As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 30, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
BRILLIANT EARTH GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 5944 | 87-1015499 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
300 Grant Avenue, Third Floor
San Francisco, California 94108
Telephone: (800) 691-0952
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Incorporating Services, Ltd.
3500 South DuPont Highway
Dover, Delaware 19901
Telephone: (800) 346-4646
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Tad J. Freese Haim Zaltzman Kristen Grannis Benjamin J. Cohen Latham & Watkins LLP 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10022 Telephone: (212) 906-1200 Fax: (212) 751-4864 |
Alex K. Grab General Counsel 300 Grant Avenue, Third Floor San Francisco, California 94108 Telephone: (800) 691-0952 |
Shane Tintle Roshni Cariello Banker Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP 450 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10017 Telephone: (212) 450-4000 Fax: (212) 701-5526 |
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS DECLARED EFFECTIVE.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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
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Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2) |
Amount of Registration Fee(3) | ||
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share |
$100,000,000 | $10,910 | ||
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(1) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(2) | Includes the offering price of shares of Class A common stock that may be sold if the option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock granted by the Registrant to the underwriters is executed. |
(3) | To be paid in connection with the initial public filing of the registration statement. |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, August 30, 2021.
Shares
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.
Class A Common Stock
This is an initial public offering of shares of Class A common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. We are selling shares of Class A common stock.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Class A common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock will be between $ and $ . We intend to apply to list our Class A common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol BRLT.
We will have four classes of common stock outstanding after this offering: Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock, and Class D common stock. Each share of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock entitles its holder to one vote per share and each share of our Class C common stock and our Class D common stock entitles its holder to 10 votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. Immediately following the consummation of this offering, all of the outstanding shares of our (i) Class B common stock will be held by the Continuing Equity Owners (as defined below)(excluding our Founders (as defined below)), which will represent in the aggregate approximately % of the voting power of our outstanding common stock after this offering (or approximately % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) and (ii) Class C common stock will be held by our Founders, which will represent in the aggregate approximately % of the voting power of our outstanding common stock after this offering (or approximately % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares). No shares of our Class D common stock will be outstanding immediately following the consummation of this offering.
We will be a holding company, and upon consummation of this offering and the application of proceeds therefrom, our principal asset will consist of LLC Interests (as defined below) we acquire directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner, collectively representing an aggregate % economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC. Of the remaining % economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC, % will be owned by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding Mainsail (as defined below) and our Founders) through their ownership of LLC Interests, % will be owned by Mainsail through their ownership of LLC Interests and % will be owned by our Founders through their ownership of LLC Interests.
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will be the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC. We will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Brilliant Earth, LLC and, through Brilliant Earth, LLC, conduct our business.
Following this offering, we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq. See Our Organizational Structure and ManagementControlled Company Exception.
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and will be subject to reduced disclosure and public reporting requirements. This prospectus complies with the requirements that apply to an issuer that is an emerging growth company.
See Risk Factors beginning on page 29 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our Class A common stock.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body 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 discount(1) |
$ | $ | ||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. |
$ | $ |
(1) | We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses in connection with this offering. See Underwriting. |
The underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional shares of Class A common stock from us at the initial price to public less the underwriting discount within 30 days of the date of this prospectus.
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of Class A common stock against payment in New York, New York on , 2021.
J.P. Morgan | Credit Suisse | Jefferies | Cowen |
KeyBanc Capital Markets |
Piper Sandler | William Blair | Telsey Advisory Group |
Prospectus dated , 2021.
BRILLIANT EARTH
OUR MISSION To create a more transparent, sustainable and compassionate jewelry industry.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Brilliant Earth at a Glance All figures represent fiscal 2020 unless otherwise noted. Free Cash Flow Conversion and Adjusted EDBITA Margin are non-GAAP financial measures. For additional information, including reconciliations, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsNon-GAAP Financial Measures. 1 2-year net sales CAGR for the last twelve months ended June 30, 2021 2 Free Cash Flow Conversion = (net cash provided by operating activities less net cash used in investing activities) / net income 3 Operating Cash Flow Conversion = net cash provided by operating activities / net income 4 Average Order Value (AOV) = net sales in a given period / total orders in that period. AOV varies depending on the product type and number of items per order 5 2019 market size per Euromonitor International, Fine Jewellery, May 2021 $252mm 2020 NET SALES 45% GROSS MARGIN 124% FREE CASH FLOW CONVERSION 2 11% ADJUSTED EBITDA MARGIN $3,152 AVERAGE ORDER VALUE 4 39% NET SALES CAGR1 >10x INVENTORY TURNS 121% OPERATING CASH FLOW CONVERSION 3 9% NET INCOME MARGIN $300bn GLOBAL MARKET 5
@smittyyy35 @itsbbybritt @kaylaaa_bou @jo.el.wo @thekathyjay @the.nurse.sarah
LETTER FROM BETH GERSTEIN AND ERIC GROSSBERG, CO-FOUNDERS
We founded Brilliant Earth because we believe passionately in creating a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry. From the beginning, this mission has been at the heart of everything we do.
The Brilliant Earth journey began over sixteen years ago. When I (Beth) was shopping for an engagement ring, I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, and I wanted a ring that I could truly feel good about wearing. And yet, when I went into different jewelers and asked, Where do your diamonds and jewelry come from? I could never get a straight answer. Meanwhile, Eric was researching the jewelry industry in business school and hearing from friends who were disenchanted with their own jewelry shopping experiences. They felt unwelcome in luxury stores that seemed out of touch, or ignored in mall jewelers sandwiched next to fast food chains. They said the experience was like stepping back in time thirty years compared with how they shopped for other major purchases.
As we shared stories, we knew there had to be a better way. To serve a new generation of jewelry consumers who share our values of transparency, sustainability, inclusivity, and giving back. To offer thoughtfully designed, unique, and beautiful jewelry. To use data and technology to create an innovative omnichannel business and modernize industry practices. And, above all, to create exceptional, educational, and joyful experiences for our customers.
We founded Brilliant Earth from my apartment, with Eric as our first salesperson and me fulfilling every order. As newcomers in this insular industry, it was challenging at first to form relationships, but that same newness provided us with a fresh perspective that was critical to creating change. And we were very fortunate to be surrounded by a growing team of exceptionally talented individuals who cared as deeply about our mission, our vision, and our customers as we did.
Since those early days, our team has continued to be the engine of Brilliant Earths success. We are humbled to work alongside such dedicated, collaborative, customer-first, and mission-driven colleagues. Their commitment and creativity inspire us every day. We are so grateful for their contributions. Brilliant Earth is the company it is today because of them.
Together, we share a vision for a company that gives back and has a positive impact on the world, and a passion for providing products and experiences that spark joy at special moments in our customers lives. We are honored to be part of our customers lives and stories, and we celebrate those stories by reading them aloud at each of our company meetings to underscore their importance to what we do and why we do it.
A few years ago, I had the chance to visit Sierra Leone to see firsthand the conditions at some artisanal diamond mines. Despite the vast wealth from diamonds in Sierra Leone, many towns do not have accessible schools, roads, or hospitals. And across the world, there are millions of artisanal and small-scale diamond miners, who often face worker exploitation and violence.
My visit fueled the urgency we feel in our work every day. Our customers care where their jewelry comes from, and we are passionate about improving supply chain transparency, sustainable mining practices, fair wages, and safe working conditions. From helping fund a primary school in a rural diamond mining community in the Democratic Republic of Congo to supporting efforts to train artisanal gold miners in Peru on mercury-free mining practices, we care deeply about helping to build a brighter future in mining communities, in the communities we operate, and beyond. Giving back will always be fundamental to our mission and values, which is why we created the Brilliant Earth Foundationto establish meaningful, long-term support for causes we champion.
We believe our diverse team and commitment to inclusion stand alongside our mission, our products, and our innovative business model as integral to our success. We are proud to be joined by a women-
majority leadership team, board of directors, and employee base. We are energized every day by the opportunity to make an impact, and we know we are only at the beginning.
From our first order shipped from my apartment, to over 370,000 customers across all US states and over 50 countries, its been an honor to be a part of unforgettable moments in our customers lives. We are excited for the next chapter and are grateful to our community, our partners, and our employeesand to you, our investorsfor joining us on this journey.
Beth Gerstein and Eric Grossberg, Co-Founders
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK |
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F-1 |
We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any related free writing prospectuses. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered by this prospectus, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our Class A common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may have changed since that date.
Through and including , 2021 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealers obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.
For investors outside the U.S.: We have not, and the underwriters have not, done anything that would permit this offering or the possession or distribution of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus we may provide to you in connection with this offering in any jurisdiction where action for purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the U.S. who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of Class A common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the U.S. See Underwriting.
Organizational Structure
In connection with the closing of this offering, we will undertake certain organizational transactions to reorganize our corporate structure. Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, all information in this prospectus reflects the consummation of the organizational transactions described in the section titled Our Organizational Structure and this offering, and the application of the proceeds therefrom, which we refer to collectively as the Transactions.
See Our Organizational Structure for a diagram depicting our organizational structure after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering.
Certain Definitions
As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to:
| we, us, our, the Company, Brilliant Earth, and similar references refer: (1) following the consummation of the Transactions, including this offering, to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., and, unless otherwise stated, all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Brilliant Earth, LLC, and (2) prior to the completion of the Transactions, including this offering, to Brilliant Earth, LLC. |
| Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement refers to Brilliant Earth, LLCs amended and restated limited liability company agreement, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering. |
| CAGR refers to compound annual growth rate. |
| Continuing Equity Owners refers collectively to holders of LLC Interests and our Class B common stock and Class C common stock immediately following consummation of the Transactions, including our Founders and Mainsail, who may, following the consummation of this offering, exchange at each of their respective options, in whole or in part from time to time, their LLC Interests (along with an equal number of shares of Class B common stock or Class C common stock (and such shares shall be immediately cancelled)), as applicable, for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules) who are disinterested), cash or newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, as described in Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the Transactions. |
| Founders refers to Beth Gerstein, our Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Eric Grossberg, our Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, and Just Rocks (as defined below). |
| Just Rocks refers to Just Rocks, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is jointly owned and controlled by our Founders. |
| LLC Interests refers to the common units of Brilliant Earth, LLC, including those that we purchase with the net proceeds from this offering. |
| Original Equity Owners refers to the owners of LLC Interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC prior to the consummation of the Transactions, collectively, which include Mainsail, Just Rocks, and certain executive officers and employees. |
| Mainsail refers to Mainsail Partners III, L.P., our sponsor and a Delaware limited partnership, certain funds affiliated with Mainsail Partners III, L.P., including Mainsail Incentive Program, LLC, and Mainsail Co-Investors III, L.P. |
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| Transactions refers to the organizational transactions and this offering, and the application of the net proceeds therefrom. |
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will be a holding company and the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC, and upon consummation of the Transactions, its principal asset will consist of LLC Interests.
Presentation of Financial Information
Brilliant Earth, LLC is the accounting predecessor of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. for financial reporting purposes. Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will be the audited financial reporting entity following this offering. Accordingly, this prospectus contains the following historical financial statements:
| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Other than the inception balance sheets, dated as of June 3, 2021 and June 30, 2021, the historical financial information of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. has not been included in this prospectus as it is a newly incorporated entity, has had no business transactions or activities to date, besides the initial capitalization of the company. |
| Brilliant Earth, LLC. Because Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will have no interest in any operations other than those of Brilliant Earth, LLC, the historical financial information included in this prospectus is that of Brilliant Earth, LLC. |
Certain monetary amounts, percentages, and other figures included in this prospectus have been subject to rounding adjustments. Percentage amounts included in this prospectus have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, percentage amounts in this prospectus may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Certain other amounts that appear in this prospectus may not sum due to rounding.
Key Terms and Performance Indicators Used in this Prospectus; Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Throughout this prospectus, we use a number of key terms and provide a number of key performance indicators used by management. For definitions and further information about how we calculate key performance indicators and non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free cash flow, and Free cash flow conversion to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net income (loss), net income (loss) margin (which we define as net income (loss) as a percentage of net sales), net cash provided by operating activities and operating cash flow conversion (which is defined as net cash provided by operating activities as a percentage of net income (loss)), and why we consider Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free cash flow, and Free cash flow conversion useful, please see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsKey Metrics and non-GAAP Financials.
We use non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free cash flow, and Free cash flow conversion, to supplement financial information presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (GAAP). We believe that excluding certain items from our GAAP results allows management to better understand our consolidated financial performance from period to period and better project our future consolidated financial performance as forecasts are developed at a level of detail different from that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures. Moreover, we believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide our stakeholders with useful information to help them evaluate our operating results by facilitating an enhanced understanding of our operating performance and enabling them to make more meaningful period to period comparisons. There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this prospectus. For example, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly
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titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. See Prospectus SummarySummary Historical Financial and Other Data and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
This prospectus includes our trademarks and trade names which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and are our property. This prospectus also contains trademarks, trade names, and service marks of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names, and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ®, or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, trade names, and service marks. We do not intend our use or display of other parties trademarks, trade names, or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties.
Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this prospectus concerning our industry, competitive position, and the markets in which we operate is based on information from independent industry and research organizations, other third-party sources, and management estimates. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information released by independent industry analysts and other third-party sources, as well as data from our internal research, and are based on assumptions made by us upon reviewing such data, and our experience in, and knowledge of, such industry and markets, which we believe to be reasonable. In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of the future performance of the industry in which we operate and our future performance are necessarily subject to uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.
The sources of certain statistical data, estimates, and forecasts contained in this prospectus are in the following independent industry and company generated reports:
| 5W Public Relations, 5WPR 2020 Consumer Culture Report, April 2020 (the 5WPR Report). |
| Bain & Company, The Global Diamond Industry 2020-21, February 2021 (The Bain Report). |
| Capgemini Research Institute, How Sustainability is Fundamentally Changing Consumer Preferences, July 2020 (the Capgemini Study). |
| Euromonitor International, Fine Jewellery, May 2021 (Euromonitor). |
| McKinsey & Company, State of Fashion: Watches and Jewellery, June 2021 (McKinsey) |
| Nielsen, Global Corporate Sustainability Report, 2015 (the Nielsens Sustainability Report). |
| The Knot, The Knot 2019 Jewelry & Engagement Study, November 2019 (The Knot 2019 Study). |
| The Knot, The Knot 2020 Jewelry & Engagement Study, December 2020 (The Knot 2020 Study). |
| YPulse, Millennials & Gen Z Teens 2020 Spending Power, January 2020 (YPulse). |
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| Brilliant Earth Customer Survey (the Customer Insight Survey), which we use to measure our customers preferences. Our methodology of conducting the Customer Insight Survey measures responses from customers who purchase products from us and chose to respond to the survey questions from January 2020 through April 2021. Throughout this prospectus, factors that are referred to as an important factor in our customers decision making process include customer responses that a factor is somewhat important, moderately important, considerably important, and extremely important and exclude responses that the factor was not at all important. We give no weight to customers who decline to answer the survey question. |
This prospectus also includes references to our Net Promoter Score or NPS, which we use to measure our customers brand loyalty and satisfaction, and can range from -100 to +100. Responses were collected from 0, Not Likely, to 10, Very Likely. Our NPS was calculated by using the standard methodology of subtracting the percentage of customers who responded that they are not likely to recommend Brilliant Earth (6 or lower) from the percentage of customers who responded that they are very likely to recommend Brilliant Earth (9 or 10). The NPS gives no weight to customers who declined to answer the survey question. While NPS benchmark can vary significantly by industry, we believe this method is substantially consistent with how businesses across our industry typically calculate their NPS.
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This summary highlights selected information included elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our Class A common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the Risk Factors, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements, and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Some of the statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements. See Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
Our Mission
To create a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry.
Our Story
From the beginning, our founders Beth and Eric have aspired to create a modern jewelry company that reflects their own values and transforms an outdated industry. They believe in fine jewelry that is different in every wayhow its made, how its sold, how its sourced and crafted, and how it gives back.
For Beth, her journey began when she experienced firsthand the challenge of finding a responsibly sourced engagement ring that reflected her values. She had learned about environmental and social injustices in the jewelry industry and cared deeply that her own ring would not contribute to these injustices. Discouraged by opaque sourcing practices and impersonal shopping experiences, she believed there had to be a better way.
Beth shared her frustrations with her business school classmate Eric, and learned that he had been studying the jewelry industry. Eric shared Beths passion that this antiquated and slow-moving industry could be reinvented in a thoughtful and modern way to serve a new generation. Together, Beth and Eric founded Brilliant Earth in 2005 with the belief that consumers deserve transparent and responsible practices, beautiful, high-quality, and unique products, and a personalized shopping experience that brings joy into the jewelry buying process. What began as a partnership between two entrepreneurs has grown into a community of people who believe that beautifully designed jewelry can also be a powerful tool for change.
Our Company
Brilliant Earth is an innovative, digital-first jewelry company, and a global leader in ethically sourced fine jewelry. We offer exclusive designs with superior craftsmanship and supply chain transparency, delivered to customers through a highly personalized omnichannel experience.
Our mission is to create a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry, and we are proud to offer customers distinctive and thoughtfully designed products that they can truly feel good about wearing. Our core values resonate strongly across many demographics and particularly with values-driven Millennial and Gen Z consumers.
Our extensive collection of premium-quality diamond engagement and wedding rings, gemstone rings, and fine jewelry is conceptualized by our leading in-house design studio and then brought to life by expert jewelers. From our award-winning jewelry designs to our responsibly sourced materials, at Brilliant Earth we aspire to exceptional standards in everything we do.
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We were founded in 2005 as an e-commerce company with an ambitious mission and a single showroom in San Francisco. We have rapidly scaled our business while remaining focused on our mission and elevating the omnichannel customer experience. Through our intuitive digital commerce platform and personalized individual appointments in our showrooms, we cater to the shopping preferences of tech-savvy next-generation consumers. We create an educational, joyful, and approachable experience that is unique in the jewelry industry. Today, Brilliant Earth has sold to consumers in all U.S. states and over 50 countries, and has served over 370,000 customers through our e-commerce platform and 13 showrooms.
Throughout our history, we have invested in technology to create a seamless customer experience, inform our data-driven decision-making, improve efficiencies, and advance our mission. Our technology enables dynamic product visualization, augmented reality try-on, blockchain-enabled transparency, and rapid fulfillment of our flagship Create Your Own product. We leverage powerful data capabilities to improve our marketing and operational efficiencies, personalize the customer experience, curate showroom inventory and merchandising, inform real estate decisions, and develop new product designs that reflect consumer preferences. We believe the Brilliant Earth digital experience drives higher satisfaction, engagement, and conversion both online and in-showroom.
Our financial model is compelling: high net sales growth, substantial first order profitability, and attractive margins. We are very capital efficient: our made-to-order capabilities and virtual inventory model generate attractive inventory turns and negative working capital. We have achieved strong financial performance and rapid growth since our founding with minimal outside funding, and believe we are in the early stages of realizing our potential in a massive market opportunity:
| grew net sales to $251.8 million in 2020, compared to $201.3 million in 2019; |
| achieved net income of $21.6 million in 2020, compared to $(7.8) million in 2019; |
| achieved net income margin of 8.6% in 2020, compared to (3.9%) in 2019; |
| grew Adjusted EBITDA to $27.5 million in 2020, compared to $(4.5) million in 2019; and |
| improved Adjusted EBITDA margin to 10.9% in 2020, compared to (2.2%) in 2019. |
Our performance in the first half of 2021 continues to demonstrate our ability to succeed in this market:
| grew net sales to $163.0 million, up 77.7% from $91.8 million in the first half of 2020; |
| achieved net income of $10.9 million, up from $0.2 million in the first half of 2020; |
| achieved net income margin of 6.7%, compared to 0.2% in the first half of 2020; |
| grew Adjusted EBITDA to $21.0 million, up 600% from $3.0 million in the first half of 2020; and |
| improved Adjusted EBITDA margin to 12.9%, compared to 3.3% in the first half of 2020. |
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Our Opportunity
Global Jewelry Market Size and Growth ($bn)
Source: Euromonitor.
Massive Global Jewelry Market
The fine jewelry market is estimated to be worth approximately $300 billion globally and approximately $61 billion in the U.S. according to Euromonitor, and has consistently grown at CAGRs of 7.4% and 4.7%, respectively, from 2010 to 2019. In the U.S., e-commerce is the fastest growing channel, with a CAGR of 15% from 2010 through 2020, increasing from 10% of sales in 2010 to 31% in 2020.
Despite its mammoth size, the jewelry industry is highly fragmented and includes players like mall jewelers, local independent stores, and department stores, among others. Globally, there is no single fine jewelry player with over 4% market share. According to Bain, approximately 65% of the industry is
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composed of thousands of small and independent jewelers, many of which are struggling to address evolving consumer preferences for personalization and e-commerce and are further limited by reduced purchasing power and an inventory-heavy model. Mall jewelers have also been slow to modernize an outdated retail experience, and face declining foot traffic. We believe the rapidly changing industry provides ample opportunity for Brilliant Earth to take share.
The bridal categorywhere we currently derive a large portion of our businessis among the most resilient in the jewelry industry. Engagement and wedding rings are an enduring tradition. According to The Knot 2019 Study, 96% of U.S. couples exchanged a ring and 83% of engagement rings featured diamonds. Each year, there are over two million marriages in the U.S. alone, a number that has been consistent for the past ten years according to U.S. government statistics.
Engagement rings also have a high average order value (AOV) and are a highly considered purchase, often one of the largest purchases that a consumer will make. Given the emotional significance of this purchase, customers often form strong connections with the company from which they buy bridal jewelry and return for special occasions or self-gifting fine jewelry purchases.
There is also a large opportunity with the branded fine jewelry segment. According to McKinsey, branded products can command around six times higher prices than for unbranded products. Looking ahead, branded fine jewelry is expected to grow at an 8 to 12% CAGR from 2019 to 2025.
Changing Consumer Preferences
Millennial and Gen Z consumers combined spending power neared $3 trillion in 2020, according to YPulse, and they are the largest opportunity for the jewelry industry. These consumers represent the core consumer of bridal-related products and a significant portion of the fine jewelry market. They are drawn to purpose-driven brands, are digitally savvy, and expect to shop whenever and wherever they want.
People are shopping for jewelry online more than ever before. According to Euromonitor, 31% of fine jewelry sales were online in 2020, up from 22% in 2019. As preferences continue to shift online, we believe consumers seek authentic brands with a strong digital presence and an engaged community. They are highly active on social media, where 81% of proposees looked for engagement ring inspiration.
While Millennial and Gen Z consumers appreciate digitally native brands, many also want an in-person experience where they can see, touch, and feel products, especially for a high value, considered purchase. They expect to be able to shop when and where they want with a seamless journey between brick-and-mortar and online. This requires strong digital capabilities and a true omnichannel experience.
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How Consumers Purchase Diamond Jewelry in the U.S.
Source: The Bain Report.
Couples are also increasingly shopping together for engagement rings and wedding rings, so it is important for jewelry providers to cater to both parties. According to The Knot 2020 Study, seven in ten proposees say they were somewhat involved in selecting or purchasing their engagement ring. As the proposee becomes more involved in the experience, we believe that they are more connected to the jewelry brand and are more likely to buy for additional special occasions or self-purchases.
Consumers also seek purpose-driven brands that are authentic, engaged with social and environmental issues, and help them express their individuality. Within Millennial and Gen Z demographics in particular, there is a distinct preference for and prioritization of sustainability, brand, and mission:
| 73% of Millennials are willing to spend more on a product if it comes from a brand that stands for sustainability according to Nielsens Sustainability Report; |
| 71% of Millennials are willing to pay more for a product knowing that a portion of the proceeds goes to charity according to the 5WPR Report; and |
| 79% of all consumers are changing product preferences based on the social and environmental impacts of their purchases according to the Capgemini Study. |
We believe Millennials and Gen Z consumers also seek unique products that speak to their individuality and personal preferences and that they have the option to personalize themselves.
The Brilliant Earth Difference
We are changing the way people shop for fine jewelry by offering a joyful, personalized, and meaningful jewelry experience. We believe Brilliant Earth has the right omnichannel model, award-winning designs, and mission-driven brand to serve the next generation fine jewelry consumer.
Exceptional Omnichannel Customer Experience
We have reimagined the jewelry shopping experience with our seamless omnichannel modelallowing our customers to shop anywhere, anytime. Customers have joyful, personalized, and meaningful experiences on our website and in our reimagined showrooms. For those who shop online, we deliver a leading mobile-first digital platform with dynamic visualization that brings the product to life, and innovative technology that streamlines the customer journey. For those who want to shop in-store, we
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provide personalized and curated individual appointments. Customers meet with a dedicated jewelry specialist in a fun, relaxing, and educational environment that fosters lasting connections and propels strong engagement and conversion across channels.
Our high-touch experience drives customer satisfaction, reflected in our high NPS of 75+ every year since 2016 and 62% of customers citing word-of-mouth referral as an important factor in their purchase decision.
Digitally Native, Tech-Driven and Customer-Obsessed
We are digitally native, and take a tech-driven, analytical approach to deliver our exceptional customer experience. The customer is at the forefront of our decision making, and we closely track their feedback and satisfaction across all our channels. We then use this data to create a personalized, premium experience however or wherever our customer chooses to shop.
Our custom e-commerce site guides customers through an intuitive, immersive shopping experience. Our advanced Virtual Try On feature and product visualization technology allow customers to envision our ring designs with diamonds and gemstones of any size, shape, and color. Dynamic product customization and an intelligent diamond recommendation engine simplify and personalize the shopping experience.
While many customers shop with us exclusively online, others also want an in-person experience. From early in our history, we have offered personalized individual appointments in our modern showrooms, with curated selections based on data collected from the customer. Our customers enjoy a fun, relaxing, and educational environment while learning about our mission and browsing gemstones and jewelry selected just for them.
Dedicated, non-commissioned jewelry specialists are available at every step of their journey via chat, phone, email, virtual appointment, or in our showrooms, which we believe drives strong engagement and high customer satisfaction. These specialists strive to create lasting connections with customers.
Unique and Award-Winning Designs
We believe that customers should never have to compromise between beauty, quality, and conscience. Our commitment to our core values is matched by our passion for innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship.
Our award-winning in-house design studio keeps thoughtful design at the heart of everything we do and allows us to quickly adapt to consumer insights and marketplace trends. We utilize our customer dataset, strong relationships with our customers, and highly engaged social media following to constantly uncover consumer insights and trends. We track over 50 attributes associated with our products to inform our development and merchandising decisions. We create unique, exclusive styles that are expertly crafted to be beautiful from every angle and have been featured in leading publications, including Vogue, Forbes, and WWD. Over two-thirds of our ring collection is proprietary and available exclusively at Brilliant Earth, and 99% of our customers cited quality of design as an important factor in their purchase decision, according to our Customer Insight Survey.
Our engagement rings are highly personalized to reflect our customers individuality and unique preferences. Through our Create Your Own model, customers choose their ideal ring design, precious metal type, and ring size, and select their diamond or gemstone from our marketplace of over 100,000
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natural and lab-grown diamonds. The customers one-of-a-kind ring is crafted with extraordinary care to fit the exact specifications of their chosen diamond and made just for them, typically in six to twelve business days. We believe the exacting standards of our made-to-order process deliver a higher quality finished product than other offerings that use pre-fabricated rings retrofitted to accommodate a new center gemstone and ring size.
Mission-Driven Ethos
Our mission is to create a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry. We founded the company to provide an ethical alternative to historical jewelry industry practices, which have raised environmental and social concerns and lacked transparency.
| Transparent: We go above and beyond current industry standards to offer Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds that have been selected for their ethical and environmentally responsible origins. As part of our commitment to transparent sourcing, we expect our suppliers to adhere to our strict Supplier Code of Conduct. We also integrate blockchain technology to showcase the journey of a select collection of blockchain-enabled diamonds. We are a certified and audited member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), a not-for-profit standard setting organization for the jewelry industry. |
| Sustainable: Our jewelry is crafted from primarily recycled precious metals and arrives in our iconic ring boxes crafted with wood sourced from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forests. Our shipping packaging is also primarily recycled content and comes from responsibly managed sources, and we continuously strive to increase the recycled content as part of our commitment to minimizing our environmental footprint. We are also a Certified Carbonfree® company and have partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset our carbon emissions by contributing to Carbonfunds Envira Amazonia Project, a conservation project focused on protecting 500,000 acres of tropical rainforest in Brazil. |
| Compassionate: From our beginnings, we have donated to issues we are passionate about, and volunteering and giving back are especially important to our employees. We recently established the Brilliant Earth Foundation, a donor advised fund, to further our philanthropic mission. In 2015, we partnered with the Diamond Development Initiative to fund a primary school in a rural diamond mining community in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With our non-profit partner Pure Earth, we helped empower miners in an artisanal gold mining community in Peru in 2017 by providing training in mercury-free mining practices to help prevent destructive environmental contamination. |
| Inclusive: We are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we strive to embody our values through our product collections, customer experience, non-profit initiatives, and internal practices. We are proud that women comprise majorities of our employees, senior executive team, and board of directors. We are also proud that our CEO and co-founder, Beth Gerstein, serves on the boards of Diamonds Do Good and the Womens Jewelry Association. 31% of our leadership team and 38% of our total employees identify as a member of a BIPOC community. We believe that diversity makes us a stronger company, and we are proud to be a DEI leader in our industry. |
Our Strengths
The Brilliant Earth Brand
We are a mission-driven, premium brand founded on core values of transparency, sustainability, inclusivity and giving back. These values resonate strongly with Millennial and Gen Z customers, 83% of whom say they will buy from brands whose values align with theirs, according to the 5WPR Report.
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Those same Millennial and Gen Z consumers collectively represented 87% of our active customers according to our Customer Insight Survey. We thoughtfully develop our brand messaging and customer experience to appeal to all genders, which is important because couples are increasingly shopping together for engagement and wedding rings. 72% of Brilliant Earth couples in 2020 and 2021 were both involved in their engagement ring purchase according to our Customer Insight Survey.
Alongside our mission, we believe our joyful, premium customer experience and unique, exclusive jewelry designs drive our strong brand affinity and loyalty, leading to our Net Promoter Score of 75+ every year since 2016. 76% of customers cited brand and 62% of customers cited word-of-mouth referral as an important factor in their decision to purchase from Brilliant Earth according to our Customer Insight Survey. When asked what words come to mind when they think about Brilliant Earth, the top three mentions were terms related to quality, beauty, and ethics.
Since our founding, we have fostered deep connections with our highly engaged community, leading to an outsized social media presence. We believe our brand resonance, authentic content, and relentless focus on staying ahead of social trends have contributed to our leading engagement rates. Our purpose-driven storytelling and beautiful imagery help us connect with our growing community, which as of June 2021 includes over 9.1 million monthly Pinterest viewers, 2.1 million Facebook followers and over 700,000 Instagram followers.
Exceptional Customer Experience
We have reimagined the jewelry shopping experience. Customers have joyful, personalized, and premium experiences on both our e-commerce site and in our reimagined showrooms. We deliver a leading digital platform, dynamic product customization, innovative technology, and a seamless omnichannel experience. For customers who wish to shop in-store, we provide personalized and curated individual appointments. Customers meet with a dedicated jewelry specialist in a fun, relaxing, and educational environment that fosters lasting connections and propels strong engagement and conversion across channels.
Unique and Exclusive Products
Our award-winning in-house design studio creates unique, exclusive styles that are expertly crafted to be beautiful from every angle. We leverage our data to curate collections and inform new product development strategy, so our offerings are current, fresh, and reflect consumer preferences. We have a vast collection of Beyond Conflict Free natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds that meet rigorous standards for sourcing and quality. Our collection offers extensive coverage across quality characteristics and price points. Through our Create Your Own model, customers can customize their jewelry to reflect their individuality and personal preferences, creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. In 2020, we also released one of the industrys first gender-fluid collections.
Innovative, Data-Driven Technology
As a digitally native company, we use technology to deliver a superior customer experience, improve marketing and operational efficiencies, curate showroom inventory and merchandising, inform real estate decisions, and develop new product designs that reflect consumer preferences. Our proprietary technology includes dynamic visualization, augmented reality try-on, and automated rapid fulfillment of our flagship Create Your Own product. We utilize leading technology for key business functions, including product design and personalization, customer relationship management (CRM) and data analytics, inventory and supply chain management, order fulfillment, and more.
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We apply cutting-edge technology to innovate and transform our supply chain. We were among the first retail jewelers to offer blockchain diamonds at scale, defining next-generation traceability standards in the jewelry industry, and now offer more than 10,000 blockchain-enabled diamonds. This technology tracks a diamond from its origins at the mining operator, through cutting and polishing, to the customer. This provides even greater transparency into the responsible origins of these blockchain-enabled diamonds.
Capital Efficient Operating Model
We have an asset-light operating model with attractive working capital dynamics, capital efficient showrooms, and a vast virtual inventory of premium natural and lab-grown diamonds. We are able to offer over 100,000 diamondshundreds of millions of dollars worthwhile keeping our balance sheet inventory low, which has driven our attractive inventory turns of over 10x every year since 2018, compared to 1-2x inventory turns that are more typical for even high-performing traditional jewelers. Our limited owned-inventory and rapid cash cyclewhere we are typically paid by our customers before we pay our suppliersallow us to scale with limited capital outlays.
Our showroom strategy generates highly favorable unit economics and avoids the inefficiencies of traditional jewelers that have too many physical stores, employees, and inventory. Our showrooms are appointment-driven with large catchment regions, so we are less reliant on high foot traffic locationswith their high rentsthan traditional retailers. We curate showroom inventory for scheduled visits and need minimal inventory for each location. When not in appointment, our tech-enabled team of jewelry specialists supports online customers, maximizing workforce utilization.
Omnichannel Model Driving Growth and Conversion
We believe our showrooms accelerate our financial performance in the markets where they are located. Metros with a showroom experience over 80% revenue growth on average in the first 12 monthssubstantially higher than our 32% blended revenue CAGR from 2016 to 2020and 50% higher conversion within 12 months of opening and increasing to a 75% improvement by year two and a 90% improvement by year three. 50% of customers who have a showroom appointment ultimately make a purchase. On average, our showrooms yield approximately $8,000 in sales per square foot, far outpacing other jewelry retailers.
Founder-Led and Diverse Leadership Team Committed to Inclusion
We care deeply about diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are led by our CEO and co-founder Beth Gerstein, who also serves on the boards of the Womens Jewelry Association and Diamonds Do Good. A majority of our board of directors, 73% of employees at the director level and above, and 80% of our total employees are women. 31% of our leadership team and 38% of our total employees identify as a member of a BIPOC community. We believe our commitment to diversity helps drive employee engagement, with 91% of our surveyed employees in 2020 saying, I am proud to work at Brilliant Earth. Our diverse team and commitment to inclusion are integral to our company and inform our product offerings and customer experience.
Our Growth Strategies
There is a massive growth opportunity ahead. We are less than one percent penetrated in the jewelry category today. With our purpose-driven brand, digitally-driven omnichannel experience, award-winning products, and loyal customers, we believe we have significant opportunities to grow in both our existing and new markets.
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Increase Brand Awareness
Increasing brand awareness and growing favorable brand equity have been and remain central to our growth. As of June 30, 2021, our aided brand awareness is 54%, and we believe we have significant room to increase in the U.S. and internationally. From 2018 to 2021, our aided brand awareness grew from 43% to 54% generally and from 53% to 65% among consumers who recently purchased or are in the process of purchasing an engagement ring or wedding ring. We will continue to drive brand awareness through marketing, earned media, showroom expansion, and word-of-mouth referrals.
Expand Omnichannel Reach
We are in the early stages of expanding our showrooms nationwide, and expect to focus in the near term on major urban markets in the U.S. where we can maximize our growth potential. Expanding our number of showrooms has uplifted our e-commerce business, accelerated growth, increased average order value, and improved conversion in the showrooms metro regions. We have seen over 80% revenue growth on average over the first 12 months in metro areas where a new showroom has been opened. As we expand into new markets, we expect to see similar uplift in those new geographies.
Currently we have 13 locations, and plan to open at least one more by the end of 2021. Because our showrooms serve as destinations with some customers traveling long distances to visit them, we believe that we can achieve near-national showroom coverage with under 100 locations. We expect this highly efficient showroom model to complement our digital strategy and continue to drive growth and profitability.
Expand Purchase Occasions with Existing and New Customers
Fine jewelry, which includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings (other than engagement or wedding), represented 63% of the massive global jewelry market in 2020 according to Bain. We believe we have significant opportunity to expand our relationship with our deeply loyal customer base beyond our current core engagement and wedding ring category into special occasions and self-purchases.
Our customer typically begins their Brilliant Earth journey with an engagement ring, so we are often the first significant jewelry purchase in our customers life, which we believe creates a lasting, emotional connection with the Brilliant Earth brand. While engagement ring purchases have historically been male-dominated, we thoughtfully built our brand messaging and customer experience to appeal to all genders. Our brand values of beauty, quality, and ethics resonate strongly with Brilliant Earth couples. For all of these reasons, we believe we are uniquely positioned in the industry to build on our brand loyalty to increase future purchases.
To capture these opportunities, we are investing in an expanded fine jewelry assortment, and we will continue to enhance our customer lifetime marketing and data-segmentation capabilities, which we believe will more effectively extend customer relationships beyond engagement and wedding purchases, whether customers are buying a gift or a piece for themselves. With our strong brand resonance with Millennials and Gen Z consumers, we also believe our expanded fine jewelry assortment and strategic customer acquisition will continue to drive fine jewelry orders from new customers.
Expand Internationally
We are in the early stages of expanding globally and believe there is significant opportunity for expansions. Approximately $239 billion of the almost $300 billion global fine jewelry market is outside of the U.S. Our early proof points from localizing our website for Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom
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show promising growth in those markets. In addition, we have sold to customers from over 50 countries despite minimal existing language, logistics and currency support for those geographies. We believe that these are early positive signals and that there is substantial potential to launch e-commerce in new overseas markets, particularly in Asia, which is a large and fast-growing market for fine jewelry, and new showrooms in countries where we have already established a localized digital presence.
Summary Risk Factors
Participating in this offering involves substantial risk. Our ability to execute our strategy is also subject to certain risks. The risks described under the heading Risk Factors included elsewhere in this prospectus may cause us not to realize the full benefits of our strengths or may cause us to be unable to successfully execute all or part of our strategy. Some of the most significant challenges and risks we face include the following:
| we have grown rapidly in recent years and have limited operating experience at our current scale of operations. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, our brand, company culture, and financial performance may suffer; |
| increases in the costs of diamonds, other gemstones, and precious metals, lead times, supply shortages, and supply changes could disrupt our business and have an adverse effect on our operations, financial condition, and results; |
| our business model relies on maintaining a low cost of production and distribution. Fluctuations in the pricing and supply of diamonds, other gemstones, and precious metals, particularly responsibly sourced natural and lab-grown diamonds and recycled precious metals such as gold, which account for the majority of our merchandise costs, increases in labor costs for manufacturing such as wage rate increases, as well as inflation, and energy prices could adversely impact our earnings and cash availability; |
| if we fail to cost-effectively turn existing customers into repeat customers or to acquire new customers, our business, financial condition, and results of operations would be harmed; |
| we plan to expand showrooms in the U.S., which may expose us to significant risks; |
| the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and may in the future continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business; |
| we have a history of losses, and we may be unable to sustain profitability; |
| the fine jewelry retail industry is highly competitive, and if we do not compete successfully, our business may be adversely impacted; |
| our profitability and cash flows may be negatively affected if we are not successful in managing our inventory balances and inventory shrinkage; |
| we derive a significant portion of our revenue from sales of our Create Your Own rings. A decline in sales of our Create Your Own rings would negatively affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations; |
| if we fail to maintain and enhance our brand, our ability to engage or expand our base of customers may be impaired and our business, financial condition, and results of operations may suffer; |
| our marketing efforts to help grow our business may not be effective, and failure to effectively develop and expand our sales and marketing capabilities could harm our ability to increase our customer base and achieve broader market acceptance of our e-commerce and omnichannel approach to shopping for fine jewelry; |
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| environmental, social, and governance matters may impact our business and reputation; |
| our e-commerce and omnichannel business faces distinct risks, and our failure to successfully manage those risks could have a negative impact on our profitability; |
| if we are unable to effectively anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences and shopping patterns, or are unable to introduce new products or programs that appeal to new or existing customers, our sales and profitability could be adversely affected; |
| we expect a number of factors to cause our results of operations and operating cash flows to fluctuate on a quarterly and annual basis, which may make it difficult to predict our future performance; |
| the Tax Receivable Agreement requires us to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners in respect of certain tax benefits to which we may become entitled, and we expect that such payments will be substantial; |
| our organizational structure, including the Tax Receivable Agreement, confers certain benefits upon the Continuing Equity Owners that will not benefit holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent that it will benefit the Continuing Equity Owners; and |
| the significant influence Mainsail and our Founders will have over us after the Transactions, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders. |
Before you invest in our Class A common stock, you should carefully consider all the information in this prospectus, including matters set forth under the heading Risk Factors.
Summary of the Transactions
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed on June 2, 2021 and is the issuer of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. Prior to this offering, all of our business operations have been conducted through Brilliant Earth, LLC. Prior to the Transactions, we expect there will initially be one holder of common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. We will consummate the following organizational transactions in connection with this offering:
| we will amend and restate the existing limited liability company agreement of Brilliant Earth, LLC, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering, to, among other things, (1) recapitalize all existing ownership interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC into LLC Interests, (2) appoint Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. as the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC upon its acquisition of LLC Interests in connection with this offering, and (3) provide certain redemption rights to the Continuing Equity Owners; |
| we will amend and restate Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s certificate of incorporation and will be authorized to issue four classes of common stock, which we refer to collectively as our common stock, and which are summarized in the following table: |
Class of Common Stock |
Votes |
Economic Rights | ||
Class A common stock | 1 | Yes | ||
Class B common stock | 1 | No | ||
Class C common stock | 10 | No | ||
Class D common stock | 10 | Yes |
Voting shares of our common stock will generally vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. We will issue shares of our Class A common stock to the investors in this offering. Our Class B common stock may only be held by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and their respective permitted
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transferees as described in Description of Capital StockCommon StockClass B common stock. Our Class C common stock and Class D common stock may only be held by our Founders and their respective permitted transferees as described in Description of Capital StockCommon StockClass C common stock and Description of Capital StockCommon StockClass D common stock. No shares of our Class D common stock will be outstanding upon the closing of this offering, but may be issued after the consummation of this offering by us in connection with an exchange by the Founders of their LLC Interests (along with an equal number of shares of Class C common stock (and such shares shall be immediately cancelled)). We do not intend to list our Class B common stock, Class C common stock or Class D common stock on any stock exchange;
| we will issue shares of our Class B common stock to the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders), which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders), for nominal consideration; |
| we will issue shares of our Class C common stock to our Founders, which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Founder, for nominal consideration; |
| we will issue shares of our Class A common stock to the purchasers in this offering (or shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $ million (or approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us; |
| use of the net proceeds from this offering (1) to purchase newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $ million directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) to purchase LLC Interests from each Continuing Equity Owner on a pro rata basis for $ million in aggregate (or LLC Interests for $ million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
| Brilliant Earth, LLC intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of LLC Interests to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. for general corporate purposes, as described under Use of Proceeds; and |
| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will enter into (1) the Stockholders Agreement with Mainsail and our Founders, (2) the Registration Rights Agreement with certain of the Continuing Equity Owners, and (3) the Tax Receivable Agreement with Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners. For a description of the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Tax Receivable Agreement, see Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions. |
Immediately following the consummation of the Transactions (including this offering):
| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will be a holding company and its principal asset will consist of LLC Interests it acquires directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC; |
| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will be the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC and will control the business and affairs of Brilliant Earth, LLC; |
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| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will own, directly or indirectly, LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); |
| the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding Mainsail and our Founders) will own (1) LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (2) shares of Class B common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock (or shares of Class B common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., representing approximately % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); |
| Mainsail will own (1) LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (2) shares of Class B common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock (or approximately % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); |
| our Founders will own (1) LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (2) shares of Class C common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock (or approximately % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); |
| the purchasers in this offering will own (1) shares of Class A common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (or shares of Class A common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock and approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (or approximately % of the combined voting power and approximately % of the economic interest if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), and (2) through Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s ownership of LLC Interests, indirectly will hold approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). |
As the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC, we will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Brilliant Earth, LLC and, through Brilliant Earth, LLC, conduct our business. Following the Transactions, including this offering, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will control the management of Brilliant Earth, LLC as its sole managing member. As a result, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will consolidate
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Brilliant Earth, LLC and record a significant non-controlling interest in a consolidated entity in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s consolidated financial statements for the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC held by the Continuing Equity Owners.
Unless otherwise indicated, this prospectus assumes the shares of Class A common stock are offered at $ per share (the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). For more information regarding the impact of the initial offering price on the share information included throughout this prospectus, see The Offering.
Our corporate structure following this offering, as described below, is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership-C corporation (Up-C) structure, which is often used by partnerships and limited liability companies when they undertake an initial public offering of their business. The Up-C structure will allow the Continuing Equity Owners to retain their equity ownership in Brilliant Earth, LLC and to continue to realize tax benefits associated with owning interests in an entity that is treated as a partnership, or flow-through entity, for U.S. federal income tax purposes following the offering. Investors in this offering will, by contrast, hold their equity ownership in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of shares of Class A common stock. One of the tax benefits to the Continuing Equity Owners associated with this structure is that future taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC that is allocated to the Continuing Equity Owners will be taxed on a flow-through basis and therefore will not be subject to corporate taxes at the entity level. Additionally, because the Continuing Equity Owners may redeem or exchange their LLC Interests for newly issued shares of our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, on a one-for-one basis or, at our option, for cash, the Up-C structure also provides the Continuing Equity Owners with potential liquidity that holders of non-publicly traded limited liability companies are not typically afforded. The Continuing Equity Owners and Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. also each expect to benefit from the Up-C structure as a result of certain cash tax savings arising from redemptions or exchanges of the Continuing Equity Owners LLC Interests for Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, or cash, and certain other tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement discussed in Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Organizational Structure. In general, the Continuing Equity Owners expect to receive payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement of 85% of the amount of certain tax benefits, as described below, and Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. expects to benefit in the form of cash tax savings in amounts equal to 15% of certain tax benefits, as described below. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will reduce cash otherwise arising from such tax savings. We expect such payments will be substantial.
As described below under Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement, prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into a tax receivable agreement with Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for the payment by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) as a result of (1) increases in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s allocable share of the tax basis of Brilliant Earth, LLCs assets resulting from (a) Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s purchase of LLC Interests from each Continuing Equity Owner, as described under Use of Proceeds, (b) future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests for Class A common stock or cash as described below under Redemption rights of holders of LLC Interests, and (c) certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) certain tax benefits arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
For more information regarding the Transactions and our structure, see Our Organizational Structure.
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Ownership Structure
The diagram below depicts our organizational structure after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock.
(1) | Investors in this offering will hold approximately % of the voting interest. |
(2) | Beth Gerstein and Eric Grossberg will hold their Class C common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. through Just Rocks, for which they share ownership equally. |
(3) | Comprised of shares of Class B common stock to be held by Mainsail Partners III, L.P., shares of Class B common stock to be held by Mainsail Co-Investors III, L.P. and shares of Class B common stock to be held by Mainsail Incentive Program, LLC. |
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., the issuer of the Class A common stock in this offering, was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 2, 2021. Our corporate headquarters are located at 300 Grant Avenue, Third Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108. Our telephone number is (800) 691-0952. Our principal website address is www.brilliantearth.com. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.
After giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will be a holding company whose principal asset will consist of % of the outstanding LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC (or % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock).
Mainsail
Mainsail Partners is a growth equity firm that invests in fast-growing, bootstrapped technology companies. The firm has raised over $1.3 billion across five flagship funds and has invested in more
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than 50 growing companies since 2003. Mainsail prioritizes investments in technology companies with differentiated products and compelling business models in growing markets. The firms approach to driving value creation is anchored in a dedicated Operations Team that is purpose-built to help founders scale their businesses and accelerate growth. These women and men include former software company operators who leverage real-world experience, well-established best practices, and a true partnership ethos to support management teams.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We qualify as an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of certain reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. As a result:
| we are required to have only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related selected financial data and managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations disclosure; |
| we are not required to engage an auditor to report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act); |
| we are not required to comply with the requirement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditors report on the financial statements; |
| we are not required to submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as say-on-pay, say-on-frequency, and say-on-golden parachutes; and |
| we are not required to comply with certain disclosure requirements related to executive compensation, such as the requirement to present a comparison of our Chief Executive Officers compensation to our median employee compensation. |
We may take advantage of these reduced reporting and other requirements until such time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion; (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year; or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced burdens. We have elected to adopt the reduced requirements with respect to our financial statements and the related selected financial data and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations disclosure, including in this prospectus.
In addition, the JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company like us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period. As a result, the information that we provide to stockholders may be different than the information you may receive from other public companies in which you hold equity.
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The Offering
Issuer |
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. |
Shares of Class A common stock offered by us |
shares (or shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares). |
Underwriters option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock from us |
shares. |
Shares of Class A common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering |
shares, representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock (or shares, representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., and % of the indirect economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC. |
Shares of Class B common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering |
shares, representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock (or shares, representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and no economic interest in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. |
Shares of Class C common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering |
shares, representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock (or shares, representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and no economic interest in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. |
Shares of Class D common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering |
None. Shares of our Class D common stock have economic and voting rights. |
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LLC Interests to be held by us immediately after this offering |
LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). |
LLC Interests to be held directly by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding Mainsail and our Founders) immediately after this offering |
LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). |
LLC Interests to be held by Mainsail immediately after this offering |
LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). |
LLC Interests to be held by our Founders immediately after this offering |
LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). |
Ratio of shares of Class A common stock to LLC Interests |
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will require that we and Brilliant Earth, LLC at all times maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class A common stock issued by us and the number of LLC Interests owned by us, except as otherwise determined by us. |
Ratio of shares of Class B common stock to LLC Interests |
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will require that we and Brilliant Earth, LLC at all times maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class B common stock owned by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and their |
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respective permitted transferees and the number of LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and their respective permitted transferees, except as otherwise determined by us. Immediately after the Transactions, the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) will together own 100% of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. |
Ratio of shares of Class C common stock to LLC Interests |
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will require that we and Brilliant Earth, LLC at all times maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class C common stock owned by our Founders and their respective permitted transferees and the number of LLC Interests owned by our Founders and their respective permitted transferees, except as otherwise determined by us. Immediately after the Transactions, our Founders will together own 100% of the outstanding shares of our Class C common stock. |
Ratio of shares of Class D common stock to LLC Interests |
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will require that we and Brilliant Earth, LLC at all times maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class D common stock issued by us and the number of LLC Interests owned by us, except as otherwise determined by us. |
Permitted holders of shares of Class B common stock |
Only the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and the permitted transferees of Class B common stock as described in this prospectus will be permitted to hold shares of our Class B common stock. Shares of Class B common stock are transferable for shares of Class A common stock only together with an equal number of LLC Interests. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the Transactions. |
Permitted holders of shares of Class C common stock |
Only our Founders and the permitted transferees of Class C common stock as described in this prospectus will be permitted to hold shares of our Class C common stock. Shares of Class C common stock are transferable for shares of Class D common stock only together with an equal number of LLC Interests. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the Transactions. |
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Permitted holders of shares of Class D common stock |
Only our Founders and the permitted transferees of Class D common stock as described in this prospectus will be permitted to hold shares of our Class D common stock. If any such shares are transferred to any other person, they automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the Transactions. |
Voting rights |
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Each share of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock entitles its holders to one vote per share and each share of our Class C common stock and Class D common stock entitles its holders to 10 votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. See Description of Capital Stock. |
Redemption rights of holders of LLC Interests |
The Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) may, subject to certain exceptions, from time to time at each of their options require Brilliant Earth, LLC to redeem all or a portion of their LLC Interests in exchange for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of our Class A common stock for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may, subject to certain exceptions, exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the Transactions. Simultaneously with the payment of cash or shares of Class A common stock, as applicable, in connection with a redemption or exchange of LLC Interests pursuant to the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, a number of shares of our Class B common stock registered in the name of the redeeming or exchanging Continuing Equity Owner will automatically be transferred to the Company and will be |
21
cancelled for no consideration on a one-for-one basis with the number of LLC Interests so redeemed or exchanged. |
Our Founders may, subject to certain exceptions, from time to time at each of their options require Brilliant Earth, LLC to redeem all or a portion of their LLC Interests in exchange for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class D common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of our Class A common stock for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. of such Class D common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. Our Founders may, subject to certain exceptions, exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the Transactions. Simultaneously with the payment of cash or shares of Class D common stock, as applicable, in connection with a redemption or exchange of LLC Interests pursuant to the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, a number of shares of our Class C common stock registered in the name of the redeeming or exchanging Founder will automatically be transferred to the Company and will be cancelled for no consideration on a one-for-one basis with the number of LLC Interests so redeemed or exchanged. |
Use of proceeds |
We estimate, based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $ million (or $ million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering (1) to purchase newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $ million directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) to purchase LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $ million in aggregate (or LLC Interests for $ million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). The foregoing purchases of LLC Interests will be made at a price |
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per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Upon each purchase of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners, the corresponding shares of Class B common stock will be canceled. We will only retain the net proceeds that are used to purchase newly issued LLC Interests from Brilliant Earth, LLC, which, in turn, Brilliant Earth, LLC intends to use for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses, products, services or technologies; however, we do not have agreements or commitments for any material acquisitions or investments at this time. Brilliant Earth, LLC will bear or reimburse Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. for all of the expenses of this offering. See Use of Proceeds. |
Dividend policy |
We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business, and therefore, we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock and Class D common stock in the foreseeable future. Holders of our Class B common stock and Class C common stock are not entitled to participate in any dividends declared by our board of directors. Because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our Class A common stock and Class D common stock depends on our receipt of cash distributions from Brilliant Earth, LLC. Our ability to pay dividends may be restricted by the terms of any future credit agreement or any future debt or preferred equity securities of us. Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to the requirements of applicable law, compliance with contractual restrictions and covenants in the agreements governing our future indebtedness. Any such determination will also depend upon our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, industry trends, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. See Dividend Policy. |
Controlled company exception |
After the consummation of the Transactions, we will be considered a controlled company for the purposes of the Nasdaq rules as our Founders will have more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors. See Principal Stockholders. As a controlled company, we will not be subject to certain corporate governance requirements, including that: (1) a majority of our board of directors consists of independent directors, as defined under the Nasdaq rules; (2) we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and |
23
responsibilities; (3) we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities; and (4) we perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees. As a result, we may not have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors, an entirely independent nominating and corporate governance committee, an entirely independent compensation committee or perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees unless and until such time as we are required to do so. |
Tax receivable agreement |
We will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for the payment by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) as a result of (1) increases in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s allocable share of the tax basis of Brilliant Earth, LLCs assets resulting from (a) Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s purchase of LLC Interests from each Continuing Equity Owner, as described under Use of Proceeds, (b) future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests for Class A common stock or cash as described above under Redemption rights of holders of LLC Interests, and (c) certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) certain tax benefits arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement for a discussion of the Tax Receivable Agreement. |
Registration rights agreement |
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, we will, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, agree to register the resale of the shares of our Class A common stock that are issuable to certain of the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with the Transactions. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsRegistration Rights Agreement for a discussion of the Registration Rights Agreement. |
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Risk factors |
See Risk Factors beginning on page 29 and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our Class A common stock. |
Trading symbol |
We intend to apply to list our Class A common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol BRLT. |
Unless we indicate otherwise or the context otherwise requires, all information in this prospectus:
| gives effect to the amendment and restatement of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement that converts all existing ownership interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC into LLC Interests, as well as the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation; |
| gives effect to the other Transactions, including the consummation of this offering; |
| excludes shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 Incentive Award Plan (the 2021 Plan), as described under the caption Executive CompensationEquity Compensation Plans2021 Incentive Award Plan, including approximately shares of Class A common stock issuable pursuant to the exercise or settlement, as applicable, of stock options and restricted stock units we intend to grant to certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees, including certain of our named executive officers, in connection with this offering as described in Executive CompensationNarrative to Summary Compensation TableEquity-Based Compensation; |
| excludes shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP), as described under the caption Executive CompensationEquity Compensation Plans2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; |
| assumes an initial public offering price of $ per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus; |
| assumes the exercise of warrants to purchase LLC Interests, which will result in the issuance of shares of Class B common stock in connection with this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $ per share of Class A common stock (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus); and |
| assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock from us. |
Our 2021 Plan and ESPP each provide for annual automatic increases in the number of shares reserved thereunder.
