Directors may not amend the ESPP without obtaining stockholder approval to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code or to the extent required by applicable laws.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

We describe below transactions and series of similar transactions, since December 30, 2018 or currently proposed, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which:

 

   

the amounts involved exceed $120,000; and

 

   

any of our directors, executive officers or beneficial holders of more than 5% of any class of our capital stock had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Other than as described below, there have not been, nor are there any currently proposed, transactions or series of similar transactions meeting these criteria to which we have been or will be a party other than compensation arrangements, which are described where required under “Management” and “Executive Compensation.”

Series B Preferred Stock Financing

In June 2020, we sold an aggregate of 7,500,001 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $1.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $7.5 million and incurred issuance costs associated with the issuance of $0.2 million. The following table summarizes purchases of our Series B Preferred Stock by related persons:

 

Stockholder

   Shares of
Series B
Preferred Stock
     Total Series B
Preferred Stock
Purchase Price
 

Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P.

     207,232      $ 207,232  

Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P.

     1,102      $ 1,102  

Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P.

     208,383      $ 208,383  

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

     416,667      $ 416,667  

LFL Acquisition Corp.

     5,000,000      $ 5,000,000  

H.I.G.-GPII, Inc.

     1,666,667      $ 1,666,667  

In connection with the issuance of our Series B Preferred Stock, we incurred an equity-based compensation expense of $8.6 million.

Series B-1 Preferred Stock Financing

In March 2021, we sold an aggregate of 1,450,000 shares of our Series B-1 Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $1.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $1.45 million. In connection with the Series B-1 offering, we filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which authorized the issuance of up to 2,500,000 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock with the same rights, preferences and privileges of the original Series B Preferred Stock and increased the authorized shares of common stock to 24,000,000.

The following table summarizes purchases of our Series B-1 Preferred Stock by related persons:

 

Stockholder

   Shares of
Series B-1
Preferred Stock
     Total Series B-1
Preferred Stock
Purchase Price
 

Mark Vos

     600,000      $ 600,000  

Crystal Landsem

     400,000      $ 400,000  

In connection with the issuance of our Series B-1 Preferred Stock, we incurred equity-based compensation expense of $1.5 million.

 

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Transaction Services Agreement

We entered into a transaction services agreement (the “Transaction Services Agreement”) with our Sponsor and certain other related parties on July 25, 2014 whereby we agreed to compensate our Sponsor for services provided related to the Sponsor’s acquisition of Company equity, and our Sponsor agreed to provide certain financial and strategic advisory services and consulting services. Under the Transaction Services Agreement, we incurred the following:

 

     Year Ended,      Six Months Ended
July 4, 2021
 
     2018              2019                      2020          
                          (unaudited)  

Sponsor

   $ 2,595,000      $ —        $ —        $ —    

Other related parties

     962,000                    —                      —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,557,000      $ —        $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In connection with this offering, we, our Sponsor and the other parties to the Transaction Services Agreement will terminate the Transaction Services Agreement; provided that, the provisions relating to indemnification will survive termination.

We have agreed to indemnify our Sponsor and, among others, its officers, directors, stockholders, and affiliates, against all losses, claims, liabilities, suits, costs, damages, and expenses arising from their performance of services under the Transaction Services Agreement.

Professional Services Agreement

We entered into a professional services agreement (the “Professional Services Agreement”) with our Sponsor and certain other related parties on July 25, 2014, whereby our Sponsor agreed to provide certain management services and consulting services. Under the Professional Services Agreement, we incurred the following:

 

     Year Ended,      Six Months Ended
July 4, 2021
 
     2018      2019      2020  
     (in thousands)  
                          (unaudited)  

Sponsor management fees

   $ 585,000      $ 500,000      $ 499,995      $ 250,000  

Sponsor other reimbursement

     115,000        131,637        —          4,110  

Other related parties(1)

        214,000           246,008           260,600        122,500  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 914,000      $ 877,645      $ 760,595      $ 376,610  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Consists of board fees such as reimbursements for travel and management fees.

In connection with this offering, we, our Sponsor and the other parties to the Professional Services Agreement will terminate the Professional Services Agreement; provided that, the provisions relating to indemnification will survive termination. In connection with such termination, we will pay our Sponsor total accrued and unpaid fees of approximately $1.2 million, which payment will be made immediately prior to the consummation of this offering. Additionally, in connection with the termination of the Professional Services Agreement, we will pay other parties to the Professional Services Agreement total accrued and unpaid fees in the amount of approximately $0.3 million.

We have agreed to indemnify the Sponsor and, among others, its officers, directors, stockholders, and affiliates, against all losses, claims, liabilities, suits, costs, damages, and expenses arising from their performance of services under the Professional Services Agreement.

 

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Investors’ Rights Agreement

On April 12, 2018, we entered into an Investors’ Rights Agreement with Lulu’s Holdings, L.P., H.I.G.-GPII, Inc., LFL Acquisition Corp., Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P., Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P., Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P., Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, (the “Investors’ Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which such investors have certain demand registration rights, short-form registration rights and piggyback registration rights in respect of any shares of common stock or common stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and related indemnification rights from us, subject to customary restrictions and exceptions. All fees, costs and expenses of registrations, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, are expected to be borne by us.

Advance to LP

On January 31, 2019, we paid a cash advance to LP of $2.4 million, which was used for the payment of accrued Class P Unit distributions to certain current employees, including Crystal Landsem and Mark Vos. We recorded interest income on the advance of $0.1 million for the year ended December 29, 2019. On September 16, 2019, LP repaid the advance, including interest, and made an advance to us of $2.0 million for future distributions to certain current employees upon the December 31, 2019 vesting of their Class P units. An additional $37,000 was advanced to us from LP during 2020. In June 2020, we repaid the 2019 and 2020 advances from LP plus accrued interest of $0.1 million, which repayment was used by LP to pay accrued Class P unit distributions to certain of our current employees, including Crystal Landsem and Mark Vos.

Indemnification Agreements and Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance

We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements will require us to, among other things, indemnify each director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys’ fees incurred by the director or executive officer in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in right of us, arising out of the person’s services as a director or executive officer. We have obtained an insurance policy that insures our directors and officers against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under applicable securities laws.

Policies for Approval of Related Person Transactions

In connection with this offering, we will adopt a written policy relating to the approval of related person transactions. Our audit committee will review and approve or ratify all relationships and related person transactions between us and (i) our directors, director nominees, executive officers or their immediate family members, (ii) any 5% record or beneficial owner of our common stock, or (iii) any immediate family member of any person specified in (i) and (ii) above. Our compliance director will be primarily responsible for the development and implementation of processes and controls to obtain information from our directors and executive officers with respect to related party transactions and for determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether we or a related person have a direct or indirect material interest in the transaction.

As set forth in the related person transaction policy, in the course of its review and approval or ratification of a related party transaction, the committee will consider:

 

   

the nature of the related person’s interest in the transaction;

 

   

the availability of other sources of comparable products or services;

 

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the material terms of the transaction, including, without limitation, the amount and type of transaction; and

 

   

the importance of the transaction to us.

Any member of the audit committee who is a related person with respect to a transaction under review will not be permitted to participate in the discussions or approval or ratification of the transaction. However, such member of the audit committee will provide all material information concerning the transaction to the audit committee.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table shows information as of July 4, 2021 regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock (1) prior to this offering and (2) as adjusted to give effect to this offering by:

 

   

each person or group who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock;

 

   

each member of our Board of Directors and each of our named executive officers; and

 

   

all members of our Board of Directors and our executive officers as a group.

Beneficial ownership of shares is determined under rules of the SEC and generally includes any shares over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power. Except as noted by footnote, and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe based on the information provided to us that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by them. The percentage of beneficial ownership before this offering is based on 31,629,482 shares of common stock outstanding as of July 4, 2021, which reflects (i) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock into shares of our common stock, (ii) the redemption and extinguishment of all outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series B-1 Preferred Stock, (iii) the issuance of 263,618 shares of our common stock to LP immediately prior to the completion of this offering and (iv) the award of shares, restricted stock units and options to purchase shares of our common stock made to Mr. McCreight, our Chief Executive Officer, in connection with this offering as described in more detail under “Executive Compensation—Equity Compensation Arrangements,” in each case as if such conversion, redemption, issuance and awards had occurred or been made on July 4, 2021, respectively. The percentage of beneficial ownership after this offering is based on 37,379,482 shares of common stock outstanding after giving effect to this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, or 38,241,982 shares of common stock, assuming the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full. Shares of common stock subject to options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2021 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options for the purposes of computing the percentage of beneficial ownership of that person and any group of which that person is a member, but are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of beneficial ownership for any other person. Except as otherwise indicated, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of capital stock held by them. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each holder listed below is 195 Humboldt Avenue, Chico, California 95928.

 

                      Shares Beneficially Owned After this Offering      
     Shares Beneficially
Owned Prior to
this Offering
    Assuming
Underwriters’ Option to
Purchase Additional
Shares is Not
Exercised
    Assuming
Underwriters’ Option to
Purchase Additional
Shares is
Exercised in Full
 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number      %     Number      %     Number      %  

5% or Greater Stockholders

               

Entities affiliated with H.I.G.(1)

     13,411,352        42.4     13,411,352        35.9     13,411,352        35.1

Entities affiliated with Institutional Venture
Partners(2)

     6,857,143        21.7     6,857,143        18.3     6,857,143        17.9

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board(3)

     6,857,143        21.7     6,857,143        18.3     6,857,143        17.9

Entities affiliated with LFL(4)

     1,866,568        5.9     1,866,568        5.0     1,866,568        4.9

Named Executive Officers and Directors:

               

David McCreight(5)

     189,295        *       189,295        *       189,295        *  

Crystal Landsem(6)

     251,384        *       251,384        *       251,384        *  

Mark Vos(7)

     251,384        *       251,384        *       251,384        *  

 

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                      Shares Beneficially Owned After this Offering      
     Shares Beneficially
Owned Prior to
this Offering
    Assuming
Underwriters’ Option to
Purchase Additional
Shares is Not
Exercised
    Assuming
Underwriters’ Option to
Purchase Additional
Shares is
Exercised in Full
 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number      %     Number      %     Number      %  

Thomas Belatti(8)

     —          —         —          —         —          —    

John Black(8)

     —          —         —          —         —          —    

Evan Karp(8)

     —          —         —          —         —          —    

Eric Liaw(9)

     —          —         —          —         —          —    

Michael Mardy

     —          —         —          —         —          —    

Danielle Qi(8)

     —          —         —          —         —          —    

Colleen Winter(10)

     —          —         —          —         —          —    

Debra Cannon(10)

     —          —         —          —         —          —    

All Board of Director members and executive officers as a group (11 persons)

     692,063        2.2     692,063        1.9     692,063        1.3

 

*

Indicates ownership of less than 1%.

(1)

Consists of 13,411,352 shares of common stock held by H.I.G. Growth Partners—Lulu’s, L.P. H.I.G.-GPII, Inc. is the sole general partner of H.I.G. Growth Partners—Lulu’s, L.P., and has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by H.I.G. Growth Partners—Lulu’s, L.P. H.I.G.-GPII, Inc. disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein. Sami Mnaymneh and Anthony Tamer, the directors of H.I.G.-GPII, Inc., have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by H.I.G. Growth Partners—Lulu’s, L.P. Messrs. Mnaymneh and Tamer may be deemed to be indirect beneficial owners of the reported securities, but disclaim beneficial ownership in the securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest in such securities. The address of each entity affiliated with by H.I.G. Growth Partners—Lulu’s, L.P. is 1450 Brickell Avenue, 31st floor, Miami, FL 33131.

(2)

Consists of (a) 3,410,432 shares of common stock held by Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P., (b) 18,142 shares of common stock held by Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P. and (c) 3,428,569 shares of common stock held by Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P. Institutional Venture Management XV, LLC is the general partner of Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P. and Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P., and Institutional Venture Management XVI, LLC is the general partner of Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P. Todd C. Chaffee, Somesh Dash, Norman A. Fogelsong, Stephen J. Harrick, Eric Liaw, Jules A. Maltz, J. Sanford Miller and Dennis B. Phelps are the managing directors of Institutional Venture Management XV, LLC and Institutional Venture Management XVI, LLC and may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P., Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P. and Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P. but disclaim beneficial ownership in the securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest in such securities. The address for each of these entities is 3000 Sand Hill Road, Bldg. 2, Suite 250 Menlo Park, California 94025.

(3)

Consists of 6,857,143 shares of common stock held by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPPIB”). None of the members of the board of directors of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has sole voting or dispositive power with respect to the shares of common stock beneficially owned by CPPIB. The address for CPPIB is One Queen Street East, Suite 2500, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2W5, Canada.

(4)

Consists of 1,866,568 shares of common stock held by LFL Acquisition Corp. Mses. Colleen Winter and Debra Cannon, who are members of the Board of Directors and controlling stockholders of LFL Acquisition Corp., have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by LFL Acquisition Corp. Mses. Winter and Cannon may be deemed to be indirect beneficial owners of the reported securities, but disclaim beneficial ownership in the securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest in such securities. The address for LFL Acquisition Corp. is 763 Hill View Way, Chico, CA 95926.

 

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(5)

Consists of (a) 161,397 shares of common stock subject to options held by Mr. McCreight that are exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2021 and (b) 27,898 restricted stock units granted to Mr. McCreight in connection with this offering.

(6)

Consists of 251,384 shares of common stock held by Ms. Landsem.

(7)

Consists of 251,384 shares of common stock held by Mr. Vos.

(8)

Messrs. John Black, Evan Karp, Danielle Qi and Thomas Belatti, as members of our Board of Directors and agents of entities affiliated with H.I.G. Growth Partners—Lulu’s, L.P., may be deemed to share voting and investment power with regard to the shares held directly by H.I.G. Growth Partners—Lulu’s, L.P., but disclaim beneficial ownership in the securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest in such securities.

(9)

Mr. Liaw, a member of our Board of Directors, is a general partner of Institutional Venture Partners and, therefore, may be deemed to share voting and investment power with regard to the shares held directly by Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P., Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P. and Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P., as described in footnote (2) above, but disclaims beneficial ownership in the securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest in the securities.

(10)

Mses. Winter and Cannon, both members of our Board of Directors, are the controlling stockholders of LFL Acquisition Corp. and, therefore, may be deemed to share voting and investment power with regard to the shares held directly by LFL Acquisition Corp., but disclaim beneficial ownership in the securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest in such securities. Dr. Cannon and Ms. Winter are not expected to continue serving on our Board of Directors following the completion of this offering.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS

Credit Facility

Overview

On August, 28, 2017, our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC entered into a $145 million credit facility, (the “Credit Facility”) with Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as the administrative agent and collateral agent for all lenders, with $135 million committed as a term loan (the “Term Loan”) and $10 million committed as a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”). The proceeds from the Term Loan were used to repay other long-term debt and to pay dividends to LP, and the proceeds of the Revolving Facility are available for general working capital and other corporate purposes.

As of July 4, 2021, there were $107.7 million of borrowings outstanding under the Term Loan and no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Facility.

On May 30, 2019, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC entered into a waiver and amendment to the Credit Facility pursuant to which the lenders, among other things, waived a financial covenant default for the period ended March 31, 2019 and agreed to certain changes to the financial maintenance covenant levels. On June 5, 2020, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC entered into a waiver and amendment to the Credit Facility pursuant to which the lenders, among other things, waived a payment default and a financial covenant default for the period ended March 31, 2020 and agreed to certain changes, including to the payment terms and financial maintenance covenant levels. On April 28, 2021, the Credit Facility was further amended to, among other things, make certain modifications to the reporting, liquidity, and mandatory prepayment requirements.

Interest Rate and Fees

From and after June 5, 2020 and until the first day of the month beginning after Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC delivers a compliance certificate evidencing compliance with its maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio maintenance covenant (the date of such delivery, the “Compliance Date”), the Term Loan bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (i) an adjusted LIBOR rate (the “Adjusted LIBOR Rate”) (subject to a minimum floor of 1.00%) plus 9.50% or (ii) a base rate equal to the greater of the “prime rate,” the federal funds effective rate plus 1/2 of 1.0% and the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (the “Base Rate”) plus 8.50%, of which 2.50% is paid in kind by adding such percent to the outstanding principal balance of Term Loan. At all times thereafter, the Term Loan bear interest at either (i) a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (subject to a minimum floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC ranging from 7.00% to 9.00% per annum, as indicated below or (ii) the Base Rate plus an applicable margin of ranging from 6.00% to 8.00% per annum based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC, as indicated below.

 

Pricing Level

  

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio

   Applicable
Margin for LIBOR
Rate Term
Loans
     Applicable
Margin for Base
Rate Term
Loan
 

I

   Greater than 3.50 to 1.00      9.00      8.00

II

   Less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00, but greater than 2.25 to 1.00      8.00      7.00

III

   Less than or equal to 2.25 to 1.00      7.00      6.00

 

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From and after June 5, 2020 and until the first day of the month beginning after the Compliance Date, the loans under the Revolving Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (subject to a minimum floor of 0.00%) plus 8.50% or (ii) the Base Rate plus 7.50%, of which 1.50% is paid in kind by adding such percent to the outstanding principal balance of Revolving Loans. At all times thereafter, loans under the Revolving Facility bear interest at either (i) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (subject to a floor of 0.00%) plus an applicable margin based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC ranging from 5.00% to 6.00% per annum, as indicated below or (ii) the Base Rate plus an applicable margin based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC ranging from 4.00% to 5.00% per annum, as indicated below.

 

Pricing Level

  

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio

   Applicable
Margin for
LIBOR Rate
Revolving
Loans
     Applicable
Margin for Base
Rate Revolving
Loans
     Applicable
Margin for
Unused
Commitment
Fee
 

I

   Greater than 2.50 to 1.00      6.00      5.00      0.5

II

   Less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00      5.00      4.00      0.375

For the six months ended July 4, 2021, the effective interest rate on the Term Loan was 12.9%.

Interest on borrowings under the Credit Facility is payable (i) on the last day of any interest period with respect to LIBOR borrowing with an applicable interest period of less than six months, (ii) every three months with respect to LIBOR borrowings with an interest period of six months or greater or (iii) on the last business day of each March, June, September, and December with respect to base rate borrowings. In addition, the Credit Facility requires payment of an unused fee equal to a rate based on the consolidated total net leverage ratio of the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC and ranging from 0.375% to 0.50% as indicated in the above chart, times the average daily amount by which the unutilized commitments exceed the amount outstanding under the Revolving Facility. The unused fee is payable on the last day of each quarter. Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC is also required to pay customary letter of credit fees and annual agency fees.

Prepayments

The Credit Facility requires prepayment of outstanding loans, subject to certain exceptions, with:

 

   

100% of the net cash proceeds of all non-ordinary course asset dispositions or events of loss in excess of $2,500,000 in any fiscal year by the loan parties and their respective subsidiaries, (i) if we do not reinvest those net cash proceeds in assets to be used in our business within 180 days of the receipt of such net cash proceeds or (ii) if we do not commit to reinvest such net cash proceeds within 180 days of the receipt thereof and do not actually reinvest such net cash proceeds within 360 days of the receipt thereof; and

 

   

100% of the net proceeds of (1) any issuance or incurrence of debt by the loan parties or any of their respective subsidiaries, other than debt permitted under the Credit Facility and (2) specified equity contributions;

 

   

75% (which percentage will be reduced to 50% if our consolidated total net leverage ratio is less than 2.00:1.00, as determined as of the last day of the applicable fiscal year and subject to certain reductions) of our annual excess cash flow (defined as EBITDA less certain customary deductions including, without limitation, unfinanced capital expenditures, fees and expenses under loan documents, insurance proceeds and others); and

 

   

100% of the net issuance proceeds of this offering.

 

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The foregoing mandatory prepayments are used to first reduce the principal installments of the Term Loan on a pro rata basis based on the respective amounts thereof and, second, to the outstanding loans under the Revolving Facility (without a corresponding reduction in the revolving credit commitment).

We may voluntarily repay outstanding loans under the Credit Facility, and any such prepayment after August 29, 2020 is not subject to a prepayment premium.

Amortization

Amortization installment payments on the Term Loan are required to be made in quarterly installments of $2,531,250, with the remaining outstanding amount to be payable on August 28, 2022, the maturity date for the Term Loan. Principal amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility will be due and payable in full on May 29, 2022.

Guarantee and Security

All obligations under the Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC and, subject to certain exceptions, each of its current and future domestic subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein as “the loan parties”). All obligations under our Credit Facility, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured by substantially all of the following assets of the loan parties, subject to certain exceptions, including:

 

   

a pledge of 100% of the common units of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC and 100% of the equity interests directly held by each loan party in any subsidiary of such loan party, subject to certain exceptions; and

 

   

a security interest in substantially all tangible and intangible assets (including intellectual property) of the loan parties, subject to certain exceptions.

Certain Covenants and Events of Default

The Credit Facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of the loan parties and their respective subsidiaries to (subject to certain exceptions):

 

   

create liens on assets;

 

   

sell or otherwise dispose of assets;

 

   

engage in mergers or consolidations;

 

   

make investments (including acquisitions), loans or advances;

 

   

incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock;

 

   

engage in certain transactions with affiliates;

 

   

pay dividends and distributions or repurchase our capital stock;

 

   

change the line of business of the loan parties and their subsidiaries;

 

   

amend organizational documents in a manner that materially adversely affects the interests of the agent or lenders;

 

   

change the fiscal year of the loan parties or their subsidiaries; and

 

   

enter into negative pledges.

 

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The Credit Facility also contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including a change of control. The change of control provision is triggered (a) upon or after the consummation of a qualified initial public offering, if any person or group other than our Sponsor and its affiliates, Company management, RLJ Credit Opportunity Fund I, L.P., LFL Acquisition Corp., or Emigrant Capital Corp. (collectively, the “Permitted Holders”) or a group that includes the Permitted Holders (and with respect to which the Permitted Holders hold at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of such group) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of voting equity interests of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent LLC representing more than 35% of the voting equity interests of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent LLC and a greater percentage of voting equity interests of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent LLC than is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate by the Permitted Holders or any group that includes the Permitted Holders; (b) on or after the date of an initial public offering, if a majority of the board of directors of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent LLC (or any person of which Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent LLC is a direct or indirect subsidiary) (i) does not consist of directors that were on the board of directors as of the date of the Credit Agreement, (ii) was not nominated or approved by the board of directors of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent LLC (or any person of which Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent LLC is a direct or indirect subsidiary), or (iii) was not appointed by directors so nominated or approved; and (c) the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC fails to own 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC.

The Credit Facility includes certain financial maintenance covenants, which, after giving effect to a waiver and amendment entered into on June 5, 2020, consist of, from and after the Compliance Date, a quarterly maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio of not more than 2.50 to 1.00 for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2020, with gradual step-downs to 2.00 to 1.00 for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021 and thereafter.

This description of the Credit Facility does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the credit documents, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

New Revolving Facility

In connection with this offering, we anticipate entering into a new $50.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility. We intend to use borrowings under the New Revolving Facility to refinance existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes, including funding working capital.

The New Revolving Facility will mature three years after closing, and borrowings thereunder will accrue interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (x) the term SOFR rate, plus the applicable SOFR adjustment and plus a margin of 1.75% per annum or (y) the base rate plus a margin of 0.75% (with the base rate being the highest of the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, the prime rate and term SOFR for a period of one month plus 1.00%). Additionally, we expect a commitment fee of 37.5 basis points will be assessed on unused commitments under the New Revolving Facility.

Guarantee and Security

We expect that all obligations under the New Revolving Facility will be unconditionally guaranteed by Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC and, subject to certain exceptions, each of its current and future domestic subsidiaries. All obligations under the New Revolving Facility, and the guarantees of those obligations, are expected to be secured by substantially all of the following assets of the loan parties, subject to certain exceptions, including:

 

   

a pledge of 100% of the common units of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC and 100% of the equity interests directly held by each loan party in any subsidiary of such loan party, subject to certain exceptions; and

 

   

a security interest in substantially all tangible and intangible assets (including intellectual property) of the loan parties, subject to certain exceptions.

 

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Certain Covenants and Events of Default

We expect the New Revolving Facility will contain a financial maintenance covenant requiring a maximum total leverage ratio of no more than 2.50:1.00, stepping down to 2.00:1.00 after 18 months.

We expect the New Revolving Facility will contain a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of the loan parties and their respective subsidiaries to (subject to certain exceptions):

 

   

create liens on assets;

 

   

sell or otherwise dispose of assets;

 

   

engage in mergers or consolidations;

 

   

make investments (including acquisitions), loans or advances;

 

   

incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock;

 

   

engage in certain transactions with affiliates;

 

   

pay dividends and distributions or repurchase our capital stock;

 

   

change the line of business of the loan parties and their subsidiaries;

 

   

amend organizational documents in a manner that materially adversely affects the interests of the agent or lenders;

 

   

change the fiscal year of the loan parties or their subsidiaries; and

 

   

enter into negative pledges.

We expect the New Revolving Facility will also contain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including a change of control.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following discussion is a summary of the terms of our common stock, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws as they will be in effect at the time of the offering. Copies of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Authorized Capitalization

Following the consummation of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. All of our 10,000,000 authorized preferred stock upon the completion of this offering will be undesignated.

Common Stock

As of July 4, 2021, after giving effect to the conversion of all outstanding shares of our Preferred Stock into shares of common stock in connection with the completion of this offering, there would have been 31,440,187 shares of common stock outstanding held by nine stockholders.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to the following rights.

Voting Rights

Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes entitled to be cast except as set forth below with respect to directors to be elected by the holders of common stock. Our stockholders will not have cumulative voting rights. Except as otherwise provided in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as required by law, all matters to be voted on by our stockholders other than matters relating to the election and removal of directors must be approved by a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter or by a written resolution of the stockholders representing the number of affirmative votes required for such matter at a meeting.

Dividend Rights

Holders of common stock will share equally in any dividend declared by our Board of Directors, subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding preferred stock.

Liquidation Rights

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our affairs, holders of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are legally available for distribution to stockholders after payment of liabilities. If we have any preferred stock outstanding at such time, holders of the preferred stock may be entitled to distribution and/or liquidation preferences. In either such case, we must pay the applicable distribution to the holders of our preferred stock before we may pay distributions to the holders of our common stock.

Other Rights

Our stockholders have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for additional shares. All holders of our common stock are entitled to share equally on a share-for-share basis in any assets available for distribution to common stockholders upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up. All outstanding shares are, and all shares offered by this prospectus will be, when sold, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

 

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Preferred Stock

Upon the completion of this offering, no shares of preferred stock will be outstanding. Our Board of Directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the preferences, powers and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including the dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and liquidation preference and to fix the number of shares to be included in any such series without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Any preferred stock so issued may rank senior to our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or both. In addition, any such shares of preferred stock may have class or series voting rights. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.

Registration Rights

Our existing stockholders have certain registration rights with respect to our common stock pursuant to the Investors’ Rights Agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Investors’ Rights Agreement.”

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that delay, defer or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of us or change in our management. We expect that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board of Directors, which we believe may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of our stockholders. However, they also give our Board of Directors the power to discourage transactions that some stockholders may favor, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Accordingly, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

Classified Board

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our Board of Directors will consist of seven directors, as long as any shares of common stock are outstanding, and that our Board of Directors will be divided into three classes, with one class being elected at each annual meeting of stockholders. Each director will serve a three-year term, with termination staggered according to class. Class I will initially consist of John Black and Thomas Belatti, Class II will initially consist of Daniel Qi and Eric Liaw, and Class III will initially consist of Evan Karp, Michael Mardy and David McCreight.

Upon consummation of this offering, our Board of Directors will initially consist of seven directors.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that directors may only be removed by the affirmative vote of the remaining members of our Board of Directors or the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of common stock then entitled to vote on the election of directors and, once entities affiliated with H.I.G., IVP and CPPIB no longer hold at least 50% of our common stock, only for cause.

 

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The classification of our Board or Directors could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, control of our Company.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Meetings, Nominations and Proposals

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only upon the request of a majority of our Board of Directors the Chief Executive Officer or the Chair of the Board of Directors. Our amended and restated bylaws prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying, or discouraging hostile takeovers or changes in control or management of our Company.

Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or a committee of our Board of Directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with the advance notice requirements of directors, which may be filled only by a vote of a majority of directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, and not by the stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws allow the presiding officer at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay, or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our Company.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the rights of any holders of preferred stock to act by written consent instead of a meeting and subject to entities affiliated with H.I.G., IVP and CPPIB holding at least 50% of our common stock, stockholder action may be taken only at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by written consent instead of a meeting. Failure to satisfy any of the requirements for a stockholder meeting could delay, prevent or invalidate stockholder action.

Section 203 of the DGCL

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, which relate to business combinations with interested stockholders, do not apply to us. Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination transaction with an interested stockholder (a stockholder who owns more than 15% of our common stock) for a period of three years after the interested stockholder became such unless the transaction fits within an applicable exemption, such as board approval of the business combination or the transaction that resulted in such stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions would apply even if the business combination could be considered beneficial by some stockholders. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains a provision that provides us with protections similar to Section 203 of the DGCL and will prevent us from engaging in a business combination with a person who acquires at least 15% of our common stock for a period of three years from the date such person acquired such common stock unless board or stockholder approval is obtained prior to the acquisition.

Choice of Forum

The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law: (i) any derivative

 

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action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the Company to the Company or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

Additionally, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be effective on the closing of this offering will further provide that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act, including all causes of action asserted against a defendant to such complaint. The choice of forum provisions would not apply to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction, as Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all claims brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, actions by our stockholders to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder must be brought in federal court.

These provisions may result in increased costs for investors seeking to bring a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing forum selection provisions.

Listing

We have applied to have our common stock listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “LVLU.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219.

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. Future sales of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that sales may occur, could materially adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock at such time and our ability to raise equity capital in the future.

Sale of Restricted Securities

Upon consummation of this offering, we will have 37,190,187 shares of our common stock outstanding (or 38,052,687 shares, if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). Of these shares, all shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without further restriction or registration under the Securities Act, except that any shares purchased by our affiliates may generally only be sold in compliance with Rule 144, which is described below. Of the remaining outstanding shares, 31,440,187 shares will be deemed “restricted securities” under the Securities Act.

Lock-Up and Market Standoff Agreements

In connection with this offering, we, each of our directors and executive officers, as well as substantially all of our other security holders, will enter into lock-up agreements described under “Underwriting” that restrict the sale of our securities for up to 180 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to earlier termination as described below, without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. on behalf of the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the lock-up agreements signed by our directors, executive officers and substantially all of our security holders, if at least 90 days have elapsed since the date of this prospectus, (ii) we have issued a quarterly earnings release for the first quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus, (iii) the last reported closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq is at least 30% greater than the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of this prospectus for at least 10 trading days in any 15-day consecutive trading day period and (iv) the last reported closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq is at least 30% greater than the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of this prospectus on the first trading day following such quarterly earnings release, then 15% of the aggregate number of securities owned by the securityholder will be automatically released from such restrictions immediately prior to the opening of trading on the exchange on which our common stock is listed on the third trading day which the above conditions are satisfied; provided that if the early release date will occur during our blackout period, the early release date will be delayed until the opening of trading on the first trading day immediately following such blackout period. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the lockup period end earlier than 90 days after the date of this prospectus.

In addition, substantially all of our security holders have previously entered into market stand-off agreements with us not to, among other things and subject to certain limited exceptions, sell or otherwise transfer any of our securities for a period that extends through 180 days after the date of this prospectus.

Following the lock-up periods described above, all of the shares of our common stock that are restricted securities or are held by our affiliates as of the date of this prospectus will be eligible for sale in the public market in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

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Rule 144

The shares of our common stock sold in this offering will generally be freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except that any shares of our common stock held by an “affiliate” of ours may not be resold publicly except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or under an exemption under Rule 144 or otherwise. Rule 144 permits our common stock that has been acquired by a person who is an affiliate of ours, or has been an affiliate of ours within the past three months, to be sold into the market in an amount that does not exceed, during any three-month period, the greater of:

 

   

one percent of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding; or

 

   

the average weekly reported trading volume of our common stock for the four calendar weeks prior to the sale.

Such sales are also subject to specific manner of sale provisions, a six-month holding period requirement, notice requirements and the availability of current public information about us.

Rule 144 also provides that a person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has for at least six months beneficially owned shares of our common stock that are restricted securities, will be entitled to freely sell such shares of our common stock subject only to the availability of current public information regarding us. A person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned for at least one year shares of our common stock that are restricted securities, will be entitled to freely sell such shares of our common stock under Rule 144 without regard to the current public information requirements of Rule 144.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701, as currently in effect, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants, or advisors who purchase shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement before the effective date of this offering is entitled to resell such shares 90 days after the effective date of this offering in reliance on Rule 144.

Securities issued in reliance on Rule 701 are restricted securities and, subject to the contractual restrictions described above, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, may be sold by persons other than “affiliates,” as defined in Rule 144, subject only to the manner of sale provisions of Rule 144 and by “affiliates” under Rule 144 without compliance with its one-year minimum holding period requirement.

Additional Registration Statements

We intend to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register 4,462,803 shares of our common stock to be issued or reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plans. Such registration statement is expected to be filed soon after the date of this prospectus and will automatically become effective upon filing with the SEC. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement will be available for sale in the open market, unless such shares are subject to vesting restrictions with us or the lock-up restrictions described above.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local, or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of our common stock.

This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income and the alternative minimum tax. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

   

U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

   

persons holding our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle, or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

 

   

banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions;

 

   

brokers, dealers, or traders in securities;

 

   

“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

   

partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);

 

   

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

 

   

persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

   

tax-qualified retirement plans; and

 

   

“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds.

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our common stock and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

THIS DISCUSSION IS NOT TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE

 

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U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

Definition of a Non-U.S. Holder

For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a “U.S. person” nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A “U.S. person” is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and all substantial decisions of which are subject to the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions

As described in the section of this prospectus titled “Dividend Policy,” we do not anticipate declaring or paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “—Sale or Other Taxable Disposition.”

Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.

If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.

Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates applicable to U.S. persons. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation

 

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also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition

A Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);

 

   

the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or

 

   

our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”), by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”), for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates applicable to U.S. persons. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.

A Non-U.S. Holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we currently are not, and do not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends, however, on the fair market value of our USRPIs relative to the fair market value of our non-U.S. real property interests and our other business assets, there can be no assurance we currently are not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock by a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if our common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period.

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments of dividends on our common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the Non-U.S. Holder certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN,

W-8BEN-E, or W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are

 

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required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any distributions on our common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker that does not have certain enumerated relationships with the United States generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts

Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code, such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on, or (subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common stock paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our common stock. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our common stock.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of shares indicated in the following table. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Jefferies LLC are the representatives of the underwriters.

 

Underwriter

   Number of
Shares
 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

                       

BofA Securities, Inc.

  

Jefferies LLC

  

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

  

Cowen and Company, LLC

  

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

  

Piper Sandler & Co.

  

Telsey Advisory Group LLC

  
  

 

 

 

Total

     5,750,000  
  

 

 

 

The underwriters will be committed to take and pay for all of the shares being offered, if any are taken, other than the shares covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional 862,500 shares from us to cover sales by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than the total number set forth in the table above. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 862,500 additional shares.

 

     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Share

   $                  $              

Total

   $        $    

Shares sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any shares sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $             per share from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares, the representative may change the offering price and the other selling terms.

The offering of the shares by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

We, our executive officers, directors and holders of substantially all of our capital stock, warrants, and options have agreed or will agree with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any of our or their common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to earlier termination as described below, except with the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. This agreement does not apply to any existing employee benefit plans. See the section of this prospectus titled “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a discussion of certain transfer restrictions.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the lock-up agreements signed by our directors, executive officers and substantially all of our security holders, if at least 90 days have elapsed since the date of this prospectus, (ii) we have issued a quarterly earnings release for the first quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus, (iii) the last reported closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq is at least 30% greater than the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of this prospectus for at least 10 trading days in any 15-day consecutive trading day period and (iv) the last reported closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq is at least 30% greater than the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of this prospectus on the first trading day following such quarterly earnings release, then 15% of the aggregate number of securities owned by the securityholder will be automatically released from such restrictions immediately prior to the opening of trading on the exchange on which our common stock is listed on the third trading day which the above conditions are satisfied; provided that if the early release date will occur during our blackout period, the early release date will be delayed until the opening of trading on the first trading day immediately following such blackout period. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the lockup period end earlier than 90 days after the date of this prospectus.

The restrictions described above do not apply to us for certain transactions, including (i) the sale of shares by us in this offering; (ii) any securities outstanding as of the date of this prospectus (including without limitation options, restricted stock or restricted stock units) convertible into, or exercisable for, shares of our common stock pursuant to any employee stock option plan, incentive plan, stock plan, dividend reinvestment plan or otherwise in equity compensation arrangements existing as of the date of this prospectus and as described in this prospectus, provided that any shares of common stock issued upon such conversion will remain subject to a lock-up agreement, provided that such recipients enter into a lock-up agreement with the underwriters; (iii) the grant of awards pursuant to employee stock option plan or arrangements existing as of the date of this prospectus and as described in this prospectus, provided that such recipients enter into a lock-up agreement with the underwriters; (iv) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 in connection with the registration of shares of our common stock issuable under any employee performance incentive plan adopted and approved by our Board of Directors; and (v) the issuance of any shares of common stock or other securities issued in connection with the acquisition of the assets of, or a majority or controlling portion of the equity of, or a joint venture with another entity in connection with its acquisition by us or any of our subsidiaries of such entity, provided that the aggregate number of shares issued pursuant to clause (v) shall not exceed 10% of the total number of outstanding shares of our capital stock immediately following the closing of this offering, provided that such recipients enter into a lock-up agreement with the underwriters.

The restrictions described above do not apply, subject in certain cases to various conditions, to our directors, officers and security holders with respect to certain transactions, including:

 

  (a)

to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement;

 

  (b)

as a bona fide gift or gifts;

 

  (c)

to any beneficiary of the security holder pursuant to a will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representatives, heirs, beneficiary or immediate family member of the security holder;

 

  (d)

to any trust, partnership, limited liability company or other entity for the direct or indirect benefit of the security holder or the immediate family of the security holder;

 

  (e)

to any immediate family member or other dependent;

 

  (f)

as a distribution to limited partners, members or stockholders of the security holder;

 

  (g)

to the security holder’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the security holder;

 

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  (h)

pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency or to comply with any regulations related to the security holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock; provided, (1) that if the security holder is required to file a report under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the security holder shall include a statement in such report to the effect that such transfer is pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency or to comply with any regulations related to the ownership of the shares of common stock unless such a statement would be prohibited by any applicable law, regulation or order of a court or regulatory authority, and (2) no other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of common stock shall be voluntarily made during the restricted period;

 

  (i)

to us under which we have a right of repurchase upon death, disability or termination of employment, in each case as described in this prospectus, of the security holder; provided, (1) that no filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of common stock shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the restricted period within 60 days after the date the security holder’s death, disability or termination of employment, and after such 60th day, if the security holder is required to file a report under Section 16 of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of common stock during the restricted period, the security holder shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer and (2) no other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of common stock shall be voluntarily made during the restricted period;

 

  (j)

(A) to us for the purposes of exercising (including for the payment of tax withholdings or remittance payments due as a result of such exercise) on a “net exercise” or “cashless” basis options or other rights to purchase shares of common stock and (B) in connection with the vesting or settlement of restricted stock units, any transfer to us for the payment of tax withholdings or remittance payments due as a result of the vesting or settlement of such restricted stock units, pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan, which plan is described in this prospectus, provided (1) that any shares of common stock or other securities received as a result of such exercise, vesting or settlement shall remain subject to the terms of the lock-up agreement and (2) that if the security holder is required to file a report under Section 16 of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of common stock during the restricted period, the security holder shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer;

 

  (k)

pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of our shares of common stock involving a change of control of us following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the underwriting agreement that has been approved by our Board of Directors, provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the security holder’s shares shall remain subject to the provisions of the lock-up agreement, and provided further that “change of control” as used herein, shall mean the consummation of any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, other than us, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of at least 51% of total voting power of our voting stock;

 

  (l)

in connection with transactions by any person other than us relating to shares of common stock acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the offering; or

 

  (m)

with the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. on behalf of the underwriters;

 

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  (n)

if the security holder is a corporation, the corporation may transfer our capital stock to any wholly owned subsidiary of such corporation; provided, however, that in any such case, it shall be a condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding such capital stock subject to the provisions of the lock-up agreement and there shall be no further transfer of such capital stock except in accordance with the lock-up agreement, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and no public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of common stock shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the restricted period; and

 

  (o)

the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, provided that no transfers occur under such plan during such restricted period and no public announcement or filing shall be required or voluntarily made by any person in connection therewith until after the expiration of the restricted period.

Before this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price will be determined through negotiations among us and the representatives of the underwriters. In addition to prevailing market conditions, the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering price will be:

 

   

the valuation multiples of publicly traded companies that the representatives of the underwriters believe to be comparable to us;

 

   

our financial information;

 

   

the history of, and the prospects for, our company and the industry in which we compete;

 

   

an assessment of our management, our past and present operations, and the prospects for, and timing of, our future financial performance;

 

   

the present state of our development; and

 

   

the above factors in relation to market values and various valuation measures of other companies engaged in activities similar to ours.

An active trading market for the shares may not develop. It is also possible that after the offering the shares will not trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A “covered short position” is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional shares for which the underwriters’ option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional shares pursuant to the option described above. “Naked” short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional shares for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

 

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The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representative has repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the common stock. As a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $4.3 million. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses in an amount up to $45,000. The underwriters have agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in connection with this offering upon the completion of this offering.

We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to the issuer and to persons and entities with relationships with the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively traded securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities or instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) or persons and entities with relationships with the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each a Relevant State), no shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that the shares may be offered to the public in that Relevant State at any time:

 

  (a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation;

 

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  (b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives of the underwriters for any such offer; or

 

  (c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation;

provided that no such offer of the shares shall require us or any of the representatives of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the shares in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

United Kingdom

No shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority, except that the shares may be offered to the public in the United Kingdom at any time:

 

  (a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;

 

  (b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives of the underwriters for any such offer; or

 

  (c)

in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the FSMA,

provided that no such offer of the shares shall require the Issuer or any Manager to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the shares in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

Canada

The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions, and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption form, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the

 

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purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Hong Kong

The shares may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance”) or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Securities and Futures Ordinance”), or (ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore (“Regulation 32”).

 

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Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that trust has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.

Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Section 309B of the SFA, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018), that the shares are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the FIEA. The securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.

Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This offering document does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the shares may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the shares without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The shares applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of twelve months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring shares must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

 

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This offering document contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this offering document is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

Dubai International Financial Centre

This offering document relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This offering document is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth in this prospectus and has no responsibility for the offering document. The securities to which this offering document relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this offering document you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Switzerland

We have not and will not register with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 of the Federal Act on Collective Investment Scheme of 23 June 2006, as amended (“CISA”), and accordingly the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus have not and will not be approved, and may not be licenseable, with FINMA. Therefore, the securities have not been authorized for distribution by FINMA as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 CISA and the securities offered hereby may not be offered to the public (as this term is defined in Article 3 CISA) in or from Switzerland. The securities may solely be offered to “qualified investors,” as this term is defined in Article 10 CISA, and in the circumstances set out in Article 3 of the Ordinance on Collective Investment Scheme of 22 November 2006, as amended (“CISO”), such that there is no public offer. Investors, however, do not benefit from protection under CISA or CISO or supervision by FINMA. This prospectus and any other materials relating to the securities are strictly personal and confidential to each offeree and do not constitute an offer to any other person. This prospectus may only be used by those qualified investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offer described in this prospectus and may neither directly or indirectly be distributed or made available to any person or entity other than its recipients. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied and/or distributed to the public in Switzerland or from Switzerland. This prospectus does not constitute an issue prospectus as that term is understood pursuant to Article 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations. We have not applied for a listing of the securities on the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated securities market in Switzerland, and consequently, the information presented in this prospectus does not necessarily comply with the information standards set out in the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Latham & Watkins LLP, has passed upon the validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby on our behalf. The underwriters are being represented by Cooley LLP, in connection with the offering.

EXPERTS

The financial statements as of January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019 and for the years ended January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019, included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein. Such financial statements have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

Deloitte advised the audit committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) that a loaned staff arrangement, a contingent fee arrangement, and a business relationship had been entered into between companies owned by funds affiliated with H.I.G. (the “HIG Funds”) and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited entities in three separate foreign countries during certain periods in 2018 and 2019. Although these relationships were entered into when the companies were not considered affiliates of the Company pursuant to the standards under which the prior audit engagements were performed (U.S. GAAS), these relationships were deemed to be prohibited under the SEC’s auditor independence rules.

Deloitte informed the Audit Committee that Deloitte maintained objectivity and impartiality on all issues encompassed within its audits of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 29, 2019 and December 30, 2018 because:

 

   

the impermissible loaned staff arrangement, contingent fee arrangement, and business relationship had no impact on the Company’s financial statements and were not subject to Deloitte’s audits;

 

   

the impermissible loaned staff arrangement, contingent fee arrangement, and business relationship had been performed for HIG Funds’ portfolio companies that are immaterial to H.I.G. and unrelated to the Company (other than the common ownership of the HIG Funds);

 

   

Deloitte’s audit team for the Company had not been previously aware of the impermissible loaned staff arrangement, contingent fee arrangement, and business relationship and was not involved in the provision of such services; and

 

   

the impermissible loaned staff arrangement, contingent fee arrangement, and business relationship have been terminated.

After considering the facts and circumstances, the Audit Committee concurred with Deloitte’s conclusion that, for the reasons described above, the impermissible relationships did not impair Deloitte’s objectivity and impartiality with respect to the planning and execution of the audits of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 29, 2019 and December 30, 2018.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of common stock offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further

 

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information with respect to us and the shares of common stock offered hereby, you should refer to the registration statement and to the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. When we complete this offering, we will be required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC.

You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and we will file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements, and other information will be available via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.lulus.com, at which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. However, the information contained in or accessible through our website is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and investors should not rely on such information in making a decision to purchase our common stock in this offering.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page  

Audited Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2  

Financial Statements:

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets

     F-3  

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

     F-4  

Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Preferred Stock, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholder’s Deficit

     F-5  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

     F-6  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-8  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

     F-34  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

     F-35  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Preferred Stock, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholder’s Deficit

     F-36  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

     F-37  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-39  


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the stockholders and Board of Directors of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, redeemable preferred stock, convertible preferred stock and stockholder’s deficit, and cash flows, for the years ended January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

San Francisco, California

August 6, 2021

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

    As of
December 29,
2019
    As of
   January 3,   
2021
 
 

Assets

   

Current assets:

   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 5,857     $ 15,554  

Accounts receivable

    3,955       3,832  

Inventory, net

    26,137       16,895  

Asset for recovery

    3,251       1,104  

Income tax refund receivable

    2,437       2,739  

Prepaids and other current assets

    5,170       2,675  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    46,807       42,799  

Restricted cash

    504       505  

Property and equipment, net

    4,070       3,090  

Goodwill

    35,430       35,430  

Tradename

    18,509       18,509  

Intangible assets, net

    2,696       2,290  

Other noncurrent assets

    2,503       2,453  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 110,519     $ 105,076  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities, Redeemable Preferred Stock, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholder’s Deficit

   

Current liabilities:

   

Accounts payable

  $ 10,971     $ 7,161  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    11,295       7,533  

Returns reserve

    8,154       2,895  

Stored-value card liability

    4,605       4,973  

Advance from Parent

    2,003        

Revolving line of credit

    4,000       8,580  

Long-term debt, current portion

    10,125       10,125  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    51,153       41,267  

Long-term debt, net of current portion

    96,653       96,856  

Other noncurrent liabilities

    3,954       2,504  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    151,760       140,627  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)

   

Redeemable preferred stock: $0.001 par value, 0 and 7,500,001 shares authorized as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, respectively; 0 and 7,500,001 shares issued and outstanding as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, respectively; aggregate liquidation preference of $15,000 as of January 3, 2021.

          16,412  

Convertible preferred stock: $0.001 par value, 3,129,634 and 3,129,635 shares authorized as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, respectively; 3,129,634 shares issued and outstanding as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021; aggregate liquidation preference of $240,000 as of January 3, 2021

    117,038       117,038  

Stockholder’s deficit:

   

Common stock: $0.001 par value, 20,591,917 and 21,196,740 shares authorized as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, respectively; 17,462,283 shares issued and outstanding as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021

    18       18  

Additional paid-in capital

    2,040       10,622  

Accumulated deficit

    (160,337     (179,641
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholder’s deficit

    (158,279     (169,001
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock, convertible preferred stock and stockholder’s deficit

  $ 110,519     $ 105,076  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Year Ended
December 29, 2019
    Year Ended
   January 3, 2021   
 

Net revenue

   $ 369,622     $ 248,656  

Cost of revenue

     208,418       138,364  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     161,204       110,292  

Selling and marketing expenses

     72,875       47,812  

General and administrative expenses

     73,386       67,155  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

     14,943       (4,675
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net:

    

Interest expense

     (15,206     (16,037

Other income, net

     239       137  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

     (14,967     (15,900
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before provision for income taxes

     (24     (20,575

Income tax (provision) benefit

     (445     1,271  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss and comprehensive loss

   $ (469   $ (19,304

Deemed dividend to a preferred stockholder

           (504
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholder – Basic and Diluted

   $ (469   $ (19,808
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholder – Basic and Diluted

   $ (0.03   $ (1.13
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholder – Basic and Diluted

     17,462,283       17,462,283  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Preferred Stock, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholder’s Deficit

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

    Redeemable Preferred
Stock
    Convertible Preferred
Stock
         Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
    Accumulated     Total
Stockholder’s
 
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount          Shares     Amount     Capital     Deficit     Deficit  

Balance as of December 30, 2018

        $       3,129,634     $ 117,038           17,462,283     $ 18     $     $ (159,868   $ (159,850

Equity-based compensation (Note 9)

                                            2,040             2,040  

Net loss and comprehensive loss

                                                  (469     (469
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 29, 2019

                3,129,634       117,038           17,462,283       18       2,040       (160,337     (158,279

Series B redeemable preferred stock issuance, net of issuance costs of $163

    7,500,001       16,412                                   (504           (504

Equity-based compensation (Note 9)

                                            9,086             9,086  

Net loss and comprehensive loss

                                                  (19,304     (19,304
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of January 3, 2021

    7,500,001     $ 16,412       3,129,634     $ 117,038           17,462,283     $ 18     $ 10,622     $ (179,641   $ (169,001
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended
December 29,
2019
    Year Ended
January 3,
2021
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

    

Net loss

   $ (469   $ (19,304

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     3,041       3,216  

Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs

     2,045       2,485  

Interest expense capitalized to principal of long-term debt and revolving line of credit

           1,747  

Equity-based compensation expense

     2,040       9,086  

Equity-based compensation expense related to Series B redeemable preferred stock issuance

           8,571  

Write-off of deferred offering costs

           1,950  

Deferred income taxes

     (1,620     (14

Gain on disposal of assets

           (25

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (1,673     123  

Inventories

     (1,822     9,242  

Asset for recovery

     (369     2,147  

Income tax refund receivable

     483       (302

Prepaids and other current assets

     (833     339  

Accounts payable

     5,264       (3,702

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     3,118       (9,346

Other noncurrent liabilities

     2,669       (1,357
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     11,874       4,856  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

    

Capitalized software development costs

     (1,830     (1,273

Purchases of property and equipment

     (2,212     (700

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

           60  

Advance to Parent

     (2,406      

Repayments of advance to Parent

     2,406        
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (4,042     (1,913
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

    

Proceeds from borrowings on revolving line of credit

     9,000       5,300  

Repayments on revolving line of credit

     (5,000     (800

Repayment of long-term debt

     (12,656     (2,531

Payment of debt issuance costs

     (875     (437

Payment of deferred offering costs

     (2,156      

Advance from Parent

     2,003       37  

Repayment of Advance from Parent

           (2,040

Proceeds from issuance of Series B redeemable preferred stock, net of issuance costs

           7,337  

Other

     (37     (111
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (9,721     6,755  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
       (Continued

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended
December 29,
2019
    Year Ended
January 3,
2021
 

Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

     (1,889     9,698  

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year

     8,250       6,361  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year

   $ 6,361     $ 16,059  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosure

    

Cash paid for income taxes, net of income tax refunds

   $ 1,383     $ 171  

Cash paid for interest

   $ 13,068     $ 12,732  

Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities

    

Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable

   $ 202     $ 94  

Debt issuance costs included in accrued expenses

   $     $ 917  

Deemed dividend to a preferred stockholder

   $     $ 504  

Paid-in-kind interest added to principal balance of long-term debt and revolving line of credit

   $     $ 1,747  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.

Description of Business

Pursuant to a reorganization, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (“Lulus”, or the “Company”), was formed on August 25, 2017 as a holding company and its primary asset is an indirect membership interest in Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC (“LFL”). Prior to the sale of the Company’s Series A convertible preferred stock, the Company was wholly-owned by Lulu’s Holdings, L.P. (the “Parent”). As of January 3, 2021, the Company is majority-owned by the Parent.

LFL was founded in 1996, starting as a vintage boutique in Chico, CA that began selling online in 2005 and transitioned to a purely online business in 2008. The Parent was formed in 2014 as a holding company and purchased 100% of LFL’s outstanding common stock in 2014. The Company, through LFL, is an online retailer of women’s clothing, shoes and accessories based in Chico, CA.

Impact of COVID-19

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel strain of coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the broader economy and consumer behavior. As a result of these developments, the Company experienced an unfavorable impact on its revenue, results of operations and cash flows in its fiscal year ended January 3, 2021.

The Company may face longer term impacts from COVID-19 due to, among other factors, evolving federal, state and local restrictions and shelter-in-place orders, changes in consumer behavior and health concerns which may impact customer demand. The current events and economic conditions are significant in relation to the Company’s ability to fund its business operations. In response to the impact of COVID-19, the Company implemented a number of measures to minimize cash outlays, including reducing discretionary marketing and other expenses. Additionally, in June 2020, the Company modified its existing credit agreement to amend covenants and adjust certain payment terms. The Company also borrowed $5.3 million under its existing revolving line of credit facility (see Note 5, Debt). The Company subsequently repaid the entire outstanding balance under the revolving line of credit in March 2021 (see Note 14, Subsequent Events). The Company sold shares of Series B Preferred Stock in June 2020 for net cash proceeds of $7.3 million (see Note 7, Preferred Stock) and sold shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock in March 2021 for gross cash proceeds of $1.5 million (see Note 14, Subsequent Events).

Liquidity

The Company has primarily funded its operations with proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock and debt borrowings. The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $15.6 million as of January 3, 2021. Management believes that the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and operating cash flows will be sufficient to fund its operations for at least the next 12 months from the issuance of these annual consolidated financial statements on August 6, 2021.

As discussed in Note 5, Debt, the Company is required to make contractual principal payments of $10.1 million during fiscal year 2021 and $109.8 million during fiscal year 2022 related to the revolving line of credit and Term Loan. The Company intends to meet its contractual obligation for repayment of the $96.2 million principal payment related to the Term Loan due upon its maturity on August 28, 2022 by obtaining additional equity or debt financing.

In the event that additional financing is required from outside sources, the Company may not be able to raise it on acceptable terms or at all. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital when

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

desired, or if it cannot expand its operations or otherwise capitalize on its business opportunities because it lacks sufficient capital, its business, operating results, and financial condition would be adversely impacted.

 

2.

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Fiscal Year

The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“United States”) (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s fiscal year consists of a 52-week or 53-week period ending on the Sunday nearest December 31. The fiscal year ended December 29, 2019 (“2019”) consisted of 52 weeks while the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021 (“2020”) consisted of 53 weeks.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions, include, but are not limited to sales return reserves and related assets for recovery, valuation of the Series B redeemable preferred stock, and valuation of the Parent’s Class P unit equity-based awards. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could materially differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Segment Reporting

The Company manages its business on the basis of one operating and reportable segment, retail. The Company’s chief operating decision makers, its Co-Presidents, review financial information on an aggregate basis for the purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. All long-lived assets are located in the United States and substantially all revenue is attributable to customers based in the United States. International sales are not significant.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with original maturities of three months or less when issued as cash equivalents. These consist primarily of time deposit bank accounts and money market accounts. Due to the nature of the Company’s cash flow, amounts on deposit in individual banks may temporarily exceed the insured amount throughout the period.

Restricted cash represents deposits with a financial institution to serve as collateral for the Company’s corporate credit cards.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets to the amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

 

     December 29,
2019
     January 3,
2021
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,857      $ 15,554  

Restricted cash

     504        505  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash and restricted cash

   $ 6,361      $ 16,059  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist primarily of receivables from credit card processing agencies and wholesale customers. Based on historical collections from these agencies, no allowance for doubtful accounts was deemed necessary as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021.

Concentration of Credit Risks

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. At times, such amounts may exceed federally insured limits. The Company reduces credit risk by depositing its cash with major credit-worthy financial institutions within the United States. To date, the Company has not experienced any losses on its cash deposits. As of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, a single wholesale customer represented 22% and 51% respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. No customer accounted for greater than 10% of the Company’s net revenue during 2019 and 2020.

Inventory

Inventory consists of finished goods, which are recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined using the first-in-first-out method. The cost of inventory consists of merchandise costs and inbound freight costs. Inventory levels are reviewed to identify slow-moving merchandise, and promotions and markdowns are used to clear merchandise. In the period in which the Company determines estimated selling price, less costs to sell, is below cost, or identifies excess, obsolete, or unsalable items, the Company writes its inventory down to its net realizable value.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from 3 to 8 years. Improvements that extend the life of a specific asset are capitalized, while normal maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. When assets are sold or otherwise retired, their cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet with any resulting gain or loss reflected in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Goodwill and Tradename

Goodwill is stated at the excess of the acquisition price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a purchase acquisition and is not amortized. Goodwill arose from the Parent’s purchase of 100% of

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

the outstanding common stock of LFL on July 25, 2014 and the Company has one reporting unit. The Company’s tradename is an indefinite-lived intangible asset and is not amortized. The Company reviews its goodwill and tradename for impairment at least annually (on the first day of the fourth quarter) or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired.

When testing goodwill for impairment, the Company first performs an assessment of qualitative factors (“Step 0 Test”). The qualitative assessment includes assessing the totality of relevant events and circumstances that affect the fair value or carrying value of the reporting unit. These events and circumstances include macroeconomic conditions, industry and competitive environment conditions, overall financial performance, reporting unit specific events and market considerations. The Company also considers recent valuations of the reporting unit, including the magnitude of the difference between the most recent fair value estimate and the carrying value, as well as both positive and adverse events and circumstances, and the extent to which each of the events and circumstances identified may affect the comparison of a reporting unit’s fair value with its carrying value. If the qualitative assessment results in a conclusion that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, then no further testing is performed for that reporting unit. The Company performed the qualitative assessment of its goodwill and determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the reporting unit. As a result, there was no goodwill impairment during 2019 and 2020. There was no accumulated impairment of goodwill as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021.

When testing the tradename for impairment, the Company first performs an assessment of qualitative factors. If qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the tradename is less than its carrying amount, the Company tests the tradename for impairment at the asset level. The Company determines the fair value of the tradename and compares it to the carrying value. If the carrying value of the tradename exceeds the fair value, the Company recognizes an impairment loss in an amount equal to the excess. The Company performed the qualitative assessment of its tradename and determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the tradename exceeds the carrying value of the reporting unit. There were no additions to, disposals of, or impairments of the tradename during 2019 and 2020. There was no accumulated impairment of the tradename as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021.

Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets, net consists of capitalized internal-use software development, which is amortized over a 3-year period. The Company capitalizes certain costs in connection with obtaining or developing software for internal use. Additionally, the Company capitalizes qualifying costs incurred for upgrades and enhancements that result in additional functionality to existing software. Amortization of such costs begins when the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. Costs related to design or maintenance are expensed as incurred. Intangible asset amortization expense was $1.6 million and $1.7 million in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the assets. The Company reviews intangible assets for impairment under the long-lived asset model described below. No impairment of intangible assets was recorded during 2019 and 2020.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment periodically whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. In

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

evaluating long-lived assets for recoverability, the Company uses its best estimate of future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and eventual disposition. To the extent that projected undiscounted future net cash flows attributable to the asset are less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the difference between the carrying value of such asset and its estimated fair value. There was no impairment recorded during 2019 and 2020.

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs consist of expenses incurred in connection with an equity offering, including legal, accounting, printing, and other initial public offering (“IPO”)-related costs. Deferred offering costs are written off to operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss upon the termination or significant delay of a planned equity offering. There were $2.2 million of deferred offering costs capitalized as of December 29, 2019 (included in prepaids and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets) and none as of January 3, 2021, as approximately $2.0 million of deferred offering costs were written off to general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and the Company received a refund of such costs of $0.2 million from a vendor in 2020.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generates revenue primarily from the sale of merchandise products directly to end customers. The sale of products is a distinct performance obligation, and revenue is recognized at a point in time when control of the promised product is transferred to customers, which the Company determined occurs upon shipment based on its evaluation of the related shipping terms. Revenue is recognized in an amount that reflects the transaction price consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products. The Company’s payment terms are typically at the point of sale for merchandise product sales.

The Company elected to exclude from revenue taxes assessed by governmental authorities, including value-added and other sales-related taxes, that are imposed on and concurrent with revenue-producing activities. The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient, relative to e-commerce sales, which allows an entity to account for shipping and handling as fulfillment activities, and not a separate performance obligation. Accordingly, the Company recognizes revenue for only one performance obligation, the sale of the product, at shipping point (when the customer gains control). Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight are accounted for as fulfillment costs and are included in cost of goods sold. The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient to expense costs as incurred for incremental costs to obtain a contract when the amortization period would have been one year or less.

Revenue from merchandise product sales is reported net of sales returns, which includes an estimate of future returns based on historical return rates, with a corresponding reduction to cost of sales. There is judgment in utilizing historical trends for estimating future returns. The Company’s refund liability for sales returns is included in the returns reserve on its consolidated balance sheets and represents the expected value of the refund that will be due to the Company’s customers. The Company also has a corresponding asset for recovery that represents the expected net realizable value of the merchandise inventory to be returned.

The Company sells stored-value gift cards to customers and offers merchandise credit stored-value cards for certain returns. Such stored-value cards do not have an expiration date. The Company recognizes revenue from stored-value cards when the card is redeemed by the customer. The Company has determined that sufficient evidence exists to support an estimate for stored-value card

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

breakage. Subject to requirements to remit balances to governmental agencies, breakage is recognized as revenue in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by the customer, which is substantially within thirty-six months from the date of issuance. The amount of breakage recognized in revenue during 2019 and 2020 was not material.

The Company has two types of contractual liabilities: (i) cash collections from its customers prior to delivery of products purchased (“deferred revenue”), which are initially recorded within accrued expenses and recognized as revenue when the products are shipped, (ii) unredeemed gift cards and online store credits, which are initially recorded as a stored-value card liability and are recognized as revenue in the period they are redeemed.

The following table summarizes the significant changes in the contract liabilities balances during 2019 and 2020 (in thousands):

 

     Deferred
Revenue
    Stored-Value
Cards
 

Balance as of December 30, 2018

   $ 652     $ 3,033  

Revenue recognized that was included in contract liability balance at the beginning of the year

     (652     (1,907

Increase due to cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the year

     547       3,479  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 29, 2019

     547       4,605  

Revenue recognized that was included in contract liability balance at the beginning of the year

     (547     (2,094

Increase due to cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the year

     792       2,462  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of January 3, 2021

   $ 792     $ 4,973  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue consists of the product costs of merchandise sold to customers; shipping and handling costs including all inbound, outbound, and return shipping expenses; rent, insurance, business property tax, utilities, depreciation and amortization, and repairs and maintenance related to the Company’s distribution facilities; and charges related to inventory shrinkage, damages and the allowance for excess or obsolete inventory.

Selling and Marketing Expenses

Selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of customer service, payment processing fees, advertising, targeted online performance marketing and search engine optimization costs. Selling and marketing expenses also include spend on brand marketing channels, including cash and free clothing compensation to influencers, events and other forms of online and offline marketing related to growing and retaining the customer base. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs included in selling and marketing expenses were $60.5 million and $38.1 million in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and benefits costs, including equity-based compensation for the Company’s employees involved in general corporate functions

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

including finance, merchandising, marketing, and technology, as well as costs associated with the use by these functions of facilities and equipment, including depreciation and amortization, rent and other occupancy expenses.

Equity-Based Compensation

Certain of the Company’s employees participate in equity incentive programs (consisting of Class P units) offered by the Parent. The Parent’s Class P units are available to be issued as incentive compensation to employees, officers, directors, and other nonemployee service providers or consultants of the Company. Through mid-2020, the Company had concluded that the Parent’s Class P units were not a substantive class of equity and any associated pre-vesting distributions allocated to the Parent’s Class P units have been recorded as equity-based compensation under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic No. 710, Compensation - General (“ASC 710”), once the contingent payment becomes probable of payment, which is upon vesting of the Class P units.

During mid-2020, all outstanding Class P units were modified to update forfeiture terms related to employment requirements and vesting conditions were added to some of the Class P units. Due to the modifications to the employment requirements, the Company concluded that the Class P units are a substantive class of equity to be accounted for under FASB ASC Topic No. 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”) and that the associated pre-vesting distributions related to outstanding Class P units for five employees are a separate award that are accounted for under ASC 710.

Equity-based compensation related to the Class P unit awards and any pre-vesting distributions are recognized as general and administrative expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss during 2019 and 2020.

Equity-based compensation is measured at the grant date or modification date for all equity-based awards made to employees and nonemployees based on the fair value of the awards. The Company has elected to recognize forfeitures by reducing the equity-based compensation in the same period as the forfeitures occur. The method for how fair value is determined for the awards is described in Note 9, Equity-Based Compensation. The assumptions used to determine the fair value of the Class P units represent management’s best estimates. Awards with only service conditions are recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally four years.

Performance Based Vesting.    Certain of the outstanding Class P units which were modified in 2020 now vest upon the satisfaction of both a service condition and a performance condition. The service-based vesting condition for these Class P units is satisfied over four years. The performance-based vesting condition is satisfied upon the occurrence of a qualifying distribution event, which is generally defined as an issuance of a distribution to the Parent’s partners. Additionally, the satisfaction of the service-based condition is accelerated up to 100% upon a sale of the Parent if the award holder remains a service provider at the time of such event.

When the performance-based vesting condition becomes probable, which is upon the completion of a qualifying distribution event, the Company will immediately record cumulative stock-based compensation expense using the accelerated attribution method for the awards that have met the service-based vesting condition. The Company has not recognized any stock-based compensation expense for the performance-based Class P units as a qualifying distribution event has not occurred.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which they are expected to be realized or settled.

The Company believes that it is more likely than not that forecasted income, together with future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and results of recent operations, will be sufficient to fully recover the deferred tax assets. In the event that the Company determines all or part of the net deferred tax assets are not realizable in the future, the Company would record a valuation allowance.

The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense.

Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholder

The Company calculates basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholder in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities as the application of the if converted method is not more dilutive. The Company’s redeemable preferred stock and convertible preferred stock contractually entitle the holders of such shares to participate in dividends but do not contractually require the holders of such shares to participate in the Company’s losses. As such, net losses for the periods presented were not allocated to these securities.

Basic net loss per common share is computed using net loss attributable to common stockholder divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share represents net loss attributable to common stockholder divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, including the effects of any dilutive securities outstanding. Basic and diluted net loss per common share attributable to common stockholder are the same for each period presented since the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive given the Company’s net loss.

Redeemable Preferred Stock

The Company has elected to record its redeemable preferred stock at the greater of its redemption value or the issuance date fair value, net of issuance costs, as it is probable of becoming redeemable due to the passage of time. Any change to the carrying value of redeemable preferred stock recognized in each period is recorded to additional paid-in capital, or in the absence of additional paid-in capital, recorded to accumulated deficit.

The issuance date fair value of the redeemable preferred stock shares purchased by entities related to current employees, board members, and service providers was higher than the consideration

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

paid and such excess was recorded as equity-based compensation. The excess of the fair value over consideration paid for redeemable preferred stock shares purchased by an existing convertible preferred stockholder was accounted for as a deemed dividend and recorded in additional paid-in capital.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss is defined as a change in equity of a business enterprise during a period, resulting from transactions from non-owner sources. To date, the Company has not had any transactions that are required to be reported in comprehensive loss other than the net loss incurred from operations. Thus, comprehensive loss is the same as net loss for the periods presented.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

The Company is an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that it (i) is no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which removes Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The Company early adopted this standard on December 30, 2019. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260); Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480); Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception. This ASU clarifies the recognition, measurement, and effect on earnings per share of certain freestanding equity-classified financial instruments that include down round features affect entities that present earnings per share in accordance with the guidance in Topic 260, Earnings Per Share. When determining whether certain financial instruments should be classified as liabilities or equity instruments, a down round feature no longer precludes equity classification when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to an entity’s own stock. The guidance is effective for the Company for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted ASU 2017-11 on December 30, 2019. There was no impact of this standard at the date of adoption.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as amended, which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability on their consolidated balance sheets for all leases with a term longer than twelve months. The guidance, as amended, is effective for

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The Company anticipates implementing the standard by taking advantage of the alternative transition method and will apply the transition approach as of the beginning of the period of adoption and will not be restating comparative periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adopting this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements. The Company expects that it will result in a significant increase in its long-term assets and liabilities.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, as amended, which amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities from an incurred loss methodology to an expected loss methodology. For assets held at amortized cost basis, the guidance eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold and instead requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available-for-sale debt securities, credit losses are recorded through an allowance for credit losses, rather than a write-down, limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. Additional disclosures about significant estimates and credit quality are also required. The guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2016-13 on its consolidated financial statements and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-use Software: Customers Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract, which clarifies the accounting for implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements. The update effectively aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. The amendments in this ASU can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs after the date of adoption. The Company plans to adopt this standard on a prospective basis and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. This standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Accounting, which, as amended, provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or reorganizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. This standard can be adopted immediately, however, the guidance will only be available until December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40), which simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models available for convertible debt instruments. This guidance also eliminates the treasury stock method to calculate diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments and requires the use of the if-converted method. The guidance is effective for the Company for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

 

3.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company discloses and recognizes the fair value of its assets and liabilities using a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance establishes three levels of the fair value hierarchy as follows:

Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2—Inputs are observable, unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities that are supported by little or no market data.

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable, accrued expenses, revolving line of credit and long-term debt. As of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities. The fair values of long-term debt and revolving line of credit approximate their carrying value as the stated interest rates reset monthly at the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an Applicable Margin (see Note 5, Debt) and, as such, approximate market rates currently available to the Company. The Company does not have any financial instruments that were determined to be Level 3.

 

4.

Balance Sheet Components

Prepaids and Other Current Assets

Prepaids and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 29,
2019
     January 3,
2021
 

Prepaid software subscriptions

   $ 470      $ 897  

Prepaid inventory and fulfillment supplies

     674        483  

Prepaid insurance

     502        391  

Prepaid rent

     289        273  

Deferred offering costs

     2,156         

Other

     1,079        631  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued expenses

   $ 5,170      $ 2,675  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 29,
2019
       January 3,   
2021
 

Leasehold improvements

   $ 3,665     $ 3,647  

Equipment

     2,324       2,595  

Furniture and fixtures

     1,737       1,849  

Construction in progress

     156       28  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property and equipment

     7,882       8,119  

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (3,812     (5,029
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

   $ 4,070     $ 3,090  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation of property and equipment in 2019 and 2020 was $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 29,
2019
        January 3,   
2021
 

Accrued compensation and benefits

   $ 1,920      $ 2,932  

Accrued debt amendment fees

            917  

Accrued marketing

     3,361        495  

Accrued interest

     1,115        169  

Other

     4,899        3,020  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   $ 11,295      $ 7,533  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

5.

Debt

In August 2017, the Company entered into a term loan with a principal amount of $135.0 million (“Term Loan”) and a revolving credit facility of $10.0 million (“Revolving LOC”) with certain financial institutions for which Credit Suisse is acting as an administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”).

The Company’s outstanding debt under the Term Loan consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 29,
2019
       January 3,   
2021
 

Principal amount of term loan

   $ 112,219     $ 111,354  

Less: Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs

     (5,441     (4,373
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total carrying value of long-term debt

     106,778       106,981  

Less: Current portion of long-term debt

     (10,125     (10,125
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

   $ 96,653     $ 96,856  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company’s outstanding debt under the Revolving LOC consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 29,
2019
       January 3,   
2021
 

Principal amount of revolving line of credit

   $ 4,000     $ 8,580  

Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs(1)

     (171     (107
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total carrying value of revolving line of credit

   $ 3,829     $ 8,473  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Debt issuance costs are included in other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Term Loan

During May 2019 the Company entered into a Waiver and Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement and Amendment to the Guaranty and Security Agreement (the “Fourth Amendment”), which amended the following:

 

   

Waived the Company’s default for failure to comply with the maximum Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio (“Leverage Ratio”) level required under the financial covenant for the quarter ended March 31, 2019;

 

   

Reset the maximum Leverage Ratio covenant levels for the duration of the loan and added a minimum Consolidated Cumulative Unadjusted EBITDA Financial Covenant for 2019;

 

   

Modified the Applicable Margin on the Term Loan and the Company paid interest at the LIBOR Rate plus an Applicable Margin of 9.00% from the Fourth Amendment Effective Date (May 30, 2019) to the date on which financial statements and the accompanying compliance certificate for the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date were delivered (September 29, 2019);

 

   

Modified the Applicable Margin on the Term Loan to adjust based on the Leverage Ratio, with a range of 7.00% to 9.00% for LIBOR Rate Term Loan and 6.00% to 8.00% for Base Rate Term Loan; and

 

   

Required the use of proceeds from an IPO to constitute a Mandatory Repayment, so that the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended period of four fiscal quarters shall not be in excess of 2.00 to 1.00.

During June 2020, the Company entered into a Waiver and Fifth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Fifth Amendment”), which amended the following:

 

   

Waived the Company’s Existing Payment Default, Existing Covenant Default, and Existing Notice Defaults;

 

   

Amended interest payments on the Term Loan and Revolver, resulting in a portion of interest from June 5, 2020 to the date that the Company provides evidence of compliance with the required Leverage Ratios (the “Compliance Date”, which was not met as of January 3, 2021) being payable in kind, with such interest being added to the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan and Revolver;

 

   

Deferred March, June, and September 2020 principal payments due of $7.5 million for the Term Loan to the maturity date;

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

   

Modified the Applicable Margin on the Term Loan from the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (June 5, 2020) to the first day of the month beginning after the Compliance Date, from an Applicable Margin of 9.00% to 9.50% for LIBOR Rate Term Loan and from an Applicable Margin of 8.00% to 8.50% for the Base Rate Term Loan; and

 

   

Modified the Applicable Margin on the Revolver from the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (June 5, 2020) to the first day of the month beginning after the Compliance Date, from an Applicable Margin of 7.00% to 8.50% for LIBOR Rate Loans and from an Applicable Margin of 6.00% to 7.50% for Base Rate Loans.

For the Fifth Amendment, the Company incurred an amendment fee and other costs totaling $1.4 million that were treated as a debt issuance cost and will be amortized over the remaining term. As of January 3, 2021, $0.9 million of the amendment fee was unpaid and included within accrued expenses and other current liabilities. There were no gains or losses arising from the Fourth Amendment and Fifth Amendment as both were considered to be debt modifications. The interest rate for the Term Loan as of January 3, 2021 was 10.5%. The effective interest rate on the Term Loan was 12.2% and 13.3% in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

The Term Loan requires mandatory additional prepayments in May of each year if the Company’s Excess Cash Flow (“ECF”) for the preceding year exceeds the ECF as defined in the Term Loan agreement. There were no ECF payments due in 2019 and 2020 related to 2018 and 2019, respectively, and no ECF payments will be due in the year ending January 2, 2022 related to 2020.

Amortization installment payments on the Term Loan are required to be made in quarterly installments of $2.5 million, with the remaining outstanding amount to be payable on August 28, 2022, the maturity date for the Term Loan.

Revolving LOC

Outstanding amounts under the Revolving LOC bear interest at variable rates with a minimum of 7.00%. The interest rate for the Revolving LOC as of January 3, 2021 was 8.7%. The effective interest rate on the Revolving LOC was 10.3% and 10.4% in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Unused portions of the Revolving LOC bear a variable commitment fee of a minimum 0.375% to 0.50% per annum and are paid quarterly. The Revolving LOC matures on May 29, 2022. The Revolving LOC was amended with the Fifth amendment, but there was no change to the commitment or the maturity date. As of January 3, 2021, there was $8.6 million outstanding, letters of credit of $0.9 million were outstanding, and the Company had $0.5 million remaining borrowing capacity under the Revolving LOC.

The Term Loan and Revolving LOC are secured by all the assets of the Company and contain financial and reporting covenants, including restrictions on LFL with respect to the payment of dividends, which the Company was in compliance with as of January 3, 2021. Financial covenants include minimum liquidity amounts and are applicable if the Company’s overall liquidity is less than or equal to $2.5 million at the end of a reporting period. Substantially all of LFL’s assets are restricted from distribution to the Company. The Company does not have any material assets or liabilities, other than its indirect investment in LFL. For all of the periods reported in these consolidated financial statements, the Company has not and does not have any material operations on a standalone basis, and all of the operations of the Company are carried out by LFL.

Debt discounts and issuance costs are deferred and amortized over the life of the related loan using the effective interest method. The associated expense is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and was $2.0 million and $2.5 million in

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2019 and 2020, respectively. Debt discounts and issuance costs are presented as a reduction of long-term debt with the exception of debt issuance costs related to the revolving loan agreement of $0.2 million and $0.1 million as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, respectively, which are included in other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Future discount and debt issuance cost amortization expense as of January 3, 2021 over each of the next two years will be approximately $2.7 million and $1.8 million.

Future minimum payments of principal on the Company’s outstanding debt were as follows (in thousands):

 

Fiscal Year Ending    Amounts  

2021

   $ 10,125  

2022

     109,809  
  

 

 

 

Total principal amount

   $ 119,934  
  

 

 

 

 

6.

Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

As of January 3, 2021, the Company had non-cancelable operating leases for its corporate offices and warehouses expiring at various dates through 2026, some of which have renewal provisions. Rental expense classified within general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss totaled $3.0 million and $3.1 million in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of January 3, 2021 were as follows (in thousands):

 

Fiscal Year ending:    Amounts  

2021

   $     2,879  

2022

     2,789  

2023

     2,230  

2024

     1,777  

2025

     1,830  

Thereafter

     153  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 11,658  
  

 

 

 

Litigation and Other

From time to time, the Company may be a party to litigation and subject to claims incurred in the ordinary course of business, including personal injury and indemnification claims, labor and employment claims, threatened claims, breach of contract claims, and other matters. The Company accrues a liability when management believes information available prior to the issuance of the consolidated financial statements indicates it is probable a loss has been incurred as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company adjusts its accruals to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular case. Legal costs are expensed as incurred. Although the results of litigation and claims are inherently unpredictable, management concluded that it was not probable that it had incurred a material loss during the periods presented related to such loss contingencies. Therefore, the Company has not recorded a reserve for any contingencies.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

During the normal course of business, the Company may be a party to claims that are not covered by insurance. While the ultimate liability, if any, arising from these claims cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not believe that the resolution of any such claims would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. As of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, the Company was not aware of any currently pending legal matters or claims, individually or in the aggregate, that are expected to have a material adverse impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Indemnification

The Company also maintains director and officer insurance, which may cover certain liabilities arising from its obligation to indemnify the Company’s directors. To date, the Company has not incurred any material costs and has not accrued any liabilities in the combined and consolidated financial statements as a result of these provisions.

 

7.

Preferred Stock

The Company had outstanding redeemable preferred stock and convertible preferred stock (collectively, “Preferred Stock”) as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

 

    December 29, 2019  
    Shares
Authorized
    Shares
Issued and
Outstanding
    Issuance
Price
Per
Share
    Net
Carrying
Value
    Liquidation
Preference
 

Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A)

    3,129,634       3,129,634     $ 38.34     $ 117,038     $ 216,000  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    3,129,634       3,129,634       $ 117,038     $ 216,000  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    January 3, 2021  
    Shares
Authorized
    Shares
Issued and
Outstanding
    Issuance
Price
Per
Share
    Net
Carrying
Value
    Liquidation
Preference
 

Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A)

    3,129,635       3,129,634     $ 38.34     $ 117,038     $ 240,000  

Redeemable Preferred Stock (Series B)

    7,500,001       7,500,001       1.00       16,412       15,000  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    10,629,636       10,629,635       $ 133,450     $ 255,000  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company classifies its Preferred Stock (Series A and B) outside of stockholder’s deficit because the shares contain a redemption feature that is not within the Company’s control. In 2019 and 2020, the Company did not adjust the carrying value of the Series A Preferred Stock to its redemption value as a qualifying redemption event was not probable. Subsequent adjustments to the carrying value to the ultimate redemption value will be made only when it becomes probable that such a redemption event will occur. The Series B Preferred Stock is not currently redeemable but is probable of becoming redeemable based on the passage of time. The carrying value of the Series B Preferred Stock is greater than its redemption value as of January 3, 2021.

Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock Issuance

During June 2020, the Company issued and sold 7,500,001 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at $1.00 per share to the general partner and a limited partner of the Parent and the Series A preferred stockholders. The Company received gross cash proceeds of $7.5 million and incurred issuance costs

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

associated with the Series B Preferred Stock issuance of $0.2 million. For accounting purposes, the Company determined the fair value of the Series B Preferred Stock to be $2.21 per share at issuance. The Series B Preferred Stock shares purchased by entities related to current employees, board members, and service providers were recorded at fair value and the excess of the fair value over the consideration paid was recorded as equity-based compensation of $8.6 million. The Series B Preferred Stock shares purchased by an existing Series A preferred stockholder was recorded at fair value and the excess of the fair value over consideration paid was recorded as a deemed dividend of $0.5 million in additional paid-in capital.

The fair value of the Series B Preferred Stock was estimated using a two-step process. First, the Company’s enterprise value was established using generally accepted valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flow analysis and comparable public company analysis. Second, the Company’s enterprise value was allocated among the various classes of outstanding securities using the Black-Scholes option-pricing method. The option-pricing method treats all levels of the capital structure as call options on the enterprise’s value, with the exercise price based on the “breakpoints” between each of the different claims on the securities. The inputs necessary for the option-pricing model include the Company’s current enterprise value, breakpoints (the various characteristics for each class of equity, including liquidation preferences and priority distributions), time to liquidity of 3 years, risk-free rate of 0.21%, and volatility of 72.0%.

Preferred Stock Provisions

Dividends - Before any dividends on common stock shall be declared or paid, the holders of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (Series A and B) shall be entitled to receive dividends on an as-converted basis. For dividends on non-convertible class or series, dividends to Preferred stockholders will be determined by dividing the dividend payable on each class/series of capital stock by the original issuance price of $38.34 for Series A and $1.00 for Series B (adjusted for stock split, stock dividend, etc.) and multiplying such fraction by the Preferred Stock original issue price. As of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, no dividends have been declared or paid.

Liquidation - In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company (a “liquidation event”), the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of the available assets of the corporation, prior and in preference to any distribution to the holders of Series A and common stock an amount per share equal to a) two times the original issue price of $1.00 per share until August 28, 2022 or b) the original issue price of $1.00 per share plus an amount equal to 15% per annum accruing on the original issue price from August 28, 2022 through and including the date of payment, plus any dividends declared but unpaid (“the Series B Liquidation Amount”).

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of the available assets of the corporation, less the Series B Liquidation Amount, prior and in preference to any distribution to the holders of common stock, an amount per share for each share of Series A Preferred Stock held by them equal to the greater of 1) the sum of original issue price multiplied by the applicable factor (1.8 and 2.0 as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, respectively) plus any declared but unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock; and ii) the amount per share as would have been payable if all shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted to common stock (the “Series A Liquidation Amount”).

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Voting - Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to voting rights equal to the number of shares of common stock it can be converted to. Series A stockholders are entitled to elect two directors of the Company and common stockholders are entitled to elect nine directors. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is not entitled to voting rights.

Conversion – At the option of the holder, each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of common stock. As of January 3, 2021, each share of Series A Preferred Stock was convertible into one share of common stock, adjusted for stock splits, combinations, dividends and distributions. All outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock will automatically be converted into shares of common stock at the then effective conversion rate upon one of the following conversion events: (i) the closing of a firm commitment underwritten IPO, provided that the aggregate gross proceeds to the Company are not less than $100.0 million; or (ii) by vote or written consent for conversion from the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Stock. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is not convertible at the option of the holder.

The Series A Preferred Stock conversion ratio shall be subject to appropriate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, subdivisions, or recapitalization events. In addition, if the Company should issue preferred stock or common stock without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the conversion price for the Series A Preferred Stock, the conversion price for each series shall automatically be adjusted in accordance with anti-dilution provisions contained in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

Redemption – On or after April 12, 2024, all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be redeemable upon written notice of at least 50% of the then outstanding Series A shares requesting redemption of all or part of the stock held by such holders. The shares shall be redeemed in up to two installments, at a price equal to the then applicable Series A Liquidation Amount. The initial redemption date shall be within sixty days of receiving written notice and the Company shall redeem at least 50% of the shares at that time. The remaining shares to be redeemed shall accrue interest at a rate of 12.0% per annum and shall be redeemed no later than six months following the initial redemption date.

Upon written request from the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the Company will redeem the Series B Preferred Stock in up to two installments at a price equal to the then applicable Series B Liquidation Amount. The Series B redemption request may not be delivered prior to April 12, 2024. The initial redemption date shall be within sixty days of receiving written notice and the Company shall redeem at least 50% of the shares at that time. The remaining shares to be redeemed shall accrue interest at a rate of 12.0% per annum and shall be redeemed no later than six months following the initial redemption date. No redemption of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall occur prior to the earlier of (x) 91st day following the Latest Maturity Date, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and (y) the termination of the Credit Agreement.

Upon the sale of Common Stock in an IPO, all Series B Preferred Stock will be redeemed by the Company at a price equal to the Series B Liquidation Amount.

 

8.

Common Stock

The Company has authorized the issuance of 21,196,740 shares of common stock with a $0.001 par value. As of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, there were 17,462,283 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders of the Company. Subject to the preferences that may be

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

applicable to any outstanding share of preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared by the board of directors. No dividends have been declared to date. As of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, the Company had reserved 3,129,634 and 3,129,634 shares of common stock for issuance, respectively, on an as-convertible basis, related to convertible preferred stock outstanding.

 

9.

Equity-Based Compensation

Certain of the Company’s employees participate in equity incentive programs (consisting of Class P units) offered by the Parent. The Parent’s Class P units are available to be issued as incentive compensation to employees, officers, directors, and other nonemployee service providers or consultants of the Company and are considered profits interests for United States federal income tax purposes.

Class P Unit Modifications

During June, July, September, and October 2020, all outstanding Class P units were modified. All 1,858,210 outstanding Class P units were modified to include a provision that if the employment with or service to the Company is terminated, then all outstanding Class P units that have satisfied the service-based vesting requirements will remain outstanding. 384,522 of the outstanding Class P units were also modified to include both a service condition and a performance condition. The performance-based vesting condition is satisfied upon the occurrence of a qualifying distribution event, which is generally defined as an issuance of a distribution to the Parent’s partners. As of the modification dates, the Company measured the fair value of all modified Class P units. If the performance-based vesting condition had occurred on January 3, 2021, the Company would have recognized $1.8 million of equity-based compensation expense for Class P unit awards that had satisfied or partially satisfied the time-based vesting condition on that date and would have approximately $1.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost that represents the Class P unit awards which have not met the time-based condition as of January 3, 2021. As of January 3, 2021, 611,944 of the unvested Class P unit awards were subject to accelerated vesting based upon a Sale of the Parent as defined in the Parent’s limited partnership agreement. If a Sale of the Parent had occurred on January 3, 2021, the Company would have recognized $2.7 million of equity-based compensation expense for such Class P unit awards.

The Company recorded equity-based compensation expense of $8.8 million during 2020 related to the modified and vested service-based Class P units ($8.4 million upon modification and $0.4 million related to vesting thereafter). The 1,473,688 Class P units with a service-based vesting condition had a weighted average modification date fair value of $6.90 per Class P unit.

The modified Class P units with both a service and performance condition had a modification date fair value of $8.45 per Class P unit. As of January 3, 2021, there were 384,522 Class P units outstanding with unrecognized equity-based compensation expense of $3.2 million, and the Company has concluded that the performance-based condition was not met and accordingly, no expense has been recognized.

Class P Unit 2020 Grants

During October 2020, the Parent granted an additional 1,094,861 Class P units which vest monthly over four years from the grant date. During 2020, the Company recorded $0.3 million of equity-based compensation expense related to the 2020 Class P unit grants.

Pre-vesting Distributions

The Company recognized equity-based compensation expense (transactions with the Parent, see Note 11) of $2.0 million and zero for the pre-vesting distributions payable by the Parent during 2019

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

and 2020, respectively. Due to the 2020 modifications, pre-vesting distributions totaling $3.4 million will be recognized when both the service-based condition and the performance-based vesting conditions of the underlying Class P units are met. As of January 3, 2021, the performance-based condition was not met and no compensation expense associated with the pre-vesting distributions has been recognized. If the performance-based vesting condition had occurred on January 3, 2021, the Company would have recognized $1.9 million of equity-based compensation expense for pre-vesting distributions that had satisfied or partially satisfied the time-based vesting condition on that date and would have approximately $1.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost that represents the pre-vesting distributions which have not met the time-based condition as of January 3, 2021.

The following table summarizes the rollforward of unvested Class P units for 2020:

 

     Unvested Class
P units
    Weighted-
Average Fair
Value per Unit
 

Balance at December 29, 2019

     1,266,321       N/A  

Units granted

     1,094,861     $ 4.54  

Units vested

     (530,030     6.76  

Units forfeited

     (101,214                 1.01  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at January 3, 2021

     1,729,938     $ 5.33  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of January 3, 2021, the unrecognized equity-based compensation expense for all Class P units with a service condition of $6.0 million will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.5 years.