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Summary Historical Financial and Other Data
The following tables present the summary historical financial and other data for Brilliant Earth, LLC. Brilliant Earth, LLC is the predecessor of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. for financial reporting purposes. The summary statements of operations data and statements of cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the summary balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 are derived from the audited financial statements of Brilliant Earth, LLC included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary statements of operations data and statements of cash flows data for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the summary balance sheet data as of June 30, 2021 are derived from the unaudited condensed financial statements of Brilliant Earth, LLC included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited condensed financial statements of Brilliant Earth, LLC have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and, in our opinion, have included all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly in all material respects our financial position and results of operations. The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. Historical results of operations for the periods presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. The information set forth below should be read together with the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section and the audited financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. presented below have been derived from our unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information includes various estimates which are subject to material change and may not be indicative of what our operations or financial position would have been had this offering and related transactions taken place on the dates indicated, or that may be expected to occur in the future. See Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information for a complete description of the adjustments and assumptions underlying the summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
The summary historical financial and other data of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. has not been presented because Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. is a newly-incorporated entity and has had no business transactions or activities to date, besides the initial capitalization of the company.
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Pro Forma(1) |
Historical Brilliant Earth, LLC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the six months ended June 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
For the six months ended June 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
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2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Summary Statements of Operations data: |
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Net sales |
$ | $ | $ | 163,044 | $ | 91,764 | $ | 251,820 | $ | 201,343 | ||||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
85,924 | 51,970 | 139,518 | 116,421 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Gross profit |
77,120 | 39,794 | 112,302 | 84,922 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Selling, general and administrative |
59,814 | 37,203 | 85,710 | 90,317 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Income (loss) from operations |
17,306 | 2,591 | 26,592 | (5,395 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(3,874 | ) | (2,393 | ) | (4,942 | ) | (2,257 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Other expense, net |
(2,547 | ) | (16 | ) | (74 | ) | (126 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Net income (loss) |
$ | $ | $ | 10,885 | $ | 182 | $ | 21,576 | $ | (7,778 | ) | |||||||||||||
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Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests |
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Net income (loss) attributable to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. |
$ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Pro Forma(1) |
Historical Brilliant Earth, LLC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the six months ended June 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
For the six months ended June 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
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2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except in share and per share amount) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pro forma per share data: |
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Pro forma net income (loss) per share: |
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Basic |
$ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pro forma weighted-average shares used to compute pro forma net income (loss) per share: |
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Basic |
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Diluted |
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Pro Forma(1) |
Historical Brilliant Earth, LLC | |||||||||||||||
As of June 30, |
As of June 30, |
As of December 31, |
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2021 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Summary Balance Sheet Data: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | $ | 65,001 | $ | 66,269 | $ | 40,394 | |||||||||
Total current assets |
86,287 | 82,972 | 53,669 | |||||||||||||
Total assets |
92,602 | 85,216 | 55,925 | |||||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
10,263 | | | |||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
59,829 | 38,708 | 31,964 | |||||||||||||
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs |
52,626 | 62,211 | 32,654 | |||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
119,198 | 104,284 | 66,615 | |||||||||||||
Redeemable convertible preferred units |
250,746 | 66,327 | 80,829 | |||||||||||||
Total members deficit |
(277,342 | ) | (85,395 | ) | (91,519 | ) | ||||||||||
Working capital, excluding cash(2) |
(38,543 | ) | (22,005 | ) | (18,689 | ) |
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Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Pro Forma(1) |
Historical Brilliant Earth, LLC | |||||||||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, |
For the six months ended June 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
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2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Summary Statements of Cash Flows Data: |
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Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 20,210 | $ | 4,788 | $ | 26,723 | $ | 567 | ||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(2,646 | ) | (179 | ) | (584 | ) | (678 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
(18,832 | ) | 2,657 | (263 | ) | 22,603 | ||||||||||||||
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Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ | (1,268 | ) | $ | 7,266 | $ | 25,876 | $ | 22,492 | |||||||||||
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Other data(3): |
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Adjusted EBITDA(4) |
$ | $ | 20,991 | $ | 2,999 | $ | 27,526 | $ | (4,503 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) margin |
% | 6.7 | % | 0.2 | % | 8.6 | % | (3.9% | ) | |||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin(4) |
% | 12.9 | % | 3.3 | % | 10.9 | % | (2.2% | ) | |||||||||||
Free cash flow(4) |
$ | 17,564 | $ | 4,609 | $ | 26,139 | $ | (111) | ||||||||||||
Operating cash flow conversion |
185.7 | % | 2,630.8 | % | 123.9 | % | nm* | |||||||||||||
Free cash flow conversion(4) |
161.4 | % | 2,532.4 | % | 121.1 | % | nm* |
nm* | Not meaningful |
(1) | Gives pro forma effect to the Transactions, including the offering and sale of shares of Class A common stock in this offering at an initial public offering price of $ per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. See Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information. |
(2) | Working capital represents current assets less current liabilities. |
(3) | For definitions and further information about how we calculate operating data, including a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free cash flow, and Free cash flow conversion to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net income (loss), net income (loss) margin, net cash provided by operating activities, and operating cash flow conversion and why we consider Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free cash flow, and Free cash flow conversion useful, please see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsKey Metrics and non-GAAP Financials. |
(4) | Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free cash flow, and Free cash flow conversion are included in this prospectus because they are key metrics used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) excluding interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, showroom pre-opening expense, equity-based compensation expense and other expense, net and other unusual and/or infrequent costs, which we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing operating performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA calculated as a percentage of net sales. We define Free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less net cash used by investing activities. We define Free cash flow conversion as Free cash flow calculated as a percentage of net income (loss). Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as substitutes for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free cash flow, and Free cash flow conversion may be different than a similarly titled measure used by other companies. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for more information about Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free cash flow, and Free cash flow conversion. |
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Investing in our Class A common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider and read carefully all of the risks and uncertainties described below, as well as other information included in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. The occurrence of any of the following risks or additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations. In such case, the trading price of our Class A common stock could decline, and you may lose some or all of your original investment.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We have grown rapidly in recent years and have limited operating experience at our current scale of operations. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, our brand, company culture, and financial performance may suffer.
We have grown rapidly over the last several years, and our recent growth rates and financial performance should not necessarily be considered indicative of our future performance. We were founded in 2005 and since then, we have grown to 13 showrooms across the U.S. as of today. Additionally, our net sales increased 25.1% from $201.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 to $251.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and increased 77.7% from $91.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 to $163.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. To effectively manage and capitalize on our growth, we must continue to expand our sales and marketing, continue to open showrooms in strategic locations, focus on innovative product and website development, and upgrade our management information systems and other processes. Our continued growth has in the past, and could in the future, strain our existing resources, and we could experience ongoing operating difficulties in managing our business across numerous jurisdictions, including difficulties in hiring, training, and managing a diffuse and growing employee base. Failure to scale and preserve our company culture with growth could harm our future success, including our ability to retain and recruit personnel and to effectively focus on and pursue our corporate objectives.
Moreover, the vertically integrated nature of our business, where we create our designs, source natural and lab-grown diamonds as well as other gemstones, customize our IT systems, and sell our products exclusively through our own showrooms and custom e-commerce site, exposes us to risk and disruption at many points that are critical to successfully operating our business and may make it more difficult for us to scale our business. If we do not adapt to meet these evolving challenges, or if our management team does not effectively scale with our growth, we may experience erosion to our brand, the quality of our products and services may suffer, and our company culture may be harmed.
Our growth strategy contemplates a significant increase in our advertising and other marketing spending, expanding our product offerings, and expanding our showroom presence. Many of our existing showrooms are relatively new, and we cannot assure you that these showrooms or that future showrooms will generate net sales and cash flow comparable with those generated by our more mature showrooms, especially as we move to new geographic markets. We also cannot assure you that there will not be delays in the development of our planned new showrooms, including those that we are currently planning to open by the end of 2021. Moreover, certain occurrences outside of our control may result in the closure of our showrooms or delay the development of new showrooms. For example, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily closed all of our showrooms, and while we have reopened all showrooms, we have been under new operating limitations such as limited showroom capacity, including limited in-store appointments, mask guidelines for employees and customers, and other constraints on our previous retail sales strategies. We are unable to predict whether consumer shopping behaviors will change as we make these changes to adjust to the
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COVID-19 pandemic. Further, many of our showrooms are leased pursuant to multi-year short-term leases, and our ability to negotiate favorable terms on an expiring lease or for a lease renewal option may depend on factors that are not within our control. In addition, our ability to expand our showroom presence depends on our ability to find suitable showroom locations and negotiate acceptable lease terms. Successful implementation of our growth strategy will require significant expenditures before any substantial associated revenue is generated, and we cannot guarantee that these increased investments will result in corresponding and offsetting revenue growth.
The industry for design-driven, responsibly-sourced fine jewelry is rapidly evolving and may not develop as we expect. Even if our net sales continue to increase, our net sales growth rates may decline in the future as a result of a variety of factors, including macroeconomic factors, changes in supply and in the supply chain, changes in consumer preferences, increased competition, and the maturation of our business. As a result, you should not rely on our net sales growth rate for any prior period as an indication of our future performance. Overall growth of our net sales will depend on a number of factors, including our ability to:
| price our products and services effectively so that we are able to attract new customers, and expand our relationships with existing customers; |
| accurately forecast our net sales and plan our operating expenses; |
| successfully compete with other companies that are currently in, or may in the future enter, the markets in which we compete, and respond to developments from these competitors such as pricing changes and the introduction of new products and services; |
| comply with existing and new laws and regulations applicable to our business; |
| successfully expand in existing markets and enter new markets, including new geographies and categories; |
| successfully launch new offerings and enhance our products and services and their features, including in response to new trends or competitive dynamics or the needs or preferences of customers; |
| successfully identify and acquire or invest in businesses, products, or technologies that we believe could complement or expand our business; |
| avoid interruptions or disruptions in distributing our products and services; |
| an increase in the supply of natural or lab-grown diamonds could result in a decrease in diamond prices; |
| provide customers with high-quality support that meets their needs; |
| hire, integrate, and retain talented sales, customer service, and other personnel; |
| effectively manage growth of our business, personnel, and operations, including new showroom openings; |
| effectively manage our costs related to our business and operations; and |
| maintain and enhance our reputation and the value of our brand. |
Because we have a limited history operating our business at its current scale, it is difficult to evaluate our current business and future prospects, including our ability to plan for and model future growth. Our limited operating experience at this scale, combined with the rapidly evolving nature of the market in which we sell our products and services, substantial uncertainty concerning how these markets may develop, and other economic factors beyond our control, reduces our ability to accurately forecast quarterly or annual revenue. Failure to manage our future growth effectively could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
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We also expect to continue to expend substantial financial and other resources to ready our business for growth, and we may fail to allocate our resources in a manner that results in increased net sales growth in our business. Additionally, we may encounter unforeseen operating expenses, challenges, complications, delays, and other unknown factors that may result in losses in future periods. If our net sales growth does not meet our expectations in future periods, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be harmed, and we may not sustain or increase profitability in the future.
Increases in the costs of diamonds, other gemstones and precious metals, lead times, supply shortages, and supply changes could disrupt our business and have an adverse effect on our operations, financial condition, and results.
Meeting customer demand partially depends on our ability to obtain timely and adequate delivery of materials for our products and services. The materials that go into the manufacturing of our products and services are sourced from a limited number of suppliers that are expected to adhere to our strict Supplier Code of Conduct and compliance requirements. Additionally, our natural diamonds in particular are subject to our Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds standards, requiring our suppliers to source diamonds that originate from specific mine operators that follow internationally recognized labor, trade, and environmental standards. Similarly, our gold and silver fine jewelry is crafted from recycled precious metals. Limited supply in the market poses a challenge to source recycled platinum, so we work with our suppliers to source recycled platinum when available and from refiners that are known to use recycled materials in their platinum products. We do not have long-term arrangements with most of our materials suppliers, and disruptions in the supply chain, such as those due to the COVID-19 pandemic, may affect the availability and cost of recycled precious metal, Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds, and other materials used in our products. Additionally, our Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds standards go beyond the Kimberly Process definition of conflict free diamonds, which limits our supply of ethically and environmentally sourced diamonds more than other fine jewelers. We are therefore subject to the risk of shortages and long lead times in the supply of these materials, and the risk that our suppliers discontinue or modify materials used in our products.
In addition, the lead times associated with certain materials are lengthy and may impede or preclude rapid changes in design, quantities, and delivery schedules. Our ability to meet increases in demand has been, and may in the future be, impacted by our reliance on the availability of materials. We have in the past and may in the future experience supply shortages, and the predictability of the availability of these materials may be limited. In the event of a shortage or interruption of supply of these materials, we may not be able to develop alternate sources in a timely or cost-effective manner. Developing alternate sources of supply for these materials may be time-consuming, difficult, and costly, and we may not be able to source these materials on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, which may undermine our ability to fill orders in a timely manner. Any interruption or delay in the supply of any of these parts or materials, or the inability to obtain these materials from alternate sources at acceptable prices and within a reasonable amount of time, would harm our ability to timely ship products to our customers.
Moreover, volatile economic conditions may make it more likely that our suppliers and logistics providers may be unable to timely deliver supplies, or at all, and there is no guarantee that we will be able to timely locate alternative suppliers of comparable quality at an acceptable price. In addition, international supply chains may be impacted by events outside of our control and limit our ability to procure timely delivery of supplies or finished goods and services. Importing and exporting has involved more risk as since at least the beginning of 2018, there has been increasing rhetoric, in some cases coupled with legislative or executive action, from several U.S. and foreign leaders regarding tariffs against foreign imports of certain materials. Several of the materials that go into the manufacturing of our products are sourced internationally. These issues have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic: we have seen, and may continue to see, increased
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congestion and/or new import/export restrictions implemented at ports that we rely on for our business. In some cases, we have had to secure alternative transportation, such as air freight, or use alternative routes, at increased costs to run our supply chain. These tariffs have an impact on our materials costs and have the potential to have an even greater impact depending on the outcome of the current trade negotiations. Increases in our materials costs could have a material effect on our gross margins. The loss of a significant supplier, an increase in materials costs, or delays or disruptions in the delivery of materials, could adversely impact our ability to generate future net sales and earnings and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Our business model relies on maintaining a low cost of production and distribution. Fluctuations in the pricing and supply of diamonds, other gemstones, and precious metals, particularly responsibly sourced natural and lab-grown diamonds and recycled precious metals such as gold, which account for the majority of our merchandise costs, increases in labor costs for manufacturing such as wage rate increases, as well as inflation, and energy prices could adversely impact our earnings and cash availability.
The jewelry industry generally is affected by fluctuations in the price and supply of responsibly sourced natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, gold, and other precious and semi-precious metals and gemstones.
The mining, production, and inventory policies followed by major producers of rough diamonds can have a significant impact on natural diamond prices and demand, as can the inventory and buying patterns of jewelry retailers and other parties in the supply chain. The availability of diamonds is significantly influenced by the political situation in diamond producing countries and by the Kimberley Process, an inter-governmental agreement for the international trading of rough diamonds. Until acceptable alternative sources of diamonds can be developed, any sustained interruption in the supply of diamonds from significant producing countries, or to the trading in rough and polished diamonds, which could occur as a result of disruption to the Kimberley Process, could adversely affect our business, as well as the retail jewelry market as a whole. In addition, the current Kimberley Process decision-making procedure is dependent on reaching a consensus among member governments, which can result in the protracted resolution of issues, and there is little expectation of significant reform over the long-term. The impact of this review process on the supply of diamonds, and consumers perception of the diamond supply chain, is unknown. Our diamonds in particular are subject to our Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds standards requiring our suppliers to source diamonds that originate from specific mine operators who follow internationally recognized labor, trade, and environmental standards. The possibility of constraints in the supply of diamonds we require to meet our Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds requirements or our recycled or lab-grown diamonds requirements may result in changes in our supply chain practices. Additionally, a substantial increase in the supply of natural or lab-grown diamonds could result in a change in consumer perception of the value of diamonds as well as a decrease in the price of diamonds, which generally depend on the attributes of the diamond.
Similarly, we use primarily recycled precious metals in our gold and silver fine jewelry. There is a limited supply of recycled platinum, so we work with our suppliers to source recycled platinum when available and from refiners that are known to use recycled materials in their platinum products. In addition, we may from time to time choose to hold more inventory, purchase raw materials at an earlier stage in the supply chain, or enter into commercial agreements of a nature that we currently do not use. Such actions could require the investment of cash and/or additional management skills, and may not resolve supply issues or result in the expected returns and other projected benefits anticipated by management.
An inability to increase retail prices to reflect higher diamond, gemstone, or precious metal costs would result in lower profitability. There could also be a lag time before particularly sharp increases or other volatility in diamond, gemstones, and precious metal costs can be reflected in retail prices. Even if
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price changes are implemented, there is no certainty that these changes will be sustainable or sufficient. These factors may cause decreases in gross margins and earnings. In addition, any sustained increases in the cost of diamonds, other gemstones, and precious metals could increase costs, disrupt sales, or require higher inventory levels or changes in the merchandise available to customers.
In addition, increases in labor costs for manufacturing due to compensation, wage pressure, and other expenses may adversely affect our profitability. Increases in minimum wages and other wage and hour regulations can exacerbate this risk. Additional tariffs or other future cost increases, such as increases in the cost of merchandise, shipping rates, raw material prices, freight costs, and store occupancy costs, may also reduce our profitability. Inflationary pressures could further reduce our sales or profitability. Increases in other operating costs, including changes in energy prices and lease and utility costs, may increase our cost of products sold or selling, general, and administrative expenses. Our model and competitive pressures in the fine jewelry industry may inhibit our ability to reflect these increased costs in the prices of our products, in which case such increased costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
If we fail to cost-effectively turn existing customers into repeat customers or to acquire new customers, our business, financial condition, and results of operations would be harmed.
The growth of our business is dependent upon our ability to continue to grow by cost-effectively turn existing customers into repeat customers and adding new customers. Although we believe that many of our customers originate from word-of-mouth and other non-paid referrals, we expect to continue to expend resources and run marketing campaigns to acquire additional customers, all of which could impact our overall profitability. If we are not able to continue to expand our customer base or fail to retain customers, our net sales may grow more slowly than expected or decline.
Gaining market acceptance of the e-commerce and omnichannel approach to shopping for fine jewelry is critical to our continued customer retention and growth. Historically, consumers have been slower to adopt online shopping for fine jewelry than e-commerce offerings in other industries like consumer electronics and apparel. Transitioning the consumer in-store experience to an online platform for fine jewelry is difficult because jewelry tends to be a considered and high-value purchase that consumers like to physically see and touch before making a purchase. Changing traditional fine jewelry retail habits is difficult, and if consumers and retailers do not embrace the transition to an e-commerce and omnichannel fine jewelry retail experience as we expect, our business and operations could be harmed. Moreover, even if more consumers begin to shop for fine jewelry online, if we are unable to address their changing needs and anticipate or respond to market trends and new technologies in a timely and cost-efficient manner, we could experience increased customer churn and other negative impacts on our business and results of operations.
Our ability to attract new customers and increase net sales from existing customers also depends in large part on our ability to enhance and improve our existing products and to introduce new products and services, in each case, in a timely manner. We also must be able to identify and originate trends, as well as anticipate and react to changing consumer demands in a timely manner. The success of new products and services depends on several factors, including their timely introduction and completion, sufficient demand, and cost effectiveness. We are building and improving machine learning models and other technological capabilities to drive improved customer experience, as well as efficiencies in our operations, such as virtual try-ons, virtual appointments with jewelry specialists, optimized payment processing and customer service, and automated key support workflows. While we expect these technologies to lead to improvements in the performance of our business and operations, including inventory prediction and customer traffic prediction and management, any flaws or failures of such technologies could cause interruptions or delays in our service, which may harm our business.
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Our number of customers may decline materially or fluctuate as a result of many factors, including, among other things:
| dissatisfaction with the quality, pricing of, or changes we make to our products and services; |
| the quality, consumer appeal and price of products and services offered by us; |
| intense competition in the fine jewelry retail industry, including certain competitors ability to offer lower prices by not charging sales tax; |
| negative publicity related to our brand; |
| lack of market acceptance of our business model, particularly in new geographies where we seek to expand; or |
| the unpredictable nature of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or a future outbreak of disease or similar public health concern. |
In addition, if we are unable to provide high-quality support to customers or help resolve issues in a timely and acceptable manner, our ability to attract and retain customers could be adversely affected. If our number of customers declines or fluctuates for any of these or other reasons, our business would suffer.
We plan to expand showrooms in the U.S., which may expose us to significant risks.
Our growth strategy includes opening new showrooms throughout the U.S. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully expand or acquire critical market presence for our brand in new geographical markets in the U.S. Consumer characteristics and competition in new markets may differ substantially from those in the markets where we currently operate. Additionally, we may be unable to develop brand recognition, successfully market our products, or attract new customers in such markets, and we may be unable to identify appropriate locations in such markets. We face many other challenges in opening additional showrooms in the U.S., including:
| selection and availability of and competition for suitable showroom locations; |
| negotiation of acceptable lease terms; |
| securing required applicable governmental permits and approvals; |
| impact of natural disasters and other acts of nature and terrorist acts or political instability; |
| employment, training, and retention of qualified personnel; |
| incurrence or assumption of debt to finance acquisitions or improvements and/or the assumption of long-term, non-cancelable leases; |
| availability of financing on acceptable terms; and |
| general economic and business conditions. |
Should we not succeed in opening additional showrooms, there may be adverse impacts to our growth strategy and to our ability to generate additional profits, which in turn could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and may in the future continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions, quarantines, other and related public health measures and actions taken by governments and the private sector have adversely affected global economies, financial markets, and the overall environment for our business, and the extent to which it
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may continue to impact our future results of operations and overall financial performance remains uncertain. The global macroeconomic effects of the pandemic may persist for an indefinite period of time, even after the pandemic has subsided.
As a result of the pandemic and the recommendations of government and health authorities, our showrooms closed to the public beginning in March 2020. We began reopening our showrooms to the public in May 2020 and, by the end of June 2020, we completed the reopening of all our showrooms. While we expect to be able to continue operations for the duration of the pandemic, our operations were and are still subject to local or regional public health orders, including temporary government-mandated closures, which may impact our showrooms or other operations. Social distancing protocols, government mandated occupancy limitations, and general consumer behaviors due to COVID-19 may continue to negatively impact showroom traffic, which may negatively impact sales in our showrooms. Such negative impacts may be exacerbated during peak traffic times such as the holiday shopping season. Further, while we have implemented strict safety protocols in showrooms that we have re-opened, there is no guarantee that such protocols will be effective or be perceived as effective, and any virus-related illnesses linked or alleged to be linked to our showrooms, whether accurate or not, may negatively affect our reputation, operating results, and/or financial condition. The COVID-19 pandemic also has disrupted the Companys global supply chain, and may cause additional disruptions to operations, including increased costs of production and distribution and longer fulfillment times. For example, we faced production capacity issues in crafting sufficient quantities of certain products in 2020 due to government shutdowns, as well as disruption in jewelry manufacturing and sourcing of diamonds and gemstones, which could continue in 2021 and beyond due to the pandemic.
COVID-19 and related governmental reactions have had and may continue to have a negative impact on our financial condition, business, and results of operations due to the occurrence of some or all of the following events or circumstances, among others:
| limited showroom capacity, including limited in-store appointments; our and our third-party suppliers, contract manufacturers, logistics providers, and other business partners inability to operate worksites, including manufacturing facilities and shipping and fulfillment centers, due to employee illness or reluctance to appear at work, or stay-at-home regulations; |
| longer wait times and delayed responses to customer support inquiries and requests; |
| our inability to meet consumer demand and delays in the delivery of our products to our customers, which could also result in reputational harm and damaged customer relationships; |
| increased rates of post-purchase order cancellation, or consumer claims and litigation as a result of long delivery lead times and delivery reschedules; |
| increased return rates; |
| inventory shortages caused by any combination of increased demand that has been difficult to predict with accuracy, longer lead-times and/or material shortages, work restrictions related to COVID-19, import/export conditions such as port congestion, and local government orders; |
| interruptions in manufacturing (including the sourcing of key materials), shipment, and delivery of our products; for example, in certain instances, our business partners have temporarily closed certain manufacturing facilities for short periods of time, particularly in India, in response to COVID-19, which has caused longer fulfillment times for products; |
| our inability to manage our business effectively due to key employees becoming ill, working from home inefficiently, and being unable to travel to our showrooms and distribution centers; |
| disruptions of the operations of our third-party suppliers, which could impact our ability to purchase materials at efficient prices and in sufficient amounts; and |
| incurrence of significant increases to employee health care and benefits costs. |
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The scope and duration of the pandemic, including the current resurgences in various regions in the U.S. and globally and other future resurgences, the pace at which government restrictions are lifted or whether additional actions may be taken to contain the virus, the impact on our customers and suppliers, the speed and extent to which markets recover from the disruptions caused by the pandemic, and the impact of these factors on our business, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence. It is possible that changes in economic conditions and steps taken by the federal government and the Federal Reserve in response to the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to higher inflation than we had anticipated, which could in turn lead to an increase in our costs of products and services and other operating expenses. In addition, to the extent COVID-19 adversely affects our operations and global economic conditions more generally, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described herein.
While we believe that the long-term fundamentals of our business are sound, and anticipate that our operating results in future fiscal years will begin to reflect a more normal operating environment, the current economic and public health climate has created a high degree of uncertainty. As such, we continue to closely monitor this global health crisis and will continue to reassess our strategy and operational structure on a regular, ongoing basis as the situation evolves. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for more details on the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic disruptions, and the actual operational and financial impacts that we have experienced to date.
We have a history of losses, and we may be unable to sustain profitability.
We have a history of incurring net losses. While we earned net income of $21.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, for the year ended December 31, 2019 we incurred net losses of $7.8 million. We earned net income of $10.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Because we have a short operating history at scale, it is difficult for us to predict our future operating results. We will need to generate and sustain increased revenue and manage our costs to sustain profitability. Even if we do, we may not be able to sustain or increase our profitability.
While we have experienced significant revenue growth in recent periods, it is possible that this growth rate will decline or reverse in future periods, for example, our revenue declined year-over-year in the second quarter of 2020 due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we experienced strong growth in the second half of the year ended December 31, 2020, during which revenue grew year-over-year by 38.8% and also in the first half of 2021, during which revenue grew year-over-year by 77.7%.
Our ability to generate profit depends on our ability to grow our number of customers and drive operational efficiencies in our business to generate better margins. We expect to incur increased operating costs in the near term in order to:
| increase the engagement of customers; |
| drive adoption of our products and services, and increase awareness of our brand, through marketing and other campaigns; |
| enhance our products and services with new designs and offerings; and |
| invest in our operations to support the growth in our business, including by opening additional showrooms. |
We may discover that these initiatives are more expensive than we currently anticipate, and we may not succeed in increasing our net sales sufficiently to offset these expenses or realize the benefits we anticipate. We will also face greater compliance costs associated with the increased scope of our business and being a public company. Any failure to adequately increase net sales or manage
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operating costs could prevent us from sustaining or increasing profitability. As we expand our offerings and our showroom presence, we may be less profitable than we are now. Additionally, we may not realize the operating efficiencies we expect to achieve through our efforts to scale the business, reduce friction in the shopping experience, and optimize costs such as payments to raw material suppliers, payment processing, and customer support. As such, due to these factors and others, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability in the near term or at all. If we are unable to sustain or increase profitability, the value of our business and the trading price of our Class A common stock may be negatively impacted.
The fine jewelry retail industry is highly competitive, and if we do not compete successfully, our business may be adversely impacted.
We operate in a competitive industry. Our primary competitors include global jewelry retailers and brands, department stores, and independent stores, many of which have an online presence. In addition, other retail categories and forms of expenditure, such as electronics and travel, also compete for consumers discretionary spending, particularly during the holiday gift giving season. The price of fine jewelry relative to other products also influences consumer spending habits for fine jewelry.
Many of our competitors have greater financial and operational resources, longer operating histories, greater brand recognition, and broader geographic presence than we do. As a result, they may be able to engage in extensive and prolonged price promotions or otherwise offer competitive prices, which may adversely affect our business. They may also be able to spend more than we do for advertising. We may be at a substantial disadvantage to larger competitors with greater economies of scale. If our costs are greater compared to those of our competitors, the pricing of our products and services may not be as attractive, thus depressing sales or the profitability of our products and services. Our competitors may expand into markets in which we currently operate, and we remain vulnerable to the marketing power and high level of customer recognition of these larger competitors and to the risk that these competitors or others could attract our customer base. Some of our competitors are vertically integrated and are also engaged in the manufacture and distribution of responsible fine jewelry. These competitors can advantageously leverage this structure to better compete with us, and certain vertically-integrated organizations with significant market power could potentially utilize this power to make it more difficult for us to compete. We purchase some of our products from suppliers who are affiliates of our competitors. In addition, if any of our competitors were to consolidate operations, such consolidation could exacerbate these risks.
We may not be able to continue to successfully compete against existing or future competitors. Our inability to respond effectively to competitive pressures, improved performance by our competitors, and changes in the retail markets could result in lost market share and have material adverse effects on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our profitability and cash flows may be negatively affected if we are not successful in managing our inventory balances and inventory shrinkage.
Efficient inventory management is a key component of our business success and profitability. Our inventory management requires us to maintain the optimal mix of products to meet customer demand. To be successful, we keep our inventory low while still maintaining sufficient inventory levels, both in store and virtually, to meet our customers demands without allowing those levels to increase to such an extent that the costs to hold the goods unduly impacts our financial results. We must balance the need to maintain inventory levels that are sufficient to ensure competitive lead times against the risk of inventory obsolescence because of changing customer requirements, fluctuating commodity prices, changes to our products, product transfers or the life cycle of our products. For example, we faced production capacity issues in crafting sufficient quantities of certain products in 2020 due to government shutdowns in response to COVID-19, which could continue in 2021 and beyond. If our
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buying and distribution decisions do not accurately predict customer trends or spending levels in general or at particular stores or if we inappropriately price products, we may have to take unanticipated markdowns and discounts to dispose of obsolete or excess inventory or record potential write-downs relating to the value of obsolete or excess inventory. Conversely, if we underestimate future demand for a particular product or do not respond quickly enough to replenish our best performing products, we may have a shortfall in inventory of such products, likely leading to unfulfilled orders, reduced net sales, and customer dissatisfaction.
Maintaining adequate inventory requires significant attention and monitoring of market trends, local markets, developments with suppliers, and our distribution network, and it is not certain that we will be effective in our inventory management. We are subject to the risk of inventory loss or theft and we may experience higher rates of inventory shrinkage or incur increased security costs to combat inventory theft. In addition, any casualty or disruption to our facilities or those of our third-party suppliers may damage or destroy our inventory located there. As we expand our operations, it may be more difficult to effectively manage our inventory. If we are not successful in managing our inventory balances, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We derive a significant portion of our revenue from sales of our Create Your Own rings. A decline in sales of our Create Your Own rings would negatively affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We derive a significant portion of our revenue from the sale of our Create Your Own rings. Our fine jewelry is sold in highly competitive markets with limited barriers to entry. Introduction by competitors of comparable products at lower price points, a maturing product lifecycle, a decline in consumer spending, or other factors could result in a material decline in our revenue. Because we derive a significant amount of our revenue from the sale of our Create Your Own rings, any material decline in sales of our Create Your Own rings would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
If we fail to maintain and enhance our brand, our ability to engage or expand our base of customers may be impaired and our business, financial condition, and results of operations may suffer.
Maintaining and enhancing our reputation as an authentic, socially conscious, inclusive, and innovative company is critical to attracting and expanding our relationships with customers. The successful promotion of our brand and the markets awareness of our products and services will depend on a number of factors, including our marketing efforts, ability to continue to develop our products and services, and ability to successfully differentiate our offerings and customer experiences from those of our competitors. We expect to invest substantial resources to promote and maintain our brand, but there is no guarantee that our brand development strategies will enhance the recognition of our brand or lead to increased sales. The strength of our brand will depend largely on our ability to provide quality products, services, and customer experiences. Brand promotion activities may not yield increased net sales, and even if they do, the increased net sales may not offset the expenses we incur in promoting and maintaining our brand and reputation. In order to protect our brand, we also expend substantial resources to register and defend our trademarks, and to prevent others from using the same or substantially similar marks. Despite these efforts, we may not always be successful in protecting our trademarks, and we may suffer dilution, loss of reputation, or other harm to our brand. If our efforts to cost-effectively promote and maintain our brand are not successful, our results of operations and our ability to attract and engage customers, partners, and employees may be adversely affected.
Unfavorable publicity about our brand or products, including perceived quality and safety, customer service, or privacy practices, whether or not true or untrue, could also harm our reputation and diminish
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confidence in, and the popularity of, our products and services. In addition, negative publicity related to key brands with which we have partnered or with our third party suppliers, including any reputational issues arising from their failure to comply with applicable law, including environmental law, may damage our reputation, even if the publicity is not directly related to us. Our brand or reputation could also be adversely impacted if industry organizations were to find we did not or no longer meet their standards or membership criteria. If we fail to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand successfully or to maintain loyalty among customers, or if we incur substantial expenses in unsuccessful attempts to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand, we may fail to attract or increase the engagement of customers, and our business, financial condition, and results of operations may suffer.
Our marketing efforts to help grow our business may not be effective, and failure to effectively develop and expand our sales and marketing capabilities could harm our ability to increase our customer base and achieve broader market acceptance of our e-commerce and omnichannel approach to shopping for fine jewelry.
Promoting awareness of our products and services is important to our ability to grow our business, and attracting new customers can be costly. Our marketing efforts include traditional media and online advertising, as well as third-party social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as marketing tools. As traditional advertising, online, and social media platforms continue to rapidly evolve or grow more competitive, we must continue to maintain a presence on these platforms and establish a presence on new or emerging popular social media and advertising and marketing platforms.
Many customers locate our platform through internet search engines, such as Google and Facebook, and advertisements on social networking sites and online streaming services. If we are listed less prominently or fail to appear in search results for any reason, visits to our website could decline significantly, and we may not be able to replace this traffic. Search engines revise their algorithms from time to time in an attempt to optimize their search results. If the search engines on which we rely for algorithmic listings modify their algorithms, we may appear less prominently or not at all in search results, which could result in reduced traffic to our website that we may not be able to replace. Additionally, if the costs of search engine marketing services, such as Google AdWords, increase, we may incur additional marketing expenses, we may be required to allocate a larger portion of our marketing spend to this channel or we may be forced to attempt to replace it with another channel (which may not be available at reasonable prices, if at all), and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. Furthermore, social media platforms, search engines, and video streaming services may change their advertising policies from time to time. If any change to these policies delays or prevents us from advertising through these channels, it could result in reduced traffic to our website and sales. If we cannot cost effectively use these marketing tools, if we fail to promote our products and services efficiently and effectively, or if our marketing campaigns attract negative media attention, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Additionally, changes in regulations could limit the ability of search engines and social media platforms, including, but not limited to, Google and Facebook, to collect data from users and engage in targeted advertising, making them less effective in disseminating our advertisements to our target customers. For example, the proposed Designing Accounting Safeguards to Help Broaden Oversight and Regulations on Data (DASHBOARD) Act would mandate annual disclosure to the SEC of the type and aggregate value of user data used by harvesting companies, such as, but not limited to, Facebook, Google, and Amazon, including how net sales is generated by user data and what measures are taken to protect the data. If the costs of advertising on search engines and social media platforms increase, we may incur additional marketing expenses or be required to allocate a larger portion of our marketing spend to other channels and our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
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Our ability to grow our marketing efforts depends to a significant extent on our ability to expand our sales and marketing organization. We plan to continue expanding our sales force, both in the U.S. and in Canada, and may further expand internationally in the future. We also plan to dedicate significant resources to sales and marketing programs. All of these efforts will require us to invest significant financial and other resources, including in channels and locations in which we have limited experience to date. We may not achieve anticipated net sales growth from expanding our sales force if we are unable to hire, develop, integrate, and retain talented and effective sales personnel, or if our new and existing sales personnel are unable to achieve desired productivity levels in a reasonable period of time. In addition, our efforts to acquire customers through direct marketing may subject us to increased regulatory scrutiny by state regulators pursuant to unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices laws, which may impact our ability to achieve anticipated net sales growth from increased direct marketing.
Environmental, social, and governance matters may impact our business and reputation.
Increasingly, in addition to the importance of their financial performance, companies are being judged by their performance on a variety of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters, which are considered to contribute to the long-term sustainability of companies performance.
A variety of organizations measure the performance of companies on ESG topics, and the results of these assessments are widely publicized. In addition, investment in funds that specialize in companies that perform well in such assessments are increasingly popular, and major institutional investors have publicly emphasized the importance of ESG measures to their investment decisions. Topics taken into account in such assessments include, among others, the companys efforts and impacts, including impacts associated with our suppliers or other partners, on climate change and human rights, ethics and compliance with law, diversity, and the role of the companys board of directors in supervising various sustainability issues.
In light of investors increased focus on ESG matters, there can be no certainty that we will manage such issues successfully, or that we will successfully meet societys expectations as to our proper role or our own ESG goals and values, including in respect of our diamond sourcing standards. This could lead to risk of litigation or reputational damage relating to our ESG policies or performance.
Further, our emphasis on ESG issues may not maximize short-term financial results and may yield financial results that conflict with the markets expectations. We have and may in the future make business decisions that may reduce our short-term financial results if we believe that the decisions are consistent with our ESG goals, which we believe will improve our financial results over the long-term. These decisions may not be consistent with the short-term expectations of our stockholders and may not produce the long-term benefits that we expect, in which case our business, financial condition, and operating results could be harmed.
Our e-commerce and omnichannel business faces distinct risks, and our failure to successfully manage those risks could have a negative impact on our profitability.
As an e-commerce and omnichannel retailer, we encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by internet-based businesses. The successful operation of our business as well as our ability to provide a positive shopping experience that will generate orders and drive subsequent visits depends on efficient and uninterrupted operation of our order-taking and fulfillment operations. Risks associated with our e-commerce and omnichannel business include:
| uncertainties associated with our websites, including changes in required technology interfaces, website downtime, and other technical failures, costs, and technical issues as we upgrade our website software, inadequate system capacity, computer viruses, human error, security breaches, legal claims related to our website operations, and e-commerce fulfillment; |
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| disruptions in internet service or power outages; |
| reliance on third parties for computer hardware and software, as well as delivery of merchandise to our customers; |
| rapid technology changes; |
| credit or debit card fraud and other payment processing related issues; |
| changes in applicable federal, state, and international regulations; |
| liability for online content; |
| cybersecurity and data privacy concerns and regulation; and |
| natural disasters or adverse weather conditions. |
In addition, we must keep up to date with competitive technology trends, including the use of new or improved technology, creative user interfaces, virtual and augmented reality, and other e-commerce marketing tools such as paid search and mobile applications (apps), among others, which may increase our costs and may not increase sales or attract customers. Our competitors, some of whom have greater resources than we do, may also be able to benefit from changes in e-commerce technologies, which could harm our competitive position. If we are unable to allow real-time and accurate visibility to product availability when customers are ready to purchase, quickly and efficiently fulfill our customers orders using the fulfillment and payment methods they demand, provide a convenient and consistent experience for our customers regardless of the ultimate sales channel, or effectively manage our online sales, our ability to compete and our results of operations could be adversely affected.
If we are unable to effectively anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences and shopping patterns, or are unable to introduce new products or programs that appeal to new or existing customers, our sales and profitability could be adversely affected.
Our continued success depends on our ability to anticipate and respond in a timely and cost-effective manner to changes in consumer preferences for jewelry, natural and lab-grown diamonds and gemstones in particular, and other luxury goods, as well as attitudes towards the global jewelry industry as a whole, and the manner and locations in which consumers purchase such goods. Our business is subject to rapidly changing consumer preferences and future sales may suffer if the consumer preferences shift away from our product offerings or styles. Changes in fashion could also affect the popularity and, therefore, the value of engagement ring and fine jewelry designs and products. Any event or circumstance resulting in reduced market acceptance of one or more of our designs or offerings could reduce our sales. Unanticipated shifts in consumer preferences may also result in excess inventory. We recognize that consumer tastes cannot be predicted with certainty and are subject to change, which is compounded by the expanding use of digital and social media by consumers and the speed by which information and opinions are shared. Our product development strategy is to introduce new design collections, primarily jewelry, and/or expand certain existing collections regularly. If we are unable to anticipate and respond in a timely and cost-effective manner to changes in consumer preferences and shopping patterns, including the development of an engaging omnichannel experience for our customers, our sales and profitability could be adversely affected.
We expect a number of factors to cause our results of operations and operating cash flows to fluctuate on a quarterly and annual basis, which may make it difficult to predict our future performance.
Our results of operations could vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year because of a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control. As a result, comparing our results of
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operations on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful. In addition to other risk factors discussed in this section, factors that may contribute to the variability of our quarterly and annual results include:
| our ability to accurately forecast net sales and appropriately plan our expenses; |
| changes to financial accounting standards and the interpretation of those standards, which may affect the way we recognize and report our financial results; |
| the effectiveness of our internal controls; |
| the seasonality of our business; |
| our ability to collect payments from customers on a timely basis; and |
| the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. |
The impact of one or more of the foregoing and other factors may cause our results of operations to vary significantly. As such, quarter-to-quarter and year-over-year comparisons of our results of operations may not be meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance.
Our inability to strategically expand our showroom footprint could negatively impact on our growth and profitability.
Our plan to continue to strategically open showrooms across the U.S. and, eventually, internationally, as part of our omnichannel expansion, is dependent upon a number of factors. These includes strategically picking new markets to expand into, the availability of desirable property, placement of showrooms in easily accessible locations with high visibility, the demographic characteristics of the area around the showroom, the design and maintenance of the showrooms, the availability of attractive locations within the markets that also meet the operational and financial criteria of management, and the ability to negotiate attractive lease terms. If we are unable to effectively expand our showroom footprint to satisfy our operational, and financial strategies, our growth and profitability could be negatively impacted.
Refunds, cancellations, and warranty claims could harm our business.
We allow our customers to return our products, subject to our refund policy, which generally allows customers to return our products within the first 30 days of when a purchase is available for shipment or pickup and receive a full refund or an exchange. At the time of sale, we establish a reserve for returns, based on historical experience and expected future returns, which is recorded as a reduction of sales. If we experience a substantial increase in refunds, our cancellation reserve levels might not be sufficient and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be harmed.
In addition, we generally offer one complimentary resizing within 60 days of when a purchase is available for shipment or pickup. We could incur significant costs to honor this guarantee. Outside of the 60 day complimentary resize period, rings can be resized for a fee when within jewelers recommended sizing range.
We face the risk of theft, loss, or damage to our products from inventory or during shipment.
We have experienced and may continue to experience theft, loss, or damage to our products during the course of shipment to our customers by third-party shipping carriers or from our inventory. Additionally, we have 13 showrooms across the U.S. While these showrooms differ from traditional retailers in that they do not stock significant amounts of inventory to sell to consumers, they do have
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some products on display, and we allow customers to pick-up and return products purchased online to the store. We have taken steps to prevent theft of our products. However, if security measures fail, losses exceed our insurance coverage or we are not able to maintain insurance at a reasonable cost, we could incur significant losses from theft, which would substantially harm our business and results of operations.
We rely heavily on our information technology systems, as well as those of our third-party vendors and service providers, for our business to effectively operate and to safeguard confidential information and any significant failure, inadequacy or interruption of these systems, security breaches or loss of data could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operations.
We rely heavily on our information technology systems for many functions across our operations, including managing our supply chain and inventory, processing customer transactions in our showrooms, our financial accounting and reporting, compensating our employees, and operating our websites. Our ability to effectively manage our business and coordinate the sourcing, distribution, and sale of our products depends significantly on the reliability and capacity of these systems. We also collect, process, and store sensitive and confidential information, including our proprietary business information and personally identifiable information and that of our customers, employees, suppliers, and business partners. The secure processing, maintenance, and transmission of this information is critical to our operations.
Our systems may be subject to damage or interruption from power outages or damages, telecommunications problems, data corruption, software errors, network failures, physical or electronic break-ins, acts of war or terrorist attacks, fire, flood and natural disasters, and our existing safety systems, data backup, access protection, user management, and information technology emergency planning may not be sufficient to prevent data loss or long-term network outages. In addition, we may have to upgrade our existing information technology systems or choose to incorporate new technology systems from time to time for such systems to support the increasing needs of our expanding business. Costs and potential problems and interruptions associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems and technology or with maintenance or adequate support of existing systems could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of our operations.
Our systems and those of our third-party service providers and business partners may be vulnerable to security breaches, attacks by hackers, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, human errors, or other similar events. If unauthorized parties gain access to our networks or databases, or those of our third-party service providers or business partners, they may be able to steal, publish, delete, use inappropriately, or modify our private and sensitive third-party information, including credit card information and personal identification information. In addition, employees may intentionally or inadvertently cause data or security breaches that result in unauthorized release of personal or confidential information. Because the techniques used to circumvent security systems can be highly sophisticated, change frequently, are often not recognized until launched against a target, can originate from a wide variety of sources (including outside groups such as external service providers, organized crime affiliates, terrorist organizations, or hostile foreign governments or agencies), and may originate from less regulated and remote areas around the world, we may be unable to proactively address all possible techniques or implement adequate preventive measures for all situations.
Security incidents compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of this information and our systems could result from cyber-attacks, computer malware, viruses, denial-of-service attacks, social engineering (including spear phishing and ransomware attacks), credential stuffing, efforts by individuals or groups of hackers and sophisticated organizations, including state-sponsored
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organizations, errors or malfeasance of our personnel, and security vulnerabilities in the software or systems on which we rely. Such incidents may occur in the future, resulting in unauthorized, unlawful, or inappropriate access to, inability to access, disclosure of, or loss of the sensitive, proprietary, and confidential information that we handle. While we employ security measures to prevent, detect, and mitigate potential for harm to our users from the misuse of user credentials on our network, these measures may not be effective in every instance. Moreover, while we maintain cybersecurity insurance that may help provide coverage for these types of incidents, we cannot assure you that our insurance will be adequate to cover costs and liabilities related to these incidents. Any such breach, attack, virus, or other event could result in costly investigations and litigation exceeding applicable insurance coverage or contractual rights available to us, civil or criminal penalties, operational changes or other response measures, loss of consumer confidence in our security measures, and negative publicity that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We also rely on a number of third-party service providers to operate our critical business systems and process confidential and personal information, such as the payment processors that process customer credit card payments. These service providers may not have adequate security measures and could experience a security incident that compromises the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the systems they operate for us or the information they process on our behalf. Cybercrime and hacking techniques are constantly evolving, and we or our third-party service providers may be unable to anticipate attempted security breaches, react in a timely manner, or implement adequate preventative measures, particularly given increasing use of hacking techniques designed to circumvent controls, avoid detection, and remove or obfuscate forensic artifacts. While we have taken measures designed to protect the security of the confidential and personal information under our control, we cannot assure you that any security measures that we or our third-party service providers have implemented will be effective against current or future security threats. Moreover, we or our third-party service providers may be more vulnerable to such attacks in remote work environments, which have increased in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If the information technology systems of our third-party service providers become subject to disruptions or security breaches, we may have insufficient recourse against such third parties and we may have to expend significant resources to mitigate the impact of such an event, and to develop and implement protections to prevent future events of this nature from occurring.
We also rely on a third-party provider for website services. Although alternative website providers could support our business on a substantially similar basis to our current third-party provider, transitioning our current website infrastructure to alternative providers could potentially be disruptive, and we could incur significant one-time costs. If we are unable to renew our agreement with our third-party provider on commercially acceptable terms, our agreement is prematurely terminated, or we add additional website providers, we may experience costs or downtime in connection with the transfer to, or the addition of, new website providers. If our website provider increases the costs of its services, our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
The regulatory environment surrounding information security and privacy is increasingly demanding, with the frequent imposition of new and changing requirements across our business. For example, if we are unable to comply with the security standards established by banks and the payment card industry, we may be subject to fines, restrictions, and expulsion from card acceptance programs, which could adversely affect our retail operations. Our business partners may have contractual rights of indemnification against us or seek to terminate our contracts with them in the event that their customer or proprietary business information is released as a result of a breach of our information technology. Additionally, under certain regulatory schemes, such as the CCPA, we may be liable for statutory damages on a per breached record basis, irrespective of any actual damages or harm to the individual. This means that in the event of a breach we could face government scrutiny or consumer class actions alleging statutory damages amounting to hundreds of millions, and possibly billions of U.S. dollars. And
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we may also be subject to civil claims under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and U.K. Data Protection Laws, including representative actions and other class action type litigation. The successful assertion of one or more large claims against us that exceed available insurance coverage, denial of coverage as to any specific claim, or any change or cessation in our insurance policies and coverages, including premium increases or the imposition of large deductible requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Any of these events could have a significant effect on our business and financial condition. As privacy and information security laws and regulations change, we may incur additional compliance costs.
Any material disruption or slowdown of our systems or those of our third-party service providers and business partners, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
An overall decline in the health of the economy and other factors impacting consumer spending, such as recessionary conditions, governmental instability, and natural disasters, may affect consumer purchases, which could reduce demand for our products and harm our business, financial conditions, and results of operations.
Our business depends on consumer demand for our products and, consequently, is sensitive to a number of factors that influence consumer confidence and spending, such as general economic conditions, consumer disposable income, energy and fuel prices, recession and fears of recession, unemployment, minimum wages, availability of consumer credit, consumer debt levels, conditions in the housing market, interest rates, tax rates and policies, inflation, consumer confidence in future economic conditions and political conditions, war and fears of war, inclement weather, natural disasters, terrorism, outbreak of viruses or widespread illness, and consumer perceptions of personal well-being and security. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily closed our showrooms to the public in the first half of 2020, which adversely affected our sales and profitability. Unfavorable economic conditions may lead consumers to delay or reduce purchases of our products and services and consumer demand for our products and services may not grow as we expect. Prolonged or pervasive economic downturns could also slow the pace of new showroom openings or cause current locations to close.
We plan to expand into international markets, which will expose us to significant risks.
As we expand our operations to other countries, significant resources and management attention is required and doing so subjects us to regulatory, economic, and political risks in addition to those we already face in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. There are significant risks and costs inherent in doing business in international markets, including:
| difficulty establishing and managing international operations and the increased operations, travel, infrastructure, including establishment of showrooms and customer service operations, and legal compliance costs associated with locations in different countries or regions; |
| the need to vary pricing and margins to effectively compete in international markets; |
| the need to adapt and localize products for specific countries; |
| increased competition from local providers of similar products and services; |
| varying degrees of consumer acceptance of e-commerce and omnichannel business, specifically of fine jewelry; |
| challenges in obtaining, maintaining, protecting, and enforcing intellectual property rights abroad; |
| the need to offer content and customer support in various languages; |
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| difficulties in understanding and complying with local laws, regulations, and customs in other jurisdictions; |
| compliance with anti-bribery laws, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 (U.K. Bribery Act), by us, our employees, and our business partners; |
| complexity and other risks associated with current and future legal requirements in other countries, including legal requirements related to consumer protection, consumer product safety, and data privacy frameworks, such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the U.K. Data Protection Act, and the U.K. and E.U. General Data Protection Regulations; |
| varying levels of internet technology adoption and infrastructure, and increased or varying network and hosting service provider costs; |
| tariffs and other non-tariff barriers, such as quotas and local content rules, as well as tax consequences; |
| fluctuations in currency exchange rates and the requirements of currency control regulations, which might restrict or prohibit conversion of other currencies into U.S. dollars; and |
| political or social unrest or economic instability in a specific country or region in which we operate. |
We have limited experience with international regulatory and business environments and market practices and may not be able to penetrate or successfully operate in the markets we choose to enter. In addition, we may incur significant expenses as a result of our international expansion, and we may not be successful. We may face limited brand recognition in certain parts of the world that could lead to non-acceptance or delayed acceptance of our products and services by consumers in new markets. Our failure to successfully manage these risks could harm our international operations and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Our revenue could decline due to changes in credit markets and decisions made by credit providers.
Historically, some of our customers have financed their purchase of our products through third-party loan providers. If we are unable to maintain our relationships with our third-party loan providers, there is no guarantee that we will be able to find replacement partners who will provide our customers with financing on similar terms, and our ability to sell our products may be adversely affected. Further, reductions in consumer lending and the availability of consumer credit could limit the number of customers with the financial means to purchase our products. Higher interest rates could increase our costs or the monthly payments for consumer products financed through other sources of consumer financing. We also offer layaway payments for both U.S. and international customers. After an initial deposit, our layaway plan allows customers to make monthly payments on any purchase. There is a risk that if credit is extended to consumers during times when economic conditions are strong, and then economic conditions subsequently deteriorate, consumers may not meet their then-current payment obligations. In the future, we cannot be assured that third-party financing providers will continue to provide consumers with access to credit or that available credit limits will not be reduced. Such restrictions or reductions in the availability of consumer credit, or the loss of our relationship with our current financing partners, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, and operating results.
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Our business is affected by seasonality.
Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuation with a typical increase in sales around the holiday season, with the fourth quarter representing approximately 30% of annual net sales over a three-year period ending December 31, 2019 and a high percentage of annual net income. A number of factors, such as higher unemployment, the level of consumers disposable income, the availability of credit, interest rates, consumer debt, and asset values, delays in the issuance of tax refunds, or deteriorating economic conditions can impact consumer spending decisions. Jewelry purchases are discretionary and are dependent on many factors relating to discretionary consumer spending, particularly as jewelry is often perceived to be a luxury purchase. Adverse changes in the economy and periods when discretionary spending by consumers may be under pressure could unfavorably impact sales and earnings. In addition, in order to prepare for our peak shopping quarters, we must increase the staffing at our showrooms and order and keep in stock more merchandise than we carry during other parts of the year. This staffing increase and inventory build-up may require us to expend cash faster than is generated by our operations during these periods. Any unanticipated decrease in demand for our products during such a period could require us to sell excess inventory at a substantial markdown, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Furthermore, our rapid growth in recent years may obscure the extent to which seasonality trends have affected our business and may continue to affect our business. Accordingly, yearly or quarterly comparisons of our operating results may not be useful and our results in any particular period will not necessarily be indicative of the results to be expected for any future period.
We depend on highly skilled personnel to grow and operate our business, and if we are unable to hire, retain, and motivate our personnel, we may not be able to grow effectively.
Our success and future growth depend largely upon the continued services of our management team, including our Co-Founders, Beth Gerstein and Eric Grossberg. From time to time, there may be changes in our executive management team resulting from the hiring or departure of these personnel. Our executive officers are employed on an at-will basis, which means they may terminate their employment with us at any time. The loss of one or more of our executive officers, or the failure by our executive team to effectively work with our employees and lead our company, could harm our business. We maintain key man life insurance with respect to certain key members of management.
In addition, our future success will depend, in part, upon our continued ability to identify and hire skilled personnel with the skills and technical knowledge that we require, including engineering, software design and programming, jewelry design, marketing, sales, and other key management personnel. Such efforts will require significant time, expense, and attention as there is intense competition for such individuals, particularly in the Denver and San Francisco areas, and new hires require significant training and time before they achieve full productivity, particularly in new sales segments and territories. In addition to hiring new employees, we must continue to focus on developing, motivating, and retaining our best employees, all of whom are at-will employees. If we fail to identify, recruit, and integrate strategic personnel hires, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. We may need to invest significant amounts of cash and equity to attract and retain new employees, and we may never realize returns on these investments. If we hire employees from competitors or other companies, their former employers may attempt to assert that these employees or we have breached various legal obligations, resulting in a diversion of our time and resources. In addition, prospective and existing employees often consider the value of the equity awards they receive in connection with their employment. If the perceived value of our equity awards declines, experiences significant volatility, or increases such that prospective employees believe there is limited upside to the value of our equity awards, it may adversely affect our ability to recruit and retain key
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employees. If we are not able to effectively add and retain employees, our ability to achieve our strategic objectives will be adversely impacted, and our business and future growth prospects will be harmed.
Acquisitions, strategic investments, partnerships, or alliances could be difficult to identify, pose integration challenges, divert the attention of management, disrupt our business, dilute stockholder value, and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to expand our services and grow our business in response to changing technologies, customer demands, and competitive pressures. In some circumstances, we may choose to expand our services and grow our business through the acquisition of complementary businesses and technologies rather than through internal development. The identification of suitable acquisition candidates can be difficult, time-consuming, and costly, and we may not be able to successfully complete identified acquisitions. In addition, once we have completed an acquisition, we may not be able to successfully integrate the acquired business. The risks we face in connection with acquisitions include:
| an acquisition may negatively affect our financial results because it may require us to incur charges or assume substantial debt or other liabilities, may cause adverse tax consequences or unfavorable accounting treatment, may expose us to claims and disputes by stockholders and third parties, including intellectual property claims and disputes, may not generate sufficient financial return to offset additional costs and expenses related to the acquisition, or may not perform as well financially as expected; |
| we may encounter difficulties or unforeseen expenditures in integrating the business, offerings, technologies, personnel, or operations of any company that we acquire, particularly if key personnel of the acquired company decide not to work for us; |
| an acquisition may disrupt our ongoing business, divert resources, increase our expenses, and distract our management; |
| an acquisition may result in a delay or reduction of customer purchases for both us and the company acquired due to customer uncertainty about continuity and effectiveness of service from either company; |
| we may encounter difficulties in, or may be unable to, successfully sell any acquired products; |
| our use of cash to pay for an acquisition would limit other potential uses for our cash; |
| if we incur debt to fund such acquisition, such debt may subject us to material restrictions on our ability to conduct our business, as well as financial maintenance covenants; and |
| if we issue a significant amount of equity securities in connection with future acquisitions, existing stockholders may be diluted and earnings per share may decrease. |
The occurrence of any of these foregoing risks could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations, and expose us to unknown risks or liabilities.
We may require additional capital to support the growth of our business, and this capital might not be available on acceptable terms, if at all.
We have funded our operations since inception primarily through equity financings and revenue generated from our products and services. We cannot be certain that our operations will continue to generate sufficient cash to fully fund our ongoing operations and the growth of our business. We intend
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to continue to make investments to support the development of our products and services and will require additional funds for such development. We may need additional funding for marketing expenses and to develop and expand sales resources, develop new features or enhance our products and services, improve our operating infrastructure, or acquire complementary businesses and technologies. Accordingly, we might need or may want to engage in future equity or debt financings to secure additional funds. Additional financing may not be available on terms favorable to us, if at all. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to invest in future growth opportunities, which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us, our ability to develop our products and services, support our business growth, and respond to business challenges could be significantly impaired, and our business may be adversely affected.
If we incur debt, the debt holders would have rights senior to holders of common stock to make claims on our assets, and the terms of any debt could restrict our operations, including our ability to pay dividends on our common stock. Furthermore, if we issue additional equity securities, stockholders will experience dilution, and the new equity securities could have rights senior to those of our common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in the future will depend on numerous considerations, including factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing, or nature of any future issuances of debt or equity securities. As a result, our stockholders bear the risk of future issuances of debt or equity securities reducing the value of our common stock and diluting their interests.
Our level of indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on our ability to generate sufficient cash to fulfil our obligations under such indebtedness, to react to changes in our business, and to incur additional indebtedness to fund future needs.
As of June 30, 2021, we had outstanding $65 million aggregate principal amount of borrowings under our Term Loan (as defined herein). If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, or to sell assets, seek additional capital, or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. Our ability to restructure or refinance our current or future debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. The terms of existing or future debt instruments may restrict us from adopting some of these alternatives. Any failure to make payments of interest and principal on our outstanding indebtedness on a timely basis or failure to comply with certain restrictions in our debt instruments would result in a default under our debt instruments. In the event of a default under any of our current or future debt instruments, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under such debt instruments to be due and payable.
In addition, our indebtedness under our Term Loan bears interest at variable rates. Because we have variable rate debt, fluctuations in interest rates may affect our cash flows or business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our Term Loan contains financial covenants and other restrictions on our actions that may limit our operational flexibility or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The terms of our Term Loan include a number of covenants that limit our ability to (subject to negotiated exceptions), among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens on any of our property, enter into agreements related to mergers and acquisitions, dispose of property, or pay dividends and make distributions. The terms of our Term Loan may restrict our current and future
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operations and could adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs. In addition, complying with these covenants may make it more difficult for us to successfully execute our business strategy and compete against companies that are not subject to such restrictions.
A failure by us to comply with the covenants specified in the Term Loan could result in an event of default under the agreement, which would give the lenders the right to stop advancing money or extending credit and to declare all obligations to pay the loans when due, together with principal interest, fees, and expenses, to be immediately due and payable. If the debt under the Term Loan were to be accelerated, we may not have sufficient cash or be able to borrow sufficient funds to refinance the debt or sell sufficient assets to repay the debt, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Legal and Regulatory Environment
Failure to comply with laws, regulations, and enforcement activities, or changes in statutory, regulatory, accounting, and other legal requirements could potentially impact our operating and financial results.
We are subject to numerous federal, state, local, and foreign laws and governmental regulations, including those relating to environmental protection, personal injury, intellectual property, consumer product safety, building, land use and zoning requirements, workplace regulations, wage and hour, privacy and information security, consumer protection laws, immigration, and employment law matters. If we fail to comply with existing or future laws or regulations, or if these laws or regulations are violated by importers, manufacturers, or distributors, we may be subject to governmental or judicial fines or sanctions, while incurring substantial legal fees and costs. In addition, our capital expenditures could increase due to remediation measures that may be required if we are found to be noncompliant with any existing or future laws or regulations.
Further, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has authority to investigate and prosecute practices that constitute unfair trade practices, deceptive trade practices or unfair methods of competition. State attorneys general typically have comparable authority, and many states also permit private plaintiffs to bring actions on the basis of these laws. Federal and state consumer protection laws and regulations may apply to our operations and retail offers.
Our transactions with suppliers and other parties outside the U.S. may subject us to FCPA, U.S. export controls, including the Export Administration Regulations, and trade sanction laws, and similar anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and international trade laws, any violation of which could create substantial liability for us and also harm our reputation. Our operations may subject us to various federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and other requirements pertaining to protection of the environment, public health, and employee safety, including regulations governing the management of hazardous substances and the maintenance of safe working conditions, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended. These laws also apply generally to all our properties. Our failure to comply with these laws can subject us to criminal and civil liabilities. In connection with our philanthropic endeavors, we must also comply with additional federal, state, and local tax and other laws and regulations.
Additionally, because we accept debit and credit cards for payment, we are subject to the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Standard issued by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, with respect to payment card information. The PCI Standard contains compliance guidelines with regard to our security surrounding the physical and electronic storage, processing, and transmission of cardholder data. Compliance with the PCI Standard and implementing related procedures, technology, and information security measures requires significant resources and ongoing attention. Costs and
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potential problems and interruptions associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems and technology such as those necessary to achieve compliance with the PCI Standard or with maintenance or adequate support of existing systems could also disrupt or reduce the efficiency of our operations. Any material interruptions or failures in our payment-related systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. If there are amendments to the PCI Standard, the cost of re-compliance could also be substantial and we may suffer loss of critical data and interruptions or delays in our operations as a result.
Failure to adequately obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights or prevent third parties from making unauthorized use of such rights could harm our brand, devalue our proprietary content and technology, and adversely affect our ability to compete effectively.
Our success depends to a significant degree on our ability to obtain, maintain, protect, and enforce our intellectual property rights, including our brand, proprietary designs, technology, and know-how. We rely on a variety of mechanisms to protect our intellectual property rights, including trademark and copyright laws, trade secret protection, domain name registration, confidentiality agreements, and other contractual arrangements with our employees, affiliates, clients, strategic partners, and others. However, the protective steps we have taken and plan to take may be inadequate to deter infringement, misappropriation or other violations of our intellectual property, proprietary designs, technology, know-how, and our brand. We may not learn of, or may be unable to detect, the unauthorized use of, or take appropriate steps to enforce, our intellectual property rights. Effective intellectual property protection may not be available to us or available in every jurisdiction in which we offer or may offer our products and services. Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property could harm our brand, devalue our proprietary designs, technology, and other intellectual property, and adversely affect our ability to compete effectively. Further, defending our intellectual property rights could result in the expenditure of significant financial resources and divert attention of management, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights adequately, our competitors may exploit our intellectual property and develop and commercialize substantially identical products and we may lose an important advantage in the markets in which we compete. In addition, defending our intellectual property rights might entail significant expense. Any trademarks, copyrights, patents, or other intellectual property rights that we have or may obtain may be challenged or circumvented by others or invalidated or held unenforceable through administrative processes, including re-examination, inter partes review, interference and derivation proceedings, and equivalent proceedings in foreign jurisdictions (e.g., opposition proceedings), or litigation. Any challenge to our intellectual property rights could result in them being narrowed in scope or declared invalid or unenforceable. We do not currently own any issued patents, and even if we seek patent protection in the future, we may be unable to obtain or maintain such protection. In addition, any patents issued from future patent applications or licensed to us in the future may not provide us with competitive advantages or may be successfully challenged by third parties. Further, the laws of some foreign countries may not be as protective of intellectual property rights as those in the U.S., and mechanisms for enforcement of intellectual property rights in those countries may be inadequate. Moreover, policing unauthorized use of our technologies, trade secrets, and intellectual property may be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. Despite our precautions, it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy our offerings and capabilities and use information that we regard as proprietary to create offerings that compete with ours. If our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected, then we may not be able to build name recognition in our markets of interest and our business may be adversely affected. The value of our intellectual property could diminish if others assert rights in or ownership of our trademarks and other intellectual property rights, or trademarks that are similar to our trademarks. We may be unable to successfully resolve these types of conflicts to our satisfaction.
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We enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and consultants and enter into confidentiality agreements with other third parties, including suppliers and other partners. However, we cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with each party that has or may have had access to our proprietary information, know-how, and trade secrets or may have developed intellectual property on our behalf. Moreover, no assurance can be given that these agreements will be effective in controlling access to our proprietary information or the distribution, use, misuse, misappropriation, reverse engineering, or disclosure of our proprietary information, know-how, and trade secrets. These agreements may not be self-executing or they may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach. Additionally, we may be subject to claims that our employees misappropriated relevant rights from their previous employers. Further, these agreements may not prevent our competitors from independently developing technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to our offerings and capabilities.
In order to protect our intellectual property rights, we may be required to spend significant resources to monitor and protect our intellectual property rights. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights and to protect our trade secrets. Litigation brought to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights could be costly, time-consuming, and distracting to management, and could result in the impairment or loss of portions of our intellectual property. Further, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights may be met with defenses, counterclaims, and countersuits attacking the validity and enforceability of our intellectual property rights, and if such defenses, counterclaims, or countersuits are successful, we could lose valuable intellectual property rights. Our inability to protect our intellectual property against unauthorized copying or use, as well as any costly litigation or diversion of our managements attention and resources, could delay further sales or the implementation of our offerings and capabilities, impair the functionality of our offerings and capabilities, delay introductions of new offerings, or injure our reputation.
Third parties may assert rights in or ownership of our trademarks and other intellectual property rights, or trademarks that are similar to our trademarks, or claim that we are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating their intellectual property rights. Intellectual property-related litigations and proceedings are expensive and time consuming to defend, and, if resolved adversely, could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our commercial success depends in part on avoiding infringement, misappropriation or other violations of the intellectual property and proprietary rights of third parties and other intellectual property-related disputes. Our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented, diluted or declared generic or determined to be infringing on other marks. Effective trademark protection may not be available or may not be sought in every country in which our products are made available, and contractual disputes may affect the use of marks governed by private contract. Further, at times, competitors may adopt trade names or trademarks similar to ours, thereby impeding our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to market confusion. In addition, there could be potential trade name or trademark infringement claims brought by owners of other trademarks or trademarks that incorporate variations of our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names. Over the long term, if we are unable to establish name recognition based on our trademarks and trade names, then we may not be able to compete effectively and our business may be adversely affected. Similarly, not every variation of a domain name may be available or be registered, even if available. The occurrence of any of these events could result in the erosion of our brand and limit our ability to market our brand using our various domain names, as well as impede our ability to effectively compete against competitors with similar products or technologies.
In addition to fighting intellectual property infringement from third parties, we may need to defend claims against us related to our intellectual property rights. Some third-party intellectual property rights
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may prove to be extremely broad, and it may not be possible for us to conduct our operations in such a way as to avoid violating those intellectual property rights. As we face increasing competition, the possibility of intellectual property rights claims against us grows. Such claims and litigation may involve adverse intellectual property rights holders who have no relevant product revenue, and, therefore, our own issued and pending copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights may provide little or no deterrence to these rights holders in bringing intellectual property rights claims against us. There may be intellectual property rights held by others that cover significant aspects of our offerings and we cannot assure that we are not infringing or violating, and have not infringed or violated, any third-party intellectual property rights, or that we will not be held to have done so or be accused of doing so in the future. In addition, any disputes with third parties with respect to any third-party intellectual property agreements could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or increase our obligations under such agreements, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Any claim that we have violated intellectual property or other proprietary rights of third parties, with or without merit, and whether or not it results in litigation, is settled out of court or is determined in our favor, could be expensive and time-consuming to address and resolve, and could divert the time and attention of management and technical personnel from our business. The litigation process is subject to inherent uncertainties, and we may not prevail in litigation matters regardless of the merits of our position. Intellectual property lawsuits or claims may become extremely disruptive if plaintiffs were to succeed in blocking the trade of our products and services. An adverse outcome of a dispute may result in an injunction and could require us to pay substantial monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys fees, if we are found to have willfully infringed a partys intellectual property rights. Further, our liability insurance may not cover potential claims of this type adequately or at all. We may be unable to successfully resolve these types of conflicts to our satisfaction and may be required to enter into costly license agreements, if available at all; be required to pay significant royalty, settlements costs, or damages; be required to rebrand our products; and/or be prevented from selling some of our products. The terms of such a settlement or judgment may require us to cease some or all of our operations or pay substantial amounts to the other party. Even if we have an agreement to indemnify us against such costs, the indemnifying party may be unable or unwilling to uphold its contractual obligations. In addition, we may have to seek a license to continue practices found to be in violation of a third partys rights. If we are required, or choose to enter into royalty or licensing arrangements, such arrangements may not be available on reasonable terms, or at all, and may significantly increase our operating costs and expenses. Such arrangements may also only be available on a non-exclusive basis, such that third parties, including our competitors, could have access to use the same intellectual property to compete with us. We may also have to redesign our products so they do not infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate third-party intellectual property rights, which may not be possible or may require substantial monetary expenditures and time, during which our products may not be available for commercialization or use. Such outcomes would increase our operating expenses, and if we cannot redesign our products in a non-infringing manner or obtain a license for any allegedly infringing aspect of our business, we may be forced to limit our product offerings, which could adversely affect our ability to compete effectively.
We are subject to rapidly changing and increasingly stringent laws and industry standards relating to privacy, data security, and data protection. The restrictions and costs imposed by these laws, or our actual or perceived failure to comply with them, could subject us to liabilities that adversely affect our business, operations, and financial performance.
We collect, process, store, and use a wide variety of data from current and prospective customers, including personal information, such as home addresses and geolocation. These activities are regulated by a variety of federal, state, local, and foreign privacy, data security, and data protection laws and regulations, which have become increasingly stringent in recent years.
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Domestic privacy and data security laws are complex and changing rapidly. In the U.S., we are subject to a variety of laws and regulations, including regulation by federal government agencies, including the FTC, and state and local agencies. In addition to federal laws such as Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, many states have enacted laws regulating the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information and requiring that companies implement reasonable data security measures. Laws in all states and U.S. territories also require businesses to notify affected individuals, governmental entities, and/or credit reporting agencies of certain security breaches affecting personal information. These laws are not consistent, and compliance with them in the event of a widespread data breach is complex and costly.
Further, the California Consumer Privacy Act (the CCPA) took effect on January 1, 2020. The CCPA gives California residents expanded rights related to their personal information, including the right to access and delete their personal information, and receive detailed information about how their personal information is used and shared. The CCPA also created restrictions on sales of personal information that allow California residents to opt-out of certain sharing of their personal information and may restrict the use of cookies and similar technologies for advertising purposes. Our products rely on these technologies and could be adversely affected by the CCPAs restrictions. The CCPA prohibits discrimination against individuals who exercise their privacy rights, provides for civil penalties for violations, and creates a private right of action for data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation. Additionally, a new California ballot initiative, the California Privacy Rights Act (the CPRA), was recently passed in California. The CPRA will restrict use of certain categories of sensitive personal information that we handle; further restrict the use of cross-context behavioral advertising techniques on which our products may rely in the future; establish restrictions on the retention of personal information; expand the types of data breaches subject to the private right of action; and establish the California Privacy Protection Agency to implement and enforce the new law, as well as impose administrative fines. The majority of the CPRAs provisions will go into effect on January 1, 2023 (with a look back to January 1, 2022), and additional compliance investment and potential business process changes will likely be required. Additionally, Virginia enacted the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (the CDPA), another comprehensive state privacy law, that will also be effective January 1, 2023. The CCPA, CPRA, and CDPA may increase our compliance costs and potential liability, particularly in the event of a data breach, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, including how we use personal information, our financial condition, the results of our operations or prospects. Similar laws have been proposed in other states and at the federal level, reflecting a trend toward more stringent privacy legislation in the U.S. The enactment of such laws could have potentially conflicting requirements that would make compliance challenging.
In addition, laws, regulations, and standards covering marketing, advertising, and other activities conducted by telephone, email, mobile devices, and the internet, may be or become applicable to our business, such as the Federal Communications Act, the Federal Wiretap Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the TCPA), the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (the CAN-SPAM Act), and similar state consumer protection and communication privacy laws, such as Californias Invasion of Privacy Act. In particular, the TCPA imposes significant restrictions on the ability to make telephone calls or send text messages to mobile telephone numbers without the prior consent of the person being contacted. Claims that we have violated the TCPA could be costly to litigate, and if successful, expose us to substantial statutory damages.
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 in new geographies. In Canada, where we operate, 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
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breaches. In addition, Canadas Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) prohibits email marketing without the recipients 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.
We operate in the European Union, which has adopted strict data privacy and security regulations in its GDPR. The GDPR imposes strict requirements on controllers and processors of personal data, including, for example, higher standards for obtaining consent from individuals to process their personal data, more robust disclosures to individuals and a strengthened individual data rights regime, shortened timelines for data breach notifications, and restrictions on the flow of personal data outside of the EU. The GDPR also provides individuals with various rights in respect of their personal data, including rights of access, erasure, portability, rectification, restriction, and objection. Following its departure from the European Union, the United Kingdom has adopted a separate regime based on the GDPR that imposes similarly onerous requirements. Companies that violate the EU or U.K. regime can face private litigation, prohibitions on data processing, and fines of up to the greater of 4% of their worldwide annual revenue or 20 million Euros (for the EU) or £17.5 million (for the U.K.). Other EU and U.K. data protection laws restrict the ability of companies to market electronically, including through the use of cookies and similar technologies on which we rely for our marketing. Other countries outside of Europe increasingly emulate European data protection laws. As a result, operating our business or offering our services in Europe or other countries with similar data protection laws would subject us to substantial compliance costs and potential liability and may require changes to the ways we collect and use consumer information.
In addition, privacy advocates and industry groups have regularly proposed, and may propose in the future, self-regulatory standards by which we are legally or contractually bound. If we fail to comply with these contractual obligations or standards, we may face substantial liability or fines. Consumer resistance to the collection and sharing of the data used to deliver targeted advertising, increased visibility of consent or do not track mechanisms as a result of industry regulatory or legal developments, the adoption by consumers of browser settings or ad-blocking software, and the development and deployment of new technologies could materially impact our ability to collect data or reduce our ability to deliver relevant promotions or media, which could materially impair the results of our operations.
Further, we are subject to the PCI Data Security Standard, which is a multifaceted security standard that is designed to protect credit card account data as mandated by payment card industry entities. We rely on vendors to handle PCI matters and to ensure PCI compliance. Despite our compliance efforts, we may become subject to claims that we have violated the PCI Data Security Standard, based on past, present, and future business practices, which could have an adverse impact on our business and reputation. See also Failure to comply with laws, regulations, and enforcement activities, or changes in statutory, regulatory, accounting, and other legal requirements could potentially impact our operating and financial results.
Despite our efforts to comply with all applicable data protection laws and regulations, our interpretations of such laws and regulations and such measures to comply therewith may have been or may prove to be insufficient or incorrect, and we may not be successful in achieving compliance with the rapidly evolving privacy, data security, and data protection requirements discussed above. Any actual or perceived non-compliance could result in litigation and proceedings against us by governmental entities, customers, or others, fines and civil or criminal penalties, limited ability or inability to operate our business, offer services, or market our business in certain jurisdictions, negative publicity and harm to our brand and reputation, and reduced overall demand for our products and services. Such occurrences could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Our general liability insurance may not cover all potential claims to which we are exposed and may not be adequate to indemnify us for the full extent of our potential liabilities.
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Our business could be adversely impacted by changes in the internet and mobile device accessibility of users. Companies and governmental agencies may restrict access to our products and services, our mobile apps, website, app stores, or the internet generally, which could negatively impact our operations.
Our business depends on customers accessing our products and services via a mobile device or a personal computer, and the internet. We may operate in jurisdictions that provide limited internet connectivity, particularly as we expand internationally. Internet access and access to a mobile device or personal computer are frequently provided by companies with significant market power that could take actions that degrade, disrupt, or increase the cost of consumers ability to access our products and services. In addition, the internet infrastructure that we and our customers rely on in any particular geographic area may be unable to support the demands placed upon it and could interfere with the speed and availability of our products and services. Any such failure in internet or mobile device or computer accessibility, even for a short period of time, could adversely affect our results of operations.
Governmental agencies in any of the countries in which we or our customers are located could block access to or require a license for our mobile apps, website, or the internet generally for a number of reasons, including security, confidentiality, or regulatory concerns. In addition, companies may adopt policies that prohibit their employees from using our products and services. If companies or governmental entities block, limit, or otherwise restrict customers from accessing our products and services, our business could be negatively impacted, the number of customers could decline or grow more slowly, and our results of operations could be adversely affected.
We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, and similar laws, and non-compliance with such laws can subject us to criminal or civil liability and harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are subject to the FCPA, U.S. domestic bribery laws, and other anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws in the countries in which we conduct activities. Anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws have been enforced aggressively in recent years and are interpreted broadly to generally prohibit companies, their employees, and their third-party intermediaries from authorizing, offering, or providing, directly or indirectly, improper payments or benefits to recipients in the public or private sector. As we increase our international sales and business, we may engage with business partners and third-party intermediaries to market our offerings and to obtain necessary permits, licenses, and other regulatory approvals. In addition, we or our third-party intermediaries may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or affiliated entities. We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of these third-party intermediaries, our employees, representatives, contractors, partners, and agents, even if we do not explicitly authorize such activities.
We cannot assure you that all of our employees and agents will not take actions in violation of any of the above laws, for which we may be ultimately held responsible. As we increase our international sales and business, our risks under these laws may increase.
Detecting, investigating, and resolving actual or alleged violations of any of the above laws can require a significant diversion of time, resources, and attention from senior management. In addition, noncompliance with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, or anti-money laundering laws could subject us to whistleblower complaints, investigations, sanctions, settlements, prosecution, enforcement actions, fines, damages, other civil or criminal penalties or injunctions, suspension or debarment from contracting with certain persons, reputational harm, adverse media coverage, and other collateral consequences. If any subpoenas or investigations are launched, or governmental or other sanctions are imposed, or if we do not prevail in any possible civil or criminal proceeding, our business, financial
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condition, and results of operations could be harmed. In addition, responding to any action will likely result in a materially significant diversion of managements attention and resources and significant defense costs and other professional fees.
From time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings, regulatory disputes, and governmental inquiries that could cause us to incur significant expenses, divert our managements attention, and materially harm our business, financial condition, and operating results.
From time to time, we may be subject to claims, lawsuits, government investigations, and other proceedings involving products liability, competition and antitrust, intellectual property, data privacy and protection, consumer protection, securities, tax, labor and employment, commercial disputes, and other matters that could adversely affect our business operations and financial condition. As we have grown, we have seen a rise in the number and significance of these disputes and inquiries. Litigation and regulatory proceedings may be protracted and expensive, and the results are difficult to predict. Certain of these matters include speculative claims for substantial or indeterminate amounts of damages and include claims for injunctive relief. Additionally, our litigation costs could be significant. Adverse outcomes with respect to litigation or any of these legal proceedings may result in significant settlement costs or judgments, penalties and fines, or require us to modify our products or services, all of which could negatively affect our revenue growth. The results of litigation, investigations, claims, and regulatory proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, and determining reserves for pending litigation and other legal and regulatory matters requires significant judgment. There can be no assurance that our expectations will prove correct, and even if these matters are resolved in our favor or without significant cash settlements, these matters, and the time and resources necessary to litigate or resolve them, could harm our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties
We face risks associated with suppliers from whom our products are sourced and are dependent on a limited number of suppliers.
We purchase substantially all of the resources for our products including diamonds, gemstones, precious metals, parts, packaging, and raw materials from domestic and international suppliers. For our business to be successful, our suppliers must be willing and able to provide us with resources in substantial quantities, in compliance with regulatory requirements, and further in compliance with our ethical and environmentally responsible standards, at acceptable costs and on a timely basis. Our ability to obtain a sufficient selection or volume of resources 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.
We typically do not enter into long-term contracts with our suppliers, and in some cases do not have formal written contracts, and, as such, we operate without significant contractual assurances of continued supply, pricing or access to resources. Pricing with suppliers is typically established and renegotiated based on product specifications, market conditions, and other variables. Any of our suppliers could discontinue supplying us with desired inputs in sufficient quantities or offer us less favorable terms on future transactions for a variety of reasons. The benefits we currently experience from our supplier relationships could be adversely affected if our suppliers:
| discontinue selling resources to us; |
| enter into arrangements with competitors that could impair our ability to source their products, including by giving our competitors exclusivity arrangements or limiting our access to certain resources; |
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| raise the prices they charge us; |
| change pricing terms to require us to pay on delivery or upfront, including as a result of changes in the credit relationships some of our suppliers have with their various lending institutions; or |
| lengthen their lead times. |
Events that adversely impact our suppliers could impair our ability to obtain adequate and timely supplies. Such events include, among others, difficulties or problems associated with our suppliers businesses, their financial instability and labor problems, resource quality and safety issues, natural or man-made disasters, inclement weather conditions, war, acts of terrorism and other political instability, economic conditions, shipment issues, the availability of their raw materials, and increased production costs. Our suppliers may be forced to reduce their production, shut down their operations, or file for bankruptcy. The occurrence of one or more of these events could impact our ability to get products to our customers, result in disruptions to our operations, increase our costs, and decrease our profitability.
We also source resources directly from suppliers outside of the U.S., including Russia, Canada, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Australia, Malawi, Sea of Cortez, Sri Lanka, and Zambia. A majority of the worlds supply of rough diamonds is controlled by a small number of diamond mining firms. Furthermore, Our Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds are sourced from a select group of diamond suppliers with a robust chain of custody protocol for their diamonds and are required to source diamonds that originate from specific mine operations or specific countries that have demonstrated their commitment to follow internationally recognized labor, trade, and environmental standards. As a result, any decisions made to restrict the supply of rough diamonds by these firms to our suppliers of Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds could substantially impair our ability to acquire such diamonds at commercially reasonable prices, if at all. Generally, diamond prices depend on the attributes of the diamond. Similarly, we craft our gold and silver fine jewelry from primarily recycled precious metals, and we work with our suppliers to source recycled platinum when available and from refiners that are known to use recycled materials in their platinum products. Global sourcing and foreign trade involve numerous factors and uncertainties beyond our control, including increased shipping costs, the imposition of additional import or trade restrictions, including legal or economic restrictions on overseas suppliers ability to produce and deliver resources, increased custom duties and tariffs, unforeseen delays in customs clearance of goods, more restrictive quotas, loss of a most favored nation trading status, currency exchange rates, transportation delays, port of entry issues and foreign government regulations, political instability, and economic uncertainties in the countries from which we or our suppliers source our products. For example, our resource sourcing could be impacted by current and future travel restrictions and/or the shut-down of certain businesses globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and our precious metals sourcing has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including in India where we source our recycled platinum. In addition, a majority of the worlds diamond supply is cut and polished in India, which could by adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our sourcing operations may also be hurt by health concerns regarding infectious diseases in countries in which our resources are produced. Moreover, negative press or reports about internationally sourced resources may sway public opinion, and thus customer confidence, away from the products sold in our stores. These and other issues affecting our international suppliers or internationally sourced resources could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Material changes in the pricing practices of our suppliers could negatively impact our profitability. Our suppliers may also increase their pricing if their raw materials became more expensive. The resources used to manufacture our products are subject to availability constraints and price volatility. Our suppliers may pass the increase in sourcing costs to us through price increases, thereby impacting our margins.
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Moreover, many suppliers and manufacturers of diamonds, as well as retailers of diamonds and diamond jewelry, are vertically integrated, and we expect they will continue to vertically integrate their operations either by developing retail channels for the products they manufacture or acquiring sources of supply, including, without limitation, diamond mining operations. To the extent such vertical integration efforts are successful, some of the fragmentation in the existing diamond supply chain could be eliminated, our ability to obtain an adequate supply of diamonds and fine jewelry from multiple sources could be limited, and our competitors may be able to obtain diamonds at lower prices.
In addition, some of our suppliers may not have the capacity to supply us with sufficient resources to keep pace with our growth plans, especially if we plan to manufacturer significantly greater amounts of inventory. In such cases, our ability to pursue our growth strategy will depend in part upon our ability to develop new supplier relationships. Some of our suppliers are owned by vertically-integrated companies with retail divisions that compete with us and, as such, we are exposed to the risk that these suppliers may not be willing, or may become unwilling, to sell their products to us on acceptable terms, or at all.
We rely on a limited number of suppliers to supply the majority of the resources to our products and are thus exposed to concentration of supplier risk. If we were to lose any significant supplier, we may be unable to establish additional or replacement sources for our products that meet our quality controls and standards in a timely manner or on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
We rely on our suppliers, third-party carriers, and third-party jewelers as part of our fulfillment process, and these third parties may fail to adequately serve our customers.
We significantly rely on our suppliers to promptly ship us diamonds and other fine jewelry ordered by our customers. Any failure by our suppliers to sell and ship such products to us in a timely manner will have an adverse effect on our ability to fulfill customer orders and harm our business and results of operations. Our suppliers, in turn, rely on third-party carriers to ship diamonds to us, and in some cases, directly to our customers. We also rely on a limited number of third-party carriers to deliver inventory to us and product shipments to our customers. We and our suppliers are therefore subject to the risks, including employee strikes, inclement weather, power outages, national disasters, rising fuel costs, and financial constraints associated with such carriers abilities to provide delivery services to meet our and our suppliers shipping needs. In addition, for some customer orders we rely on third-party jewelers to assemble and ship the product. Our suppliers, third-party carriers, or third-party jewelers failure to deliver high-quality products to us or our customers in a timely manner or to otherwise adequately serve our customers would damage our reputation and brand, and substantially harm our business and results of operations.
We rely on a limited number of contract manufacturers and logistics partners for our products. A loss of any of these partners could negatively affect our business.
We rely on a limited number of contract manufacturers and logistics partners to manufacture and transport our products. In the event of interruption from any of our contract manufacturers, we may not be able to increase capacity from other sources or develop alternate or secondary sources without incurring material additional costs and substantial delays. Our contract manufacturers primary facilities are principally located in the U.S., India, Mexico, and Thailand, and furthermore are geographically concentrated in limited regions of each. Thus, our business could be adversely affected if one or more of our manufacturers is impacted by a natural disaster, an epidemic such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, or other interruption at a particular location. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic caused interruptions in the development, manufacturing (including the sourcing of key materials), and shipment of our products, which could adversely impact our revenue, gross margins, and operating results. Such interruptions may be due to, among other things, temporary closures of our facilities or those of our contract manufacturers, and other vendors in our supply chain; restrictions on travel or the import/export of goods and services from certain ports that we use; and local quarantines.
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If we experience a significant increase in demand for our products that cannot be satisfied adequately through our existing manufacturing channels, or if we need to replace an existing manufacturer, we may be unable to supplement or replace them on terms that are acceptable to us, which may undermine our ability to deliver our products in a timely manner. For example, if we require additional manufacturing support, it may take a significant amount of time to identify a manufacturer that has the capability and resources to build our products to our specifications in sufficient volume. Identifying suitable manufacturers and logistics partners is an extensive process that requires us to become satisfied with their quality control, technical capabilities, responsiveness and service, financial stability, regulatory compliance, and labor and other ethical practices. Accordingly, a loss of any of our contract manufacturers or logistics partners could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
We rely on third parties for elements of the payment processing infrastructure underlying our business and are subject to risks related to online payment methods.
The convenient payment mechanisms provided by our business are key factors contributing to the development of our business. We rely on third parties for elements of our payment processing infrastructure to accept payments from customers and remit payments to suppliers. These third parties may refuse to renew our agreements with them on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If these companies become unwilling or unable to provide these services to us on acceptable terms or at all, our business may be disrupted. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, and third party financing sources, we generally pay interchange fees and other processing and gateway fees, and such fees result in significant costs. In addition, online payment providers are under continued pressure to pay increased fees to banks to process funds, and there is no assurance that such online payment providers will not pass any increased costs on to us. If these fees increase over time, our operating costs will increase, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Future failures of the payment processing infrastructure underlying our business could cause customers to lose trust in our payment operations and could cause them to instead turn to our competitors products and services. If the quality or convenience of our payment processing infrastructure declines as a result of these limitations or for any other reason, the attractiveness of our business to customers could be adversely affected. If we are forced to migrate to other third-party payment service providers for any reason, the transition would require significant time and management resources, and may not be as effective, efficient, or well-received by our customers.
As our business changes, we also may be subject to different rules under existing standards, which may require new assessments that involve costs above what we currently pay for compliance. If we fail to comply with the rules or requirements of any provider of a payment method we accept, if the volume of fraud in our transactions limits or terminates our rights to use payment methods we currently accept, or if a data breach occurs relating to our payment systems, we may, among other things, be subject to fines or higher transaction fees and may lose, or face restrictions placed upon, our ability to accept credit card and debit card payments from customers or facilitate other types of online payments. If any of these events were to occur, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
We occasionally receive orders placed with fraudulent credit card or other payment data, including stolen credit card numbers, or from clients who have closed bank accounts or have insufficient funds in open bank accounts to satisfy payment obligations. We may suffer losses as a result of orders placed with fraudulent credit card data or other fraudulent payment date even if the associated financial institution approved payment of the orders. Under current credit card practices and the practices of our
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other payment processing partners, we may be liable for fraudulent credit card or other payment transactions. If we are unable to detect or control credit card or other fraud, our liability for these transactions could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our business relies on third party providers of cloud services, and any disruption of, or interference with, our use of cloud services could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
We outsource substantially all of our core cloud infrastructure services to third-party providers, including Amazon Web Services and NetSuite. The third-party providers provide the cloud computing infrastructure we use to host our website and mobile apps, serve our customers, and support our operations and many of the internal tools we use to operate our business. Our website, mobile apps, and internal tools use computing, storage, data transfer, and other functions and services provided by third parties. We do not have control over the operations of the facilities of the third-party providers that we use. The third-party providers facilities may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, cybersecurity attacks, terrorist attacks, power losses, telecommunications failures, and other events beyond our control. In the event that any third-party providers systems or service abilities are hindered by any of the events discussed above, particularly in a region where our website is mainly hosted, our ability to operate our business may be impaired. A decision to close the facilities without adequate notice or other unanticipated problems or disruptions could result in lengthy interruptions to our business. All of the aforementioned risks may be exacerbated if our business continuity and disaster recovery plans prove to be inadequate.
Additionally, data stored with any third-party provider is vulnerable to experiencing cyberattacks from computer malware, ransomware, viruses, social engineering (including phishing attacks), denial-of-service or other attacks, employee theft or misuse and general hacking. Any of these security incidents could result in unauthorized access to, damage to, disablement or encryption of, use or misuse of, disclosure of, modification of, destruction of, or loss of our data or our customers data, or disrupt our ability to provide our products and services, including due to any failure by us to properly configure our third-party provider environment. Our business continuing and uninterrupted performance is critical to our success. Customers may become dissatisfied by any system failure that interrupts our ability to provide our products and services to them. We may not be able to easily switch our current operations to another cloud or other data center provider if there are disruptions or interference with our use of a third-party provider, and, even if we do switch our operations, other cloud and data center providers are subject to the same risks. Sustained or repeated system failures would reduce the attractiveness of our products and services, harm our reputation, and potentially reduce net sales. Moreover, negative publicity arising from these types of disruptions could damage our reputation and may adversely impact our business. For more information, see We rely heavily on our information technology systems, as well as those of our third-party vendors and service providers, for our business to effectively operate and to safeguard confidential information and any significant failure, inadequacy or interruption of these systems, security breaches or loss of data could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operations.
The third-party providers do not have an obligation to renew their agreements with us on terms acceptable to us or at all. Although alternative data center providers could host our business on a substantially similar basis to our current third-party providers, transitioning our current cloud infrastructure to alternative providers could potentially be disruptive, and we could incur significant one-time costs. If we are unable to renew our agreement with our third-party providers on commercially acceptable terms, if our agreements with our third-party providers are prematurely terminated, or if we add additional infrastructure providers, we may experience costs or downtime in connection with the transfer to, or the addition of, new data center providers. If any of our infrastructure providers increase the costs of their services, our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
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We rely primarily on third-party insurance policies to insure our operations-related risks. If our insurance coverage is insufficient for the needs of our business or our insurance providers are unable to meet their obligations, we may not be able to mitigate the risks facing our business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We procure third-party insurance policies to cover various operations-related risks, including employment practices liability, workers compensation, property and casualty, cybersecurity, directors and officers liability, and general business liabilities. We rely on a limited number of insurance providers, and should such providers discontinue or increase the cost of coverage, we cannot guarantee that we would be able to secure replacement coverage on reasonable terms or at all. If our insurance carriers change the terms of our policies in a manner not favorable to us, our insurance costs could increase, and our ability to adequately ensure the risks to our business could be impaired. A substantial amount of our inventory is in the custody of third parties such as our manufacturing partners, at any given time, and we are reliant on the adequacy of their insurance policies to cover potential loss or damage of our inventory in the custody of third parties. Any failure of such insurance policies to cover an event of loss or damage to inventory in the custody of third parties may result in a material loss to us. Further, if the insurance coverage we maintain is not adequate to cover losses that occur, or if we are required to purchase additional insurance for other aspects of our business, we could be liable for significant additional costs. Additionally, if any of our insurance providers becomes insolvent, it would be unable to pay any operations-related claims that we make.
If the amount of one or more operations-related claims were to exceed our applicable aggregate coverage limits, we would bear the excess, in addition to amounts already incurred in connection with deductibles, self-insured retentions, co-insurance, or otherwise paid by our insurance policy. Insurance providers have raised premiums and deductibles for many businesses and may do so in the future. As a result, our insurance and claims expense could increase, or we may decide to raise our deductibles or self-insured retentions when our policies are renewed or replaced. Our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected if the cost per claim, premiums, the severity of claims, or the number of claims significantly exceeds our historical experience and coverage limits; we experience a claim in excess of our coverage limits; our insurance providers fail to pay on our insurance claims; we experience a claim for which coverage is not provided; or the number of claims under our deductibles or self-insured retentions differs from historical averages.
Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure
Our principal asset after the completion of this offering will be our interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC, and, as a result, we will depend on distributions from Brilliant Earth, LLC to pay our taxes and expenses, including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Brilliant Earth, LLCs ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions.
Upon the consummation of this offering and the Transactions, we will be a holding company and will have no material assets other than our ownership of LLC Interests. As such, we will have no independent means of generating revenue or cash flow, and our ability to pay our taxes and operating expenses or declare and pay dividends in the future, if any, will be dependent upon the financial results and cash flows of Brilliant Earth, LLC and distributions we receive from Brilliant Earth, LLC. There can be no assurance that Brilliant Earth, LLC will generate sufficient cash flow to distribute funds to us or that applicable state law and contractual restrictions, including negative covenants in any applicable debt instruments, will permit such distributions. Brilliant Earth, LLC is currently subject to debt instruments or other agreements that restrict its ability to make distributions to us, which may in turn affect Brilliant Earth, LLCs ability to pay distributions to us and thereby adversely affect our cash flows.
Brilliant Earth, LLC will continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, generally will not be subject to any entity-level U.S. federal income tax. Instead, any
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taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC will be allocated to holders of LLC Interests, including us. Accordingly, we will incur income taxes on our allocable share of any net taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC. Under the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, Brilliant Earth, LLC will be obligated, subject to various limitations and restrictions, including with respect to our debt agreements, to make tax distributions to holders of LLC Interests, including us. In addition to tax expenses, we will also incur expenses related to our operations, including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which we expect will be significant. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement. We intend, as its managing member, to cause Brilliant Earth, LLC to make cash distributions to the holders of LLC Interests in an amount sufficient to (1) fund all or part of their tax obligations in respect of taxable income allocated to them and (2) cover our operating expenses, including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. However, Brilliant Earth, LLCs ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions, such as restrictions on distributions that would either violate any contract or agreement to which Brilliant Earth, LLC is then a party, including debt agreements, or any applicable law, or that would have the effect of rendering Brilliant Earth, LLC insolvent. If we do not have sufficient funds to pay tax or other liabilities, or to fund our operations (including, if applicable, as a result of an acceleration of our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement), we may have to borrow funds, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition, and subject us to various restrictions imposed by any lenders of such funds. To the extent we are unable to make timely payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments generally will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement resulting in the acceleration of payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement and Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the TransactionsDistributions. In addition, if Brilliant Earth, LLC does not have sufficient funds to make distributions, our ability to declare and pay cash dividends will also be restricted or impaired, although we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. See Risks related to the offering and ownership of our Class A common stock and Dividend Policy.
Under the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, we intend to cause Brilliant Earth, LLC, from time to time, to make distributions in cash to its equityholders (including us) in amounts sufficient to cover the taxes imposed on their allocable share of taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC. As a result of (1) potential differences in the amount of net taxable income allocable to us and to Brilliant Earth, LLCs other equityholders, (2) the lower tax rate applicable to corporations as opposed to individuals, and (3) certain tax benefits that we anticipate from (a) future purchases or redemptions of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners, and (b) payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and (c) any acquisition of interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC from other equityholders in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, these tax distributions may be in amounts that exceed our tax liabilities. Our board of directors will determine the appropriate uses for any excess cash so accumulated, which may include, among other uses, the payment of obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement and the payment of other expenses. We will have no obligation to distribute such cash (or other available cash) to our stockholders. No adjustments to the exchange ratio for LLC Interests and corresponding shares of Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, will be made as a result of any cash distribution by us or any retention of cash by us. To the extent we do not distribute such excess cash as dividends on our Class A common stock or Class D common stock we may take other actions with respect to such excess cash, for example, holding such excess cash, or lending it (or a portion thereof) to Brilliant Earth, LLC, which may result in shares of our Class A common stock and Class D common stock increasing in value relative to the value of LLC Interests. The holders of LLC Interests may benefit from any value attributable to such cash balances if they acquire shares of Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, in exchange
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for their LLC Interests, notwithstanding that such holders may have participated previously as holders of LLC Interests in distributions that resulted in such excess cash balances.
The Tax Receivable Agreement with the Continuing Equity Owners requires us to make cash payments to them in respect of certain tax benefits to which we may become entitled, and we expect that such payments will be substantial.
In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Brilliant Earth, LLC and each of the Continuing Equity Owners. Under the Tax Receivable Agreement, we will be required to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners equal to 85% of the tax benefits, if any, that we actually realize, or in certain circumstances are deemed to realize, as a result of (1) increases in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s allocable share of the tax basis of Brilliant Earth, LLCs assets resulting from (a) Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s purchase of LLC Interests directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner, as described under Use of Proceeds, (b) any future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests for Class A common stock, Class D common stock, or cash as described under Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the TransactionsCommon Unit Redemption Right, and (c) certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) certain tax benefits arising from payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We expect that the amount of the cash payments we will be required to make under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be substantial. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will not be available for reinvestment in our business and will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us. To the extent that we are unable to make timely payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, the unpaid amounts will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid by us; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement resulting in the acceleration of payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement and Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the TransactionsDistributions. Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement are not conditioned upon continued ownership of Brilliant Earth, LLC by the exchanging Continuing Equity Owners. Furthermore, our future obligation to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement could make us a less attractive target for an acquisition, particularly in the case of an acquirer that cannot use some or all of the tax benefits that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement. For more information, see Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement. Assuming no material changes in the relevant tax laws and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize all tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement, we expect that the tax savings associated with the purchase of LLC Interests in connection with this offering, together with future redemptions or exchanges of all remaining LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners pursuant to the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement as described above, would aggregate to approximately $ million over years from the date of this offering based on the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share of our Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming all future redemptions or exchanges would occur one year after this offering. Under such scenario, assuming future payments are made on the date each relevant tax return is due, without extensions, we would be required to pay approximately 85% of such amount, or approximately $ million, over the -year period from the date of this offering. The actual increase in tax basis and the actual utilization of any resulting tax benefits, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, will vary depending upon a number of factors including: the timing of redemptions by the Continuing Equity Owners; the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the exchange; the extent to which such exchanges are taxable; the amount of gain recognized by such Continuing Equity Owners; the amount and timing of the taxable income allocated to us or otherwise
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generated by us in the future; the portion of our payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement constituting imputed interest; and the federal and state tax rates then applicable.
Our organizational structure, including the Tax Receivable Agreement, confers certain benefits upon the Continuing Equity Owners that will not benefit holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent that it will benefit the Continuing Equity Owners.
Our organizational structure, including the Tax Receivable Agreement, confers certain benefits upon the Continuing Equity Owners that will not benefit the holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent that it will benefit the Continuing Equity Owners. We will enter into the Tax Receivable Agreement with Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with the completion of this offering and the Transactions, which will provide for the payment by us to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that we actually realize, or in some circumstances are deemed to realize, as a result of (1) increases in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s allocable share of the tax basis of Brilliant Earth, LLCs assets resulting from (a) Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s purchase of LLC Interests from each Continuing Equity Owner, as described under Use of Proceeds, (b) any future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests for Class A common stock or Class D common stock as described under Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the TransactionsCommon Unit Redemption Right, and (c) certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) certain tax benefits arising from payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement. Although we will retain 15% of the amount of such tax benefits, this and other aspects of our organizational structure may adversely impact the future trading market for our Class A common stock.
In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement to the Continuing Equity Owners may be accelerated or significantly exceed any actual benefits we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement.
The Tax Receivable Agreement will provide that if (1) we materially breach any of our material obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, (2) certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control occur after the consummation of this offering, or (3) we elect an early termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement, then our obligations, or our successors obligations, under the Tax Receivable Agreement to make payments will be determined based on certain assumptions, including an assumption that we will have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize all potential future tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement.
As a result of the foregoing, we would be required to make an immediate cash payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement, based on certain assumptions, which payment may be made significantly in advance of the actual realization, if any, of such future tax benefits. Such cash payment to the Continuing Equity Owners could be greater than the specified percentage of any actual benefits we ultimately realize in respect of the tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. In these situations, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control. For example, should we elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement immediately following this offering, assuming no material changes in the relevant tax laws or tax rates and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize all tax potential benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement, we estimate that the aggregate of termination payments would be approximately $ million based on the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share of our Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming were to be %. There can be no
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assurance that we will be able to fund or finance our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We may need to incur debt to finance payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement to the extent our cash resources are insufficient to meet our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement as a result of timing discrepancies or otherwise.
We will not be reimbursed for any payments made to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement in the event that any tax benefits are disallowed.
Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be based on the tax reporting positions that we determine, and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the IRS), or another tax authority, may challenge all or part of the tax basis increases or other tax benefits we claim, as well as other related tax positions we take, and a court could sustain such challenge. If the outcome of any such challenge would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the rights and obligations of Mainsail or Just Rocks under the Tax Receivable Agreement, then we will not be permitted to settle such challenge without the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of Mainsail or Just Rocks, as applicable. The interests of Mainsail and Just Rocks in any such challenge may differ from or conflict with our interests and your interests, and Mainsail and Just Rocks may exercise their consent rights relating to any such challenge in a manner adverse to our interests and your interests. We will not be reimbursed for any cash payments previously made to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement in the event that any tax benefits initially claimed by us and for which payment has been made to a Continuing Equity Owner are subsequently challenged by a taxing authority and are ultimately disallowed. Instead, any excess cash payments made by us to a Continuing Equity Owner will be netted against future cash payments, if any, that we might otherwise be required to make to such Continuing Equity Owner, under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement. However, we might not determine that we have effectively made an excess cash payment to a Continuing Equity Owner for a number of years following the initial time of such payment. Moreover, the excess cash payments we made previously under the Tax Receivable Agreement could be greater than the amount of future cash payments against which we would otherwise be permitted to net such excess. The applicable U.S. federal income tax rules for determining applicable tax benefits we may claim are complex and factual in nature, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not disagree with our tax reporting positions. As a result, payments could be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement significantly in excess of any actual cash tax savings that we realize in respect of the tax attributes with respect to a Continuing Equity Owner that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income or other tax returns could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to taxation by U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax authorities. Our future effective tax rates could be subject to volatility or adversely affected by a number of factors, including:
| allocation of expenses to and among different jurisdictions; |
| changes to our assessment about our ability to realize, or in the valuation of, our deferred tax assets that are based on estimates of our future results, the prudence and feasibility of possible tax planning strategies, and the economic and political environments in which we do business; |
| expected timing and amount of the release of any tax valuation allowances; |
| tax effects of stock-based compensation; |
| costs related to intercompany restructurings; |
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| changes in tax laws, tax treaties, regulations or interpretations thereof; |
| the outcome of current and future tax audits, examinations, or administrative appeals; |
| lower than anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have lower statutory tax rates and higher than anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have higher statutory tax rates; and |
| limitations or adverse findings regarding our ability to do business in some jurisdictions. |
Any changes in U.S. or foreign taxation may increase our worldwide effective tax rate and harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In particular, new income or other tax laws or regulations could be enacted at any time, which could adversely affect our business operations and financial performance. Further, existing tax laws and regulations could be interpreted, modified, or applied adversely to us.
If we were deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), including as a result of our ownership of Brilliant Earth, LLC, applicable restrictions could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Under Sections 3(a)(1)(A) and (C) of the 1940 Act, a company generally will be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the 1940 Act if (1) it is, or holds itself out as being, engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, or (2) it engages, or proposes to engage, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and it owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. We do not believe that we are an investment company, as such term is defined in either of those sections of the 1940 Act.
We and Brilliant Earth, LLC intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be deemed an investment company. As the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC, we will control and operate Brilliant Earth, LLC. On that basis, we believe that our interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC is not an investment security as that term is used in the 1940 Act. However, if we were to cease participation in the management of Brilliant Earth, LLC, or if Brilliant Earth, LLC itself becomes an investment company, our interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC could be deemed an investment security for purposes of the 1940 Act.
We and Brilliant Earth, LLC intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be deemed an investment company. If it were established that we were an unregistered investment company, there would be a risk that we would be subject to monetary penalties and injunctive relief in an action brought by the SEC, that we would be unable to enforce contracts with third parties and that third parties could seek to obtain rescission of transactions undertaken during the period it was established that we were an unregistered investment company. If we were required to register as an investment company, restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act, including limitations on our capital structure and our ability to transact with affiliates, could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Risks related to the Offering and Ownership of Our Class A Common Stock
The Continuing Equity Owners will continue to have significant influence over us after this offering, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders.
Upon consummation of this offering, the Continuing Equity Owners will control, in the aggregate, approximately % of the voting power represented by all our outstanding classes of stock. As a result,
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the Continuing Equity Owners will continue to exercise significant influence over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election and removal of directors and the size of our board, any amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, and any approval of significant corporate transactions (including a sale of all or substantially all of our assets), and will continue to have significant control over our business, affairs, and policies, including the appointment of our management. The directors that the Continuing Equity Owners will have the ability to elect through their voting power have the authority to incur additional debt, issue or repurchase stock, declare dividends, and make other decisions that could be detrimental to stockholders.
We expect that members of our board will continue to be appointed by and/or affiliated with the Continuing Equity Owners. The Continuing Equity Owners can take actions that have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of 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. The concentration of voting power with the Continuing Equity Owners may have an adverse effect on the price of our Class A common stock. The Continuing Equity Owners may have interests that are different from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and that may be adverse to your interests.
Our stock price may change significantly following the offering, and you may not be able to resell shares of our Class A common stock at or above the price you paid or at all, and you could lose all or part of your investment as a result.
The initial public offering price for the shares was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters. You may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price due to a number of factors included herein, including the following:
| results of operations that vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors; |
| results of operations that vary from those of our competitors; |
| changes in expectations as to our future financial performance, including financial estimates and investment recommendations by securities analysts and investors; |
| technology changes, changes in consumer behavior in our industry; |
| security breaches related to our systems or those of our affiliates or strategic partners; |
| changes in economic conditions for companies in our industry; |
| changes in market valuations of, or earnings and other announcements by, companies in our industry; |
| declines in the market prices of stocks generally, particularly those of jewelry and consumer retail; |
| strategic actions by us or our competitors; |
| announcements by us, our competitors or our strategic partners of significant contracts, new products, acquisitions, joint marketing relationships, joint ventures, other strategic relationships, or capital commitments; |
| changes in general economic or market conditions or trends in our industry or the economy as a whole and, in particular, in the jewelry and consumer retail environment; |
| changes in business or regulatory conditions; |
| future sales of our Class A common stock or other securities; |
| investor perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with our Class A common stock relative to other investment alternatives; |
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| the publics response to press releases or other public announcements by us or third parties, including our filings with the SEC; |
| announcements relating to litigation or governmental investigations; |
| guidance, if any, that we provide to the public, any changes in this guidance, or our failure to meet this guidance; |
| the development and sustainability of an active trading market for our stock; |
| changes in accounting principles; and |
| other events or factors, including those resulting from system failures and disruptions, natural disasters, war, acts of terrorism, an outbreak of highly infectious or contagious diseases, such as COVID-19, or responses to these events. |
Furthermore, the stock market may experience extreme volatility that, in some cases, may be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, price volatility may be greater if the public float and trading volume of our Class A common stock is low.
In the past, following periods of market volatility, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation. If we were involved in securities litigation, it could have a substantial cost and divert resources and the attention of management from our business regardless of the outcome of such litigation.
We cannot predict the effect our multi-class structure may have on the market price of our Class A common stock.
We cannot predict whether our multi-class structure will result in a lower or more volatile market price of our Class A common stock, in adverse publicity, or other adverse consequences. For example, certain index providers have announced restrictions on including companies with multiple-class share structures in certain of their indices. In July 2017, FTSE Russell announced that it plans to require new constituents of its indices to have greater than 5% of the companys voting rights in the hands of public stockholders, and S&P Dow Jones announced that it will no longer admit companies with multiple-class share structures to certain of its indices. Affected indices include the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, and S&P SmallCap 600, which together make up the S&P Composite 1500. Also in 2017, MSCI, a leading stock index provider, opened public consultations on their treatment of no-vote and multi-class structures and temporarily barred new multi-class listings from certain of its indices and in October 2018, MSCI announced its decision to include equity securities with unequal voting structures in its indices and to launch a new index that specifically includes voting rights in its eligibility criteria. Under such announced policies, the multi-class structure of our stock would make us ineligible for inclusion in certain indices and, as a result, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other investment vehicles that attempt to track those indices would not invest in our Class A common stock. These policies are relatively new and it is unclear what effect, if any, they will have on the valuations of publicly-traded companies excluded from such indices, but it is possible they may depress valuations, compared to similar companies that are included. Given the sustained flow of investment funds into passive strategies that seek to track certain indices, exclusion from certain stock indices would likely preclude investment by many of these funds and could make our Class A common stock less attractive to other investors. As a result, the market price of our Class A common stock could be adversely affected.