The fair value of the Class P units at the modification dates during 2020 was estimated using a two-step process. First, the Company’s enterprise value was established using generally accepted valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flow analysis and comparable public company analysis. The fair value of the Parent is determined based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock. Second, the Parent’s enterprise value was allocated among the various classes of units that comprise the capital structure of the Parent using the Black-Scholes option-pricing method. The option-pricing method treats all levels of the capital structure as call options on the enterprise’s value, with the exercise price based on the “breakpoints” between each of the different claims on the securities. The inputs necessary for the option-pricing model include the current Parent enterprise value, breakpoints (the various characteristics for each class of equity, including liquidation preferences and priority distributions, in accordance with the LP Agreement and the Class P units), term, risk-free rate, and volatility.

The estimated modification date and grant date fair value of the Class P units during 2020 was estimated using the following range of assumptions:

 

     2020

Expected term (in years)

   2.5 - 3.0

Expected volatility

   72% - 83%

Risk-free rate

   0.21% - 0.35%

Dividend yield

   0%

Expected Term— The expected term is estimated based on the Company’s expectations related to an exit strategy, such as an IPO or liquidation event.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Expected Volatility— The expected volatility is estimated based upon the unlevered volatilities observed from the publicly-traded guideline companies, re-levered based on the Company’s capital structure.

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield as of the modification date or grant date for zero coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the expected term of the Class P units.

Dividend Yield—The expected dividend rate is zero as the Company currently has no history or expectation of declaring dividends on its common stock.

 

10.

Income Taxes

All of the Company’s loss before income taxes is from the United States. The following table presents the components of the (provision for) benefit from income taxes (in thousands):

 

          2019               2020       

Current:

    

Federal

   $ (1,625   $ 900  

State

     (440     357  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current (provision) benefit

     (2,065     1,257  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred:

    

Federal

     1,136       (220

State

     484       234  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred benefit

     1,620       14  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax (provision) benefit

   $ (445   $ 1,271  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of the statutory federal rate to the Company’s effective tax rate:

 

          2019               2020       

Federal statutory rate

     21.0     21.0

State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit

     561.3       0.9  

Non-deductible equity-based compensation expense

     (1,726.7     (18.0

Tax credits

     229.2       0.4  

Change in uncertain tax position

     (532.1     1.5  

Prior year adjustments

     (159.9     0.2  

Deduction for foreign derived intangible income

     247.8       0.3  

Meals and entertainment

     (154.0     (0.1

Disallowed parking expenses

     (46.5     0.0  

Other

     (233.5     0.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     (1,793.4 )%               6.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net effects of (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amount used for income tax purposes, and (b) operating losses and tax credit carryforwards.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table presents the significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities (in thousands):

 

     December 29,
2019
        January 3,   
2021
 

Deferred tax assets:

     

Returns reserve accrual

   $ 1,331      $ 489  

Interest disallowance

     3,028        4,005  

UNICAP

     658        532  

Loan fees

     361         

Deferred Revenue

     375        1,053  

Accrued Expenses

     225        774  

Tax Credits

     256        325  

Net Operating Losses

     19        333  

Other

     349        100  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross deferred tax assets

     6,602        7,611  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Depreciation and amortization

     (5,159      (6,150

Other

     (199      (202
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross deferred tax liabilities

     (5,358      (6,352
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

   $ 1,244      $ 1,259  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets are included in other noncurrent assets on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021.

The tax benefit of net operating losses, temporary differences and credit carryforwards is required to be recorded as an asset to the extent that management assesses the realization is “more likely than not.” Realization of the future tax benefit is dependent on the Company’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryforward period. Because of the Company’s recent history of consistent earnings and its expected future profitability, management believes that recognition of the deferred tax assets arising from the above-mentioned future tax benefits is currently more likely than not to be realized, and accordingly, has not provided a valuation allowance.

As of January 3, 2021, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of $4.7 million, which may be available to reduce future taxable income. The state net operating loss carryforwards will expire, if not utilized, beginning in 2039. As of January 3, 2021, the Company also had state tax credit carryforwards of $0.4 million, which will expire, if not utilized, beginning in 2024. Lastly, the Company currently has $17.7 million of a federal disallowed interest expense carryforward under Section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code, which can be carried forward indefinitely.

Utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards, interest expense carryforwards, and tax credits may be subject to an annual limitation due to ownership changes that may have occurred or that could occur in the future, as required by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and similar state provisions. These ownership change limitations may limit the amount of net operating loss carryforwards or interest expense carryforwards and tax credits that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and tax, respectively.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted on March 27, 2020 in the United States, which includes several significant provisions for corporations,

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

including modifications to the limitation on business interest expense and a payment deferral of employer payroll taxes. The Company has considered the modifications to the limitation on business interest expense within its provision for income taxes and has elected to defer the payment of employer payroll taxes in the twelve months ended January 3, 2021. The Company has deferred $1.1 million of U.S. payroll taxes as of January 3, 2021 through provisions of the CARES Act. The deferred payroll taxes are included within accrued expense and other current liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company must repay half of the deferred payroll tax by December 31, 2021 and the remainder by December 31, 2022.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits (excluding interest and penalties) (in thousands):

 

     2019      2020  

Beginning Balance

   $ 885      $ 885  

Increases related to tax positions taken during a prior year

            7  

Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities

            (766
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending Balance

   $ 885      $ 126  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

During 2019 the Company recorded interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions of $0.2 million. During 2020, the Company recorded a net benefit of $0.3 million for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, which was comprised of $0.4 million release related to settlements with taxing authorities, partially offset by $0.1 million accrual on the remaining uncertain tax positions. As of December 29, 2019 and January 3, 2021, the Company had $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of accrued interest and penalties related to the uncertain tax positions. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the financial statements as a component of income tax expense. The Company anticipates that the entire uncertain tax positions balance of $0.1 million, including interest and penalties of $0.1 million, will be settled over the next twelve months.

The Company’s federal and state income tax returns are generally not subject to examination by taxing authorities for fiscal years before 2017. There are currently no federal or state income tax audits in process.

 

11.

Related Party Transactions

Transactions with the Parent

Certain of the Company’s transactions with the Parent are classified as a component within additional paid-in capital in the consolidated statements of stockholder’s deficit as there are no defined payments or other terms associated with these transactions. Such transactions included equity-based compensation related to pre-vesting distributions of $2.0 million in 2019 and equity-based compensation expense related to outstanding Class P units of $9.1 million during 2020.

Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock Issuance

The Series B Preferred Stock shares purchased by entities related to current employees, board members, and service providers were recorded at fair value and the excess of the fair value of $2.21 per share over the consideration paid of $1.00 per share was recorded as equity-based compensation of $8.6 million. The Series B Preferred Stock shares purchased by an existing Series A stockholder

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

was recorded at fair value and excess of the fair value of $2.21 per share over the consideration paid of $1.00 per share was recorded as a deemed dividend of $0.5 million in additional paid-in capital.

Advance to/from Parent

On January 31, 2019, the Company paid a cash advance to the Parent of $2.4 million, which was used by the Parent to pay accrued Class P unit distributions to certain current employees of the Company. The Company recorded interest income on the advance of $0.1 million in 2019. During 2019, the Parent repaid the advance, including interest, and made an advance to the Company of $2.0 million for future distributions to certain current employees of the Company upon the December 31, 2019 vesting of their Class P units. An additional $37,000 was advanced to the Company from the Parent during 2020. During June 2020, the Company repaid the 2019 and 2020 advances from the Parent plus accrued interest of $0.1 million, which repayment was used by the Parent to pay accrued Class P unit distributions to certain current employees of the Company.

Management & Consulting Fees

The Company has accrued for management and consulting fees to H.I.G. Capital, LLC (“H.I.G.”, the Parent’s ultimate parent), Institutional Venture Partners (a Series A Preferred Stockholder), and certain board members. Expenses for such services were $0.6 million to H.I.G and $0.2 million to other related parties in 2019 and were $0.5 million to H.I.G. and $0.2 million to other related parties in 2020. There were $0.3 million of accrued liabilities related to these services as of December 29, 2019 and $0.2 million of accrued liabilities and $0.8 million of accounts payable related to these services as of January 3, 2021.

Operating Leases

The Company leases operations and warehouse spaces from a limited partner of the Parent and a Series B Preferred Stockholder of the Company. Total rent expense to the related party was $0.1 million each year in 2019 and 2020.

 

12.

Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholder

The following securities were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholder for the periods presented because including them would have been anti-dilutive (on an as-converted basis):

 

     2019      2020  

Convertible preferred stock (Series A)

     3,129,634        3,129,634  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,129,634        3,129,634  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

13.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company sponsors a participant-directed 401(k) profit sharing plan for employees who have been working full-time at the Company for at least three months and are at least 21 years of age. Participants may make wage-deferred contributions up to the maximum allowed by law. The Company matches 100% of each participating employee’s deferral up to a maximum of 4% of eligible compensation. The Company may make additional discretionary matching contributions up to 6% of eligible compensation. The Company made matching contributions of $0.7 million each year in 2019 and 2020.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

14.

Subsequent Events

Management evaluates events occurring subsequent to the date of the financial statements in determining the accounting for and disclosure of transactions and events that affect the financial statements. Subsequent events have been evaluated through August 6, 2021, which is the date that the financial statements were available to be issued.

Amended Certificate of Incorporation

On February 2, 2021, the Company amended its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to amend the liquidation preference of the Series B preferred stock to an amount per share equal to a) two times the original issue price of $1.00 per share until August 28, 2022, or b) two times the original issue price of $1.00 per share plus an amount equal to 15% per annum accruing on two times the original issue price from August 28, 2022 through and including the date of payment, plus any dividends declared but unpaid.

Series B-1 Financing

On March 31, 2021, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with officers and directors of the Company for the sale of an aggregate of 1,450,000 shares of Series B-1 preferred stock for gross proceeds of approximately $1.5 million. In connection with the offering, the Company filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation which authorized the issuance of up to 2,500,000 shares of Series B-1 preferred stock with the same rights, preferences and privileges of the original Series B redeemable preferred stock and increased the authorized shares of common stock to 24,000,000.

Revolving line of credit

In March 2021, the Company repaid $8.6 million of the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving LOC.

Debt Amendment

In April 2021, the Company amended the minimum liquidity covenant under the Credit Agreement from $2.5 million to $10.0 million and extended the due date for the 2020 audited consolidated financial statements to September 30, 2021. Upon receipt of proceeds from an IPO, Special Purpose Acquisition Company transaction, or other liquidity transaction that involves the equity of Lulu’s or its affiliates, the Company is required, under the terms of the amendment, to pay off the outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement before any proceeds are utilized by the Company.

2021 Equity Plan

In April 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“2021 Equity Plan”). The 2021 Equity Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based and cash-based awards to the Company’s employees, directors, and consultants. The maximum aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2021 Equity Plan is 925,000 shares.

Executive Employment Agreement

In April 2021, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement (“Employment Agreement”) with the chief executive officer (“CEO”) of the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Employment

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Agreement, the Company granted options to purchase 322,793 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $11.35 per share, which vest based on service and performance conditions. A portion of the options are also subject to accelerated vesting conditions upon the occurrence of certain future events, including an IPO. In addition, under the Employment Agreement and subject to ongoing employment, the CEO will receive two bonuses which will be settled in fully-vested shares of the Company’s common stock equal to $3 million each ($6 million in aggregate) upon the occurrence of certain future events, including an IPO, if such events occur prior to March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively. If such events do not occur prior to the stated dates, the CEO will receive the respective bonuses in cash of $3 million (up to $6 million in aggregate).

 

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Table of Contents

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

    As of
January 3,
2021
    As of
July 4,
2021
 
 

Assets

   

Current assets:

   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 15,554     $ 32,135  

Accounts receivable

    3,832       4,790  

Inventory, net

    16,895       21,196  

Asset for recovery

    1,104       4,693  

Income tax refund receivable

    2,739        

Prepaids and other current assets

    2,675       3,009  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    42,799       65,823  

Restricted cash

    505       505  

Property and equipment, net

    3,090       2,839  

Goodwill

    35,430       35,430  

Tradename

    18,509       18,509  

Intangible assets, net

    2,290       2,016  

Other noncurrent assets

    2,453       4,394  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 105,076     $ 129,516  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities, Redeemable Preferred Stock, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholder’s Deficit

   

Current liabilities:

   

Accounts payable

  $ 7,161     $ 9,592  

Income taxes payable

          3,198  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    7,533       15,243  

Returns reserve

    2,895       13,589  

Stored-value card liability

    4,973       5,687  

Revolving line of credit

    8,580        

Long-term debt, current portion

    10,125       10,125  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    41,267       57,434  

Long-term debt, net of current portion

    96,856       94,449  

Other noncurrent liabilities

    2,504       2,194  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    140,627       154,077  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)

   

Redeemable preferred stock: $0.001 par value, 7,500,001 and 10,000,001 shares authorized as of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, respectively; 7,500,001 and 8,950,001 shares issued and outstanding as of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, respectively; aggregate liquidation preference of $15,000 and $17,900 as of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, respectively.

    16,412       19,320  

Convertible preferred stock: $0.001 par value, 3,129,635 shares authorized as of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021; 3,129,634 shares issued and outstanding as of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021; aggregate liquidation preference of $240,000 as of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021

    117,038       117,038  

Stockholder’s deficit:

   

Common stock: $0.001 par value, 21,196,740 and 24,000,000 shares authorized as of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, respectively; 17,462,283 shares issued and outstanding as of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021

    18       18  

Additional paid-in capital

    10,622       11,735  

Accumulated deficit

    (179,641     (172,672
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholder’s deficit

    (169,001     (160,919
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock, convertible preferred stock and stockholder’s deficit

  $ 105,076     $ 129,516  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Six Months Ended  
     June 28, 2020     July 4, 2021  

Net revenue

   $ 139,596     $ 172,541  

Cost of revenue

     77,080       90,008  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     62,516       82,533  

Selling and marketing expenses

     26,413       28,499  

General and administrative expenses

     43,325       36,240  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

     (7,222     17,794  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net:

    

Interest expense

     (7,940     (7,424

Other income, net

     66       58  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

     (7,874     (7,366
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

     (15,096     10,428  

Income tax provision

     (433     (3,459
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)

   $ (15,529   $ 6,969  

Deemed dividend to a preferred stockholder

     (504      

Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities stockholder

           (2,751
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholder – Basic and Diluted

   $ (16,033   $ 4,218  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholder – Basic and Diluted

   $ (0.92   $ 0.24  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used to compute net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholder – Basic and Diluted

     17,462,283       17,462,283  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Preferred Stock, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholder’s Deficit

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

    For the Six Months Ended June 28, 2020  
 
    Redeemable Preferred
Stock
    Convertible Preferred
Stock
         Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
    Accumulated     Total
Stockholder’s
 
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount          Shares     Amount     Capital     Deficit     Deficit  

Balance as of December 30, 2019

        $       3,129,634     $ 117,038           17,462,283     $ 18     $ 2,040     $ (160,337   $ (158,279

Series B redeemable preferred stock issuance, net of issuance costs of $163

    7,500,001       16,412                                 (504           (504

Equity-based compensation (Note 9)

                                          8,428             8,428  

Net loss and comprehensive loss

                                                (15,529     (15,529
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of June 28, 2020

    7,500,001     $ 16,412       3,129,634       117,038           17,462,283     $ 18     $ 9,964     $ (175,866   $ (165,884
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    For the Six Months Ended July 4, 2021  
 
    Redeemable Preferred
Stock
    Convertible Preferred
Stock
         Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
    Accumulated     Total
Stockholder’s
 
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount          Shares     Amount     Capital     Deficit     Deficit  

Balance as of January 3, 2021

    7,500,001     $ 16,412       3,129,634     $ 117,038           17,462,283     $ 18     $ 10,622     $ (179,641   $ (169,001

Series B-1 redeemable preferred stock issuance, net of issuance costs of $23

    1,450,000       2,908                                              

Equity-based compensation
(Note 9)

                                          1,113             1,113  

Net income and comprehensive income

                                                6,969       6,969  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of July 4, 2021

    8,950,001     $ 19,320       3,129,634     $ 117,038           17,462,283     $ 18     $ 11,735     $ (172,672   $ (160,919
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

     Six months ended  
     June 28,
2020
    July 4,
2021
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

    

Net income (loss)

   $ (15,529   $ 6,969  

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     1,654       1,421  

Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs

     1,120       1,355  

Interest expense capitalized to principal of long-term debt and revolving line of credit

     196       1,394  

Equity-based compensation expense

     8,428       1,113  

Equity-based compensation expense related to redeemable preferred stock issuance

     8,571       1,481  

Equity-based compensation expense related to special compensation liability awards

           980  

Write-off of deferred offering costs

     1,950        

Deferred income taxes

     745       (2,082

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     1,245       (958

Inventories

     10,031       (4,301

Asset for recovery

     129       (3,589

Income tax (receivable) payable

     (32     6,046  

Prepaids and other current assets

     1,034       (266

Accounts payable

     (6,025     2,442  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     711       18,449  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     (358     (619
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     13,870       29,835  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

    

Capitalized software development costs

     (683     (532

Purchases of property and equipment

     (607     (430
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,290     (962
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

    

Proceeds from borrowings on revolving line of credit

     5,300        

Repayments on revolving line of credit

           (8,580

Repayment of long-term debt

           (5,063

Payment of debt issuance costs

     (132     (61

Advance from Parent

     37        

Repayment of Advance from Parent

     (2,040      

Proceeds from issuance of redeemable preferred stock, net of issuance costs

     7,337       1,427  

Other

     (21     (15
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     10,481       (12,292
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

     23,061       16,581  

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

     6,361       16,059  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

   $ 29,422     $ 32,640  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Continued)

 

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Table of Contents

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

     Six months ended  
     June 28,
2020
     July 4,
2021
 

Supplemental Disclosure

  

Cash paid for income taxes, net of income tax refunds

   $ 43      $ (316

Cash paid for interest

   $ 4,412      $ 4,724  

Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities

     

Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses

   $      $ 28  

Debt issuance costs included in accrued expenses

   $ 1,222      $ 917  

Deemed dividend to a preferred stockholder

   $ 504      $  

Paid-in-kind interest added to principal balance of long-term debt and revolving line of credit

   $ 196      $ 1,394  

Deferred offering costs in accounts payable

   $      $ 68  

(Concluded)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1.

Description of Business

Pursuant to a reorganization, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (“Lulus”, or the “Company”), was formed on August 25, 2017 as a holding company and its primary asset is an indirect membership interest in Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC (“LFL”). Prior to the sale of the Company’s Series A convertible preferred stock, the Company was wholly-owned by Lulu’s Holdings, L.P. (the “Parent”). As of July 4, 2021, the Company is majority-owned by the Parent.

LFL was founded in 1996, starting as a vintage boutique in Chico, CA that began selling online in 2005 and transitioned to a purely online business in 2008. The Parent was formed in 2014 as a holding company and purchased 100% of LFL’s outstanding common stock in 2014. The Company, through LFL, is an online retailer of women’s clothing, shoes and accessories based in Chico, CA.

Impact of COVID-19

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel strain of coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the broader economy and consumer behavior. As a result of these developments, the Company experienced an unfavorable impact on its revenue, results of operations and cash flows in 2020 and on its operations to date in 2021.

The Company may face longer term impacts from COVID-19 due to, among other factors, evolving federal, state and local restrictions and shelter-in-place orders, changes in consumer behavior and health concerns which may impact customer demand, as well as labor shortages, supply chain disruptions and higher shipping costs. The current events and economic conditions are significant in relation to the Company’s ability to fund its business operations. In response to the impact of COVID-19, the Company implemented a number of measures to minimize cash outlays, including reducing discretionary marketing and other expenses. Additionally, in June 2020, the Company modified its existing credit agreement to amend covenants and adjust certain payment terms. The Company also borrowed $5.3 million under its existing revolving line of credit facility (see Note 5, Debt). The Company repaid the entire outstanding balance under the revolving line of credit in March 2021 (see Note 5, Debt). The Company sold shares of Series B Preferred Stock in June 2020 for net cash proceeds of $7.3 million and sold shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock in March 2021 for net cash proceeds of $1.4 million (see Note 7, Preferred Stock).

Liquidity and Going Concern

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The going concern basis of presentation assumes that the Company will continue in operation one year after the date these condensed consolidated financial statements are issued and will be able to realize the Company’s assets and discharge the Company’s liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business.

As discussed in Note 5, Debt, the Company is required to make contractual principal payments of $5.1 million during the remainder of fiscal year 2021 and $102.6 million during fiscal year 2022 related to the Term Loan. Given the existing cash and cash equivalents as of July 4, 2021, the Company is

 

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Table of Contents

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

projecting insufficient liquidity to service its contractual payments related to the Term Loan through one year following the date that the condensed consolidated financial statements are issued. If cash resources are insufficient to repay the Company’s Term Loan, the Company will be required to scale back or discontinue its operations entirely. While the Company expects to obtain additional financing through the capital markets, there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining any funding for the repayment of the Term Loan during fiscal year 2022. No assurance can be given that any future financing will be available or, if available, that it will be on terms that are satisfactory to the Company.

In view of the matters described above, management has concluded that these factors raise substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

 

2.

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year consists of a 52-week or 53-week period ending on the Sunday nearest December 31.

The condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance GAAP and the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim reporting. As permitted under these rules, certain information and disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of July 4, 2021 and its results of operations and cash flows for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021. The results of operations for the six months ended July 4, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending January 2, 2022 or for any other future annual or interim period.

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 3, 2021 was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements, which are included in the prospectus herein. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in the prospectus herein.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the

 

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Table of Contents

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

reporting period. The significant estimates and assumptions made by management relate to sales return reserves and related assets for recovery, valuation of redeemable preferred stock, valuation of the Parent’s Class P unit equity-based awards, valuation of stock options, and valuation of common stock. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could materially differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Segment Reporting

The Company manages its business on the basis of one operating and reportable segment, retail. The Company’s chief operating decision maker, its chief executive officer (“CEO”), reviews financial information on an aggregate basis for the purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. All long-lived assets are located in the United States and substantially all revenue is attributable to customers based in the United States. International sales are not significant.

Concentration of Credit Risks

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. At times, such amounts may exceed federally insured limits. The Company reduces credit risk by depositing its cash with major credit-worthy financial institutions within the United States. To date, the Company has not experienced any losses on its cash deposits. As of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, a single wholesale customer represented 51% and 30% respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. No customer accounted for greater than 10% of the Company’s net revenue during the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

 

     January 3,
2021
     July 4,
2021
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 15,554      $ 32,135  

Restricted cash

     505        505  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash and restricted cash

   $ 16,059      $ 32,640  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs consist of expenses incurred in connection with an equity offering, including legal, accounting, printing, and other initial public offering (“IPO”)-related costs. Deferred offering costs are written off to operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

operations and comprehensive income (loss) upon the termination or significant delay of a planned equity offering. During the six months ended June 28, 2020, approximately $2.0 million of deferred offering costs were written off to general and administrative expenses in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Deferred offering costs of $0.1 million were capitalized within prepaid and other current assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of July 4, 2021 (none as of January 3, 2021).

Revenue Recognition

The Company generates revenue primarily from the sale of merchandise products directly to end customers. The sale of products is a distinct performance obligation, and revenue is recognized at a point in time when control of the promised product is transferred to customers, which the Company determined occurs upon shipment based on its evaluation of the related shipping terms. Revenue is recognized in an amount that reflects the transaction price consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products. The Company’s payment terms are typically at the point of sale for merchandise product sales.

The Company elected to exclude from revenue taxes assessed by governmental authorities, including value-added and other sales-related taxes, that are imposed on and concurrent with revenue-producing activities. The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient, relative to e-commerce sales, which allows an entity to account for shipping and handling as fulfillment activities, and not a separate performance obligation. Accordingly, the Company recognizes revenue for only one performance obligation, the sale of the product, at shipping point (when the customer gains control). Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight are accounted for as fulfillment costs and are included in cost of goods sold. The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient to expense costs as incurred for incremental costs to obtain a contract when the amortization period would have been one year or less.

Revenue from merchandise product sales is reported net of sales returns, which includes an estimate of future returns based on historical return rates, with a corresponding reduction to cost of sales. There is judgment in utilizing historical trends for estimating future returns. The Company’s refund liability for sales returns is included in the returns reserve on its condensed consolidated balance sheets and represents the expected value of the refund that will be due to the Company’s customers. The Company also has a corresponding asset for recovery that represents the expected net realizable value of the merchandise inventory to be returned.

The Company sells stored-value gift cards to customers and offers merchandise credit stored-value cards for certain returns. Such stored-value cards do not have an expiration date. The Company recognizes revenue from stored-value cards when the card is redeemed by the customer. The Company has determined that sufficient evidence exists to support an estimate for stored-value card breakage. Subject to requirements to remit balances to governmental agencies, breakage is recognized as revenue in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by the customer, which is substantially within thirty-six months from the date of issuance. The amount of breakage recognized in revenue during the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021 was not material.

The Company has two types of contractual liabilities: (i) cash collections from its customers prior to delivery of products purchased (“deferred revenue”), which are initially recorded within accrued

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

expenses and recognized as revenue when the products are shipped, (ii) unredeemed gift cards and online store credits, which are initially recorded as a stored-value card liability and are recognized as revenue in the period they are redeemed.

The following table summarizes the significant changes in the contract liabilities balances during the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021 (in thousands):

 

     Deferred
Revenue
    Stored-Value
Cards
 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

   $ 547     $ 4,605  

Revenue recognized that was included in contract liability balance at the beginning of the period

     (547     (1,626

Increase due to cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period

     1,232       1,713  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of June 28, 2020

   $ 1,232     $ 4,692  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Deferred
Revenue
    Stored-Value
Cards
 

Balance as of January 3, 2021

   $ 792     $ 4,973  

Revenue recognized that was included in contract liability balance at the beginning of the period

     (792     (1,334

Increase due to cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue
during the period

     1,259       2,048  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of July 4, 2021

   $ 1,259     $ 5,687  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Selling and Marketing Expenses

Advertising costs included in selling and marketing expenses were $21.1 million and $20.1 million for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021, respectively.

Equity-Based Compensation

Stock Options

The Company grants stock option awards to certain employees, officers, directors, and other nonemployee service providers. The Company accounts for equity-based compensation expense by calculating the estimated fair value of each award at the grant date or modification date by applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The model utilizes the estimated per share fair value of the Company’s underlying common stock at the measurement date, the expected or contractual term of the option, the expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rates, and the expected dividend yield of the common stock. Equity-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period the employee or non-employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which is generally the vesting period. The Company classifies equity-based compensation expense as general and administrative expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The Company bases its estimate of expected volatility on the historical volatility of comparable companies from a representative peer group selected based on industry, financial, and market capitalization data. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.

Determining the grant date fair value of options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires management to make assumptions and judgments. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and, if different assumptions had been used, stock-based compensation expense could have been materially different from the amounts recorded.

Class P Units

Certain of the Company’s employees participate in an equity incentive program (consisting of Class P units) offered by the Parent. The Parent’s Class P units are available to be issued as incentive compensation to employees, officers, directors, and other nonemployee service providers or consultants of the Company. Through mid-2020, the Company had concluded that the Parent’s Class P units were not a substantive class of equity and any associated pre-vesting distributions allocated to the Parent’s Class P units have been recorded as equity-based compensation under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic No. 710, Compensation—General (“ASC 710”), once the contingent payment becomes probable of payment, which is upon vesting of the Class P units. During mid-2020, all outstanding Class P units were modified to update forfeiture terms related to employment requirements and vesting conditions were added to some of the Class P units. Due to the modifications to the employment requirements, the Company concluded that the Class P units are a substantive class of equity to be accounted for under FASB ASC Topic No. 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”) and that the associated pre-vesting distributions related to outstanding Class P units for five employees are a separate award that are accounted for under ASC 710. Equity-based compensation related to the Class P unit awards and any pre-vesting distributions are recognized as general and administrative expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Equity-based compensation is measured at the grant date or modification date for all equity-based awards made to employees and nonemployees based on the fair value of the awards. The Company has elected to recognize forfeitures by reducing the equity-based compensation in the same period as the forfeitures occur. The method for how fair value is determined for the awards is described in Note 9, Equity-Based Compensation. The assumptions used to determine the fair value of the Class P units represent management’s best estimates. Awards with only service conditions are recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally four years.

Certain of the outstanding Class P units which were modified in 2020 now vest upon the satisfaction of both a service condition (satisfied over four years) and a performance condition. When the performance-based vesting condition becomes probable, which is upon the completion of a qualifying distribution event, the Company will immediately record cumulative stock-based compensation expense using the accelerated attribution method for the awards that have met the service-based vesting condition. The Company has not recognized any stock-based compensation expense for the performance-based Class P units as a qualifying distribution event has not occurred.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

The Company calculates basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities as the application of the if converted method is not more dilutive. The two-class method requires income available to common stockholders for the period to be allocated between common stock and participating securities based upon their respective rights to receive dividends as if all income for the period had been distributed.

The Company considers its redeemable preferred stock and convertible preferred stock to be participating securities. In accordance with the two-class method, net income is adjusted for earnings allocated to these participating securities and the related number of outstanding shares of the participating securities, which include contractual participation rights in undistributed earnings, have been excluded from the computation of basic and diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders. The redeemable preferred stock and convertible preferred stock contractually entitle the holders of such shares to participate in dividends but do not contractually require the holders of such shares to participate in the Company’s losses. As such, where applicable, net losses were not allocated to these securities.

During the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021, basic net income (loss) per common share is computed using net income (loss) attributable to common stockholder divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share represents net income (loss) attributable to common stockholder divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, including the effects of any dilutive securities outstanding. Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to common stockholder are the same for each period presented since the inclusion of all potential shares of common stock outstanding would have been anti-dilutive.

The following securities were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholder for the six-month periods presented because including them would have been anti-dilutive (on an as-converted basis):

 

     June 28, 2020      July 4, 2021  

Series A convertible preferred stock

     3,129,634        3,129,634  

Stock options

            322,793  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,129,634        3,452,427  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Redeemable Preferred Stock

The Company has elected to record its redeemable preferred stock at the greater of its redemption value or the issuance date fair value, net of issuance costs, as it is probable of becoming redeemable due to the passage of time. Any change to the carrying value of redeemable preferred stock recognized in each period is recorded to additional paid-in capital, or in the absence of additional paid-in capital, recorded to accumulated deficit.

The issuance date fair value of the redeemable preferred stock shares purchased by executives and entities related to current employees, board members, and service providers was higher than the

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

consideration paid and such excess was recorded as equity-based compensation. The excess of the fair value over consideration paid for redeemable preferred stock shares purchased by an existing convertible preferred stockholder was accounted for as a deemed dividend and recorded in additional paid-in capital in the six months ended June 28, 2020.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

The Company is an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that it (i) is no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract, which clarifies the accounting for implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements. The update effectively aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company adopted this standard on January 4, 2021 using the prospective transition method. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as amended, which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability on their condensed consolidated balance sheets for all leases with a term longer than twelve months. The guidance, as amended, is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The Company anticipates implementing the standard by taking advantage of the alternative transition method and will apply the transition approach as of the beginning of the period of adoption and will not be restating comparative periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adopting this standard will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company expects that it will result in a significant increase in its long-term assets and liabilities.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, as amended, which amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities from an incurred loss methodology to an expected loss methodology. For assets held at amortized cost basis, the guidance eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold and instead requires an entity

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available-for-sale debt securities, credit losses are recorded through an allowance for credit losses, rather than a write-down, limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. Additional disclosures about significant estimates and credit quality are also required. The guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2016-13 on its condensed consolidated financial statements and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. This standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Accounting, which, as amended, provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or reorganizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. This standard can be adopted immediately, however, the guidance will only be available until December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40), which simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models available for convertible debt instruments. This guidance also eliminates the treasury stock method to calculate diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments and requires the use of the if-converted method. The guidance is effective for the Company for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable, accrued expenses, revolving line of credit and long-term debt. As of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities. The fair values of long-term debt and revolving line of credit approximate their carrying value as the stated interest rates reset monthly at the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an Applicable Margin (see Note 5, Debt) and, as such, approximate market rates currently available to the Company. The Company does not have any financial instruments that were determined to be Level 3.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

4.

Balance Sheet Components

Prepaids and Other Current Assets

Prepaids and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     January 3,
2021
     July 4,
2021
 

Prepaid software subscriptions

   $ 897      $ 1,205  

Prepaid inventory and fulfillment supplies

     483        538  

Prepaid insurance

     391        269  

Prepaid rent

     273        281  

Deferred offering costs

            68  

Other

     631        648  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Prepaids and other current assets

   $ 2,675      $ 3,009  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     January 3,
2021
    July 4,
2021
 

Leasehold improvements

   $ 3,647     $ 3,731  

Equipment

     2,595       2,876  

Furniture and fixtures

     1,849       1,849  

Construction in progress

     28       27  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property and equipment

     8,119       8,483  

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (5,029     (5,644
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

   $ 3,090     $ 2,839  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation of property and equipment for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021 was $0.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     January 3,
2021
     July 4,
2021
 

Accrued compensation and benefits

   $ 2,932      $ 7,406  

Accrued debt amendment fees

     917        917  

Accrued marketing

     495        637  

Accrued interest

     169        120  

Sales tax payable

     563        2,150  

Other

     2,457        4,013  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   $ 7,533      $ 15,243  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The Company reclassified sales tax payable from other as of January 3, 2021 to conform to the current period presentation.

 

5.

Debt

In August 2017, the Company entered into a term loan with a principal amount of $135.0 million (“Term Loan”) and a revolving credit facility of $10.0 million (“Revolving LOC”) with certain financial institutions for which Credit Suisse is acting as an administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”).

The Company’s outstanding debt under the Term Loan consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     January 3,
2021
    July 4,
2021
 

Principal amount of Term Loan

   $ 111,354     $ 107,686  

Less: Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs

     (4,373     (3,112
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total carrying value of long-term debt

     106,981       104,574  

Less: Current portion of long-term debt

     (10,125     (10,125
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

   $ 96,856     $ 94,449  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company’s outstanding debt under the Revolving LOC consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     January 3,
2021
    July 4,
2021
 

Principal amount of Revolving LOC

   $ 8,580     $  

Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs(1)

     (107     (75
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total carrying value of Revolving LOC

   $ 8,473     $ (75
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Debt issuance costs are included in other noncurrent assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

During June 2020, the Company entered into a Waiver and Fifth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Fifth Amendment”), which amended the following:

 

   

Waived the Company’s Existing Payment Default, Existing Covenant Default, and Existing Notice Defaults;

 

   

Amended interest payments on the Term Loan and Revolver, resulting in a portion of interest from June 5, 2020 to the date that the Company provides evidence of compliance with the required Leverage Ratios (the “Compliance Date”, which was not met as of January 3, 2021) being payable in kind, with such interest being added to the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan and Revolver;

 

   

Deferred March, June, and September 2020 principal payments due of $7.5 million for the Term Loan to the maturity date;

 

   

Modified the Applicable Margin on the Term Loan from the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (June 5, 2020) to the first day of the month beginning after the Compliance Date, from an Applicable Margin of 9.00% to 9.50% for LIBOR Rate Term Loans and from an Applicable Margin of 8.00% to 8.50% for the Base Rate Term Loans; and

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

   

Modified the Applicable Margin on the Revolver from the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (June 5, 2020) to the first day of the month beginning after the Compliance Date, from an Applicable Margin of 7.00% to 8.50% for LIBOR Rate Loans and from an Applicable Margin of 6.00% to 7.50% for Base Rate Loans.

For the Fifth Amendment, the Company incurred an amendment fee and other costs totaling $1.4 million that were treated as a debt issuance cost and will be amortized over the remaining term. As of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, $0.9 million of the amendment fee was unpaid and included within accrued expenses and other current liabilities. There was no gain or loss arising from the Fifth Amendment as it was considered to be a debt modification.

During April 2021, the Company entered into the Sixth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (“Sixth Amendment”), which amended the following:

 

   

Amended the minimum liquidity covenant from $2.5 million to $10.0 million

 

   

Extended the due date for the 2020 audited consolidated financial statements to September 30, 2021;

 

   

Upon receipt of proceeds from an IPO, Special Purpose Acquisition Company transaction, or other liquidity transaction that involves the equity of Lulu’s or its affiliates, the Company is required to pay off the outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement before any proceeds are utilized by the Company.

There was no gain or loss arising from the Sixth Amendment as it was considered to be a debt modification.

The Term Loan requires mandatory additional prepayments in May of each year if the Company’s Excess Cash Flow (“ECF”) for the preceding year exceeds the ECF as defined in the Term Loan agreement. There are no ECF payments due in the year ending January 2, 2022 related to 2020.

Amortization installment payments on the Term Loan are required to be made in quarterly installments of $2.5 million, with the remaining outstanding amount to be payable on August 28, 2022, the maturity date for the Term Loan. The effective interest rate on the Term Loan was 13.1% and 12.9% for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021, respectively.

Revolving LOC

Outstanding amounts under the Revolving LOC bear interest at variable rates with a minimum of 7.00%. The effective interest rate for the Revolving LOC for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021 was 10.3% and 9.6%, respectively. Unused portions of the Revolving LOC bear a variable commitment fee of a minimum 0.375% to 0.50% per annum and are paid quarterly. The Revolving LOC matures on May 29, 2022. The Revolving LOC was amended with the Fifth Amendment, but there was no change to the commitment or the maturity date. In March 2021, the Company repaid $8.6 million of the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving LOC. As of July 4, 2021, there was no outstanding balance on the Revolving LOC and the Company had $9.15 million remaining capacity under the Revolving LOC, net of outstanding letters of credit of $0.9 million.

The Term Loan and Revolving LOC are secured by all the assets of the Company and contain financial and reporting covenants, including restrictions on LFL with respect to the payment of

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

dividends, which the Company was in compliance with as of July 4, 2021. Financial covenants include minimum liquidity amounts and are applicable if the Company’s overall liquidity is less than or equal to $10.0 million at the end of a reporting period. Substantially all of LFL’s assets are restricted from distribution to the Company. The Company does not have any material assets or liabilities, other than its indirect investment in LFL. For the periods reported in these condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company has not and does not have any material operations on a standalone basis, and all of the operations of the Company are carried out by LFL.

Debt discounts and issuance costs are deferred and amortized over the life of the related loan using the effective interest method. The associated expense is included in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Debt discounts and issuance costs are presented as a reduction of long-term debt with the exception of debt issuance costs related to the revolving loan agreement which are included in other non-current assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Future minimum payments of principal on the Company’s outstanding debt were as follows (in thousands):

 

Fiscal Year Ending    Amounts  

2021 (remaining six months)

   $ 5,062  

2022

     102,624  
  

 

 

 

Total principal amount

   $ 107,686  
  

 

 

 

 

6.

Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

As of July 4, 2021, the Company had non-cancelable operating leases for its corporate offices and warehouses expiring at various dates through 2026, some of which have renewal provisions. Rental expense classified within general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) totaled $1.6 million and $1.5 million in the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021, respectively.

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of July 4, 2021 were as follows (in thousands):

 

Fiscal Year ending:    Amounts  

2021 (remaining six months)

   $ 1,434  

2022

     2,789  

2023

     2,230  

2024

     1,777  

2025

     1,830  

Thereafter

     153  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 10,213  
  

 

 

 

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Litigation and Other

From time to time, the Company may be a party to litigation and subject to claims incurred in the ordinary course of business, including personal injury and indemnification claims, labor and employment claims, threatened claims, breach of contract claims, and other matters. The Company accrues a liability when management believes information available prior to the issuance of the condensed consolidated financial statements indicates it is probable a loss has been incurred as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company adjusts its accruals to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular case. Legal costs are expensed as incurred. Although the results of litigation and claims are inherently unpredictable, management concluded that it was not probable that it had incurred a material loss during the periods presented related to such loss contingencies. Therefore, the Company has not recorded a reserve for any contingencies.

During the normal course of business, the Company may be a party to claims that are not covered by insurance. While the ultimate liability, if any, arising from these claims cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not believe that the resolution of any such claims would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. As of June 28, 2020, January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, the Company was not aware of any currently pending legal matters or claims, individually or in the aggregate, that are expected to have a material adverse impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Indemnification

The Company also maintains director and officer insurance, which may cover certain liabilities arising from its obligation to indemnify the Company’s directors. To date, the Company has not incurred any material costs and has not accrued any liabilities in the condensed consolidated financial statements as a result of these provisions.

 

7.

Preferred Stock

The Company had outstanding redeemable preferred stock and convertible preferred stock (collectively, “Preferred Stock”) as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

 

     January 3, 2021  
     Shares
Authorized
     Shares
Issued and
Outstanding
     Issuance
Price
Per
Share
     Net
Carrying
Value
     Liquidation
Preference
 

Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A)

     3,129,635        3,129,634      $ 38.34      $ 117,038      $ 240,000  

Redeemable Preferred Stock (Series B and B-1)

     7,500,001        7,500,001        1.00        16,412        15,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     10,629,636        10,629,635         $ 133,450      $ 255,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

     July 4, 2021  
     Shares
Authorized
     Shares
Issued and
Outstanding
     Issuance
Price
Per
Share
     Net
Carrying
Value
     Liquidation
Preference
 

Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A)

     3,129,635        3,129,634      $ 38.34      $ 117,038      $ 240,000  

Redeemable Preferred Stock (Series B and B-1)

     10,000,001        8,950,001        1.00        19,320        17,900  
  

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     13,129,636        12,079,635         $ 136,358      $ 257,900  
  

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company classifies its Preferred Stock (Series A, Series B and Series B-1) outside of stockholder’s deficit because the shares contain a redemption feature that is not within the Company’s control. As of July 4, 2021, the Company did not adjust the carrying value of the Series A Preferred Stock to its redemption value as a qualifying redemption event was not probable. Subsequent adjustments to the carrying value to the ultimate redemption value will be made only when it becomes probable that such a redemption event will occur. The Series B and Series B-1 Preferred Stock are not currently redeemable but are probable of becoming redeemable based on the passage of time. The carrying value of the Series B and Series B-1 Preferred Stock is greater than its redemption value as of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021.

Series B and Series B-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock Issuance

During June 2020, the Company issued and sold 7,500,001 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at $1.00 per share to the general partner and a limited partner of the Parent and the Series A preferred stockholders. The Company received gross cash proceeds of $7.5 million and incurred issuance costs associated with the Series B Preferred Stock issuance of $0.2 million. For accounting purposes, the Company determined the fair value of the Series B Preferred Stock to be $2.21 per share at issuance. The Series B Preferred Stock shares purchased by entities related to current employees, board members, and service providers were recorded at fair value and the excess of the fair value over the consideration paid was recorded as equity-based compensation of $8.6 million. The Series B Preferred Stock shares purchased by an existing Series A preferred stockholder was recorded at fair value and the excess of the fair value over consideration paid was recorded as a deemed dividend of $0.5 million in additional paid-in capital.

During February 2021, the Company amended its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to amend the liquidation preference of the Series B preferred stock to an amount per share equal to a) two times the original issue price of $1.00 per share until August 28, 2022, or b) two times the original issue price of $1.00 per share plus an amount equal to 15% per annum accruing on two times the original issue price from August 28, 2022 through and including the date of payment, plus any dividends declared but unpaid.

During March 2021, the Company issued and sold 1,450,000 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock at $1.00 per share to current executives of the Company. In connection with the offering, the Company filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation which authorized the issuance of up to 2,500,000 shares of Series B-1 preferred stock with the same rights, preferences and privileges of the Series B redeemable preferred stock and increased the authorized shares of common stock to 24,000,000.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The Company received gross cash proceeds of $1.5 million and incurred nominal issuance costs associated with the Series B-1 Preferred Stock issuance. For accounting purposes, the Company determined the fair value of the Series B-1 Preferred Stock to be $2.02 per share at issuance. The Series B-1 Preferred Stock shares were recorded at fair value and the excess of the fair value over the consideration paid was recorded as equity-based compensation of $1.5 million.

The fair value of the Series B and Series B-1 Preferred Stock was estimated using a two-step process. First, the Company’s enterprise value was established using generally accepted valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flow analysis and comparable public company analysis. Second, the Company’s enterprise value was allocated among the various classes of outstanding securities using the Black-Scholes option-pricing method. The option-pricing method treats all levels of the capital structure as call options on the enterprise’s value, with the exercise price based on the “breakpoints” between each of the different claims on the securities. The inputs necessary for the Series B Preferred Stock option-pricing model include the Company’s then-current enterprise value, breakpoints (the various characteristics for each class of equity, including liquidation preferences and priority distributions), time to liquidity of 3 years, risk-free rate of 0.21%, and volatility of 72.0%.The inputs necessary for the Series B-1 Preferred Stock option-pricing model include the Company’s then-current enterprise value, breakpoints (the various characteristics for each class of equity, including liquidation preferences and priority distributions), time to liquidity ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 years depending on the scenario, risk-free rate of 0.11%, and volatility of 78.0%.

Preferred Stock Provisions

Dividends—Before any dividends on common stock shall be declared or paid, the holders of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (Series A, B and B-1) shall be entitled to receive dividends on an as-converted basis. Dividends to Preferred stockholders will be determined by dividing the dividend payable on each class/series of capital stock by the original issuance price of $38.34 for Series A, $1.00 for Series B and $1.00 for Series B-1 (adjusted for stock split, stock dividend, etc.) and multiplying such fraction by the Preferred Stock original issue price. As of July 4, 2021, no dividends have been declared or paid.

Liquidation—In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company (a “liquidation event”), the holders of the Series B and Series B-1 Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of the available assets of the corporation, prior and in preference to any distribution to the holders of Series A and common stock an amount per share equal to a) two times the original issue price of $1.00 per share until August 28, 2022 or b) two times the original issue price of $1.00 per share plus an amount equal to 15% per annum accruing on two times the original issue price from August 28, 2022 through and including the date of payment, plus any dividends declared but unpaid (the “Series B-1 Liquidation Amount” or “the Series B Liquidation Amount” as applicable).

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of the available assets of the corporation, less the Series B and Series B-1 Liquidation Amount, prior and in preference to any distribution to the holders of common stock, an amount per share for each share of Series A Preferred Stock held by them equal to the greater of 1) the sum of original issue price multiplied by the applicable factor (2.0 as of July 4, 2021) plus any declared but unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock; and ii) the amount per share as would have been payable if all shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted to common stock (the “Series A Liquidation Amount”).

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Voting—Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to voting rights equal to the number of shares of common stock it can be converted to. Series A stockholders are entitled to elect two directors of the Company and common stockholders are entitled to elect nine directors. Each share of Series B and Series B-1 Preferred Stock is not entitled to voting rights.

Conversion—At the option of the holder, each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of common stock. As of July 4, 2021, each share of Series A Preferred Stock was convertible into one share of common stock, adjusted for stock splits, combinations, dividends and distributions. All outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock will automatically be converted into shares of common stock at the then effective conversion rate upon one of the following conversion events: (i) the closing of a firm commitment underwritten IPO, provided that the aggregate gross proceeds to the Company are not less than $100.0 million; or (ii) by vote or written consent for conversion from the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Stock. Each share of Series B and Series B-1 Preferred Stock is not convertible at the option of the holder.

The Series A Preferred Stock conversion ratio shall be subject to appropriate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, subdivisions, or recapitalization events. In addition, if the Company should issue preferred stock or common stock without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the conversion price for the Series A Preferred Stock, the conversion price for each series shall automatically be adjusted in accordance with anti-dilution provisions contained in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

Redemption—On or after April 12, 2024, all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be redeemable upon written notice of at least 50% of the then outstanding Series A shares requesting redemption of all or part of the stock held by such holders. The shares shall be redeemed in up to two installments, at a price equal to the then applicable Series A Liquidation Amount. The initial redemption date shall be within sixty days of receiving written notice and the Company shall redeem at least 50% of the shares at that time. The remaining shares to be redeemed shall accrue interest at a rate of 12.0% per annum and shall be redeemed no later than six months following the initial redemption date.

Upon written request from the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock voting together as a single class, the Company will redeem the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock in up to two installments at a price equal to the then applicable Series B and B-1 Liquidation Amount. The Series B and Series B-1 redemption request may not be delivered prior to April 12, 2024. The initial redemption date shall be within sixty days of receiving written notice and the Company shall redeem at least 50% of the shares at that time. The remaining shares to be redeemed shall accrue interest at a rate of 12.0% per annum and shall be redeemed no later than six months following the initial redemption date. No redemption of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Series B-1 Preferred Stock shall occur prior to the earlier of (x) 91st day following the Latest Maturity Date, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and (y) the termination of the Credit Agreement.

Upon the sale of Common Stock in an IPO, all Series B and Series B-1 Preferred Stock will be redeemed by the Company at a price equal to the Series B and Series B-1 Liquidation Amount.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

8.

Common Stock

The Company has authorized the issuance of 24,000,000 shares of common stock with a $0.001 par value as of July 4, 2021. As of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, there were 17,462,283 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders of the Company. Subject to the preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding share of preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared by the board of directors. No dividends have been declared to date. As of January 3, 2021 and July 4, 2021, the Company has reserved 3,129,634 shares of common stock for issuance on an as-convertible basis related to convertible preferred stock outstanding. As of July 4, 2021, the Company has reserved 322,793 shares of common stock for issuance upon the exercise of stock options.

 

9.

Equity-Based Compensation

2021 Equity Plan

During April 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“2021 Equity Plan”). The 2021 Equity Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based and cash-based awards to the Company’s employees, directors, and consultants. The maximum aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2021 Equity Plan is 925,000 shares, with 602,207 shares available for grant as of July 4, 2021. The Company’s board of directors administers the 2021 Plan and determines to whom options will be granted, the exercise price of options, the rates at which awards vest and the other terms and conditions of the awards issued from the 2021 Equity Plan. Options generally vest over four years and are subject to the employee’s continued employment with us. Options granted to consultants or other nonemployees generally vest over the expected service period to the Company. The options expire ten years from the date of grant. The Company issues new shares to satisfy stock option exercises.

CEO Stock Options and Special Compensation Awards

During April 2021, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement (“Employment Agreement”) with the CEO and granted stock options to purchase 322,793 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $11.35 per share, which vest based on service and performance conditions. 275,133 stock options granted to the CEO have only service vesting conditions and 47,660 stock options granted have both service and performance vesting conditions. 322,793 stock options are also subject to accelerated vesting conditions upon the occurrence of certain future events, including an IPO.

Under the Employment Agreement and subject to ongoing employment, the CEO will receive two bonuses which will be settled in fully-vested shares of the Company’s common stock equal to $3.0 million each ($6.0 million in aggregate) on March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023 if certain future events, including an IPO, occur prior to March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively. If such events do not occur prior to March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, the CEO will receive the respective bonuses in cash of $3.0 million each ($6.0 million in aggregate) if the requisite service period is performed through March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The Company concluded that the two

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

bonuses are subject to the guidance within ASC 718, are liability classified and recorded within accrued expense and other current liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities. The Company records the equity-based compensation on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods through March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023. During the six months ended July 4, 2021, the Company recognized equity-based compensation related to the two bonuses of $1.0 million. The unrecognized equity-based compensation of $5.0 million is expected to be recognized over 1.27 years. If the IPO would have occurred as of July 4, 2021, the Company would have recognized no additional equity-based compensation expense.

Stock Options

A summary of stock option activity is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts and years):

 

     Options
Outstanding
     Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per
Option
     Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
     Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 

Balance as of January 3, 2021

          $             $  

Authorized

           

Granted

     322,793      $ 11.35        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding as of July 4, 2021

     322,793      $ 11.35        9.79      $ 4,109  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Vested and exercisable as of July 4, 2021

          $             $  

Expected to vest as of July 4, 2021

     322,793      $ 11.35        9.79      $ 4,109  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the six months ended July 4, 2021 was $16.44.

The following table presents the range of assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted during the periods presented:

 

     Six Months Ended
July 4, 2021
 

Fair value of common stock

   $ 25.86  

Expected term (in years)

     6.48  

Expected volatility

     50.62

Risk-free rate

     1.17

Dividend yield

     0

Fair Value of Common Stock—As there is no public market for the Company’s common stock, the board of directors, with the assistance of a third-party valuation specialist, determined the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the time of the grant of stock options by considering a number of objective and subjective factors, including the Company’s actual operating and financial performance, market conditions and performance of comparable publicly-traded companies, developments and milestones in the Company, the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event and transactions involving the Company’s common stock, among other factors. The fair value of the underlying common stock was

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

determined by the board of directors. The fair value of the Company’s common stock was determined in accordance with applicable elements of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants guide, Valuation of Privately Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time the options are granted for zero coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the expected term of the option.

Expected Term—The expected term is based upon the Company’s consideration of the historical life of options, the vesting period of the option granted, and the contractual period of the option granted. The Company has a limited history of granting options, accordingly, the expected life was calculated using the simplified method.

Volatility—As the Company is not publicly traded, the expected volatility for the Company’s stock options was determined by using an average of historical volatilities of selected industry peers deemed to be comparable to the Company’s business corresponding to the expected term of the awards.

Dividend Yield—The expected dividend rate is zero as the Company currently has no history or expectation of declaring dividends on its common stock.

During the six months ended July 4, 2021, equity-based compensation expense of $0.2 million was recorded to general and administrative expense related to the stock options. As of July 4, 2021, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options was $4.3 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average remaining service period of 3.74 years. If the IPO would have occurred as of July 4, 2021, the Company would have recognized an additional $1.3 million and $0.5 million of equity-based compensation expense related to the options only with service vesting conditions options and stock options with both performance and service vesting conditions, respectively.

Class P Units

During Q2 2020 and Q3 2020, all outstanding Class P units totaling 1,858,210 were modified to include a provision that if the employment with or service to the Company is terminated, then all outstanding Class P units that have satisfied the service-based vesting requirements will remain outstanding. 384,522 of the outstanding Class P units were also modified to include both a service condition and a performance condition. The performance-based vesting condition is satisfied upon the occurrence of a qualifying distribution event, which is generally defined as an issuance of a distribution to the Parent’s partners. As of the modification dates, the Company measured the fair value of all modified Class P units. During Q4 2020, the Parent granted an additional 1,094,861 Class P units which vest monthly over four years from the grant date and only include a service condition. If the performance-based vesting condition had occurred on July 4, 2021, the Company would have recognized $2.6 million of equity-based compensation expense for Class P unit awards that had satisfied or partially satisfied the time-based vesting condition on that date and would have approximately $0.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost that represents the Class P unit awards which have not met the time-based condition as of July 4, 2021.

The Company recorded equity-based compensation expense of $8.4 million and $0.9 million during the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021, respectively, related to the outstanding

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

and vested service-based Class P units. As of July 4, 2021, there were 384,522 Class P units outstanding with unrecognized equity-based compensation expense of $3.2 million, and the Company has concluded that the performance-based condition was not met and accordingly, no expense has been recognized during the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021.

Pre-Vesting Distributions

During the six months ended July 4, 2021, there was one employee that was terminated and $0.5 million of pre-vesting distributions were forfeited. Pre-vesting distributions totaling $2.9 million will be recognized when both the service-based condition and the performance-based vesting conditions of the underlying Class P units are met. As of July 4, 2021, the performance-based condition was not met and no compensation expense associated with the pre-vesting distributions has been recognized. If the performance-based vesting condition had occurred on July 4, 2021, the Company would have recognized $2.4 million of equity-based compensation expense for pre-vesting distributions that had satisfied or partially satisfied the time-based vesting condition on that date and would have approximately $0.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost that represents the pre-vesting distributions which have not met the time-based condition as of July 4, 2021.

The following table summarizes the rollforward of unvested Class P units for July 4, 2021:

 

     Unvested
Class P
units
    Weighted-
Average
Fair Value
per Unit
 

Balance at January 3, 2021

     1,729,938     $ 5.33  

Units granted

            

Units vested

     (199,398     4.43  

Units forfeited

     (58,184     8.45  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at July 4, 2021

     1,472,356     $ 5.33  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of July 4, 2021, the unrecognized equity-based compensation expense for all Class P units with a service condition of $5.1 million will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.1 years.

 

10.

Income Taxes

The Company’s quarterly tax provision was calculated using a discrete approach, as allowed by FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes. The discrete method is applied when it is not possible to reliably estimate the annual effective tax rate. The Company believes the use of the discrete method is more appropriate than the annual effective rate method at this time because of the uncertainties that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

All of the Company’s income (loss) before income taxes is from the United States. The following table presents the components of the provision for income taxes (in thousands):

 

     Six months ended  
     June 28,     July 4,  
     2020     2021  

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

   $ (15,096   $ 10,428  

Provision for income taxes

     (433     (3,459
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     (2.9 )%      33.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company’s effective tax rate for the six months ended June 28, 2020 differs from the federal income tax rate of 21% primarily due to non-deductible equity-based compensation expenses.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the six months ended July 4, 2021 differs from the federal income tax rate of 21% primarily due to state taxes and non-deductible equity-based compensation expenses.

 

11.

Related Party Transactions

Transactions with the Parent

Certain of the Company’s transactions with the Parent are classified as a component within additional paid-in capital in the condensed consolidated statements of stockholder’s deficit as there are no defined payments or other terms associated with these transactions. Such transactions included equity-based compensation related to outstanding Class P units of $8.4 million in the six months ended June 28, 2020 and equity-based compensation expense related to outstanding Class P units of $0.9 million during the six months ended July 4, 2021.

Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock Issuance

The Series B Preferred Stock shares purchased by entities related to current employees, board members, and service providers were recorded at fair value and the excess of the fair value of $2.21 per share over the consideration paid of $1.00 per share was recorded as equity-based compensation of $8.6 million in the six months ended June 28, 2020. The Series B Preferred Stock shares purchased by an existing Series A stockholder was recorded at fair value and excess of the fair value of $2.21 per share over the consideration paid of $1.00 per share was recorded as a deemed dividend of $0.5 million in additional paid-in capital in the six months ended June 28, 2020.

Series B-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock Issuance

The Series B-1 Preferred Stock shares purchased by current executives were recorded at fair value and the excess of the fair value of $2.02 per share over the consideration paid of $1.00 per share was recorded as equity-based compensation of $1.5 million in the six months ended July 4, 2021.

Advance to/from Parent

An additional $37,000 was advanced to the Company from the Parent during the six months ended June 28, 2020. During the six months ended June 28, 2020, the Company repaid the $2.0 million of

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

advances from the Parent plus accrued interest of $0.1 million, which repayment was used by the Parent to pay accrued Class P unit distributions to certain current employees of the Company.

Management & Consulting Fees

The Company has accrued for management and consulting fees to H.I.G. Capital, LLC (“H.I.G.”, the Parent’s ultimate parent), Institutional Venture Partners (Series A Preferred Stockholder), and certain board members. Expenses for such services were $0.3 million to H.I.G and $0.2 million to other related parties for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and were $0.3 million to H.I.G. and $0.2 million to other related parties for the six months ended July 4, 2021. There were $0.2 million of accrued liabilities and $0.8 million of accounts payable related to these services as of January 3, 2021 and $0.3 million of accrued liabilities and $1.0 million of accounts payable related to these services as of July 4, 2021.

Operating Leases

The Company leases operations and warehouse spaces from a limited partner of the Parent and a Series B Preferred Stockholder of the Company. Total rent expense to the related party was $74,794 and $24,230 for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and July 4, 2021, respectively.

 

12.

Subsequent Events

Management evaluates events occurring subsequent to the date of the financial statements in determining the accounting for and disclosure of transactions and events that affect the financial statements. Subsequent events have been evaluated through September 20, 2021, which is the date that the financial statements were available to be issued.

 

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Affordable Luxury

 


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth all costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the sale of the common stock being registered. All amounts shown are estimates except for the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), filing fee, and the Nasdaq (the “Exchange”) listing fee.

 

SEC Registration Fee

   $ 11,646  

FINRA Filing Fee

     19,346  

Exchange Listing Fee

     170,000  

Printing and Engraving Expenses

     613,000  

Legal Fees and Expenses

     2,000,000  

Accounting Fees and Expenses

     1,300,000  

Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees

     4,500  

Miscellaneous Fees and Expenses

     144,300  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,262,792  
  

 

 

 

 

*

To be completed by amendment.

ITEM 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Registrant is governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person was or is an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such officer, director, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the corporation’s best interest and, for criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or contemplated action or suit by or in the right of such corporation, under the same conditions, except that such indemnification is limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person, and except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if such person is adjudged to be liable to such corporation. Where an officer or director of a corporation is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify that person against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.

The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the indemnification of its officers and directors, consistent with Section 145 of the DGCL. Reference is made to

 

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Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, which enables a corporation in its original certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director 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, which provides for liability of directors for unlawful payments of dividends of unlawful stock purchase or redemptions or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. As permitted by the DGCL, we have included in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation a provision to eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that we are required to indemnify our officers and directors under certain circumstances, including those circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary, and we are required to advance expenses to our officers and directors as incurred in connection with proceedings against them for which they may be indemnified.

The Registrant intends to enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors. These agreements, among other things, will require the Registrant to indemnify each director to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by the director in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in right of the Registrant, arising out of the person’s services as a director.

The Registrant maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for the benefit of its directors and officers.

The proposed form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement provides for indemnification to the Registrant’s directors and officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities.

ITEM 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

The following sets forth information regarding all unregistered securities sold or granted by us during the three years preceding the filing of this registration statement:

On June 5, 2020, we issued an aggregate of 7,500,001 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock at a price per share of $1.00 for aggregate proceeds to us of $7,500,001.00.

On March 31, 2021, we issued an aggregate of 1,450,000 shares of our Series B-1 Preferred Stock at a price per share of $1.00 for aggregate proceeds to us of $1,450,000.00.

No underwriters were used in the foregoing transaction. The sale of securities described in paragraph (1) above was deemed to be exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. All of the purchasers in this transaction represented to us in connection with their purchase that they were acquiring the shares for investment and not distribution, and that they could bear the risks of the investment and could hold the securities for an indefinite period of time. Such purchasers received written disclosures that the securities had not been registered under the Securities Act and that any resale must be made pursuant to a registration or an available exemption from such registration. All of the foregoing securities are deemed restricted securities for the purposes of the Securities Act.

 

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ITEM 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibits

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  3.1    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, to be effective upon consummation of this offering.
  3.2    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, to be effective upon consummation of this offering.
  4.1    Form of Common Stock Certificate.
  4.2*    Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of April  12, 2018, among the Registrant, the Investors listed on Schedule A thereto, Lulu’s Holdings, L.P. and LFL Acquisition Corp.
  5.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
10.1    Omnibus Equity Plan and Form of Stock Option Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.
10.2    2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
10.3    Form of Stock Award Agreement (Evidencing Common Stock Received in Respect of Class P Units).
10.4*    2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.5*    Stock Option Agreement and Grant Notice between the Registrant and David W. McCreight under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.6*    Special Compensation Award Agreement and Grant Notice between the Registrant and David W. McCreight under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.7*    Employment Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2021, among, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC, the Registrant and David W. McCreight.
10.8    Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.9*    Credit Agreement, dated as of August  28, 2017, among Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, the Lenders party thereto, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Lazard Middle Market LLC and Monroe Capital Management Advisors, LLC.
10.10*    Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of February  12, 2018, among Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC, the Lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch.
10.11*    Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April  25, 2018, among Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC, the Lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch.
10.12*    Waiver and Amendment No. 3 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of February  15, 2019, among Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC, the Lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch.
10.13*    Waiver and Amendment No. 4 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May  30, 2019, among Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC, the Lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch.

 

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Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibits

10.14*    Commercial Lease Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2016, between Hegan Lane Partnership and Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, Inc.
10.15*    Addendum to the Commercial Lease Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2019, between Hegan Lane Partnership and Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, Inc.
10.16*    Commercial Lease Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2017, between the Winter Family Trust and the Registrant.
10.17*    Lease Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2019, between Chrin-Carson Development, LLC and the Registrant.
10.18*    First Amendment to Lease, dated as of February 24, 2019, between Chrin-Carson Development, LLC and the Registrant.
10.19*    Transactions Services Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2014, between H.I.G. and Lulu’s Holdings, LLC.
10.20*    Professional Services Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2014, between H.I.G. and Lulu’s Holdings, LLC.
10.21    Form of Registration Rights Agreement among the Registrant and certain of its stockholders to be in effect after the closing of the offering.
10.22    Form of Stockholders Agreement among the Registrant, H.I.G. Growth Partners—Lulu’s, L.P., entities affiliated with IVP and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to be in effect after the closing of the offering.
21.1    List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1*    Power of Attorney (included on signature page to S-1 filed on October 12, 2021).

 

*

Previously filed.

(b) Financial statement schedules.

No financial statements are provided because the information called for is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

ITEM 17. Undertakings

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 underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act 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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act 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 hereunder, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its

 

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counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

  (1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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, 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.

 

  (3)

For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

  (4)

For the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser.

 

  (a)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (b)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

  (c)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

  (d)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

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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 the City of Chico, State of California, on the 1st day of November, 2021.

 

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ David McCreight

   Name: David McCreight
   Title:  Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ David McCreight

David McCreight

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  November 1, 2021

/s/ Crystal Landsem

Crystal Landsem

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  November 1, 2021

*

Thomas Belatti

   Director   November 1, 2021

*

Evan Karp

   Director   November 1, 2021

*

Danielle Qi

   Director   November 1, 2021

*

John Black

   Director   November 1, 2021

*

Michael Mardy

   Director   November 1, 2021

*

Eric Liaw

   Director   November 1, 2021

*

Colleen Winter

   Director   November 1, 2021

*

Debra Cannon

   Director   November 1, 2021

 

By:  

/s/ David McCreight

 

David McCreight

Attorney-in-Fact

EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

 

 

Underwriting Agreement

[•], 2021

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

BofA Securities, Inc.

Jefferies LLC

As representatives (the “Representatives” or “you”) of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto

c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

c/o Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this agreement (this “Agreement”), to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”) an aggregate of [•] shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Stock”) of the Company (the “Firm Shares”) and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to [•] additional shares of Stock. The aggregate of [•] shares of Stock to be sold by the Company is herein called the “Firm Shares” and the aggregate of up to [•] additional shares of Stock to be sold by the Company is herein called the “Optional Shares.” The Firm Shares and the Optional Shares that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof being collectively called the “Shares”.


1. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

(a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333–[•]) (the “Initial Registration Statement”) in respect of the Shares has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you and, excluding exhibits thereto, to you for each of the other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Shares that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined in Section 1(c) hereof) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; such final prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act or Rule 163B under the Act is hereinafter called a “Testing-the-Waters Communication”; and any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act is hereinafter called a “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication”; and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Shares is hereinafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”); and any “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Act that has been made available without restriction to any person is hereinafter called a “broadly available road show”;

 

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(b) (A) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information (as defined in Section 9(b) of this Agreement);

(c) For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is [•] p.m. (New York City time) on the date of this Agreement. The Pricing Prospectus, as supplemented by the information listed on Schedule II(c) hereto, taken together (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of each Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4(a) of this Agreement) will not, 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 under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and each Written Testing-the-Waters Communication does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each broadly available road show and each Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of each Time of Delivery will not, 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 under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(d) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement, as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, and as of each Time of Delivery, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(e) Neither the Company nor any of its significant subsidiaries as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-K (its “Subsidiaries” and each a “Subsidiary”) has, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental

 

3


action, order or decree or (ii) entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been (x) any change in the capital stock (other than as a result of (i) the exercise, if any, of stock options or the award, if any, of stock options or restricted stock in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Company’s equity plans that are described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (ii) the issuance, if any, of stock upon conversion of Company securities as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); as used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse change or effect, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change or effect, in or affecting (i) the business, properties, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

(f) The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by each of them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

(g) Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has been (i) duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and (ii) duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing (where such concept exists) under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except, in the case of this clause (ii), where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing in any such jurisdiction would not, individually or in the aggregate, have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, and each subsidiary of the Company has been listed in the Registration Statement;

 

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(h) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment of the consideration, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the description of the capital stock of the Company contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (except, in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

(i) The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters hereunder have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and will conform in all material respects to the description of the capital stock of the Company contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights;

(j) The issue and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the Company with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, (B) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other applicable organizational document) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (C) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, except, in the case of clauses (A) and (C) above for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Act, the approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the underwriting terms and arrangements and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;

 

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(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other applicable organizational document), (ii) in violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except, in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), for such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

(l) The statements set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus under the captions “Description of Capital Stock” and “Shares Eligible for Future Sale”, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the capital stock of the Company, under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of United States federal income tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, and under the caption “Underwriting”, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate and complete in all material respects;

(m) Other than as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer or director of the Company, is a party or of which any property of the Company any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer or director of the Company, is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties (or such officer or director), would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others;

(n) The Company 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 Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

(o) At the time of filing the Initial 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 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 Act;

(p) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

 

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(q) The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that (i) has been designed to comply with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, (ii) has been designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and (iii) is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (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; and except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting;

(r) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting;

(s) The Company has designed a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; and such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective;

(t) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

(u) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, employee, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has (i) directly or indirectly made, offered, promised or authorized any unlawful payment, contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful benefit or expense (or taken any act in furtherance thereof), or (ii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law. The Company and its Subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, 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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(v) The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with the requirements of applicable anti-money laundering laws, including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended by the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the anti-money laundering laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened;

(w) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its 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 European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or the United Nations Security Council (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, and the Company 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, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject or the target of Sanctions or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise. For the past five years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject or the target of Sanctions;

(x) The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown

 

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therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. All disclosures contained 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 with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Act, to the extent applicable;

(y) From the time of initial confidential submission of a registration statement relating to the Shares with the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which a Testing-the-Waters Communication was made) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”);

(z) There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the Act except as have been validly waived or complied with in connection with the offering of the Shares;

(aa) No labor disturbance by or dispute with current or former employees or officers of the Company or its Subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened, and to the Company’s knowledge, is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of the Company’s principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors. There is no dispute between the Company or its Subsidiaries and any of their material suppliers or vendors that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement;

(bb) The Company and its Subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and business, including business interruption insurance, in such amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are reasonable and is ordinary and customary for comparable companies in the same or similar businesses, except where this would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries (i) has 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 nor (ii) has 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, in each case, except where this would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(cc) Except as would, individually or in the aggregate, have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect (A) each Plan (as defined below) has been sponsored, maintained and contributed to in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); (B) no non-exempt prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan; (C) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 302 of ERISA, no failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur (excluding those for which the provision for 30-day notice to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto (the “PBGC”) has been waived by regulation); (D) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which notice is waived) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (E) neither the Company nor any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code) has incurred, nor is reasonably expected to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to any Plan or any Multiemployer Plan (as defined below) or premiums to the PBGC, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan; and (F) there is no pending audit or investigation by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the PBGC or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan. Each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received, or has time remaining to receive, a favorable determination or opinion letter from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or may rely upon a favorable opinion letter from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification. Except as would, individually or in the aggregate, have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, none of the following events has occurred: (x) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its Subsidiaries in the current fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company and its Subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year; or (y) a material increase in the Company and its Subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company and its Subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year. For purposes of this paragraph, (x) the term “Plan” means an employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, subject to Title IV of ERISA, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan, for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code) has any liability and (y) the term “Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA;

 

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(dd) The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and at all prior times, to the knowledge of the Company, were, in compliance with all applicable state, federal and international data privacy, security and consumer protection laws and regulations, including without limitation, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”). To ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company and its Subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling, and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”). “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number or tax identification number, driver’s license number, passport number, credit card number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; and (iv) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. The Company and its Subsidiaries have at all times made all disclosures to users or customers required by applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and none of such disclosures made or contained in any Policy have, to the knowledge of the Company, been inaccurate or in violation of any applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements in any material respect. The Company further certifies that neither it nor any Subsidiary: (i) has received notice of any actual or potential liability, including, but not limited to security or data privacy breaches or other unauthorized or improper access to, use of or destruction of its Confidential Data or Personal Data, under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law;

(ee) The Company and its Subsidiaries possesses, and are in compliance with the terms of, all applications, certificates, approvals, clearances, registrations, exemptions, franchises, licenses, permits, consents and other authorizations necessary for the ownership or lease of its properties and the conduct their respective business (collectively, “Licenses”), issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities (collectively, the “Regulatory Agencies”). All Licenses are in full force and effect and the Company and its Subsidiaries are not in violation of any material term or conditions of any License. The Company and its Subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all of their respective obligations with respect to the Licenses and, no event has occurred

 

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which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder of any License. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Licenses and no Regulatory Agency has taken any action to limit, suspend or revoke any License possessed by the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(ff) Except in all cases where such violation, claim, request, notice, proceeding, investigation or material capital expenditure would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, rule of common law or order of or with any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, management, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes or relating to pollution or the protection of the environment or human health or relating to exposure to hazardous or toxic substances or wastes (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claim, written request for information or written notice of liability or investigation arising under, relating to or based upon any Environmental Laws, (C) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of any pending or threatened notice, claim, proceeding or investigation which might lead to liability under Environmental Laws, (D) the Company does not anticipate incurring material capital expenditures relating to compliance with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, investigation or closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license, approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) and (E) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended;

(gg) The Company and its Subsidiaries own or have valid, binding and enforceable licenses or other rights to practice and use all patents and patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, trade names, service names and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, inventions, systems or procedures), the right to sue for past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution of any of the foregoing, registrations and applications for registrations of any of the foregoing, and all other technology and intellectual property rights used by them or necessary for the conduct, or the proposed conduct, of their respective businesses in the manner described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “Company Intellectual Property”). The conduct of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses (including the development and commercialization of the products described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) has not and will not infringe or misappropriate any intellectual property rights of others, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,

 

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reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Other than as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no rights of third parties to any of the intellectual property owned by the Company, and such intellectual property is owned by the Company free and clear of all material liens, security interests, or encumbrances. To the knowledge of the Company, the patents, trademarks and copyrights held or licensed by the Company included within the Company Intellectual Property are valid, enforceable and subsisting. To the Company’s knowledge, there is no material infringement or misappropriation by third parties of any of the Company Intellectual Property. Other than as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) the Company is not obligated to pay a material royalty, grant a license, or provide other material consideration to any third party in connection with the Company Intellectual Property, (ii) no action, suit, claim or other proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened, alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, or would, upon the commercialization of any product or service proposed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted, infringe, misappropriate, dilute, or otherwise violate, any rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any facts which could form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim, (iii) no action, suit, claim or other proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened, challenging the validity, enforceability, scope, registration, ownership or use of any of the Company’s Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which could form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim, (iv) no action, suit, claim or other proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened, challenging the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ rights in or to any Company Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which could form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim, (v) the Company has not received notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with any asserted rights of others with respect to any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ products, proposed products, processes or Company Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, (vi) to the knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company is in or has ever been in violation in any material respect of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or actions undertaken while employed or engaged with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (vii) the Company has taken reasonable measures in accordance with customary industry practices to protect its confidential information and trade secrets and to maintain and safeguard the Company Intellectual Property, including the execution of appropriate nondisclosure and confidentiality and invention assignment agreements, (viii) to the knowledge of the Company, none of the Company Intellectual Property used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or proposed to be used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries

 

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has been obtained or is being used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in violation of any contractual obligations binding on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise in violation of the rights of any person, and (ix) to the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied with each agreement pursuant to which Company Intellectual Property has been licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and all such agreements are in full force and effect;

(hh) The Company and its Subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses, and there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company and its Subsidiaries are presently in material 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 Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification;

(ii) All patents and patent applications owned by or licensed to the Company or under which the Company has rights have, to the knowledge of the Company, been duly and properly filed and maintained; to the knowledge of the Company, there are no material defects in any of the patents or patent applications disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as being owned by the Company; to the knowledge of the Company, the parties prosecuting such applications have complied with their duty of candor and disclosure to the USPTO in connection with such applications; and the Company is not aware of any facts required to be disclosed to the USPTO that were not disclosed to the USPTO and which would preclude the grant of a patent in connection with any such application or could form the basis of a finding of invalidity with respect to any patents that have issued with respect to such applications;

 

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(jj) Any statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources;

(kk) All United States federal income tax returns of the Company required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown as due on such returns or that otherwise have been assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided, and except insofar as the failure to file such returns or pay such taxes would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided, and except insofar as the failure to file such returns or pay such taxes would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company which has (nor does the Company have any written notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company and which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect;

(ll) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares;

(mm) The Company is not a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares;

(nn) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company, on the other, that is required by the Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and

 

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(oo) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

2. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price per share of $[•], the number of Firm Shares (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be sold by the Company by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased by all of the Underwriters from the Company hereunder and (b) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Shares as provided below, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per share set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2 (provided that the purchase price per Optional Share shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Optional Shares), that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying such number of Optional Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.

(i) The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to [•] Optional Shares, at the purchase price per share set forth in the paragraph above, provided that the purchase price per Optional Share shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Optional Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be exercised only by written notice from the Representatives to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement, setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by the Representatives but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless the Representatives and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

3. Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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4. (a) The Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in definitive or book-entry form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Company shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance. The Company will cause the certificates, if any, representing the Shares to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on [•], 2021 or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified by the Representatives in each written notice given by the Representatives of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Optional Shares, or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Shares is herein called the “First Time of Delivery”, each such time and date for delivery of the Optional Shares, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the “Second Time of Delivery”, and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Time of Delivery”.

(b) The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross receipt for the Shares and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8(m) hereof, will be delivered at the offices of Cooley LLP, 3 Embarcadero Center, 20th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111 (the “Closing Location”), and the Shares will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at such Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at [•] P.M., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding such Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section 4, “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

(a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Time of Delivery which

 

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shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to file promptly all materials required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Shares, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably request to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may reasonably request and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Shares, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation (where not otherwise required) or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction (where not otherwise required) or to subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction in which it was not otherwise subject to taxation;

(c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement (or such other time as may be agreed to by the Representatives and the Company) and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an 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 under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, to notify you and, before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, to furnish you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not file

 

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any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, and upon your request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities (whose name and address the Underwriters shall furnish to the Company) as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

(d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable (which may be satisfied by filing with the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”)), but in any event not later than sixteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its Subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

(e) (i) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to (A) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, loan, hedge, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with or confidentially submit to the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Shares, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase shares of Stock or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Stock or any such substantially similar securities, or (B) enter into any swap, hedging 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, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise (other than the Shares to be sold hereunder or pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of this Agreement), or (C) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case, without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc.; provided, however, that the restrictions in the foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) the Shares to be sold hereunder; (b) any shares of Stock or any securities outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (including without limitation options, restricted stock or restricted stock units) convertible into, or exercisable for, Stock pursuant to any employee stock option plan, incentive plan, stock plan, dividend reinvestment plan or otherwise in equity compensation

 

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arrangements existing as of the Applicable Time and as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package; (c) the grant of awards pursuant to employee stock option plan or arrangements existing as of the Applicable Time and as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package; (d) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 in connection with the registration of Stock issuable under any employee performance incentive plan adopted and approved by the Company’s board of directors; and (e) the issuance of any shares of Stock or other securities issued in connection with the acquisition of the assets of, or a majority or controlling portion of the equity of, or a joint venture with another entity in connection with its acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of such entity, provided that the aggregate number of shares issued pursuant to this clause (e) shall not exceed 10% of the total number of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company immediately following the issuance and sale of the Firm Shares (plus the Optional Shares if the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase such Optional Shares) pursuant hereto on a fully-diluted basis; provided, further, that each recipient of any Stock pledged, issued or sold pursuant to clauses (b), (c) and (e) above executes and delivers to the Representatives prior to such issuance or sale (as the case may be) an agreement having substantially the same terms as the lock-up letters described in Section 8(j) of this Agreement;

(ii) If Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter delivered pursuant to Section 8(j) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver 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 Annex I hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(iii) To enforce all existing agreements between the Company and any of its securityholders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Company’s securities in connection with the Company’s initial public offering until, in respect of any particular securityholder, the earlier to occur of (i) the expiration of the Lock-Up Period or (ii) the expiration of any similar arrangement entered into by such securityholder with the Representatives; to direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any such securities of the Company that are bound by such existing “lock-up,” “market stand-off,” “holdback” or similar provisions of such agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated in the preceding clause; and not to release or otherwise grant any waiver of such provisions in such agreements during such periods without the prior written consent of the Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters;

(f) To furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year

 

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(beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), to make available to its stockholders consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail; provided, however, that any report, communication or financial statement that is furnished or filed by the Company and publicly available on the Commission’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been furnished and delivered to the stockholders at the same time furnished to our filed with the Commission;

(g) During a period of three years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, to furnish to you copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to stockholders, and to deliver to you (i) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed; and (ii) such additional information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company as you may from time to time reasonably request (such financial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to its stockholders generally or to the Commission); provided, however, that any report, communication or financial statement that is furnished or filed by the Company and publicly available on the Commission’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been furnished and delivered to you at the same time furnished to or filed with the Commission;

(h) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”;

(i) To use commercially reasonable efforts to list, subject to official notice of issuance, the Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Exchange”);

(j) To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Act;

(k) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 3a(c) of the Commission’s Informal and Other Procedures (16 CFR 202.3a);

(l) Upon reasonable request of any Underwriter, to furnish, or cause to be furnished, to such Underwriter an electronic version of the Company’s trademarks, servicemarks and corporate logo for use on the website, if any, operated by such Underwriter for the purpose of facilitating the on-line offering of the Shares (the “License”); provided, however, that the License shall be used solely for the purpose described above, is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred;

 

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(m) To promptly notify you if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Shares within the meaning of the Act and (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period referred to in Section 5(e) hereof; and

(n) To 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.

6. (a) The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a free writing prospectus required to be filed with the Commission; any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representatives is listed on Schedule II(a) hereto;

(b) The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and the Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions under Rule 433 under the Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show;

(c) The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Written Testing-the-Waters Communication any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Written Testing-the-Waters Communication would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or would include an 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 then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give notice thereof as soon as practicable to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

 

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(d) The Company represents and agrees that (i) it has not engaged in, or authorized any other person to engage in, any Testing-the-Waters Communications, other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the prior consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Act; and (ii) it has not distributed, or authorized any other person to distribute, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications, other than those distributed with the prior consent of the Representatives that are listed on Schedule II(d) hereto; and the Company reconfirms that the Underwriters have been authorized to act on its behalf in engaging in Testing-the-Waters Communications;

(e) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that any Testing-the-Waters Communications undertaken by it were with entities that such Underwriter reasonably believes are qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Act;

7. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares on the Exchange; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Shares; provided, that the reasonable fees of counsel for the Underwriters relating to subclauses (iii) and (v) of this Section 7 shall not exceed $45,000 in the aggregate; (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 7. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 8, and Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make and that the Underwriters shall be responsible for 50% of the cost of any chartered plane, jet, private aircraft, other aircraft or other transportation chartered and used by the Company and the Underwriters in connection with any “road show” presentation to investors undertaken in connection with the offering.

 

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8. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company herein are, at and as of the Applicable Time and such Time of Delivery, true and correct in all material respects, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; all materials required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Pricing Disclosure Package, Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

(b) Cooley LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you such written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

(c) Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives;

(d) The General Counsel for the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, as to certain legal matters;

(e) On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives;

 

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(f) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any change or effect, or any development involving a prospective change or effect, in or affecting (x) the business, properties, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (y) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in your judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

(g) On or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities;

(h) On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or on the Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal, California State or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

 

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(i) The Shares to be sold at such Time of Delivery shall have been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance, on the Exchange;

(j) The Company shall have obtained and delivered to the Underwriters executed copies of an agreement from each director, officer and substantially all security holders of the Company, substantially to the effect set forth in Annex III hereof in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives;

(k) The Company shall have delivered to the Representatives on the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement and at such Time of Delivery a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, substantially in the form attached as Annex II hereto;

(l) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement; and

(m) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Company reasonably satisfactory to you as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this Section and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request.

9. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “roadshow” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Act (a “roadshow”), any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show, or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

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(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. As used in this Agreement with respect to an Underwriter and an applicable document, “Underwriter Information” shall mean the written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; it being understood and agreed upon 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 [•] paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”, and the information contained in the [•] paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting”.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; provided that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 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 party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party,

 

27


be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party 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 party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party 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 party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party 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 party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall

 

28


be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault 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 Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) 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 which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which 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 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each employee, officer and director of each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act and each broker-dealer or other affiliate of any Underwriter; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

 

29


10. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Shares on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any

Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Shares.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all of the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement (or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Optional Shares) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

30


11. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any director, officer, employee, broker dealer, affiliate or controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

12. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof; but, if for any other reason, any Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through you for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares not so delivered, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof.

13. In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you as the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters.

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and (A) if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to you as the Representatives in care of: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Registration Department, BofA Securities, Inc., One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, Facsimile: (646) 855-3073, Attention: Syndicate Department with a copy to: Facsimile: (212) 230-8730, Attention: ECM Legal, and Jefferies LLC, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: General Counsel; and (B) if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth on the cover of the Registration Statement, Attention: General Counsel; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by you upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

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 Company, 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.

 

31


14. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter or any director, officer, employee, broker dealer, or affiliate of the Underwriters, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

15. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

16. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto and that none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation, investment advice or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters with respect to any entity or natural person.

17. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

18. This Agreement, any claim, controversy or disputes arising under or related to this Agreement and any transaction contemplated by this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflict of laws that would result in the application of any other law than the laws of the State of New York. The Company agrees that any suit or proceeding arising in respect of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement will be tried exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if that court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, in any state court located in The City and County of New York and the Company agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of, and to venue in, such courts.

 

32


19. The Company and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

20. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

21. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company is authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Company relating to that treatment and structure, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

22. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) 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.

(b) 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.

(c) As used in this section:

“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);

 

33


(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.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us one each for the Company and the Representatives plus one for each counsel counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

34


Very truly yours,
Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.
By:                           
  Name:
  Title:

 

Accepted as of the date hereof:
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
By:                           
  Name:
  Title:
BofA Securities, Inc.
By:  
  Name:
  Title:
Jefferies LLC
By:  
  Name:
  Title:

On behalf of each of the Underwriters

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

35


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

   Total
Number of
Firm
Shares to
be
Purchased
  Number of
Optional
Shares to
be
Purchased
if
Maximum
Option
Exercised

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

   [•]   [•]

BofA Securities, Inc.

   [•]   [•]

Jefferies LLC

   [•]   [•]

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

   [•]   [•]

Cowen and Company, LLC

   [•]   [•]

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

   [•]   [•]

Piper Sandler & Co.

   [•]   [•]

Telsey Advisory Group LLC

   [•]   [•]
  

 

 

 

Total

   [•]   [•]
  

 

 

 

 

36


SCHEDULE II

(a) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not included in the Pricing Disclosure Package:

[Electronic roadshow dated [•] 2021]

(b) Additional Documents Incorporated by Reference:

[None]

(c) Information other than the Pricing Prospectus that comprise the Pricing Disclosure Package:

The initial public offering price per share for the Shares is $[•]

The number of Shares purchased by the Underwriters is [•].

The number of Shares the Underwriters have the option to purchase is [•].

[Add any other pricing disclosure.]

(d) Written Testing-the-Waters Communications:

[Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings Testing-the-Waters Presentation]

[•]


ANNEX I

[Form of Press Release]

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.

[Date]

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of                shares of common stock, are [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.


ANNEX II

[Form of Chief Financial Officer Certificate]


ANNEX III

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

[•], 2021

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

BofA Securities, Inc.

Jefferies LLC

As representatives of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement

 

c/o

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

 

c/o

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

 

c/o

Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10022

 

  Re:

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. - Lock-Up Agreement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that you, as representatives (the “Representatives”), propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) on behalf of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to such agreement (collectively, the “Underwriters”), with Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for a public offering (the “Public Offering”) of the Common Stock (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (the “Shares”) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

In consideration of the agreement by the Underwriters to offer and sell the Shares, and of other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees that, during the period beginning from the date of the public filing of the Registration Statement and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date set forth on the final prospectus (the “Public Offering Date”) used to sell the Shares (the “Prospectus”) (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned shall not, and shall not cause or direct any of its affiliates to, (i) offer, sell, contract to sell,


pledge, grant any option to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock of the Company (such options, warrants or other securities, collectively, “Derivative Instruments”), including without limitation any such shares or Derivative Instruments now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned, (ii) engage in any hedging or other transaction or arrangement (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) which is designed to, intended to, or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale, loan, pledge or other disposition (whether by the undersigned or someone other than the undersigned), or transfer of any of the economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any shares of Common Stock of the Company or Derivative Instruments, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise (any such sale, loan, pledge or other disposition or transfer of economic consequences as described in this clause (ii), “Prohibited Activity”) or (iii) otherwise publicly announce any intention to engage in or cause any action or activity described in clause (i) above or transaction or arrangement described in clause (ii) above. The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned is not, and has not caused or directed any of its affiliates to be or become, currently a party to any agreement or arrangement that provides for, is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in any Prohibited Activity during the Lock-Up Period). For the avoidance of doubt, the undersigned agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed or other Shares the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a natural person, entity or “group” (as described above) that has executed a Lock-Up Agreement in substantially the same form as this Lock-Up Agreement, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the common equity interests, or 50% or more of the voting power, in the undersigned.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) at least 90 days have elapsed since the Public Offering Date, (ii) the Company has issued a quarterly earnings release for the first quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in the Prospectus by press release through a major news service, or on a report on Form 8-K, which earnings release, for this purpose, shall not include the reporting of “flash” numbers or preliminary or partial earnings, (iii) the last reported closing price of the Common Stock on the exchange on which the Common Stock is


listed is at least 30% greater than the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus for at least 10 Trading Days (including the End Date (as defined below)) in any 15-day consecutive Trading Day period and (iv) the last reported closing price of the Common Stock on the exchange on which the Common Stock is listed is at least 30% greater than the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus on the first Trading Day following such quarterly earnings release, then 15% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock owned by the undersigned or issuable upon exercise of vested equity awards owned by the undersigned, which percentage shall be calculated based on the undersigned’s ownership as of the date of the Prospectus, will be automatically released from such restrictions immediately prior to the opening of trading on the exchange on which the Common Stock is listed on the third Trading Day (the “Early Release Date”) following the date on which the above conditions are satisfied (the “End Date”); provided that if the Early Release Date will occur during a Blackout Period, the Early Release Date will be delayed until the opening of trading on the first Trading Day immediately following such Blackout Period. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the Lock-Up Period end earlier than 90 days after the Public Offering Date.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. 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 shares of Common Stock, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. 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 Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. 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.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock of the Company:

(i) to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement;

(ii) as a bona fide gift or gifts;

(iii) to any beneficiary of the undersigned pursuant to a will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representatives, heirs, beneficiary or immediate family member of the undersigned;

(iv) to any trust, partnership, limited liability company or other entity for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned;


(v) to any immediate family member or other dependent;

(vi) as a distribution to limited partners, members or stockholders of the undersigned;

(vii) to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned;

(viii) pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency or to comply with any regulations related to the undersigned’s ownership of shares of Common Stock; provided, (1) that if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that such transfer is pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency or to comply with any regulations related to the ownership of the shares of Common Stock unless such a statement would be prohibited by any applicable law, regulation or order of a court or regulatory authority, and (2) no other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period;

(ix) to the Company under which the Company has a right of repurchase upon death, disability or termination of employment, in each case as described in the Registration Statement, of the undersigned; provided, (1) that no filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period within 60 days after the date the undersigned’s death, disability or termination of employment, and after such 60th day, if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16 of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer and (2) no other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period;

(x) (A) to the Company for the purposes of exercising (including for the payment of tax withholdings or remittance payments due as a result of such exercise) on a “net exercise” or “cashless” basis options or other rights to purchase shares of Common Stock and (B) in connection with the vesting or settlement of restricted stock units, any transfer to the Company for the payment of tax withholdings or remittance payments due as a result of the vesting or settlement of such restricted stock units, pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan, which plan is described in the Registration Statement, provided (1) that any shares of Common Stock or other securities received as a result of such exercise, vesting or settlement shall remain subject to the terms of this Lock-up Agreement and (2) that if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16 of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer;


(xi) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the Company’s shares of Common Stock involving a change of control of the Company following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement that has been approved by the Company’s board of directors, provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s shares shall remain subject to the provisions of this Lock-Up Agreement, and provided further that “change of control” as used herein, shall mean the consummation of any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, other than the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of at least 51% of total voting power of the voting stock of the Company;

(xii) in connection with transactions by any person other than the Company relating to shares of Common Stock acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the offering; or

(xiii) with the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters;

provided that, (1) in the case of each transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (ii) through (viii), (x) and (xi) above, each donee, trustee, distributee or transferee, as the case may be, agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, (2) in the case of each transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (iii) through (ix) above, shall not involve a disposition in exchange for value, (3) in the case of each transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (ii), (iv) through (vii), and (xii) above, no filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period. For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage, civil partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the undersigned is a corporation, the corporation may transfer the capital stock of the Company to any wholly owned subsidiary of such corporation; provided, however, that in any such case, it shall be a condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding such capital stock subject to the provisions of this Lock-Up Agreement and there shall be no further transfer of such capital stock except in accordance with this Lock-Up Agreement, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and no public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period.