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We are a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules and, as a result, will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such corporate governance requirements.
After the consummation of this offering, Mainsail and our Founders will have more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors, and, as a result, we will be considered a controlled company for the purposes of the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq. As such, we will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements to have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors, an entirely independent nominating and corporate governance committee, an entirely independent compensation committee or to perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees.
The corporate governance requirements and specifically the independence standards are intended to ensure that directors who are considered independent are free of any conflicting interest that could influence their actions as directors. Following this offering, we intend to utilize certain exemptions afforded to a controlled company. As a result, we will not be subject to certain corporate governance requirements, including that a majority of our board of directors consists of independent directors, as defined under the Nasdaq rules. In addition, we will not be required to have a nominating and corporate governance committee or compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities or to conduct annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees.
Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq. Our status as a controlled company could make our Class A common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price.
Certain provisions of Delaware law and antitakeover provisions in our organizational documents could delay or prevent a change of control.
Certain provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may have an antitakeover effect and may delay, defer, or prevent a merger, acquisition, tender offer, takeover attempt or other change of control transaction that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by our stockholders. These provisions provide for, among other things:
| a classified board of directors with staggered three-year terms; |
| the ability of our board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock; |
| at any time when Mainsail and our Founders beneficially own, in the aggregate, at least a majority of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock, our stockholders may take action by consent without a meeting, and at any time when Mainsail and our Founders beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than the majority of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock, our stockholders may not take action by consent, but may only take action at a meeting of stockholders; |
| vacancies on our board of directors will be able to be filled only by our board of directors and not by stockholders, subject to the rights granted pursuant to the stockholders agreement; |
| advance notice procedures apply for stockholders (other than the parties to our stockholders agreement for nominations made pursuant to the terms of the stockholders agreement) to |
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nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring matters before an annual meeting of stockholders; |
| the inability of our stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders; |
| prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors; |
| at any time when Mainsail and our Founders beneficially own, in the aggregate, at least a majority of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock, directors may be removed at any time with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock representing a majority of the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, and at any time when Mainsail and our Founders beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than the majority of the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in the aggregate, directors may only be removed for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the holders of capital stock representing the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon; and |
| that certain provisions of amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended only by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power represented by our then-outstanding common stock. |
These antitakeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if the third partys offer may be considered beneficial by many of our stockholders. As a result, our stockholders may be limited in their ability to obtain a premium for their shares.
In addition, we have opted out of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which we refer to as the DGCL, but our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with any interested stockholder (generally defined as any stockholder with 15% or more of our voting stock) for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became an interested stockholder is prohibited, subject to certain exceptions. See Description of Capital Stock.
The JOBS Act will allow us to postpone the date by which we must comply with certain laws and regulations intended to protect investors and to reduce the amount of information we provide in our reports filed with the SEC. We cannot be certain if this reduced disclosure will make our Class A common stock less attractive to investors.
The JOBS Act is intended to reduce the regulatory burden on emerging growth companies. As defined in the JOBS Act, a public company whose initial public offering of common equity securities occurs after December 8, 2011, and whose annual net sales are less than $1.07 billion will, in general, qualify as an emerging growth company until the earliest of:
| the last day of its fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of its initial public offering of common equity securities; |
| the last day of its fiscal year in which it has annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more; |
| the date on which it has, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.07 billion in nonconvertible debt; and |
| the date on which it is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which will occur at such time as the company (1) has an aggregate worldwide market value of common equity securities held by non-affiliates of $700 million or more as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, (2) has been required to file annual and quarterly reports under the Exchange, for a period of at least 12 months, and (3) has filed at least one annual report pursuant to the Exchange Act. |
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Under this definition, we will be an emerging growth company upon completion of this offering and could remain an emerging growth company until as late as the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering. For so long as we are an emerging growth company, we will, among other things:
| not be required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; |
| not be required to hold a nonbinding advisory stockholder vote on executive compensation pursuant to Section 14A(a) of the Exchange Act; |
| not be required to seek stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved pursuant to Section 14A(b) of the Exchange Act; |
| be exempt from the requirement of the PCAOB, regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditors report on the financial statements; and |
| be subject to reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. |
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This permits an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period and, as a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of issuers who are required to comply with the effective dates for new or revised accounting standards that are applicable to public companies.
We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result of our decision to take advantage of some or all of the reduced disclosure requirements above. If some investors find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act and SEC rules, we must file public disclosures regarding the country of origin of certain supplies, which could damage our reputation or impact our ability to obtain merchandise if customers or other stakeholders react negatively to our disclosures.
In August 2012, the SEC, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), issued final rules, which require annual disclosure and reporting on the source and use of certain minerals, including gold, from the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries. The gold supply chain is complex and, while management believes that the rules currently cover less than 1% of annual worldwide gold production (based upon recent estimates), the final rules require us and other affected companies that file with the SEC to make specified country of origin inquiries of our suppliers, and otherwise to exercise reasonable due diligence in determining the country of origin and certain other information relating to any of the statutorily designated minerals (gold, tin, tantalum, and tungsten), that are used in products sold by us in the U.S. and elsewhere.
There may be reputational risks associated with any potential negative response of our customers and other stakeholders to future disclosures by us in the event that, due to the complexity of the global supply chain, we are unable to sufficiently verify the origin of the relevant metals. Also, if future responses to verification requests by suppliers of any of the covered minerals used in our products are inadequate or adverse, our ability to obtain merchandise may be impaired, and its compliance costs may increase. The final rules also cover tungsten and tin, which are contained in a small proportion of items that are sold by us. It is possible that other minerals, such as diamonds, could be subject to similar rules.
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Because we have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your Class A common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
We do not anticipate paying any regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, general and economic conditions, our results of operations and financial condition, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions, and such other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is, and may be, limited by covenants of any future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur. Therefore, any return on investment in our Class A common stock is solely dependent upon the appreciation of the price of our Class A common stock on the open market, which may not occur. See Dividend Policy for more detail.
No market currently exists for our Class A common stock, and an active, liquid trading market for our Class A common stock may not develop, which may cause our Class A common stock to trade at a discount from the initial offering price and make it difficult for you to sell the Class A common stock you purchase.
Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our Class A common stock. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in us will lead to the development of a trading market or how active and liquid that market may become. If an active and liquid trading market does not develop or continue, you may have difficulty selling any of our Class A common stock that you purchase at a price above the price you purchase it or at all. The initial public offering price for the shares was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the open market following this offering. The failure of an active and liquid trading market to develop and continue would likely have a material adverse effect on the value of our Class A common stock. The market price of our Class A common stock may decline below the initial offering price, and you may not be able to sell your shares of our Class A common stock at or above the price you paid in this offering, or at all. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital to continue to fund operations by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other companies or technologies by using our shares as consideration.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters and the federal district courts of the U.S. shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, which could limit our stockholders ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide (A) (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Company to the Company or the Companys stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws (as either may be amended or restated) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, the federal district court of the State of Delaware; and (B) the federal district courts of the U.S. shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint
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asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum provision shall not apply to claims seeking to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act. The choice of forum provision may limit a stockholders ability 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 against us and our directors, officers, and other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they downgrade our stock or our sector, or if there is any fluctuation in our credit rating, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our Class A common stock will rely in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. We do not control these analysts. Securities and industry analysts do not currently, and may never, publish research on our company. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price of our shares would likely be negatively impacted. Furthermore, if one or more of the analysts who do cover us downgrade our stock or our industry, or the stock of any of our competitors, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts stops covering us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the market, which, in turn, could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.
Additionally, any fluctuation in the credit rating of us or our subsidiaries may impact our ability to access debt markets in the future or increase our cost of future debt, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition, which in return may adversely affect the trading price of shares of our Class A common stock.
If our estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies prove to be incorrect, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, as provided in the section titled Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsCritical Accounting Policies and Estimates. The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets, liabilities, and equity, and the amount of revenue and expenses. Significant estimates and judgments involve: revenue recognition, including revenue-related reserves; legal contingencies; valuation of our common stock and equity awards; income taxes; and sales and indirect tax reserves. Our results of operations may be adversely affected if our assumptions change or if actual circumstances differ from those in our assumptions, which could cause our results of operations to fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in the market price of our Class A common stock.
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Future sales, or the perception of future sales, by us or our existing stockholders in the public market following this offering could cause the market price for our Class A common stock to decline.
After this offering, the sale of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our Class A common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.
Upon consummation of the Transactions, we will have outstanding a total of shares of Class A common stock. Of the outstanding shares, the shares sold in this offering (or shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, other than any shares held by our affiliates. Any shares of Class A common stock held by our affiliates will be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, subject to the volume, manner of sale, holding period and other limitations of Rule 144.
Our directors and executive officers, and substantially all of our stockholders will enter into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, subject to certain exceptions, restrict the sale of the shares of our Class A common stock and certain other securities held by them for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC may, in their sole discretion and at any time without notice, release all or any portion of the shares or securities subject to any such lock-up agreements. See Underwriting.
In addition, we have reserved shares of Class A common stock for issuance under the 2021 Plan and shares of Class A common stock for issuance under the ESPP. Any Class A common stock that we issue under the 2021 Plan, the ESPP, or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future would dilute the percentage ownership held by the investors who purchase Class A common stock in this offering.
As restrictions on resale end or if these stockholders exercise their registration rights, the market price of our shares of Class A common stock could drop significantly if the holders of these shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of our shares of Class A common stock or other securities.
In the future, we may also issue securities in connection with investments, acquisitions or capital raising activities. In particular, the number of shares of our Class A common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition, or to raise additional equity capital, could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of our Class A common stock. Any such issuance of additional securities in the future may result in additional dilution to you, or may adversely impact the price of our Class A common stock.
If you purchase shares of Class A common stock in this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of your investment.
The initial public offering price of our Class A common stock is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock. Therefore, if you purchase shares of our Class A common stock in this offering, you will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds our net tangible book value per share after this offering. You will experience immediate dilution of $ per share, representing the difference between our net tangible book value per share after giving effect to
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this offering and the initial public offering price. In addition, investors who purchase Class A common stock from us in this offering will have contributed % of the aggregate price paid by all purchasers of our outstanding equity but will own only approximately % of our outstanding equity after this offering. See Dilution for more detail, including the calculation of the net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock.
General Risk Factors
As a public reporting company, we will be subject to rules and regulations established from time to time by the SEC and Nasdaq regarding our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results, or report them in a timely manner.
Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public reporting company subject to the rules and regulations established from time to time by the SEC and Nasdaq. These rules and regulations will require, among other things, that we establish and periodically evaluate procedures with respect to our internal control over financial reporting. Reporting obligations as a public company are likely to place a considerable strain on our financial and management systems, processes and controls, as well as on our personnel.
In addition, as a public company we will be required to document and test our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act so that our management can certify as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting by the time our second annual report is filed with the SEC and thereafter, which will require us to document and make significant changes to our internal control over financial reporting. Likewise, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at such time as we cease to be an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act, and we become an accelerated or large accelerated filer. As described above, we could potentially qualify as an emerging growth company until as late as the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering.
We expect to incur costs related to implementing an internal audit and compliance function in the upcoming years to further improve our internal control environment. If we identify future deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting or if we are unable to comply with the demands that will be placed upon us as a public company, including the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, in a timely manner, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results, or report them within the timeframes required by the SEC. We also could become subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. In addition, if we are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, when required, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, we may face restricted access to the capital markets and our stock price may be adversely affected.
We will incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company.
Prior to this offering, we operated on a private basis, and most of our management team does not have public company experience. After this offering, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the listing requirements of the and other applicable securities laws and regulations. The expenses incurred by public companies generally for reporting and corporate governance purposes have been increasing. We expect these
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rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more difficult, time-consuming and costly, although we are currently unable to estimate these costs with any degree of certainty. We also expect that being a public company and being subject to new rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability or other types of insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These laws and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors, our board committees or as our executive officers. Furthermore, if we are unable to satisfy our obligations as a public company, we could be subject to delisting of our Class A common stock, fines, sanctions, and other regulatory action, and potentially civil litigation. These factors may, therefore, strain our resources, divert managements attention, and affect our ability to attract and retain qualified board members.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus may be forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including, among others, statements regarding the Transactions, including the consummation of this offering, expected growth, future capital expenditures, and debt service obligations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms, such as may, will, should, expects, plans, anticipates, could, intends, targets, projects, contemplates, believes, estimates, predicts, potential, or continue, or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| our future financial performance, including our expectations regarding our revenue, rate of growth, operating expenses including changes in sales and marketing, research and development, and general and administrative expenses (including any components of the foregoing), and our ability to achieve and sustain future profitability; any changes in the costs of diamonds, other gemstones, and precious metals, lead times, supply shortages, and supply changes; |
| the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the markets in which we operate; |
| our business plan and our ability to effectively manage our expenses or grow our revenue; |
| our ability to successful manage our inventory balances and inventory shrinkage; |
| anticipated trends, growth rates, and challenges in our business and in the markets in which we operate; our market opportunity; |
| our ability to expand into new domestic and international markets; |
| beliefs and objectives for future operations; |
| the effects of seasonal and cyclical trends on our results of operations; |
| the effects of increased competition in our markets and our ability to compete effectively; |
| our ability to stay in compliance with laws and regulations that currently apply or become applicable to our business both in the U.S. and, if and as applicable, internationally; and |
| economic and industry trends, growth forecasts, or trend analysis. |
We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those described in the section titled Risk Factors. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment.
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New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law.
You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, performance, and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect.
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Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed on June 2, 2021 and is the issuer of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. Prior to this offering and the Transactions (as defined below), all of our business operations have been conducted through Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Original Equity Owners are the only owners of Brilliant Earth, LLC. We will consummate the Transactions, excluding this offering, prior to the consummation of this offering.
Existing Organization
Brilliant Earth, LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, is generally not subject to any U.S. federal entity-level income taxes. Taxable income or loss of Brilliant Earth, LLC is included in the U.S. federal income tax returns of Brilliant Earth, LLCs members. Immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, the Original Equity Owners were the only members of Brilliant Earth, LLC.
Transactions
Prior to the Transactions, we expect there will initially be one holder of common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. We will consummate the following organizational transactions in connection with this offering:
| we will amend and restate the existing limited liability company agreement of Brilliant Earth, LLC, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering, to, among other things, (1) recapitalize all existing ownership interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC into LLC Interests, (2) appoint Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. as the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC upon its acquisition of LLC Interests in connection with this offering, and (3) provide certain redemption rights to the Continuing Equity Owners; |
| we will amend and restate Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s certificate of incorporation and will be authorized to issue four classes of common stock, which we refer to collectively as our common stock and which are summarized in the following table: |
Class of Common Stock |
Votes |
Economic Rights | ||
Class A common stock | 1 | Yes | ||
Class B common stock | 1 | No | ||
Class C common stock | 10 | No | ||
Class D common stock | 10 | Yes |
Voting shares of our common stock will generally vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. We will issue shares of our Class A common stock to the investors in this offering. Our Class B common stock may only be held by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and their respective permitted transferees as described in Description of Capital StockCommon StockClass B common stock. Our Class C common stock and Class D common stock may only be held by our Founders and their respective permitted transferees as described in Description of Capital StockCommon StockClass C common stock and Description of Capital StockCommon StockClass D common stock. No shares of our Class D common stock will be outstanding upon the closing of this offering, but may be issued after the consummation of this offering by us in connection with an exchange by the Founders of their LLC Interests (along with an equal number of shares of Class C common stock (and such shares shall be immediately cancelled)). We do not intend to
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list our Class B common stock, Class C common stock, or Class D common stock on any stock exchange;
| we will issue shares of our Class B common stock to the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders), which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders), for nominal consideration; |
| we will issue shares of our Class C common stock to our Founders, which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Founder, for nominal consideration; we will issue shares of our Class A common stock to the purchasers in this offering (or shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $ million (or approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us; |
| we will use the net proceeds from this offering (1) to purchase newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $ million directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) to purchase LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $ million in aggregate (or LLC Interests for $ million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us; |
| Brilliant Earth, LLC intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of LLC Interests to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. for general corporate purposes, as described under Use of Proceeds; and |
| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will enter into (1) the Stockholders Agreement with Mainsail and our Founders, (2) the Registration Rights Agreement with certain of the Continuing Equity Owners, and (3) the Tax Receivable Agreement with Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners. For a description of the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement, see Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions. |
Organizational Structure Following the Transactions
| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will be a holding company and its principal asset will consist of LLC Interests it acquires directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner; |
| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will be the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC and will control the business and affairs of Brilliant Earth, LLC; |
| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will own, directly or indirectly, LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); |
| the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding Mainsail and our Founders) will own (1) LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or LLC Interests, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (2) shares of Class B common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., representing |
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approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock (or shares of Class B common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., representing approximately % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); |
| Mainsail will own (1) LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (2) shares of Class B common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock (or approximately % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); |
| our Founders will own (1) LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC, representing approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (2) shares of Class C common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock (or approximately % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); |
| the purchasers in this offering will own (1) shares of Class A common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (or shares of Class A common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock and approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (or approximately % of the combined voting power and approximately % of the economic interest if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), and (2) through Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s ownership of LLC Interests, indirectly will hold approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC (or approximately % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). |
Our corporate structure following this offering, as described below, is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership-C corporation (Up-C) structure, which is often used by partnerships and limited liability companies when they undertake an initial public offering of their business. The Up-C structure will allow the Continuing Equity Owners to retain their equity ownership in Brilliant Earth, LLC and to continue to realize tax benefits associated with owning interests in an entity that is treated as a partnership, or flow-through entity, for U.S. federal income tax purposes following the offering. Investors in this offering will, by contrast, hold their equity ownership in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of shares of Class A common stock. One of the tax benefits to the Continuing Equity Owners associated with this structure is that future taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC that is allocated to the Continuing Equity Owners will be taxed on a flow-through basis and therefore will not be subject to corporate taxes at the entity level. Additionally, because the Continuing Equity Owners may redeem or exchange their LLC Interests for newly issued shares of our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, on a one-for-one basis or, at our option, for cash, the Up-C structure also provides the Continuing Equity Owners with potential liquidity that holders of non-publicly traded limited liability companies are not typically afforded. The Continuing Equity Owners and Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. also each expect to benefit from the Up-C structure as a result of certain cash tax savings
82
arising from redemptions or exchanges of the Continuing Equity Owners LLC Interests for Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, or cash, and certain other tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement discussed in Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Organizational Structure. In general, the Continuing Equity Owners expect to receive payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement of 85% of the amount of certain tax benefits, as described below, and Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. expects to benefit in the form of cash tax savings in amounts equal to 15% of certain tax benefits, as described below. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will reduce cash otherwise arising from such tax savings. We expect such payments will be substantial.
As described below under Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement, prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into a tax receivable agreement with Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for the payment by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) as a result of (1) increases in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s allocable share of the tax basis of Brilliant Earth, LLCs assets resulting from (a) Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s purchase of LLC Interests from each Continuing Equity Owner, as described under Use of Proceeds, (b) future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests for Class A common stock or cash as described below under Redemption rights of holders of LLC Interests, and (c) certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) certain tax benefits arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
The diagram below depicts our organizational structure after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock.
(1) | Investors in this offering will hold approximately % of the voting interest. |
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(2) | Beth Gerstein and Eric Grossberg will hold their Class C common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. through Just Rocks, for which they share ownership equally. |
(3) | Comprised of shares of Class B common stock to be held by Mainsail Partners III, L.P., shares of Class B common stock to be held by Mainsail Co-Investors III, L.P., and shares of Class B common stock to be held by Mainsail Incentive Program, LLC. |
As the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC, we will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Brilliant Earth, LLC and, through Brilliant Earth, LLC, conduct our business. Following the Transactions, including this offering, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will control the management of Brilliant Earth, LLC as its sole managing member. As a result, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will consolidate Brilliant Earth, LLC and record a significant non-controlling interest in a consolidated entity in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s consolidated financial statements for the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC held by the Continuing Equity Owners.
Incorporation of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., the issuer of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus, was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 2, 2021. Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. has not engaged in any material business or other activities except in connection with its formation and the Transactions. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering will, among other things, authorize four classes of common stock, Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock, and Class D common stock, each having the terms described in Description of Capital Stock.
Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement
Prior to the consummation of this offering, the existing limited liability company agreement of Brilliant Earth, LLC will be amended and restated to, among other things, recapitalize its capital structure by creating a single new class of units that we refer to as common units and provide for a right of redemption of common units in exchange for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules), who are disinterested), shares of our Class A common stock or cash. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC Agreement.
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We estimate, based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $ million (or $ million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering: (1) to purchase newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $ million directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) to purchase LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $ million in aggregate (or LLC Interests for $ million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). The foregoing purchases of LLC Interests will be made at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Upon each purchase of LLC Interests, the corresponding shares of Class B common stock will be canceled.
We will only retain the net proceeds that are used to purchase newly issued LLC Interests from Brilliant Earth, LLC, which, in turn, Brilliant Earth, LLC intends to use for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses, products, services or technologies; however, we do not have agreements or commitments for any material acquisitions or investments at this time.
Assuming no exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $ million and, in turn, the net proceeds received by Brilliant Earth, LLC from the sale of LLC Interests to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. by $ 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 discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
Each 1,000,000 share increase (decrease) in the number of shares offered by us in this offering would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $ million and, in turn, the net proceeds received by Brilliant Earth, LLC from the sale of LLC Interests to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. by $ million, assuming that the price per share for the offering remains at $ (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), and after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
Brilliant Earth, LLC will bear or reimburse Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. for all of the expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions, including this offering.
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The following table sets forth the cash and capitalization as of June 30, 2021, as follows:
| of Brilliant Earth, LLC on a historical basis; and |
| of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the Transactions, including the sale of the shares of Class A common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under Use of Proceeds. |
For more information, please see Our Organizational Structure and Use of Proceeds included elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read this information in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section and other financial information contained in this prospectus.
As of June 30, 2021 | ||||||||
Brilliant Earth, LLC Actual |
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Pro Forma(1) |
|||||||
(in thousands, except per share and share amounts) |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 65,001 | $ | | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Current portion of long-term debt (2) |
$ | 10,263 | $ | | ||||
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs (2) |
52,626 | |||||||
Redeemable convertible preferred units (Class P Units) |
250,746 | |||||||
Members deficit: |
||||||||
Class F Units |
(277,830 | ) | ||||||
Class M Units |
488 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total members deficit |
(277,342 | ) | ||||||
Shareholders deficit |
||||||||
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. pro forma |
||||||||
Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. pro forma |
||||||||
Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. pro forma |
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As of June 30, 2021 | ||||||||
Brilliant Earth, LLC Actual |
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Pro Forma(1) |
|||||||
Class D common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. pro forma |
||||||||
Additional paid-in-capital |
||||||||
Retained earnings/accumulated deficit |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Equity attributable to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. |
| |||||||
NCI attributable to Brilliant Earth LLC |
||||||||
Total shareholders deficit |
(277,342 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total capitalization |
36,293 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share, which is the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma amount of each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders equity, and total capitalization by approximately $ 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 estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
(2) | As of June 30, 2021, we had $65.0 million of principal outstanding under the Term Loan, excluding unamortized debt issuance costs of $2.1 million. For a further description of our Term Loan, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsLiquidity and Capital ResourcesTerm Loan Agreement. |
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We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business, and therefore we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock and Class D common stock in the foreseeable future. Holders of our Class B common stock and Class C common stock are not entitled to participate in any dividends declared by our board of directors. Furthermore, because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our Class A common stock depends on our receipt of cash distributions from Brilliant Earth, LLC. Our Term Loan agreement contains certain convents that restrict, subject to certain exceptions, our ability to pay dividends. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationLiquidity and Capital ResourcesTerm Loan Agreement. Our ability to pay dividends may be restricted by the terms of any future credit agreement or any future debt or preferred equity securities of us. See Description of Capital Stock and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationLiquidity and Capital Resources. Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and subject to the requirements of applicable law, compliance with contractual restrictions and covenants in the agreements governing our future indebtedness. Any such determination will also depend upon our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
Accordingly, you may need to sell your shares of our Class A common stock to realize a return on your investment, and you may not be able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for them. See Risk FactorsRisks related to the offering and ownership of our Class A common stockBecause we have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your Class A common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
Immediately following this offering, we will be a holding company, and our principal asset will be the LLC Interests we purchase from Brilliant Earth, LLC. If we decide to pay a dividend in the future, we would need to cause Brilliant Earth, LLC to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to cover such dividend. If Brilliant Earth, LLC makes such distributions to us, the other holders of LLC Interests will be entitled to receive pro rata distributions. See Risk FactorsRisks related to Our Organizational StructureOur principal asset after the completion of this offering will be our interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC, and, as a result, we will depend on distributions from Brilliant Earth, LLC to pay our taxes and expenses, including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Brilliant Earth, LLCs ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions.
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The Continuing Equity Owners will own LLC Interests after the Transactions. Because the Continuing Equity Owners do not own any Class A common stock or have any right to receive distributions from Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., we have presented dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share both before and after this offering assuming that all of the holders of LLC Interests (other than Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.) had their LLC Interests redeemed or exchanged for newly-issued shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (rather than for cash) and the transfer to the Company and cancellation for no consideration of all of their shares of Class B and Class C common stock (which are not entitled to receive distributions or dividends, whether cash or stock from Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.) in order to more meaningfully present the dilutive impact on the investors in this offering. We refer to the assumed redemption or exchange of all LLC Interests for shares of Class A common stock as described in the previous sentence as the Assumed Redemption.
Dilution is the amount by which the offering price paid by the purchasers of the Class A common stock in this offering exceeds the pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock after the offering. Brilliant Earth, LLCs pro forma net tangible book value as of June 30, 2021 prior to this offering and after giving effect to the other Transactions and the Assumed Redemption was a deficit of $ million. Pro forma net tangible book value per share prior to this offering is determined by subtracting our total liabilities from the total book value of our tangible assets and dividing the difference by the number of shares of Class A common stock deemed to be outstanding after giving effect to the Assumed Redemption.
If you invest in our Class A common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock after this offering.
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering is determined by subtracting our total liabilities from the total book value of our tangible assets (excludes our deferred tax asset) and dividing the difference by the number of shares of Class A common stock deemed to be outstanding, after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering and the application of the proceeds from this offering as described in Use of Proceeds, and the Assumed Redemption. Our pro forma net tangible book value as of June 30, 2021, after giving effect to this offering would have been approximately $ million, or $ per share of Class A common stock. This amount represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $ per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of approximately $ per share to new investors purchasing shares of Class A common stock in this offering. We determine dilution by subtracting the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering from the amount of cash that a new investor paid for a share of Class A common stock. The following table illustrates this dilution:
Assumed initial public offering price per share |
$ | | ||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) as of June 30, 2021 before this offering (a) |
$ | | ||||||
Increase per share attributable to new investors in this offering |
$ | | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share after this offering (b) |
$ | | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Dilution per share to new Class A common stock investors in this offering |
$ | | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
(a) Numerator |
||||||||
Historical book value of tangible asset as of June 30, 2021 |
$ | | ||||||
Less: Total liabilities |
|
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Less: Assumed redemption |
| |||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) |
$ | | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Denominator |
||||||||
Common LLC Interests outstanding prior to this offering on a Class A common share equivalent basis |
| |||||||
|
|
|||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of June 30, 2021 before this offering |
$ | | ||||||
(b) Numerator |
||||||||
Pro forma book value of assets as of June 30, 2021 after giving effect to this offering |
$ | | ||||||
Less: Deferred income tax assets |
| |||||||
Less: Total liabilities |
| |||||||
|
|
|||||||
Pro form net tangible book value (deficit) |
$ | | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Denominator |
||||||||
Class A shares outstanding after giving effect to this offering, plus Common LLC Interests on a Class A share as converted basis |
| |||||||
|
|
|||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of June 30, 2021 after this offering |
$ | |
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share after this offering by approximately $ , and dilution in pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share to new investors by approximately $ 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 the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, the pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) after the offering would be $ per share, the increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share to existing stockholders would be $ per share and the dilution in pro forma net tangible book value to new investors would be $ per share, in each case assuming an initial public offering price of $ per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
The following table summarizes, as of June 30, 2021, after giving effect to the Transactions (including this offering) and the Assumed Redemption, the number of shares of Class A common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid, or to be paid, to us and the average price per share paid, or to be paid, by existing owners and by the new investors. The calculation below is based on an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
Shares Purchased |
Total Consideration |
Weighted- Average Price Per Share |
||||||||||||||||||
Number | Percent | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Existing unitholders before this offering |
| | % | $ | | | % | $ | | |||||||||||
New public investors |
| | % | $ | | | % | $ | | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
| | % | $ | | | % | $ | | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
90
Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share would increase (decrease) the total consideration paid by new investors and the total consideration paid by all stockholders by $ million, assuming the number of shares offered by us remains the same and after deducting the underwriting discount but before estimated offering expenses.
Except as otherwise indicated, the discussion and the tables above assume no exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock. In addition, the discussion and tables above exclude shares of Class B and Class C common stock, because holders of the Class B and Class C common stock are not entitled to distributions or dividends, whether cash or stock, from Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. The number of shares of our Class A common stock outstanding after this offering as shown in the tables above is based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2021, after giving effect to the Transactions and the Assumed Redemption, and (i) excludes shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 Incentive Award Plan, or 2021 Plan and shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our ESPP (each as described in Executive CompensationEquity Compensation Plans2021 Incentive Award Plan), including approximately shares of Class A common stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options and approximately shares of Class A common stock issuable pursuant to the settlement of restricted stock units, in each case which we intend to grant to certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees in connection with this offering as described under the caption Executive CompensationNarrative to Summary Compensation TableEquity-Based Compensation; (ii) excludes LLC Interests to be held directly or indirectly by certain Former Profits Unit Holders that are subject to time-based vesting requirements; and (iii) gives effect to the vesting of LLC Interests held directly or indirectly by certain Former Profits Unit Holders that are expected to vest upon the satisfaction of performance-vesting targets at the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
To the extent any of these outstanding options are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors. To the extent all of such outstanding options had been exercised as of June 30, 2021, the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering would be $ , and total dilution per share to new investors would be $ .
If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock:
| the percentage of shares of Class A common stock held by the Former Equity Owners will decrease to approximately % of the total number of shares of our Class A common stock outstanding after this offering; and |
| the number of shares of Class A common stock held by new investors in this offering will increase to , or approximately % of the total number of shares of our Class A common stock outstanding after this offering. |
91
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, as amended, to give effect to the Transactions discussed in Our Organizational Structure, and to other financing events consummated by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. that are not yet reflected in the historical financial information of Brilliant Earth, LLC and are considered material events separate from those contemplated by the Transactions.
Following the completion of the Transactions, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will be a holding company whose principal asset will consist of % of the outstanding LLC Interests (or % of LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) that it acquires directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC or from each Continuing Equity Owner. Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will act as the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC, will operate and control the business and affairs of Brilliant Earth, LLC and, through Brilliant Earth, LLC, will conduct its business.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 presents our unaudited pro forma balance sheet after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering, and the other events summarized below, as if they had occurred as of June 30, 2021. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 give effect to the Transactions, including this offering, and the other events summarized below, as if they had occurred on January 1, 2020.
We have derived the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet and unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations from the audited financial statements of Brilliant Earth, LLC to reflect the accounting for the Transactions in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information reflects adjustments that are described in the accompanying notes and are based on available information and certain assumptions we believe are reasonable, but are subject to change. Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. was formed on June 2, 2021 and on June 3, 2021 was capitalized at one cent, and will have no results of operations until the completion of this offering; therefore, its financial position as of June 30, 2021 and its historical results of operations for the period then ended are not shown in separate columns in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet or statement of operations.
As a public company, we will be implementing additional procedures and processes for the purpose of addressing the standards and requirements applicable to public companies. We expect to incur additional annual expenses related to these steps and, among other things, additional directors and officers liability insurance, director fees, reporting requirements of the SEC, transfer agent fees, hiring additional accounting, legal, and administrative personnel, increased auditing and legal expenses, and other related costs. Due to the scope and complexity of these activities, the amount of these costs could increase or decrease materially and would be based on subjective estimates and assumptions that could not be factually supported. We have not included any pro forma adjustments related to these costs.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is provided for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the Transactions had been completed as of the dates set forth above, nor is it indicative of our future results.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should be read together with Our Organizational Structure, Capitalization, Use of Proceeds, Summary Historical Financial and Other Data, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and our historical financial statements and related notes of Brilliant Earth, LLC and Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. and related notes thereto, each included elsewhere in this prospectus.
92
Summary of the Transactions
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 and unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 give pro forma effect to the Transactions that comprise reorganization transactions, offering transactions and other financing events follows:
Reorganization Transactions
The pro forma adjustments related to the reorganization transactions are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and primarily include:
| amendment and restatement of the existing limited liability company agreement of Brilliant Earth, LLC, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering, to, among other things, (1) recapitalize all existing ownership interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC into LLC Interests, (2) appoint Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. as the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC upon its acquisition of LLC Interests in connection with this offering, and (3) provide certain redemption rights to the Continuing Equity Owners; |
| amendment and restatement of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s certificate of incorporation to, among other things, provide for four classes of common stock, which we refer to collectively as our common stock and which are summarized in the following table: |
Class of Common Stock |
Votes | Economic Rights | ||
Class A common stock | 1 | Yes | ||
Class B common stock | 1 | No | ||
Class C common stock | 10 | No | ||
Class D common stock | 10 | Yes |
Voting shares of our common stock will generally vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. We will issue shares of our Class A common stock to the investors in this offering. Our Class B common stock may only be held by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and their respective permitted transferees as described in Description of Capital StockCommon StockClass B common stock. Our Class C common stock and Class D common stock may only be held by our Founders and their respective permitted transferees as described in Description of Capital StockCommon StockClass C common stock and Description of Capital StockCommon StockClass D common stock. No shares of our Class D common stock will be outstanding upon the closing of this offering, but may be issued after the consummation of this offering by us in connection with an exchange by the Founders of their LLC Interests (along with an equal number of shares of Class C common stock (and such shares shall be immediately cancelled));
| issuance of shares of our Class B common stock to the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders), which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders), for nominal consideration; |
| issuance of shares of our Class C common stock to our Founders, which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Founder, for nominal consideration; and |
| enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for the payment by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) related to certain tax basis adjustments and payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement for a discussion of the Tax Receivable Agreement. |
93
Our agreements will include a provision for the Continuing Equity Owners, subject to certain exceptions from time to time at each of their option, to require Brilliant Earth, LLC to redeem all or a portion of their LLC Interests in exchange for, at our election, newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of our Class A common stock for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement.
Offering Transactions
The pro forma adjustments related to the offering transactions are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and primarily include:
| issuance of shares of our Class A common stock to the purchasers in this offering (or shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $ million (or approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us; and |
| use of the net proceeds from this offering (1) to purchase newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $ million directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) to purchase LLC Interests from each Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $ million in aggregate (or LLC Interests for $ million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
Except as otherwise indicated, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presented assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock in the offering.
Other Transactions
The other pro forma adjustments include the exercise of warrants with the carrying value of $ into newly issued LLC Units on a net settlement basis, as if such exercise occurred as of June 30, 2021.
Expected Accounting Treatment of the Transactions
Following the completion of the Transactions, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will become the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC. Although we will have a minority economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC, we will have the sole voting interest in, and control of, the business and affairs of Brilliant Earth, LLC. As a result, we will consolidate Brilliant Earth, LLC and record a significant non-controlling interest in equity in our consolidated financial statements for the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC held directly or indirectly by the Continuing Equity Owners.
Under generally accepted accounting principles, since the members of Brilliant Earth, LLC prior to the exchange will continue to hold a controlling interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC after the exchange (e.g., there was no change in control of Brilliant Earth, LLC) and since Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. is considered a shell company which does not meet the definition of a business, the financial
94
statements of the combined entity represent a continuation of the financial position and results of operations of Brilliant Earth, LLC. Accordingly, the historical cost basis of assets, liabilities, capital, and accumulated deficit of Brilliant Earth, LLC are carried over to the consolidated financial statements of the merged company as a common control transaction. Also, after consummation of this offering, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will become subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes with respect to our allocable share of any taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC which will be taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates.
Accordingly, this prospectus contains the following historical financial statements:
| Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Other than the inception balance sheets dated as of June 3, 2021 and June 30, 2021, the historical financial information of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. has not been included in this prospectus as it is a newly incorporated entity, has had no business transactions or activities to date, besides the initial capitalization of the company. |
| Brilliant Earth, LLC. Because Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will have no interest in any operations other than those of Brilliant Earth, LLC, the historical financial information included in this prospectus is that of Brilliant Earth, LLC. |
95
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
As of June 30, 2021
(In thousands, except unit amounts)
Brilliant Earth, LLC historical |
Reorganization transaction pro forma adjustments |
Offering transactions pro forma adjustments |
Other pro forma adjustments |
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., as adjusted on pro forma basis |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 65,001 | $ | | $ | | (b | ) | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash |
205 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inventories, net |
17,162 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
3,919 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Total current assets |
86,287 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and equipment, net |
4,194 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other assets |
2,121 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
| | (c | ) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 92,602 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities, preferred units and equity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 11,726 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
17,838 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current portion of deferred revenue |
20,002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
10,263 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
59,829 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs |
52,626 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term deferred revenue |
205 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred rent |
1,395 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant liability |
2,530 | | (d | ) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other long-term liabilities |
2,613 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Obligations under the tax receivable agreements |
| | (c | ) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
119,198 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Redeemable convertible preferred units (Class P Units) |
250,746 | | (a | ) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Members' deficit: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class F Units |
(277,830 | ) | | (a | ) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class M Units |
488 | | (a | ) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Total members' deficit |
(277,342 | ) | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shareholders' deficit |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A common stock, par value $ per shares |
| (b | ) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class B common stock, par value $ per shares |
| (a | ) | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C common stock, par value $ per shares |
| (a | ) | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class D common stock, par value $ per shares |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in-capital |
| (b | ) | | (c | ) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retained earnings/accumulated deficit |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity attributable to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. |
| | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NCI attributable to Brilliant Earth LLC |
| (a | ) | | (b | ) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (d | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Total deficit |
(277,342 | ) | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities, preferred units and equity |
$ | 92,602 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial information.
96
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the six months ended June 30, 2021
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)
Brilliant Earth, LLC historical |
Pro forma Adjustments |
As adjusted on pro forma basis |
||||||||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 163,044 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
85,924 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
77,120 | | | |||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
59,814 | | (aa | ) | | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from operations |
17,306 | | | |||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(3,874 | ) | | | ||||||||||||||||
Other expense, net |
(2,547 | ) | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before tax |
10,885 | | | |||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
| | (bb | ) | | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 10,885 | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net income allocable to non-controlling interest |
| (cc | ) | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) allocable to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. |
$ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Pro forma per share data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Pro forma net income per share |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
$ | | (dd | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | | (dd | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Pro forma weighted-average shares used to compute pro forma net income per share |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
| (dd | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
| (dd | ) |
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial information.
97
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2020
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
Brilliant Earth, LLC historical |
Pro forma adjustments |
As adjusted on pro forma basis |
||||||||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 251,820 | $ | $ | | |||||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
139,518 | | | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
112,302 | | | |||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general, and administrative |
85,710 | | (aa | ) | | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from operations |
26,592 | | | |||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(4,942 | ) | | | ||||||||||||||||
Other expense, net |
(74 | ) | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before tax |
21,576 | | | |||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
| | (bb | ) | | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 21,576 | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Net income allocable to non-controlling interest |
| (cc | ) | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) allocable to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. |
$ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Pro forma per share data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Pro forma net income per share |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
$ | | (dd | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | | (dd | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Pro forma weighted average shares used to compute pro forma net income per share |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
| (dd | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
| (dd | ) |
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
98
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed
Combined Financial Information
Note 1: Basis of Presentation
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 assumes that the Transactions and the other events summarized above, occurred on June 30, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 give pro forma effect to the Transactions and the other events summarized above, as if the Transactions and the other events summarized above, had been completed on January 1, 2020, the beginning of the earliest period presented.
The unaudited condensed pro forma adjustments, which are described in the accompanying notes, may be revised as additional information becomes available and is evaluated. Therefore, it is likely that the actual adjustments will differ from the pro forma adjustments and it is possible the difference may be material. Management believes that these assumptions and methodologies provide a reasonable basis for presenting all of the significant effects of the Transactions based on information available to management at the time, and that the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
One-time direct and incremental transaction costs anticipated to be incurred prior to, or concurrent with, the Transactions and the other events summarized above are reflected in the unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet as a direct reduction to additional paid-in capital (APIC) and are assumed to be cash settled.
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. was formed on June 2, 2021 and on June 3, 2021 was capitalized at one cent, and will have no results of operations until the completion of this offering. Therefore, its financial position as of June 30, 2021 and its historical results of operations for the period then ended are not shown in separate columns in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet or statement of operations.
Note 2: Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
The adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021, are as follows:
(a) | Reflects (i) the conversion of all outstanding Class F, Class P and Class M Units into LLC Interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC presented as non-controlling interests in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., (ii) the authorization of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock, and Class D common stock, and (iii) the issuance to various members of our Continuing Equity Owners of Class B and Class C common stock for nominal consideration, as described in greater detail under Our Organizational Structure, in connection with the completion of this offering. |
(b) | Reflects the net effect on cash of the receipt of gross offering proceeds to us of $ million, based on the authorization, issuance, and assumed sale of shares of Class A common stock at an assumed initial public offering of $ per share (the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us aggregating $ million and assuming the underwriters option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock is not exercised. |
99
Also reflects purchase of (1) newly issued LLC Units for approximately $ million directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) LLC Units from each Continuing Equity Owner on a pro rata basis for $ million in aggregate (or LLC Interests for $ million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
Upon completion of the Transactions, we will become the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC. Although we will have a minority economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC, we will have the sole voting interest in, and control of the management of, Brilliant Earth, LLC. As a result, we will consolidate the financial results of Brilliant Earth, LLC and will report a non-controlling interest related to the interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC held by the Continuing Equity Owners on our consolidated balance sheet. Immediately following the Transactions, the economic interests held by the non-controlling interest will be approximately % (or % of LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).
(c) | Reflects adjustments for deferred tax assets and obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement triggered by the purchase of LLC Interests from Continuing Equity Owners, as described in greater detail under Our Organizational Structure and Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement, in connection with the completion of this offering. The pro forma adjustments reflect the following: |
| Estimated deferred tax benefit of $ million recognized for the tax benefit of the difference in basis between reporting under generally accepted accounting principles and income tax reporting purposes associated with the purchase of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners. In connection with this purchase, we intend to make an IRC 754 election, which will allow us to succeed to the aggregate historical tax basis of the LLC Interests. The total tax benefit from such historical tax basis, including any increases thereto as a result of the Transactions, will primarily be amortized over 15 years pursuant to Section 197 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), subject to further allocation adjustments to be made at the time of preparation of our tax returns. |
| Corresponding liability under the Tax Receivable Agreement triggered by the purchase of units from the Continuing Equity Owners of $ million representing 85% of the amount of tax benefits that Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. expects to realize related to certain tax basis adjustments and payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. |
| Estimated deferred tax benefit of $ million associated with the obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement. |
Due to the uncertainty as to the amount and timing of future redemptions or exchanges of the LLC Interests by the Continuing Equity Owners and as to the price per share of our Class A common stock at the time of any such exchanges, the unaudited pro forma combined and consolidated financial information does not assume any future exchanges of LLC Interests. See Note 5, Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Receivable Agreement for further discussion.
(d) | Reflects assumed exercise of warrants with a carrying value of $ million on a net settlement basis into LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions, as if such exercise conversion occurred on June 30, 2021. |
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Note 3: Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations
The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 are as follows:
(aa) | Reflects the increase in share-based compensation expense we expect to incur following the completion of this offering. We expect to grant stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs) to our directors and employees in connection with this offering. |
For RSUs, the fair value for share-based compensation expense was measured using the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover of the prospectus at $ per share, assuming the RSUs were granted on January 1, 2020. For stock options, the share-based compensation expense was measured assuming the stock options were granted on January 1, 2020, at an exercise price equal to $ per share, based on the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover of the prospectus. The grant date fair value of stock options was determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model using the following assumptions:
Expected volatility |
% | |||
Expected dividend yield |
% | |||
Expected term (in years) |
Years | |||
Risk free interest rate |
% |
(bb) | Provides for an assumed income tax expense on our taxable earnings. Following the Transactions, we will be subject to U.S. federal income taxes in addition to applicable state and local taxes with respect to our allocable share of any net taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC. Accordingly, we have provided income taxes assuming a federal and combined state and local rate of 25% on our allocable share of taxable income. |
(cc) | Reflects the portion of our net income allocable to the non-controlling interest. After the Transactions, we will become the managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC with a % economic interest but will control the management of Brilliant Earth, LLC. The Continuing Equity Owners will own the remaining % of the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC, which will be accounted for as a non-controlling interest in our future consolidated financial results. |
(dd) | Pro forma basic net income per share is computed by dividing the net income available to Class A common stock by the weighted average shares of Class A common stock assumed outstanding during the period. Pro forma diluted net income per share is computed by adjusting the net income available to Class A common stock and the weighted average shares of Class A common stock assumed outstanding to give effect to potentially dilutive securities. |
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The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used to compute pro forma basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except share and per share data):
Six months ended June 30, 2021 |
Year ended December 31, 2020 |
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Numerator: |
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Pro forma net income |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Pro forma net income attributable to non-controlling interests |
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Pro forma net income attributable to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., basic |
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Dilutive effects of: |
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Assumed conversion of LLC Interests for Class A common stock, net of income tax |
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Pro forma net income attributable to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., diluted |
$ | | $ | | ||||
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Denominator: |
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Weighted average Class A common stock assumed outstanding, basic |
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Dilutive effects of: |
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LLC Interests that are exchangeable for Class A common stock |
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Unvested LLC Interests, RSUs, stock options and warrants |
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Weighted average Class A common stock assumed outstanding, diluted |
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Basic pro forma net income per share |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Diluted pro forma net income per share |
$ | | $ | |
Shares of our Class B and our Class C common stock are not entitled to receive any distributions or dividends other than in connection with a liquidation and have no rights to convert into Class A common stock or Class D common stock, separate from an exchange or redemption of the LLC Interests corresponding to such shares of Class B common stock or Class C common stock, as applicable. When a common unit is exchanged for, at our election, cash or Class A common stock or Class D common stock by a Continuing Equity Owner who holds shares of our Class B common stock or Class C common stock, such Continuing Equity Owner will be required to surrender a share of Class B common stock or Class C common stock, as applicable, which we will cancel for no consideration.
Note 4. Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Receivable Agreement
As the Continuing Equity Investors of the various LLC Interests of Brilliant Earth, LLC elect to convert their LLC Interests into our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, we will succeed to their aggregate historical tax basis which will create a net tax benefit to us. These tax benefits including any increases thereto as a result of the Transactions are expected to be amortized over 15 years pursuant to Sections 743(b) and 197 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
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amended (the Code). We will only recognize a deferred tax asset for financial reporting purposes when it is more-likely-than-not that we will realize the tax benefit.
In addition, as part of the Transactions, we will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with the Continuing Equity Owners to pay them 85% of the tax savings from the tax basis adjustment as such savings are realized. Amounts payable under the Tax Receivable Agreement are contingent upon, among other things, generation of sufficient future taxable income during the term of the Tax Receivable Agreement.
If all of the Continuing Equity Owners were to exchange or redeem their remaining LLC Interests as of the date of closing of our IPO, we would recognize an additional deferred tax asset of approximately $ million and a related liability for payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement of approximately $ million, assuming, among other factors (i) all exchanges occurred on the same day; (ii) a price of $ per share of Class A common stock (the midpoint of the estimated offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus); (iii) a constant corporate tax rate of %; (iv) sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the tax benefits; (v) Brilliant Earth, LLC is able to fully depreciate or amortize its assets; and (vi) no material changes in applicable tax law. For each 5% increase (decrease) in the amount of LLC Interests exchanged by the Continuing Equity Owners, our deferred tax asset would increase (decrease) by approximately $ million and the related liability for payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement would increase (decrease) by approximately $ million, assuming that the price per share of the Class A common stock at the time of the exchange and corporate tax rate remain the same. These amounts are estimates and have been prepared for informational purposes only. The actual amount of deferred tax assets and related liabilities that we will recognize will differ based on, among other things, the timing of the redemptions or exchanges, the price of our shares of Class A common stock at the time of the redemptions or exchanges, availability of sufficient taxable income and the tax rates then in effect.
We may elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement early by making an immediate cash payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that would be required to be paid by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement. The calculation of such cash payment would be based on certain assumptions, including, among others (i) that any Continuing Equity Owners LLC Interests that have not been exchanged are deemed exchanged, in general, for the fair market value of our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, that would be received by such Continuing Equity Owner if such LLC Interests had been exchanged at the time of termination; (ii) we will have sufficient taxable income in each future taxable year to fully realize all potential tax savings; (iii) the federal tax rates for future years will be those specified in the law as in effect at the time of termination and the combined state and local tax rates will be an assumed tax rate; and (iv) certain non-amortizable assets are deemed disposed of within specified time periods. In addition, the present value of such tax benefit payments are discounted at a rate equal to % per annum, compounded annually. Assuming that the fair market value of our Class A common stock were to be equal to $ per share, the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, and that the relevant interest rate were to be %, we estimate that the aggregate amount of these termination payments would be approximately $ million if we were to exercise our termination right immediately following this offering.
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis provides information that we believe is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. You should read this analysis in conjunction with our audited and unaudited financial statements and the related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to historical financial information, this discussion and analysis contains statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or our future financial performance. These statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating such statements, you should carefully consider the various factors identified in this prospectus which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements, including those set forth in Risk Factors in this prospectus. See Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
Company Overview
Brilliant Earth is an innovative, digital-first jewelry company, and a global leader in ethically sourced fine jewelry. We offer exclusive designs with superior craftsmanship and supply chain transparency, delivered to customers through a highly personalized omnichannel experience.
Our mission is to create a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry, and we are proud to offer customers distinctive and thoughtfully designed products that they can truly feel good about wearing. Our core values resonate strongly across many demographics and particularly with values-driven Millennial and Gen Z consumers.
Our extensive collection of premium-quality diamond engagement and wedding rings, gemstone rings, and fine jewelry is conceptualized by our leading in-house design studio and then brought to life by expert jewelers. From our award-winning jewelry designs to our responsibly sourced materials, at Brilliant Earth we aspire to exceptional standards in everything we do.
We were founded in 2005 as an e-commerce company with an ambitious mission and a single showroom in San Francisco. We have rapidly scaled our business while remaining focused on our mission and elevating the omnichannel customer experience. Through our intuitive digital commerce platform and personalized individual appointments in our showrooms, we cater to the shopping preferences of tech-savvy next-generation consumers. We create an educational, joyful, and approachable experience that is unique in the jewelry industry. Today, Brilliant Earth has sold to consumers in all U.S. states and over 50 countries, and has served over 370,000 customers through our e-commerce platform and 13 showrooms.
Throughout our history, we have invested in technology to create a seamless customer experience, inform our data-driven decision-making, improve efficiencies, and advance our mission. Our technology enables dynamic product visualization, augmented reality try-on, blockchain-enabled transparency, and rapid fulfillment of our flagship Create Your Own product. We leverage powerful data capabilities to improve our marketing and operational efficiencies, personalize the customer experience, curate showroom inventory and merchandising, inform real estate decisions, and develop new product designs that reflect consumer preferences. We believe the Brilliant Earth digital experience drives higher satisfaction, engagement, and conversion both online and in-showroom.
Our financial model is compelling: high net sales growth, substantial first order profitability, and attractive margins. We are very capital efficient: our made-to-order capabilities and virtual inventory model generate attractive inventory turns and negative working capital. We have achieved strong
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financial performance and rapid growth since our founding with minimal outside funding, and believe we are in the early stages of realizing our potential in a massive market opportunity:
| grew net sales to $251.8 million in 2020, compared to $201.3 million in 2019; |
| achieved net income of $21.6 million in 2020, compared to $(7.8) million in 2019; |
| achieved net income margin of 8.6% in 2020, compared to (3.9%) in 2019; |
| grew Adjusted EBITDA to $27.5 million in 2020, compared to $(4.5) million in 2019; and |
| improved Adjusted EBITDA margin to 10.9% in 2020, compared to (2.2%) in 2019. |
Our performance in the first half of 2021 continues to demonstrate our ability to succeed in this market:
| grew net sales to $163.0 million, up 77.7% from $91.8 million in the first half of 2020; |
| achieved net income of $10.9 million, up from $0.2 million in the first half of 2020; |
| achieved net income margin of 6.7%, compared to 0.2% in the first half of 2020; |
| grew Adjusted EBITDA to $21.0 million, up 600% from $3.0 million in the first half of 2020; and |
| improved Adjusted EBITDA margin to 12.9%, compared to 3.3% in the first half of 2020. |
We operate in one operating and reporting segment, the retail sale of diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry.
Key Factors Affecting Our Performance
Our Ability to Increase Brand Awareness
Increasing brand awareness and growing favorable brand equity have been and remain key to our growth. We have a significant opportunity to continue to grow our brand awareness, broaden our customer reach, and maximize lifetime value through brand and performance marketing. We have
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made significant investments to strengthen the Brilliant Earth brand through our dynamic marketing strategy, which includes brand marketing campaigns across email, digital, social media, earned media, and media placements and with key influencers. As of June 30, 2021, our aided brand awareness was 54% with significant room to increase in the U.S. and internationally through marketing and earned media, showroom expansion, and word-of-mouth referrals. In order to compete effectively and increase our share of the jewelry market, we must maintain our strong customer experience, produce compelling products, and continue our mission of creating a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry. Our performance will also depend on our ability to increase the number of consumers aware of Brilliant Earth and our product assortment. We believe our brand strength will enable us to continue to expand across categories and channels, to deepen relationships with consumers, and to expand our presence in U.S. and international markets.
Cost-Effective Acquisition of New Customers and Retention of Existing Customers.
We have historically had attractive customer acquisition economics, including substantial first order profitability. To continue to grow our business, we must continue to acquire new customers and retain existing customers in a cost-effective manner. The success of our customer acquisition strategy depends on a number of factors, including the level and pattern of consumer spending in the product categories in which we operate, and our ability to cost-effectively drive traffic to our website and showrooms and to convert these visitors to customers. With our strong brand resonance and passionate customer base, we generate significant earned and organic traffic, impressions, and media placements. We continually evolve our dynamic marketing strategies, optimizing our messaging, creative assets, and spending across channels. We also believe our expanded fine jewelry assortment and strategic customer acquisition will continue to drive fine jewelry orders from new customers and repeat orders from existing customers.
Our Ability to Continue Expansion of our Omnichannel Strategy
Our ability to expand our omnichannel presence to new markets and locations is key to our success. Historically, we have been successful in every new geographic market we have entered, and we are in the early stages of expanding our premium showroom footprint nationwide. We intend to continue leveraging our marketing strategy and growing brand awareness to drive increased qualified consumer traffic to and sales from our website and premium showrooms.
We believe expanding our number of showrooms will drive accelerated growth by increasing our AOV compared to e-commerce orders, improving conversion in the showrooms metro regions by 50% or more compared to pre-opening conversion, and raising our brand awareness. As of today, we have 13 showroom locations, and plan to open at least one more by the end of 2021. We intend to strategically open showrooms in the future, and we believe we can achieve near-national showroom coverage with under 100 locations. We rely on this highly efficient showroom model to complement our digital strategy and to continue to drive growth and profitability.