The restrictions described herein shall not apply to the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, provided that no transfers occur under such plan during such Lock-Up Period and no public announcement or filing shall be required or voluntarily made by any person in connection therewith until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.


The undersigned now has, and, except as contemplated by clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above, for the duration of this Lock-Up Agreement will have, good and marketable title to the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock of the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims whatsoever. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock of the Company except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

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 Shares 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 you in connection with the Public Offering, the Representatives and the other Underwriters are not making a recommendation to you to enter into this Lock-Up Agreement and nothing set forth in such disclosures is intended to suggest that the Representatives or any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.

The undersigned hereby consents to receipt of this Lock-Up Agreement in electronic form and understands and agrees that this Lock-Up Agreement may be signed electronically. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or otherwise by electronic transmission evidencing an intent to sign this Lock-Up Agreement, such facsimile transmission, electronic mail or other electronic transmission shall create a valid and binding obligation of the undersigned with the same force and effect as if such signature were an original. Execution and delivery of this Lock-Up Agreement by facsimile transmission, electronic mail or other electronic transmission is legal, valid and binding for all purposes.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Lock-Up Agreement will automatically terminate and the undersigned will be released from all of his, her or its obligations hereunder upon the earliest to occur, if any, of (i) prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company advises Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC in writing that it has determined not to proceed with the Public Offering, (ii) the Company files an application to withdraw the registration statement related to the Public Offering, (iii) the Underwriting Agreement is executed but is terminated (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares to be sold thereunder, or (iv) December 31, 2021, in the event that the Underwriting Agreement has not been executed by such date; provided, however, that the Company may, by written notice to you prior to such date, extend such date for a period of up to three additional months.

This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.


The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this Lock-Up Agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.

 

Very truly yours,

 

Name of Security Holder (Print exact name)

By:  

                    

  Signature
If not signing in an individual capacity:

 

Name of Authorized Signatory (Print)

 

Title of Authorized Signatory (Print)

(indicate capacity of person signing if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)
EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Delaware General Corporation Law, hereby certifies as follows:

1. The name of the corporation is Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”). The original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 25, 2017 under the name Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.

2. The Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the state of Delaware on June 5, 2020, and an amendment thereto was filed with the Secretary of State of the state of Delaware on February 2, 2021.

3. The Corporation’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the state of Delaware on April 5, 2021, and an amendment thereto was filed with the Secretary of State of the state of Delaware on April 7, 2021.

4. The Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242, 245 and 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).

The text of the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as heretofore amended or supplemented is hereby restated and further amended to read in its entirety as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. The Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be effective as of [ ● ] a.m. Eastern Time on [ ● ], 2021.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been signed this [ ● ] day of [ ● ], 2021.

 

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ [ ● ]

  [ ● ]
  [ ● ]


EXHIBIT A

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE AND DURATION

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Corporation is to have a perpetual existence.

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 1. The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, common stock and preferred stock.

The total number of shares that the Corporation is authorized to issue is [ ● ]. The total number of shares of common stock authorized to be issued is [ ● ], par value [$0.001] per share (the “Common Stock”). The total number of shares of preferred stock authorized to be issued is [10,000,000], par value $[0.001] per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

Section 2. The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law but to the fullest extent possible permitted by law, to provide, by resolution of the Board of Directors (authority to do so being hereby expressly vested in the Board of Directors), for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (such certificate being hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included, and to fix the designation, powers (which may include, without limitation, full, limited or no voting power), preferences, and rights of the shares and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series of stock adopted by the Board of Directors, the number


of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each such series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.

Section 3. The rights, powers, and preferences of the Common Stock, and the qualifications, restrictions and limitations thereon, are as set forth below in this Section 3 of this Article IV.

(a) Dividend Rights. Subject to the prior rights of holders of all classes of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to dividends, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets of the Corporation legally available therefor, any dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors.

(b) Liquidation Rights. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding Preferred Stock or any class of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets of the Corporation upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.

(c) Redemption. The Common Stock is not redeemable at the option of the holder.

(d) Voting Rights. Each holder of record of Common Stock, as such, shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock which is outstanding in his, her or its name on the books of the Corporation on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (which, as used herein, shall mean the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from time to time, including the terms of any certificate of designations of any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL. There shall be no cumulative voting.


Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

(e) Amendments and Changes. The Corporation shall not, without first obtaining the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, amend, alter, repeal or waive the provisions of this Section 3 of this Article IV of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in a manner that adversely affects the rights of the holders of the Common Stock.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation it is further provided that:

Section 1.

(a) The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise expressly delegated by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to appoint and remove officers of the Corporation.

(b) Other than any directors elected by the separate vote of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors shall be and is divided into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, as nearly equal in number as possible. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. At the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Qualifying Record Date”), the term of office of the Class I directors shall expire and Class I directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Qualifying Record Date, the term of office of the Class II directors shall expire and Class II directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Qualifying Record Date, the term of office of the Class III directors shall expire and Class III directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, at each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual meeting.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article V, Section 1(b), each director shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification, retirement or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.


(c) Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation with the power to vote at an election of directors (the “Voting Stock”).

(d) Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, retirement, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders, and except as otherwise provided by law, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of the class to which the director shall have been appointed and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification, retirement or removal.

Section 2.

(a) In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”). In addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), the adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

(b) The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, and the taking of any action by written consent of the stockholders in lieu of a meeting of the stockholders is specifically denied.


Section 2. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time by the Board of Directors, chairperson of the Board of Directors, chief executive officer or president (in the absence of a chief executive officer), but such special meetings may not be called by stockholders or any other person or persons.

Section 3. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of other business proposed to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article VII to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as so amended, automatically and without further action, upon the date of such amendment.

Section 2. The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall indemnify and advance expenses to any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or his or her testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as a director or officer at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation.

Section 3. The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may indemnify and advance expenses to any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or his or her testator or intestate, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as an employee or agent at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation.

Section 4. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption by amendment of this certificate of incorporation of any provision inconsistent with this Article VII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VII in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising (or that, but for this Article VII, would accrue or arise) prior to such amendment or repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

 


ARTICLE VIII

FORUM SELECTION

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time) or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case, subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein; provided that, the provisions of this Article VIII will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided, further, that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware.

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude stockholders that assert claims under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor thereto, from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law.

If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of the preceding sentence is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (a) the Personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the preceding sentence and (b) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article VIII.

If any provision or provisions of this Article VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the Voting Stock required by law or by this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Articles V, VI, VII and VIII and this Article IX.


ARTICLE IX

SEVERABILITY

If any provision of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, then such provision shall nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such holding and the remaining provisions of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including without limitation, all portions of any section of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, which is not invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall remain in full force and effect.

* * * *

EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

[SECOND] AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES

     1  

1.1

  REGISTERED OFFICE      1  

1.2

  OTHER OFFICES      1  

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

     1  

2.1

  PLACE OF MEETINGS      1  

2.2

  ANNUAL MEETING      1  

2.3

  SPECIAL MEETING      1  

2.4

  ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE A MEETING      2  

2.5

  ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS      6  

2.6

  NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS      9  

2.7

  MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE      9  

2.8

  QUORUM      10  

2.9

  ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE      10  

2.10

  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS      10  

2.11

  VOTING      10  

2.12

  NO STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING      11  

2.13

  RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS      11  

2.14

  PROXIES      11  

2.15

  LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE      12  

2.16

  INSPECTORS OF ELECTION      12  

ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS

     13  

3.1

  POWERS      13  

3.2

  NUMBER OF DIRECTORS      13  

3.3

  ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS      13  

3.4

  RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES      14  

3.5

  PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE      14  

3.6

  REGULAR MEETINGS      14  

3.7

  SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE      14  

3.8

  QUORUM      15  

3.9

  BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING      15  

3.10

  FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS      16  

3.11

  REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS      16  

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES

     16  

4.1

  COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS      16  

4.2

  COMMITTEE MINUTES      16  

4.3

  MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES      17  

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

     17  

5.1

  OFFICERS      17  

5.2

  APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS      18  

5.3

  SUBORDINATE OFFICERS      18  

5.4

  REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS      18  

5.5

  VACANCIES IN OFFICES      18  

5.6

  REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS      18  

5.7

  AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS      19  

ARTICLE VI - RECORDS AND REPORTS

     19  

6.1

  MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS      19  

6.2

  INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS      19  

ARTICLE VII - GENERAL MATTERS

     19  

7.1

  EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS      19  

7.2

  STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES      20  

7.3

  SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES      20  

7.4

  LOST CERTIFICATES      21  

7.5

  CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS      21  

7.6

  DIVIDENDS      21  

7.7

  FISCAL YEAR      22  

7.8

  SEAL      22  

7.9

  TRANSFER OF STOCK      22  

7.10

  STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS      22  

7.11

  REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS      22  

7.12

  WAIVER OF NOTICE      22  

ARTICLE VIII - NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

     23  

8.1

  NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION      23  

8.2

  DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION      23  

ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION

     24  

9.1

  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS      24  

9.2

  INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS      24  

9.3

  PREPAYMENT OF EXPENSES      24  

9.4

  DETERMINATION; CLAIM      24  

9.5

  NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS      25  

9.6

  INSURANCE      25  

9.7

  OTHER INDEMNIFICATION      25  

9.8

  CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION      25  

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

     26  

ARTICLE XI - FORUM SELECTION

     26  

 

-ii-


[SECOND] AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS OF

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES

1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE.

The registered office of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be fixed in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

1.2 OTHER OFFICES.

The Corporation’s board of directors (the “Board”) may at any time establish other offices at any place or places where the Corporation is qualified to do business.

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS.

Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place, within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office.

2.2 ANNUAL MEETING.

The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 may be transacted.

2.3 SPECIAL MEETING.

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time by the Board, chairperson of the Board, chief executive officer or president (in the absence of a chief executive officer), but such special meetings may not be called by the stockholders or any other person or persons.


No business may be transacted at such special meeting other than the business specified in the notice to stockholders. Nothing contained in this paragraph of this Section 2.3 shall be construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board may be held.

2.4 ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE A MEETING.

(i) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (a) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board, (b) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or the chairperson of the Board, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (A)(1) was a beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Section 2.4 in all applicable respects, or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”). The foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling the meeting pursuant to Section 2.3 of these bylaws, and stockholders shall not be permitted to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the stockholders. For purposes of this Section 2.4, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or, if the proposing stockholder is not an individual, a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be, if such proposing stockholder is (x) a general or limited partnership, any general partner or person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership or who controls the general or limited partnership, (y) a corporation or a limited liability company, any officer or person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company or any officer, director, general partner or person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (z) a trust, any trustee of such trust. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 of these bylaws, and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 of these bylaws.

(ii) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (b) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of

 

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the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

(iii) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(a) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); and (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);

(b) As to each Proposing Person, (A) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (“Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any rights to

 

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dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (C) if such Proposing Person is (i) a general or limited partnership, syndicate or other group, the identity of each general partner and each person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership, each member of the syndicate or group and each person controlling the general partner or member, (ii) a corporation or a limited liability company, the identity of each officer and each person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company, each person controlling the corporation or limited liability company and each officer, director, general partner and person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (iii) a trust, any trustee of such trust, (D) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (E) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, (F) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement) and (G) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (G) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and

(c) As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among any of the Proposing Persons or between or among any Proposing Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and (D) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement

 

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or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this Section 2.4(iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term “Proposing Person shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made and (c) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation or associate (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act for the purposes of these bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner.

(v) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(vi) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4. The presiding officer of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

(vii) This Section 2.4 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s proxy statement. In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

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(viii) For purposes of these bylaws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

2.5 ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS.

(i) Nominations of any person for election to the Board at an annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting) may be made at such meeting only (a) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (b) by a stockholder present in person (A) who was a beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) has complied with this Section 2.5 as to such notice and nomination. The foregoing clause (b) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting or special meeting. For purposes of this Section 2.5, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the meeting of the Corporation, or, if the proposing stockholder is not an individual, a qualified representative of such stockholder, appear at such meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be, if such proposing stockholder is (x) a general or limited partnership, any general partner or person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership or who controls the general or limited partnership, (y) a corporation or a limited liability company, any officer or person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company or any officer, director, general partner or person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (z) a trust, any trustee of such trust.

(ii) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4(ii) of these bylaws) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation, (b) provide the information with respect to such stockholder and its proposed nominee as required by this Section 2.5, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting, then for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at a special meeting, the stockholder must (a) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (b) provide the information with respect to such stockholder and its proposed nominee as required by this Section 2.5, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. To be timely, a stockholder’s

 

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notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4(viii) of these bylaws) of the date of such special meeting was first made. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(iii) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(a) As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(a) of these bylaws) except that for purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(a);

(b) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(b), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(b) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(iii)(b) shall be made with respect to the election of directors at the meeting);

(c) As to each person whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such proposed nominee that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 if such proposed nominee were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such proposed nominee that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such proposed nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (C) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee or his or her respective associates or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (C) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.5(vi); and

 

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(d) The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation.

(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made and (c) any associate of such stockholder or beneficial owner or any other participant in such solicitation.

(v) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(vi) To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, the proposed nominee must be nominated in the manner prescribed in Section 2.5 and must deliver (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such proposed nominee given by or on behalf of the Board), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (a) a completed written questionnaire (in a form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (b) a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the Corporation) that such proposed nominee (A) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director and (C) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any proposed nominee, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such proposed nominee all such policies and guidelines then in effect).

 

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(vii) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations.

(viii) No proposed nominee shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such proposed nominee and the Nominating Person seeking to place such proposed nominee’s name in nomination have complied with this Section 2.5, as applicable. The presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with this Section 2.5, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the proposed nominee in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots case for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.

2.6 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with either Section 2.7 or Section 8.1 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

2.7 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE.

Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be deemed given:

(i) if mailed, when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the Corporation’s records; or

(ii) if electronically transmitted as provided in Section 8.1 of these bylaws.

An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or of the transfer agent or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by mail or by a form of electronic transmission, as applicable, shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

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2.8 QUORUM.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.9 of these bylaws until a quorum is present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.

2.9 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE.

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

2.10 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.

The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of business.

2.11 VOTING.

The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.13 of these bylaws, subject to Section 217 (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners of stock) and Section 218 (relating to voting trusts and other voting agreements) of the DGCL.

Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.

At all duly called or convened meetings of stockholders, at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, all other elections and questions presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, shall be decided by the majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) and shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation.

 

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2.12 NO STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.

Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series of Preferred Stock or any other class of stock or series thereof having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, and except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.

2.13 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS.

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other such action.

If the Board does not so fix a record date:

(i) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

(ii) The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

2.14 PROXIES.

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy

 

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provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. A proxy may be in the form of a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.

2.15 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE.

The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the Corporation’s principal executive office. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.

2.16 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.

Before any meeting of stockholders, the Board shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment and make a written report thereof. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3). If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the chairperson of the meeting may, and upon the request of any stockholder or a stockholder’s proxy shall, appoint a person to fill that vacancy.

Such inspectors shall:

(i) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity, validity, and effect of proxies;

(ii) receive votes or ballots;

 

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(iii) hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;

(iv) count and tabulate all votes;

(v) determine when the polls shall close;

(vi) determine the result; and

(vii) do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders.

The inspectors of election shall perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practical. If there are three (3) inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspectors of election may appoint such persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine.

ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS

3.1 POWERS.

Subject to the provisions of the DGCL and any limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws relating to action required to be approved by the stockholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board.

3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS.

The authorized number of directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board, provided the Board shall consist of at least one member. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.

3.3 ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS.

Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. The Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for directors.

As provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three (3) classes.

 

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3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES.

Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in this section in the filling of other vacancies.

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall, unless the Board determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders, be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist under these bylaws in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.

3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE.

The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS.

Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE.

Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president, the secretary or a majority of the authorized number of directors.

 

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Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:

 

  (i)

delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;

 

  (ii)

sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;

 

  (iii)

sent by facsimile; or

 

  (iv)

sent by electronic mail,

directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporation’s records.

If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or (iii) sent by electronic mail, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be deposited in the U.S. mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice may be communicated to the director. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.

3.8 QUORUM.

At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.

3.9 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

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3.10 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.

3.11 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS.

Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time, but only with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least [sixty six and two thirds percent (66-2/3%)]1 of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation with the power to vote at an election of directors (the “Voting Stock”).

No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES

4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS.

The Board may designate one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation.

4.2 COMMITTEE MINUTES.

Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.

 

1 

NTD: Discuss percentage.

 

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4.3 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES.

Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:

 

  (i)

Section 3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone);

 

  (ii)

Section 3.6 (regular meetings);

 

  (iii)

Section 3.7 (special meetings and notice);

 

  (iv)

Section 3.8 (quorum);

 

  (v)

Section 3.9 (action without a meeting); and

 

  (vi)

Section 7.12 (waiver of notice).

with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members. However:

(i) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee;

(ii) special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board or the chairperson of the applicable committee;

(iii) notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee; and

(iv) the Board may adopt rules for the governance of any committee to override the provisions that would otherwise apply to the committee pursuant to this Section 4.3, provided that such rules do not violate the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

5.1 OFFICERS.

The officers of the Corporation shall be a president and a secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a chairperson of the Board, a vice chairperson of the Board, a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer or treasurer, one (1) or more vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant treasurers, one (1) or more assistant secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

 

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5.2 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS.

The Board shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.

The Board may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer or, in the absence of a chief executive officer, the president, to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.

5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS.

Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an affirmative vote of the majority of the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICES.

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or as provided in Section 5.2.

5.6 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS.

The chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the treasurer, the secretary or assistant secretary of this Corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board , the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any other corporation or corporations standing in the name of this Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.

 

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5.7 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be designated from time to time by the Board or the stockholders and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.

ARTICLE VI - RECORDS AND REPORTS

6.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS.

The Corporation shall, either at its principal executive office or at such place or places as designated by the Board, keep a record of its stockholders listing their names and addresses and the number and class of shares held by each stockholder, a copy of these bylaws as amended to date, accounting books and other records.

Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the Corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean a purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney or other agent is the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing that authorizes the attorney or other agent so to act on behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the Corporation at its registered office in Delaware or at its principal executive office.

6.2 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS.

Any director shall have the right to examine the Corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records for a purpose reasonably related to his or her position as a director. The Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) is hereby vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether a director is entitled to the inspection sought. The Court may summarily order the Corporation to permit the director to inspect any and all books and records, the stock ledger, and the stock list and to make copies or extracts therefrom. The Court may, in its discretion, prescribe any limitations or conditions with reference to the inspection, or award such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

ARTICLE VII - GENERAL MATTERS

7.1 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS.

The Board, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

 

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7.2 STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES.

The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates or shall be uncertificated. Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

The Corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly paid shares, upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the Corporation shall declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.

7.3 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES.

If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

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7.4 LOST CERTIFICATES.

Except as provided in this Section 7.4, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Corporation and cancelled at the same time. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

7.5 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes both a corporation and a natural person.

7.6 DIVIDENDS.

The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (i) the DGCL or (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.

7.7 FISCAL YEAR.

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.

7.8 SEAL.

The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

7.9 TRANSFER OF STOCK.

Shares of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these bylaws. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates representing such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons (or by delivery of duly executed instructions with respect to uncertificated shares), with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement or execution, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the persons from and to whom it was transferred.

 

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7.10 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS.

The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

7.11 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS.

The Corporation:

(i) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner;

(ii) shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and assessments the person registered on its books as the owner of shares; and

(iii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

7.12 WAIVER OF NOTICE.

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.

 

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ARTICLE VIII - NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

8.1 NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.

Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if:

(i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and

(ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice.

However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:

 

  (i)

if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

 

  (ii)

if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

 

  (iii)

if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and

 

  (iv)

if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

8.2 DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.

An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

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ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION

9.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.4, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person only if the Proceeding was authorized in the specific case by the Board.

9.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS.

The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.

9.3 PREPAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any officer or director of the Corporation, and may pay the expenses incurred by any employee or agent of the Corporation, in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise.

9.4 DETERMINATION; CLAIM.

If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Article IX is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

 

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9.5 NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS.

The rights conferred on any person by this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.6 INSURANCE.

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust enterprise or non-profit entity against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

9.7 OTHER INDEMNIFICATION.

The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.

9.8 CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION.

The rights to indemnification and to prepayment of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.

9.9 AMENDMENT OR REPEAL.

The provisions of this Article IX shall constitute a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director or officer of the Corporation (whether before or after the adoption of these bylaws), in consideration of such person’s performance of such services, and pursuant to this Article IX the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director or officer of the Corporation. With respect to current and former directors and officers of the Corporation, the rights conferred under this Article IX are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of theses bylaws. With respect to any directors or officers of the Corporation who commence service following adoption of these bylaws, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director or officer commencing service as a director or

 

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officer of the Corporation. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to an officer or director of the Corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.9 of these bylaws or the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, the Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the authorized number of directors. The stockholders also shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least [sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%)]2 of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock.

ARTICLE XI - EXCLUSIVE FORUM

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time) or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case, subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein; provided that, the provisions of this Article XI will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided, further, that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware.

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude stockholders that assert claims under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor thereto, from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law.

 

2 

NTD: Discuss percentage.

 

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If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of the preceding sentence is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (a) the Personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the preceding sentence and (b) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XI.

If any provision or provisions of this Article XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XI (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article XI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF BYLAWS

 

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that he or she is the duly elected, qualified, and acting Secretary of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and that the foregoing bylaws were amended and restated on         , 2021 by the Corporation’s board of directors.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his or her hand this         day of         , 2021.

 

 

Naomi Beckman-Straus

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

 

LOGO

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS CUSIP TO COME THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the owner of FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE COMMON SHARES, $0.001 PAR VALUE, OF LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC. transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by Attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid until countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed by facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. Dated: SIG TO COME SIG TO COME TITLE TITLE COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER TRUST& COMPANY New (Brooklyn, York) TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR BY AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE


LOGO

THE BOARD OF THIS CORPORATION HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE AND DETERMINE THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF CLASSES OR SERIES OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK OTHER THAN COMMON STOCK. THIS CORPORATION WILL FURNISH TO ANY SHAREHOLDER UPON WRITTEN REQUEST SENT TO ITS PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES, AND WITHOUT CHARGE, A FULL STATEMENT OF THE BOARD’S AUTHORITY TO CREATE AND DETERMINE THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF CLASSES OR SERIES OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK AS WELL AS THE DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS AND RELATIVE RIGHTS OF THE SHARES OF EACH CLASS OR SERIES THEN OUTSTANDING OR AUTHORIZED TO BE ISSUED. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: UTMA – Custodian TEN COM – as tenants in common (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT – as tenants by entireties under Uniform Transfers to Minors JT TEN – as joint tenants with right of survivorship Act and not as tenants in common (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. For value received _____ hereby sell, assign, and transfer unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE) Shares of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated X X NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. SIGNATURE GUARANTEED ALL GUARANTEES MUST BE MADE BY A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SUCH AS A BANK OR BROKER) WHICH IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE SECURITIES TRANSFER AGENTS MEDALLION PROGRAM (“STAMP”), THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. MEDALLION SIGNATURE PROGRAM (“MSP”), OR THE STOCK EXCHANGES MEDALLION PROGRAM (“SEMP”) AND MUST NOT BE DATED. GUARANTEES BY A NOTARY PUBLIC ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

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November 1, 2021

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.

195 Humboldt Avenue

Chico, California 95928

 

Re:

Registration Statement No. 333-260194;

5,750,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the proposed issuance of up to 5,750,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, which are being offered by the Company (the “Shares”). The Shares are included in a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on June 24, 2019 (Registration No. 333-260194, as amended, the “Registration Statement”). The term “Shares” shall include any additional shares of common stock registered by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act in connection with the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement. This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, upon the proper filing of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, substantially in the form most recently filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, with the Secretary of State of Delaware and when such Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the form of underwriting agreement most recently


November 1, 2021

Page 2

 

LOGO

 

filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the issue and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter and consent into any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) with respect to the Shares. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP

 

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

OMNIBUS EQUITY PLAN

ARTICLE I.

PURPOSE

The Plan’s purpose is to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to the Company by providing these individuals with equity ownership opportunities.

ARTICLE II.

DEFINITIONS

As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

2.1 “Administrator” means the Board or a Committee to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee. With reference to the Board’s or a Committee’s powers or authority under the Plan that have been delegated to one or more officers pursuant to Section 4.2, the term “Administrator” shall refer to such officer(s) unless and until such delegation has been revoked.

2.2 “Applicable Law” means any applicable law, including without limitation: (a) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (c) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

2.3 “Award” means an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock award, Restricted Stock Unit award, Performance Bonus Award, Performance Stock Unit award, Dividend Equivalents award or Other Stock or Cash Based Award granted to a Participant under the Plan.

2.4 “Award Agreement” means an agreement evidencing an Award, which may be written or electronic, that contains such terms and conditions as the Administrator determines, consistent with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

2.5 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.6 “Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term, or term of similar effect, in any offer letter, employment, severance or similar agreement, including any Award Agreement, between the Participant and the Company; provided, that in the absence of an offer letter, employment, severance or similar agreement containing such definition, Cause means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following: (a) an act of dishonesty made by the Participant in connection with the Participant’s responsibilities as a Service Provider; (b) the Participant’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or any other act of moral turpitude, or a material violation of federal or state law by the Participant that the Administrator reasonably determines has had or will have a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business; (c) the Participant’s gross misconduct; (d) the Participant’s willful and material unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of the Participant’s relationship with the Company; (e) the Participant’s willful breach of any material obligations under any written agreement or covenant with the Company; or (f) the


Participant’s continued substantial failure to perform the Participant’s duties as a Service Provider (other than as a result of the Participant’s physical or mental incapacity) after the Participant has received a written demand for performance that specifically sets forth the factual basis for the determination that the Participant has not substantially performed the Participant’s duties and has failed to cure such non-performance to the Administrator’s reasonable satisfaction within 30 business days after receiving such notice. For purposes of this definition, no act or failure to act shall be considered willful unless it is done in bad faith and without reasonable intent that the act or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company or required by law. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority or instructions given to the Participant pursuant to a direct instruction from the Company’s chief executive officer or based on the advice of counsel for the Company will be conclusively presumed to be done or omitted to be done by the Participant in good faith and in the best interest of the Company.

2.7 “Change in Control” means any of the following:

(a) The consummation of a transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of the Company’s securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any acquisition which complies with clauses (c)(i), (c)(ii) and (c)(iii) of this definition; or (iv) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant);

(b) The Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board;

(c) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

(i) which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction;

(ii) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this clause (c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; and

 

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(iii) after which at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Successor Entity were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such transaction; or

(d) The completion of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or any portion of an Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this definition with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

2.8 “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

2.9 “Committee” means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board, which may include one or more Company directors or executive officers, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3, it is intended that each member of the Committee will be, at the time the Committee takes any action with respect to an Award that is subject to Rule 16b-3, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3; however, a Committee member’s failure to qualify as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 will not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.

2.10 “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

2.11 “Company” means Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.

2.12 “Consultant” means any person, including any adviser, engaged by the Company or a Subsidiary to render services to such entity if the consultant or adviser: (i) renders bona fide services to the Company or a Subsidiary; (ii) renders services not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (iii) is a natural person.

2.13 “Designated Beneficiary” means, if permitted by the Company, the beneficiary or beneficiaries the Participant designates, in a manner the Company determines, to receive amounts due or exercise the Participant’s rights if the Participant dies. Without a Participant’s effective designation, “Designated Beneficiary” will mean the Participant’s estate or legal heirs.

2.14 “Director” means a Board member.

2.15 “Disability” means a permanent and total disability under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

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2.16 “Dividend Equivalents” means a right granted to a Participant to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on a specified number of Shares. Such Dividend Equivalent shall be converted to cash or additional Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Administrator.

2.17 “DRO” means a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.

2.18 “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3.

2.19 “Employee” means any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

2.20 “Equity Restructuring” means a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split (including a reverse stock split), spin-off or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other Company securities) or the share price of Common Stock (or other Company securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.

2.21 “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all regulations, guidance and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

2.22 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange, the value of a Share will be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the last day preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on an established stock exchange but is quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the value of a Share will be the closing sales price for a Share on such date, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the last date preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on any established stock exchange or quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the value established by the Administrator in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted on or after the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering and prior to the Public Trading Date, the Fair Market Value means the initial public offering price of a Share as set forth in the Company’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

4


2.23 “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” means an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as determined in accordance with in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively.

2.24 “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that meets the requirements to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

2.25 “Incumbent Directors” means, for any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (a) or (c) of the Change in Control definition) whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.

2.26 “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

2.27 “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.28 “Option” means a right granted under Article VI to purchase a specified number of Shares at a specified price per Share during a specified time period. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

2.29 “Other Stock or Cash Based Awards” means cash awards, awards of Shares, and other awards valued wholly or partially by referring to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property.

2.30 “Overall Share Limit” means the sum of (i) 3,719,000 Shares; (ii) any Shares that are subject to Prior Plan Awards that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Article V; and (iii) an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year beginning in 2022 and ending in 2031, equal to the lesser of (A) 4% of the Shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Board or the Committee.

2.31 “Participant” means a Service Provider who has been granted an Award.

2.32 “Performance Bonus Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

2.33 “Performance Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.1 and subject to Section 8.2, to receive Shares, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain performance goals or other performance-based targets established by the Administrator.

2.34 “Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to a Participant, any “family member” of the Participant, as defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (or any successor form thereto), or any other transferee specifically approved by the Administrator after taking into account Applicable Law.

2.35 “Plan” means this Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. Omnibus Equity Plan.

2.36 “Prior Plan” means the Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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2.37 “Prior Plan Award” means an award outstanding under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date.

2.38 “Public Trading Date” means the first date upon which Common Stock is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.

2.39 “Restricted Stock” means Shares awarded to a Participant under Article VII, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

2.40 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded, unsecured right to receive, on the applicable settlement date, one Share or an amount in cash or other consideration determined by the Administrator to be of equal value as of such settlement date, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

2.41 “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

2.42 “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.

2.43 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all regulations, guidance and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

2.44 “Service Provider” means an Employee, Consultant or Director.

2.45 “Shares” means shares of Common Stock.

2.46 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted under Article VI to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares on the date the right is exercised over the exercise price set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

2.47 “Subsidiary” means any entity (other than the Company), whether U.S. or non-U.S., in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

2.48 “Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company or other entity acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.

2.49 “Tax-Related Items” means any U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state and/or local taxes (including, without limitation, income tax, social insurance contributions, fringe benefit tax, employment tax, stamp tax and any employer tax liability which has been transferred to a Participant) for which a Participant is liable in connection with Awards and/or Shares.

2.50 “Termination of Service” means:

(a) As to a Consultant, the time when the engagement of a Participant as a Consultant to the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, with or without Cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, discharge, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

6


(b) As to a Non-Employee Director, the time when a Participant who is a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Participant simultaneously commences employment or service or remains in service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

(c) As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but excluding terminations where the Participant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

The Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a Termination of Service has occurred, whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for Cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service. For purposes of the Plan, a Participant’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relationship shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Subsidiary employing or contracting with such Participant ceases to remain a Subsidiary following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off), even though the Participant may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity.

ARTICLE III.

ELIGIBILITY

Service Providers are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan, subject to the limitations described herein. No Service Provider shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Service Providers, Participants or any other persons uniformly.

ARTICLE IV.

ADMINISTRATION AND DELEGATION

4.1 Administration.

(a) The Plan is administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has authority to determine which Service Providers receive Awards, grant Awards and set Award terms and conditions, subject to the conditions and limitations in the Plan. The Administrator also has the authority to take all actions and make all determinations under the Plan, to interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and to adopt, amend and repeal Plan administrative rules, guidelines and practices as it deems advisable. The Administrator may correct defects and ambiguities, supply omissions, reconcile inconsistencies in the Plan or any Award and make all other determinations that it deems necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and any Awards. The Administrator (and each member thereof) is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to it, him or her by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan are in its sole discretion and will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or any Award.

 

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(b) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant; (iii) determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate; (iv) subject to the limitations in the Plan, determine the terms and conditions of any Award and related Award Agreement, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, purchase price, any performance criteria, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations, waivers or amendments thereof; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered; and (vi) make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.

4.2 Delegation of Authority. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Board or any Committee may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more Committees or officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (b) officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Directors to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation or that are otherwise included in the applicable organizational documents, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 4.2 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board or the Committee, as applicable, and the Board or the Committee may abolish any committee at any time and re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority. Further, regardless of any delegation, the Board or a Committee may, in its discretion, exercise any and all rights and duties as the Administrator under the Plan delegated thereby, except with respect to Awards that are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

ARTICLE V.

STOCK AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS

5.1 Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Article IX and the terms of this Article V, Awards may be made under the Plan covering up to the Overall Share Limit. As of the Effective Date, the Company will cease granting awards under the Prior Plan; however, Prior Plan Awards will remain subject to the terms of the Prior Plan. Shares issued or delivered under the Plan may consist of authorized but unissued Shares, Shares purchased on the open market or treasury Shares.

5.2 Share Recycling.

(a) If all or any part of an Award or Prior Plan Award expires, lapses or is terminated, converted into an award in respect of shares of another entity in connection with a spin-off or other similar event, exchanged for cash, surrendered, repurchased, canceled without having been fully exercised or forfeited, in any case, in a manner that results in the Company acquiring Shares covered by the Award or Prior Plan Award at a price not greater than the price (as adjusted to reflect any Equity Restructuring) paid by the Participant for such Shares or not issuing any Shares covered by the Award or Prior Plan Award, the unused Shares covered by the Award or Prior Plan Award will, as applicable, become or again be available for Awards under the Plan. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards or Prior Plan Awards shall not count against the Overall Share Limit.

 

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(b) In addition, the following Shares shall be available for future grants of Awards: (i) Shares tendered by a Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option or any stock option granted under the Prior Plan; (ii) Shares tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award or any Prior Plan Award; and (iii) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right on exercise thereof. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.2(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded pursuant to an Incentive Stock Option if such action would cause such Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no more than 18,500,000 Shares (as adjusted to reflect any Equity Restructuring) may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.

5.4 Substitute Awards. In connection with an entity’s merger or consolidation with the Company or any Subsidiary or the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s acquisition of an entity’s property or stock, the Administrator may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted before such merger or consolidation by such entity or its affiliate. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate, notwithstanding limitations on Awards in the Plan. Substitute Awards will not count against the Overall Share Limit (nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above), except that Shares acquired by exercise of substitute Incentive Stock Options will count against the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards may again become available for Awards under the Plan as provided under Section 5.2 above); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees, Directors or Consultants prior to such acquisition or combination.

5.5 Non-Employee Director Award Limit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in any policy of the Company regarding non-employee director compensation, the sum of the grant date fair value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of all equity-based Awards and the maximum amount that may become payable pursuant to all cash-based Awards that may be granted to a Service Provider as compensation for services as a Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall not exceed $1,500,000.

ARTICLE VI.

STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1 General. The Administrator may grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to one or more Service Providers, subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine. The Administrator will determine the number of Shares covered by each Option and Stock Appreciation Right, the exercise price of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right. A Stock Appreciation Right will entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right) to receive from the Company upon exercise of the exercisable portion of the Stock Appreciation Right an amount determined by multiplying the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price per Share of the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, subject to any limitations of the Plan or that the Administrator may impose and payable in cash, Shares valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or a combination of the two as the Administrator may determine or provide in the Award Agreement.

 

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6.2 Exercise Price. The Administrator will establish each Option’s and Stock Appreciation Right’s exercise price and specify the exercise price in the Award Agreement. Subject to Section 6.6, the exercise price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the grant date of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per share of the Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, may be less than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; provided that the exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined in accordance with the applicable requirements of Sections 424 and 409A of the Code.

6.3 Duration of Options. Subject to Section 6.6, each Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable at such times and as specified in the Award Agreement, provided that the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will not exceed ten years; provided, further, that, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or specified in the Award Agreement, (a) no portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable and (b) the portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire on the date of such Termination of Service. In addition, in no event shall an Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of overtime pay under the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 be exercisable earlier than six months after its date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant, prior to the end of the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, commits an act of Cause (as determined by the Administrator), or violates any non-competition, non-solicitation or confidentiality provisions of any employment contract, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the right to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, may be terminated by the Company and the Company may suspend the Participant’s right to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right when it reasonably believes that the Participant may have participated in any such act or violation.

6.4 Exercise. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by delivering to the Company (or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator) a notice of exercise, in a form and manner the Company approves (which may be written, electronic or telephonic and may contain representations and warranties deemed advisable by the Administrator), signed or authenticated by the person authorized to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, together with, as applicable, (a) payment in full of the exercise price for the number of Shares for which the Option is exercised in a manner specified in Section 6.5 and (b) satisfaction in full of any withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items in a manner specified in Section 10.5. The Administrator may, in its discretion, limit exercise with respect to fractional Shares and require that any partial exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right be with respect to a minimum number of Shares.

6.5 Payment Upon Exercise. The Administrator shall determine the methods by which payment of the exercise price of an Option shall be made, including, without limitation:

(a) Cash, check or wire transfer of immediately available funds; provided that the Company may limit the use of one of the foregoing methods if one or more of the methods below is permitted;

 

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(b) If there is a public market for Shares at the time of exercise, unless the Company otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including electronically or telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option and that the broker has been directed to deliver promptly to the Company funds sufficient to pay the exercise price, or (B) the Participant’s delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company an amount sufficient to pay the exercise price by cash, wire transfer of immediately available funds or check; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company;

(c) To the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of Shares owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery;

(d) To the extent permitted by the Administrator, surrendering Shares then issuable upon the Option’s exercise valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise date;

(e) To the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery of a promissory note or any other lawful consideration; or

(f) To the extent permitted by the Administrator, any combination of the above payment forms.

6.6 Additional Terms of Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of its present or future parent or subsidiary corporations, as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code. If an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the exercise price will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the Option’s grant date, and the term of the Option will not exceed five years. All Incentive Stock Options (and Award Agreements related thereto) will be subject to and construed consistently with Section 422 of the Code. By accepting an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant agrees to give prompt notice to the Company of dispositions or other transfers (other than in connection with a Change in Control) of Shares acquired under the Option made within (a) two years from the grant date of the Option or (b) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, specifying the date of the disposition or other transfer and the amount the Participant realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, in such disposition or other transfer. Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable to a Participant, or any other party, if an Incentive Stock Option fails or ceases to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code. Any Incentive Stock Option or portion thereof that fails to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code for any reason, including becoming exercisable with respect to Shares having a fair market value exceeding the $100,000 limitation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-4, will be a Nonqualified Stock Option.

ARTICLE VII.

RESTRICTED STOCK; RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

7.1 General. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock, or the right to purchase Restricted Stock, to any Service Provider, subject to forfeiture or the Company’s right to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from the Participant if conditions the Administrator specifies in the Award Agreement are not satisfied before the end of the applicable restriction period or periods that the Administrator establishes for such Award. In addition, the Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Units, which may be subject to vesting and forfeiture conditions during the applicable restriction period or periods, as set forth in an Award Agreement, to Service Providers. The Administrator shall establish the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units; provided, however, that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be

 

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no less than the par value, if any, of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to the extent required by Applicable Law. The Award Agreement for each Award of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall set forth the terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine.

7.2 Restricted Stock.

(a) Stockholder Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, each Participant holding shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, subject to the restrictions in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares to the extent such dividends and other distributions have a record date that is on or after the date on which such Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares; provided, however, that with respect to a share of Restricted Stock subject to restrictions or vesting conditions, except in connection with a spin-off or other similar event as otherwise permitted under Section 9.2, dividends which are paid to Company stockholders prior to the removal of restrictions and satisfaction of vesting conditions shall only be paid to the Participant to the extent that the restrictions are subsequently removed and the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the share of Restricted Stock vests.

(b) Stock Certificates. The Company may require that the Participant deposit in escrow with the Company (or its designee) any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, together with a stock power endorsed in blank.

(c) Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which such Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, such Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof.

7.3 Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units will occur upon or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Restricted Stock Units vest or will instead be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election, subject to compliance with Applicable Law.

ARTICLE VIII.

OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS

8.1 General. The Administrator may grant Performance Stock Unit awards, Performance Bonus Awards, Dividend Equivalents or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, to one or more Service Providers, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine.

8.2 Performance Stock Unit Awards. Each Performance Stock Unit award shall be denominated in a number of Shares or in unit equivalents of Shares or units of value (including a dollar value of Shares) and may be linked to any one or more of performance or other specific criteria, including service to the Company or Subsidiaries, determined to be appropriate by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. In making such determinations, the Administrator may consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.

 

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8.3 Performance Bonus Awards. Each right to receive a bonus granted under this Section 8.3 shall be denominated in the form of cash (but may be payable in cash, stock or a combination thereof) (a “Performance Bonus Award”) and shall be payable upon the attainment of performance goals that are established by the Administrator and relate to one or more of performance or other specific criteria, including service to the Company or Subsidiaries, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator.

8.4 Dividend Equivalents. If the Administrator provides, an Award (other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right) may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Award with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are granted and subject to other terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award subject to vesting shall either (i) to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, not be paid or credited or (ii) be accumulated and subject to vesting to the same extent as the related Award. All such Dividend Equivalents shall be paid at such time as the Administrator shall specify in the applicable Award Agreement.

8.5 Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be granted to Participants, including Awards entitling Participants to receive cash or Shares to be delivered in the future and annual or other periodic or long-term cash bonus awards (whether based on specified performance criteria or otherwise), in each case subject to any conditions and limitations in the Plan. Such Other Stock or Cash Based Awards will also be available as a payment form in the settlement of other Awards, as standalone payments and as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or other property, as the Administrator determines. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including any purchase price, performance goal(s), transfer restrictions, and vesting conditions, which will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Except in connection with a spin-off or other similar event as otherwise permitted under Article IX, dividends that are paid prior to vesting of any Other Stock or Cash Based Award shall only be paid to the applicable Participant to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Other Stock or Cash Based Award vests.

ARTICLE IX.

ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK

AND CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS

9.1 Equity Restructuring(a) . In connection with any Equity Restructuring, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article IX, the Administrator will equitably adjust the terms of the Plan and each outstanding Award as it deems appropriate to reflect the Equity Restructuring, which may include (i) adjusting the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Article V hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares that may be issued); (ii) adjusting the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the performance goals or other criteria included in, outstanding Awards; and (iii) granting new Awards or making cash payments to Participants. The adjustments provided under this Section 9.1 will be nondiscretionary and final and binding on all interested parties, including the affected Participant and the Company; provided that the Administrator will determine whether an adjustment is equitable.