Our Ability to Successfully Introduce New Products
Product expansion allows us significant opportunity to drive new and repeat purchases by expanding purchase occasions beyond engagement and bridal. We intend to leverage our in-house design capabilities and nimble data-driven product development to expand product assortment for special occasions and self-purchase. In addition, we will have more opportunity to enhance and leverage our CRM and data-segmentation capabilities to increase repeat purchases and lifetime value. We have consistently invested in technology to create a seamless customer experience, including dynamic visualization, augmented reality try-on, and automated, rapid fulfillment, and we intend to continue investing in technology to enhance the digital and showroom experience and help drive conversion.
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Expanding affiliations and brand collaborations will also broaden our existing assortment, reinforce our brand ethos, and feature like-minded designers, which will help to drive both new and repeat purchases.
International Expansion
We are in the early stages of expanding globally, and a larger geographic footprint will help drive future growth. Our early proof-points from localizing our website for Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and our sales to customers from over 50 countries, provide encouraging signs for future global expansion. We see strong potential in launching e-commerce in new overseas markets, particularly in Asia, and new showrooms in countries where we have already established a localized digital presence. We plan to drive brand awareness through localized marketing channels and expect our data-driven technology platform to continue providing insights for product recommendations and inventory management.
Operational and Marketing Efficiency
We have a unique, asset-light operating model with attractive working capital dynamics, capital-efficient showrooms, and a vast virtual inventory of premium natural and lab-grown diamonds that allows us to offer over 100,000 diamonds worth hundreds of millions of dollars, while keeping our balance sheet inventory low. This has driven attractive inventory turns of over 10x every year since 2018 and allows us to operate with negative working capital, which we define as our current assets less cash minus our current liabilities. Our showroom strategy avoids the inefficiencies of traditional, retail-first jewelers. Our showrooms are appointment-driven with large catchment regions, so we are less reliant on expensive high foot traffic retail locations. We also curate showroom inventory for scheduled visits and require minimal inventory in each location. Our tech-enabled jewelry specialist team supports online customers when not in appointment, maximizing workforce utilization. As we continue to scale our business, our future success is dependent on maintaining this capital efficient operating model and driving continued operational improvement as we expand to new locations both in the U.S. and internationally.
Costs of Operating as a Public Company
After this offering, we anticipate that the costs of operating as a public company will be significant as we will be subject to the reporting, listing, and compliance requirements of various governing bodies and applicable securities laws and regulations that we were previously not subjected to as a privately-held company. These costs have been rapidly increasing over time, and we expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal, financial, and technology compliance costs, and to make some activities more difficult, time-consuming, and costly. Remaining compliant and satisfying our obligations as a public company, while maintaining forecasted gross margins and operating results, and attracting and retaining qualified persons to serve on our board of directors, our board committees, or as our executive officers will be critical to our future success.
Macroeconomic Trends
We believe we are well-positioned at the intersection of key macro-level trends impacting our industry. Consumers are increasingly becoming more conscious of the products they purchase, seeking brands that stand for sustainability, supply chain transparency, and social and environmental responsibility. This has contributed to our strong brand affinity and loyalty, and further differentiates us from our competitors. Consumers are increasingly favoring seamless omnichannel shopping experiences, and we believe our model is well-suited to satisfy these consumer preferences. Changes in macro-level consumer spending trends, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, could result in fluctuations in our operating results.
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Effects of COVID-19 on Our Business
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recommendations of government and health authorities, our showrooms closed to the public beginning in March 2020, but we continued to fulfill orders. We began reopening our showrooms to the public in May 2020 and, by June 2020, had re-opened all our showrooms to the public. While we expect to be able to continue operations for the duration of the pandemic, our operations were and are still subject to local or regional public health orders, including temporary government-mandated closures, which may impact our showrooms or other operations. The COVID-19 pandemic also has disrupted our global supply chain, and may cause additional disruptions to operations, including increased costs of production and distribution and longer fulfillment times. For example, we faced production capacity issues in crafting sufficient quantities of certain products in 2020 due to government shutdowns, as well as disruption in jewelry manufacturing and sourcing of diamonds and gemstones, which could continue in 2021 due to the pandemic.
Although our financial performance was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of the year ended December 31, 2020, our business operations recovered in the second half of the year ended December 31, 2020, during which revenue grew year-over-year by 38.8% and into the first half of 2021, during which revenue grew year-over-year by 77.7%. While our business operations have recovered since the first half of the year ended December 31, 2020, and we have experienced strong growth since the second half of the year ended December 31, 2020, the pandemic remains ongoing. The duration and magnitude of its future impact on the jewelry industry, and on our operations and supply chain, remains unknown and depends on factors outside of our control, including the duration and intensity of the pandemic (including that of any COVID-19 variants), the availability and efficacy of treatments and vaccines, and the impact of the pandemic on financial markets, industry supply chains and consumer behavior. Thus, the potential impact of these factors on our future liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations cannot be estimated.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) was signed into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act includes many measures to provide relief to companies. We obtained a U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP Loan) under the CARES Act, which was fully repaid in December 2020. See Liquidity and Capital Resources.
We do not yet know the full extent of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, our operations, or the global economy as a whole. However, the effects could have a material impact on our results of operations. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Business and IndustryThe COVID-19 pandemic has had, and may in the future continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business.
Reorganization Transactions
The historical results of operations discussed in this section are those of Brilliant Earth, LLC prior to the completion of the Transactions, including this offering, and do not reflect certain items that we expect will affect our results of operations and financial condition after giving effect to the Transactions and the use of proceeds from this offering.
Following the completion of the Transactions, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will become the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC. Although we will have a minority economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC, we will have the sole voting interest in, and control of the business and affairs of, Brilliant Earth, LLC. As a result, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will consolidate Brilliant Earth, LLC and record a significant non-controlling interest in a consolidated entity in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s consolidated financial statements for the economic interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC held directly or indirectly by the Continuing
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Equity Owners. Immediately after the Transactions, investors in this offering will collectively own % of our outstanding Class A common stock, consisting of shares (or shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will own LLC Interests (or LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), representing % of the LLC Interests (or % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and the Continuing Equity Owners will collectively own LLC Interests, representing % of the LLC Interests (or % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). Accordingly, net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests will represent % of the income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense) of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (or % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. is a holding company that conducts no operations and, as of the consummation of this offering, its principal asset will be LLC Interests we purchase from Brilliant Earth, LLC.
After consummation of this offering, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will become subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes with respect to our allocable share of any taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC and will be taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates. In addition to tax expenses, we also will incur expenses related to our status as a public company, plus payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which we expect to be significant. We intend to cause Brilliant Earth, LLC to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to allow us to pay these expenses and fund any payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions - Brilliant Earth, LLC Agreement-Agreement in Effect upon Consummation of the Transactions - Distributions.
Key Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Key Metrics
We monitor the key business metrics set forth below to help us evaluate our business and growth trends, establish budgets, measure the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts, and assess operational efficiencies. The calculation of the key metrics discussed below may differ from other similarly titled metrics used by other companies, securities analysts or investors.
The following table sets forth our key performance indicators for the periods presented:
Six months ended June 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Change | % Change | 2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total orders |
49,878 | 29,745 | 20,133 | 67.7 | % | 79,890 | 61,604 | 18,286 | 29.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AOV |
$ | 3,269 | $ | 3,085 | $ | 184 | 6.0 | % | $ | 3,152 | $ | 3,268 | $ | (116 | ) | (3.6 | %) |
Total Orders
We define total orders as the total number of customer orders delivered less total orders returned in a given period (excluding those repair, resize, and other orders which have no revenue). We view total orders as a key indicator of the velocity of our business and an indication of the desirability of our products to our customers. Total orders, together with AOV, is an indicator of the net sales we expect to recognize in a given period. Total orders may fluctuate based on the number of visitors to our website and showrooms, and our ability to convert these visitors to customers. We believe that total orders is a measure that is useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in an analysis of ongoing operating trends.
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Average Order Value
We define average order value, or AOV, as net sales in a given period divided by total orders in that period. We believe that AOV is a measure that is useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in an analysis of ongoing operating trends. AOV varies depending on the product type and number of items per order. AOV may also fluctuate as we expand into and increase our presence in additional product categories and price points, and open additional showrooms.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to our results determined in accordance with GAAP, we believe the following non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance.
We report our financial results in accordance with GAAP. However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users of our financial information with additional useful information in evaluating our performance and that excluding certain items that may vary substantially in frequency and magnitude period-to-period from net income (loss) provides useful supplemental measures that assist in evaluating our ability to generate earnings and to more readily compare these metrics between past and future periods. There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this prospectus. For example, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are included in this prospectus because they are key metrics used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) excluding interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, equity-based compensation expense, showroom pre-opening expense, certain non-operating expenses and income, and other unusual and/or infrequent costs, which we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing operating performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA calculated as a percentage of net sales. These non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered as indicators of performance in isolation from or as a substitute for net income (loss) prepared in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with financial information presented on a GAAP basis. Reconciliations of each of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net income (loss) and net income (loss) margin, are presented below. We encourage you to review the reconciliations in conjunction with the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures for each of the periods presented. In future periods, we may exclude similar items, may incur income and expenses similar to these excluded items, and may include other expenses, costs and non-recurring items.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) and net income (loss) margin, the most comparable GAAP financial measures, to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, respectively, for the periods presented (amounts in thousands):
Six months ended June 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
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2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 10,885 | $ | 182 | $ | 21,576 | $ | (7,778 | ) | |||||||
Interest expense |
3,874 | 2,393 | 4,942 | 2,257 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense |
321 | 339 | 646 | 622 | ||||||||||||
Showroom pre-opening expense |
681 | 55 | 242 | 227 | ||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation expense |
188 | 14 | 46 | 43 | ||||||||||||
Other expense, net(1) |
2,547 | 16 | 74 | 126 | ||||||||||||
Transaction costs and other expenses(2) |
2,495 | | | | ||||||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 20,991 | $ | 2,999 | $ | 27,526 | $ | (4,503 | ) | |||||||
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Net income (loss) margin |
6.7 | % | 0.2 | % | 8.6 | % | (3.9 | %) | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
12.9 | % | 3.3 | % | 10.9 | % | (2.2 | %) |
(1) | Other expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2021 consists primarily of the change in fair value of the warrant liability necessary to mark our warrants to fair market value. Please see Note 7, Member Units Including Redeemable Convertible Class P Units in our unaudited condensed financial statements and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsComparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020Other expense, net for more information. Additionally, these expenses for all periods presented include losses on exchange rates on consumer payments, partially offset by interest and other miscellaneous income. |
(2) | These expenses are those that we did not incur in the normal course of business. They include expenses related to professional fees in connection with the evaluation and preparation for operations as a public company, and one-time costs associated with the opening of a new operations facility. |
Our Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin increased from 2019 to 2020 primarily as a result of an increase in revenue, an improvement in gross margin as a percentage of net sales and decreased selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a percentage of net sales.
Our Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin increased for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020 primarily as a result of an increase in revenue, an improvement in gross margin as a percentage of net sales and decreased SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales.
Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion
Free cash flow and Free cash flow conversion are included in this prospectus because they are key metrics used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. We define Free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less net cash used by investing activities. We define Free cash flow conversion as Free cash flow calculated as a percentage of net income (loss). These non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered as indicators of performance in isolation from or as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with financial information presented on a GAAP basis. Reconciliations of each of Free cash flow and Free cash flow conversion to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net cash provided by operating activities and operating cash flow conversion, are presented below. We encourage you to review the reconciliations in conjunction with the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures for each of the periods presented.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities and operating cash flow conversion, the most comparable GAAP financial measures, to Free cash flow and Free cash flow conversion, respectively, for the periods presented (in thousands):
Six months ended June 30, |
Year ended December 31, |
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2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 20,210 | $ | 4,788 | $ | 26,723 | $ | 567 | ||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(2,646 | ) | (179 | ) | (584 | ) | (678 | ) | ||||||||
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Free cash flow |
$ | 17,564 | $ | 4,609 | $ | 26,139 | $ | (111 | ) | |||||||
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Operating cash flow conversion |
185.7 | % | 2,630.8 | % | 123.9 | % | nm | * | ||||||||
Free cash flow conversion |
161.4 | % | 2,532.4 | % | 121.1 | % | nm | * |
Components of Results of Operations
Net Sales
Our sales are recorded net of estimated sales returns and allowances and sales taxes collected from customers. Our net sales primarily consist of revenue from diamond, jewelry, and gemstone retail sales through our website and dedicated jewelry specialists via chat, phone, email, virtual appointment, or in our showrooms. Our net sales are derived primarily in the U.S., but we also sell products to customers outside the U.S. For the year ended December 31, 2020, 92.6% of net sales were in the U.S., with the remaining 7.4% in international markets, and for the six months ended June 30, 2021, 93.2% of net sales were in the U.S., with the remaining 6.8% in international markets. Our website platform allows us to sell to a worldwide customer base, even in markets where we do not have a physical presence. Payment for all our sales occurs prior to fulfilment. Customers pick up the items in our showrooms, or we deliver purchases to customers, with delivery typically within one to two business days after shipment. We recognize revenue upon pick-up or delivery if an order is shipped. We also offer third-party financing options.
We allow for certain returns within 30 days of when an order is available for shipment or pickup. We also provide one complimentary resizing for standard ring styles within 60 days of when an order is available for shipment or pickup, a lifetime manufacturing warranty (except on estate and vintage jewelry and center diamonds/gemstones), and a lifetime diamond upgrade program on all independently-graded natural diamonds. For an additional charge, we offer a three-year extended warranty service plan, which provides full inspection, cleaning, and certain repairs due to normal wear.
Revenue is deferred on transactions where payment has been received from the customer, but control has not yet transferred. Revenue related to customer purchases of our three-year extended service plan is deferred and recognized ratably over the service plan term.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales consists primarily of merchandise costs for the purchase of diamonds and gemstones from our global base of diamond and gemstone suppliers, and the cost of jewelry production from our third-party jewelry manufacturing suppliers. Cost of sales includes merchandise costs, inbound freight charges, and costs of shipping orders to customers. Our cost of sales includes reserves for disposal of obsolete, slow-moving or defective items, and shrinkage, which we estimate and record on a periodic basis.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A expenses consist primarily of marketing, advertising, and promotional expenses; payroll and related benefit costs for our employees, including equity-based compensation expense; merchant processing fees; certain facility-related costs; customer service; technology; and depreciation and amortization expenses, as well as professional fees and other general corporate expenses. We expect
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that our 2021 SG&A expenses will increase as we scale our business and incur incremental costs for personnel and professional services fees related to preparation for becoming, and operating as, a public company. This includes, but is not limited to, regulatory and compliance costs applicable to listed public companies, and higher expenditures for insurance, technology and professional services. We have also incurred expenses in connection with establishing and funding the Brilliant Earth Foundation, a donor advised fund, to support our charitable giving efforts.
Interest Expense
Interest expense primarily consists of interest incurred under our outstanding Term Loan.
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net includes fair market value fluctuations for warrants, interest earned on cash held in our bank accounts, losses related to exchange rates on customer payments, and other miscellaneous income or expenses.
Income Taxes
We are a limited liability company, and we are classified and taxed as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes; accordingly, all taxable income, losses, deductions, and credits are allocated to the members who are responsible for the payment of taxes thereon. Therefore, no provision has been made for federal income taxes. We incur certain state franchise and gross receipts taxes that we include in SG&A expenses on the accompanying statements of operations. As discussed under Reorganization Transactions, after consummation of this offering, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will become subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes with respect to its allocable share of any taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC and will be taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates.
Results of Operations Data
The results of operations data in the following tables for the periods presented have been derived from the audited financial statements and the unaudited condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this registration statement.
Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
The following table sets forth our statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, including amounts and percentages of net sales for each year and the period-to-period change in dollars and percent (amounts in thousands):
Six months ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Period change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||||||||
Condensed statements of operations data*: |
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Net sales |
$ | 163,044 | 100.0 | % | $ | 91,764 | 100.0 | % | $ | 71,280 | 77.7 | % | ||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
85,924 | 52.7 | % | 51,970 | 56.6 | % | 33,954 | 65.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
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Gross profit |
77,120 | 47.3 | % | 39,794 | 43.4 | % | 37,326 | 93.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Selling, general and administrative |
59,814 | 36.7 | % | 37,203 | 40.5 | % | 22,611 | 60.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
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Income from operations |
17,306 | 10.6 | % | 2,591 | 2.8 | % | 14,715 | 567.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(3,874 | ) | (2.4 | %) | (2,393 | ) | (2.6 | %) | (1,481 | ) | 61.9 | % | ||||||||||||
Other expense, net |
(2,547 | ) | (1.6 | %) | (16 | ) | 0.0 | % | (2,531 | ) | nm | * | ||||||||||||
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Net income |
$ | 10,885 | 6.7 | % | $ | 182 | 0.2 | % | $ | 10,703 | nm | * | ||||||||||||
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* | Percentage may not sum due to rounding |
nm* | Not meaningful |
Net Sales
Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased by $71.3 million, or 77.7%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. We experienced increases in net sales across our products, and in both domestic and international markets, primarily driven by a 67.7% increase in order volumes due to:
| an increase in consumer spending in comparison to the first half of 2020, which was significantly impacted by COVID-19; |
| improved efficiency of our customer acquisition and conversion activities; |
| an increase in orders driven by continued consumer migration to online retail channels; and |
| additional orders from our new virtual sales appointment offering (second quarter of 2020), as well as the opening of a new showroom in Atlanta (fourth quarter of 2020). |
Net sales also increased due to an increase in AOV on a year-over-year basis. AOV for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was 6.0% higher compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased by $37.3 million, or 93.8%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. Gross margin, expressed as a percentage and calculated as gross profit divided by net sales, increased by 393 basis points for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020 driven by enhancements to our pricing algorithms and procurement efficiencies, and higher costs in the prior period due to temporary COVID-related changes to our supplier mix and shipping methods. These improvements were partially offset by higher precious metals prices, as evidenced by average gold and platinum spot prices increasing by approximately 10% and 37%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased by $22.6 million, or 60.8%. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses decreased by 380 basis points in the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020, primarily driven by a decrease in marketing expenses which, as a percentage of net sales, represented a decline of 3.3% from June 30, 2020 to June 30, 2021. This decline was largely attributable to improved efficiency of our customer acquisition and conversion activities. In addition, we improved operating leverage from employee-related costs, which declined as a percentage of net sales by 1.9% from June 30, 2020 to June 30, 2021, which was primarily driven by conservative management of headcount growth. These cost improvements were partially offset by increases in other general and administrative expenses, which as a percentage of net sales, represented an increase of approximately 1.4% from June 30, 2020 to June 30, 2021. These increases were principally driven by increased costs in preparation for operation as a public company.
Interest Expense
Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased by $1.5 million, or 61.9%, primarily due to an increase in the gross principal balance in our debt financing from $35.0 million to $65.0 million in the second half of 2020.
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Other expense, net
Other expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased by $2.5 million primarily due to a $2.4 million increase in the fair market value of warrants.
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
The following table sets forth our statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, including amounts and percentages of net sales for each year and the year-to-year change in dollars and percent (amounts in thousands):
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Year over year change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 251,820 | 100.0 | % | $ | 201,343 | 100.0 | % | $ | 50,477 | 25.1 | % | ||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
139,518 | 55.4 | % | 116,421 | 57.8 | % | 23,097 | 19.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
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Gross profit |
112,302 | 44.6 | % | 84,922 | 42.2 | % | 27,380 | 32.2 | % | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Selling, general and administrative |
85,710 | 34.0 | % | 90,317 | 44.9 | % | (4,607 | ) | (5.1 | %) | ||||||||||||||
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Income (loss) from operations |
26,592 | 10.6 | % | (5,395 | ) | (2.7 | %) | 31,987 | nm | * | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(4,942 | ) | (2.0 | %) | (2,257 | ) | (1.1 | %) | (2,685 | ) | 119.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Other expense, net |
(74 | ) | 0.0 | % | (126 | ) | (0.1 | %) | 52 | (41.3 | %) | |||||||||||||
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Net income (loss) |
21,576 | 8.6 | % | (7,778 | ) | (3.9 | %) | 29,354 | nm | * | ||||||||||||||
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nm* | Not meaningful |
Net Sales
Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2020 increased by $50.5 million, or 25.1%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. While in-store customer traffic decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we experienced increases in net sales across our products, and in both domestic and international markets, primarily driven by a 30% increase in order volumes due to:
| improved efficiency of our customer acquisition and conversion activities; |
| an increase in orders driven by continued consumer migration to online retail channels; and |
| additional orders from the opening of new showrooms in Philadelphia (November 2019) and Atlanta (October 2020), as well as a new virtual sales appointment offering (second quarter of 2020). |
The increase in order volumes was partially offset by a 4% decrease in AOV from $3,268 in 2019 to $3,152 in 2020.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2020 increased by $27.4 million, or 32.2%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. Gross margin, expressed as a percentage and calculated as gross profit divided by net sales, increased by 242 basis points in 2020 compared to 2019 driven by enhancements to our pricing algorithms and procurement efficiencies. These improvements were partially offset by higher precious metals prices, as evidenced by average gold and platinum spot prices increasing by 27% and 3%, respectively, in 2020 as compared to 2019. The margin improvements were also partially offset by higher costs from temporary COVID-related changes to our supplier mix and shipping methods.
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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 decreased by $4.6 million, or 5.1%. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased by 10.9% in the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of sales was primarily driven by a decrease in marketing expenses which, as a percentage of net sales, represented a decline of 9.7% from 2019 to 2020. This decline was largely attributable to improved efficiency of our customer acquisition and conversion activities. In addition, we improved operating leverage from employee-related costs, which declined as a percentage of net sales by 1.0% from 2019 to 2020, which was partially driven by temporary COVID-related staffing changes.
Interest Expense
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 increased by $2.7 million, or 119.0%, primarily due to an increase in the gross principal balance in our debt financing from $11.0 million to $35.0 million in the second half of 2019.
Quarterly Results of Operations
The following tables set forth our unaudited quarterly condensed statements of operations for each of the periods presented. The information for each quarter has been prepared on a basis consistent with our accompanying condensed financial statements included in this prospectus and reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are necessary for a fair statement of the financial information contained in those statements. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other period in the future. The following quarterly financial information should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and related notes included in this prospectus:
Three months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mar. 31, 2020 |
Jun. 30, 2020 |
Sep. 30, 2020 |
Dec. 31, 2020 |
Mar. 31, 2021 |
Jun. 30, 2021 |
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(unaudited and in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed statements of operations data: |
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Net sales |
$ | 49,566 | $ | 42,198 | $ | 71,445 | $ | 88,611 | $ | 70,696 | $ | 92,348 | ||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
28,178 | 23,792 | 40,599 | 46,949 | 38,337 | 47,587 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Gross profit |
21,388 | 18,406 | 30,846 | 41,662 | 32,359 | 44,761 | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Selling, general and administrative |
21,988 | 15,215 | 21,532 | 26,975 | 27,405 | 32,409 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Income (loss) from operations |
(600 | ) | 3,191 | 9,314 | 14,687 | 4,954 | 12,352 | |||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(1,193 | ) | (1,200 | ) | (1,214 | ) | (1,335 | ) | (1,926 | ) | (1,948 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other income (expense), net |
31 | (47 | ) | (59 | ) | 1 | (620 | ) | (1,927 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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Net income (loss) |
$ | (1,762 | ) | $ | 1,944 | $ | 8,041 | $ | 13,353 | $ | 2,408 | $ | 8,477 | |||||||||||
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA, net income (loss) margin, and adjusted EBITDA margin respectively, for each of the quarters indicated:
Three months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mar. 31, 2020 |
Jun. 30, 2020 |
Sep. 30, 2020 |
Dec. 31, 2020 |
Mar. 31, 2021 |
Jun. 30, 2021 |
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(unaudited and in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | (1,762 | ) | $ | 1,944 | $ | 8,041 | $ | 13,353 | $ | 2,408 | $ | 8,477 | |||||||||||
Interest expense |
1,193 | 1,200 | 1,214 | 1,335 | 1,926 | 1,948 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense |
172 | 167 | 150 | 157 | 164 | 157 | ||||||||||||||||||
Showroom pre-opening expense |
53 | 2 | 60 | 127 | 163 | 518 | ||||||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation expense |
7 | 7 | 7 | 25 | 93 | 95 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other (income) expense, net (1) |
(31 | ) | 47 | 59 | (1 | ) | 620 | 1,927 | ||||||||||||||||
Transaction costs and other expenses(2) |
| | | | 1,129 | 1,366 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | (368 | ) | $ | 3,367 | $ | 9,531 | $ | 14,996 | $ | 6,503 | $ | 14,488 | |||||||||||
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Net income (loss) margin |
(3.6 | %) | 4.6 | % | 11.3 | % | 15.1 | % | 3.4 | % | 9.2 | % | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
(0.7 | %) | 8.0 | % | 13.3 | % | 16.9 | % | 9.2 | % | 15.7 | % |
(1) Other expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2021 consists primarily of the change in fair value of the warrant liability necessary to mark our warrants to fair market value. Please see Note 7, Member Units Including Redeemable Convertible Class P Units in our unaudited condensed financial statements and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsComparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020Other expense, net for more information. Additionally, these expenses for all periods presented include losses on exchange rates on consumer payments partially offset by interest and other miscellaneous income.
(2) These expenses are those that we did not incur in the normal course of business. They include expenses related to professional fees in connection with the evaluation and preparation for operations as a public company, and one-time costs associated with the opening of a new operations facility.
The following table sets forth components of results of operations as a percentage of revenue for each of the quarters indicated.
Three months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mar. 31, 2020 |
Jun. 30, 2020 |
Sep. 30, 2020 |
Dec. 31, 2020 |
Mar. 31, 2021 |
Jun. 30, 2021 |
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(unaudited and as a percentage of revenue) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed statements of operations data*: |
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Net sales |
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
56.8 | % | 56.4 | % | 56.8 | % | 53.0 | % | 54.2 | % | 51.5 | % | ||||||||||||
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Gross profit |
43.2 | % | 43.6 | % | 43.2 | % | 47.0 | % | 45.8 | % | 48.5 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Selling, general and administrative |
44.4 | % | 36.1 | % | 30.1 | % | 30.4 | % | 38.8 | % | 35.1 | % | ||||||||||||
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Income (loss) from operations |
(1.2 | %) | 7.6 | % | 13.0 | % | 16.6 | % | 7.0 | % | 13.4 | % | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(2.4 | %) | (2.8 | %) | (1.7 | %) | (1.5 | %) | (2.7 | %) | (2.1 | %) | ||||||||||||
Other income (expense), net |
0.1 | % | (0.1 | %) | (0.1 | %) | 0.0 | % | (0.9 | %) | (2.1 | %) | ||||||||||||
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Net income (loss) |
(3.6 | %) | 4.6 | % | 11.3 | % | 15.1 | % | 3.4 | % | 9.2 | % | ||||||||||||
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Seasonality
Our business is seasonal in nature, with the fourth quarter representing approximately 30% of annual net sales over a three-year period ending December 31, 2019 and a higher percentage of annual net income. During the year ended December 31, 2020, our typical seasonal patterns were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, although we anticipate some reversion to historical seasonal patterns as the pandemic eases. Additionally, the rapid growth we experienced in recent years may have masked the full effects of seasonal factors on our business to date, and as such, seasonality may have a greater effect on our results of operations in future periods.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Our primary requirements for liquidity and capital are for purchases of inventory, payment of operating expenses, tax distributions to LLC members, debt service, and capital expenditures. Historically, these cash requirements have been met through cash provided by operating activities, cash and cash equivalents, and borrowings under our Term Loan. We have historically had negative working capital driven by our high inventory turns and typical collection of payment from customers prior to payment of suppliers. As of June 30, 2021, we had a cash balance, excluding restricted cash, of $65.0 million, working capital, excluding cash, of $(38.5) million, and a Term Loan with a principal balance of $65.0 million, excluding unamortized debt issuance costs of $2.1 million.
We lease our showrooms and headquarters office space under operating leases pursuant to which $1.3 million is due in the second half of 2021. Total future lease payments as of June 30, 2021 are $20.0 million. Subsequent to December 31, 2020, we entered into new leases in the U.S. for multiple showrooms and an operations center and amended certain existing leases to extend their terms as we continue to expand our physical presence.
In the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company declared and paid $12.2 million of distributions to, or on behalf of, members associated with their estimated income tax obligations for 2020, $2.3 million of distributions to, or on behalf of, members associated with their estimated income tax obligations for the first quarter of 2021, and $4.1 million of distributions to, or on behalf of, members associated with their estimated income tax obligations for the second quarter of 2021.
Notwithstanding our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement discussed below, we believe that our current sources of liquidity, which include cash, net cash provided by operating activities, and the proceeds of this offering, will be sufficient to meet our projected operating, debt service, and tax distribution requirements for at least the next 12 months. We have capital commitments of $2.0 million related to the opening of new locations as of June 30, 2021, and we have no principal repayments due in 2021, $30.8 million of principal repayments due in 2022, and $34.2 million of principal due in 2023 on our Term Loan. As further described below, we have an additional final payment of $3.2 million due in 2023 on our Term Loan.
Additional future liquidity needs may include public company costs, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, and state and federal taxes to the extent not sheltered by our deferred income tax assets, including those arising as a result of purchases or exchanges of common units for Class A and Class D common stock. Although the actual timing and amount of any payments that may be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement will vary, we expect that the payments that we will be required to make to the Continuing Equity Owners will be significant. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us or to Brilliant Earth, LLC, and, to the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, the
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unpaid amounts generally will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid by us; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement and therefore may accelerate payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. For a discussion of the Tax Receivable Agreement, see Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsTax Receivable Agreement and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.
To the extent that our current liquidity is insufficient to fund future activities, we may need to raise additional funds, such as attempts to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities or through debt financing arrangements. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, the ownership of our existing stockholders will be diluted. The incurrence of additional debt financing would result in debt service obligations, and any future instruments governing such debt could provide for operating and financing covenants that could restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that we could obtain refinancing or additional financing on favorable terms or at all. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to our BusinessWe may require additional capital to support the growth of our business, and this capital might not be available on acceptable terms, if at all.
Term Loan Agreement
On September 30, 2019, we entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with Runway Growth Finance Corp. (f/k/a Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc.) (Runway) which provided for a first tranche of loans in an aggregate principal amount up to $35.0 million available immediately and a second tranche of loans in an aggregate principal amount up to $5.0 million (Original Term Loan). On December 17, 2020, the Original Term Loan was amended to add a commitment for supplemental second tranche loans in the aggregate amount of up to $30.0 million (the First Amendment). On August 6, 2021, the Original Term Loan was amended to permit (1) a transfer of $1,000,000 to the Brilliant Earth Foundation, and (2) additional amounts up to 5.00% of our annual net profits thereafter provided that there is not an event of default that has not been cured (the Second Amendment). On August 29, 2021, the Original Term Loan was amended to, among other matters, permit the reorganization transactions to be consummated by us in connection with the Up-C structure, as described under Our Organizational Structure and reduce the interest rate of the Term Loan (the Third Amendment, and the Original Term Loan, as amended by the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, and the Third Amendment, the Term Loan). The maturity date of the Term Loan is October 15, 2023, and as of December 31, 2020, we complied with all covenants under the Term Loan.
The Term Loan carries an interest rate equal to LIBOR, with a floor of 0.50%, plus 7.75%, unless LIBOR becomes no longer attainable or ceases to accurately or fairly cover or reflect the costs of the lender, in which case the applicable interest rate shall be Prime Rate, with a floor of 3.35%, plus 4.90%. We are required to make interest-only payments on the Term Loan through April 15, 2022 (the Amortization Date). The Term Loan will begin amortizing on the Amortization Date, with equal monthly payments of principal, which would fully amortize the principal amount of the Term Loan by October 15, 2023, plus interest being made by us to Runway in consecutive monthly installments until October 15, 2023. The Term Loan carries a prepayment fee of 3.00% declining to 0.00% based on the anniversary date of payment; and, a final payment fee equal to 4.50% of the principal amount repaid upon maturity or prepayment, plus $0.2 million. In the event that we choose to partially prepay the Term Loan, we are obligated to make a partial final payment on the date of such prepayment.
The Term Loan is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and requires us to comply with various affirmative and negative debt covenants. The affirmative covenants include meeting reporting requirements, such as monthly financial statements and compliance certificates, board observer rights, annual operating budget and financial projections, annual audited financial statements, federal tax returns, and other requirements. The negative covenants contain requirements that restrict
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our ability to create, incur, assume, or be liable for any indebtedness, incur liens, make distributions, make investments, dispose of assets, engage in mergers or acquisitions, or effect a change in business, management, ownership, or business locations, and other restrictive requirements. In addition, the financial covenants require us to reach the minimum liquidity requirements of cash and cash equivalents in deposit accounts secured in favor of Runway in an amount not less than the sum of (a) projected negative cash flow from operations (including interest payments due in respect of any indebtedness) for the immediately following six (6) month period, plus (b) projected capital expenditures on property and/or equipment, including any leasing expenditures and principal repayments in respect of any indebtedness, for the immediately following six (6) month period, as determined monthly on the last day of each month. For additional information regarding our long-term debt activity, see the notes to the audited financial statements (Note 7, Long-Term Debt) contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Additional Liquidity Requirements after Completion of Offering
After the completion of this offering, we will be a holding company and will have no material assets other than our ownership of LLC Interests. We will have no independent means of generating revenue. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement that will be in effect at the time of this offering provides for the payment of certain distributions to the Continuing Equity Owners and to us in amounts sufficient to cover the income taxes imposed on such members with respect to the allocation of taxable income from Brilliant Earth, LLC as well as to cover our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement and other administrative expenses.
Regarding the ability of Brilliant Earth, LLC to make distributions to us, the terms of their financing arrangements, including the Term Loan Agreement, contain covenants that may restrict Brilliant Earth, LLC from paying such distributions, subject to certain exceptions. Further, Brilliant Earth, LLC is generally prohibited under Delaware law from making a distribution to a member to the extent that, at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, liabilities of Brilliant Earth, LLC (with certain exceptions), as applicable, exceed the fair value of its assets.
In addition, under the Tax Receivable Agreement, we will be required to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners equal to 85% of the tax benefits, if any, that we actually realize (or in certain circumstances are deemed to realize), as a result of (1) increases in our allocable share of the tax basis of Brilliant Earth, LLCs assets resulting from (a) our purchase of LLC Interests from each Continuing Equity Owner, as described under Use of Proceeds; (b) future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests for Class A common stock or cash as described below under Redemption rights of holders of LLC Interests; and (c) certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) certain tax benefits arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We expect the amount of the cash payments that we will be required to make under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be significant. The actual amount and timing of any payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the timing of redemptions or exchanges by the Continuing Equity Owners, the amount of gain recognized by the Continuing Equity Owners, the amount and timing of the taxable income we generate in the future, and the federal tax rates then applicable. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us.
Additionally, in the event we declare any cash dividends, we intend to cause Brilliant Earth, LLC to make distributions to us in amounts sufficient to fund such cash dividends declared by us to our shareholders. Deterioration in the financial condition, earnings, or cash flow of Brilliant Earth, LLC for any reason could limit or impair their ability to pay such distributions.
If we do not have sufficient funds to pay taxes or other liabilities or to fund our operations, we may have to borrow funds, which could materially adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition and subject us to various restrictions imposed by any such lenders. To the extent that we are unable to
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make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments generally will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement and therefore accelerate payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. In addition, if Brilliant Earth, LLC does not have sufficient funds to make distributions, our ability to declare and pay cash dividends will also be restricted or impaired.
See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Organizational Structure, and Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.
Cash Flows from Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities Comparison for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Six months ended June 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 20,210 | $ | 4,788 | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(2,646 | ) | (179 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
(18,832 | ) | 2,657 | |||||
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Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
(1,268 | ) | 7,266 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
66,474 | 40,598 | ||||||
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period |
$ | 65,206 | $ | 47,864 | ||||
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Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $20.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, consisting of $10.9 million in net income adjusted for $3.8 million in non-cash expense addbacks, primarily composed of the change in fair value of warrants, depreciation and amortization of debt issuance costs, plus a $5.5 million increase from changes in assets and liabilities related to operating activities. The change in assets and liabilities related to operating activities, which is the result of our revenue growth, primarily reflects a $10.3 million increase in deferred revenue, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, and deferred rent, offset by $4.8 million increase in inventory, other assets and prepaid expenses and other current assets.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $4.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, consisting of a net income of $0.2 million adjusted for $0.9 million in non-cash addbacks, plus a $3.7 million increase from changes in assets and liabilities related to operating activities. The change in assets and liabilities related to operating activities primarily reflects a $9.6 million increase resulting from an increase in deferred revenue and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets, offset by a $5.9 million decrease principally resulting from an increase in inventory, and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $2.6 million for the six months ending June 30, 2021, which primarily consisted of purchases of property and equipment related to new facilities in the first half of 2021.
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We had limited investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2020 due to a curtailing of capital spending during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the adoption of ASC 842, Leases, which we plan to adopt on January 1, 2022, our balance sheet will reflect the capitalization of the present value of future lease costs for showrooms and our office facilities as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, which are currently presented as SG&A expenses as rents become due.
Financing Activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2021, we paid tax distributions to members of $18.6 million and offering costs of $0.2 million related to the Companys planned involvement in an initial public offering.
During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we obtained a PPP Loan for $2.7 million.
Cash Flows from Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities Comparison for the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 26,723 | $ | 567 | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(584 | ) | (678 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
(263 | ) | 22,603 | |||||
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Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
25,876 | 22,492 | ||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year |
40,598 | 18,106 | ||||||
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year |
$ | 66,474 | $ | 40,598 | ||||
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Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $26.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, consisting of $21.6 million in net income adjusted for $1.9 million in non-cash expense addbacks, primarily composed of depreciation and amortization of debt issuance costs, plus a $3.2 million increase from changes in assets and liabilities related to operating activities. The change in assets and liabilities related to operating activities, which is the result of our revenue growth, primarily reflects a $6.7 million increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and deferred revenue, offset by a $3.5 million increase in inventory, and prepaid expenses and other current assets.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, consisting of a net loss of $7.8 million adjusted for $1.0 million in non-cash addbacks, plus a $7.4 million increase from changes in assets and liabilities related to operating activities. The change in assets and liabilities related to operating activities, which is the result of our revenue growth, primarily reflects a $10.9 million increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and deferred revenue, offset by a $3.5 million increase in inventory, and prepaid expenses and other current assets.
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Investing Activities
We had limited investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 due to the nature of the business not being capital intensive. Following the adoption of ASC 842, Leases, which we plan to adopt on January 1, 2022, our balance sheet will reflect the capitalization of the present value of future lease costs for showrooms and our office facilities as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, which are currently presented as SG&A expenses as rents become due.
Financing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we entered into the Term Loan for $35.0 million, excluding debt issuance costs, to pay off a loan from related parties of $11.0 million, and used the excess to improve our financial liquidity.
In December 2020, we extended our Term Loan with an additional draw of $30.0 million, excluding debt issuance costs, which we used to finance a special distribution to our members. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we obtained a PPP Loan for $2.7 million, which we elected to repay in full in the same year.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk is the risk of economic losses due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. Our primary market risk has been interest rate and commodity risk. We do not have material exposure to foreign currency risk.
Interest Rate Fluctuation Risk
Our cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and money market funds in government securities. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while increasing income without significantly increasing risk. Because our cash and cash equivalents have a relatively short maturity, our portfolios fair value is relatively insensitive to interest rate changes. We do not believe that an increase or decrease in interest rates of 100 basis points would have a material effect on our operating results or financial condition. In future periods, we will continue to evaluate our investment policy in order to ensure that we continue to meet our overall objectives.
Interest on our term loan is based on an 8.25% fixed rate plus LIBOR with a floor of 1.00% per annum. A 10.00% change in interest rates would result in a change to the annual interest expense of $0.6 million.
Inflation and Commodity Risk
Our results are subject to risks associated with inflation including to the cost of inventory, compensation expenses, and other costs.
Our results are also subject to fluctuations in the supply and market pricing of diamonds, gold, platinum and certain other precious metals and gemstones, all of which are key raw material components of our products. We manage exposure to market risk through certain operating activities. We do not currently deploy the use of financial derivatives as a hedge against fluctuations in precious metal pricing.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
In preparing our financial statements in conformity with GAAP, we must make decisions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and related disclosures. Such decisions include the selection of the appropriate accounting principles 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 Note 1, Description of the company and summary of significant accounting policies, to our accompanying financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this registration statement. Some of those significant accounting policies require us to make difficult, subjective, or complex judgments 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, or results of operations. Our critical accounting estimates include the following:
Revenue Recognition
Net sales primarily consists of revenue from the sale of inventory, and we recognize revenue as control of promised goods is transferred to customers, which generally occurs upon delivery if the order is shipped, or at the time the customer picks up the completed product at a showroom. Revenue arrangements generally have one performance obligation and are reported net of estimated sales returns and allowances, which are determined based on historical product return rates and current economic conditions. We offer a three-year extended service plan, which gives rise to an additional performance obligation that is recognized over the course of the service plan. We maintain a returns asset account, less any expected costs to recover, and a refund liabilities account to record the effects of estimated product returns and sales returns and allowances, which are updated at the end of each financial reporting period with the effect of such changes accounted for in the period in which such changes occur. Our sales returns and allowance accounts are based on historical return percentages and current period sales levels.
Inventories, net
Our diamond, jewelry, and gemstone inventories are primarily held for resale and valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value determined using the weighted-average cost on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis for all inventories, except for unique inventory SKUs (principally independently graded diamonds), where cost is determined using specific identification. Net realizable value is defined as estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.
Inventory reserves are recorded for obsolete, slow-moving, or defective items and shrinkage. Inventory reserves for obsolete, slow-moving, or defective items are calculated as the difference between the cost of inventory and its estimated market value. Due to our inventory principally consisting of diamonds, gemstones, and fine jewelry, the age of the inventories has limited impact on the estimated market value. Diamonds and gemstones do not degrade in quality over time, and diamond and gemstone inventory generally consists of the diamond and gemstone shapes and sizes commonly used in the jewelry industry. Product obsolescence is closely monitored and reviewed by management on an ongoing basis.
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The market value used in our calculation of inventory reserves is based on estimation processes that require judgment, especially around current and anticipated demand, customer preferences, fashion trends, management strategy, and market conditions.
Generally, inventory has been fast-selling and moves quickly reducing the potential for write-downs.
Fair Value Measurement for Class P Unit Redemption Value, Warrants Exercisable into Class P Units, and Valuation as of the Grant Date of Class M Units
We record our basis in Class P Units at their current redemption value, and our warrants exercisable into Class P Units and grants of Class M units as of the grant date at their fair values.
Measurements of the redemption value of the Class P Units, the fair value of warrants exercisable into Class P Units, and the valuation as of the grant date of Class M Units is our responsibility with assistance from independent third party valuations. The objective of fair value measurements is to estimate an exit price from the perspective of a market participant that holds the asset or owes the liability. As such, unobservable inputs reflect market participant assumptions about risk, both in terms of the inherent risks in a valuation technique, as well as the inputs to that valuation technique. Although unobservable inputs used in determining the fair value by market participants may consider our own data, the metrics are not entity-specific because they do not incorporate the assets current use or any specific advantages or disadvantages we derive from the asset.
For the six months ending June 30, 2021 and years ending December 31, 2020 and 2019, fair value measurements were based on an estimate of the implied equity value of our company using a combination of guideline public company analysis, a guideline transaction analysis, and a discounted cash flows analysis, with a 33.3% weighting given to each method. The enterprise value was then adjusted for cash and interest-bearing debt to determine equity value. In determining fair value for the relevant period, the aggregate equity value for our company was then allocated to each instrument with consideration given to the preferences of each class of units using a hypothetical distribution of value (commonly referred to as the waterfall). Then, the allocation of the equity values to warrants exercised into Class P Units and to the fair value on the grant date for Class M Units were further adjusted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the enterprise value determined using the method described in the preceding paragraph was further adjusted to reflect the potential for an exit event based on the contemplated initial public offering using a guideline company analysis. The derived equity value was then allocated to each instrument as described in the preceding paragraph. Key inputs included valuations of guideline companies and transactions. The guideline company and transaction methods also considered a control premium. The discounted cash flow analysis included estimates of our future financial performance discounted at a rate that considered the cost of capital and venture capital required rates of return studies. All inputs are Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Level 3 inputs into the Black-Scholes model (in addition to the fair value of the underlying unit) to value the warrants exercised into Class P Units and Class M Units included the expected price volatility estimated by taking the average historic price volatility for industry peers consisting of several public companies in our industry that are of similar size, complexity, and stage of development; the risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option based on the U.S. Treasury implied yield at the date of grant; and, for our Class M Units, the expected term of the grant. An estimate for the fair value of the security underlying the award will not be necessary once the security begins trading.
Application of these approaches involves the use of estimates, judgments, and assumptions that are highly complex and subjective, such as those regarding expected future financial performance, discount rates, valuations and selection of comparable companies, and the probability of possible
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future events. Changes in any or all of these estimates and assumptions or the relationships between those assumptions impact our valuations as of each valuation date and may have a material impact on the valuation of Class P Units.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For information regarding recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2, Recent accounting pronouncements to our accompanying financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this registration statement.
JOBS Act
We qualify as an emerging growth company pursuant to the provisions of the JOBS Act, enacted on April 5, 2012. Section 102 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if as an emerging growth company we choose to rely on such exemptions, we may not be required to, among other things, (1) provide an auditors attestation report on our systems of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (2) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Act, (3) comply with the requirement of the PCAOB regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditors report on the financial statements, and (4) disclose certain executive compensation-related items, such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the Chief Executive Officers compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply until we no longer meet the requirements of being an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (a) the last day of the fiscal year (i) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, (ii) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion or (iii) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the last business day of our prior second fiscal quarter, and (b) the date on which we have issued more than $1.07 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
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Our Mission
To create a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry.
Our Story
From the beginning, our founders, Beth and Eric, have aspired to create a modern jewelry company that reflects their own values and transforms an outdated industry. They believe in fine jewelry that is different in every wayhow its made, how its sold, how its sourced and crafted, and how it gives back.
For Beth, her journey began when she experienced firsthand the challenge of finding a responsibly sourced engagement ring that reflected her values. She had learned about environmental and social injustices in the jewelry industry and cared deeply that her own ring would not contribute to these injustices. Discouraged by opaque sourcing practices and impersonal shopping experiences, she believed there had to be a better way.
Beth shared her frustrations with her business school classmate Eric, and learned that he had been studying the jewelry industry. Eric shared Beths passion that this antiquated and slow-moving industry could be reinvented in a thoughtful and modern way to serve a new generation. Together, Beth and Eric founded Brilliant Earth in 2005 with the belief that consumers deserve transparent and responsible practices, beautiful, high-quality, and unique products, and a personalized shopping experience that brings joy into the jewelry buying process. What began as a partnership between two entrepreneurs has grown into a community of people who believe that beautifully designed jewelry can also be a powerful tool for change.
Our Company
Brilliant Earth is an innovative, digital-first jewelry company, and a global leader in ethically sourced fine jewelry. We offer exclusive designs with superior craftsmanship and supply chain transparency, delivered to customers through a highly personalized omnichannel experience.
Our mission is to create a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry, and we are proud to offer customers distinctive and thoughtfully designed products that they can truly feel good about wearing. Our core values resonate strongly across many demographics and particularly with values-driven Millennial and Gen Z consumers.
Our extensive collection of premium-quality diamond engagement and wedding rings, gemstone rings, and fine jewelry is conceptualized by our leading in-house design studio and then brought to life by expert jewelers. From our award-winning jewelry designs to our responsibly sourced materials, at Brilliant Earth we aspire to exceptional standards in everything we do.
We were founded in 2005 as an e-commerce company with an ambitious mission and a single showroom in San Francisco. We have rapidly scaled our business while remaining focused on our mission and elevating the omnichannel customer experience. Through our intuitive digital commerce platform and personalized individual appointments in our showrooms, we cater to the shopping preferences of tech-savvy next-generation consumers. We create an educational, joyful, and approachable experience that is unique in the jewelry industry. Today, Brilliant Earth has sold to consumers in all U.S. states and over 50 countries and has served over 370,000 customers through our e-commerce platform and 13 showrooms.
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Throughout our history, we have invested in technology to create a seamless customer experience, inform our data-driven decision-making, improve efficiencies, and advance our mission. Our technology enables dynamic product visualization, augmented reality try-on, blockchain-enabled transparency, and rapid fulfillment of our flagship Create Your Own product. We leverage powerful data capabilities to improve our marketing and operational efficiencies, personalize the customer experience, curate showroom inventory and merchandising, inform real estate decisions, and develop new product designs that reflect consumer preferences. We believe the Brilliant Earth digital experience drives higher satisfaction, engagement, and conversion both online and in-showroom.
Our financial model is compelling: high net sales growth, substantial first order profitability and attractive margins. We are very capital efficient: our made-to-order capabilities and virtual inventory model generate attractive inventory turns and negative working capital. We have achieved strong financial performance and rapid growth since our founding with minimal outside funding, and believe we are in the early stages of realizing our potential in a massive market opportunity:
| grew net sales to $251.8 million in 2020, compared to $201.3 million in 2019; |
| achieved net income of $21.6 million in 2020, compared to $(7.8) million in 2019; |
| achieved net income margin of 8.6% in 2020, compared to (3.9%) in 2019; |
| grew Adjusted EBITDA to $27.5 million in 2020, compared to $(4.5) million in 2019; and |
| improved Adjusted EBITDA margin to 10.9% in 2020, compared to (2.2%) in 2019. |
Our performance in the first half of 2021 continues to demonstrate our ability to succeed in this market:
| grew net sales to $163.0 million, up 77.7% from $91.8 million in the first half of 2020; |
| achieved net income of $10.9 million, up from $0.2 million in the first half of 2020; |
| achieved net income margin of 6.7%, compared to 0.2% in the first half of 2020; |
| grew Adjusted EBITDA to $21.0 million, up 600% from $3.0 million in the first half of 2020; and |
| improved Adjusted EBITDA margin to 12.9%, compared to 3.3% in the first half of 2020. |
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Our Opportunity
Global Jewelry Market Size and Growth ($bn)
Source: Euromonitor.
Massive Global Jewelry Market
The fine jewelry market is estimated to be worth approximately $300 billion globally and approximately $61 billion in the U.S. according to Euromonitor, and has consistently grown at CAGRs of 7.4% and 4.7%, respectively, from 2010 to 2019. In the U.S., e-commerce is the fastest growing channel, with a CAGR of 15% from 2010 through 2020, increasing from 10% of sales in 2010 to 31% in 2020.
Despite its mammoth size, the jewelry industry is highly fragmented and includes players like mall jewelers, local independent stores, and department stores, among others. Globally, there is no single fine jewelry player with over 4% market share. According to Bain, approximately 65% of the industry is composed of thousands of small and independent jewelers, many of which are struggling to address evolving consumer preferences for personalization and e-commerce, and are further limited by reduced purchasing power and an inventory-heavy model. Mall jewelers have also been slow to modernize an outdated retail experience, and face declining foot traffic. We believe the rapidly changing industry provides ample opportunity for Brilliant Earth to take share.
The bridal categorywhere we currently derive a large portion of our businessis among the most resilient in the jewelry industry. Engagement and wedding rings are an enduring tradition. According to The Knot 2019 Study, 96% of U.S. couples exchanged a ring and 83% of engagement rings featured diamonds. Each year, there are over two million marriages in the U.S. alone, a number that has been consistent for the past ten years according to U.S. government statistics.
Engagement rings also have a high AOV and are a highly considered purchase, often one of the largest purchases that a consumer will make. Given the emotional significance of this purchase, customers often form strong connections with the company from which they buy bridal jewelry and return for special occasions or self-gifting fine jewelry purchases.
There is also a large opportunity with the branded fine jewelry segment. According to McKinsey, branded products can command around six times higher prices than for unbranded products. Looking ahead, branded fine jewelry is expected to grow at an 8 to 12% CAGR from 2019 to 2025.
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Changing consumer preferences
Millennial and Gen Z consumers combined spending power neared $3 trillion in 2020, according to YPulse, and they are the largest opportunity for the jewelry industry. These consumers represent the core consumer of bridal-related products and a significant portion of the fine jewelry market. They are drawn to purpose-driven brands, are digitally savvy, and expect to shop whenever and wherever they want.
People are shopping for jewelry online more than ever before. According to Euromonitor, 31% of fine jewelry sales were online in 2020, up from 22% in 2019. As preferences continue to shift online, we believe consumers seek authentic brands with a strong digital presence and an engaged community. They are highly active on social media, where 81% of proposees looked for engagement ring inspiration.
While Millennial and Gen Z consumers appreciate digitally native brands, many also want an in-person experience where they can see, touch, and feel products, especially for a high value, considered purchase. They expect to be able to shop when and where they want with a seamless journey between brick-and-mortar and online. This requires strong digital capabilities and a true omnichannel experience.
How consumers purchase diamond jewelry in the U.S.
Source: The Bain Report.
Couples are also increasingly shopping together for engagement rings and wedding rings, so it is important for jewelry providers to cater to both parties. According to The Knot 2020 Study, seven in ten proposees say they were somewhat involved in selecting or purchasing their engagement ring. As the proposee becomes more involved in the experience, we believe that they are more connected to the jewelry brand and are more likely to buy for additional special occasions or self-purchases.
Consumers also seek purpose-driven brands that are authentic, engaged with social and environmental issues, and help them express their individuality. Within Millennial and Gen Z demographics in particular, there is a distinct preference for and prioritization of sustainability, brand, and mission:
| 73% of Millennials are willing to spend more on a product if it comes from a brand that stands for sustainability according to Nielsens Sustainability Report; |
| 71% of Millennials are willing to pay more for a product knowing that a portion of the proceeds goes to charity according to the 5WPR Report; and |
| 79% of all consumers are changing product preferences based on the social and environmental impacts of their purchases according to the Capgemini Study. |
We believe Millennials and Gen Z consumers also seek unique products that speak to their individuality and personal preferences and that they have the option to personalize themselves.
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The Brilliant Earth Difference
We are changing the way people shop for fine jewelry by offering a joyful, personalized, and meaningful jewelry experience. We believe Brilliant Earth has the right omnichannel model, award-winning designs, and mission-driven brand to serve the next generation fine jewelry consumer.
Exceptional Omnichannel Customer Experience
We have reimagined the jewelry shopping experience with our seamless omnichannel modelallowing our customers to shop anywhere, anytime. Customers have joyful, personalized, and meaningful experiences on our website and in our reimagined showrooms. For those who shop online, we deliver a leading mobile-first digital platform with dynamic visualization that brings the product to life, and innovative technology that streamlines the customer journey. For those who want to shop in-store, we provide personalized and curated individual appointments. Customers meet with a dedicated jewelry specialist in a fun, relaxing, and educational environment that fosters lasting connections and propels strong engagement and conversion across channels.
Our high-touch experience drives customer satisfaction, reflected in our high NPS of 75+ every year since 2016 and 62% of customers citing word-of-mouth referral as an important factor in their purchase decision.
Digitally Native, Tech-Driven and Customer-Obsessed
We are digitally native, and take a tech-driven, analytical approach to deliver our exceptional customer experience. The customer is at the forefront of our decision making, and we closely track their feedback and satisfaction across all our channels. We then use this data to create a personalized, premium experience however or wherever our customer chooses to shop.
Our custom e-commerce site guides customers through an intuitive, immersive shopping experience. Our advanced Virtual Try On and product visualization technology allow customers to envision our ring designs with diamonds and gemstones of any size, shape, and color. Dynamic product customization and an intelligent diamond recommendation engine simplify and personalize the shopping experience.
While many customers shop with us exclusively online, others also want an in-person experience. From early in our history, we have offered personalized individual appointments in our modern showrooms, with curated selections based on data collected from the customer. Our customers enjoy a fun, relaxing, and educational environment while learning about our mission and browsing gemstones and jewelry selected just for them.
Dedicated, non-commissioned jewelry specialists are available at every step of their journey via chat, phone, email, virtual appointment, or in our showrooms, which we believe drives strong engagement and high customer satisfaction. These specialists strive to create lasting connections with customers.
Unique and Award-Winning Designs
We believe that customers should never have to compromise between beauty, quality, and conscience. Our commitment to our core values is matched by our passion for innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship.
Our award-winning in-house design studio keeps thoughtful design at the heart of everything we do and allows us to quickly adapt to consumer insights and marketplace trends. We utilize our customer dataset, strong relationships with our customers, and highly engaged social media following to continuously uncover consumer insights and trends. We track over 50 attributes associated with our products to inform our development and merchandising decisions. We create unique, exclusive styles
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that are expertly crafted to be beautiful from every angle and have been featured in leading publications, including Vogue, Forbes, and WWD. Over two-thirds of our ring collection is proprietary and available exclusively at Brilliant Earth, and 99% of our customers cited quality of design as an important factor in their purchase decision, according to our Customer Insight Survey.
Our engagement rings are highly personalized to reflect our customers individuality and unique preferences. Through our Create Your Own model, customers choose their ideal ring design, precious metal type, and ring size, and select their diamond or gemstone from our marketplace of over 100,000 natural and lab-grown diamonds. The customers one-of-a-kind ring is crafted with extraordinary care to fit the exact specifications of their chosen diamond and made just for them, typically in six to twelve business days. We believe the exacting standards of our made-to-order process deliver a higher quality finished product than other offerings that use pre-fabricated rings retrofitted to accommodate a new center gemstone and ring size.
Mission-Driven Ethos
Our mission is to create a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry. We founded the company to provide an ethical alternative to historical jewelry industry practices, which have raised environmental and social concerns and lacked transparency.
| Transparent: We go above and beyond current industry standards to offer Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds that have been selected for their ethical and environmentally responsible origins. As part of our commitment to transparent sourcing, we expect our suppliers to adhere to our strict Supplier Code of Conduct. We also integrate blockchain technology to showcase the journey of a select collection of blockchain-enabled diamonds. We are a certified and audited member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), a not-for-profit standard setting organization for the jewelry industry. |
| Sustainable: Our jewelry is crafted from primarily recycled precious metals and arrives in our iconic ring boxes crafted with wood sourced from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forests. Our shipping packaging is also primarily recycled content and comes from responsibly managed sources, and we constantly strive to increase the recycled content as part of our commitment to minimizing our environmental footprint. We are also a Certified Carbonfree® company and have partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset our carbon emissions by contributing to Carbonfunds Envira Amazonia Project, a conservation project focused on protecting 500,000 acres of tropical rainforest in Brazil. |
| Compassionate: From our beginnings, we have donated to issues we are passionate about, and volunteering and giving back are especially important to our employees. We recently established the Brilliant Earth Foundation, a donor advised fund, to further our philanthropic mission. In 2015, we partnered with the Diamond Development Initiative to fund a primary school in a rural diamond mining community in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With our non-profit partner Pure Earth, we helped empower miners in an artisanal gold mining community in Peru in 2017 by providing training in mercury-free mining practices to help prevent destructive environmental contamination. |
| Inclusive: We are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we strive to embody our values through our product collections, customer experience, non-profit initiatives, and internal practices. We are proud that women comprise majorities of our employees, senior executive team, and board of directors. We are also proud that our CEO and co-founder, Beth Gerstein, serves on the boards of Diamonds Do Good and the Womens Jewelry Association. 31% of our leadership team and 38% of our total employees identify as a member of a BIPOC community. We believe that diversity makes us a stronger company, and we are proud to be a DEI leader in our industry. |
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Our Strengths
The Brilliant Earth Brand
We are a mission-driven, premium brand founded on core values of transparency, sustainability, inclusivity and giving back. These values resonate strongly with Millennial and Gen Z customers, 83% of whom say they will buy from brands whose values align with theirs, according to the 5WPR Report. Those same Millennial and Gen Z consumers collectively represented 87% of our active customers according to our Customer Insight Survey. We thoughtfully develop our brand messaging and customer experience to appeal to all genders, which is important because couples are increasingly shopping together for engagement and wedding rings. 72% of Brilliant Earth couples in 2020 and 2021 were both involved in their engagement ring purchase according to our Customer Insight Survey.
Alongside our mission, we believe our joyful, premium customer experience and unique, exclusive jewelry designs drive our strong brand affinity and loyalty, leading to our Net Promoter Score of 75+ every year since 2016. 76% of customers cited brand and 62% of customers cited word-of-mouth referral as an important factor in their decision to purchase from Brilliant Earth according to our Customer Insight Survey. When asked what words come to mind when they think about Brilliant Earth, the top three mentions were terms related to quality, beauty, and ethics.
Since our founding, we have fostered deep connections with our highly engaged community, leading to an outsized social media presence. We believe our brand resonance, authentic content, and relentless focus on staying ahead of social trends have contributed to our leading engagement rates. Our purpose-driven storytelling and beautiful imagery help us connect with our growing community, which as of June 2021 includes over 9.1 million monthly Pinterest viewers, 2.1 million Facebook followers and over 700,000 Instagram followers.
Exceptional Customer Experience
We have reimagined the jewelry shopping experience. Customers have joyful, personalized, and premium experiences on both our e-commerce site and in our reimagined showrooms. We deliver a leading digital platform, dynamic product customization, innovative technology, and a seamless omnichannel experience. For customers who wish to shop in-store, we provide personalized and curated individual appointments. Customers meet with a dedicated jewelry specialist in a fun, relaxing, and educational environment that fosters lasting connections and propels strong engagement and conversion across channels.
Unique and Exclusive Products
Our award-winning in-house design studio creates unique, exclusive styles that are expertly crafted to be beautiful from every angle. We leverage our data to curate collections and inform new product development strategy, so our offerings are current, fresh, and reflect consumer preferences. We have a vast collection of Beyond Conflict Free natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds that meet rigorous standards for sourcing and quality. Our collection offers extensive coverage across quality characteristics and price points. Through our Create Your Own model, customers can customize their jewelry to reflect their individuality and personal preferences, creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. In 2020, we also released one of the industrys first gender-fluid collections.
Innovative, Data-Driven Technology
As a digitally native company, we use technology to deliver a superior customer experience, improve marketing and operational efficiencies, curate showroom inventory and merchandising, inform real estate decisions, and develop new product designs that reflect consumer preferences. Our proprietary technology includes dynamic visualization, augmented reality try-on, and automated rapid fulfillment of our flagship Create Your Own product. We utilize leading technology for key business functions,
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including product design and personalization, customer relationship management (CRM) and data analytics, inventory and supply chain management, order fulfillment, and more.
We apply cutting-edge technology to innovate and transform our supply chain. We were among the first retail jewelers to offer blockchain diamonds at scale, defining next-generation traceability standards in the jewelry industry, and now offer more than 10,000 blockchain-enabled diamonds. This technology tracks a diamond from its origins at the mining operator, through cutting and polishing, to the customer. This provides even greater transparency into the responsible origins of these blockchain-enabled diamonds.
Capital Efficient Operating Model
We have an asset-light operating model with attractive working capital dynamics, capital efficient showrooms, and a vast virtual inventory of premium natural and lab-grown diamonds. We are able to offer over 100,000 diamondshundreds of millions of dollars worthwhile keeping our balance sheet inventory low, which has driven our attractive inventory turns of over 10x every year since 2018, compared to 1-2x inventory turns that are more typical for even high-performing traditional jewelers. Our limited owned-inventory and rapid cash cyclewhere we are typically paid by our customers before we pay our suppliersallow us to scale with limited capital outlays.
Our showroom strategy generates highly favorable unit economics and avoids the inefficiencies of traditional jewelers that have too many physical stores, employees, and inventory. Our showrooms are appointment-driven with large catchment regions, so we are less reliant on high foot traffic locationswith their high rentsthan traditional retailers. We curate showroom inventory for scheduled visits and need minimal inventory for each location. When not in appointment, our tech-enabled team of jewelry specialists supports online customers, maximizing workforce utilization.
Omnichannel Model Driving Growth and Conversion
We believe our showrooms accelerate our financial performance in the markets where they are located. Metros with a showroom experience over 80% revenue growth on average in the first 12 monthssubstantially higher than our 32% blended revenue CAGR from 2016 to 2020and 50% higher conversion within 12 months of opening and increasing to a 75% improvement by year two and a 90% improvement by year three. 50% of customers who have a showroom appointment ultimately make a purchase. On average, our showrooms yield approximately $8,000 in sales per square foot, far outpacing other jewelry retailers.
Founder-Led and Diverse Leadership Team Committed to Inclusion
We care deeply about diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are led by our CEO and co-founder Beth Gerstein, who also serves on the boards of the Womens Jewelry Association and Diamonds Do Good. A majority of our board of directors, 73% of employees at the director level and above, and 80% of our total employees are women. 31% of our leadership team and 38% of our total employees identify as a member of a BIPOC community. We believe our commitment to diversity helps drive employee engagement, with 91% of our surveyed employees in 2020 saying, I am proud to work at Brilliant Earth. Our diverse team and commitment to inclusion are integral to our company and inform our product offerings and customer experience.
Our Growth Strategies
There is a massive growth opportunity ahead. We are less than one percent penetrated in the jewelry category today. With our purpose-driven brand, digitally-driven omnichannel experience, award-winning products, and loyal customers, we believe we have significant opportunities to grow in both our existing and new markets.
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Increase Brand Awareness
Increasing brand awareness and growing favorable brand equity have been and remain central to our growth. As of June 30, 2021, our aided brand awareness is 54%, and we believe we have significant room to increase in the U.S. and internationally. From 2018 to 2021, our aided brand awareness grew from 43% to 54% generally and from 53% to 65% among consumers who recently purchased or are in the process of purchasing an engagement ring or wedding ring. We will continue to drive brand awareness through marketing, earned media, showroom expansion, and word-of-mouth referrals.
Expand Omnichannel Reach
We are in the early stages of expanding our showrooms nationwide, and expect to focus in the near term on major urban markets in the U.S. where we can maximize our growth potential. Expanding our number of showrooms has uplifted our e-commerce business, accelerated growth, increased average order value, and improved conversion in the showrooms metro regions. We have seen over 80% revenue growth on average over the first 12 months in metro areas where a new showroom has been opened. As we expand into new markets, we expect to see similar uplift in those new geographies.
Currently we have 13 locations, and plan to open at least one more by the end of 2021. Because our showrooms serve as destinations with some customers traveling long distances, we believe that we can achieve near-national showroom coverage with under 100 locations. We expect this highly efficient showroom model to complement our digital strategy and will continue to drive growth and profitability.
Expand Purchase Occasions with Existing and New Customers
Fine jewelry, which includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings (other than engagement or wedding), represented 63% of the massive global jewelry market in 2020 according to Bain. We believe we have significant opportunity to expand our relationship with our deeply loyal customer base beyond our current core engagement and wedding ring category into special occasions and self-purchases.
Our customer typically begins their Brilliant Earth journey with an engagement ring, so we are often the first significant jewelry purchase in our customers life, which we believe creates a lasting, emotional connection with the Brilliant Earth brand. While engagement ring purchases have historically been male-dominated, we thoughtfully built our brand messaging and customer experience to appeal to all genders. Our brand values of beauty, quality, and ethics resonate strongly with Brilliant Earth couples. For all of these reasons, we believe we are uniquely positioned in the industry to build on our brand loyalty to increase future purchases.
To capture these opportunities, we are investing in an expanded fine jewelry assortment, and we will continue to enhance our customer lifetime marketing and data-segmentation capabilities, which we believe will more effectively extend customer relationships beyond engagement and wedding purchases, whether customers are buying a gift or a piece for themselves. With our strong brand resonance with Millennials and Gen Z consumers, we also believe our expanded fine jewelry assortment and strategic customer acquisition will continue to drive fine jewelry orders from new customers.
Expand Internationally
We are in the early stages of expanding globally and believe there is significant opportunity for expansions. Approximately $239 billion of the almost $300 billion global fine jewelry market is outside of the U.S. Our early proof points from localizing our website for Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom show promising growth in those markets. In addition, we have sold to customers from over 50
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countries despite minimal existing language, logistics and currency support for those geographies. We believe that these are early positive signals and that there is substantial potential to launch e-commerce in new overseas markets, particularly in Asia, which is a large and fast-growing market for fine jewelry, and new showrooms in countries where we have already established a localized digital presence.
Product Assortment and Merchandising
We are passionate about beautiful and innovative product design. We are proud to offer our customers exclusive and thoughtfully curated collections of diamond engagement rings, wedding and anniversary rings, gemstone rings, and fine jewelry.
Our diamond engagement rings are made-to-order through our Create Your Own ring digital tool. Customers choose their ideal ring setting, precious metal type, and ring size, and select their favorite Beyond Conflict Free natural diamond or lab-grown diamond to create their one-of-a-kind ring.
Our collection of wedding and anniversary rings includes classic precious metal bands and bands accented with diamonds or gemstones. Many of these rings are designed to complement engagement rings and may be purchased with the engagement ring to provide a perfect match. These rings can also be styled alone for everyday wear or stacked to make a distinctive statement. Our diamond bands, including eternity rings, are popular anniversary gifts.
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Our gemstone rings feature vibrant and distinctive center gemstones, including sapphires, emeralds, moissanites, aquamarines, and other unique colored gemstones. Through our Create Your Own ring digital tool, customers can choose their ideal ring setting, precious metal type, and ring size, and select their favorite gemstone type, shape, color, and size. We also offer pre-set gemstone rings with our most popular gemstones for customers seeking a more curated choice.
Our collection of fine jewelry includes earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. We offer a broad and growing assortment for gifting and self-purchase, from classic diamond stud earrings and tennis bracelets to unique pendants and distinctive gemstone styles. Our emphasis on personalization is reflected in our collection of engravable jewelry and Create Your Own earrings and necklaces set with natural or lab-grown diamonds.
Diamond Assortment
Customers can purchase loose diamonds or select from our vast inventory to create their own diamond ring, earrings, or necklace. Our inventory of independently graded diamonds spans a wide variety of shapes, sizes, premium qualities, and price points to cater to unique customer preferences. We offer both our Beyond Conflict Free natural diamonds with a listed origin and lab-grown diamonds to appeal to different customer preferences. Our Beyond Conflict Free natural diamonds have been selected based on their ethical and environmentally responsible origins, and we believe we are pioneers in offering diamonds with listed and transparent origins. Our lab-grown diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical characteristics as natural diamonds, exhibit the same sparkle and provide a mining-free alternative to naturally sourced diamonds. We were one of the first jewelers to offer lab-grown diamonds in 2012.
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In-House Design Studio
Our award-winning in-house design team creates distinctive new jewelry designs and updates classic styles with fresh modern appeal. Over two-thirds of our ring collection is proprietary and available exclusively at Brilliant Earth. Our head of product development has been driving innovation at Brilliant Earth for over ten years. Our team uses state-of-the-art technology and the artistry of hand-drawn sketches to create hundreds of new designs per year. Each design is perfected using computer-aided design (CAD) technology to ensure beauty from all angles, high quality and manufacturability.
We also release exclusive jewelry collections throughout the year to highlight our passion for design. We believe our customers love our beautiful and unique stylesusing our Virtual Try On feature, they frequently visualize rings with different diamond shapes and sizes on their own hand, then share their unique creations on social media.
Data-Driven Merchandising
We thoughtfully curate our collections to offer beautiful and differentiated designs with broad appeal. Our data-driven merchandising strategy leverages our robust dataset, strong relationships with our customers, and highly engaged social media community to continuously uncover new insights and trends. We also analyze over 50 attributes associated with our products to optimize our merchandising and inventory decisions.
Our in-house expertise drives an agile product development cycle, with new products typically developed within three months. This agility enables us to rapidly launch, test, and learn based on performance feedback with minimal capital outlay. We regularly refresh our product assortment and maintain a curated online collection of fresh, trend-forward styles that resonate strongly with our customers. We merchandise our showrooms with styles that have sold well online, keeping our inventory costs low.
Partnership Collections
We partner with designers and organizations aligned with our mission and values to create exclusive product collections and support social causes we are passionate about. Collections allow us to broaden our assortment, reinforce our brand ethos, increase engagement with customers and feature like-minded designers.
Recent successful partnerships include:
| Tacori at Brilliant Earth: In May 2021, we announced a partnership to offer the first fully customizable bridal collection for Tacori. Using our Create Your Own tool, customers can customize versions of Tacoris most popular engagement ring settings and wedding bands, including the precious metal type and diamond size and shape. |
| Happiest Season: In December 2020, we launched our gender-neutral ring line, MX Collection, featured in Hulus Happiest Season, the first major LGBTQ+ holiday rom-com. The line was designed with inclusivity in mind and is driven by our passion to create a more compassionate and inclusive jewelry industry. |
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| Simone I. Smith Jewelry for Brilliant Earth Collection: In 2020, we offered exclusive products from Simones on-trend jewelry line, and we supported social change and racial justice by donating a portion of our proceeds to groups like the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. |
| Amazon Rainforest Diamond Pendant: In 2019, we partnered with the Rainforest Alliance to design an exclusive necklace to raise awareness around climate change. |
Technology and Data
Since our founding, we have been a leader in incorporating technology and a data-driven approach in an industry that has historically been slow to embrace technology. Our core technologies serve as a foundation for our operating, sales, marketing, and merchandising functions. To deliver our exceptional customer experience and drive efficiencies across our company, we develop proprietary technology solutions and leverage leading third-party solutions.
We have a customized e-commerce architecture that enables us to efficiently develop and launch new functionality, customer experiences, and content. Our agile development sprints allow for rapid innovation and testing, and we continually release new functionality to optimize the user experience. For example, our proprietary Diamond Quiz curates recommendations unique to each customer based on an analysis of thousands of diamond demand categories.
We offer our customers a wide variety of powerful decision-making tools, including real diamond videos, and dynamic product visualization. Our advanced Virtual Try On tool allows customers to see any ring with any gemstone size, shape, and color on their own hand, then seamlessly shop, save or share their one-of-a-kind creation. Our Find My Matching Wedding Band tool offers customers an engaging way to explore and discover rings that match their engagement rings, enables the visualization of the ring set and provides us cross-selling and upselling opportunities.
Our technology infrastructure, including our supply chain, inventory management, order fulfillment, sales system of record, and CRM systems, is built within a highly customized, powerful ERP platform. We leverage this technology to provide a unified data source and single view of our customer, as well as ensure quality standards and a more efficient turnaround for our flagship Create Your Own product. We also use a leading data visualization platform for real-time business intelligence across our teams to drive decision making and continuous improvement.
Direct to Consumer, Omnichannel Sales Model
We sell directly to consumers through our omnichannel sales platform, including e-commerce and showrooms. With a customer-centric and data-driven approach, we offer an elevated, personalized, and educational experience. Our omnichannel approach enhances the customer journey, provides a deeper connection with our jewelry specialists, and drives higher conversion rates.
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Our mobile-first design approach enables an exceptional user experience across devices. On www.brilliantearth.com, customers can engage with our experienced jewelry specialists via chat, e-mail, and virtual appointments, and can experience our products using our Virtual Try On and product visualization technology.
We offer personalized individual appointments at our modern showrooms, where customers can experience Brilliant Earth in person, touch, and feel our products, and receive valuable diamond and gemstone education from our jewelry specialists. We make visiting our showrooms a seamless experience where customers can easily book their appointment and share their preferences online. We also use data from our customers digital interactions to personalize their appointments and curate the inventory they see in the showroom.
As of today, we have 13 showrooms across nine states and Washington D.C., and plan to open at least one more by the end of 2021. Our showrooms are in prime destinations in major metro areas, including ground or upper floor locations in areas with premium retail adjacencies. We leverage dataincluding our own first-person customer data, revenue, e-commerce behavior, population and demographic data, and market growthto inform our showroom real estate decisions.
Brilliant Earth Showrooms
Jewelry Specialists
We have a dedicated team of jewelry specialists available to our customers through every step of their journey via chat, phone, email, virtual appointment, and in our showrooms. Our team serves customers across more than 50 countries on inquiries ranging from diamond education, style recommendations, jewelry care, and payment options.
We maintain a flexible and high utilization staffing model in which specialists can seamlessly support online customers when not in customer appointments. We host thousands of individual consultations per month, where we provide diamond and jewelry guidance and education in a relaxing environment, and we provide personalized product recommendations and styling advice for our customers. Jewelry specialists leverage our unified view of the customer to ensure a personalized experience and create a fun, approachable, and educational environment that fosters lasting connections.
We have tens of thousands of customer interactions per month on average. We respond to most inbound inquiries within 24 hours. In addition, outbound initiatives such as proactive live chats and email invitations to visit showrooms increase customer engagement and conversion.
Our high-touch, premium experience drives customer satisfaction, reflected in our strong word of mouth referrals and high NPS of 75+ every year since 2016.
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Marketing
We employ a variety of dynamic brand marketing and performance marketing strategies to broaden our customer reach, build brand awareness, and maximize lifetime customer value. We use data-driven insights to produce targeted marketing content across a variety of mediums and optimize our marketing efficiency. Our customers are deeply involved with the Brilliant Earth brand, sharing thousands of images, videos, and stories of their proposals and weddings every year. They are passionate brand ambassadors, as reflected by the 62% of customers that were word-of-mouth referrals according to our Customer Insight Survey.
Brand Marketing
From the beginning, we have prioritized building a highly engaged social media following, and we now reach over 3 million followers across our social platforms. Our in-house social media team prioritizes a mix of aspirational yet approachable product and lifestyle imagery, authentic user-generated content, unique educational content, and purpose-driven storytelling that aligns with our audiences values. Our strong connection with our audience allows us to stay ahead of trends and adapt to reflect their interests.
We also collaborate with key influencers who are deeply passionate about our mission and products. We partner with them to create authentic and unique content, which helps to expand our reach to new and highly relevant audiences. This amplifies the effectiveness of our strategy and contributes to our outsized number of followers and engagement with our community.
Our unique product designs, strong mission and values and new market launches drive frequent press mentions in leading publications, including Forbes, Vogue and WWD. In 2020, Brilliant Earth garnered over 600 media placements that generated over 13 billion total impressions.
Performance Marketing
We take a data-driven and digital-centric approach to performance marketing including search engine optimization, paid search and product listing advertisements, paid and earned social, retargeting, email, display, direct mail, and more. We continuously track performance and make adjustments across channels, campaigns, and creative assets to optimize performance. Our performance marketing drives attractive customer acquisition and retention metrics.
Sourcing and Supply Chain
Responsible sourcing is an important aspect of our mission and values. We work with a complex, global network of trusted suppliers and manufacturers who agree to our strict Supplier Code of Conduct and with whom we have developed deep relationships, generally over many years. As part of our commitment to social and environmental responsibility, we offer Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds, recycled precious metals and FSC-certified wood ring boxes. We strive to offer products sourced in alignment with responsible labor and environmental practices, and continually work with our suppliers to seek to improve standards and traceability.
Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds
We go above and beyond current industry standards to offer Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds that have been selected for their ethical and environmentally responsible origins. Jewelers that offer conflict free diamonds meet the minimum standards of the Kimberley Process definition, which narrowly defines conflict diamonds as rough diamonds used to finance wars against governments. This
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minimum standards definition still allows large numbers of diamonds that are tainted by violence, human rights abuses, poverty, environmental degradation, and other issues.
Mining Practices and Standards
Our select group of natural diamond suppliers demonstrate a robust chain of custody protocol for their diamonds and have the ability to track and segregate diamonds by origin. These suppliers are required to source diamonds that originate from specific mine operations in specific countries that have demonstrated their commitment to follow internationally recognized labor, trade and environmental standards. Our natural diamonds are sourced from Canada, Russia, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa.
We are continuously improving our processes and working with our partners toward ever more rigorous procedures for diamond sourcing and handling. Our goal is to work with our suppliers and industry partners to continue leading the diamond industry in traceability.
Blockchain-Enabled and GIA Origin Report Diamonds
To further our commitment to transparency and responsible sourcing, we have partnered with Everledger, a leading emerging technology enterprise that uses blockchain to securely track and trace the provenance of high-value assets, including our collection of blockchain-enabled diamonds. This technology tracks a diamond from its origins at the mining operator, through cutting and polishing, to the customer. We now offer more than 10,000 blockchain-enabled diamonds. We also offer a collection of GIA Origin Report Diamonds that trace the diamond from its source to its final polished state by uniquely leveraging advanced scientific analysis to deliver rough-to-polish diamond matching.
Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are created in highly controlled laboratory environments using advanced technological processes that duplicate the conditions under which diamonds develop in nature. These diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical characteristics as natural diamonds, and exhibit the same fire, scintillation, and sparkle. Lab-grown diamonds provide a mining-free alternative to natural diamonds.
Recycled Precious Metals
We strive to use 100% recycled precious metals for our products. Our precious metals are sourced from certified responsible refiners that have been audited for standards set by organizations such as the Responsible Jewellery Council, Responsible Minerals Initiative, and London Bullion Market Association. Currently our gold and silver fine jewelry is made primarily of recycled materials, and we continue to work with our suppliers to increase the usage of recycled metal in our products.
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Metal mining, and gold mining in particular, is one of the most environmentally destructive types of mining, and gold miners often earn low wages in dangerous working conditions. Our objective is to help diminish the negative impacts of dirty gold and other metals by reducing the demand for newly mined metals, focusing on recycled precious metals, and contributing to programs dedicated to improving mining practices.
Colored Gemstones
Our colored gemstone offerings include sapphires, emeralds, moissanites, and aquamarines. We strive to offer gemstones sourced in alignment with safe working conditions and environmentally responsible principles. By working with our colored gemstone suppliers to improve standards and traceability, we strive to promote higher standards for gemstone sourcing to improve dangerous mining conditions and encourage responsible practices. In 2021, we launched our Moyo Gems Collection, which empowers female artisanal miners in Tanzania through safer work environments, better mining practices, and improved equity in fair trade markets.
Recycled Diamonds
Recycled diamonds consist of existing polished diamonds that were previously sold, and are either in original condition or were re-polished and re-graded. Our recycled diamonds have been graded by an independent gemological lab and can be compared to newly mined diamonds for their quality characteristics. This product category is still nascent in the industry.
Operations, Manufacturing and Fulfillment
We manage complex global operations, manufacturing, and logistics networks to enable rapid turnaround times without compromising our commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and ethical sourcing. We have built a sophisticated technology platform to manage our supplier network, resulting in high-quality, customized jewelry produced at scale.
Inventory Management
We are able to offer a vast virtual inventory of over 100,000 premium natural and lab-grown diamonds while keeping our asset inventory low. Our sophisticated inventory management system and deep integration with our suppliers allow us to rapidly bring in inventory for appointments. Using our customer data, we curate the inventory for our in-person appointments, ensuring showroom visitors see a personalized and relevant selection. Pricing with our suppliers is determined based on product specifications, market conditions, and other variables. For example, diamond prices are determined based on market conditions, competition, and other factors, including the diamonds attributes.
Manufacturing
We have deep relationships with long-term manufacturing partners, who demonstrate their ability to meet our commitments for ethical sourcing, high quality, fast turnarounds and scalability. Pricing with our manufacturing partners is established and renegotiated based on product specifications, market conditions, and other variables. Our partners, who we consider part of the Brilliant Earth family, go through a rigorous onboarding process to ensure they meet our strict compliance and quality standards, including recycled metal content. Because we own the designs created by our in-house studio, we have flexibility to determine where the jewelry is manufactured to optimize cost, manufacturing capabilities and turnaround times.
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Fulfillment and Logistics
The majority of our products are made-to-order, and delivered in as little as six to twelve business days. For products that sell in higher, more consistent volumes, such as certain rings and finished jewelry, we batch produce and stock items to enable even faster customer delivery, typically in just two to five business days. Orders are shipped to customers directly from our fulfillment centers or from our manufacturing partners.
Packaging
Our responsibly sourced wood ring boxes are designed to be as iconic as the jewelry they hold. They are crafted with wood sourced from FSC certified forests, which are responsibly managed to protect the forests for future generations. Our shipping packaging is primarily recycled content and comes from responsibly managed sources, and we continuously strive to increase the recycled content as part of our commitment to minimizing our environmental footprint.
Our People
We are extremely proud of our team who embody our culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. As of June 30, 2021, we employed 345 full-time employees and 14 part-time employees in the U.S. We have a broad and diverse team. A majority of our Board of Directors, 73% of employees at the director level and above, and 80% of our total employees are women. 31% of our leadership team and 38% of our total employees identify as a member of a BIPOC community. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or are party to a collective bargaining agreement, and we have had no labor-related work stoppages. We believe that we have good relationships with our employees.
Our Culture
A defining part of working at Brilliant Earth is our culture, and it is a key ingredient of our success. It attracts talent, and we evaluate, celebrate, and promote team members based on our Pillars of Culture.
Our Pillars of Culture are:
| Commitment to the Customer: Providing an exceptional customer experience is always our top priority. |
| Partnership and Positivity: Foster a community of collaboration, respect, and encouragement. Celebrate each others victories, big, and small. |
| Bias toward Action: When you see a need, step up rather than stand by. Discuss, test efficiently, and take action. |
| Embrace Growth and Change: Be a champion of continuous improvement. Look for new opportunities to support business goals. |
| Mission Mindset: Be an educated, passionate advocate of our mission in your role and beyond. |
| Ownership: Be accountable for your actions, take pride in your work and inspire others with your example. |
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Competition
The global jewelry industry is highly fragmented. We operate in a competitive industry with other global jewelry retailers and brands, department stores, and independent stores, many of which have an online presence. Our primary competitors include:
| Jewelry retailers and brands, which sell directly to consumers through their own retail stores and online sites; |
| Department stores, which sell an assortment of jewelry brands, and in some cases their own products, through stores and online sites; and |
| Independent stores, including boutiques and mom and pop shops, who sell primarily through one or more local stores. |
In addition, other retail categories and forms of expenditure, such as electronics and travel, also compete for consumers discretionary spending. The price of fine jewelry relative to other products also influences consumer spending on fine jewelry.
We compete based on brand differentiation, including our mission and values, product selection and quality, customization, price, consumer experience, and turnaround time. We believe that we compete favorably in the market for bridal and other fine jewelry products by focusing on these factors as well as our core values of transparency, sustainability, inclusivity, and giving back.
We believe our premium omnichannel customer experience, unique and exclusive designs, and purpose-driven brand create limited overlap with other industry participants.
Intellectual Property and Other Proprietary Rights
Our long-term commercial success is connected to our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our brand, products, and technology; defend and enforce our intellectual property rights; preserve the confidentiality of our trade secrets; operate our business without infringing, misappropriating, or otherwise violating the intellectual property or proprietary rights of third parties; and prevent third parties from infringing, misappropriating, or otherwise violating our intellectual property rights. We seek to protect our investments made into the development of our products, technologies, brand, and design by relying on a combination of copyrights, trademarks, domain names, and trade secrets, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions.
Our principal trademark assets include the registered trademark Brilliant Earth and our tagline and logos. Our trademarks are valuable assets that support our brand and consumers perception of our services and merchandise. The current registrations of these trademarks are effective for varying periods of time and may be renewed periodically, provided that we, as the registered owner, or our licensees where applicable, comply with all applicable renewal requirements, including, where necessary, the continued use of the trademarks in connection with the relevant goods or services. We expect to pursue additional trademark registrations to the extent we believe they would be beneficial and cost-effective. In addition to trademark protection, we also hold the registration to the brilliantearth.com Internet domain name and various related domain names.
We primarily rely on copyright and trade secret laws to protect our proprietary technologies and processes, including the algorithms we use throughout our business. Trade secrets can be difficult to protect, however. Although we take steps to protect and preserve our trade secrets and our know-how, unpatented technology and other proprietary information, including by entering into intellectual property assignment agreements, non-compete agreements, and non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements and by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our
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information technology systems, such measures can be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors. As a result, we may not be able to meaningfully protect our trade secrets. For more information regarding the risks related to our intellectual property, see Risk FactorsRisks related to Our Legal and Regulatory EnvironmentFailure to adequately obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights or prevent third parties from making unauthorized use of such rights could harm our brand, devalue our proprietary content and technology, and adversely affect our ability to compete effectively.
Facilities
Our principal executive offices are located in San Francisco, CA and Denver, CO. We lease each of our offices and our showroom facilities. Currently, we operate 13 showrooms in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, San Diego, Washington DC, Denver, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, and Dallas. All of our executive offices and retail showrooms are leased from third parties, and our leases generally have a term of five to seven years and typically include five-year renewal options. Most of our showroom leases provide for a minimum rent, typically with escalating rent increases, and generally require us to pay insurance, utilities, real estate taxes and repair and maintenance expenses.
We may negotiate new lease agreements, renew existing lease agreements or use alternate facilities prior to lease termination. We believe that our facilities are adequate for our needs and believe that we should be able to renew any of our leases or secure similar property without an adverse impact on our operations.
Legal Proceedings
We are, from time to time, party to various claims and legal proceedings arising out of our ordinary course of business, but we do not believe that any of these claims or proceedings will have a material effect on our business, consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
On August 26, 2021, Plaintiff Anna Lerman filed a complaint against the Company in California Superior Court for Ventura County. The complaint alleges, on behalf of a putative class, that the Company recorded telephone calls between the Companys customers and its customer service representatives without the customers consent, in violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act Sections 631 and 632.7. The plaintiff seeks statutory damages, injunctive relief, attorneys fees and costs, and other unspecified damages. The Company has not been served with or responded to the complaint. We believe these claims have no merit, and the Company intends to vigorously defend against this lawsuit, though there can be no assurance regarding its ultimate outcome.
Government Regulation
We are required to comply with numerous laws and regulations covering areas such as consumer protection, consumer privacy, data protection, consumer credit, payment processing, insurance, health and safety, waste disposal, supply chain integrity, truth in advertising and employment. We monitor changes in these laws to maintain compliance with applicable requirements.
We are subject to numerous local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations regarding privacy and data protection. Regulators around the world have adopted or proposed limitations on, or requirements regarding, the collection, distribution, use, security and storage of personal information, payment card information or other confidential information of individuals and the FTC and many state attorneys general are applying federal and state consumer protection laws to impose standards on the
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online collection, use and dissemination of data. In the event of a security breach, these laws may subject us to incident response, notice and remediation costs. Failure to safeguard data adequately or to destroy data securely could subject us to regulatory investigations or enforcement actions under applicable data security, unfair practices or consumer protection laws. The scope and interpretation of these laws could change and the associated burdens and our compliance costs could increase in the future. For more information regarding the risks related to our privacy, data security and data protection practices, see Risk FactorsRisks Related to Our Legal and Regulatory EnvironmentWe are subject to rapidly changing and increasingly stringent laws and industry standards relating to privacy, data security, and data protection. The restrictions and costs imposed by these laws, or our actual or perceived failure to comply with them, could subject us to liabilities that adversely affect our business, operations, and financial performance.
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The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and members of our board of directors as of the date of this prospectus:
Name |
Age | Position(s) | ||||
Beth Gerstein |
45 | Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||
Eric Grossberg |
44 | Executive Chairman and Director | ||||
Jeffrey Kuo |
45 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Ian M. Bickley | 57 | Director | ||||
Jennifer N. Harris |
53 | Director | ||||
Attica A. Jaques |
49 | Director | ||||
Beth J. Kaplan |
63 | Director | ||||
Gavin M. Turner |
49 | Director |
Executive Officers
Beth Gerstein. Ms. Gerstein has served as Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors since its formation, and she co-founded Brilliant Earth, LLC in 2005, as well as serving as the co-Chief Executive Officer and a member of Brilliant Earth, LLCs board of managers since its founding. Ms. Gerstein has served as Brilliant Earth, LLCs Chief Executive Officer since March 2021. Ms. Gerstein received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from Duke University, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. We believe that Ms. Gerstein is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of the perspective and the executive leadership experience she brings as our co-founder and Chief Executive Officer.
Eric Grossberg. Mr. Grossberg has served as Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s Executive Chairman of the board of directors since its formation, and he co-founded Brilliant Earth, LLC in 2005 and served as its co-Chief Executive Officer since its founding until March 2021 and as a member of its board of managers since its founding. Mr. Grossberg received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science & Public Policy from Harvard University and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. We believe that Mr. Grossberg is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of the perspective and experience he brings as our co-founder and former co-Chief Executive Officer.
Jeffrey Kuo. Mr. Kuo has served as Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s Chief Financial Officer since its formation, and he has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Brilliant Earth, LLC since March 2020. Mr. Kuo joined Brilliant Earth, LLC in 2015 and previously served as the Vice President of Technology and Vice President of Finance & Technology until March 2020 when he became the Chief Financial Officer. Before joining Brilliant Earth, LLC, Mr. Kuo founded and served as the President and Manager of Xetum LLC, a wristwatch company. Prior to founding Xetum LLC, Mr. Kuo was a management consultant with Bain & Company. Mr. Kuo received a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Directors
Ian M. Bickley. Mr. Bickley has served as a member of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s board of directors and as a member of the board of managers of Brilliant Earth, LLC since June 2021. From July 2017 to December 2018, Mr. Bickley served as President, Global Business Development and Strategic Alliances for Tapestry, Inc., a NYSE-listed house of modern luxury lifestyle and accessory brands
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including Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman. Prior to that, Mr. Bickley held a number of executive roles at Tapestry, Inc. (formerly Coach, Inc.) serving as President, International Group for Coach, Inc. from August 2013 to July 2017, President, Coach International from February 2006 to August 2013, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coach Japan from August 2001 to February 2006, Vice President, Coach Japan from 1997 to 2001 and other successively senior positions since joining in 1993. Mr. Bickley has also served on the board of directors of Crocs, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed casual lifestyle footwear and accessories brand, since April 2015, and the board of directors of Natura & Co. Holding S.A., a NYSE-listed Brazilian global beauty and cosmetics company, since April 2019. Mr. Bickley received a Bachelors of Arts in Economics from Harvard University. We believe Mr. Bickley is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his extensive experience and insight into the development of global brands, multi-channel retailing, and emerging market and channel opportunities.
Jennifer N. Harris. Ms. Harris has served as a member of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s board of directors since its formation and has served as a member of the board of managers of Brilliant Earth, LLC since April 2021. Ms. Harris previously served as the Vice President and Corporate Controller at Q2 Holdings, Inc., from March 2013 until November 2013, when she was promoted to Chief Financial Officer, and served as Chief Financial Officer from December 2013 until April 2021. Prior to her time at Q2 Holdings Inc., Ms. Harris was the Interim Corporate Controller for Blackbaud, Inc., a provider of software solutions to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, from May 2012 until November 2012. From April 2005 until May 2012, Ms. Harris held various financial positions with Convio, Inc., a provider of SaaS constituent engagement solutions, most recently as Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer, from October 2010 until May 2012, when Convio was acquired by Blackbaud. Ms. Harris received a B.S. in Business from Indiana University. We believe that Ms. Harris is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of her extensive experience in operating, advising and investing in the consumer sector.
Attica A. Jaques. Ms. Jaques has served as a member of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s board of directors and as a member of the board of managers of Brilliant Earth, LLC since June 2021. Ms. Jaques currently serves as the Head of Global Brand Consumer Marketing at Google since December 2019. Prior to joining Google, she was Senior Vice President of Global Brand Management at Under Armour from April 2016 to August 2019. Prior to this, Ms. Jaques was the Vice President of Global Marketing at Gap from February 2013 to January 2016 where she successfully launched Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy in international markets and built upon her marketing experience in luxury fashion and public relations at Barneys New York and Prada. Ms. Jaques has also received numerous awards and honors, including, the Cannes Lion Award for Marketing Innovation, in June 2021, being named one of the most influential women in business by Black Enterprise in February 2019, and being named Advertising Ages Women to Watch in June 2015. Ms. Jaques also serves on the board of directors of Mission Advancement Corp. and was previously on the board of the Smithsonian Museum from 2015 until 2020. Ms. Jaques received a Masters degree in Strategic Communications from Columbia University and a Bachelors degree in Sociology from UCLA. We believe Ms. Jaques is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of her extensive experience into the development of global brands, multi-channel retailing, and emerging market and channel opportunities.
Beth J. Kaplan. Ms. Kaplan has served as a member of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s board of directors since its formation and has served as a member of the board of managers of Brilliant Earth, LLC since October 2020. Ms. Kaplan was the former President and Chief Operating Officer at Rent the Runway March 2013 until November 2015, where she continues to serve as a member of the board of directors, which she joined in March 2013. Ms. Kaplan is also currently the managing member of Axcel Partners, LLC, investing in consumer-facing early stage and growth companies. Prior to her time at Rent the Runway, she served as President, Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer, and Director at General Nutrition Centers Inc., during which she played an integral role in the companys 2011 initial public
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offering. Ms. Kaplan has held numerous leadership positions within Bath & Body Works, Rite Aid Drugstores, and Procter & Gamble. In addition to her current role on the board of directors of Rent the Runway, Ms. Kaplan also serves on the board of directors for several public companies, including the Meredith Corporation, Howard Hughes Corporation, and Crocs, as well as a director and advisor of Care/of, Leesa Sleep and Coopers Hawk. She also does advisory work for numerous growth stage companies. Ms. Kaplan received both a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. We believe that Ms. Kaplan is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of her extensive experience in operating, advising and investing in the consumer sector.
Gavin M. Turner. Mr. Turner has served as a member of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s board of directors since its formation and has served as a member of the board of managers of Brilliant Earth, LLC since December 2012. Mr. Turner co-founded Mainsail in April 2003 and has served as a Managing Partner since the firms inception. Prior to founding Mainsail, Mr. Turner held a variety of investment roles at Summit Partners, a global venture capital firm from 1995 to 2002. Altogether Mr. Turner has over 25 years of experience as a growth equity investor in private technology companies, and has served on numerous private company boards. Mr. Turner received a Bachelor of Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. We believe that Mr. Turner is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his extensive experience in the private equity industry, his business and leadership experience, and his knowledge of scaling technology companies.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.
Composition of our Board of Directors
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors, which will consist of seven members upon consummation of the Transactions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of preferred stock, the number of directors on our board of directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolution adopted by our board of directors (provided that such number shall not be less than the aggregate number of directors that the parties to the Stockholders Agreement are entitled to designate from time to time). Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our board of directors will be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, with the directors in each class serving for a three-year term, and one class being elected each year by our stockholders.
When considering whether directors have the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills, taken as a whole, to enable our board of directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our business and structure, the board of directors focuses primarily on each persons background and experience as reflected in the information discussed in each of the directors individual biographies set forth above. We believe that our directors provide an appropriate mix of experience and skills relevant to the size and nature of our business.
Prior to the consummation of the Transactions, we will enter into the Stockholders Agreement with Mainsail and our Founders, pursuant to which each party thereto will agree to vote, or cause to be voted, all of their outstanding shares of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock at any annual or special meeting of stockholders in which directors are elected, so as to cause the election of . Immediately following the consummation of the Transactions, Mainsail will own shares of Class B common stock of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., which represents approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock. Our Founders will own shares of Class C common stock of
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Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., which represents approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.s common stock. No shares of our Class D common stock will be outstanding immediately following the consummation of the Transactions. For a description of the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, see Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementStockholders Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the Transactions.
In accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of the Transactions, our board of directors will be divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders after the initial classification, the successors to the directors whose terms will then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following their election. Our directors will be divided among the three classes as follows:
| the Class I directors will be , and , and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in ; |
| the Class II directors will be , and , and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in ; and |
| the Class III directors will be , and , and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in . |
Any increase or decrease in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. This classification of our board of directors may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control of the Company. See Description of Capital StockAnti-Takeover Provisions.
Director Independence
Prior to the consummation of the Transactions, our board of directors undertook a review of the independence of our directors and considered whether any director has a relationship with us that could compromise that directors ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out that directors responsibilities. Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that , and are each an independent director, as defined under the Nasdaq rules. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each director has with the Company and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining his or her independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each director, and the transactions involving them described in the section titled Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.
Controlled Company Exception
After the consummation of the Transactions, Mainsail and our Founders, who are party to the Stockholders Agreement, will have more than 50% of the combined voting power of our common stock. As a result, we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq rules and intend to elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including that: (1) a majority of our board of directors consists of independent directors, as defined under the Nasdaq rules; (2) we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities; (3) we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities; and (4) we perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees. We intend to rely on the foregoing exemptions provided to controlled
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companies under the Nasdaq rules. Therefore, immediately following the consummation of the Transactions, we may not have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors, an entirely independent nominating and corporate governance committee, an entirely independent compensation committee or perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees unless and until such time as we are required to do so. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of these corporate governance requirements. In the event that we cease to be a controlled company and our shares continue to be listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, we will be required to comply with these provisions within the applicable transition periods. See Risk FactorsRisks related to the offering and ownership of our Class A common stockWe are a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules and, as a result, will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such corporate governance requirements.
Committees of Our Board of Directors
Our board of directors directs the management of our business and affairs, as provided by Delaware law, and conducts its business through meetings of the board of directors and its standing committees. We will have a standing audit committee, nominating and corporate governance committee, and compensation committee. In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of the board of directors when necessary to address specific issues.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| appointing, approving the fees of, retaining, and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm; |
| discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm their independence from management; |
| discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties and managements response; |
| approving all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm; |
| overseeing the financial reporting process and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the interim and annual financial statements that we file with the SEC; |
| reviewing our policies on risk assessment and risk management; |
| reviewing related person transactions; and |
| establishing procedures for the confidential anonymous submission of complaints regarding questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters. |
Upon the consummation of the Transactions, our audit committee will consist of , and , with serving as chair. Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the Nasdaq rules require that our audit committee have at least one independent member upon the listing of our Class A common stock, have a majority of independent members within 90 days of the date of this prospectus and be composed entirely of independent members within one year of the date of this prospectus. Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that , and each meet the definition of independent director for purposes of serving on the audit committee under the Nasdaq rules and the
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independence standards under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the Nasdaq rules. Each member of our audit committee meets the financial literacy requirements of the Nasdaq rules. In addition, our board of directors has determined that will qualify as an audit committee financial expert, as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for the audit committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at www.brilliantearth.com substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Transactions. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| identifying individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors, consistent with criteria approved by our board of directors as set forth in our corporate governance guidelines and in accordance with the terms of the Stockholders Agreement; |
| annually reviewing the committee structure of the board of directors and recommending to the board of the directors the directors to serve as members of each committee; and |
| developing and recommending to our board of directors a set of corporate governance guidelines. |
Upon the consummation of the Transactions, our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of , and with serving as chair. , and do not qualify as independent directors under the Nasdaq rules. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at www.brilliantearth.com substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Transactions. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| reviewing and approving, or recommending that the board of directors approve, the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; |
| making recommendations to the board of directors regarding director compensation; and |
| reviewing and approving incentive compensation and equity-based plans and arrangements and making grants of cash-based and equity-based awards under such plans. |
Upon the consummation of the Transactions, our compensation committee will consist of , and with serving as chair. , and do not qualify as independent directors under the Nasdaq rules. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for the compensation committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at www.brilliantearth.com substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Transactions. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.
Risk Oversight
Our board of directors is responsible for overseeing our risk management process. Our board of directors focuses on our general risk management policies and strategy, the most significant risks
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facing us, and oversee the implementation of risk mitigation strategies by management. Our board of directors is also apprised of particular risk management matters in connection with its general oversight and approval of corporate matters and significant transactions.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Prior to the completion of the Transactions, 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. A copy of the code will be posted on our website, www.brilliantearth.com. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or the Nasdaq rules concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the code. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.
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The following is a discussion and analysis of the material components of the executive compensation program for our executive officers who are named in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table below, who we refer to as our named executive officers, or 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. Except as otherwise noted, when we use the terms we, us, our, and the Company in this section in reference to actions taken prior to the completion of this offering, we mean actions taken by the board of managers of Brilliant Earth, LLC and in reference to actions taken on or after the completion of this offering, we mean the board of directors or compensation committee of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, our NEOs were as follows:
| Beth Gerstein, Chief Executive Officer; |
| Eric Grossberg, Executive Chairman and former Co-Chief Executive Officer; and |
| Jeffrey Kuo, Chief Financial Officer. |
Ms. Gerstein and Mr. Grossberg served as Co-Chief Executive Officers until March 11, 2021, at which point Mr. Grossberg transitioned into the role of our Executive Chairman and Ms. Gerstein remained our sole Chief Executive Officer. During the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2020, our only other executive officer was Mr. Kuo.
2020 Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth total compensation paid to our NEOs for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2020.
Name and Principal Position |
Year | Salary ($) |
Bonus ($)(1) |
Stock Awards ($)(2) |
All Other Compensation ($) (3) |
Total ($) |
||||||||||||||||||
Beth Gerstein (4) Chief Executive Officer |
2020 | 600,000 | | | 11,400 | 611,400 | ||||||||||||||||||
Eric Grossberg (4) Executive Chairman |
2020 | 600,000 | | | 11,400 | 611,400 | ||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey Kuo Chief Financial Officer |
2020 | 295,833 | 75,000 | 98,000 | 11,400 | 480,233 |
(1) | Amount for Mr. Kuo reflects the annual cash discretionary performance bonus earned during the year ended December 31, 2020. For a discussion of Mr. Kuos annual bonus opportunity, please see the section entitled Narrative to Summary Compensation Table 2020 Bonuses. |
(2) | Amount for Mr. Kuo reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of profits interests granted during the year ended December 31, 2020 computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, CompensationStock Compensation. See Note 8, Members Units Including Redemeemable, Convertible Class P Units, and 401K Plan, to our accompanying financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this registration statement for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating this amount. The amount reported in this column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value for the profits interests as determined for financial accounting purposes and does not correspond to the actual economic value that may be received by Mr. Kuo from this award. |
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(3) | Amounts reported for each of the named executive officers include matching contributions made by us under our 401(k) plan. |
(4) | Ms. Gerstein and Mr. Grossberg served as our Co-Chief Executive Officers until March 11, 2021, at which point Mr. Grossberg transitioned into the role of our Executive Chairman and Ms. Gerstein remained our sole Chief Executive Officer. |
Narrative to Summary Compensation Table
2020 Salaries
Our NEOs each receive an annual base salary to compensate them for services rendered to our company. The annual base salary payable to each named executive officer is intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executives skill set, experience, role, and responsibilities. Each of Ms. Gersteins, Mr. Grossbergs and Mr. Kuos annual base salary was set in connection with the commencement of her or his service to us and is adjusted periodically.
For fiscal year 2020, Ms. Gerstein and Messrs. Grossberg and Kuo had an annual base salary of $600,000, $600,000 and $300,000, respectively. Mr. Kuos 2020 annual base salary became effective March 1, 2020. Between April 1 and June 30, 2020, the base salary of each of our named executive officers was reduced by 20% in response to the emergence of COVID-19 and its uncertain impact on our business. The reduced base salary was repaid to our named executive officers in early 2021.
In early fiscal year 2021, Mr. Kuos annual base salary was adjusted to $315,000. Ms. Gersteins and Mr. Grossbergs annual base salaries were not adjusted for fiscal year 2021.
Following the completion of this offering, our board of directors and compensation committee may adjust the annual base salaries of our NEOs from time to time in their discretion.
2020 Bonuses
During the fiscal year 2020, we did not maintain a formal performance bonus program, and we have not adopted a formal performance bonus program for 2021.
Mr. Kuo is eligible to earn an annual discretionary performance bonus. For fiscal year 2020, Mr. Kuos target bonus was equal to $75,000. For fiscal year 2021, Mr. Kuos target bonus amount was increased to $150,000. Historically, our Co-Chief Executive Officers or board of managers has exercised and, following the completion of this offering, the compensation committee of our board of directors is expected to exercise its discretion in determining the portion of Mr. Kuos target bonus to pay based on its evaluation of Mr. Kuos and our companys performance for the year. Historically, Ms. Gerstein and Mr. Grossberg have not been eligible to earn annual bonuses.
In early fiscal year 2021, our Co-Chief Executive Officers reviewed Mr. Kuos performance and the performance of our company during fiscal year 2020 and determined that his annual bonus should be paid out at 100% of his target bonus, which resulted in a payout of $75,000. This amount is reflected above in the Summary Compensation Table in the column titled Bonus.
Following the completion of this offering, our board of directors and compensation committee may adopt a formal bonus program and may award discretionary bonuses from time to time.
Equity-Based Compensation
Historically, we have not maintained an equity incentive plan; however, we have issued profits interests under the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement to Mr. Kuo from time to time, including 453,333 Class M Units
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issued to Mr. Kuo in connection with his commencement of employment with us, which have a distribution threshold per unit equal to $0.42 and are fully vested, and 200,000 Class M Units issued to Mr. Kuo in 2020 (the 2020 Incentive Units). The 2020 Incentive Units have a distribution threshold of $2.90 per unit and vest as follows: 25% of the 2020 Incentive Units vested on March 31, 2021 and the remaining 75% vest in thirty-six substantially equal monthly installments commencing April 30, 2021, subject to Mr. Kuos continued service through the applicable vesting date. In the event of a termination of Mr. Kuos employment for any reason, any unvested 2020 Incentive Units will automatically be forfeited. In connection with the completion of this offering, Mr. Kuos Class M Units will be converted into LLC Interests and, which, in respect of unvested 2020 Incentive Units, will be subject to a risk of forfeiture that lapses in accordance with their existing vesting schedule.
We have not granted equity awards, including profits interests, to Ms. Gerstein or Mr. Grossberg, though each holds capital interests acquired in connection with her and his founding of the company.
In connection with this offering, we intend to adopt a 2021 Incentive Award Plan, referred to below as the 2021 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. We expect that the 2021 Plan will be effective on the date prior to the first public trading date of our common stock, subject to approval of such plan by our stockholders. For additional information about the 2021 Plan, please see the section titled Equity Compensation Plans below.
In connection with this offering, Class M Units are being converted into LLC Interests in a manner that results in a material reduction in the number of LLC Interests held by certain of our service providers, including Mr. Kuo, as compared to the number of Class M Units held prior to the conversion. In order to restore the potential upside for each such service provider that was associated with the service providers Class M Units, we are granting the service provider, including Mr. Kuo, an option to purchase a number of shares of our Class A common stock equal to the difference between the number of LLC Interests held by the service provider after the conversion and the number of Class M Units held by such service provider prior to the offering (the Anti-Dilution Options). The Anti-Dilution Options will be granted upon the completion of this offering and have an exercise price per share equal to the price to the public set forth on the cover of the prospectus to which this offering relates. Each Anti-Dilution Option will vest on the same schedule as the corresponding grant of LLC Interests, subject to the service providers continued service to us. Based on an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share, Mr. Kuo would be granted an Anti-Dilution Option to purchase shares of our Class A common stock.
Other Elements of Compensation
Retirement Savings and Health and Welfare Benefits
We currently maintain 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 Internal Revenue Code allows eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation, within prescribed limits, on a pre-tax basis through contributions to the 401(k) plan. Currently, we making safe harbor matching contributions in the 401(k) plan up to a specified percentage of the employee contributions, and these matching contributions are fully vested as of the date on which the contribution is made. We believe that providing a vehicle for tax-deferred retirement savings though our 401(k) plan, and making fully vested matching contributions, 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.
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All of our full-time employees, including our NEOs, are eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans, including medical, dental and vision benefits; short-term and long-term disability insurance; and life and AD&D insurance.
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
We did not provide any perquisites to our NEOs in fiscal year 2020, but our board of directors or compensation committee may from time to time approve them in the future when our board of directors or compensation committee determines that such perquisites are necessary or advisable to fairly compensate or incentivize our NEOs.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2020 Fiscal Year End
The following table lists all outstanding equity awards held by our NEOs as of December 31, 2020.
Name |
Grant Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) (1) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) (2) |
|||||||||
Jeffrey Kuo |
8/31/2020 | 200,000 |
(1) | Represents Class M Units that vest as to 25% of the Class M Units on March 31, 2021 and as to the remaining 75% monthly thereafter for 36 months beginning on April 30, 2021, subject to continued service. The Class M Units will convert into LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions. |
(2) | Our Class M Units are not publicly traded. Amount reported was calculated by subtracting the distribution threshold per unit applicable to the award from the mid-point of the range of the offering prices for our Class A common stock in this offering, which we are using as an estimate of the fair market value of a Class M Unit as of December 31, 2020, which is $ . |
Executive Compensation Arrangements
We have entered into offer letters with each of our NEOs. Each offer letter sets forth the title and base salary for the executive and summarizes the other terms and conditions applicable to the executives employment with us.