 

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9.2 Corporate Transactions. In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin off, combination, amalgamation, repurchase, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or sale or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, Change in Control, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, other similar corporate transaction or event, other unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company or its financial statements or any change in any Applicable Law or accounting principles, the Administrator, on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event (except that action to give effect to a change in Applicable Law or accounting principles may be made within a reasonable period of time after such change) and either automatically or upon the Participant’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to (x) prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award granted or issued under the Plan, (y) to facilitate such transaction or event or (z) give effect to such changes in Applicable Law or accounting principles:

(a) To provide for the cancellation of any such Award in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property with a value equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under the vested portion of such Award, as applicable; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the Award may be terminated without payment;

(b) To provide that such Award shall vest and, to the extent applicable, be exercisable as to all Shares (or other property) covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the provisions of such Award;

(c) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation or entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation or entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;

(d) To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Article V hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued) or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards;

(e) To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; or

(f) To provide that the Award will terminate and cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the applicable event.

 

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9.3 Change in Control.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control, unless the Administrator elects to (i) terminate an Award in exchange for cash, rights or property, or (ii) cause an Award to become fully exercisable and no longer subject to any forfeiture restrictions prior to the consummation of a Change in Control, pursuant to Section 9.2, (A) such Award (other than any portion subject to performance-based vesting) shall continue in effect or be assumed or an equivalent Award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation and (B) the portion of such Award subject to performance-based vesting shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement and, in the absence of applicable terms and conditions, the Administrator’s discretion.    

(b) In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control refuses to assume or substitute for an Award (other than any portion subject to performance-based vesting), the Administrator shall cause such Award to become fully vested and, if applicable, exercisable immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and all forfeiture restrictions on such Award to lapse and, to the extent unexercised upon the consummation of such transaction, to terminate in exchange for cash, rights or other property. The Administrator shall notify the Participant of any Award that becomes exercisable pursuant to the preceding sentence that such Award shall be fully exercisable for a period of 15 days from the date of such notice, contingent upon the consummation of the Change in Control, and such Award shall terminate upon the consummation of the Change in Control in accordance with the preceding sentence.

(c) For the purposes of this Section 9.3, an Award shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Award, for each Share subject to an Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per-share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.

9.4 Administrative Stand Still. In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other extraordinary transaction or change affecting the Shares or the share price of Common Stock (including any Equity Restructuring or any securities offering or other similar transaction) or for reasons of administrative convenience or to facilitate compliance with any Applicable Law, the Company may refuse to permit the exercise or settlement of one or more Awards for such period of time as the Administrator may determine to be reasonably appropriate under the circumstances.

9.5 General. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no Participant will have any rights due to any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, dividend payment, increase or decrease in the number of Shares of any class or dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or other corporation. Except as expressly provided with respect to an Equity Restructuring under Section 9.1 above or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of Shares of any class, or securities convertible into Shares of any class, will affect, and no adjustment will be made regarding, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the Award’s grant or

 

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exercise price. The existence of the Plan, any Award Agreements and the Awards granted hereunder will not affect or restrict in any way the Company’s right or power to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger, consolidation, spinoff, dissolution or liquidation of the Company or sale of Company assets or (iii) any sale or issuance of securities, including securities with rights superior to those of the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares.

ARTICLE X.

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

10.1 Transferability.

(a) No Award may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or, subject to the Administrator’s consent, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until such Award has been exercised or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed. During the life of a Participant, Awards will be exercisable only by the Participant, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO. After the death of a Participant, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, be exercised by the Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then-Applicable Law of descent and distribution. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, will include references to a transferee approved by the Administrator.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 10.1(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Participant or a Permitted Transferee of such Participant to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option (unless such Incentive Stock Option is intended to become a Nonqualified Stock Option) to any one or more Permitted Transferees of such Participant, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee other than (A) to another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Participant or (B) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a domestic relations order; (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Participant (other than the ability to further transfer the Award to any Person other than another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Participant); (iii) the Participant (or transferring Permitted Transferee) and the receiving Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including, without limitation documents to (A) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (C) evidence the transfer; and (iv) any transfer of an Award to a Permitted Transferee shall be without consideration, except as required by Applicable Law. In addition, and further notwithstanding Section 10.1(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Participant to transfer Incentive Stock Options to a trust that constitutes a Permitted Transferee if, under Section 671 of the Code and other Applicable Law, the Participant is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Incentive Stock Option while it is held in the trust.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 10.1(a), if permitted by the Administrator, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a Designated Beneficiary. A Designated Beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant and any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If the Participant is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse or domestic partner,

 

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as applicable, as the Participant’s Designated Beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written or electronic consent of the Participant’s spouse or domestic partner. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time; provided that the change or revocation is delivered in writing to the Administrator prior to the Participant’s death.

10.2 Documentation. Each Award will be evidenced in an Award Agreement in such form as the Administrator determines in its discretion. Each Award may contain such terms and conditions as are determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with those set forth in the Plan.

10.3 Discretion. Except as the Plan otherwise provides, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award to a Participant need not be identical, and the Administrator need not treat Participants or Awards (or portions thereof) uniformly.

10.4 Changes in Participant’s Status. The Administrator will determine how the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or any other change or purported change in a Participant’s Service Provider status affects an Award and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise rights under the Award, if applicable. Except to the extent otherwise required by Applicable Law or expressly authorized by the Company or by the Company’s written policy on leaves of absence, no service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Participant is on a leave of absence.

10.5 Withholding. Each Participant must pay the Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable, or make provision satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of, any Tax-Related Items required by Applicable Law to be withheld in connection with such Participant’s Awards and/or Shares by the date of the event creating the liability for Tax-Related Items. At the Company’s discretion and subject to any Company insider trading policy (including black-out periods), any withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items may be satisfied by (i) deducting an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding obligation from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant; (ii) accepting a payment from the Participant in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or by check made payable to the order of the Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable; (iii) accepting the delivery of Shares, including Shares delivered by attestation; (iv) retaining Shares from the Award creating the withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items, valued on the date of delivery, (v) if there is a public market for Shares at the time the withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied, selling Shares issued pursuant to the Award creating the withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items, either voluntarily by the Participant or mandatorily by the Company; (vi) accepting delivery of a promissory note or any other lawful consideration; or (vii) any combination of the foregoing payment forms. The amount withheld pursuant to any of the foregoing payment forms shall be determined by the Company and may be up to, but no greater than, the aggregate amount of such obligations based on the maximum statutory withholding rates in the applicable Participant’s jurisdiction for all Tax-Related Items that are applicable to such taxable income. If any tax withholding obligation will be satisfied under clause (v) of the preceding paragraph, each Participant’s acceptance of an Award under the Plan will constitute the Participant’s authorization to the Company and instruction and authorization to any brokerage firm selected by the Company to effect the sale to complete the transactions described in clause (v).

10.6 Amendment of Award; Repricing. The Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including by substituting another Award of the same or a different type, changing the exercise or settlement date, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonqualified Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action will be required unless (i) the action, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Award, or (ii) the change is permitted under Article IX or pursuant to Section 11.6. In addition, the Administrator shall, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, have the authority to (a) amend any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its exercise price per Share, or (b) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award.

 

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10.7 Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Shares under the Plan or remove restrictions from Shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all Award conditions have been met or removed to the Company’s satisfaction, (ii) as determined by the Company, all other legal matters regarding the issuance and delivery of such Shares have been satisfied, including, without limitation, any applicable securities laws and stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, (iii) any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable have been obtained, and (iv) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to satisfy Applicable Law. The inability or impracticability of the Company to obtain or maintain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained, and shall constitute circumstances in which the Administrator may determine to amend or cancel Awards pertaining to such Shares, with or without consideration to the Participant.

10.8 Acceleration. The Administrator may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately vested and fully or partially exercisable, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise fully or partially realizable.

ARTICLE XI.

MISCELLANEOUS

11.1 No Right to Employment or Other Status. No person will have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award will not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continue employment or any other relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary. The Company and its Subsidiaries expressly reserve the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan or any Award, except as expressly provided in an Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary.

11.2 No Rights as Stockholder; Certificates. Subject to the Award Agreement, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary will have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under an Award until becoming the record holder of such Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless the Administrator otherwise determines or Applicable Law requires, the Company will not be required to deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares may be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator). The Company may place legends on any share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares (including, without limitation, restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock).

11.3 Effective Date. The Plan will become effective on the date immediately prior to the date the Company’s registration statement relating to the initial public offering of its Common Stock becomes effective (the “Effective Date”). No Incentive Stock Option may be granted pursuant to the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date the Plan was approved by the Board and (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders.

 

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11.4 Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time; provided that (a) no amendment requiring stockholder approval to comply with Applicable Law shall be effective unless approved by the Board, and (b) no amendment, other than an increase to the Overall Share Limit or pursuant to Article IX or Section 11.6, may materially and adversely affect any Award outstanding at the time of such amendment without the affected Participant’s consent. No Awards may be granted under the Plan during any suspension period or after Plan termination. Awards outstanding at the time of any Plan suspension or termination will continue to be governed by the Plan and the Award Agreement, as in effect before such suspension or termination. The Board will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law.

11.5 Provisions for Foreign Participants. The Administrator may modify Awards granted to Participants who are nationals of a country other than the United States or employed or residing outside the United States, establish subplans or procedures under the Plan or take any other necessary or appropriate action to address Applicable Law, including (a) differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters, (b) listing and other requirements of any non-U.S. securities exchange, and (c) any necessary local governmental or regulatory exemptions or approvals.

11.6 Section 409A.

(a) General. The Company intends that all Awards be structured to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A, such that no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A apply. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Administrator may, without a Participant’s consent, amend this Plan or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including any such actions intended to (A) exempt this Plan or any Award from Section 409A, or (B) comply with Section 409A, including regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after an Award’s grant date. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to an Award’s tax treatment under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company will have no obligation under this Section 11.6 or otherwise to avoid the taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and will have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute noncompliant “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A.

(b) Separation from Service. If an Award constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A, any payment or settlement of such Award upon a Participant’s Termination of Service will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A, be made only upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A), whether such “separation from service” occurs upon or after the Participant’s Termination of Service. For purposes of this Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms means a “separation from service.”

(c) Payments to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” required to be made under an Award to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A and as the Administrator determines) due to his or her “separation from service” will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, until the specified employee’s death) and will instead be paid (as set forth in the Award Agreement) on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (without interest). Any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under such Award payable more than six months following the Participant’s “separation from service” will be paid at the time or times the payments are otherwise scheduled to be made.

 

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11.7 Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director, officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan or any Award, and such individual will not be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument executed in his or her capacity as an Administrator, director, officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary that has been or will be granted or delegated any duty or power relating to the Plan’s administration or interpretation, against any cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Administrator’s approval) arising from any act or omission concerning this Plan unless arising from such person’s own fraud or bad faith; provided that he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf.

11.8 Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 11.8 by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any Shares held in the Company or its Subsidiaries and affiliates; and Award details, to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration and management. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents in this Section 11.8 in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. The Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s sole discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 11.8. For more information on the consequences of refusing or withdrawing consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

11.9 Severability. If any portion of the Plan or any action taken under it is held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had been excluded, and the illegal or invalid action will be null and void.

11.10 Governing Documents. If any contradiction occurs between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company (or any Subsidiary), the Plan will govern, unless such Award Agreement or other written agreement was approved by the Administrator and expressly provides that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply.

 

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11.11 Governing Law. The Plan and all Awards will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law rules thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

11.12 Clawback Provisions. All Awards (including the gross amount of any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit the Participant actually or constructively receives upon receipt or exercise of any Award or the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) will be subject to recoupment by the Company to the extent required to comply with Applicable Law or any policy of the Company providing for the reimbursement of incentive compensation, whether or not such policy was in place at the time of grant of an Award.

11.13 Titles and Headings. The titles and headings in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, if any conflict, the Plan’s text, rather than such titles or headings, will control.

11.14 Conformity to Applicable Law. Participant acknowledges that the Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan and all Awards will be administered only in a manner intended to conform with Applicable Law. To the extent Applicable Law permits, the Plan and all Award Agreements will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

11.15 Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan will be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, except as expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

11.16 Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.

11.17 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan and any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

11.18 Prohibition on Executive Officer Loans. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

 

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11.19 Broker-Assisted Sales. In the event of a broker-assisted sale of Shares in connection with the payment of amounts owed by a Participant under or with respect to the Plan or Awards, including amounts to be paid under the final sentence of Section 10.5: (a) any Shares to be sold through the broker- assisted sale will be sold on the day the payment first becomes due, or as soon thereafter as practicable; (b) such Shares may be sold as part of a block trade with other Participants in the Plan in which all Participants receive an average price; (c) the applicable Participant will be responsible for all broker’s fees and other costs of sale, and by accepting an Award, each Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any losses, costs, damages, or expenses relating to any such sale; (d) to the extent the Company or its designee receives proceeds of such sale that exceed the amount owed, the Company will pay such excess in cash to the applicable Participant as soon as reasonably practicable; (e) the Company and its designees are under no obligation to arrange for such sale at any particular price; and (f) in the event the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to satisfy the Participant’s applicable obligation, the Participant may be required to pay immediately upon demand to the Company or its designee an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy any remaining portion of the Participant’s obligation.

*    *    *    *    *

 

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

OMNIBUS EQUITY PLAN

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”), pursuant to its Omnibus Equity Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (“Participant”), an option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Shares”), set forth below (the “Option”). This Option is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein, as well as in the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Stock Option Agreement”), each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this Stock Option Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”) and the Stock Option Agreement but defined in the Plan will have the same definitions as in the Plan. If the Company uses an electronic stock administration system and the fields below are blank or the information is otherwise provided in a different format electronically, the blank fields and other information shall be deemed incorporated herein from the electronic stock administration system and considered part of this Grant Notice.

 

Participant:   [____________]
Grant Date:   [____________]
Vesting Commencement Date:   [____________]
Exercise Price per Share:   $[___________]
Total Exercise Price:   [____________]
Total Number of Shares Subject to the Option:   [____________]
Expiration Date:   [____________]
Vesting Schedule:   [____________]

Type of Option:         ☐    Incentive Stock Option        ☐    Nonqualified Stock Option

By Participant’s signature below or by electronic acceptance or authentication in a form authorized by the Company, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Grant Notice. Participant has reviewed the Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Grant Notice. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Stock Option Agreement or this Grant Notice.

 

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.:

    PARTICIPANT:
By:  

 

    By:  

 

Print Name:  

 

    Print Name:  

 

Title:  

 

     
Address:  

 

    Address:  

 

 

 

     

 


EXHIBIT A

TO STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the Stock Option Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”) to which this Stock Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is attached, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has granted to the Participant an Option under the Company’s Omnibus Equity Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”), to purchase the number of Shares indicated in the Grant Notice.

ARTICLE 1.

GENERAL

1.1 Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan and the Grant Notice.

1.2 Incorporation of Terms of Plan. The Option is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

ARTICLE 2.

GRANT OF OPTION

2.1 Grant of Option. In consideration of the Participant’s past or continued employment with or service to the Company or any Subsidiary and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Grant Date”), the Company irrevocably grants to the Participant the Option to purchase any part or all of an aggregate of the number of Shares set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, subject to adjustments as provided in Article IX of the Plan. Unless designated as a Nonqualified Stock Option in the Grant Notice, the Option shall be an Incentive Stock Option to the maximum extent permitted by law.

2.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price of the Shares subject to the Option shall be as set forth in the Grant Notice, without commission or other charge; provided, however, that the price per share of the Shares subject to the Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and the Participant is a Greater Than 10% Stockholder as of the Grant Date, the exercise price per share of the Shares subject to the Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.

2.3 Consideration to the Company. In consideration of the grant of the Option by the Company, the Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and the Participant.

 

A-1


ARTICLE 3.

PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY

3.1 Commencement of Exercisability.

(a) Subject to Sections 3.2, 3.3, 5.11 and 5.17 hereof, the Option shall become vested and exercisable in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice.

(b) No portion of the Option which has not become vested and exercisable at the date of the Participant’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become vested and exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between the Company and the Participant.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 3.1(a) hereof and the Grant Notice, but subject to Section 3.1(b) hereof, in the event of a Change in Control the Option shall be treated pursuant to Sections 9.2 and 9.3 of the Plan.

3.2 Duration of Exercisability. The installments provided for in the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice are cumulative. Each such installment which becomes vested and exercisable pursuant to the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice shall remain vested and exercisable until it becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof.

3.3 Expiration of Option. The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:

(a) The Expiration Date set forth in the Grant Notice, which shall in no event be more than ten years from the Grant Date;

(b) If this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and the Participant, at the time the Option was granted, was a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the expiration of five years from the Grant Date;

(c) The expiration of three months from the date of the Participant’s Termination of Service, unless such termination occurs by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability;

(d) The expiration of one year from the date of the Participant’s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability; or

(e) The Participant’s Termination of Service for Cause.

3.4 Special Tax Consequences. The Participant acknowledges that, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options, including the Option (if applicable), are exercisable for the first time by the Participant in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, the Option and such other options shall be Nonqualified Stock Options to the extent necessary to comply with the limitations imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code. The Participant further acknowledges that the rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking the Option and other “incentive stock options” into account in the order in which they were granted, as determined under Section 422(d) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. The Participant also acknowledges that an Incentive Stock Option exercised more than three months after the Participant’s Termination of Employment, other than by reason of death or Disability, will be taxed as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

A-2


3.5 Tax Indemnity.

(a) The Participant agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company, any Subsidiary and the Participant’s employing company, if different, from and against any liability for or obligation to pay any Tax Liability (a “Tax Liability” being any liability for income tax, withholding tax and any other employment related taxes or social security contributions in any jurisdiction) that is attributable to (1) the grant or exercise of, or any benefit derived by the Participant from, the Option, (2) the acquisition by the Participant of the Shares on exercise of the Option or (3) the disposal of any Shares.

(b) The Option cannot be exercised until the Participant has made such arrangements as the Company may require for the satisfaction of any Tax Liability that may arise in connection with the exercise of the Option or the acquisition of the Shares by the Participant. The Company shall not be required to issue, allot or transfer Shares until the Participant has satisfied this obligation.

(c) The Participant hereby acknowledges that the Company (i) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax Liabilities in connection with any aspect of the Option and (ii) does not commit to and is under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of any Award, including the Option, to reduce or eliminate the Participant’s liability for Tax Liabilities or achieve any particular tax result. Furthermore, if the Participant becomes subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction between the date of grant of an Award, including the Option, and the date of any relevant taxable event, the Participant acknowledges that the Company may be required to withhold or account for Tax Liabilities in more than one jurisdiction.

ARTICLE 4.

EXERCISE OF OPTION

4.1 Person Eligible to Exercise. Except as provided in Section 5.3 hereof, during the lifetime of the Participant, only the Participant may exercise the Option or any portion thereof, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO. After the death of the Participant, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when the Option becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof, be exercised by the deceased Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.

4.2 Partial Exercise. Any exercisable portion of the Option or the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable, may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to the time when the Option or portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof. However, the Option shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional Shares.

4.3 Manner of Exercise. The Option, or any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by delivery to the Secretary of the Company (or any third party administrator or other person or entity designated by the Company; for the avoidance of doubt, delivery shall include electronic delivery), during regular business hours, of all of the following prior to the time when the Option or such portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof:

(a) An exercise notice in a form specified by the Administrator, stating that the Option or portion thereof is thereby exercised, such notice complying with all applicable rules established by the Administrator. The notice shall be signed by the Participant or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or such portion of the Option;

 

A-3


(b) The receipt by the Company of full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option or portion thereof is exercised, including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which shall be made by deduction from other compensation payable to the Participant or in such other form of consideration permitted under Section 4.4 hereof that is acceptable to the Company;

(c) Any other written representations or documents as may be required in the Administrator’s sole discretion to evidence compliance with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other applicable law, rule or regulation; and

(d) In the event the Option or portion thereof shall be exercised pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof by any person or persons other than the Participant, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to specify all conditions of the manner of exercise, which conditions may vary by country and which may be subject to change from time to time.

4.4 Method of Payment. Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Participant:

(a) Cash or check;

(b) With the consent of the Administrator, surrender of Shares (including, without limitation, Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option) held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof; or

(c) Other legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator (including, without limitation, through the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale).

4.5 Conditions to Issuance of Shares. The Shares deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, or any portion thereof, may be either previously authorized but unissued Shares or issued Shares which have then been reacquired by the Company. Such Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any Shares purchased upon the exercise of the Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the conditions in Section 10.7 of the Plan and following conditions:

(a) The admission of such Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Shares are then listed;

(b) The completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or of any other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable;

 

A-4


(c) The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;

(d) The receipt by the Company of full payment for such Shares, including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which may be in one or more of the forms of consideration permitted under Section 4.4 hereof; and

(e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the Option as the Administrator may from time to time establish for reasons of administrative convenience.

4.6 Rights as Stockholder. The holder of the Option shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to dividends, in respect of any Shares purchasable upon the exercise of any part of the Option unless and until such Shares shall have been issued by the Company and held of record by such holder (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Article IX of the Plan.

ARTICLE 5.

OTHER PROVISIONS

5.1 Administration. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon the Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee or the Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Agreement or the Option.

5.2 Whole Shares. The Option may only be exercised for whole Shares.

5.3 Transferability.

(a) Subject to Section 4.1 hereof, the Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until the Option has been exercised and the Shares underlying the Option have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed. Neither the Option nor any interest or right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until the Option has been exercised, and any attempted disposition thereof prior to exercise shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.

 

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(b) During the lifetime of the Participant, only the Participant may exercise the Option (or any portion thereof), unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO; after the death of the Participant, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or this Agreement, be exercised by the Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then-applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the Participant may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to the Option upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, except to the extent the Plan and this Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If the Participant is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant’s interest in the Option shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Participant’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by the Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Administrator prior to the Participant’s death.

5.4 Tax Consultation. The Participant understands that the Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of the grant, vesting or exercise of the Option, or with the purchase or disposition of the Shares subject to the Option. The Participant represents that the Participant has consulted with any tax consultants the Participant deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of such Shares and that the Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

5.5 Binding Agreement. Subject to the limitation on the transferability of the Option contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

5.6 Adjustments Upon Specified Events. The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of the Option in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events relating to the Shares contemplated by Article IX of the Plan (including, without limitation, an extraordinary cash dividend on such Shares), the Administrator shall make such adjustments the Administrator deems appropriate in the number of Shares subject to the Option, the exercise price of the Option and the kind of securities that may be issued upon exercise of the Option. The Participant acknowledges that the Option is subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and Article IX of the Plan.

5.7 Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.7, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice which is required to be given to the Participant shall, if the Participant is then deceased, be given to the person entitled to exercise his or her Option pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof by written notice under this Section 5.7. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

 

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5.8 Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

5.9 Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

5.10 Conformity to Securities Laws. The Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all Applicable Law and regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Option is granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to such Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.

5.11 Amendment, Suspension and Termination. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the Option in any material way without the prior written consent of the Participant.

5.12 Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth in Section 5.3 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

5.13 Notification of Disposition. If this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant shall give prompt notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any Shares acquired under this Agreement if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two years from the Grant Date with respect to such Shares or (b) within one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the Participant in such disposition or other transfer.

5.14 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the Option and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

5.15 Not a Contract of Service Relationship. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or to terminate for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, the services of the Participant’s at any time.

 

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5.16 Entire Agreement. The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, provided that the Option shall be subject to any accelerated vesting provisions in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Company plan pursuant to which the Participant participates, in each case, in accordance with the terms therein.

5.17 Section 409A. This Option is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “Section 409A”). However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, if at any time the Administrator determines that the Option (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify the Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate either for the Option to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

5.18 Limitation on the Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. The Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the Option, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Shares as a general unsecured creditor with respect to options, as and when exercised pursuant to the terms hereof.

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LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

OMNIBUS EQUITY PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”), pursuant to its Omnibus Equity Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (the “Participant”), an award of restricted stock units (“Restricted Stock Units” or “RSUs”). Each vested Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive, in accordance with the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”), one share of Common Stock (“Share”). This award of Restricted Stock Units is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Agreement and the Plan, each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”) and the Agreement but defined in the Plan will have the same definitions as in the Plan. If the Company uses an electronic stock administration system and the fields below are blank or the information is otherwise provided in a different format electronically, the blank fields and other information shall be deemed incorporated herein from the electronic stock administration system and considered part of this Grant Notice.

 

Participant:   [_____________]
Grant Date:   [_____________]
Total Number of RSUs:   [_____________]
Vesting Commencement Date:   [_____________]
Vesting Schedule:   [_____________]
Termination:   If the Participant experiences a Termination of Service, all RSUs that have not become vested on or prior to the date of such Termination of Service will thereupon be automatically forfeited by the Participant without payment of any consideration therefor.

By the Participant’s signature below or by electronic acceptance or authentication in a form authorized by the Company, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and this Grant Notice. The Participant has reviewed the Plan, the Agreement and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Plan, the Agreement and this Grant Notice. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Agreement or this Grant Notice. In addition, by signing below, the Participant also agrees that the Company, in its sole discretion, may satisfy any withholding obligations in accordance with Section 2.6(b) of the Agreement by (i) withholding shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the RSUs, (ii) instructing a broker on the Participant’s behalf to sell shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the RSUs and submit the proceeds of such sale to the Company, or (iii) using any other method permitted by Section 2.6(b) of the Agreement or the Plan.

 

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.:     PARTICIPANT:
By:  

 

    By:  

 

Print Name:  

 

    Print Name:  

 

Title:  

 

     
Address:  

 

    Address:  

 


EXHIBIT A

TO RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”) to which this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) is attached, Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has granted to the Participant the number of restricted stock units (“Restricted Stock Units or RSUs”) set forth in the Grant Notice under the Company’s Omnibus Equity Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”). Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of Common Stock (a “Share”) upon vesting.

ARTICLE I.

GENERAL

1.1 Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan and the Grant Notice.

1.2 Incorporation of Terms of Plan. The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

ARTICLE II.

GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

2.1 Grant of RSUs. Pursuant to the Grant Notice and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice, the Company hereby grants to the Participant an award of RSUs under the Plan in consideration of the Participant’s past or continued employment with or service to the Company or any Subsidiaries and for other good and valuable consideration.

2.2 Unsecured Obligation to RSUs. Unless and until the RSUs have vested in the manner set forth in Article 2 hereof, the Participant will have no right to receive Common Stock under any such RSUs. Prior to actual payment of any vested RSUs, such RSUs will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company.

2.3 Vesting Schedule. Subject to Section 2.5 hereof, the RSUs shall vest and become nonforfeitable with respect to the applicable portion thereof according to the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice (rounding down to the nearest whole Share).

2.4 Consideration to the Company. In consideration of the grant of the award of RSUs pursuant hereto, the Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Subsidiary.

2.5 Forfeiture, Termination and Cancellation upon Termination of Service. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement or the Plan, upon the Participant’s Termination of Service for any or no reason, all Restricted Stock Units which have not vested prior to or in connection with such Termination of Service shall thereupon automatically be forfeited, terminated and cancelled as of the applicable termination date without payment of any consideration by the Company, and the

 

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Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary or personal representative, as the case may be, shall have no further rights hereunder. No portion of the RSUs which has not become vested as of the date on which the Participant incurs a Termination of Service shall thereafter become vested, except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between the Company and the Participant.

2.6 Issuance of Common Stock upon Vesting.

(a) As soon as administratively practicable following the vesting of any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, but in no event later than 30 days after such vesting date (for the avoidance of doubt, this deadline is intended to comply with the “short term deferral” exemption from Section 409A of the Code), the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or any transferee permitted under Section 3.2 hereof) a number of Shares equal to the number of RSUs subject to this Award that vest on the applicable vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Shares cannot be issued pursuant to Section 10.7 of the Plan, the Shares shall be issued pursuant to the preceding sentence as soon as administratively practicable after the Administrator determines that Shares can again be issued in accordance with such Section.

(b) As set forth in Section 10.5 of the Plan, the Company shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or to require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the Restricted Stock Units. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Shares to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative unless and until the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state and local taxes applicable to the taxable income of the Participant resulting from the grant or vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or the issuance of Shares.

2.7 Conditions to Delivery of Shares. The Shares deliverable hereunder may be either previously authorized but unissued Shares, treasury Shares or issued Shares which have then been reacquired by the Company. Such Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue Shares deliverable hereunder prior to fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 10.7 of the Plan.

2.8 Rights as Stockholder. The holder of the RSUs shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to dividends, in respect of the RSUs and any Shares underlying the RSUs and deliverable hereunder unless and until such Shares shall have been issued by the Company and held of record by such holder (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Article IX of the Plan.

ARTICLE III.

OTHER PROVISIONS

3.1 Administration. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon the Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Administrator or the Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Agreement or the RSUs.

 

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3.2 Transferability. The RSUs shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in Section 10.1 of the Plan.

3.3 Tax Consultation. The Participant understands that the Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences in connection with the RSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement (and the Shares issuable with respect thereto). The Participant represents that the Participant has consulted with any tax consultants the Participant deems advisable in connection with the RSUs and the issuance of Shares with respect thereto and that the Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

3.4 Binding Agreement. Subject to the limitation on the transferability of the RSUs contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

3.5 Adjustments Upon Specified Events. The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of the RSUs in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. The Participant acknowledges that the RSUs are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and Article IX of the Plan.

3.6 Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 3.6, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

3.7 Participant’s Representations. If the Shares issuable hereunder have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state laws on an effective registration statement at the time of such issuance, the Participant shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with such issuance, make such written representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company or its counsel.

3.8 Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

3.9 Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

3.10 Conformity to Securities Laws. The Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any other Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the RSUs are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.

 

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3.11 Amendment, Suspension and Termination. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the RSUs in any material way without the prior written consent of the Participant.

3.12 Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth in Section 3.2 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

3.13 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the Plan, the RSUs and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

3.14 Not a Contract of Service Relationship. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or to terminate for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, the services of the Participant at any time.

3.15 Entire Agreement. The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto, if any) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, provided that the RSUs shall be subject to any accelerated vesting provisions in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Company plan pursuant to which the Participant participates, in each case, in accordance with the terms therein.

3.16 Section 409A. This Award is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “Section 409A”). However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, if at any time the Administrator determines that this Award (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate for this Award either to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

3.17 Limitation on Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. The Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Common Stock as a general unsecured creditor with respect to RSUs, as and when payable hereunder.

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EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

2021 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE

The Plan’s purpose is to assist employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries in acquiring a stock ownership interest in the Company, and to help such employees provide for their future security and to encourage them to remain in the employment of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

The Plan consists of two components: the Section 423 Component and the Non-Section 423 Component. The Section 423 Component is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code and shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. In addition, this Plan authorizes the grant of Options under the Non-Section 423 Component, which need not qualify as Options granted pursuant to an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code; such Options granted under the Non-Section 423 Component shall be granted pursuant to separate Offerings containing such sub-plans, appendices, rules or procedures as may be adopted by the Administrator and designed to achieve tax, securities laws or other objectives for Eligible Employees and the Designated Subsidiaries in locations outside of the United States. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Non-Section 423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the Section 423 Component. Offerings intended to be made under the Non-Section 423 Component will be designated as such by the Administrator at or prior to the time of such Offering.

For purposes of this Plan, the Administrator may designate separate Offerings under the Plan, the terms of which need not be identical, in which Eligible Employees will participate, even if the dates of the applicable Offering Period(s) in each such Offering is identical, provided that the terms of participation are the same within each separate Offering under the Section 423 Component as determined under Section 423 of the Code. Solely by way of example and without limiting the foregoing, the Company could, but shall not be required to, provide for simultaneous Offerings under the Section 423 Component and the Non-Section 423 Component of the Plan.

ARTICLE 2

DEFINITIONS

As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

2.1 “Administrator” means the Committee, or such individuals to which authority to administer the Plan has been delegated under Section 7.1 hereof.

2.2 “Agent” means the brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution, entity or person(s), if any, engaged, retained, appointed or authorized to act as the agent of the Company or an Employee with regard to the Plan.

2.3 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.4 “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.


2.5 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

2.6 “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

2.7 “Company” means Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.

2.8 “Compensation” of an Employee means the regular earnings or base salary, bonuses and commissions paid to the Employee from the Company on each Payday as compensation for services to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, before deduction for any salary deferral contributions made by the Employee to any tax-qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plan, including overtime, shift differentials, vacation pay, salaried production schedule premiums, holiday pay, jury duty pay, funeral leave pay, paid time off, military pay, prior week adjustments and weekly bonus, but excluding education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising under any group insurance or benefit program, travel expenses, business and moving reimbursements, including tax gross ups and taxable mileage allowance, income received in connection with any stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other compensatory equity awards and all contributions made by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary for the Employee’s benefit under any employee benefit plan now or hereafter established. Such Compensation shall be calculated before deduction of any income or employment tax withholdings, but shall be withheld from the Employee’s net income.

2.9 “Designated Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary, including any Subsidiary in existence on the Effective Date and any Subsidiary formed or acquired following the Effective Date, that has been designated by the Board or Committee from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan, in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof, such designation to specify whether such participation is in the Section 423 Component or Non-Section 423 Component. A Designated Subsidiary may participate in either the Section 423 Component or Non-Section 423 Component, but not both; provided that a Subsidiary that, for U.S. tax purposes, is disregarded from the Company or any Subsidiary that participates in the Section 423 Component shall automatically constitute a Designated Subsidiary that participates in the Section 423 Component.

2.10 “Effective Date” means the date immediately prior to the date the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering becomes effective, provided that the Board has adopted the Plan prior to or on such date, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.

2.11 “Eligible Employee” means an Employee:

(a) who is customarily scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week;

(b) whose customary employment is more than five months in a calendar year; and

(c) who, after the granting of the Option, would not be deemed for purposes of Section 423(b)(3) of the Code to possess 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary.

For purposes of clause (c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code with regard to the attribution of stock ownership shall apply in determining the stock ownership of an individual, and stock which an Employee may purchase under outstanding options shall be treated as stock owned by the Employee.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may exclude from participation in the Section 423 Component as an Eligible Employee:

(x) any Employee that is a “highly compensated employee” of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code), or that is such a “highly compensated employee” (A) with compensation above a specified level, (B) who is an officer or (C) who is subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act; or

(y) any Employee who is a citizen or resident of a foreign jurisdiction (without regard to whether they are also a citizen of the United States or a resident alien (within the meaning of Section 7701(b)(1)(A) of the Code)) if either (A) the grant of the Option is prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction governing such Employee, or (B) compliance with the laws of the foreign jurisdiction would cause the Section 423 Component, any Offering thereunder or an Option granted thereunder to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code;

provided that any exclusion in clauses (x) or (y) shall be applied in an identical manner under each Offering to all Employees of the Company and all Designated Subsidiaries, in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.423-2(e). Further notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the Non-Section 423 Component, the first sentence in this definition shall apply in determining who is an “Eligible Employee,” except (a) the Administrator may limit eligibility further within the Company or a Designated Subsidiary so as to only designate some Employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary as Eligible Employees, and (b) to the extent the restrictions in the first sentence in this definition are not consistent with applicable local laws, the applicable local laws shall control.

2.12 “Employee” means any person who renders services to the Company or a Designated Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. “Employee” shall not include any director of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary who does not render services to the Company or a Designated Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military leave, sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary and meeting the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.421-1(h)(2). Where the period of leave exceeds three months, or such other period specified in Treas. Reg. § 1.421-1(h)(2), and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such three-month period, or such other period specified in Treas. Reg. § 1.421-1(h)(2).

2.13 “Enrollment Date” means the first date of each Offering Period.

2.14 “Exercise Date” means the last day of each Purchase Period, except as provided in Section 5.2 hereof.

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

2.16 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

(a) If the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Stock Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) listed, quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a share of Common Stock as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a share of Common Stock on the date in question, the closing sales price for a share of Common Stock on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

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(b) If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a share of Common Stock on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a share of Common Stock on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

(c) If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

2.17 “Grant Date” means the first day of an Offering Period.

2.18 “New Exercise Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(b) hereof.

2.19 “Non-Section 423 Component” means those Offerings under the Plan, together with the sub-plans, appendices, rules or procedures, if any, adopted by the Administrator as a part of this Plan, in each case, pursuant to which Options may be granted to non-U.S. Eligible Employees that need not satisfy the requirements for Options granted pursuant to an “employee stock purchase plan” that are set forth under Section 423 of the Code.

2.20 “Offering” means an offer under the Plan of an Option that may be exercised during an Offering Period as further described in Section 4 hereof. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator, each Offering to the Eligible Employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary shall be deemed a separate Offering, even if the dates and other terms of the applicable Purchase Periods of each such Offering are identical and the provisions of the Plan will separately apply to each Offering. To the extent permitted by Treas. Reg. § 1.423-2(a)(1), the terms of each separate Offering under the Section 423 Component need not be identical, provided that the terms of the Section 423 Component and an Offering thereunder together satisfy Treas. Reg. § 1.423-2(a)(2) and (a)(3).

2.21 “Offering Period means each consecutive, overlapping 12-month period commencing on such dates as determined by the Administrator, in its discretion, and with respect to which Options shall be granted to Participants. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be established or changed by the Board or Committee at any time, in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may an Offering Period exceed 27 months.

2.22 “Option” means the right to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan during each Offering Period.

2.23 “Option Price” means the purchase price of a share of Common Stock hereunder as provided in Section 4.2 hereof.

2.24 “Parent” means any entity that is a parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code.

2.25 “Participant” means any Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan.

2.26 “Payday” means the regular and recurring established day for payment of Compensation to an Employee of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary.

 

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2.27 “Plan” means this 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, including both the Section 423 Component and Non-Section 423 Component and any other sub-plans or appendices hereto, as amended from time to time.

2.28 “Plan Account” means a bookkeeping account established and maintained by the Company in the name of each Participant.

2.29 “Purchase Period” means each consecutive six-month period commencing on such dates as determined by the Administrator, in its discretion. The first Purchase Period of each Offering Period shall commence on the Grant Date and end with the next Exercise Date. The duration and timing of Purchase Periods may be established or changed by the Board or Committee at any time, in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may a Purchase Period exceed the duration of the Offering Period under which it is established.

2.30 “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.

2.31 “Section 423 Component” means those Offerings under the Plan that are intended to meet the requirements under Section 423(b) of the Code.

2.32 “Subsidiary” means any entity that is a subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code. In addition, with respect to the Non-Section 423 Component, Subsidiary shall include any corporate or noncorporate entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect equity interest or significant business relationship.

2.33 “Treas. Reg.” means U.S. Department of the Treasury regulations.

2.34 “Withdrawal Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a) hereof.

ARTICLE 3

PARTICIPATION

3.1 Eligibility.

(a) Any Eligible Employee who is employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary on a given Enrollment Date for an Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in the Plan during such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and, for the Section 423 Component, the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code.

(b) No Eligible Employee shall be granted an Option under the Section 423 Component which permits the Participant’s rights to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan, and to purchase stock under all other employee stock purchase plans of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary subject to Section 423 of the Code, to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of fair market value of such stock (determined at the time such Option is granted) for each calendar year in which such Option is outstanding at any time. The limitation under this Section 3.1(b) shall be applied in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.

3.2 Election to Participate; Payroll Deductions

(a) Except as provided in Sections 3.2(e) and 3.3 hereof, an Eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan only by means of payroll deduction. Each individual who is an Eligible Employee as of an Offering Period’s Enrollment Date may elect to participate in such Offering Period and the Plan by delivering to the Company a payroll deduction authorization no later than the period of time prior to the applicable Enrollment Date that is determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

 

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(b) Subject to Section 3.1(b) hereof and except as may otherwise be determined by the Administrator, payroll deductions (i) shall equal at least 1% of the Participant’s Compensation as of each Payday of the Offering Period following the Enrollment Date, but not more than 15% of the Participant’s Compensation as of each Payday of the Offering Period following the Enrollment Date; and (ii) may be expressed either as (A) a whole number percentage, or (B) a fixed dollar amount. Amounts deducted from a Participant’s Compensation with respect to an Offering Period pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall be deducted each Payday through payroll deduction and credited to the Participant’s Plan Account; provided that for the first Offering Period, payroll deductions shall not begin until such date determined by the Board or Committee, in its sole discretion.

(c) Following at least one payroll deduction, a Participant may decrease (to as low as zero) the amount deducted from such Participant’s Compensation only once during an Offering Period upon ten calendar days’ prior written notice to the Company. A Participant may not increase the amount deducted from such Participant’s Compensation during an Offering Period.

(d) Upon the completion of an Offering Period, each Participant in such Offering Period shall automatically participate in the immediately following Offering Period at the same payroll deduction percentage or fixed amount as in effect at the termination of such Offering Period, unless such Participant delivers to the Company a different election with respect to the successive Offering Period in accordance with Section 3.2(a) hereof, or unless such Participant becomes ineligible for participation in the Plan.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, in non-U.S. jurisdictions where participation in the Plan through payroll deductions is prohibited, the Administrator may provide that an Eligible Employee may elect to participate through contributions to the Participant’s account under the Plan in a form acceptable to the Administrator in lieu of or in addition to payroll deductions; provided, however, that, for any Offering under the Section 423 Component, the Administrator must determine that any alternative method of contribution is applied on an equal and uniform basis to all Eligible Employees in the Offering.

3.3 Leave of Absence. During leaves of absence approved by the Company meeting the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.421-1(h)(2), a Participant may continue participation in the Plan by making cash payments to the Company on the Participant’s normal payday equal to the Participant’s authorized payroll deduction.

ARTICLE 4

PURCHASE OF SHARES

4.1 Grant of Option. The Company may make one or more Offerings under the Plan, which may be successive or overlapping with one another, until the earlier of: (i) the date on which the shares of Common Stock available under the Plan have been sold or (ii) the date on which the Plan is suspended or terminates. The Administrator shall designate the terms and conditions of each Offering in writing, including without limitation, the Offering Period and the Purchase Periods. Each Participant shall be granted an Option with respect to an Offering Period on the applicable Grant Date. Subject to the limitations of Section 3.1(b) hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Participant’s Option shall be determined by dividing (a) such Participant’s payroll deductions accumulated prior to an Exercise Date and retained in the Participant’s Plan Account on such Exercise Date by (b) the applicable Option Price; provided that in no event shall a Participant be permitted to purchase during each Offering

 

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Period more than 100,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof). The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that a Participant may purchase during such future Offering Periods. Each Option shall expire on the last Exercise Date for the applicable Offering Period immediately after the automatic exercise of the Option in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof, unless such Option terminates earlier in accordance with Article 6 hereof.

4.2 Option Price. The “Option Price” per share of Common Stock to be paid by a Participant upon exercise of the Participant’s Option on an Exercise Date for an Offering Period shall equal 85% of the lesser of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on (a) the applicable Grant Date and (b) the applicable Exercise Date, or such other price designated by the Administrator; provided that in no event shall the Option Price per share of Common Stock be less than the par value per share of the Common Stock; provided, further, that no Option Price shall be designated by the Administrator that would cause the Section 423 Component to fail to meet the requirements under Section 423(b) of the Code.

4.3 Purchase of Shares.

(a) On each Exercise Date for an Offering Period, each Participant shall automatically and without any action on such Participant’s part be deemed to have exercised the Participant’s Option to purchase at the applicable per share Option Price the largest number of whole shares of Common Stock which can be purchased with the amount in the Participant’s Plan Account. Any balance less than the per share Option Price that is remaining in the Participant’s Plan Account (after exercise of such Participant’s Option) as of the Exercise Date shall be carried forward to the next Purchase Period or Offering Period, unless the Participant has elected to withdraw from the Plan pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or, pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, such Participant has ceased to be an Eligible Employee. Any balance not carried forward to the next Purchase Period or Offering Period in accordance with the prior sentence shall be promptly refunded to the applicable Participant. In no event shall an amount greater than or equal to the per share Option Price as of an Exercise Date be carried forward to the next Purchase Period or Offering Period.

(b) As soon as practicable following each Exercise Date, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased by such Participant pursuant to Section 4.3(a) hereof shall be delivered (either in share certificate or book entry form), in the Company’s sole discretion, to either (i) the Participant or (ii) an account established in the Participant’s name at a stock brokerage or other financial services firm designated by the Company. If the Company is required to obtain from any commission or agency authority to issue any such shares of Common Stock, the Company shall seek to obtain such authority. Inability of the Company to obtain from any such commission or agency authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance of any such shares shall relieve the Company from liability to any Participant except to refund to the Participant such Participant’s Plan Account balance, without interest thereon.

4.4 Automatic Termination of Offering Period. If the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on any Exercise Date (except the final scheduled Exercise Date of any Offering Period) is lower than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date for an Offering Period, then such Offering Period shall terminate on such Exercise Date after the automatic exercise of the Option in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof, and each Participant shall automatically be enrolled in the Offering Period that commences immediately following such Exercise Date and such Participant’s payroll deduction authorization shall remain in effect for such Offering Period.

 

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4.5 Transferability of Rights. An Option granted under the Plan shall not be transferable, other than by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant. No option or interest or right to the Option shall be available to pay off any debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or the Participant’s successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempt at disposition of the Option shall have no effect.

ARTICLE 5

PROVISIONS RELATING TO COMMON STOCK

5.1 Common Stock Reserved. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.2 hereof, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be the sum of (a) 743,803 shares and (b) an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2022 and ending in 2031 equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the shares outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (ii) such number of shares as may be determined by the Board; provided, however, no more than 5,578,527 shares may be issued under the Plan. Shares made available for sale under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares of Common Stock, or reacquired shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.

5.2 Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale.

(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but not yet placed under Option, as well as the price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each Option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”), and shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Administrator. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 6.1 hereof or the Participant has ceased to be an Eligible Employee as provided in Section 6.2 hereof.