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.
2021 Incentive Award Plan
We intend to adopt the 2021 Plan, which will be effective on the day prior to the first public trading date of our common stock. The principal purpose of the 2021 Plan is to attract, retain, and motivate selected employees, consultants, and directors through the granting of stock-based compensation awards, and cash-based performance bonus awards. The material terms of the 2021 Plan, as it is currently contemplated, are summarized below.
Share Reserve. Under the 2021 Plan, shares of our common stock will be initially reserved for issuance pursuant to a variety of stock-based compensation awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, or SARs, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, and other stock-based awards. The number of shares initially reserved for issuance or transfer pursuant to awards under the 2021 Plan will be increased by an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year
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beginning in 2022 and ending in 2031, equal to the lesser of (A) 5% of the shares of our common 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 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 2021 Plan:
| to the extent that an 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 2021 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 2021 Plan, such tendered or withheld shares will be available for future grants under the 2021 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 2021 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 2021 Plan; |
| the payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding awards will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the 2021 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 by us or any of our subsidiaries, or any entity which combines or merges with us or any of our subsidiaries, will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan. |
In addition, the sum of the grant date fair value of all equity-based awards and the maximum that may become payable pursuant to all cash-based awards to any individual for services as a non-employee director during any calendar year may not exceed $1,000,000 for the individuals first year of services as a non-employee director and $750,000 for each year thereafter.
Administration. The compensation committee of our board of directors is expected to administer the 2021 Plan unless our board of directors assumes authority for administration. The compensation committee must consist of at least two members of our board of directors, each of whom 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 2021 Plan provides that the board 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 2021 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 2021 Plan. The administrator is also authorized to adopt, amend or rescind rules relating to administration of the 2021 Plan. Our board of
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directors may at any time remove the compensation committee as the administrator and revest in itself the authority to administer the 2021 Plan. The full board of directors will administer the 2021 Plan with respect to awards to non-employee directors.
Eligibility. Options, SARs, restricted stock, and all other stock-based and cash-based awards under the 2021 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, or ISOs.
Awards. The 2021 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, or 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 participants 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, or ISOs, will be designed in a manner intended to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or 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 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 2021 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. |
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| Stock Appreciation Rights, or 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 2021 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 2021 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.
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 2021 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 2021 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 2021 Plan or any awards under the 2021 Plan in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the potential benefits intended to be made available thereunder to facilitate such transaction or event, or to give effect to changes in applicable law or accounting principles, the administrator will make appropriate, proportionate adjustments to: (i) the aggregate number and type of shares subject to the 2021 Plan; (ii) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards and terms and conditions of
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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 2021 Plan.
Amendment and Termination. The administrator may terminate, amend or modify the 2021 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 or stock appreciation right may be amended to reduce the per share exercise price below the per share exercise price of such option or stock appreciation right on the grant date and options or stock appreciation rights may be granted in exchange for, or in connection with, the cancellation or surrender of options or stock appreciation rights having a higher per share exercise price without receiving additional stockholder approval.
No incentive stock options may be granted pursuant to the 2021 Plan after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2021 Plan, and no additional annual share increases to the 2021 Plans aggregate share limit will occur from and after such anniversary. Any award that is outstanding on the termination date of the 2021 Plan will remain in force according to the terms of the 2021 Plan and the applicable award agreement.
2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
We intend to adopt and ask our stockholders to approve the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we refer to as our ESPP, which will be effective upon the day prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement to which this prospectus relates. The ESPP is designed to allow our eligible employees to purchase shares of our common stock, at semi-annual intervals, with their accumulated payroll deductions. The ESPP consists of two components: a Section 423 component that is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Code, to the extent possible, and a non-Section 423 component that need not qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Code. Generally, the Non-423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the 423 Component. We intend to provide for purchases under the Non-423 Component unless and until our employees satisfy the requirements under Section 423 of the Code for participation in the 423 Component. Offerings intended to be made under the Section 423 component that fail to qualify with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code shall be deemed made under the Non-Section 423 component, and offerings intended to be made under the Non-Section 423 component will be designated by the administrator as such at or prior to the time of such offering. The material terms of the ESPP, as it is currently contemplated, are summarized below.
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 administrator.
Share Reserve. The maximum number of shares of our common stock which will be authorized for sale under the ESPP is equal to the sum of (a) shares of common stock and (b) an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year beginning in 2022 and ending in 2031, equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the shares of our 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 determined by our board of directors; provided, however, no more than 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 or reacquired shares.
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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 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. Finally, 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 % of their compensation. Such payroll deductions will be expressed as a whole number percentage, and the accumulated deductions will be applied to the purchase of shares on each purchase date. However, a participant may not purchase more than 100,000 shares in each offering period and may not subscribe for more than $25,000 in fair market value of shares of our common stock (determined at the time the option is granted) during any calendar year. The ESPP administrator has the authority to change these limitations for any subsequent offering period.
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 in length.
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, which will occur on the last trading day of each offering period.
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 participants account balance in cash without interest or (ii) exercise the participants 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 participants account or any rights to exercise an option or to receive shares of our common stock under the ESPP, and during a participants 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 upon Changes in Recapitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale. 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
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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 prior to 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 prior to the new exercise date.
Amendment and Termination. Our board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the ESPP at any time. However, the board of directors may not amend the ESPP without obtaining stockholder approval within 12 months before or after such amendment to the extent required by applicable laws.
Director Compensation
Director Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2020
The following table sets forth information for 2020 regarding the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the non-employee directors who served on our board of managers during fiscal year 2020.
Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($) |
Total ($) | |||||||||
Beth Kaplan |
12,500 | (1) | 62,632 | (2) | 75,132 | |||||||
Gavin Turner |
| | |
(1) | Amount reflects director fees paid to Ms. Kaplan in connection with her service on our board of managers commencing in October 2020. No other directors received compensation for their service as directors in 2020. |
(2) | Amount reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the 160,594 Class M Units granted to Ms. Kaplan during the year ended December 31, 2020 computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, CompensationStock Compensation. See Note 8, Members Units Including Redemeemable, Convertible Class P Units, and 401K Plan, to our accompanying financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this registration statement for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating this amount. As of December 31, 2020, Ms. Kaplan held 147,211 Class M Units that were unvested and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. No other stock awards or option awards were held by our non-employee directors as of December 31, 2020. |
Historically, we have not had a formalized non-employee director compensation program. However, in connection with Ms. Kaplans commencement of service with us, we entered into a compensation arrangement with Ms. Kaplan, which provides for a $50,000 annual service fee and an initial grant of Class M Units. Ms. Kaplan also entered into a proprietary information and inventions assignment agreement with us.
Ms. Kaplan was granted 160,594 Class M Units in October 2020, which have a distribution threshold per unit equal to $3.34 and vest in 36 equal monthly installments beginning on October 31, 2020, subject to her continued service through the applicable vesting date. Vesting of Ms. Kaplans Class M Units will fully accelerate upon a Sale (as defined in the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement) if she remains in service with us through such date. In the event of a termination of Ms. Kaplans service for any reason, any unvested Class M Units will automatically be forfeited.
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In April 2021, we appointed Jennifer Harris to our board of managers and in June 2021, we appointed Attica Jaques and Ian Bickley to our board of managers. In connection with their commencement of service with us, each such board member entered into an offer letter which provided for an initial grant of Class M Units and provided that in connection with this offering, the board member may be eligible for additional cash compensation for his or her service, subject to approval by our board of directors. Additionally, our board of directors will evaluate additional equity grants to the board member following the second anniversary of the date of his or her commencement of service. Each such board member also entered into a proprietary information and inventions assignment agreement with us.
Ms. Harris was granted 47,427 Class M Units in May 2021, which have a distribution threshold per unit equal to $12.04 and vest in 48 equal monthly installments beginning on April 30, 2021, subject to her continued service through the applicable vesting date. In the event of a termination of Ms. Harris service for any reason, any unvested Class M Units will automatically be forfeited.
Ms. Jaques and Mr. Bickley were each granted 47,427 Class M Units in June 2021, which have a distribution threshold of $15.54 per unit and vest in 48 equal installments beginning on June 30, 2021, subject to continued service through the applicable vesting date. In the event Ms. Jaques or Mr. Bickley terminates service with us for any reason, any unvested Class M Units are automatically forfeited.
In connection with the completion of this offering, Ms. Kaplans and Ms. Harris Class M Units will be converted into LLC Interests and, which, in respect of any unvested Class M Units, will be subject to a risk of forfeiture that lapses in accordance with their existing vesting schedule.
The conversion of Ms. Kaplans, Ms. Harris, Ms. Jaques, and Mr. Bickleys Class M Units into LLC Interests results in a material reduction in the number of LLC Interests held as compared to the number of Class M Units held prior to the conversion. In order to restore the potential upside for Ms. Kaplan, Ms. Harris, Ms. Jaques, and Mr. Bickley that was associated with their Class M Units, we are granting each of Ms. Kaplan, Ms. Harris, Ms. Jaques, and Mr. Bickley Anti-Dilution Options upon the completion of this offering that will have an exercise price per share equal to the price to the public set forth on the cover of the prospectus to which this offering relates. Each Anti-Dilution Option will vest on the same schedule as the corresponding grant of LLC Interests, subject to the service providers continued service to us. Based on an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share, Ms. Kaplan, Ms. Harris, Ms. Jaques, and Mr. Bickley would be granted an Anti-Dilution Option to purchase, , and shares of our Class A common stock, respectively.
We have approved a compensation policy for our non-employee directors, or the Director Compensation Program, to be effective in connection with the consummation of this offering. Pursuant to the Director Compensation Program, our non-employee directors will receive cash compensation as follows:
| Each non-employee director will receive an annual cash retainer in the amount of $50,000 per year. |
| The chairperson of the audit committee will receive an additional annual cash retainer in the amount of $20,000 per year for such chairpersons service on the audit committee. |
| The chairperson of the compensation committee will receive an additional annual cash retainer in the amount of $14,000 per year for such chairpersons service on the compensation committee. |
| The chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee will receive additional an annual cash retainer in the amount of $8,000 per year for such chairpersons service on the nominating and governance committee. |
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Our board of directors or its compensation committee may, in its discretion, provide the non-employee directors with the opportunity to elect to receive restricted stock units in lieu of all or a portion of their annual retainers. In such case, the grant of restricted stock units, referred to as the Retainer RSU Grant, will be made automatically on the date of the consummation of this offering or the annual stockholders meeting. The Retainer RSU Grant will cover a number of shares of our common stock calculated by dividing (a) the amount of the annual retainer that is expected to be paid to such director from the grant date through the next annual stockholders meeting by (b) the average closing trading price of our common stock over the most recently completed month as of the grant date. The Retainer RSU Grant will vest on the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of grant or the date of the annual stockholders meeting immediately following the date of grant. In order to receive a Retainer RSU Grant, the electing non-employee director must make an election in the time and manner specified in accordance with the Director Compensation Program or will otherwise receive the retainer in cash. Generally, this requires that (i) non-employee directors who are initially elected to our board of directors make their election prior to the date such individual first begins service, and (ii) for all other non-employee directors, annual elections must be made no later than December 31, or such earlier date determined by our board of directors or its compensation committee, in the year prior to the year of service for which the annual retainer relates.
Under the Director Compensation Program, each non-employee director will, in addition to the annual retainers, receive initial and annual awards of restricted stock units. Specifically, each non-employee director who is initially appointed or elected to our board of directors after the consummation of this offering, will automatically be granted, on the date on which the director commences services, a number of restricted stock units calculated by dividing (a) $140,000 by (b) the average closing trading price of our common stock over the most recent completed month as of the grant date, rounded down to the nearest whole restricted stock unit, referred to as the Initial Grant. Additionally, each non-employee director who continues to serve on our board of directors as of immediately following the date of each annual stockholders meeting, will be granted a number of restricted stock units calculated by dividing (a) $140,000 by (b) the average closing trading price of our common stock over the most recent completed month as of the grant date, rounded down to the nearest whole restricted stock unit, automatically on the date of each annual stockholders meeting thereafter, referred to as the Annual Grant. The Initial Grant will vest on the first anniversary of the applicable date of grant, subject to continued service through the applicable vesting date. The Annual Grant will vest on the earlier of the first anniversary of the applicable date of grant or the date of our annual stockholders meeting immediately following the date of grant, subject to continued service through each applicable vesting date.
In the event of a change in control, each Initial Grant and Annual Grant, along with any stock options or other equity-based awards held by any non-employee director, will vest and, to the extent applicable, become exercisable immediately prior to such change in control.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The following are summaries of certain provisions of our related party agreements and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of such agreements. Because these descriptions are only summaries of the applicable agreements, they do not necessarily contain all of the information that you may find useful. We, therefore, urge you to review the agreements in their entirety. Copies of the forms of the agreements have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and are available electronically on the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov.
The Transactions
In connection with the Transactions, we will engage in certain transactions with certain of our directors, executive officers and other persons and entities which are or will become holders of 5% or more of our voting securities upon the consummation of the Transactions. These transactions are described in Our Organizational Structure.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering (including any net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters option (1) to purchase newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $ million directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC; and (2) to purchase LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $ million in aggregate (or LLC Interests for $ million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
Tax Receivable Agreement
As described in Our Organizational Structure, we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to purchase newly issued LLC Interests directly from Brilliant Earth, LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner. In addition, Brilliant Earth, LLC intends to use the net proceeds it receives from the sale of LLC Interests to us for general corporate purposes. We expect to obtain increases in our allocable share of the tax basis of assets of Brilliant Earth, LLC (a) resulting from our purchase of LLC Interests from each Continuing Equity Owner, as described under Use of Proceeds, (b) in the future, when (as described below under Brilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the TransactionsCommon Unit Redemption Right) a Continuing Equity Owner receives Class A common stock or Class D common stock or, at our election, cash, as applicable, from us in connection with an exercise of such Continuing Equity Owners right to have LLC Interests held by such Continuing Equity Owner redeemed by Brilliant Earth, LLC or, at our election, exchanged directly with us, and (c) resulting from certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Brilliant Earth, LLC (such tax basis increases, Basis Adjustments). We intend to treat any such redemption or exchange of LLC Interests as our direct purchase of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners for U.S. federal income and other applicable tax purposes, regardless of whether such LLC Interests are surrendered by the Continuing Equity Owners to Brilliant Earth, LLC for redemption or sold to us upon the exercise of our election to acquire such LLC Interests directly. Such Basis Adjustments may have the effect of reducing the amounts that we would otherwise pay in the future to various tax authorities.
In connection with the transactions described above, we will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for the payment by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of certain tax benefits, if any, that Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. actually realizes, or in some circumstances is deemed to realize as a result of Basis Adjustments and certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Brilliant Earth, LLC will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code, effective for the taxable year that includes the Transactions
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and each taxable year thereafter. These Tax Receivable Agreement payments are not conditioned upon one or more of the Continuing Equity Owners maintaining a continued ownership interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC. If a Continuing Equity Owner transfers LLC Interests but does not assign to the transferee of such units its rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement, such Continuing Equity Owner generally will continue to be entitled to receive payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement arising in respect of a subsequent exchange of such LLC Interests. In general, the Continuing Equity Owners rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement may not be assigned, sold, pledged or otherwise alienated to any person without such person becoming a party to the Tax Receivable Agreement and agreeing to succeed to the applicable Continuing Equity Owners interest therein.
The actual Basis Adjustments, as well as any amounts paid to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement, will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
| the timing of any future redemptions or exchangesfor instance, the increase in any tax deductions will vary depending on the fair value, which may fluctuate over time, of the depreciable or amortizable assets of Brilliant Earth, LLC at the time of each redemption, exchange or distribution (or deemed distribution) as well as the amount of remaining existing tax basis at the time of such redemption, exchange or distribution (or deemed distribution); |
| the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the purchases from the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering and any applicable redemptions or exchanges Basis Adjustments, as well as any related increase in any tax deductions, are directly related to the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of such purchases or future redemptions or exchanges; |
| the extent to which redemptions or exchanges are taxableif a redemption or exchange is not taxable for any reason, increased tax deductions will not be available; and |
| the amount and timing of our incomethe Tax Receivable Agreement generally will require us to pay 85% of the tax benefits as and when those benefits are treated as realized under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement. If we do not have sufficient taxable income to realize any of the applicable tax benefits, we generally will not be required (absent a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement, change of control, or other circumstances requiring an early termination payment) to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for that taxable year because no tax benefits will have been actually realized. However, any tax benefits that do not result in realized tax benefits in a given taxable year may generate tax attributes that may be utilized to generate tax benefits in previous or future taxable years. The utilization of any such tax attributes will result in payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. |
For purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement, cash savings in income tax will be computed by comparing our actual income tax liability to the amount of such taxes that we would have been required to pay had there been no Basis Adjustments or additional tax benefits to us as a result of any payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement; provided that, for purposes of determining cash savings with respect to state and local income taxes we will use an assumed tax rate. The Tax Receivable Agreement will generally apply to each of our taxable years, beginning with the first taxable year ending after the consummation of the Transactions. There is no maximum term for the Tax Receivable Agreement; however, the Tax Receivable Agreement may be terminated by us pursuant to an early termination procedure that requires us to pay the Continuing Equity Owners an agreed-upon amount equal to the estimated present value of the remaining payments to be made under the agreement (calculated with certain assumptions, including regarding tax rates and utilization of Basis Adjustments and additional tax benefits arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement).
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The payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement are obligations of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. and not of Brilliant Earth, LLC. Although the actual timing and amount of any payments that we may make under the Tax Receivable Agreement will vary, we expect that the payments that we may be required to make to the Continuing Equity Owners could be substantial. Assuming no material changes in the relevant tax laws and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize all tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement, we expect that the tax savings associated with the purchase of LLC Interests in connection with this offering, together with future redemptions or exchanges of all remaining LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners pursuant to the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement as described above, would aggregate to approximately $ million over years from the date of this offering based on the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share of our Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming all future redemptions or exchanges would occur one year after this offering. Under such scenario, assuming future payments are made on the date each relevant tax return is due, without extensions, we would be required to pay approximately 85% of such amount, or approximately $ million, over the -year period from the date of this offering. The actual amounts we will be required to pay under the Tax Receivable Agreement will depend on, among other things, the timing of subsequent redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests by the Continuing Equity Owners, the price of our shares of Class A common stock at the time of each such redemption or exchange, and the amounts and timing of our future taxable income, and may be significantly different from the amounts described in the preceding sentence. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us or to Brilliant Earth, LLC and, to the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, the unpaid amounts generally will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid by us. Any payments we make to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us or to Brilliant Earth, LLC and, to the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, the unpaid amounts will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid by us; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement and, therefore, may accelerate payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We anticipate funding ordinary course payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement from cash flow from operations of Brilliant Earth, LLC, available cash, or available borrowings under any future debt agreements. Decisions made by us in the course of running our business, such as with respect to mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations, or other changes in control, may influence the timing and amount of payments that we pay to a redeeming Continuing Equity Owner under the Tax Receivable Agreement. For example, the disposition of assets following an exchange or acquisition transaction may accelerate payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and increase the present value of such payments.
The Tax Receivable Agreement provides that if certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combination, or other changes of control were to occur, if we materially breach any of our material obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, or if, at any time, we elect an early termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement, then the Tax Receivable Agreement will terminate and our obligations, or our successors obligations, under the Tax Receivable Agreement would accelerate and become due and payable, based on certain assumptions, including an assumption that we would have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize all potential future tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. In those circumstances, Continuing Equity Owners would be deemed to exchange any remaining outstanding LLC Interests for Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, and generally would be entitled to payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement resulting from such deemed exchanges.
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We may elect to completely terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement early only with the written approval of each of a majority of our independent directors (within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the Nasdaq rules).
As a result of the foregoing, we could be required to make an immediate cash payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement, which payment may be made significantly in advance of the actual realization, if any, of such future tax benefits. We also could be required to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners that are greater than the specified percentage of the actual benefits we ultimately realize in respect of the tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. In these situations, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combination, or other changes of control. For example, should we elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement immediately following this offering, assuming no material changes in the relevant tax laws or tax rates and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize all tax potential benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement, we estimate that the aggregate of termination payments would be approximately $ million based on the assumed initial public offering price of $ per share of our Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and assuming were to be %. There can be no assurance that we will be able to finance our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally be based on the tax reporting positions that we determine. We will not be reimbursed for any cash payments previously made to the Continuing Equity Owners pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement if any tax benefits initially claimed by us are subsequently challenged by a taxing authority and ultimately disallowed. Instead, any excess cash payments made by us to a Continuing Equity Owner will be netted against future cash payments, if any, we might otherwise be required to make under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement to such Continuing Equity Owner. However, a challenge to any tax benefits initially claimed by us may not arise for a number of years following the initial time of such payment or, even if challenged early, such excess cash payment may be greater than the amount of future cash payments, if any, we might otherwise be required to make under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement and, as a result, there might not be future cash payments from which to net against. The applicable U.S. federal income tax rules are complex and factual in nature, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not disagree with our tax reporting positions. As a result, it is possible that we could make cash payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement that are substantially greater than our actual cash tax savings.
We will have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all of our tax matters, including the filing and amendment of all tax returns and claims for refund and defense of all tax contests, subject to certain participation and approval rights held by and our Founders. If the outcome of any challenge to all or part of the Basis Adjustments or other tax benefits we claim would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the rights and obligations of Mainsail or Just Rocks under the Tax Receivable Agreement, then we will not be permitted to settle such challenge without the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of Mainsail or Just Rocks, as applicable. The interests of Mainsail and Just Rocks in any such challenge may differ from or conflict with our interests and your interests, and Mainsail and Just Rocks may exercise their consent rights relating to any such challenge in a manner adverse to our interests.
The Tax Receivable Agreement requires us to provide the Continuing Equity Owners with a schedule showing the calculation of payments that are due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We are required to provide such schedule within 90 days after filing our U.S. federal income tax return for each
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taxable year with respect to which a payment obligation arises. This calculation will be based upon the advice of our tax advisors. Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally be made to the Continuing Equity Owners within three business days after this schedule becomes final pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement, although interest on such payments will begin to accrue at a rate of from the due date (without extensions) of such tax return. Any late payments that may be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement will continue to accrue interest at a rate equal to , until such payments are made, generally including any late payments that we may subsequently make because we did not have enough available cash to satisfy our payment obligations at the time at which they originally arose.
Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement
Agreement in Effect Before Consummation of the Transactions
Brilliant Earth, LLC and the Original Equity Owners are parties to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brilliant Earth, LLC, dated as of November 30, 2012, as amended from time to time, which governs the business operations of Brilliant Earth, LLC and defines the relative rights and privileges associated with the existing units of Brilliant Earth, LLC. We refer to this agreement, as amended, as the Existing LLC Agreement. Under the Existing LLC Agreement, the board of managers of Brilliant Earth, LLC has the sole and exclusive right and authority to manage and control the business and affairs of Brilliant Earth, LLC, and the day-to-day business operations of Brilliant Earth, LLC are overseen and implemented by officers of Brilliant Earth, LLC, subject to certain manager appointment and consent rights held by the holders of a majority of the Companys outstanding Class P Units pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2012, by and between the Company and certain of the Original Equity Owners. Each Original Equity Owners rights under the Existing LLC Agreement continue until the effective time of the new Brilliant Earth, LLC operating agreement to be adopted in connection with the Transactions, as described below, at which time the Continuing Equity Owners will continue as members that hold LLC Interests with the respective rights thereunder.
Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the Transactions
In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, we and the Continuing Equity Owners will enter into the Seventh Amendment to the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, which we refer to as the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement.
Appointment as Managing Member. Under the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, we will become a member and the sole manager of Brilliant Earth, LLC. As the sole manager, we will be able to control all of the day-to-day business affairs and decision-making of Brilliant Earth, LLC without the approval of any other member. As such, we, through our officers and directors, will be responsible for all operational and administrative decisions of Brilliant Earth, LLC and daily management of Brilliant Earth, LLCs business. Pursuant to the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, we cannot be removed or replaced as the sole manager of Brilliant Earth, LLC except by our resignation, which may be given at any time by written notice to the members.
Compensation, Fees and Expenses. We will not be entitled to compensation for our services as the manager of Brilliant Earth, LLC. We will be entitled to reimbursement by Brilliant Earth, LLC for reasonable fees and expenses incurred on behalf of Brilliant Earth, LLC, including all expenses associated with the Transactions, any subsequent offering of our Class A common stock, being a public company, and maintaining our corporate existence.
Distributions. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will require tax distributions (as that term is used in the agreement) to be made by Brilliant Earth, LLC to its members, except to the extent such
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distributions would render Brilliant Earth, LLC insolvent or are otherwise prohibited by law or any of our future debt agreements. Tax distributions will be made on a quarterly basis to each member of Brilliant Earth, LLC, including us, pro rata in accordance with economic interests and based on such members allocable share of the taxable income of Brilliant Earth, LLC and an assumed tax rate that will be determined by us, as described below. For this purpose, each members allocable share of Brilliant Earth, LLCs taxable income shall be net of its allocable share of taxable losses of Brilliant Earth, LLC and our allocable share of taxable income and loss shall be determined without regard to any Basis Adjustments. The assumed tax rate for purposes of determining tax distributions from Brilliant Earth, LLC to its members will be the highest combined U.S. federal, state, and local tax rate that may potentially apply to any one of Brilliant Earth, LLCs members, regardless of the actual, final tax liability of any such member. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will also allow for cash distributions to be made by Brilliant Earth, LLC (subject to our sole discretion as the sole manager of Brilliant Earth, LLC) to its members on a pro rata basis out of distributable cash, as that term is defined in the agreement. We expect Brilliant Earth, LLC may make distributions out of distributable cash periodically and as necessary to enable us to cover our operating expenses and other obligations, including our tax liability and obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, except to the extent such distributions would render Brilliant Earth, LLC insolvent or are otherwise prohibited by law or any of our future debt agreements. Transfer Restrictions. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement generally does not permit transfers of LLC Interests by members, except for transfers to permitted transferees, transfers pursuant to the participation right described below and transfers approved in writing by us, as manager, and other limited exceptions. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement may impose additional restrictions on transfers (including redemptions described below with respect to each common unit) that are necessary or advisable so that Brilliant Earth, LLC is not treated as a publicly traded partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the event of a permitted transfer under the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, such member will be required to simultaneously transfer shares of Class B common stock to such transferee equal to the number of LLC Interests that were transferred to such transferee in such permitted transfer.
The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement provides that, in the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to our Class A common stock, each of which we refer to as a Pubco Offer, is approved by our board of directors or otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of our board of directors, each holder of LLC Interests shall be permitted to participate in such Pubco Offer by delivering a redemption notice, which shall be effective immediately prior to, and contingent upon, the consummation of such Pubco Offer. If a Pubco Offer is proposed by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., then Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. is required to use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the holders of such LLC Interests to participate in such Pubco Offer to the same extent as or on an economically equivalent basis with the holders of shares of Class A common stock, provided that in no event shall any holder of LLC Interests be entitled to receive aggregate consideration for each common unit that is greater than the consideration payable in respect of each share of Class A common stock pursuant to the Pubco Offer.
Except for certain exceptions, any transferee of LLC Interests must assume, by operation of law or executing a joinder to the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, all of the obligations of a transferring member with respect to the transferred units, and such transferee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations under the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement even if the transferee is not admitted as a member of Brilliant Earth, LLC. A member shall remain as a member with all rights and obligations until the transferee is accepted as substitute member in accordance with the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement.
Recapitalization. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will recapitalize the units currently held by the existing members of Brilliant Earth, LLC into a new single class of LLC Interests. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will also reflect a split of LLC Interests such that one common unit can be acquired
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with the net proceeds received in the initial offering from the sale of one share of our Class A common stock, after the deduction of the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Each common unit generally will entitle the holder to a pro rata share of the net profits and net losses and distributions of Brilliant Earth, LLC.
Maintenance of One-to-One Ratio Between Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class D Common Stock and LLC Interests Owned by the Company, One-to-One Ratio Between Shares of Class B Common Stock and LLC Interests Owned by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders), and One-to-One Ratio between Shares of Class C Common Stock and LLC Interests Owned by our Founders. Except as otherwise determined by us, the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement requires Brilliant Earth, LLC to take all actions with respect to its LLC Interests, including issuances, reclassifications, distributions, divisions or recapitalizations, such that (1) we at all times maintain a ratio of one common unit owned by us, directly or indirectly, for each share of Class A common stock and Class D common stock issued and outstanding, and (2) Brilliant Earth, LLC at all times maintain (a) a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class A common stock and Class D common stock issued and outstanding and the number of LLC Interests owned by us, (b) a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding and the number of LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and their permitted transferees, collectively, and (c) a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class C common stock issued and outstanding and the number of LLC Interests owned by our Founders and their permitted transferees, collectively. This ratio requirement disregards (1) shares of our Class A common stock under unvested options issued by us, (2) treasury stock and (3) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including warrants, options or rights) issued by us that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock or Class D common stock, except to the extent we have contributed the net proceeds from such other securities, including any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, to the equity capital of Brilliant Earth, LLC. In addition, the Class A common stock and Class D common stock ratio requirement disregards all LLC Interests at any time held by any other person, including the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and the holders of options over LLC Interests. If we issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase shares of Class A common stock or Class D common stock in a transaction not contemplated by the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, we as manager of Brilliant Earth, LLC have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of outstanding LLC Interests we own equals, on a one-for-one basis, the number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class D common stock. If we issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase or redeem any of our preferred stock in a transaction not contemplated by the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement, we as manager have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries repurchases or redemptions, we hold (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or cease to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC which (in our good faith determination) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to our preferred stock so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed. Brilliant Earth, LLC is prohibited from undertaking any subdivision (by any split of units, distribution of units, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse split of units, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the LLC Interests that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of (1) our Class A common stock or Class D common stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests owned by us and the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and Class D common stock, (2) our Class B common stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and the number of outstanding shares of our Class B common stock, and (3) our Class C common stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests owned by our Founders and the number of outstanding shares of our Class C common stock, as applicable, in each case, subject to exceptions.
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Issuance of LLC Interests upon Exercise of Options or Issuance of Other Equity Compensation. Upon the exercise of options issued by us (as opposed to options issued by Brilliant Earth, LLC), or the issuance of other types of equity compensation by us (such as the issuance of restricted or non-restricted stock, payment of bonuses in stock or settlement of stock appreciation rights in stock), we will have the right to acquire from Brilliant Earth, LLC a number of LLC Interests equal to the number of our shares of Class A common stock being issued in connection with the exercise of such options or issuance of other types of equity compensation. When we issue shares of Class A common stock in settlement of stock options granted to persons that are not officers or employees of Brilliant Earth, LLC, we will make, or be deemed to make, a capital contribution in Brilliant Earth, LLC equal to the aggregate value of such shares of Class A common stock and Brilliant Earth, LLC will issue to us a number of LLC Interests equal to the number of shares we issued. When we issue shares of Class A common stock in settlement of stock options granted to persons that are officers or employees of Brilliant Earth, LLC, then we will be deemed to have sold directly to the person exercising such award a portion of the value of each share of Class A common stock equal to the exercise price per share, and we will be deemed to have sold directly to Brilliant Earth, LLC the difference between the exercise price and market price per share for each such share of Class A common stock. In cases where we grant other types of equity compensation to employees of Brilliant Earth, LLC, on each applicable vesting date we will be deemed to have sold to Brilliant Earth, LLC the number of vested shares at a price equal to the market price per share, Brilliant Earth, LLC will deliver the shares to the applicable person, and we will be deemed to have made a capital contribution in Brilliant Earth, LLC equal to the purchase price for such shares in exchange for an equal number of LLC Interests.
Dissolution. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will provide that the consent of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. as the managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC and members holding a majority of the voting units will be required to voluntarily dissolve Brilliant Earth, LLC. In addition to a voluntary dissolution, Brilliant Earth, LLC will be dissolved upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution or other circumstances in accordance with Delaware law. Upon a dissolution event, the proceeds of a liquidation will be distributed in the following order: (1) first, to pay the expenses of winding up Brilliant Earth, LLC; (2) second, to pay debts and liabilities owed to creditors of Brilliant Earth, LLC, other than members; and (3) third, to the members pro-rata in accordance with their respective percentage ownership interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC (as determined based on the number of LLC Interests held by a member relative to the aggregate number of all outstanding LLC Interests).
Confidentiality. We, as manager, and each member agree to maintain the confidentiality of Brilliant Earth, LLCs confidential information. This obligation excludes information independently obtained or developed by the members, information that is in the public domain or otherwise disclosed to a member, in either such case not in violation of a confidentiality obligation of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement or approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel of either Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. or Brilliant Earth, LLC.
Indemnification. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will provide for indemnification of the manager, members and officers of Brilliant Earth, LLC or affiliates.
Common Unit Redemption Right. The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will provide a redemption right to the Continuing Equity Owners which will entitle them to have their LLC Interests redeemed for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Act) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Act) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Brilliant
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Earth Group, Inc. of such Class A common stock or Class D common stock, or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may exercise such redemption right, subject to certain exceptions, for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. In connection with the exercise of the redemption or exchange of LLC Interests (1) the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) will be required to surrender a number of shares of our Class B common stock registered in the name of such redeeming or exchanging Continuing Equity Owner (excluding our Founders), and therefore, will automatically be transferred to the Company and will be canceled for no consideration on a one-for-one basis with the number of LLC Interests so redeemed or exchanged, (2) our Founders will be required to surrender a number of shares of our Class C common stock registered in the name of such redeeming or exchanging Founder, and therefore, will automatically be transferred to the Company and will be canceled for no consideration on a one-for-one basis with the number of LLC Interests so redeemed or exchanged, (3) all redeeming members will surrender LLC Interests to Brilliant Earth, LLC for cancellation.
Each Continuing Equity Owners redemption rights will be subject to certain customary limitations, including the expiration of any contractual lock-up period relating to the shares of our Class A common stock or Class D common stock that may be applicable to such Continuing Equity Owner and the absence of any liens or encumbrances on such LLC Interests redeemed. Additionally, in the case we elect a cash settlement, such Continuing Equity Owner may rescind its redemption request within a specified period of time. Moreover, in the case of a settlement in Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, such redemption may be conditioned on the closing of an underwritten distribution of the shares of Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, that may be issued in connection with such proposed redemption. In the case of a settlement in Class A common stock, such Continuing Equity Owner may also revoke or delay its redemption request if the following conditions exist: (1) any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of the Class A common stock to be registered for such Continuing Equity Owner at or immediately following the consummation of the redemption shall have ceased to be effective pursuant to any action or inaction by the SEC or no such resale registration statement has yet become effective; (2) we failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect such redemption; (3) we exercised our right to defer, delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement and such deferral, delay or suspension shall affect the ability of such Continuing Equity Owner to have its Class A common stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the redemption; (4) such Continuing Equity Owner is in possession of any material non-public information concerning us, the receipt of which results in such Continuing Equity Owner being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A common stock at or immediately following the redemption without disclosure of such information (and we do not permit disclosure); (5) any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A common stock was to be registered by such Continuing Equity Owner at or immediately following the redemption shall have been issued by the SEC; (6) there shall have occurred a material disruption in the securities markets generally or in the market or markets in which the Class A common stock is then traded; (7) there shall be in effect an injunction, a restraining order or a decree of any nature of any governmental entity that restrains or prohibits the redemption; (8) we shall have failed to comply in all material respects with our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and such failure shall have affected the ability of such Continuing Equity Owner to consummate the resale of the Class A common stock to be received upon such redemption pursuant to an effective registration statement; or (9) the redemption date would occur three business days or less prior to, or during, a black-out period.
The Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement will require that in the case of a redemption by a Continuing Equity Owner we contribute cash, shares of our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, to Brilliant Earth, LLC in exchange for an amount of newly-issued LLC Interests that will be issued to us equal to the number of LLC Interests redeemed from the Continuing Equity Owner. Brilliant Earth, LLC will then distribute the cash or shares of our Class A common stock, as applicable,
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to such Continuing Equity Owner to complete the redemption. In the event of an election by a Continuing Equity Owner, we may, at our option, effect a direct exchange by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. of cash, our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, for such LLC Interests in lieu of such a redemption. Whether by redemption or exchange, we are obligated to ensure that at all times the number of LLC Interests that we own equals the number of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock or Class D common stock (subject to certain exceptions for treasury shares and shares underlying certain convertible or exchangeable securities).
Amendments. In addition to certain other requirements, our consent, as manager, and the consent of members holding a majority of the LLC Interests then outstanding and entitled to vote (excluding LLC Interests held directly or indirectly by us) will generally be required to amend or modify the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement.
Stockholders Agreement in Effect Before Consummation of the Transactions
Pursuant to the existing stockholders agreement between our Founders and Mainsail, our Founders are subject to certain covenants around ownership and directorship of Just Rocks through and until November 20, 2022. The existing stockholders agreement terminates when Mainsail ceases to own any direct or indirect beneficial interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC.
In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, the Founders and Mainsail will terminate the existing stockholders agreement.
Stockholders Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the Transactions
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, Mainsail will have the right to designate (i) two of our directors, or the Mainsail Directors, which will be Mainsail Directors for as long as Mainsail directly or indirectly, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, 15% or more of our Class A common stock (assuming that all outstanding LLC Interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC are redeemed for newly issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis) or (ii) one of our directors, or the Mainsail Director, which will be the Mainsail Director for as long as Mainsail directly or indirectly, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, 5% or more of our Class A common stock (assuming that all outstanding LLC Interests in Brilliant Earth, LLC are redeemed for newly issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis), and our Founders shall have the right to designate (i) two of our directors, or the Founders Directors, which will be the Founders Directors for as long as our Founders directly or indirectly, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, 15% or more of our Class A common stock and Class D common stock, combined (assuming that all outstanding LLC Interests are redeemed for newly issued shares of our class A common stock or Class D common stock, on a one-for-one basis) (ii) one of our directors, or the Founders Director, which will be the Founders Director for as long as our Founders directly or indirectly, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, 5% or more of our Class A common stock and Class D common stock, combined (assuming that all outstanding LLC Interests are redeemed for newly issued shares of our class A common stock or Class D common stock, on a one-for-one basis). Each of Mainsail and our Founders will also agree to vote, or cause to vote, all of their outstanding shares of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock at any annual or special meeting of stockholders in which directors are elected, so as to cause the election of the Mainsail Directors and Founders Directors. Additionally, pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, we shall take all commercially reasonable actions to cause (1) the individuals designated in accordance with the terms of the Stockholders Agreement to be included in the slate of nominees to be elected to the board of directors at the next annual or special meeting of our stockholders at which directors are to be elected and at each annual meeting of our stockholders thereafter at which a directors term expires; (2) the individuals designated in accordance with the terms of the Stockholders Agreement to fill the applicable vacancies on the board of directors; and
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(3) the individuals designated in accordance with the terms of the Stockholders Agreement to be on the compensation committee. The Stockholders Agreement allows for the board of directors to reject the nomination, appointment or election of a particular director if such nomination, appointment or election would constitute a breach of the board of directors fiduciary duties to our stockholders or does not otherwise comply with any requirements of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or the charter for, or related guidelines of, the board of directors nominating and corporate governance committee. See ManagementComposition of our Board of Directors.
The Stockholders Agreement will terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) either Mainsail or our Founders ceasing to own any of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock or Class D common stock or (ii) as agreed between us and Mainsail and our Founders.
Investor Rights Agreement in Effect Before the Consummation of the Transactions
Pursuant to the existing investor rights agreement with certain of the Continuing Equity Owners, certain of the Continuing Equity Owners have certain consent, demand registration and put rights as well as customary piggyback registration rights.
In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, we will terminate the existing investor rights agreement.
Registration Rights Agreement in Effect Upon the Consummation of the Transactions
We intend to enter into an Registration Rights Agreement with certain of the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering. The Registration Rights Agreement will provide certain of the Continuing Equity Owners with certain demand registration rights whereby, at any time after 180 days following our initial public offering and the expiration of any related lock-up period, such Continuing Equity Owners can require us to register under the Securities Act the offer and sale of shares of Class A common stock issuable to them, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules) who are disinterested), upon redemption or exchange of their LLC Interests. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide for customary piggyback registration rights for all parties to the agreement.
Employment Agreements
We intend to enter into an employment agreement with certain of our named executive officers in connection with this offering. See Executive Compensation.
Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. We have also purchased directors and officers liability insurance. See Description of Capital StockLimitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors.
Our Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions
Our Board has adopted a written Related Person Transaction Policy and Procedures, setting forth the policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. This policy covers, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K, any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which we (including any of our subsidiaries) are, were or will be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds $120,000 in any fiscal year and a related person has, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
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Under the policy, the Companys legal staff is primarily responsible for developing and implementing processes and procedures to obtain information regarding related persons with respect to potential related person transactions and then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether such potential related person transactions do, in fact, constitute related person transactions requiring compliance with the policy. If the Companys legal staff determines that a transaction or relationship is a related person transaction requiring compliance with the policy, the General Counsel is required to present to the Audit Committee all relevant facts and circumstances relating to the related person transaction. The Audit Committee must review the relevant facts and circumstances of each related person transaction, including if the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arms length dealings with an unrelated third party and the extent of the related persons interest in the transaction, take into account the conflicts of interest and corporate opportunity provisions of the Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and either approve or disapprove the related person transaction. If advance Audit Committee approval of a related person transaction requiring the Audit Committees approval is not feasible, then the transaction may be preliminarily entered into by management upon prior approval of the transaction by the Chair of the Audit Committee subject to ratification of the transaction by the Audit Committee at the Audit Committees next regularly scheduled meeting; provided, that if ratification is not forthcoming, management will make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the transaction. If a transaction was not initially recognized as a related person, then upon such recognition the transaction will be presented to the Audit Committee for ratification at the Audit Committees next regularly scheduled meeting; provided, that if ratification is not forthcoming, management will make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the transaction. Management will update the Audit Committee as to any material changes to any approved or ratified related person transaction and will provide a status report at least annually of all then current related person transactions. No director may participate in approval of a related person transaction for which he or she is a related person.
The following are certain transactions, arrangements, and relationships with our directors, executive officers, and stockholders owning 5% or more of our outstanding Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock or Class D common stock. We believe that the terms of such agreements are as favorable as those we could have obtained from parties not related to us.
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The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock(1) immediately following the consummation of the Transactions (excluding this offering), as described in Our Organizational Structure and (2) as adjusted to give effect to this offering, for:
| each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common Stock; |
| each of our directors; |
| each of our named executive officers; and |
| all of our executive officers and directors as a group. |
The numbers of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock beneficially owned, percentages of beneficial ownership, and percentages of combined voting power before and after this offering that are set forth below are based on (i) the number of shares and LLC Units to be issued and outstanding prior to and after this offering, after giving effect to the reorganization transactions and (ii) an assumed initial public offering price of $ per share (the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). See Organizational Structure.
The amounts and percentages of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of the regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days, provided that any person who acquires any such right with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer, or in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect, immediately upon such acquisition shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities which may be acquired through the exercise of such right. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all listed stockholders is 300 Grant Avenue, Third Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108.
Each of the stockholders listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the stockholder unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable.
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Class A Common Stock Beneficially Owned(1) |
Class B Common Stock Beneficially Owned |
Class C Common Stock Beneficially Owned |
Combined Voting Power(2) |
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After Giving Effect to the Transactions and Before this Offering |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and this Offering (No Exercise Option) |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and this Offering (With Full Exercise Option) |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and Before this Offering |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and this Offering (No Exercise Option) |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and this Offering (With Full Exercise Option) |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and Before this Offering |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and this Offering (No Exercise Option) |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and this Offering (With Full Exercise Option) |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and this Offering (No Exercise Option) |
After Giving Effect to the Transactions and this Offering (With Full Exercise Option) |
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Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of beneficial owner |
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5% Stockholders |
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Just Rocks, Inc.(3) |
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Mainsail(4) |
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Named Executive Officers and Directors |
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Beth Gerstein(5) |
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Eric Grossberg(6) |
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Jeffrey Kuo(7) |
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Gavin Turner(8) |
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Beth Kaplan(9) |
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Jennifer Harris(10) |
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Ian Bickley(11) |
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Attica Jaques(12) |
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All directors, director designees and executive officers as a group (persons)(13) |
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.
(1) | Each common unit held by the Continuing Equity Owners is redeemable from time to time at each holders option for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Act) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Act) who are disinterested), direct exchange by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. of such Class A common stock or Class D common stock, or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC Agreement. In these tables, beneficial ownership of LLC Interests has been reflected as beneficial ownership of shares of our Class A common stock for which such LLC Interests may be exchanged. |
(2) | Represents the percentage of voting power of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock voting as a single class. Each share of Class A common stock entitles the registered holder to one vote per share, each share of Class B common stock entitles the registered holder thereof to one vote per share and each share of Class C common stock entitles the registered holder thereof to ten votes per share on all matters presented to stockholders for a vote generally, including the election of directors. The Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock will vote as a single class on all matters except as required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our Class B common stock, and Class C common stock do not have any of the economic rights (including rights to dividends and distributions upon liquidation) associated with our Class A common stock. See Description of Capital Stock. |
(3) | Consists of (i) Class F units held by Just Rocks, Inc. (Just Rocks) that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions and (ii) shares of Class C common stock held by Just Rocks that will be issued in connection with the Transactions. As joint stockholders of Just Rocks, Ms. Gerstein and Mr. Grossberg may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power with respect to such securities. The address for Just Rocks is 300 Grant Avenue, Third Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108. |
(4) | Consists of (i) Class P units held by Mainsail Partners III, L.P. (MP III) that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions, (ii) Class B common stock held by MP III that will be issued in connection with the Transactions, (iii) Class P units held by Mainsail Incentive Program, LLC (MIP) that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions, (iv) Class B common stock held by MIP that will be issued in connection with the Transactions, (v) Class P units held by Mainsail Co-Investors III, L.P. (MCOI) that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions, and (vi) Class B common stock held by MCOI that will be issued in connection with the Transactions. Mainsail GP III, LLC (GP III) is the general partner of MP III. MCOI is a co-investment vehicle that invests alongside MP III. GP III is the general partner of MCOI. Gavin Turner, Christopher Jason Payne and Robert Burlinson comprise the investment committee of GP III and may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with regard to the securities held by MP III and MCOI. Mainsail Management Company, LLC (MMC) is the managing member of MIP. Gavin Turner is sole Manager of MMC and may be deemed to have sole voting and investment power with regard to the securities held by MIP. The address for MP III, MIP, and MCOI is One Front Street, Suite 3000, San Francisco CA, 94111. The address for GP III is 1 Belvedere Drive, Mill Valley, CA 94941. |
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(5) | Consists of the securities identified in footnote (3) above. |
(6) | Consists of the securities identified in footnote (3) above. |
(7) | Consists of (i) Class M units held by Mr. Kuo that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions and (ii) shares of Class B common stock held by Mr. Kuo that will be issued in connection with the Transaction. |
(8) | Consists of the MP III, MIP, and MCOI securities identified in footnote (4) above. |
(9) | Consists of (i) Class M units held by Ms. Kaplan that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions and (ii) shares of Class B common stock held by Ms. Kaplan that will be issued in connection with the Transaction. |
(10) | Consists of (i) Class M units held by Ms. Harris that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions and (ii) shares of Class B common stock held by Ms. Harris that will be issued in connection with the Transaction. |
(11) | Consists of (i) Class M units held by Mr. Bickley that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions and (ii) shares of Class B common stock held by Mr. Bickley that will be issued in connection with the Transaction. |
(12) | Consists of (i) Class M units held by Ms. Jaques that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions and (ii) shares of Class B common stock held by Ms. Jaques that will be issued in connection with the Transaction. |
(13) | Consists of (i) Class M units that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions, (ii) Class P units that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions, (iii) Class F units that will be converted into an aggregate LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions, (iv) shares of Class B common stock that will be issued in connection with the Transactions and (v) shares of Class C common stock that will be issued in connection with the Transactions. |
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General
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will file an amended and restated certificate of incorporation and we will adopt our amended and restated bylaws. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize capital stock consisting of:
| shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; |
| shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; |
| shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; |
| shares of Class D common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; and |
| shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. |
We are selling shares of Class A common stock in this offering ( shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock). All shares of our Class A common stock outstanding upon consummation of this offering will be fully paid and non-assessable. We are issuing shares of Class B common stock to the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) and shares of Class C common stock to our Founders in connection with the Transactions for nominal consideration. Immediately following the Transactions, no shares of Class D common stock will be issued and outstanding.
The following summary describes the material provisions of our capital stock and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, each of which will become effective prior to the completion of this offering, and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and is qualified by reference to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws. We urge you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock.
Common Stock
Class A Common Stock
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to receive, on a pro rata basis with shares of Class D common stock, dividends when and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.
Upon our dissolution or liquidation, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of shares of our Class A common stock and Class D common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution.
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Holders of shares of our Class A common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A common stock.
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock will vote together with holders of our Class B common stock, Class C common stock, and Class D common stock as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except for certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as otherwise required by applicable law or the amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any amendment to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation that gives holders of the Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock (i) any rights to receive dividends (subject to certain exceptions) or any other kind of distribution, (ii) any right to convert into or be exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock, or (iii) any other economic rights shall, in addition to the vote of the holders of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law, also require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock voting separately as a class and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class D Common Stock voting separately as a class.
Class B Common Stock
Each share of our Class B common stock entitles its holders to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally.
Shares of Class B common stock will be issued in the future only to the extent necessary to maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests held by the Continuing Equity Owners (other than the Founders, except in certain circumstances) and the number of shares of Class B common stock issued to the Continuing Equity Owners (other than the Founders, except in certain circumstances). Shares of Class B common stock are transferable only together with an equal number of LLC Interests. Only permitted transferees of LLC Interests held by the Continuing Equity Owners will be permitted transferees of Class B common stock. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC Agreement. The outstanding shares of Class B common stock will be convertible at the option of the holder into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. Once converted into Class A common stock, Class B common stock will not be reissued.
Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock, Class C common stock, and Class D common stock as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except for certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described below or as otherwise required by applicable law or the amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Holders of our Class B common stock do not have any right to receive dividends or to receive a distribution upon dissolution or liquidation. Additionally, holders of shares of our Class B common stock do not have preemptive, subscription or redemption rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class B common stock. Upon the exchange of an LLC Interest (together with a share of Class B common stock), the shares of Class B common stock will be automatically canceled with no consideration and no longer outstanding. Any amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that gives holders of our Class B common stock (1) any rights to receive dividends or any other kind of distribution or (2) any other economic rights will require, in addition to stockholder approval required by law, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock voting separately as a class and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class D common stock voting separately as a class.
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Upon the consummation of the Transactions, the Continuing Equity Owners (excluding our Founders) will own, in the aggregate, shares of our Class B common stock.
Class C Common Stock
Each share of our Class C common stock entitles its holders to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally.
Shares of Class C common stock will be held by our Founders and will be issued in the future only to the extent necessary to maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests held by our Founders and the number of shares of Class C common stock issued to our Founders. Shares of Class C common stock are transferable only together with an equal number of LLC Interests. Only permitted transferees of LLC Interests held by our Founders will be permitted transferees of Class C common stock. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC Agreement. Upon the exchange of an LLC Interest (together with a share of Class C common stock) for Class D common stock, the shares of Class C common stock will be automatically canceled with no consideration and no longer outstanding. Each share of Class C common stock will also automatically convert into one share of Class B common stock upon the earlier of (1) the 10-year anniversary of the date of the closing of this offering and (2) the date on which the Founders cease to hold at least 8% of the aggregate number of shares of all classes of common stock then outstanding, assuming exchange of all LLC Interests. Once converted into Class B common stock or Class D common stock, Class C common stock will not be reissued.
Holders of shares of our Class C common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class D common stock as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except for certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described below or as otherwise required by applicable law or the amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Holders of shares of our Class C common stock do not have any right to receive dividends or to receive a distribution upon dissolution or liquidation. Additionally, holders of shares of our Class C common stock do not have preemptive, subscription or redemption rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class C common stock. Upon the exchange of an LLC Interest (together with a share of Class C common stock), the shares of Class C common stock will be automatically canceled with no consideration and no longer outstanding. Any amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that gives holders of our Class C common stock (1) any rights to receive dividends or any other kind of distribution or (2) any other economic rights will require, in addition to stockholder approval required by law, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock voting separately as a class and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class D common stock voting separately as a class.
Upon the consummation of the Transactions, our Founders will own, in the aggregate, shares of our Class C common stock.
Class D Common Stock
Each share of our Class D common stock entitles its holders to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. Shares of Class D common stock will be held by our Founders upon the exchange of an LLC Interest (together with a share of Class C common stock) for Class D common stock, along with the cancellation of the Class C common stock.
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Holders of shares of our Class D common stock are entitled to receive, on a pro rata basis with shares of Class A common stock, dividends when and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.
Upon our dissolution or liquidation, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of shares of our Class D common stock and Class A common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution.
Shares of Class D common stock can only be held by our Founders or their Permitted Transferees. The outstanding shares of Class D common stock will be convertible at the option of the holder into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. In addition, each share of Class D common stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock upon any transfer, whether or not for value, except for certain affiliate transfers described in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation among the Founders, and their respective affiliates as of the date of the consummation of this offering. Each share of Class D common stock will also automatically convert into one share of Class A common stock upon the earlier of (1) the 10-year anniversary of the date of the closing of this offering and (2) the date on which the Founders cease to hold at least 8% of the aggregate number of shares of all classes of common stock then outstanding, assuming exchange of all LLC Interests. Once converted into Class A common stock, Class D common stock will not be reissued.
Holders of shares of our Class D common stock do not have preemptive, subscription or redemption rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A common stock or the Class D common stock.
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock will vote together with holders of our Class B common stock, Class C common stock, and Class D common stock as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except for certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as otherwise required by applicable law or the amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any amendment to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation that gives holders of the Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock (i) any rights to receive dividends (subject to certain exceptions) or any other kind of distribution or (ii) any other economic rights shall, in addition to the vote of the holders of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law, also require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock voting separately as a class and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class D Common Stock voting separately as a class.
Preferred Stock
Upon the consummation of the Transactions and the effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Transactions, the total of our authorized shares of preferred stock will be shares. Upon the consummation of the Transactions, we will have no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Under the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Transactions, our board of directors is authorized to direct us to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors has the discretion to determine the number and designation of such series and the powers, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.
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The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, future financings and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the holders of our Class A common stock by restricting dividends on the Class A common stock, diluting the voting power of the Class A common stock or subordinating the liquidation rights of the Class A common stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of our Class A common stock.
Warrants
As of December 31, 2020, there were warrants to purchase up to 358,333 of Class P units. The warrants to purchase Class P units consist of (i) 333,333 warrants issued to Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. in connection with the Term Loan Agreement, with an exercise price of $5.25 per unit and (ii) 25,000 warrants issued to Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. in connection with the First Amendment to Term Loan and Security Agreement, with an exercise price of $10.00 per unit. These warrants will be exercised in connection with this offering resulting in the issuance of LLC Interests and shares of Class B common stock, assuming an initial public offering price of $ per share of Class A common stock (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus).
Registration Rights
We intend to enter into an Registration Rights Agreement with certain of the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering pursuant to which such parties will have specified rights to require us to register all or a portion of their shares under the Securities Act. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsRegistration Rights Agreement.
Forum Selection
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide (A) (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Company to the Company or the Companys stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws (as either may be amended or restated) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, the federal district court of the State of Delaware; and (B) the federal district courts of the U.S. shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum provision shall not apply to claims seeking to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing. By agreeing to this provision, however, stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
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Dividends
Declaration and payment of any dividend will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors. The time and amount of dividends will be dependent upon our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, debt repayment obligations, capital expenditure needs, contractual restrictions, covenants in the agreements governing our future indebtedness, industry trends, the provisions of Delaware law affecting the payment of distributions to stockholders and any other factors our board of directors may consider relevant. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business, and therefore, do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. See Dividend Policy and Risk FactorsRisks related to the offering and ownership of our Class A common stockBecause we have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your Class A common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as they will be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of the Transactions, will contain provisions that may delay, defer or discourage another party from acquiring control of us. 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 acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.