 

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(c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an equivalent Option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. If the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, any Offering Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date and any Offering Periods then in progress shall end on the New Exercise Date. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed sale or merger. The Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 6.1 hereof or the Participant has ceased to be an Eligible Employee as provided in Section 6.2 hereof.

5.3 Insufficient Shares. If the Administrator determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Options are to be exercised may exceed the number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for sale under the Plan on such Exercise Date, the Administrator shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for issuance on such Exercise Date in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants exercising Options to purchase Common Stock on such Exercise Date, and unless additional shares are authorized for issuance under the Plan, no further Offering Periods shall take place and the Plan shall terminate pursuant to Section 7.5 hereof. If an Offering Period is so terminated, then the balance of the amount credited to the Participant’s Plan Account which has not been applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock shall be paid to such Participant in one lump sum in cash within 30 days after such Exercise Date, without any interest thereon.

5.4 Rights as Stockholders. With respect to shares of Common Stock subject to an Option, a Participant shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of the Company and shall not have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder. A Participant shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder of the Company when, but not until, shares of Common Stock have been deposited in the designated brokerage account following exercise of the Participant’s Option.

ARTICLE 6

TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION

6.1 Cessation of Contributions; Voluntary Withdrawal.

(a) A Participant may cease payroll deductions during an Offering Period and elect to withdraw from the Plan by delivering written notice of such election to the Company in such form and at such time prior to the Exercise Date for such Offering Period as may be established by the Administrator (a “Withdrawal Election”). A Participant electing to withdraw from the Plan may elect to either (i) withdraw all of the funds then credited to the Participant’s Plan Account as of the date on which the Withdrawal Election is received by the Company, in which case amounts credited to such Plan Account shall be returned to the Participant in one lump-sum payment in cash within 30 days after such election is received by the Company, without any interest thereon, and the Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan and the Participant’s Option for such Offering Period shall terminate; or (ii) exercise the Option for the maximum number of whole shares of Common Stock on the applicable Exercise Date with any remaining Plan Account balance returned to the Participant in one lump-sum payment in cash within 30 days after such Exercise Date, without any interest thereon, and after such exercise cease to participate in the Plan. Upon receipt of a Withdrawal Election, the Participant’s payroll deduction authorization and the Participant’s Option shall terminate.

 

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(b) A Participant’s withdrawal from the Plan shall not have any effect upon the Participant’s eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

(c) A Participant who ceases contributions to the Plan during any Offering Period shall not be permitted to resume contributions to the Plan during that Offering Period.

6.2 Termination of Eligibility. Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, for any reason, such Participant’s Option for the applicable Offering Period shall automatically terminate, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan, and such Participant’s Plan Account shall be paid to such Participant or, in the case of the Participant’s death, to the person or persons entitled thereto pursuant to applicable law, within 30 days after such cessation of being an Eligible Employee, without any interest thereon. If a Participant transfers employment from the Company or any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Section 423 Component to any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Non-Section 423 Component, such transfer shall not be treated as a termination of employment, but the Participant shall immediately cease to participate in the Section 423 Component; however, any contributions made for the Offering Period in which such transfer occurs shall be transferred to the Non-Section 423 Component, and such Participant shall immediately join the then-current Offering under the Non-Section 423 Component upon the same terms and conditions in effect for the Participant’s participation in the Section 423 Component, except for such modifications otherwise applicable for Participants in such Offering. A Participant who transfers employment from any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Non-Section 423 Component to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Section 423 Component shall not be treated as terminating the Participant’s employment and shall remain a Participant in the Non-Section 423 Component until the earlier of (i) the end of the current Offering Period under the Non-Section 423 Component, or (ii) the Enrollment Date of the first Offering Period in which the Participant is eligible to participate following such transfer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may establish different rules to govern transfers of employment between companies participating in the Section 423 Component and the Non-Section 423 Component, consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

ARTICLE 7

GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1 Administration.

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be composed of members of the Board. The Committee may delegate administrative tasks under the Plan to the services of an Agent or Employees to assist in the administration of the Plan, including establishing and maintaining an individual securities account under the Plan for each Participant.

(b) It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The Administrator shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

(i) To establish and terminate Offerings;

(ii) To determine when and how Options shall be granted and the provisions and terms of each Offering (which need not be identical);

 

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(iii) To select Designated Subsidiaries in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof;

(iv) To impose a mandatory holding period pursuant to which Participants may not dispose of or transfer shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its discretion; and

(v) To construe and interpret the Plan, the terms of any Offering and the terms of the Options and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. The Administrator, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan, any Offering or any Option, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to administer the Plan, subject to Section 423 of the Code for the Section 423 Component.

(c) The Administrator may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of participation elections, payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with local requirements. In its absolute discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Administrator under the Plan.

(d) The Administrator may adopt sub-plans applicable to particular Designated Subsidiaries or locations, which sub-plans may be designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code. The rules of such sub-plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Section 5.1 hereof, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of this Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan.

(e) All expenses and liabilities incurred by the Administrator in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Administrator may, with the approval of the Committee, employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons. The Administrator, the Company and its officers and directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Board or Administrator shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or the options, and all members of the Board or Administrator shall be fully protected by the Company in respect to any such action, determination, or interpretation.

7.2 Designation of Subsidiary Corporations. The Board or Administrator shall designate from time to time the Subsidiaries that shall constitute Designated Subsidiaries, and determine whether such Designated Subsidiaries shall participate in the Section 423 Component or Non-Section 423 Component. The Board or Administrator may designate a Subsidiary, or terminate the designation of a Subsidiary, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

7.3 Reports. Individual accounts shall be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of Plan Accounts shall be given to Participants at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Option Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

 

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7.4 No Right to Employment. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to give any person (including any Participant) the right to remain in the employ of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary or to affect the right of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any person (including any Participant) at any time, with or without cause, which right is expressly reserved.

7.5 Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

(a) The Board may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision), with respect to the Section 423 Component, or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any such amendment to the Plan in such a manner and to such a degree as required by Section 423 of the Code or such other law, regulation or rule.

(b) If the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may in its discretion modify or amend the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:

(i) altering the Option Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Option Price;

(ii) shortening any Offering Period so that the Offering Period ends on a new Exercise Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Administrator action; and

(iii) allocating shares of Common Stock.

Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Participant.

(c) Upon termination of the Plan, the balance in each Participant’s Plan Account shall be refunded as soon as practicable after such termination, without any interest thereon.

7.6 Use of Funds; No Interest Paid. All funds received by the Company by reason of purchase of shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be included in the general funds of the Company free of any trust or other restriction and may be used for any corporate purpose. No interest shall be paid to any Participant or credited under the Plan.

7.7 Term; Approval by Stockholders. No Option may be granted during any period of suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan. The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within 12 months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan. Options may be granted prior to such stockholder approval; provided, however, that such Options shall not be exercisable prior to the time when the Plan is approved by the stockholders; provided, further that if such approval has not been obtained by the end of the 12-month period, all Options previously granted under the Plan shall thereupon terminate and be canceled and become null and void without being exercised.

7.8 Effect Upon Other Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees of the Company or any Parent or any Subsidiary, or (b) to grant or assume Options otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose, including, but not by way of limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, firm or association.

 

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7.9 Conformity to Securities Laws. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan and the participation in the Plan by any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemption rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

7.10 Notice of Disposition of Shares. Each Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition or other transfer of any shares of Common Stock, acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option granted under the Section 423 Component, if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two years after the applicable Grant Date or (b) within one year after the transfer of such shares of Common Stock to such Participant upon exercise of such Option. The Company may direct that any certificates evidencing shares acquired pursuant to the Plan refer to such requirement.

7.11 Tax Withholding. The Company or any Parent or any Subsidiary shall be entitled to require payment in cash or deduction from other compensation payable to each Participant of any sums required by federal, state or local tax law to be withheld with respect to any purchase of shares of Common Stock under the Plan or any sale of such shares.

7.12 Governing Law. The Plan and all rights and obligations thereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law rules thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

7.13 Notices. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

7.14 Conditions To Issuance of Shares.

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of an Option by a Participant, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such shares of Common Stock is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or traded, and the shares of Common Stock are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.

(b) All certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to the Plan and all shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state, or foreign securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any certificate or book entry evidencing shares of Common Stock to reference restrictions applicable to the shares of Common Stock.

 

13


(c) The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Option, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Committee.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the Company may, in lieu of delivering to any Participant certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock issued in connection with any Option, record the issuance of shares of Common Stock in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

7.15 Equal Rights and Privileges. All Eligible Employees of the Company (or of any Designated Subsidiary) granted Options pursuant to an Offering under the Section 423 Component shall have equal rights and privileges under this Plan to the extent required under Section 423 of the Code so that the Section 423 Component qualifies as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code. Any provision of the Section 423 Component that is inconsistent with Section 423 of the Code shall, without further act or amendment by the Company or the Board, be reformed to comply with the equal rights and privileges requirement of Section 423 of the Code. Eligible Employees participating in the Non-Section 423 Component need not have the same rights and privileges as Eligible Employees participating in the Section 423 Component.

7.16 Rules Particular to Specific Countries. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the terms and conditions of the Plan with respect to Participants who are tax residents of a particular non-U.S. country or who are foreign nationals or employed in non-U.S. jurisdictions may be subject to an addendum to the Plan in the form of an appendix or sub-plan (which appendix or sub-plan may be designed to govern Offerings under the Section 423 Component or the Non-Section 423 Component, as determined by the Administrator). To the extent that the terms and conditions set forth in an appendix or sub-plan conflict with any provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the appendix or sub-plan shall govern. The adoption of any such appendix or sub-plan shall be pursuant to Section 7.1 above. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures, with respect to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed in non-U.S. jurisdictions, regarding the exclusion of particular Subsidiaries from participation in the Plan, eligibility to participate, the definition of Compensation, handling of payroll deductions or other contributions by Participants, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, data privacy security, payroll tax, withholding procedures, establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold payroll deductions or contributions.

7.17 Section 409A. The Section 423 Component of the Plan and the Options granted pursuant to Offerings thereunder are intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A. Neither the Non-Section 423 Component nor any Option granted pursuant to an Offering thereunder is intended to constitute or provide for “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines that any Option granted under the Plan may be or become subject to Section 409A or that any provision of the Plan may cause an Option granted under the Plan to be or become subject to Section 409A, the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and/or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A, either through compliance with the requirements of Section 409A or with an available exemption therefrom.

*    *    *    *    *

 

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EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

Non-Plan Stock Award Agreement

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

STOCK AWARD NOTICE

The individual listed below (the “Grantee”) previously held Class P Units (as defined in that certain Agreement of Limited Partnership of Lulu’s Holdings, L.P., as amended (the “Holdings LPA”)) in Lulu’s Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Holdings”), which were a special class of limited partnership interest in Holdings. Immediately before the completion of the initial public offering (the “IPO Closing”) of the equity securities of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Holdings’ assets included shares of common stock of the Company. Immediately before the IPO Closing, Holdings terminated and is hereby distributing to the Grantee a portion of the shares (the “Shares”) of Company common stock that were held by Holdings, as required pursuant to the terms of the Holdings LPA, which distribution is in full and complete satisfaction of all liabilities and obligations arising out of or relating to the Class P Units held by the Grantee. The Company desires to reflect herein the terms and conditions of the Shares issued to the Grantee by Holdings, and the Grantee desires to accept such terms and conditions. The Shares are subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Stock Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”), each of which is incorporated herein by reference. If the Company uses an electronic stock administration system and the fields below are blank or the information is otherwise provided in a different format electronically, the blank fields and other information shall be deemed incorporated herein from the electronic stock administration system and considered part of this Stock Award Notice (the “Award Notice”).

 

Grantee:    [                                ]
Award Date:    [Date of the IPO Closing]

As of Immediately Prior to the IPO Closing:

  

•   Total Class P Units:

   [                                ]

•  Vested Class P Units:

   [                                ]

•  Unvested Class P Units:

   [                                ]
Aggregate Value of Class P Units Immediately Prior to the IPO Closing:    [                                ]
Upon the IPO Closing:   

•   Total Shares Distributed:

   [                                ]

•  Vested Shares:

   [                                ]

•  Unvested Shares (“Restricted Stock”):

   [                                ]
Vesting Commencement Date:    [                                ]
Vesting Schedule:    [                                ]1
Termination:    Except as otherwise set forth in the Vesting Schedule or in the Agreement, if the Grantee’s employment or service with the Company

 

1 

Note to Draft: To be updated to reflect any individual vesting schedules, including acceleration provisions upon termination or otherwise.


   and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, any Shares that have not become vested on or prior to the date of such termination will thereupon be automatically forfeited by the Grantee, and the Grantee’s rights in such Shares shall thereupon lapse and expire.

By the Grantee’s signature below or by electronic acceptance or authentication in a form authorized by the Company, (i) the Grantee agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement and this Award Notice, and (ii) the Grantee acknowledges that the Shares received are in full satisfaction of any rights that the Grantee has or may have had in respect of the Class P Units, and the Grantee has no further rights or claims arising out of or related to the Class P Units, including pursuant to the Holdings LPA or the award agreement pursuant to which the Class P Units were granted (the “Class P Unit Award Agreement”). Within 30 days after the IPO Closing, the Grantee will make a valid and timely election under Section 83(b) of the Code in a form previously provided to the Grantee by Holdings to reflect the distribution to the Grantee of the Shares in settlement of the Class P Units and will deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service. The Grantee has reviewed the Agreement and this Award Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Award Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Agreement and this Award Notice.

If the Grantee is married, his or her spouse has signed the Consent of Spouse attached hereto as Attachment 1.

 

Solely with respect to the provisions of the Award Notice, LULU’S HOLDINGS, L.P.:     
By:  

 

    
Print Name:  

 

    
Title:  

 

    
Address:  

 

    
 

 

    
LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.:    GRANTEE:
By:  

 

   By:  

 

Print Name:      

 

   Print Name:      

 

Title:  

 

    
Address:  

 

   Address:  

 

 

 

    

 

 

2


ATTACHMENT 1

TO STOCK AWARD NOTICE

CONSENT OF SPOUSE

I, ___________________, spouse of _________________, have read and approved the Stock Award Notice and Stock Award Agreement dated __________________, between my spouse and Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Award Agreement”). In consideration of issuing to my spouse shares of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. set forth in the Award Agreement, I hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of the Award Agreement insofar as I may have any rights in said Award Agreement under the community property laws or similar laws relating to marital property in effect in the state of our residence as of the date of the signing of the foregoing Award Agreement.

Dated: ________________________

 

 

Name of Spouse:

 

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Non-Plan Stock Award Agreement

EXHIBIT A

TO STOCK AWARD NOTICE

STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

Pursuant to the Stock Award Notice (the “Award Notice”) to which this Stock Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) is attached, Lulu’s Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Holdings”) has distributed to the Grantee the number of Shares of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) as set forth in the Award Notice.

ARTICLE I.

GENERAL

1.1    Defined Terms. As used in the Award Notice and this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a)     “Applicable Law” means any applicable law, including without limitation: (a) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (c) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

(b)    “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(c)    “Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term, or term of similar effect, in the Class P Unit Award Agreement or, if not defined therein, in any offer letter, employment, severance or similar agreement between the Grantee and the Company ; provided, that in the absence of an offer letter, employment, severance or similar agreement containing such definition, Cause means, with respect to the Grantee, the occurrence of any of the following: (a) an act of dishonesty made by the Grantee in connection with the Grantee’s responsibilities as a Service Provider; (b) the Grantee’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or any other act of moral turpitude, or a material violation of federal or state law by the Grantee that the Company reasonably determines has had or will have a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business; (c) the Grantee’s gross misconduct; (d) the Grantee’s willful and material unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Grantee owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of the Grantee’s relationship with the Company; (e) the Grantee’s willful breach of any material obligations under any written agreement or covenant with the Company; or (f) the Grantee’s continued substantial failure to perform the Grantee’s duties as a Service Provider (other than as a result of the Grantee’s physical or mental incapacity) after the Grantee has received a written demand for performance that specifically sets forth the factual basis for the determination that the Grantee has not substantially performed the Grantee’s duties and has failed to cure such non-performance to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction within 30 business days after receiving such notice. For purposes of this definition, no act or failure to act shall be considered willful unless it is done in bad faith and without reasonable intent that the act or failure to act


was in the best interest of the Company or required by law. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority or instructions given to the Grantee pursuant to a direct instruction from the Company’s chief executive officer or based on the advice of counsel for the Company will be conclusively presumed to be done or omitted to be done by the Grantee in good faith and in the best interest of the Company.

(d)    “Change in Control” means any of the following:

(i)    The consummation of a transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of the Company’s securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (B) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) any acquisition which complies with subclauses (A), (B) and (C) of this definition; or (D) in respect of this Award held by the Grantee, any acquisition by the Grantee or any group of persons including the Grantee (or any entity controlled by the Grantee or any group of persons including the Grantee);

(ii)    The Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board;

(iii)    The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

(1)    which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction;

(2)    after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this clause (iii)(2) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; and

(3)    after which at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Successor Entity were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such transaction; or

 

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(iv)    The completion of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(e)    The Board shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto.

(f)    “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

(g)    “Committee” means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board, which may include one or more Company directors or executive officers, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3, it is intended that each member of the Committee will be, at the time the Committee takes any action with respect to this Award if the Award is subject to Rule 16b-3, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.

(h)    “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

(i)    “DRO” means a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.

(j)    “Equity Restructuring” means a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split (including a reverse stock split), spin-off or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other Company securities) or the share price of Common Stock (or other Company securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying this Award.

(k)    “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all regulations, guidance and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

(l)    “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange, the value of a Share will be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the last day preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Board deems reliable; (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on an established stock exchange but is quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the value of a Share will be the closing sales price for a Share on such date, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the last date preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Board deems reliable; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on any established stock exchange or quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the value established by the Board in its sole discretion.

(m)     “Incumbent Directors” means, for any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i) or (iii) of the Change in Control definition) whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a

 

A-3


result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.

(n)     “Restricted Stock” means the shares of Common Stock awarded under this Agreement that are subject to the vesting conditions and other restrictions set forth herein.

(o)    “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all regulations, guidance and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

(p)    “Service Provider” means an Employee, Consultant or Director.

(q)    “Subsidiary” means any entity (other than the Company), whether U.S. or non-U.S., in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

(r)    “Tax-Related Items” means any U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state and/or local taxes (including, without limitation, income tax, social insurance contributions, fringe benefit tax, employment tax, stamp tax and any employer tax liability which has been transferred to the Grantee) for which the Grantee is liable in connection with the Shares.

ARTICLE II.

AWARD OF STOCK

2.1    Award of Stock.

(a)    Award. Pursuant to the Award Notice and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, effective as of the Award Date set forth in the Award Notice, Holdings has distributed to the Grantee the number of Shares as set forth in the Award Notice, such shares referred to herein as the “Award”.

(b)    Escrow. The Grantee, by acceptance of the Award, shall be deemed to appoint, and does so appoint, the Secretary of the Company or such other escrow holder as the Company may appoint to hold the Shares of Restricted Stock, but not, for the avoidance of doubt, the Shares that, as of the applicable date of reference, are not Restricted Stock (the “Vested Stock”) in escrow as the Grantee’s attorney(s)-in-fact to effect any transfer of unvested forfeited Shares of Restricted Stock (or Shares of Restricted Stock otherwise reacquired by the Company hereunder) to the Company as may be required pursuant to this Agreement and to execute such documents as the Company or such representatives deem necessary or advisable in connection with any such transfer.

(c)    Removal of Notations. As soon as administratively practicable after the vesting of any Shares of Restricted Stock subject to the Award pursuant to Section 2.2(b) hereof, the Company shall remove the notations on any Shares subject to the Award which have vested. The Grantee (or the beneficiary or personal representative of the Grantee in the event of the Grantee’s death or incapacity, as the case may be) shall deliver to the Company any representations or other documents or assurances required by the Company.

 

A-4


2.2    Restrictions.

(a)    Forfeiture. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, except as may otherwise be set forth in a written agreement between the Company and the Grantee, upon the Grantee’s termination of employment or service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any or no reason, any Shares of Restricted Stock subject to Restrictions shall thereupon be forfeited immediately and without any further action by the Company, and the Grantee’s rights in such Shares of Restricted Stock shall thereupon lapse and expire.

(b)    Vesting and Lapse of Restrictions. As of the Award Date, (i) 100% of the Vested Stock is fully vested and is not subject to any risk of forfeiture or transfer restrictions pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) 100% of the Restricted Stock shall be subject to the risk of forfeiture set forth in Section 2.2(a) hereof and the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 3.3 hereof (collectively, such risk of forfeiture and such transfer restrictions, the “Restrictions”). The Restricted Stock shall vest and Restrictions shall lapse in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Award Notice (rounding down to the nearest whole Share).

(c)    Tax Withholding. The Company does not expect that it shall be required to effect any withholding with respect to any of the Shares subject to the Award. However, the Grantee hereby agrees that, if the Company determines that any Tax-Related Items are required by Applicable Law to be withheld in connection with the Grantee’s Awards and/or Shares, the Grantee agrees to pay the Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable, or make provision satisfactory to the Company for payment of such Tax-Related Items by the date of the event creating the liability for Tax-Related Items. At the Company’s discretion and subject to any Company insider trading policy (including black-out periods), any withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items may be satisfied by (i) deducting an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding obligation from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Grantee; (ii) accepting a payment from the Grantee in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or by check made payable to the order of the Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable; (iii) accepting the delivery of Shares, including Shares delivered by attestation; (iv) if there is a public market for Shares at the time the withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied, selling Shares issued pursuant to the Award creating the withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items, either voluntarily by the Grantee or mandatorily by the Company; (v) accepting delivery of a promissory note or any other lawful consideration; or (vi) any combination of the foregoing payment forms. The amount withheld pursuant to any of the foregoing payment forms shall be determined by the Company and may be up to, but no greater than, the aggregate amount of such obligations based on the maximum statutory withholding rates in the Grantee’s jurisdiction for all Tax-Related Items that are applicable to such taxable income. If any tax withholding obligation will be satisfied under clause (iv) of the preceding paragraph, the Grantee’s acceptance of the Award will constitute the Grantee’s authorization to the Company and instruction and authorization to any brokerage firm selected by the Company to effect the sale to complete the transactions described in clause (iv). The Company shall not be obligated to transfer Shares held in escrow to the Grantee or the Grantee’s legal representative until the Grantee or the Grantee’s legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all Tax-Related Items resulting from the grant or vesting of the Award.

(d)    Legends. The Grantee understands and agrees that the Company shall cause any stock certificates issued (whether in electronic or other form) evidencing the Shares to have the legend set forth below or legend substantially equivalent thereto, together with any other legends that may be required by state or federal securities laws:

THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS

 

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AMENDED (“ACT”), NOR HAVE THEY BEEN REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. NO TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES WILL BE PERMITTED UNLESS A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT IS IN EFFECT AS TO SUCH TRANSFER, THE TRANSFER IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 UNDER THE ACT, OR IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH MAY BE COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY) REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT IS UNNECESSARY IN ORDER FOR SUCH TRANSFER TO COMPLY WITH THE ACT AND WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

The Grantee further understands and agrees that the Company shall cause any stock certificates issued (whether in electronic or other form) evidencing the Shares of Restricted Stock to also have the legend set forth below or legend substantially equivalent thereto, together with any other legends that may be required by state or federal securities laws:

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO WHICH THESE SHARES WERE ISSUED, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE ISSUER. SUCH TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS ARE BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.

(e)    Stop Transfer Instructions. To ensure compliance with the Restrictions, the provisions of the charter documents of the Company and Applicable Law, and for other proper purposes, the Company may issue appropriate “stop transfer” and other instructions to its transfer agent with respect to the Restricted Stock. The Company shall notify the transfer agent as and when the Restrictions lapse.

ARTICLE III.

ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK

AND CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS

3.1    Equity Restructuring(a) . In connection with any Equity Restructuring, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article III, the Board will equitably adjust the terms of this Agreement and the Award as it deems appropriate to reflect the Equity Restructuring, which may include (i) adjusting the number and type of securities subject to the Award; (ii) adjusting the terms and conditions of the Award; and (iii) making cash payments to the Grantee. The adjustments provided under this Section 3.1 will be nondiscretionary and final and binding on the Grantee and the Company; provided that the Board will determine whether an adjustment is equitable.

3.2    Corporate Transactions. In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin off, combination, amalgamation, repurchase, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or sale or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, Change in Control, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, other similar corporate transaction or event, other unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company

 

A-6


or its financial statements or any change in any Applicable Law or accounting principles, the Board , on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event (except that action to give effect to a change in Applicable Law or accounting principles may be made within a reasonable period of time after such change) and either automatically or upon the Grantee’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions, whenever the Board determines that such action is appropriate in order to (x) prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available with respect to the Award, (y) to facilitate such transaction or event or (z) give effect to such changes in Applicable Law or accounting principles:

(a)    To provide for the cancellation of the Award in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property with a value equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon realization of the Grantee’s rights under the vested portion of the Award, as applicable; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon realization of the Grantee’s rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the Award may be terminated without payment;

(b)    To provide that the Award shall vest as to all Shares (or other property) covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement;

(c)    To provide that the Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation or entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation or entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares, in all cases, as determined by the Board;

(d)    To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to the Award or in the terms and conditions of the Award;

(e)    To replace the Award with other rights or property selected by the Board; or

(f)    To provide that the Award will terminate and cannot vest after the applicable event.

3.3    Change in Control.

(a)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, unless the Board elects to (i) terminate the Award in exchange for cash, rights or property, or (ii) cause the Award to become no longer subject to any forfeiture restrictions prior to the consummation of a Change in Control, the Award shall continue in effect or be assumed or an equivalent Award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation.

(b)    In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control refuses to assume or substitute the Award, the Board shall cause the Award to become fully vested immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and all forfeiture restrictions on the Award to lapse. For the purposes of this Section 3.3, an Award shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent, the Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received for each

 

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Share subject to an Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per-share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.

3.4    General. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or under Applicable Law, no Grantee will have any rights due to any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, dividend payment, increase or decrease in the number of Shares of any class or dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or other corporation. Except as expressly provided with respect to an Equity Restructuring under Section 3.1 above or the Board’s action, no issuance by the Company of Shares of any class, or securities convertible into Shares of any class, will affect, and no adjustment will be made regarding, the number of Shares subject to the Award. The existence of this Agreement and the Award will not affect or restrict in any way the Company’s right or power to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger, consolidation, spinoff, dissolution or liquidation of the Company or sale of Company assets or (iii) any sale or issuance of securities, including securities with rights superior to those of the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares.

ARTICLE IV.

OTHER PROVISIONS

4.1    Transferability. Until the Restrictions hereunder lapse or expire pursuant to this Agreement and the Shares of Restricted Stock vest, the Restricted Stock (including any Shares or other securities or property received by the Grantee with respect to Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other form of recapitalization) shall be subject to the following restrictions on transferability: The Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or, subject to the Company’s consent, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until all restrictions applicable to the Shares have lapsed. References to the Grantee, to the extent relevant in the context, will include references to a transferee approved by the Company.

4.2    Rights as Stockholder. Upon the Award Date, the Grantee shall have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares, subject to the Restrictions, including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to receive any cash or stock dividends, in respect of the Shares subject to the Award and deliverable hereunder; provided, that, with respect to any Restricted Stock, any dividends or distributions to stockholders may be held by the Company until such time as the Restricted Stock vests; provided, further, that nothing herein is intended to confer any rights that are limited under any other Company policy or under Applicable Law.

4.3    Tax Consultation. The Grantee represents that the Grantee has consulted with any tax consultants the Grantee deems advisable in connection with the Shares, including the Restricted Stock and that the Grantee is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

4.4    Adjustments Upon Specified Events. The Board may accelerate the vesting of the Restricted Stock in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. The Grantee acknowledges that the Restricted Stock is subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement.

4.5    Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to the Grantee shall be addressed to the Grantee at the Grantee’s last address

 

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reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

4.6    Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

4.7    Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

4.8    Conformity to Securities Laws. The Grantee acknowledges that this Agreement is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any and all Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall be administered, only in such a manner as to conform to such Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.

4.9    Amendment, Suspension and Termination. This Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time only with the prior written consent of the Grantee and the Company.

4.10    Successors and Assigns. The Company or any Subsidiary may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 4.3 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Grantee and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

4.11    Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the Grantee is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the Award and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

4.12    Clawback Provisions. The Award (including the gross amount of any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit the Grantee actually or constructively receives upon receipt or exercise of the Award or the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) will be subject to recoupment by the Company to the extent required to comply with Applicable Law.

4.14    Not a Contract of Service Relationship. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the Grantee any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of the Grantee at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and the Grantee.

 

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4.15    Entire Agreement. The Award Notice and this Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Grantee with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided that the Shares shall be subject to any accelerated vesting provisions in any written agreement between the Grantee and the Company or a Company plan pursuant to which the Grantee participates, in each case, in accordance with the terms therein.

4.16    Limitation on the Grantee’s Rights. This Agreement confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust.

*    *    *    *    *

 

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EX-10.8

Exhibit 10.8

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT AGREEMENT

This Indemnification and Advancement Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of ________ __, 2021 by and between Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ______________, [a member of the Board of Directors] [an officer] of the Company (“Indemnitee”). This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering indemnification and advancement .

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers, or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification and advancement of expenses against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification and advancement of expenses;

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance, to indemnification, and to advancement of expenses may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;


WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and is not a substitute therefor, nor diminishes or abrogates any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, DGCL and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate additional protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified and be advanced expenses.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a [director/officer] of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law). This Agreement does not create any obligation on the Company to continue Indemnitee in such position and is not an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

Section 2. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

(a) “Agent” means any person who is authorized by the Company or an Enterprise to act for or represent the interests of the Company or an Enterprise, respectively.

(b) A “Change in Control” occurs upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

i. Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

ii. Change in Board of Directors. During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

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iii. Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

iv. Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

v. Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

vi. For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms have the following meanings:

 

  1

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

  2

“Person” has the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person excludes (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

  3

“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner excludes any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

(c) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was acting as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or Agent of the Company or an Enterprise.

(d) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

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(e) “Enterprise” means any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity for which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or Agent.

(f) “Expenses” includes all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel will be presumed conclusively to be reasonable. Expenses, however, do not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(g) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” does not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(h) “Potential Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the Company enters into any written or oral agreement, undertaking or arrangement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) any Person or the Company publicly announces an intention to take or consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control; (iii) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors increases his beneficial ownership of such securities by 5% or more over the percentage so owned by such Person on the date hereof; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred

 

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(i) The term “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement. A Proceeding also includes a situation the Indemnitee believes in good faith may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding.

(j) “Sponsor Entity” means any of [H.I.G.-GPII, Inc.], [Canada Pension Plan Investment Board] and/or [Institutional Venture Partners], and their respective affiliates.

Section 3. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 4. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. The Company will not indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses under this Section 4 related to any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding for which Indemnitee has been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless, and only to the extent that, the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought determines upon application by Indemnitee that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

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Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding the extent that Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, will be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

Section 6. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party but to which Indemnitee is a witness, deponent, interviewee, or otherwise asked to participate.

Section 7. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

Section 8. Additional Indemnification. Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including but not limited to, the DGCL and any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that expand the Company’s ability to indemnify its officers and directors) if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor).

Section 9. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company is not obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment to Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding:

(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except to the extent provided in Section 16(b) and except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

(b) for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including

 

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any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

(c) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification or advancement, of Expenses, including a Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

Section 10. Advances of Expenses.

(a) The Company will advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee if (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company or Enterprise, including a proceeding initiated pursuant to Section 14 or (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation,. The Company will advance the Expenses within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.

(b) Advances will be unsecured and interest free. Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company, thus Indemnitee qualifies for advances upon the execution of this Agreement and delivery to the Company. No other form of undertaking is required other than the execution of this Agreement. The Company will make advances without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.

Section 11. Procedure for Notification of Claim for Indemnification or Advancement.

(a) Indemnitee will notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. Indemnitee will include in the written notification to the Company a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding and provide such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine

 

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whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding. Indemnitee’s failure to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company will not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company will, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification or advancement, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification or advancement.

(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

Section 12. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

(a) Unless a Change of Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made:

i. by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;

ii. by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;

iii. if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by the Board; or

iv. if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company.

(b) If a Change in Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee requests such selection be made by the Board)

(c) The party selecting Independent Counsel pursuant to subsection (a)(iii) or (b) of this Section 12 will provide written notice of the selection to the other party. The notified party may, within ten (10) days after receiving written notice of the selection of Independent Counsel, deliver to the selecting party a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection will set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected will act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within thirty (30) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, Independent Counsel has not been selected or, if selected, any objection to has not been resolved, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court designates. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel will be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

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(d) Indemnitee will cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. The Company will advance and pay any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making the indemnification determination irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing of the determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied and providing a copy of any written opinion provided to the Board by Independent Counsel.

(e) If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will make payment to Indemnitee within ten (10) days after such determination.

Section 13. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, will be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) If the determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification has not made pursuant to Section 12 within sixty (60) days after the latter of (i) receipt by the Company of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding for which Indemnitee requested Indemnification (the “Determination Period”), the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee will be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law. The Determination Period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to

 

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entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, the Determination Period may be extended an additional fifteen (15) days if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a)(iv) of this Agreement.

(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee acted based on the records or books of account of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company or an Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise. Further, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company,” as referred to in this Agreement if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan. The provisions of this Section 13(d) is not exclusive and does not limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise may not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement.

Section 14. Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a) Indemnitee may commence litigation against the Company in the Delaware Court of Chancery to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Company does not advance Expenses pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement within the Determination Period, (iv) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(d) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3, 4, 7, or 8 of this Agreement within ten (10) days after a determination has been made

 

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that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee must commence such Proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such Proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause does not apply in respect of a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company will not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b) If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 will be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee may not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company will have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be and will not introduce evidence of the determination made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement.

(c) If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d) The Company is, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and will stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

(e) It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder. The Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, will (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance to Indemnitee such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action concerning this Agreement, Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company, or concerning any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company. and will indemnify Indemnitee against any and all such Expenses unless the court determines that each of the Indemnitee’s claims in such Proceeding were made in bad faith or were frivolous or are prohibited by law.

 

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Section 15. Establishment of Trust.

(a) In the event of a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control, the Company will, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a trust for the benefit of Indemnitee (the “Trust”) and from time to time upon written request of Indemnitee will fund such Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy the reasonably anticipated indemnification and advancement obligations of the Company to the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding for which Indemnitee has demanded indemnification and/or advancement prior to the Potential Change in Control or Change in Control (the “Funding Obligation”). The trustee of the Trust (the “Trustee”) will be a bank or trust company or other individual or entity chosen by the Indemnitee and reasonably acceptable to the Company. Nothing in this Section 15 relieves the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) The amount or amounts to be deposited in the Trust pursuant to the Funding Obligation will be determined by mutual agreement of the Indemnitee and the Company or, if the Company and the Indemnitee are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent Counsel selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement. The terms of the Trust will provide that, except upon the consent of both the Indemnitee and the Company, upon a Change in Control: (i) the Trust may not be revoked, or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the Indemnitee; (ii) the Trustee will advance, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, within two (2) business days of a request by the Indemnitee; (iii) the Company will continue to fund the Trust in accordance with the Funding Obligation; (iv) the Trustee will promptly pay to the Indemnitee all amounts for which the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise; and (v) all unexpended funds in such Trust revert to the Company upon mutual agreement by the Indemnitee and the Company or, if the Indemnitee and the Company are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent Counsel selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement, that the Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. New York law (without regard to its conflicts of laws rules) governs the Trust and the Trustee will consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of Delaware Court of Chancery, in accordance with Section 25 of this Agreement.

Section 16. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

(a) The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement are not exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement may not be limited or restricted by any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement in any way with respect to any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status occurring prior to any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, or this Agreement, it is the intent

 

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of the parties hereto that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy is cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b) The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity).

i. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees:

1) the Company is the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses made pursuant to this Agreement concerning any Proceeding arising from or related to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with the Company;

2) the Company is primarily liable for all indemnification and indemnification or advancement of Expenses obligations for any Proceeding arising from or related to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether created by law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise;

3) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) to indemnify Indemnitee and/or advance Expenses to Indemnitee in respect of any proceeding are secondary to the obligations of the Company’s obligations;

4) the Company will indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, any Sponsor Entity) or insurer of any such Person; and

ii. the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases (A) any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) from any claim of contribution, subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration or indemnification, or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company to Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement and (B) any right to participate in any claim or remedy of Indemnitee against any Sponsor Entity (or former Sponsor Entity), whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Sponsor Entity (or former Sponsor Entity), directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right.

 

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iii. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss for Indemnitee, the payor has a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for the Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance of Expenses to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity).

iv. Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) is specifically in excess over the Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses or any valid and collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company.

(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, the Company will obtain a policy or policies covering Indemnitee to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies, including coverage in the event the Company does not or cannot, for any reason, indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee as required by this Agreement. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company will give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company will thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies. Indemnitee agrees to assist the Company efforts to cause the insurers to pay such amounts and will comply with the terms of such policies, including selection of approved panel counsel, if required.

(d) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee for any Proceeding concerning Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Enterprise will be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such Enterprise. The Company and Indemnitee intend that any such Enterprise (and its insurers) be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise. The Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses to Indemnitee is secondary to the obligations the Enterprise or its insurers owe to Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to take all reasonably necessary and desirable action to obtain from an Enterprise indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise.

(e) In the event of any payment made by the Company under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee from any Enterprise or insurance carrier. Indemnitee will execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

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Section 17. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement continues until and terminates upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee ceases to serve as a director [officer] of the Company or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement are binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

Section 18. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions will be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 19. Interpretation. Any ambiguity in the terms of this Agreement will be resolved in favor of Indemnitee and in a manner to provide the maximum indemnification and advancement of Expenses permitted by law. The Company and Indemnitee intend that this Agreement provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification and advancement in excess of that expressly provided, without limitation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company stockholders or disinterested directors, or applicable law.

Section 20. Enforcement.

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law, and is not a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

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Section 21. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement is binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed or constitutes a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor will any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

Section 22. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company does not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

Section 23. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand to the other party, (b) sent by reputable overnight courier to the other party or (c) sent by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, with receipt of oral confirmation that such communication has been received:

(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee provides to the Company.

(b) If to the Company to:

Name:                 Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.

Address:             195 Humboldt Avenue

                    Chico, California 95928

Attention: [ ]

Fax: [ ]

Email: [ ]

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

Section 24. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, will contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

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Section 25. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties are governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may be brought only in the Delaware Court of Chancery and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

Section 26. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together constitutes one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

Section 27. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute part of this Agreement or affect the construction thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

COMPANY     INDEMNITEE
By:  

 

   

 

Name:       Name:
Office:       Address:___________________
     

____________________

     

____________________

 

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EX-10.21

Exhibit 10.21

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

1.  Definitions

     1  

2.  Registration Rights

     3  

2.1

  Demand Registration      3  

2.2

  Company Registration      5  

2.3

  Shelf Registration      5  

2.4

  Underwriting Requirements      7  

2.5

  Obligations of the Company      8  

2.6

  Furnish Information      14  

2.7

  Expenses of Registration      14  

2.8

  Delay of Registration      14  

2.9

  Indemnification      14  

2.10

  Reports Under Exchange Act      16  

2.11

  Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights      17  

2.12

  HIG Preference      17  

2.13

  Restrictions on Transfer      17  

2.14

  Termination of Registration Rights      18  

3.  Miscellaneous

     18  

3.1

  Successors and Assigns      18  

3.2

  Governing Law      19  

3.3

  Counterparts      19  

3.4

  Titles and Subtitles      19  

3.5

  Notices      19  

3.6

  Amendments and Waivers      20  

3.7

  Severability      20  

3.8

  Aggregation of Stock      20  

3.9

  Entire Agreement      20  

3.10

  Dispute Resolution      20  

3.11

  Delays or Omissions      21  

 

i


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of the 10th day of November, 2021, by and among Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and each of the parties listed on Schedule A hereto (each of which is referred to in this Agreement as a “Holder”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company is contemplating an offer and sale of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), to the public in an underwritten initial public offering (the “IPO”); and

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Company has agreed to grant to the Holders certain rights with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement:

1.1 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, including without limitation any general partner, managing member, officer or director of such Person or any venture capital fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person.

1.2 “Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in New York City.

1.3 “Charitable Gifting Event” means any transfer by CPPIB, HIG, IVP or LFL or any subsequent Transfer by such holder’s members, partners or other employees, in connection with a bona fide gift to any Charitable Organization on the date of, but prior to, the execution of the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten offering.

1.4 “Charitable Organization” means a charitable organization as described by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect from time to time.

1.5 “Damages” means any loss, damage, claim or liability (joint or several) to which a party hereto may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state law, insofar as such loss, damage, claim or liability (or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement of the Company, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) an omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus or preliminary prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the indemnifying party (or any of its agents or Affiliates) in connection with the registration covered by the registration statement of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any state securities law.

 

1


1.6 “CPPIB” means The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, a Canadian Crown corporation.

1.7 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

1.8 “Excluded Registration” means (i) a registration relating to the sale of securities to employees of the Company or a subsidiary pursuant to a stock option, stock purchase, or similar plan; (ii) a registration relating to the issuance of securities in an SEC Rule 145 transaction; (iii) a registration on any form that does not permit substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable Securities; or (iv) a registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being registered.

1.9 “Form S-1” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC.

1.10 “Form S-3” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC that permits incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

1.11 “HIG” means H.I.G. Growth Partners – Lulu’s, L.P. and any of its successors or assignees.

1.12 “Immediate Family Member” means a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of a natural person referred to herein.

1.13 “Initiating Holders” means, collectively, Holders who properly initiate a registration request under this Agreement.

1.14 “IVP” means, collectively, Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P., Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P., Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P and their successors or assignees.

1.15 “LFL” means LFL Acquisition Corp. and its successors or assignees.

1.16 “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or other entity.

1.17 “Registrable Securities” means any Common Stock, or any Common Stock issued or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise of any other securities of the Company, held by the Holders or acquired by any of them after the date hereof; excluding for purposes of Section 2 any shares for which registration rights have terminated pursuant to Subsection 2.15 of this Agreement.

1.18 “Registrable Securities then outstanding” means the number of shares determined by adding the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock that are Registrable Securities and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable (directly or indirectly) pursuant to then exercisable and/or convertible securities that are Registrable Securities.

1.19 “Restricted Securities” means the securities of the Company required to be notated with the legend set forth in Subsection 2.14(b)hereof.

 

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1.20 “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

1.21 “SEC Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

1.22 “SEC Rule 145” means Rule 145 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

1.23 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

1.24 “Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions, and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel for any Holder, except for the fees and disbursements of the Selling Holder Counsel borne and paid by the Company as provided in Subsection 2.7.

1.25 “Transfer” means any assignment, sale, offer to sell, pledge, mortgage, hypothecation, encumbrance, disposition of or any other like transfer.

2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

2.1 Demand Registration.

(a) Form S-1 Demand. If at any time after the effective date of the registration statement for the IPO, the Company receives a request from the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding that the Company file a Form S-1 registration statement with respect to all or part of the Registrable Securities then outstanding (only if the anticipated aggregate offering price, net of Selling Expenses, would exceed $15 million), then the Company shall (i) within five (5) days after the date such request is given, give notice thereof (the “Demand Notice”) to all Holders other than the Initiating Holders; and (ii) as soon as practicable, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the date such request is given by the Initiating Holders, file a Form S-1 registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holders requested to be registered and any additional Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holders, as specified by notice given by each such Holder to the Company within ten (10) days of the date the Demand Notice is given, and in each case, subject to the limitations of Subsections 2.1(e) and 2.4.

(b) Form S-3 Demand. If at any time when it is eligible to use a Form S-3 registration statement, the Company receives a request from Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding that the Company file a Form S-3 registration statement with respect to outstanding Registrable Securities of such Holders having an anticipated aggregate offering price, net of Selling Expenses, of at least $15 million, then the Company shall (i) within five (5) days after the date such request is given, give a Demand Notice to all Holders other than the Initiating Holders; and (ii) as soon as practicable, and in any event within thirty (30) days after the date such request is given by the Initiating Holders, file a Form S-3 registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holders, as specified by notice given by each such Holder to the Company within ten (10) days of the date the Demand Notice is given, and in each case, subject to the limitations of Subsections 2(e) and 2.4.

 

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(c) No Demand Registration shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of Subsections 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) if (i) the Registration Statement relating thereto (A) does not become effective, (B) is not maintained effective for the period required pursuant to this Subsection 2.5, or (C) the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement is subject to a stop order, injunction or similar order or requirement of the SEC during such period, (ii) more than 90% of the Registrable Securities requested by the demanding Holder to be included in such registration are not so included pursuant to Subsection 2.4 or (iii) the conditions to closing specified in any underwriting agreement, purchase agreement or similar agreement entered into in connection with the registration relating to such request are not satisfied (other than as a result of a material default or breach thereunder by such demanding Holder or its Affiliates) or otherwise waived by such demanding Holder; provided that the Company’s obligation to pay expenses pursuant to Subsection 2.7 hereof shall still apply.

(d) Each Holder that submitted a Demand Notice pursuant to a particular offering and the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities that are to be registered in a particular offering pursuant to Subsection 2.1 shall have the right, prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to notify the Company that it or they, as the case may be, have determined that the Registration Statement be abandoned or withdrawn, in which event the Company shall abandon or withdraw such Registration Statement. Any Holder who has elected to sell Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering pursuant to this Subsection 2.1 (including the Holder who delivered the Demand Notice of such registration) shall be permitted to withdraw from such registration by written notice to the Company if the price to the public at which the Registrable Securities are proposed to be sold will be less than 90% of the average closing price of the class of stock being sold in the offering during the 10 trading days preceding the date on which the Demand Notice of such offering was given pursuant to Subsection 2.1

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing obligations, if the Company furnishes to Holders requesting a registration pursuant to this Subsection 2.1 a certificate signed by the Company’s chief executive officer stating that in the good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such registration statement to either become effective or remain effective for as long as such registration statement otherwise would be required to remain effective, because such action would (i) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, corporate reorganization, or other similar transaction involving the Company; (ii) require premature disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential; or (iii) render the Company unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or Exchange Act (collectively, (i), (ii) and (iii) are an “Adverse Disclosure”), then the Company shall have the right to defer taking action with respect to such filing, and any time periods with respect to filing or effectiveness thereof shall be tolled correspondingly, for a period or periods of not more than sixty (60) days per calendar year after the request of the Initiating Holders is given; provided, however, that the Company shall not register any securities for its own account or that of any other stockholder during any such sixty (60) day period other than an Excluded Registration.

 

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(f) The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a): (i) during the period that is sixty (60) days before the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration, provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; (ii) after the Company has effected three registrations pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a); or (iii) if the Initiating Holders propose to dispose of shares of Registrable Securities that may be immediately registered on Form S-3 pursuant to a request made pursuant to Subsection 2.1(b). The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to Subsection 2.1(b): during the period that is thirty (30) days before the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration, provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective. A registration shall not be counted as “effected” for purposes of this Subsection 2.1(f) until such time as the applicable registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC, unless the Initiating Holders withdraw their request for such registration, elect not to pay the registration expenses therefor, and forfeit their right to one demand registration statement pursuant to Subsection 2.7 in which case such withdrawn registration statement shall be counted as “effected” for purposes of this Subsection 2.1(f).

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, HIG shall have the right to make (i) up to two (2) demand registrations pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a) and (ii) up to five (5) demand registrations pursuant to Subsection 2.1(b), in each case until all Registrable Securities held by HIG have been so registered or otherwise sold. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the right of HIG pursuant to this Subsection 2.1(g) shall (i) be in addition to (and not in lieu of) other demand registration rights provided under Subsection 2.1(a) and Subsection 2.1(b) and (ii) all other Holders have the right to exercise their “piggyback” registration rights pursuant to Section 2.3, including, without limitation, with respect to any demand registration initiated by HIG in accordance with this Subsection 2.1(g).

2.2 Company Registration. If the Company proposes to register (including, for this purpose, a registration effected by the Company for any other Holder or for stockholders other than the Holders) any of its Common Stock under the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of such securities solely for cash (other than in an Excluded Registration), the Company shall, at such time, promptly give each Holder notice of such registration. Upon the request of each Holder given within twenty (20) days after such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Subsection 2.4, cause to be registered all of the Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be included in such registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Subsection 2.2 before the effective date of such registration, whether or not any Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities in such registration, without prejudice to the rights of the Holders to request that such registration be effected as a registration under Subsection 2.1. The expenses (other than Selling Expenses) of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Subsection 2.7. If a registration requested pursuant to this Subsection 2.2 involves an underwritten public offering, any Holder requesting to be included in such registration may elect, in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such registration, to withdraw its request to register such securities in connection with such registration.

 

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2.3 Shelf Registration.

(a) Request for Shelf Registration. If at any time after one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of the registration statement for the IPO, the Company receives a request from any Holder that the Company file with the SEC a shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Shelf Registration Statement”) relating to the offer and sale of Registrable Securities by any Holders thereof, then the Company shall (i) within ten (10) days after the date of such request is given, give notice thereof (the “Shelf Registration Notice”) to all Holders other than the Initiating Holders; and (ii) as soon as practicable, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the date such request is given by the Initiating Holders, file a Shelf Registration Statement covering all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holders, as specified by notice given by each such Holder to the Company within ten (10) days of the date the Shelf Registration Notice is given, and in each case, subject to the limitations of Subsections 2.3(c), 2.3(e) and 2.4.

(b) If on the date of the Shelf Registration Request the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (a “WKSI”), then the Shelf Registration Request may request registration of an unspecified amount of Registrable Securities to be sold by unspecified Holders. If on the date of the Shelf Registration Request the Company is not a WKSI, then the Shelf Registration Request shall specify the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities to be registered. The Company shall provide to the Holders the information necessary to determine the Company’s status as a WKSI upon request.

(c) Suspension of Registration. If the continued use of such Shelf Registration Statement at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, suspend use of the Shelf Registration Statement (a “Shelf Suspension”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be permitted to exercise a Shelf Suspension more than one time during any twelve (12)-month period for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days. In the case of a Shelf Suspension, the Holders agree to suspend use of the applicable prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase of, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Securities, upon receipt of the notice referred to above. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders in writing upon the termination of any Shelf Suspension, amendment or supplement to the prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omission and furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of the prospectus as so amended or supplemented as the Holders may reasonably request. The Company shall, if necessary, supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the registration form used by the Company for the Shelf Registration Statement or by the instructions applicable to such registration form or by the Securities Act or as may reasonably be requested by the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities that are included in such Shelf Registration Statement.

(d) Shelf Takedown. If at any time when the Company has an effective Shelf Registration Statement with respect to a Holder’s Registrable Securities, the Company receives a request from a Holder (a “Shelf Takedown Request”) that the Company effect a public offering, including an underwritten public offering conducted as a bought deal or block sale to a financial institution (a “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”), of all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities that may be registered under such Shelf Registration Statement, then the Company shall (i) within five (5) days after the date such request is given (or such shorter period as may be reasonably requested in connection with an underwritten block trade) for any Underwritten Shelf Takedown, give a notice (“Shelf Takedown Notice”) to all Holders with Registrable Securities

 

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covered by the applicable Registration Statement other than the Initiating Holders, or to all other Holders other than the Initiating Holders if such Shelf Registration Statement is undesignated; and (ii) as soon as practicable amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement as necessary for such purpose, as specified by notice given by each such Holder to the Company within three (3) days of the date (or such shorter period as may be reasonably requested in connection with an underwritten block trade) the Shelf Takedown Notice is given.

(e) The Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any Underwritten Shelf Takedown if a demand registration or company registration was declared effective or an Underwritten Shelf Takedown was consummated within the preceding ninety (90) days (unless otherwise consented to by the Company). Additionally, the Company shall not be obligated to undertake any action to file or effect a Shelf Registration Statement until the Company is eligible to file a Shelf Registration Statement with the SEC under the Securities Act.

2.4 Underwriting Requirements.

(a) If, pursuant to Subsection 2.1, the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to Subsection 2.1, and the Company shall include such information in the Demand Notice. If the Company proposes to effect any registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Notice validly issued and received pursuant to Subsection 2.1, the underwriter(s) will be selected by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company (except in the case of any “non-marketed block trade” or “bought” offering, in which case the Company shall have no right to reasonable consent). If the Company proposes to register any of its Common Stock under the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of such securities solely for cash (other than in an Excluded Registration), the underwriter(s) will be selected by the Company and shall be reasonably acceptable to a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders. In such event, the right of any Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall (together with the Company as provided in Subsection 2.5(f)) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subsection 2.4 if the managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Initiating Holders in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares to be underwritten, then the Initiating Holders shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities that otherwise would be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated among such Holders of Registrable Securities, including the Initiating Holders, on a pro rata basis in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of Registrable Securities owned by each Holder as of the date of such proposed registration or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest one hundred (100) shares.

 

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(b) In connection with any offering involving an underwriting of shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to Subsection 2.2, the Company shall not be required to include any of the Holders’ Registrable Securities in such underwriting unless the Holders accept the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and its underwriters, and then only in such quantity as the underwriters in their sole discretion determine will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company. If the total number of securities, including Registrable Securities, requested by stockholders to be included in such offering exceeds the number of securities to be sold (other than by the Company) that the underwriters in their reasonable discretion determine is compatible with the success of the offering, then the Company shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such securities, including Registrable Securities, which the underwriters and the Company in their sole discretion determine will not jeopardize the success of the offering. If the underwriters determine that less than all of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered can be included in such offering, then the Registrable Securities that are included in such offering shall be allocated among the selling Holders on a pro rata basis in proportion (or as nearly as practicable) to the number of Registrable Securities owned by each selling Holder as of the date of such proposed registration or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest one hundred (100) shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall (i) the number of Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced unless all other securities (other than securities to be sold by the Company) are first entirely excluded from the offering, (ii) the number of Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced below twenty percent (20%) of the total number of securities included in such offering. For purposes of the provision in this Subsection 2.4(b) concerning apportionment, for any selling Holder that is a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, the partners, members, retired partners, retired members, stockholders, and Affiliates of such Holder, or the estates and Immediate Family Members of any such partners, retired partners, members, and retired members and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing Persons, shall be deemed to be a single “selling Holder,” and any pro rata reduction with respect to such “selling Holder” shall be based upon the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Persons included in such “selling Holder,” as defined in this sentence.

(c) For purposes of Subsection 2.1, a registration shall not be counted as “effected” if, as a result of an exercise of the underwriter’s cutback provisions in Subsection 2.4(a) fewer than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of Registrable Securities that Holders have requested to be included in such registration statement are actually included.

2.5 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Section 2 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

(a) prepare and file with (or submit confidentially to) the SEC a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective all in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (provided that before filing or confidentially submitting a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company will furnish to the counsel selected by the Initiating Holders covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed or submitted, which documents will be subject

 

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to the review and comment of such counsel) and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement effective for a period of at least one hundred and eighty (180) days or, if earlier, until the distribution contemplated in the registration statement has been completed; provided, however, that (i) such one hundred and eighty (180) day period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains, at the request of an underwriter of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company, from selling any securities included in such registration, and (ii) in the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on Form S-3 that are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, subject to compliance with applicable SEC rules, such one hundred and eighty (180) day period shall be extended, if necessary, so long as requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities thereunder until all such Registrable Securities are sold;

(b) notify each Holder of (i) the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (ii) the receipt by the Company or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (iii) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;

(c) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement, as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but not in any event before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten public offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act in order to enable the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

(d) furnish, without charge, to each of the selling Holders and each underwriter, if any, such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), and such other documents as such seller or underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of their Registrable Securities owned by such seller (the Company hereby consenting to the use in accordance with all applicable laws of each such registration statement, each such amendment and supplement thereto, and each such prospectus (or preliminary prospectus or supplement thereto) in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement or prospectus);

(e) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the selling Holders, and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph or (ii) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction;

 

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(f) enter into and perform such customer agreements (including, in the event of any underwritten public offering underwriting agreements, in usual and customary form), and take all such other actions as the Initiating Holders or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, making available the executive officers of the Company and participating in “road shows,” investor presentations, marketing events and other selling efforts and effecting a stock or unit split or combination, recapitalization or reorganization);

(g) (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on a national securities exchange or trading system and each securities exchange and trading system (if any) on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market markers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities with FINRA, and (ii) comply (and continue to comply) with the requirements of any self-regulatory organization applicable to the Company, including without limitation all corporate governance requirements;

(h) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities from and after the effective date of such Registration Statement (and in connection therewith, if required by the Company’s transfer agent, the Issuer will promptly after the effective date of the Registration Statement, cause an opinion of counsel as to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement to be delivered to and maintained with such transfer agent, together with any other authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such Registrable Securities without any legend upon sale by the Holder or the underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement) and provide a CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, not later than the effective date of such registration;

(i) promptly make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any underwriter(s) participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney or accountant or other agent retained by any such underwriter or selected by the selling Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents, and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant, or agent, in each case, as necessary or advisable to verify the accuracy of the information in such registration statement and to conduct appropriate due diligence in connection therewith;

 

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(j) notify in writing each selling Holder and its counsel, (i) promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification under a state securities or blue sky law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (ii) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information, and (iii) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event or of any information or circumstances as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 2, if required by applicable law or to the extent requested by the Initiating Holders, the Company will use its best efforts to promptly prepare and file a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iv) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company in any underwriting agreement, securities sale agreement, or other similar agreement, relating to the offering shall cease to be true and correct;

(k) take all actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any demand registration or Shelf Registration Statement hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, prospectus supplement and related documents, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(l) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

(m) permit any Holder which, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of the Company, to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and to allow such Holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;

(n) use best efforts to (i) make short-form registration available for the sale of Registrable Securities and (ii) prevent the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any equity securities included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction use, and in the event any such order is issued, best efforts to obtain promptly the withdrawal of such order;

 

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(o) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(p) cooperate with the Holders covered by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends (or arrange for book entry transfer of securities in the case of uncertificated securities), and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such Holders may request at least two (2) business days prior to any proposed sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters;

(q) if requested by any managing underwriter, include in any prospectus or prospectus supplement updated financial or business information for the Company’s most recent period or current quarterly period (including estimated results or ranges of results) if required for purposes of marketing the offering in the view of the managing underwriter;

(r) take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that to the extent that any prohibition is applicable to the Company, the Company will take such action as is necessary to make any such prohibition inapplicable;

(s) (i) cooperate with each Holder covered by the registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with the preparation and filing of applications, notices, registrations and responses to requests for additional information with FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq or any other national securities exchange on which the equity securities are or are to be listed, and (ii) to the extent required by the rules and regulations of FINRA, retain a “Qualified Independent Underwriter” acceptable to the managing underwriter;

(t) in the case of any underwritten offering, use its best efforts to obtain, and deliver to the underwriter(s), in the manner and to the extent provided for in the applicable underwriting agreement, one or more cold comfort letters from the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters;

(u) use its best efforts to provide (i) a legal opinion of the Company’s outside counsel, dated the effective date of such registration statement addressed to the Company, (ii) on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale in connection with a demand registration or Shelf Registration Statement, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the closing date of the applicable sale, (1) one or more legal opinions of the Company’s outside counsel, dated such date, in form and substance as customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering or, in the case of a non-underwritten offering, to the broker, placement agent or other agent of the Holders assisting in the sale of the Registrable Securities and (2) one or more “negative assurances letters” of the Company’s outside counsel, dated such date, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering or, in the case of a non-underwritten offering, to the broker, placement agent or other agent of the Holders assisting in the sale of the Registrable Securities, in each case, addressed to the underwriters, if any, or, if requested, in the case of a non-underwritten offering, to the broker, placement agent or other agent of the Holders assisting in the sale of the Registrable Securities and (3) customary certificates executed by authorized officers of the Company as may be requested by any Holder or any underwriter of such Registrable Securities;

 

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(v) if the Company files an automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;

(w) if the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold;

(x) cause its officers to use their reasonable best efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, participation in such number of “road shows” and other customary marketing activities, including “one-on-one” meetings with prospective purchasers of the Registrable Securities, in each case as the underwriter(s) reasonably request);

(y) if the automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year, refile a new automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and, if at any time when the Company is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, use its best efforts to refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective; and

(z) if requested by CPPIB, HIG, IVP or LFL, cooperate with CPPIB, HIG, IVP and LFL, as applicable, and with the managing underwriter or agent, if any, on reasonable notice to facilitate any Charitable Gifting Event and to prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to permit any such recipient Charitable Organization to sell in the underwritten offering if it so elects.

In addition, the Company shall ensure that, at all times after any registration statement covering a public offering of securities of the Company under the Securities Act shall have become effective, its insider trading policy shall provide that the Company’s directors may implement a trading program under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act.

The Company agrees not to file or make any amendment to any Registration Statement with respect to any Registrable Securities, or any amendment of or supplement to the prospectus or any supplements thereto (including free writing prospectuses under Rule 433 (each a “Free Writing Prospectus”) used in connection therewith, that refers to any Holder covered thereby by name, or otherwise identifies such Holder as the holder of any securities of the Company, without the consent of such Holder, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, unless and to the extent such disclosure is required by law, in which case the Company shall provide written notice to such Holder no less than five Business Days prior to the filing of such amendment to any Registration Statement or amendment of or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus.

 

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2.6 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Section 2 with respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as is reasonably required to effect the registration of such Holder’s Registrable Securities.

2.7 Expenses of Registration. All expenses (other than Selling Expenses) incurred in connection with registrations, filings, or qualifications pursuant to Section 2, including all registration, filing, and qualification fees; printers’ and accounting fees; fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and the reasonable fees and disbursements, not to exceed $100,000, of one counsel for the selling Holders (“Selling Holder Counsel”) per each registration or shelf takedown effected pursuant to Section 2, shall be borne and paid by the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Subsection 2.1 if the registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered (in which case all selling Holders shall bear such expenses pro rata based upon the number of Registrable Securities that were to be included in the withdrawn registration), unless the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities agree to forfeit their right to one registration pursuant to Subsections 2.1(a) or 2.1(b), as the case may be; provided further that if, at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders shall have learned of a material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of the Company that was not known to the Holders at the time of their request and have withdrawn the request with reasonable promptness after learning of such information then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses and shall not forfeit their right to one registration pursuant to Subsections 2.1(a) or 2.1(b). The Selling Holder Counsel shall be selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered. All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 2 shall be borne and paid by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities registered on their behalf.

2.8 Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any registration pursuant to this Agreement as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 2.

2.9 Indemnification. If any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this Section 2:

(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each selling Holder, and the partners, members, officers, directors, and stockholders of each such Holder; legal counsel and accountants for each such Holder; any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for each such Holder; and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any Damages, and the Company will pay to each such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such

 

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expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Subsection 2.9(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, nor shall the Company be liable for any Damages to the extent that they arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of any such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person expressly for use in connection with such registration.

(b) To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each Person (if any), who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, legal counsel and accountants for the Company, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act), any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement, and any controlling Person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any Damages, in each case only to the extent that such Damages arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of such selling Holder with respect to itself expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such selling Holder will pay to the Company and each other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Subsection 2.9(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further that in no event shall the aggregate amounts payable by any Holder by way of indemnity or contribution under Subsections 2.9(b) and 2.9(d) exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Holder.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Subsection 2.9 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action) for which a party may be entitled to indemnification hereunder, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Subsection 2.9, give the indemnifying party notice of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in such action and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, participate jointly with any other indemnifying party to which notice has been given, and to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party (together with all other indemnified parties that may be represented without conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such action. The failure to give notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Subsection 2.9, to the extent that such failure materially prejudices the indemnifying party’s ability to defend such action. The failure to give notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Subsection 2.9.

 

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(d) To provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either: (i) any party otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Subsection 2.9 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case, notwithstanding the fact that this Subsection 2.9 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any party hereto for which indemnification is provided under this Subsection 2.9, then, and in each such case, such parties will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of each of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements, omissions, or other actions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability, or expense, as well as to reflect any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact, relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, however, that, in any such case (x) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement, and (y) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation; and provided further that in no event shall a Holder’s liability pursuant to this Subsection 2.9(d), when combined with the amounts paid or payable by such Holder pursuant to Subsection 2.9(b) exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of willful misconduct or fraud by such Holder.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

(f) Unless otherwise superseded by an underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering, the obligations of the Company and Holders under this Subsection 2.9 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration under this Section 2, and otherwise shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

2.10 Reports Under Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of SEC Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the Company shall:

(a) make and keep available adequate current public information, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times after the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company for the IPO;

 

16


(b) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

(c) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) to the extent accurate, a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company for the IPO), the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies); and (ii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act) or pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies to use such form).

2.11 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would allow such holder or prospective holder (i) to include such securities in any registration unless, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not reduce the number of the Registrable Securities of the Holders that are included or (ii) allow such holder or prospective holder to initiate a demand for registration of any securities held by such holder or prospective holder.

2.12 HIG Preference.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, prior to the Transfer of any Registrable Securities of the Company by LFL, HIG shall have priority to the first $50.0 million of Registrable Securities of the Company registered for sale pursuant to this Agreement before LFL is eligible to register any shares for sale; provided, however, that in no event shall the aforementioned priority impact the right of IVP and CPPIB to effect a registered sale of Registrable Securities.

2.13 Restrictions on Transfer.

(a) Each certificate, instrument, or book entry representing (i) the Registrable Securities and (ii) any other securities issued in respect of the securities referenced in clause, upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, or similar event, shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of Subsection 2.13(b)) be notated with a legend substantially in the following form:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR A VALID EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT.

 

17


The Holders consent to the Company making a notation in its records and giving instructions to any transfer agent of the Restricted Securities in order to implement the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Subsection 2.13.

(b) The holder of such Restricted Securities, by acceptance of ownership thereof, agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 2. Before any proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of any Restricted Securities, unless there is in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the proposed transaction, the Holder thereof shall give notice to the Company of such Holder’s intention to effect such sale, pledge, or transfer. Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer in sufficient detail and, if reasonably requested by the Company, shall be accompanied at such Holder’s expense by either (i) a written opinion of legal counsel who shall, and whose legal opinion shall, be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, addressed to the Company, to the effect that the proposed transaction may be effected without registration under the Securities Act; (ii) a “no action” letter from the SEC to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of such Restricted Securities without registration will not result in a recommendation by the staff of the SEC that action be taken with respect thereto; or (iii) any other evidence reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Company to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of the Restricted Securities may be effected without registration under the Securities Act, whereupon the Holder of such Restricted Securities shall be entitled to sell, pledge, or transfer such Restricted Securities in accordance with the terms of the notice given by the Holder to the Company. The Company will not require such a legal opinion or “no action” letter (x) in any transaction in compliance with SEC Rule 144 or (y) in any transaction in which such Holder distributes Restricted Securities to an Affiliate of such Holder for no consideration; provided that each transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of this Subsection 2.13. Each certificate, instrument, or book entry representing the Restricted Securities transferred as above provided shall be notated with, except if such transfer is made pursuant to SEC Rule 144, the appropriate restrictive legend set forth in Subsection 2.13(a) except that such certificate instrument, or book entry shall not be notated with such restrictive legend if, in the opinion of counsel for such Holder and the Company, such legend is not required in order to establish compliance with any provisions of the Securities Act.

2.14 Termination of Registration Rights. The right of any Holder to request registration or inclusion of Registrable Securities in any registration pursuant to Subsections 2.1, 2.2, or 2.3 shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of:

(a) such time as such Holder ceases to hold or beneficially own any remaining Registrable Securities or upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company; and

(b) such time as Rule 144 or another similar exemption under the Securities Act is available for the sale of all of such Holder’s shares without limitation during a three-month period without registration (other than with respect to HIG, IVP, CPPIB and LFL).

3. MISCELLANEOUS.

3.1 Successors and Assigns. The rights under this Agreement may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee of Registrable Securities that (i) is an Affiliate of a Holder; (ii) is a Holder’s Immediate Family Member or trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or one or more of such Holder’s Immediate Family Members; or (iii) after such

 

18


transfer, holds at least 25% of such Holder’s shares of Registrable Securities (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, and other recapitalizations); provided, however, that (x) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred; and (y) such transferee agrees in a written instrument delivered to the Company to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. For the purposes of determining the number of shares of Registrable Securities held by a transferee, the holdings of a transferee (1) that is an Affiliate or stockholder of a Holder; (2) who is a Holder’s Immediate Family Member; or (3) that is a trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or such Holder’s Immediate Family Member shall be aggregated together and with those of the transferring Holder; provided further that all transferees who would not qualify individually for assignment of rights shall have a single attorney-in-fact for the purpose of exercising any rights, receiving notices, or taking any action under this Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement inure to the benefit of and are binding upon the respective successors and permitted assignees of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assignees any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

3.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal law of the State of Delaware, excluding any rule of law that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Delaware.

3.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

3.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

3.5 Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified; (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile during the recipient’s normal business hours, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next business day; (iii) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (iv) one (1) business day after the business day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next-day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective parties at their addresses as set forth on Schedule A hereto, or to the principal office of the Company and to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer, in the case of the Company, or to such email address, facsimile number, or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Subsection 6.5. If notice is given to the Company, a copy shall also be sent to Latham & Watkins LLP, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, Attention: Marc Jaffe, Tad Freese and Adam Gelardi, or marc.jaffe@lw.com, tad.freese@lw.com, adam.gelardi@lw.com.

 

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3.6 Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, terminated or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and each Holder. The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.

3.7 Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be reformed and construed so that it will be valid, legal, and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

3.8 Aggregation of Stock. All shares of Registrable Securities held or acquired by Affiliates shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement and such Affiliated persons may apportion such rights as among themselves in any manner they deem appropriate.

3.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any Schedules and Exhibits hereto) constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled.

3.10 Dispute Resolution. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK.

EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, THE SECURITIES OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR THEREOF. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL- ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS SECTION HAS BEEN FULLY DISCUSSED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THESE PROVISIONS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY EXCEPTIONS. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT SUCH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

 

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3.11 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of such nonbreaching or nondefaulting party, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of or acquiescence to any such breach or default, or to any similar breach or default thereafter occurring, nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. All remedies, whether under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written.

 

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.
By:  

         

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


H.I.G. Growth Partners – Lulu’s, L.P.
By: H.I.G.-GPII, Inc.,
its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P.,
By: Institutional Venture Management XV, LLC
its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P.,
By: Institutional Venture Management XV, LLC
its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P.,
By: Institutional Venture Management XVI LLC
its General Partner
By:  

             

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
By:  

         

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


LFL Acquisition Corp.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title  

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

H.I.G. Growth Partners – Lulu’s, L.P.

1450 Brickell Avenue, 31st floor

Miami, FL 33131

Attn: Evan Karp

Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P.

3000 Sand Hill Road

Building 2, Suite 250

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Attn: Eric Liaw

Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P.

3000 Sand Hill Road

Building 2, Suite 250

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Attn: Eric Liaw

Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P.

3000 Sand Hill Road

Building 2, Suite 250

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Attn: Eric Liaw

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

One Queen Street East, Suite 2500

Toronto, ON M5C 2W5

Canada

Attn: Iliyan Kaytazov

E-mail

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

919 Third Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Kevin Schmidt; Steven Slutzky

E-mail

LFL Acquisition Corp.

184 Estates Drive

Chico, California 95928

Attn: Colleen Winter; Debra Cannon

 

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EX-10.22

Exhibit 10.22

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT OF

LULU’S FASHION LOUNGE HOLDINGS, INC.

THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of November [10], 2021 (as it may be amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), H.I.G. Growth Partners – Lulu’s, L.P., a [Delaware limited partnership] (“HIG”), Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“IVP XV”), Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“IVP XV Executive Fund”), Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“IVP XVI,” and together with IVP XV and IVP XV Executive Fund, the “IVP Holdcos”) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, a Canadian Crown Corporation (“CPPIB” and, together with HIG and the IVP Holdcos, the “Stockholders”). Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 7.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, each Stockholder beneficially owns outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation; and

WHEREAS, the Corporation is contemplating an offering and sale of the shares of its Common Stock in an underwritten initial public offering.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Corporation and the Stockholders agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

Section 1. Election of the Board of Directors.

(a) Subject to this Section 1(a), HIG shall be entitled to designate for nomination by the Board up to four (4) Directors from time to time (any Director designated by HIG, an “HIG Director”). The HIG Directors shall be apportioned among the three (3) classes of Directors as nearly equal in number as possible. The right of HIG to designate the HIG Directors for nomination as set forth in this Section 1(a) shall be subject to the following: (i) if at any time HIG beneficially owns in the aggregate thirty percent (30%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, HIG shall be entitled to designate four (4) HIG Directors; (ii) if at any time HIG beneficially owns in the aggregate less than thirty percent (30%) but at least twenty percent (20%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, HIG shall be entitled to designate three (3) HIG Directors; (iii) if at any time HIG beneficially owns in the aggregate less than twenty percent (20%) but at least ten percent (10%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, HIG shall be entitled to designate two (2) HIG Directors; and (iv) if at any time HIG beneficially owns in the aggregate less than ten percent (10%) but at least five percent (5%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, HIG shall be entitled to designate only one (1) HIG Director. HIG shall not be entitled to designate any HIG Directors for nomination in accordance with this Section 1(a) if at any time HIG beneficially owns in the aggregate less than five percent (5%) of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(b) Subject to this Section 1(b), the IVP Holdcos shall be entitled to designate for nomination by the Board one (1) Director from time to time (any Director designated by IVP Holdcos, an “IVP Director”). The IVP Holdcos shall not be entitled to designate an IVP Director in accordance with this Section 1(b) if at any time the IVP Holdcos beneficially own in the aggregate less than ten percent (10%) of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.


(c) Subject to Section 1(a) and Section 1(b), each of HIG, the IVP Holdcos and CPPIB hereby agree for the exclusive benefit of the Corporation (which shall have sole right to enforce this Section 1(c)), to vote, or cause to be voted, all outstanding shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them (or any of their Permitted Transferees) at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation at which Directors of the Corporation are to be elected or removed, or in actions by written consent or otherwise so as to effectuate the provisions of this Agreement (as may be permitted under the Corporation’s Bylaws and Charter at the time of such vote), to take all Necessary Action in their capacity as stockholders of the Corporation to cause the election or removal of the HIG Directors and the IVP Director as a Director, as provided herein and to implement and enforce the provisions set forth in Section 3, provided that (i) no Stockholder shall have any voting obligations under this Section 1(c) after any time as such Stockholder beneficially owns in the aggregate less than ten percent (10%) of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.    For the avoidance of doubt, except as provided above, nothing in this Agreement shall limit the right of a Stockholder to vote (or cause to be voted), including by proxy, if applicable, in favor of, or against or to abstain with respect to, any other matters presented to the stockholders of the Corporation.

Section 2. Vacancies and Replacements.

(a) No reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock that each Stockholder beneficially owns shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

(b) Each of HIG and the IVP Holdcos shall have the sole right to request that one or more of their respective designated Directors, as applicable, tender their resignations as Directors of the Board, in each case, with or without cause at any time, by sending a written notice to such Director and the Corporation’s Secretary stating the name of the Director or Directors whose resignation from the Board is requested (the “Removal Notice”). If the Director subject to such Removal Notice does not resign within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof by such Director, HIG and the IVP Holdcos, as holders of Common Stock, the Corporation and the Board, to the fullest extent permitted by law and, with respect to the Board, subject to its fiduciary duties to the Corporation’s stockholders, shall thereafter take all Necessary Action, including voting in accordance with Section 1(c) to cause the removal of such Director from the Board (and such Director shall only be removed by the parties to this Agreement in such manner as provided herein).

(c) Each of HIG and the IVP Holdcos, as applicable, shall have the exclusive right to designate a replacement Director for nomination or election by the Board to fill vacancies created as a result of not designating their respective Directors initially or by death, disability, retirement, resignation, removal (with or without cause) of their respective Directors, or otherwise by designating a successor for nomination or election by the Board to fill the vacancy of their respective Directors created thereby on the terms and subject to the conditions of Section 1; it being understood that any such designee shall serve the remainder of the term of the Director whom such designee replaces.

(d) So long as a Stockholder has the right to nominate at least one Director under Section 1(a) or Section 1(b) or any such Director is serving on the Board, the Corporation shall maintain in effect at all times directors and officers indemnity insurance coverage reasonably satisfactory to the Stockholders, and the Charter and Bylaws shall at all times provide for indemnification, exculpation and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

 

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Section 3. Initial Directors.

The initial HIG Directors pursuant to Section 1(a) shall be [ 🌑 ] (as a Class I Director), [ 🌑 ] (as a Class II Director) and [ 🌑 ] and [ 🌑 ] (in each case, as a Class III Director). The initial IVP Director pursuant to Section 1(b) shall be Eric Liaw (as a Class I Director).

Section 4. Rights of the Stockholders.

In addition to any voting requirements contained in the organizational documents of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, the Corporation shall not take, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to take, any of the following actions (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) without the prior written approval of each of the Stockholders for as long as the Stockholders beneficially own in the aggregate fifty percent (50%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock:

(a) any transaction or series of related transactions, in each case, to the extent within the reasonable control of the Corporation, (i) in which any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act would acquire, directly or indirectly, in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding shares of any class of capital stock (or equivalent) of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (whether by merger, consolidation, sale or transfer of capital stock or partnership, membership or other equity interests, tender offer, exchange offer, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or (ii) following which any “person” or “group” referred to in clause (i) hereof would obtain the direct or indirect power to elect a majority of the Directors;

(b) the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or

(c) any actions (including, without limitation, any debt recapitalizations, refinancings, amendments, revolver drawings, repayments, and compliance report review) with respect to the Corporation or its Subsidiaries’ debt capitalization (including, without limitation, any debt obligations outstanding as of the date of this Agreement) in excess of $50,000,000.

Notwithstanding anything herein or in the organizational documents of the Corporation to the contrary and irrespective of whether the fifty percent (50%) threshold provided for pursuant to this Section 4 is satisfied, HIG, the IVP Holdcos or CPPIB shall not be entitled to approval rights in accordance with this Section 4 if at any time such holder beneficially owns in the aggregate less than fifteen percent (15%) of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.

Section 5. Covenants of the Corporation.

(a) The Corporation agrees to take all Necessary Action to (i) cause the Board to comprise at least nine (9) Directors or such other number of Directors as the Board may determine, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Charter or the Bylaws of the Corporation; (ii) cause the individuals designated in accordance with Section 1 to be included in the slate of nominees proposed to be elected to the Board at the next annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation at which Directors are to be elected, or in actions by written consent or otherwise so as to effectuate the provisions of this Agreement (as may be permitted under the Corporation’s Bylaws and Charter at the time of such vote), in accordance with the Bylaws, Charter, Securities Laws, and General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and at each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation thereafter at which such Director’s term expires or in any action by written consent or otherwise to effectuate the provisions of this Agreement (as may be permitted under the Corporation’s Bylaws and Charter at the time of such vote); (iii) cause the individuals designated in accordance with Section 2(c) to fill the applicable vacancies on the Board, in accordance with the Bylaws, Charter, Securities Laws, General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; and (iv) to adhere to, implement and enforce the provisions set forth in Section 4.

 

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(b) HIG and the IVP Holdcos shall comply with the requirements of the Charter and Bylaws when designating and nominating individuals as Directors, in each case, to the extent such requirements are applicable to Directors generally. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, in the event that the Board determines, within sixty (60) days after compliance with the first sentence of this Section 5(b), in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that its nomination, appointment or election of a particular Director designated in accordance with Section 1 or Section 2, as applicable, would constitute a breach of its fiduciary duties to the Corporation’s stockholders or does not otherwise comply with any requirements of the Charter or Bylaws, then the Corporation shall inform HIG and/or the IVP Holdcos, as applicable, of such determination in writing and explain in reasonable detail the basis for such determination and shall cause the Board, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to nominate, appoint or elect another individual designated for nomination, election or appointment to the Board by HIG and/or the IVP Holdcos, as applicable (subject in each case to this Section 5(b)). The Corporation shall, and shall cause the Board to, to the fullest extent permitted by law, take all Necessary Action required by this Section 5 with respect to the election of such substitute designees to the Board.

(c) Each Stockholder shall have the right, at any time or from time to time, to request and have made available to it by the Corporation such financial and similar information not duplicative of what is customarily prepared by the Corporation as such Stockholder may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may restrict access to the foregoing to the extent that (x) any applicable law requires it or (y) the Corporation determines that restricting such access is reasonably necessary to preserve any evidentiary or attorney-client privilege or to comply with any contract.

Section 6. Termination.

This Agreement shall terminate, as to each individual party but not collectively to all parties, upon the earliest to occur of any one of the following events:

(a) each of (i) HIG, (ii) the IVP Holdcos and (iii) CPPIB ceasing to beneficially own any shares of Common Stock; and

(b) the unanimous written consent of the Corporation and each of HIG (if they continue to beneficially own any shares of Common Stock), each of the IVP Holdcos (if they continue to beneficially own any shares of Common Stock) and CPPIB (if they continue to beneficially own any shares of Common Stock).

For the avoidance of doubt, the rights and obligations of (i) HIG under this Agreement shall terminate upon HIG ceasing to beneficially own any shares of Common Stock, (ii) the IVP Holdcos under this Agreement shall terminate upon the IVP Holdcos ceasing to beneficially own any shares of Common Stock and (iii) CPPIB under this Agreement shall terminate upon CPPIB ceasing to beneficially own any shares of Common Stock.

Section 7. Definitions.

As used in this Agreement, any term that it is not defined herein, shall have the following meanings:

Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

beneficially own” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time.

 

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Bylaws” means the amended and restated bylaws of the Corporation, dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Charter” means the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, effective as of the date hereof, as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Director” means a member of the Board.

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

Necessary Action” means, with respect to a specified result, all commercially reasonable actions required to cause such result that are within the power of a specified Person, including (i) voting or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to the equity securities owned by the Person obligated to undertake the necessary action, (ii) voting in favor of the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the organizational documents of the Corporation, (iii) executing agreements and instruments, and (iv) making, or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

Permitted Transferee” of a Person shall mean any “affiliate” of such Person as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, joint stock company, business trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity or organization, including a government or any subdivision or agency thereof.

Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and the rules promulgated thereunder.

Subsidiary” means with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or other form of legal entity, of which (a) such first Person directly or indirectly owns or controls at least a majority of the securities or other interests having by their terms voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions, or (b) such first Person is a general partner or managing member (excluding partnerships in which such Person or any Subsidiary thereof does not have a majority of the voting interests in such partnership).

Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement; (iv) the terms “Article” or “Section” refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement; (v) the word “including” shall mean “including, without limitation”; (vi) each defined term has its defined meaning throughout this Agreement, whether the definition of such term appears before or after such term is used; and (vii) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive. References to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto. References to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.

 

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Section 8. Choice of Law and Venue; Waiver of Right to Jury Trial.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED, APPLIED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT IN THE EVENT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE NON-BREACHING PARTY WOULD BE IRREPARABLY HARMED AND COULD NOT BE MADE WHOLE BY MONETARY DAMAGES, AND THAT, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDY TO WHICH THEY MAY BE ENTITLED AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, THE PARTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SUCH EQUITABLE OR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE. THE CHOICE OF FORUM SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO PRECLUDE THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT OF A DELAWARE FEDERAL OR STATE COURT, OR THE TAKING OF ANY ACTION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT TO ENFORCE SUCH A JUDGMENT, IN ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION.

(b) IN THE EVENT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT COMMENCES ANY LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LEGAL ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTERS DESCRIBED OR CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY (1) AGREE UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ABSOLUTELY AND IRREVOCABLY TO SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR IF (AND ONLY IF) SUCH COURT FINDS IT LACKS SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (COMPLEX COMMERCIAL DIVISION), OR IF UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OVER THE MATTER THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS VESTED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AND APPELLATE COURTS FROM ANY THEREOF, WITH RESPECT TO ALL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY; (2) AGREE THAT IN THE EVENT OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION, SUCH PARTIES WILL CONSENT AND SUBMIT TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT DESCRIBED IN CLAUSE (1) OF THIS SECTION 8(B) AND TO SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND STATUTES GOVERNING SERVICE OF PROCESS; (3) AGREE TO WAIVE TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION IN ANY SUCH COURT OR THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION WAS BROUGHT IN ANY INCONVENIENT FORUM; (4) AGREE TO WAIVE ANY RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTES OR CLAIMS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT; (5) AGREE TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING BY MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF TO SUCH PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR COMMUNICATIONS TO SUCH PARTY; (6) AGREE THAT ANY SERVICE MADE AS PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (7) AGREE THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHTS OF ANY PARTY TO EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

Section 9. Notices.

Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile, or by electronic mail, or first class mail, or by Federal Express or other similar courier or other similar means of communication, as follows:

 

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  (a)

If to HIG, addressed as follows:

🌑 ]

with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

🌑 ]

 

  (b)

If to the IVP Holdcos, addressed as follows:

c/o Institutional Venture Partners

3000 Sand Hill Road, Building 2, Suite 250

Menlo Park, CA 94111

Attn: Eric Liaw and Tracy Hogan

E-mail:

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Cooley LLP

Three Embarcadero Center, 20th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111

Attn: Jodie Bourdet

E-mail:

 

  (c)

If to CPPIB, addressed as follows:

🌑 ]

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

🌑 ]

 

  (d)

If to the Corporation, addressed as follows:

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.

195 Humboldt Avenue

Chico, California 95928

Telephone: (530) 343-3545

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

E-mail: ___________________

with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020-1300

Attn: Marc Jaffe, Tad Freese and Adam Gelardi

E-mail:

 

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or, in each case, to such other address or email address as such party may designate in writing to each party by written notice given in the manner specified herein. All such communications shall be deemed to have been given, delivered or made when so delivered by hand or sent by facsimile (with confirmed transmission), on the next business day if sent by overnight courier service (with confirmed delivery) or when received if sent by first class mail, or in the case of notice by electronic mail, when the relevant email enters the recipient’s server.

Section 10. Assignment.

Except as otherwise provided herein, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto. This Agreement may not be assigned (by operation of law or otherwise) without the express prior written consent of the other parties hereto, and any attempted assignment, without such consents, will be null and void; provided, however, that each of HIG, the IVP Holdcos and CPPIB is permitted to assign this Agreement to their respective Permitted Transferees, in which case references to HIG, the IVP Holdcos, CPPIB, Stockholders and parties to this Agreement, as applicable, shall be deemed to include such Permitted Transferees if they were originally signatories hereto, except to the extent otherwise provided herein. Each of HIG, the IVP Holdcos and CPPIB shall cause any of their respective Permitted Transferees to become a party to this Agreement. References to beneficial ownership of percentages of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock by a Stockholder herein shall include all ownership of shares of Common Stock by Permitted Transferees of such Stockholder.

Section 11. Amendment and Modification; Waiver of Compliance.

This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or supplemented except by means of a written instrument executed on behalf of each of the Corporation, HIG, the IVP Holdcos and CPPIB. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any failure of any of the parties to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the party or parties entitled to the benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the party or parties granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

Section 12. Waiver.

No failure on the part of either party hereto to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of either party hereto in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver thereof; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy.

Section 13. Severability.

If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance or in any jurisdiction, shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (i) the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each other provision hereof shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, (ii) as to such Person or circumstance or in such jurisdiction such provision shall be reformed to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law and (iii) the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances or in other jurisdictions shall not be affected thereby.

 

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Section 14. Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and signatures may be delivered by facsimile, each of which may be executed by less than all parties, each of which shall be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts, and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

Section 15. Further Assurances.

At any time or from time to time after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as any other party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the provisions of this Agreement and to otherwise carry out the intent of the parties hereunder.

Section 16. Titles and Subtitles.

The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

Section 17. Representations and Warranties.

(a) Each of HIG, the IVP Holdcos, CPPIB and each Person who becomes a party to this Agreement after the date hereof, severally and not jointly and solely with respect to itself, represents and warrants to the Corporation as of the time such party becomes a party to this Agreement that (1) if applicable, it is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement; (2) this Agreement has been duly executed by such party and is a valid and binding agreement of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; and (3) the execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement does not violate or conflict with or result in a breach of or constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both constitute) a default under any agreement to which such party is a party or, if applicable, the organizational documents of such party.

(b) The Corporation represents and warrants to each other party hereto that (1) the Corporation is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement; (2) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Corporation and is a valid and binding agreement of the Corporation, enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms; and (3) the execution, delivery and performance by the Corporation of this Agreement does not violate or conflict with or result in a breach by the Corporation of or constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both constitute) a default by the Corporation under the Charter or Bylaws, any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order, or decree of any governmental authority exercising any statutory or regulatory authority of any of the foregoing, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, or any agreement or instrument to which the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound.

Section 18. No Strict Construction.

This Agreement shall be deemed to be collectively prepared by the parties hereto, and no ambiguity herein shall be construed for or against any party based upon the identity of the author of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

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Section 19. Reimbursement for Expenses.

The Corporation shall, within ten (10) business days of submission by each of HIG, the IVP Holdcos and/or CPPIB of documentation evidencing legal fees and expenses, reimburse each of HIG, the IVP Holdcos and/or CPPIB for all legal fees and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and any ancillary documentation to this Agreement (including, but not limited to, any term sheet, summaries or registration rights agreements among the parties). Such invoices need not include any detail that may be deemed to waive the attorney-client privilege between the Stockholders and their counsel. For the avoidance of doubt, this provision shall only apply to the Stockholders and not any Permitted Transferees.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written.

 

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.
By:  

             

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


H.I.G. Growth Partners – Lulu’s, L.P.
By: H.I.G.-GPII, Inc.,
its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


Institutional Venture Partners XV, L.P.,
By: Institutional Venture Management XV, LLC,
its General Partner
By:  

                 

Name:  
Title:  
Institutional Venture Partners XV Executive Fund, L.P.,
By: Institutional Venture Management XV, LLC,
its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
Institutional Venture Partners XVI, L.P.,
By: Institutional Venture Management XVI LLC,
its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]

EX-21.1

Exhibit 21.1

Subsidiaries of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(21) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), we have omitted certain subsidiaries which, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act).

 

Legal Name

  

State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Parent, LLC    Delaware
Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, LLC    Delaware
EX-23.1

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the use in this Registration Statement No. 333-260194 on Form S-1 of our report dated August 6, 2021, relating to the financial statements of Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

San Francisco, California

November 1, 2021