Authorized but Unissued Shares
The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and our preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the rules. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate finance transactions, acquisitions and employee benefit plans and, as described under Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC AgreementAgreement in Effect Upon Consummation of the TransactionsCommon Unit Redemption Right, funding of redemptions of LLC Interests. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could make more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Classified Board of Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our board of directors will be divided into three classes, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible and each class serving three-year staggered terms. Our directors may only be removed from our board of directors at any time with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock representing a majority of the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon; provided, however, that at any time when Mainsail and our Founders beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than the majority of the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, directors may only be removed for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the holders of capital stock representing the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon. See ManagementComposition of our Board of Directors. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control of us or our management.
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Board of Directors Vacancies; Size of the Board
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors and the rights granted pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, vacant directorships, including newly created seats, shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors and the rights granted pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be permitted to be set only by a resolution adopted by our board of directors. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and then gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This will make it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors and will promote continuity of management.
Stockholder Action; Special Meetings of Stockholders
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, at any time when Mainsail and our Founders beneficially own, in the aggregate, at least a majority of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock, our stockholders may take action by consent without a meeting, and at any time when Mainsail and our Founders beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than the majority of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock, our stockholders may not take action by consent, but may only take action at a meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will further provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority of our board of directors, the Executive Chairman of our board of directors, or our Chief Executive Officer, as applicable, thus prohibiting a stockholder from calling a special meeting. These provisions might delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
In addition, our amended and restated bylaws will establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors. These provisions will not apply to the parties to our Stockholders Agreement so long as such party is entitled to nominate a director or directors pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement. In order for any matter to be properly brought before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice and requirements and provide us with certain information in the timeframe set forth in the bylaws. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors or by a qualified stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to our secretary of the stockholders intention to bring such business before the meeting. These provisions could have the effect of delaying stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities until the next stockholder meeting.
No Cumulative Voting
The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporations certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.
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Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the matter is required to amend a corporations certificate of incorporation, unless a corporations certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock, voting as a single class, will be required to amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including provisions relating to amending our amended and restated bylaws, the classified board, the size of our board, removal of directors, director liability, vacancies on our board, special meetings, stockholder notices, actions by written consent and exclusive forum. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Board may adopt, amend, alter or repeal the bylaws. In addition, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the stockholders may also adopt, amend, alter or repeal the bylaws by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Section 203 of the DGCL
We will opt out of Section 203 of the DGCL. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that are similar to Section 203. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to certain exceptions, we will not be able to engage in a business combination with any interested stockholder for three years following the date that the person became an interested stockholder, unless the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of our board of directors or unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A business combination includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving us and the interested stockholder and the sale of more than 10% of our assets. In general, an interested stockholder is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated bylaws provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Prior to the consummation of the Transactions, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that may, in some cases, be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained under Delaware law. In addition, as permitted by Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions that eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages resulting from breaches of certain fiduciary duties as a director. The effect of this provision is to restrict our rights and the rights of our stockholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duties as a director.
These provisions may be held not to be enforceable for violations of the federal securities laws of the U.S.
Corporate Opportunity Doctrine
Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors or stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Delaware law, renounce any interest or expectancy that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities that are from time to time presented to Mainsail, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Mainsail, or any director or
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stockholder who is not employed by us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, Mainsail, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Mainsail, or any director or stockholder who is not employed by us or our affiliates will not have any duty to refrain from (1) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which we or our affiliates now engage or propose to engage or (2) otherwise competing with us or our affiliates. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, if Mainsail, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Mainsail, or any director or stockholder who is not employed by us acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself or himself or its or his affiliates or for us or our affiliates, such person will have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to us or any of our affiliates and they may take any such opportunity for themselves or offer it to another person or entity, unless such opportunity was expressly offered to them solely in their capacity as a director, executive officer or employee of us or our affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, no potential transaction or business opportunity may be deemed to be a corporate opportunity of the corporation unless (1) we would be permitted to undertake such transaction or opportunity in accordance with the amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (2) we, at such time have sufficient financial resources to undertake such transaction or opportunity, (3) we have an interest or expectancy in such transaction or opportunity and (4) such transaction or opportunity would be in the same or similar line of our business in which we are engaged or a line of business that is reasonably related to, or a reasonable extension of, such line of business. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to an employee director or employee in his or her capacity as a director or employee of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.
Dissenters Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Stockholders Derivative Actions
Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholders stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock will be American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
Trading Symbol and Market
We intend to apply to list our Class A common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol BRLT.
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Immediately prior to this offering, there was no public market for our Class A common stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of Class A common stock in the public market (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon redemption or exchange of LLC Interests of our Continuing Equity Owners), or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock. Although we intend to apply to have our Class A common stock listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, we cannot assure you that there will be an active public market for our Class A common stock.
Upon the closing of this offering, we will have outstanding an aggregate of shares of Class A common stock, assuming the issuance of shares of Class A common stock offered by us in this offering. Of these shares, all shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, whose sales would be subject to the Rule 144 resale restrictions described below, other than the holding period requirement.
The remaining shares of Class A common stock will be restricted securities, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. These restricted securities are eligible for public sale only if they are registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, including Rules 144 or 701 under the Securities Act, which are summarized below.
In addition, each common unit held by our Continuing Equity Owners will be redeemable, at the election of each Continuing Equity Owner, for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Brilliant Earth LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may, subject to certain exceptions, exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsBrilliant Earth LLC Agreement. Upon consummation of the Transactions, our Continuing Equity Owners will hold LLC Interests, all of which will be exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock. The shares of Class A common stock we issue upon such exchanges would be restricted securities as defined in Rule 144 unless we register such issuances. However, we will enter into an Registration Rights Agreement with certain of the Original Equity Owners that will require us, subject to customary conditions, to register under the Securities Act these shares of Class A common stock. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsRegistration Rights Agreement.
Lock-Up Agreements
We, our officers, and directors, and the Original Equity Owners will agree that, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, we and they will not, subject to certain exceptions, during the period ending days after the date of this prospectus:
| offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of any shares of our Class A common stock, or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of our Class A common stock, or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, shares of our Class A common stock; or |
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| 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, or which reasonably could be expected to lead to, or result in, a sale, loan, pledge or other disposition of shares of our Class A common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock, whether any transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of our Class A common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. |
Upon the expiration of the applicable lock-up periods, substantially all of the shares subject to such lock-up restrictions will become eligible for sale, subject to the limitations discussed above. See Shares Eligible for Future Sale for a discussion of certain transfer restrictions.
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144 under the Securities Act as currently in effect, a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) 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 restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months (including any period of consecutive ownership of preceding non-affiliated holders) would be entitled to sell those shares, subject only to the availability of current public information about us. A non-affiliated person who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least one year would be entitled to sell those shares without regard to the provisions of Rule 144.
A person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is deemed to be an affiliate of ours and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of 1% of the then-outstanding shares of our Class A common stock or the average weekly trading volume of our Class A common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of notice of the sale. Such sales are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements, and the availability of current public information about us.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who purchases shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement before the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is entitled to sell such shares 90 days after such effective date in reliance on Rule 144. Our affiliates can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the holding period requirement, and non-affiliates of the issuer can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the current public information and holding period requirements.
The SEC has indicated that Rule 701 will apply to typical stock options granted by an issuer before it becomes subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, along with the shares acquired upon exercise of such options, including exercises after an issuer becomes subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
Equity Plans
We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register the offer and sale of all shares of Class A common stock issuable under our 2021 Plan and ESPP. As
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of the date of this prospectus stock options covering a total of approximately shares of our Class A common stock are intended to be granted to certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees in connection with this offering.
We expect to file the registration statement covering shares offered pursuant to our 2021 Plan shortly after the date of this prospectus, permitting the resale of such shares by nonaffiliates in the public market without restriction under the Securities Act and the sale by affiliates in the public market subject to compliance with the resale provisions of Rule 144.
Registration Rights
See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsRegistration Rights Agreement.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
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 ownership and disposition of our Class A 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 Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of 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 ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock.
This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our Class A 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. Holders 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 U.S.; |
| persons holding our Class A common stock as part of a straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction; |
| banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions; |
| brokers, dealers, or certain electing traders in securities that are subject to a mark-to-market method of tax accounting for their 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 Class A 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 Class A common stock, the tax treatment of an owner of such an entity will depend on the status of the owner, the activities of such entity and certain determinations made at the owner level. Accordingly, entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes holding our Class A common stock and the owners of such entities should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.
THIS DISCUSSION IS NOT TAX ADVICE. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX
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LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE 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 Class A common stock that is an individual, corporation, estate or trust that is not a U.S. person. 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 U.S.; |
| a corporation created or organized under the laws of the U.S., 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 the control of one or more U.S. 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 U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Distributions
As described in the section entitled Dividend Policy, we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on our Class A 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 returns of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in its Class A 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. Holders conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the U.S. 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. Holders conduct of a trade or business within the U.S.
Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch
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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 Class A common stock unless:
| the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holders conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the U.S. to which such gain is attributable); |
| the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or |
| our Class A 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. 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 Class A 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 U.S.), 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 that 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 Class A common stock by a Non-U.S. Holder would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if our common stock was 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 Class A common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition and the Non-U.S. Holders holding period.
Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of dividends on our Class A common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the Non-U.S. Holder is a U.S. person and the Non-U.S. Holder either 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,
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information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any distributions on our Class A 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 Class A common stock within the U.S. or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting if the applicable payor receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a U.S. person or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our Class A common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker that does not have certain enumerated relationships with the U.S. 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. Holders 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 may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding 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 Class A 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 U.S. owners (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. 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 U.S. persons or U.S. 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 U.S. 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 Class A common stock. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of 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.
If withholding under FATCA is imposed, a beneficial owner that is not a foreign financial institution generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld by filing a U.S. federal income tax return (which may entail significant administrative burden). Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our Class A common stock.
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We are offering the shares of Class A common stock described in this prospectus through a number of underwriters. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Jefferies LLC, and Cowen and Company are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering and as representatives of the underwriters. We have entered into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of Class A common stock listed next to its name in the following table:
Name |
Number of Shares |
|||
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
||||
Jefferies LLC |
||||
Cowen and Company, LLC |
||||
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. |
||||
Piper Sandler & Co. |
||||
William Blair & Company, L.L.C. |
||||
Telsey Advisory Group LLC |
||||
|
|
|||
Total |
||||
|
|
The underwriters are committed to purchase all the shares of Class A common stock offered by us if they purchase any shares. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may also be increased or the offering may be terminated.
The underwriters propose to offer the shares of Class A common stock directly to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $ per share. Any such dealers may resell shares to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount of up to $ per share from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares to the public, if all of the shares are not sold at the initial public offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. Sales of any shares made outside of the U.S. may be made by affiliates of the underwriters.
The underwriters have an option to buy up to additional shares of Class A common stock from us to cover sales of shares by the underwriters which exceed the number of shares specified in the table above. The underwriters have 30 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this option to purchase additional shares. If any shares are purchased with this option to purchase additional shares, the underwriters will purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above. If any additional shares of Class A common stock are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares on the same terms as those on which the shares are being offered.
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The underwriting fee is equal to the public offering price per share of Class A common stock less the amount paid by the underwriters to us per share of Class A common stock. The underwriting fee is $ per share. The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional shares.
Without option to purchase additional shares exercise |
With full option to purchase additional shares exercise |
|||||||
Per share |
$ | $ | ||||||
Total |
$ | $ |
We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing, and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding the underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $ . We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses of approximately $ in connection with the qualification of the offering of the Class A common stock with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in the offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters and selling group members that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.
We have agreed that we will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to, or file with, the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of any class of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any class of common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, loan, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any shares of common stock or any such other securities (regardless of whether any of these transactions are to be settled by the delivery of shares of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise), in each case without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, other than the shares of our common stock to be sold in this offering.
Our directors and executive officers, and substantially all of our stockholders (such persons, the lock-up parties) have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each lock-up party, with limited exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus (such period, the restricted period), may not (and may not cause any of their direct or indirect affiliates to), without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock, and Class D common stock (collectively, the Common Stock) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Common Stock (including, without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such lock-up parties in accordance with the rules and regulations
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of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant (collectively with the Common Stock, the lock-up securities)), (2) enter into any hedging, swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the lock-up securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of lock-up securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any lock-up securities, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. Such persons or entities have further acknowledged that these undertakings preclude them from engaging in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition or transfer (by any person or entity, whether or not a signatory to such agreement) of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any lock-up securities, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of lock-up securities, in cash or otherwise.
The restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraph and contained in the lock-up agreements between the underwriters and the lock-up parties do not apply, subject in certain cases to various conditions, to certain transactions.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, in their sole discretion, may release the securities subject to any of the lock-up agreements with the underwriters described above, in whole or in part at any time.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
We will apply to have our Class A common stock approved for listing/quotation on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol BRLT.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, which involves making bids for, purchasing and selling shares of Class A common stock in the open market for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Class A common stock while this offering is in progress. These stabilizing transactions may include making short sales of Class A common stock, which involves the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares of Class A common stock than they are required to purchase in this offering, and purchasing shares of Class A common stock on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales may be covered shorts, which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters option to purchase additional shares referred to above, or may be naked shorts, which are short positions in excess of that amount. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their option to purchase additional shares, in whole or in part, or by purchasing shares in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market compared to the price at which the underwriters may purchase shares through the option to purchase additional shares. 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 Class A common stock in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. To the extent that the underwriters create a naked short position, they will purchase shares in the open market to cover the position.
The underwriters have advised us that, pursuant to Regulation M of the Securities Act of 1933, they may also engage in other activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Class A common stock, including the imposition of penalty bids. This means that if the representatives of the
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underwriters purchase Class A common stock in the open market in stabilizing transactions or to cover short sales, the representatives can require the underwriters that sold those shares as part of this offering to repay the underwriting discount received by them.
These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the Class A common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Class A common stock, and, as a result, the price of the Class A common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If the underwriters commence these activities, they may discontinue them at any time. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. The initial public offering price will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters. In determining the initial public offering price, we and the representatives of the underwriters expect to consider a number of factors including:
| the information set forth in this prospectus and otherwise available to the representatives; |
| our prospects and the history and prospects for the industry in which we compete; |
| an assessment of our management; |
| our prospects for future earnings; |
| the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering; |
| the recent market prices of, and demand for, publicly traded common stock of generally comparable companies; and |
| other factors deemed relevant by the underwriters and us. |
Neither we nor the underwriters can assure investors that an active trading market will develop for our Class A common stock, or that the shares will trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.
Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.
Selling restrictions
General
Other than in the U.S., no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
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Notice to prospective investors in Canada
The shares may be sold 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 shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, 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 purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchasers province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchasers 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.
Notice to prospective investors in the United Kingdom
This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order), or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling with Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or (iv) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the FSMA)) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or be caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as relevant persons). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
No offer of securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus may be made to the public in the United Kingdom, other than:
| at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation; |
| at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation) in the United Kingdom subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or |
| at any time in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the FSMA, |
provided that no such offer of securities referred to above shall result in a requirement for us or any underwriter 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 of securities to the public in relation to any securities means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities 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.
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Notice to prospective investors in the European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a Relevant State), no offer of securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus may be made to the public in that Relevant State, other than:
| at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; |
| at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or |
| at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, |
provided that no such offer of securities referred to above shall result in a requirement for us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or a supplemental prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an offer of securities to the public in relation to any securities in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, and the expression Prospectus Regulation means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
Notice to prospective investors in Switzerland
The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company or the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (CISA). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.
Notice to prospective investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre
This document relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Markets Rules 2012 of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). This document is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Markets Rules 2012 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 supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for this document. The securities to which this 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 document you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
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In relation to its use in the Dubai International Financial Centre (the DIFC), this document is strictly private and confidential and is being distributed to a limited number of investors and must not be provided to any person other than the original recipient, and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. The interests in the securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly to the public in the DIFC. Notice to prospective investors in the United Arab Emirates.
Notice to prospective investors in Australia
This prospectus:
| does not constitute a disclosure document or a prospectus under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the Corporations Act); |
| has not been, and will not be, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), as a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act; and |
| may only be provided in Australia to select investors who are able to demonstrate that they fall within one or more of the categories of investors, available under section 708 of the Corporations Act (Exempt Investors). |
The shares may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the shares may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any shares may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the shares, you represent and warrant to us that you are an Exempt Investor.
As any offer of shares under this document will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 12 months may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the shares you undertake to us that you will not, for a period of 12 months from the date of sale of the shares, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those shares to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.
Notice to prospective investors in Hong Kong
The shares have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to professional investors as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the SFO) of Hong Kong and any rules made thereunder; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong) (the CO) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the CO. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, 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 of 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 as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.
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Notice to prospective investors in Japan
The shares have not been and will not be registered pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. Accordingly, none of the shares nor any interest therein may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan in effect at the relevant time.
Notice to prospective investors in Singapore
Each underwriter has acknowledged that this prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold any shares or caused the shares to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell any shares or cause the shares to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, this prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the SFA)) pursuant to 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 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.
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; or |
| a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, |
securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:
| to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA; |
| where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; |
| where the transfer is by operation of law; |
| as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or |
as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.
205
The validity of the shares of Class A common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, New York, New York. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York has acted as counsel for the underwriters in connection with certain legal matters related to this offering.
The financial statement of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. as of June 3, 2021 and the financial statements of Brilliant Earth, LLC as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for the years then ended included in this prospectus and in the registration statement have been so included in reliance on the reports of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein and in the registration statement, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. For further information about us and the Class A common stock offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. 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.
Upon the closing of this offering, we will be required to file periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. The SEC also maintains an internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about registrants, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.brilliantearth.com, through 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. Information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
206
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. | ||||
F-2 | ||||
F-3 | ||||
F-4 | ||||
Brilliant Earth, LLC | ||||
Audited Financial Statements: | ||||
F-5 | ||||
F-6 | ||||
Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 |
F-7 | |||
F-8 | ||||
Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 |
F-9 | |||
F-10 | ||||
Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements: | ||||
Condensed Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 |
F-29 | |||
Condensed Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 |
F-30 | |||
F-31 | ||||
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 |
F-32 | |||
F-33 |
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholder and Board of Directors
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.
San Francisco, California
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (the Company) as of June 3, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statement). In our opinion, the financial statement presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at June 3, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
This financial statement is the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys financial statement based on our audit. 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 audit 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 statement is 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 audit 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 Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, 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 statement. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2021.
Denver, Colorado
June 11, 2021
F-2
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.
June 30, 2021 |
June 3, 2021 |
|||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Cash |
$ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
$ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Stockholders equity |
||||||||
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 100 shares authorized, issued, and outstanding |
$ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total stockholders equity |
$ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these balance sheets
F-3
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (the Corporation) was organized as a Delaware corporation on June 2, 2021, with a fiscal year end of December 31. Pursuant to a reorganization, the Corporation will become a holding company, and its principal asset will be a controlling equity interest in Brilliant Earth, LLC. The Corporation will be the sole managing member of Brilliant Earth, LLC and will control all of the businesses and affairs of Brilliant Earth, LLC.
Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
The balance sheets have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (U.S. GAAP). Separate statements of operations, changes in stockholders equity and cash flows have not been presented because there have been no activities in this entity or because the single transaction is fully disclosed below.
Income Taxes
The Company is treated as a subchapter C corporation and, therefore, is subject to both federal and state income taxes. Brilliant Earth, LLC continues to be recognized as a limited liability company, a pass-through entity for income tax purposes; accordingly, the Company will be subject to income taxes on its allocable share of Brilliant Earth, LLCs taxable income or losses.
Note 3 Stockholders Equity
On June 2, 2021, the Company was authorized to issue 100 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value. On June 3, 2021, the Company issued 100 shares of common stock for $0.01, all of which were acquired by the Companys General Counsel.
Note 4 Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through June 11, 2021 and August 10, 2021, for the June 3, 2021 and June 30, 2021 balance sheets, respectively, and is not aware of any subsequent events that would require recognition or disclosure in the balance sheets.
F-4
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Members and Board of Managers
Brilliant Earth, LLC
San Francisco, California
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Brilliant Earth, LLC (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related statements of operations, redeemable convertible preferred units and members deficit, and cash flows for the years then ended, 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 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys 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 Companys 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/ BDO USA, LLP
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2021.
Denver, Colorado
June 9, 2021
F-5
Brilliant Earth, LLC
(In thousands except unit amounts)
December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 66,269 | $ | 40,394 | ||||
Restricted cash |
205 | 204 | ||||||
Inventories, net |
13,559 | 10,807 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
2,939 | 2,264 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
82,972 | 53,669 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net |
1,986 | 2,004 | ||||||
Other assets |
258 | 252 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
$ | 85,216 | $ | 55,925 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred units and members deficit |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 10,972 | $ | 10,766 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
16,961 | 12,750 | ||||||
Current portion of deferred revenue |
10,775 | 8,448 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
38,708 | 31,964 | ||||||
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs |
62,211 | 32,654 | ||||||
Long-term deferred revenue |
179 | 141 | ||||||
Deferred rent |
662 | 634 | ||||||
Warrant liability |
84 | 83 | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities |
2,440 | 1,139 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
104,284 | 66,615 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) |
||||||||
Redeemable convertible preferred units (Class P Units) - 17,380,953 units authorized, and 17,000,000 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019 |
66,327 | 80,829 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Members deficit |
||||||||
Class F Units - 26,900,953 units authorized, 26,520,000 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019 |
(85,695 | ) | (91,773 | ) | ||||
Class M Units - 2,615,729 and 1,813,333 units authorized, 1,430,986 and 1,332,395 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively |
300 | 254 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total members deficit |
(85,395 | ) | (91,519 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred units and members deficit |
$ | 85,216 | $ | 55,925 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
Brilliant Earth, LLC
(In thousands)
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Net sales |
$ | 251,820 | $ | 201,343 | ||||
Cost of sales |
139,518 | 116,421 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross profit |
112,302 | 84,922 | ||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
85,710 | 90,317 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income (loss) from operations |
26,592 | (5,395 | ) | |||||
Interest expense |
(4,942 | ) | (2,257 | ) | ||||
Other expense, net |
(74 | ) | (126 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 21,576 | $ | (7,778 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-7
Brilliant Earth, LLC
STATEMENTS OF REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED UNITS AND MEMBERS DEFICIT
(In thousands except unit amounts)
Class P | Class F | Class M | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Units | Amounts | Units | Amounts | Units | Amounts | Total Members Deficit |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2019 |
17,000,000 | $ | 62,579 | 26,520,000 | $ | (65,745 | ) | 1,229,305 | $ | 211 | $ | (65,534 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Vested Class M Units |
| | | | 103,090 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation |
| | | | | 43 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
| | | (7,778 | ) | | | (7,778 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment of redeemable convertible preferred units to redemption value |
| 18,250 | | (18,250 | ) | | | (18,250 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2019 |
17,000,000 | 80,829 | 26,520,000 | (91,773 | ) | 1,332,395 | 254 | (91,519 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Special distribution to members |
| (10,000 | ) | | (20,000 | ) | | | (20,000 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Vested Class M Units |
| | | | 98,591 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation |
| | | | | 46 | 46 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
| 3,997 | | 17,579 | | | 17,579 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment of redeemable convertible preferred units to redemption value |
| (8,499 | ) | | 8,499 | | | 8,499 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2020 |
17,000,000 | $ | 66,327 | 26,520,000 | $ | (85,695 | ) | 1,430,986 | $ | 300 | $ | (85,395 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-8
Brilliant Earth, LLC
(In thousands)
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Operating activities |
||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 21,576 | $ | (7,778 | ) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense |
646 | 622 | ||||||
Provision for inventory obsolescence |
73 | 24 | ||||||
Equity-based compensation expense |
46 | 43 | ||||||
Loss on disposal of assets |
45 | | ||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
1,121 | 292 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Inventories |
(2,825 | ) | (2,426 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
(675 | ) | (1,041 | ) | ||||
Other assets |
(6 | ) | (38 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable |
134 | 3,766 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
4,195 | 4,731 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
2,365 | 2,431 | ||||||
Deferred rent |
28 | (59 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
26,723 | 567 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Investing activities |
||||||||
Purchases of property and equipment |
(584 | ) | (678 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(584 | ) | (678 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Financing activities |
||||||||
Special distributions to members |
(30,000 | ) | | |||||
Proceeds received from term loan |
30,000 | 35,000 | ||||||
Payments of debt issuance costs |
(263 | ) | (1,397 | ) | ||||
Borrowings from PPP loan |
2,657 | | ||||||
Repayments on PPP loan |
(2,657 | ) | | |||||
Repayments of related party loan |
| (11,000 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
(263 | ) | 22,603 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
25,876 | 22,492 | ||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year |
40,598 | 18,106 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year |
$ | 66,474 | $ | 40,598 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Non-cash investing and financing activities |
||||||||
Adjustment of redeemable convertible preferred units to redemption value |
$ | (8,499 | ) | $ | 18,250 | |||
Debt issuance costs capitalized to principal of long-term debt |
1,302 | 1,139 | ||||||
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
89 | 42 | ||||||
Issuance of warrants |
1 | 83 | ||||||
Supplemental information |
||||||||
Cash paid for interest |
$ | 3,722 | $ | 1,804 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-9
Note 1 Description of the Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The Business
Brilliant Earth, LLC (the Company), a Delaware limited liability company, designs, procures and sells ethically-sourced diamonds, gemstones and jewelry online and through showrooms operated in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, San Diego, Washington DC, Denver, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. The Company is co-headquartered in San Francisco, California and Denver, Colorado, and was incorporated in Delaware on August 25, 2005, and subsequently converted to its current limited liability company status on November 29, 2012.
The Company operates in one operating and reporting segment, retail sale of diamonds, gemstones and jewelry. Over 90% of sales are to customers in the United States (U.S.); sales to non-U.S. customers immediately settle in U.S. dollars and no cash balances are carried in foreign currencies. Through the end of 2020, the Companys chief operating decision maker (CODM) were the two co-chief executive officers (CEOs), who reviewed financial information for the purposes of making operating decisions, assessing financial performance and allocating resources. In the first quarter of 2021, the Company designated a sole CEO, who then became the Companys CODM.
The Companys Limited Liability Company Agreement, including any subsequent amendments (the LLC Agreement), provides that obligations and liabilities of the Company shall be solely the debts, expenses, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Member or Manager shall be obligated personally for any such debt, expense, and obligation. The Company shall continue in existence perpetually until terminated and liquidated by the Board of Managers in compliance with the provisions of the LLC Agreement.
Risks and Uncertainties COVID-19
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic based on the spread of the virus worldwide, including to the U.S., where the Companys principal operations occur.
On March 16, 2020, the Company temporarily closed its showrooms to the public, but continued to fulfill orders during this period of time. COVID-19 also temporarily disrupted the Companys supply chain operations resulting in some delays to jewelry production and delivery timelines in 2020. While the Company re-opened all of its showrooms to the public in 2020, the Companys operations are still subject to local or regional public health orders that could include temporary government-mandated closures which may impact the Companys showrooms or other operations.
The Companys financial performance was adversely impacted by COVID-19 in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic remains ongoing and the potential duration and magnitude of the pandemics future impact on the jewelry industry and on the Companys operations and supply chain remains unknown and depends on factors outside of the Companys control including the duration and intensity of the pandemic, the availability and efficacy of treatments and vaccines, and the impact of COVID-19 on financial markets, industry supply chains and consumer behavior. The potential impact of these factors on the Companys future liquidity, financial condition and results of operations cannot be estimated.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) was signed into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act includes many measures to provide relief to companies. The Company has not participated in any such measures, other than obtaining a U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP Loan) under the CARES Act, which was fully repaid in December 2020. See Note 7, Long-Term Debt, for further discussion.
F-10
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Some of the more significant estimates include the allowance for sales returns, inventory valuation, useful lives and depreciation of long-lived assets, fair value of equity-based compensation and warrants and redemption value of the redeemable convertible preferred units (Class P Units). Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company reviews its estimates to ensure that they appropriately reflect changes in its business or new information available.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. GAAP prescribes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 | | Valuation based on quoted prices (unadjusted) observed in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. | ||||
Level 2 | | Valuation techniques based on inputs that are quoted prices of similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not in active markets; inputs other than quoted prices used in a valuation model that are observable for that instrument; and inputs that are derived from, or corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means. | ||||
Level 3 | | Valuation techniques with significant unobservable market inputs. |
The Company is required to disclose its estimate of the fair value of material financial instruments, including those recorded as assets or liabilities in its financial statements, in accordance with GAAP.
The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, as of January 1, 2020 which only impacts disclosure. The guidance on fair value disclosures eliminates the following requirements for all entities: the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the entitys policy for the timing of transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy, and the entitys valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. For derivative instruments and certain other assets and liabilities, entities are permitted to disclose other quantitative information such as the median or arithmetic average if doing so provides a more reasonable and rational reflection of the distribution of unobservable inputs than the weighted average. An entity that discloses other quantitative information will not have to disclose its reason for omitting the weighted average.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, Class P Units and warrants on Class P Units were the only financial instruments (assets or liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities and were classified as Level 1. The carrying value of long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs, also
F-11
approximates its fair value, which has been estimated by management based on the consideration of applicable interest rates (including certain instruments at variable or floating rates) and were classified as Level 2. As further discussed in Note 8, Members Units Including Redeemable, Convertible Class P Units, and 401K Plan, Class P Units, Class P warrants and Class M Units granted as equity compensation were also classified as Level 3.
Concentration of Risk
The Company maintains the majority of its cash and cash equivalents in accounts with major financial institutions within the U.S. in the form of demand deposits, money market accounts, and time deposits. Deposits in these institutions may exceed the amounts of insurance provided, or deposits may not be covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced losses on its deposits of cash and cash equivalents.
The Companys ability to procure diamonds, gemstones and to produce jewelry is dependent on its relationships with various suppliers. No supplier accounted for more than 10% of inventory purchases in a given year during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income is the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and all other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Other comprehensive income may include unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities, foreign currency items, and minimum pension liability adjustments. The Company did not have components of other comprehensive income. As a result, comprehensive income is the same as net income.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less and deposits in transit from banks for payments related to third-party credit and debit card transactions to be cash equivalents. Credit and debit card transactions are short-term, highly liquid in nature.
Included in cash equivalents are certificates of deposit totaling $2,500 and $20.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The certificates bear interest ranging from 0.02% to 0.74% and have maturities ranging from one to three months, with penalties for early withdrawal. Any penalties for early withdrawal would not have a material effect on the financial statements.
Restricted cash pertains to funds of $0.2 million securing a letter of credit related to a lease at one of the Companys showroom locations. See Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies, for further discussion.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash from the balance sheets to the statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, and 2019 (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 66,269 | $ | 40,394 | ||||
Restricted cash |
205 | 204 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
$ | 66,474 | $ | 40,598 | ||||
|
|
|
|
F-12
Inventories, net
The Companys diamond, gemstone and jewelry inventories are primarily held for resale and valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is primarily determined using the weighted average cost on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis for all inventories, except for unique inventory SKUs (principally independently graded diamonds), where cost is determined using specific identification. Net realizable value is defined as estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation.
Inventory reserves are recorded for obsolete, slow-moving or defective items and shrinkage. Inventory reserves are calculated as the difference between the cost of inventory and its estimated market value based on factors such as current and anticipated demand, customer preferences and fashion trends, management strategy and market conditions. Due to the Companys inventory principally consisting of diamonds, gemstones and fine jewelry, the age of the inventories has limited impact on the estimated market value. The Companys diamonds and gemstones do not degrade in quality over time and diamond and gemstone inventory generally consists of the diamond and gemstone shapes and sizes commonly used in the jewelry industry. Product obsolescence is closely monitored and reviewed by management on an ongoing basis.
The write-downs for inventory obsolescence recorded for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were not material to the financial statements.
Property and Equipment, Capitalized Software and Website Development and Impairment Tests for Long-Lived Assets
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation expense is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets sold or otherwise disposed of are removed from the accounts and the related gain or loss is reported in the accompanying statements of operations. Estimated useful lives by major asset category are as follows:
Asset |
Life (in years) |
|||||
Computer equipment | 3 | |||||
Equipment | 5-7 | |||||
Furniture and fixtures | 7 | |||||
Software and website | 3 | |||||
Leasehold improvements | Shorter of lease term or 10 years |
The Company capitalizes costs of initial development of internal-use software and its website, and amortizes such costs on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, which is generally three years, once it is available for use. Costs related to the ongoing maintenance of internal-use software and the website are expensed as incurred.
The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets, including property and equipment, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. To the extent the estimated future cash inflows attributable to the assets, less estimated future cash outflows, are less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss would be recognized. No impairment losses have been recognized for the two years ended December 31, 2020.
Leases
Assets under lease agreements are accounted for under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 840, Leases, and are reviewed for capital or operating classification at their inception. The Companys
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leases are classified as operating leases under ASC 840 which are recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In the event that lease incentives are received to enter into operating leases, such incentives are recognized as a liability and recognized as a reduction of the rental expense on a straight-line basis.
Warrants Issued in Connection with Financings
Warrants issued in connection with debt and equity financings are generally accounted for as a component of equity unless the warrants include a conditional obligation to issue a variable number of units among other conditions or there is a deemed possibility that the Company may need to settle the warrants in cash, in which case they are accounted for as non-current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets.
Debt Issuance Costs
Direct costs incurred on borrowings are capitalized and amortized to interest expense over the contractual term of the related loan using the effective interest method. See Note 7, Long-Term Debt, for further discussion. If the terms of a financing obligation are amended and accounted for as a debt modification by the Company, fees incurred directly with the lending institution are capitalized and amortized over the remaining contractual term using the effective method. Fees incurred with other parties are expensed as incurred.
Revenue Recognition
Net sales primarily consist of revenue from diamond, gemstone and jewelry retail sales and payment is required in full prior to order fulfillment. Delivery is determined to be the time of pickup for orders picked up in showrooms, and for shipped orders, typically within one to two business days after shipment. Credit is not extended to customers except through third-party credit cards or financing offerings. A return policy of 30 days from when the item is picked up or ready for shipment is typically provided; one complimentary resizing for standard ring styles is offered within 60 days of when an order is available for shipment or pickup; a lifetime manufacturing warranty is provided on all jewelry, with the exception of estate and vintage jewelry and center diamonds/gemstones; and a lifetime diamond upgrade program is included on all independently graded natural diamonds. The complimentary resizing, lifetime manufacturing warranty claims and lifetime diamond upgrades have not historically been material. A three-year extended service plan, which provides full inspection, cleaning and certain repairs due to normal wear, is offered for an additional charge.
The following table discloses the Companys total net sales by geography (in thousands):
Sales by geography: | ||||||||
For the years ended December 31, |
||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
United States |
$ | 233,169 | $ | 186,528 | ||||
International |
18,651 | 14,815 | ||||||
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Total net sales |
$ | 251,820 | $ | 201,343 | ||||
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Revenue Recognition
The Company accounts for revenue recognition in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). Under ASC 606, the Company is required to recognize revenue from customers as control of the promised goods is
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transferred to customers, which generally occurs upon delivery if the order is shipped, or at the time the customer picks up the completed product at a showroom. Revenue arrangements generally have one performance obligation and are reported net of estimated sales returns and allowances which are determined based on historical product return rates and current economic conditions. The Company also offers a three-year extended service, which gives rise to an additional performance obligation, when purchased by the customer, that is recognized over the course of the service plan. Additionally, sales taxes are collected and remitted to taxing authorities, and the Company has elected to exclude sales taxes from revenues recognized under ASC 606.
Contract Balances
In transactions where payment has been received from customers, but control has not transferred, the Company records these transactions as customer deposits in deferred revenue and defers revenue recognition until delivery has occurred. Deferred revenue also includes revenue deferred on the Companys three-year extended service plan that customers have elected to purchase. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, total deferred revenue was $11.0 million and $8.6 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized $8.1 million and $5.9 million, respectively, of revenue that was deferred as of the last day of the respective prior year.
Sales Returns and Allowances
The Company maintains a returns asset account and a refund liabilities account to record the effects of its estimated product returns and sales returns allowance. The Companys returns asset and refund liabilities are updated at the end of each financial reporting period and the effect of such changes are accounted for in the period in which such changes occur.
The Company estimates anticipated product returns in the form of a refund liability based on historical return percentages and current period sales levels. The Company also accrues a related returns asset for goods expected to be returned in salable condition, less any expected costs to recover such goods, including return shipping costs that the Company may incur.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Companys refund liabilities balances were $2.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively, and are included as a provision for sales returns and allowances within accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Companys returns asset balances were $1.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively, and are included within prepaid expenses and other current assets in the accompanying balance sheets.
See Note 4, Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities, for further discussion on the provision for sales returns and allowances.
Fulfillment Costs
The Company generally does not bill customers separately for shipping and handling charges. Any fulfillment costs incurred by the Company when shipping to customers is reflected in cost of sales in the accompanying statements of operations.
Consignment Inventory Sales
The Company accounts for sales of consignment inventory on a gross sales basis as control of the merchandise is maintained by the Company through the point of sale. The Company also provides independent advice, guidance and after-sales service to customers. Consigned products are selected at the discretion of the Company, and the determination of the selling price as well as responsibility of the physical security of the products is maintained by the Company. The products sold from
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consignment inventory are similar in nature to other products that the Company sells to customers and are sold on the same terms.
Cost of Sales
The Company purchases diamonds and gemstones from suppliers and utilizes third-party manufacturing suppliers for the production and assembly of substantially all jewelry sold by the Company. Cost of sales includes merchandise costs, inbound freight charges, costs of shipping orders to customers, costs and reserves for disposal of obsolete, slow-moving or defective items and shrinkage.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of marketing, advertising and promotional expenses, payroll and related benefit costs for the Companys employees, including equity-based compensation expense, merchant processing fees, certain facility-related costs, customer service, technology and depreciation expenses, as well as professional fees and other general corporate expenses.
Marketing, advertising and promotional costs are expensed as incurred and totaled approximately $47.1 million and $57.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Foreign Currency Transactions
Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included within other expense, net in the accompanying statements of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, gains or losses from foreign currency transactions were insignificant.
Equity-Based Compensation
The LLC Agreement provides for the issuance of equity designated as Class M Units (Class M Units), which are profit interests, and granted to certain employees at the Companys discretion without consideration. Rights to the Class M Units are subject to vesting provisions. Accordingly, the accounting guidance set forth in ASC 718, Compensation Stock Compensation, has been used in accounting for these units, as these units are similar to the awards commonly called restricted stock units in a corporate legal structure.
The compensation cost for Class M Units is measured as of the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is expensed ratably over the requisite service period of the award, which is typically the vesting period. The Company has elected to account for forfeitures when they occur, and any compensation expense previously recognized on unvested units is reversed when forfeited.
The fair value of grants of restricted Class M Units is determined by management based on the fair value of an unrestricted Class M Unit underlying the award determined by considering a number of objective, subjective and highly complex factors including independent third-party valuations of the Companys common units, operating and financial performance, the lack of liquidity of capital stock and general and industry specific economic outlook among other factors.
Member Units
Member units are assessed at issuance or when the terms are changed or modified for classification (as liabilities, temporary equity, or permanent equity), and for embedded conversion and redemption
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features requiring bifurcation. The Class F Units (Class F Units) and Class M Units meet the criteria for classification as permanent equity. As discussed in Note 8, Members Units Including Redeemable, Convertible Class P Units, and 401K Plan, the Class P Units are classified as temporary equity and adjusted each reporting period to their redemption value.
Under the LLC Agreement, the holder of any Class P Unit has the right at any time, at such holders option, to convert any such Class P Unit into Class F Units on a one-to-one basis. Included in the conversion formula is a down round feature which provides the P Unitholder with protection if at any time after the original issuance of the Class P Units, the Company shall issue any Class F or Class M Units, for a consideration per unit less than the applicable conversion price in effect immediately prior to the issuance of such Class F or Class M Units, such Conversion Price shall be decreased based on a formula as described. The embedded conversion feature including down round protection qualifies for an exception under the derivative rules for bifurcation and all proceeds from issuance are allocated to the P Units.
Distributions to Members
The LLC Agreement provides for the distribution of cash in defined amounts sufficient to fund member income tax liabilities.
Income Taxes
The Company files federal income tax returns and income or gross receipts tax returns in certain states and municipalities. The Company is classified and taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes; accordingly, all taxable income, losses, deductions and credits are allocated to the members who are responsible for the payment of taxes thereon. Therefore, no provision has been made for federal income taxes. The Company does incur certain state franchise and gross receipts taxes which the Company includes in selling, general and administrative expense in the accompanying statements of operations. Although the Company is not subject to income taxation directly, its tax filings are subject to examination by U.S. federal, state and local taxing authorities for various time periods based upon the regulations of each taxing authority.
The Company may recognize an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority based on the technical merits of the position. Management evaluated the Companys tax positions for all open tax years and believes it has no material uncertain tax positions and has recorded no material related interest or penalties for any tax-related reason for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. In the event of tax-related interest or penalties, the Company records these expenses within selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of operations.
Note 2 Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, and subsequently amended, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability in the accompanying balance sheets for leases classified as operating leases. For leases with a term of twelve months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability. Additionally, when measuring assets and liabilities arising from a lease, optional payments should be included only if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise an option to extend the lease, exercise a purchase option, or not exercise an option to terminate the lease. A right-of-use asset represents an entitys right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, and a lease liability represents an entitys obligation to make lease payments. Previously, an asset and liability only were recorded for leases classified as capital leases (financing leases). The measurement, recognition, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from leases by a lessee remains the
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same. ASU 2016-02 became effective for non-public companies annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020; however, ASU 2020-05 issued in June 2020 allows such companies to defer the leasing standard requirement until fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption will have on its accompanying financial statements, in which it would record the present value of future minimum lease payments presented in Note 6, Leases, as a right of use asset and lease liability subject to elections upon adoption and related available practical expedients.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), with additional amendments issued subsequently. Topic 326 changes the impairment model for most financial assets. The new model uses a forward-looking expected loss method, which will generally result in earlier recognition of allowances for losses. Topic 326 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of Topic 326 but does not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material impact on its accompanying financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customers Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The intent of the standard is to reduce diversity in practice in accounting for the costs of implementing cloud computing arrangements that are service contracts. Under the new standard, entities will be required to apply the accounting guidance as prescribed by ASC 350-40, Internal Use Software, in determining which implementation costs should be capitalized as assets or expensed as incurred. The internal-use software guidance requires the capitalization of certain costs incurred during the application development stage of an internal-use software project, while requiring companies to expense all costs incurred during preliminary project and post-implementation project stages. The standard may be applied either prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the adoption date or retrospectively. ASU 2018-15 is effective for the Company beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the adoption approach and assessing the potential effects of adopting ASU 2018-15 on its accompanying 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 Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London Inter-bank offered rate (LIBOR) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The Company is continuing to evaluate the provisions of ASU 202004 and the impacts of transitioning to an alternative rate.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entitys Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40), which removes certain separation models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock that require the separation of a convertible debt instrument into a debt component and an equity or derivative component. The ASU also expands disclosure requirements for convertible instruments and simplifies areas of the guidance for diluted earnings-per-share calculations that are impacted by the amendments. ASU 2020-06 is effective for the Company beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the adoption approach and assessing the potential effects of adopting ASU 2020-06 on its accompanying financial statements.
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Note 3 Inventories, Net
Inventories, net consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Loose diamonds |
$ | 4,938 | $ | 4,477 | ||||
Fine jewelry and other |
8,863 | 6,499 | ||||||
Allowance for inventory obsolescence |
(242 | ) | (169 | ) | ||||
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Total inventories, net |
$ | 13,559 | $ | 10,807 | ||||
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The allowance for inventory obsolescence consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Balance at beginning of year |
$ | (169 | ) | $ | (145 | ) | ||
Allowance for inventory obsolescence |
(73 | ) | (24 | ) | ||||
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Balance at end of year |
$ | (242 | ) | $ | (169 | ) | ||
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For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, provisions for inventory obsolescence included in cost of sales in the accompanying statements of operations were $0.1 million and $24,000, respectively.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had $11.7 million and $5.7 million in consigned inventory held on behalf of the Companys suppliers, respectively, which is not recorded in the accompanying balance sheets.
Note 4 Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Accrued vendor expenses |
$ | 5,409 | $ | 5,511 | ||||
Inventory received not billed |
3,893 | 1,806 | ||||||
Sales and other tax payable accrual |
2,455 | 1,924 | ||||||
Provision for sales returns and allowances |
2,341 | 1,339 | ||||||
Other |
2,863 | 2,170 | ||||||
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Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
$ | 16,961 | $ | 12,750 | ||||
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Included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities is an allowance for sales returns and allowances. Returns are estimated based on past experience and current expectations and are recorded as an adjustment to revenue. Activity during each year was as follows (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Balance at beginning of year |
$ | 1,339 | $ | 448 | ||||
Provision |
16,712 | 13,346 | ||||||
Returns and allowances |
(15,710 | ) | (12,455 | ) | ||||
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Balance at end of year |
$ | 2,341 | $ | 1,339 | ||||
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Note 5 Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net, consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Computer equipment |
$ | 159 | $ | 445 | ||||
Equipment |
351 | 368 | ||||||
Furniture and fixtures |
311 | 320 | ||||||
Software and website |
29 | 257 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements |
3,285 | 2,881 | ||||||
Construction in progress |
159 | 38 | ||||||
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Gross property and equipment |
4,294 | 4,309 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation |
(2,308 | ) | (2,305 | ) | ||||
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Total property and equipment, net |
$ | 1,986 | $ | 2,004 | ||||
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Total depreciation expense was approximately $0.6 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
As of December 31, 2020, no events or changes in circumstance have been identified that would indicate the carrying value of long-lived assets is not recoverable.
Note 6 Leases
The Company leases its showrooms and headquarters office space under operating leases. The fixed, non-cancelable terms of our real estate leases are generally 5-7 years and typically include renewal options. Most of the real estate leases require payment of real estate taxes, insurance and certain common area maintenance costs in addition to future minimum lease payments.
As of December 31, 2020, no renewal option periods were included in any estimated minimum lease terms as the options were not deemed to be reasonably certain to be exercised. The depreciable life of assets under lease and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term. None of the lease agreements include variable rental payments based on showroom sales or are adjusted periodically for inflation based on an index rate.
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, total operating lease expense was $2.5 million and $1.9 million, respectively, which is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses included in the accompanying statements of operations.
The aggregate future minimum lease payments under long-term non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2020 are as follows (in thousands):
Amount | ||||
Years ending December 31, |
||||
2021 |
$ | 1,812 | ||
2022 |
1,202 | |||
2023 |
1,010 | |||
2024 |
530 | |||
2025 |
366 | |||
Thereafter |
633 | |||
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Total minimum lease payments |
$ | 5,553 | ||
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Note 7 Long-Term Debt
Term Loan 2019 Original Agreement
The Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the Term Loan Agreement) on September 30, 2019 with Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. (the Lender) for a $40.0 million term loan, of which $35.0 million was defined as the First Tranche Term Loan and $5.0 million was the Second Tranche Term Loan. The $35.0 million First Tranche Term Loan was drawn on September 30, 2019; the additional $5.0 million was available at the Companys option through March 31, 2021 if the Company met certain performance milestones.
The Term Loan (the Term Loan) under the Term Loan Agreement was interest only through October 15, 2021 (first scheduled amortization payment) after which equal monthly payments of principal were due through April 15, 2023 (maturity date) unless extended to October 15, 2023 if the Company met certain performance milestones. Interest was at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 8.25%, unless LIBOR becomes no longer attainable or ceases to accurately or fairly cover or reflect the costs of the lender, in which case the applicable interest rate shall be Prime Rate plus 5.40%.
The Term Loan was secured by substantially all assets of the Company, and the Company is required to comply with certain covenants, including a covenant that requires the Company to reach certain minimum liquidity requirements of cash and cash equivalents as defined in the Term Loan Agreement. Prepayment fees of 3.00% declining to 0.00% were provided based on the anniversary date of payment.
Debt issuance costs totaled $2.6 million and are being amortized to interest expense in the accompanying statements of operations as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. Included in the debt issuance costs is the present value of a $1.6 million final payment due on April 15, 2023 (the Final Payment) which is being accreted to full value as an adjustment to the interest rate.
In connection with the entrance into the Term Loan Agreement, a warrant for 333,333 Class P LLC Units, equal to 5.00% of the aggregate original principal amount of the Term Loan, divided by the warrant exercise price, was issued to the Lender at the time the proceeds of the loan were drawn, exercisable at any time by the holder in whole or in part with a term of 10 years from the issue date, at an exercise price of $5.25. The warrant can be gross settled, or net settled but only in net units. The fair value of the warrant was $83,000 at the time of issuance which was accounted for as a debt origination cost (contra-liability). The warrant has been classified as a liability as further discussed in Note 8, Members Units Including Redeemable, Convertible Class P Units, and 401K Plan.
The Lender also has a right to invest as is necessary for it to maintain the same percentage ownership of the Companys equity interest on a fully diluted basis, in any next round on the same terms, conditions and same pricing as offered to the lead investor in the applicable next round.
The effective interest rate was 11.90% for 2019. The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2019.
2020 Term Loan Amendment
On December 17, 2020, the Company entered into a First Amendment to the Term Loan and Security Agreement with the Lender (the First Amendment) to expand the Second Tranche Term Loan from $5.0 million to $30.0 million for a total commitment of $65.0 million. Up to $30.0 million of the proceeds from the Second Tranche Term Loan could be distributed to the holders of the equity interests within 90 days of closing. Other modifications in the First Amendment include:
| Closing fee of $0.3 million related to this new facility; |
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| Reduction in the LIBOR Floor on the entire facility from 2.15% to 1.00% (effective interest rate reduced from 10.40% to 9.25% based on LIBOR); |
| Extension of the maturity to October 15, 2023; |
| Extension of the interest-only period by six months (first scheduled amortization payment on April 15, 2022); |
| Allowance of quarterly tax distributions to members; |
| Extension of the prepayment term trigger dates by six months; |
| Modification of the Final Payment, as defined, to include the present value of an additional $1.4 million, which represents the incremental increase in the Final Payment due to the increase in the Term Loan principal, and an additional $0.2 million, which are included in the debt issuance costs and are being accreted to full value as an adjustment to the interest rate; |
| Issuance of 25,000 new warrants to the Lender with an exercise price of $10.00 per Unit with a term of ten years. These warrants were accounted for using a similar methodology to the valuation of the original warrants discussed above, and the fair value was determined to be $250. |
The Company accounted for the First Amendment as a debt modification as the present value of the cash flows under the new amendment terms were less than 10% different from the present value of the remaining cash flows of the current terms and recognized no gain or loss on modification during the year ended December 31, 2020. Only debt issuance costs incurred with the Lender under the First Amendment have been capitalized and will be amortized as an adjustment to the interest rate to reflect a level yield and will be amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. Final payments, as defined, provided for in the Term Loan Agreement have been recorded as debt issuance costs.
The effective interest rate was 13.01% for 2020. The Company is in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2020.
Upon funding, $30.0 million of loan proceeds were distributed to the LLC unit holders holding Class P Units and Class F Units on a one-time basis in the amounts of $10.0 million and $20.0 million, respectively. See Note 8, Members Units Including Redeemable, Convertible Class P Units, and 401K Plan, for further discussion.
The following table provides the net carrying amount of the Companys Term Loan as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, net of debt issuance costs (in thousands):
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding principal |
Debt issuance costs |
Net carrying amount |
Outstanding principal |
Debt issuance costs |
Net carrying amount |
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Term loan |
$ | 65,000 | $ | (2,789 | ) | $ | 62,211 | $ | 35,000 | $ | (2,346 | ) | $ | 32,654 | ||||||||||
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For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the final payment liability was $2.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively, which is included in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets.
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As of December 31, 2020, the aggregate future principal payments under the Term Loan, including the Final Payment payable to the lender, are as follows (in thousands):
Principal | Final payment |
Total | ||||||||||
Years ending December 31, |
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2021 |
$ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
2022 |
30,789 | | 30,789 | |||||||||
2023 |
34,211 | 3,151 | 37,362 | |||||||||
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$ | 65,000 | $ | 3,151 | $ | 68,151 | |||||||
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Note under Paycheck Protection Program
In April 2020, in connection with the significant negative business impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company applied for and received a $2.7 million PPP Loan under the CARES Act that bore interest at 1.00% per annum. The Company elected to repay the PPP Loan, and the PPP Loan was paid-off in full in December 2020 with interest expense of $18,000.
Note Payable with Related Parties
Prior to January 1, 2019, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement representing an aggregate $11.0 million in secured promissory notes due November 2020 at 10.00% interest per annum payable quarterly. The holders of these notes were investors in or affiliates of investors in the entity, which consisted of the Companys principal outside equity investors, holding all the Class P Units. The promissory notes were repaid in September 2019 in connection with the Term Loan Agreement. Interest expense, related to these notes, was $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Note 8 Members Units Including Redeemable, Convertible Class P Units, and 401K Plan
Member Units
At December 31, 2020, the following summarizes the Companys units authorized, issued and outstanding:
Units authorized | Units issued and outstanding |
|||||||
Class F units |
26,900,953 | 26,520,000 | ||||||
Class P units |
17,380,953 | 17,000,000 | ||||||
Class M units |
2,615,729 | 1,430,986 |
The business and affairs of the Company are managed by a board. The Class F Unitholders elect four members and the Class P Unitholders elect three members to the board. The Class F Units and the Class P Units are voting units and the unitholders vote together as a single class on an as-converted basis. The Class M Units are non-voting Units.
Under the LLC Agreement, distributions shall be made to the Members in the following order and priority:
| First, ratably among the holders of the Class P Units, until each holder of Class P Units has received an aggregate amount per unit equal to the Original Class P Purchase Price; |
| Second, ratably among the holders of the Class F Units until the holders of the Class F Units have received an aggregate amount per unit equal to the Original Class P Purchase Price; and |
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| Third, ratably among the holders of the Class F Units, the Class P Units (treating each Class P Unit as the number of Class F Units into which it is then convertible) based on the total outstanding Units held by each Member and the Class M Units which participate only upon the occurrence of certain events as described in the LLC Agreement. |
Distributions using reasonable efforts are allowed to provide cash for payment of income tax obligations which are treated as advance payment of distributions on liquidation and prior to liquidation.
Allocation of profits and losses to the classes of member units are determined by the Company based on the provisions in the LLC Agreement. Under the Agreement, cumulative net losses are allocated to the F Units; subsequent net income is allocated to the F Units until cumulative net losses have been recovered. Thereafter, net income is allocated pro rata to the P Units and F Units based on their relative percent of capital. The Class M Units share only in cumulative net profits in excess of thresholds determined on the date of grant.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, all net losses were allocated to the F Units. For the year ended December 31, 2020, net income of $11.3 million was allocated to the F Units to recover previous cumulative net losses and the balance of $10.3 million was allocated pro rata to the F and P Units. No income was allocable to the M Units.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the LLC Agreement, in December 2020, the requisite members and the board of the Company agreed to make a special/specified distribution to the Members holding Class P Units and Class F Units on a one-time basis in the amounts of $10.0 million and $20.0 million respectively, using proceeds from a loan refinancing. This distribution is treated as an advance of, and is offset against, future distributions to be made under the LLC Agreement to such Specified Member.
Redeemable Convertible Class P Units and Classification as Temporary Equity Carried at Redemption Value
The Class P Units have an embedded conversion feature which allows the holders, at their option, to convert Class P Units into Class F Units on a one-for-one basis. The units also have an embedded redemption feature which is included in an investor rights agreement and is an integral part of the LLC Agreement that allows the Class P Unitholders to put any or all of their units to the Company for settlement in cash currently, or if the Company is unable to satisfy the put in accordance with the investor rights agreement, over time under a senior secured promissory note with interest and principal due over two years. The repurchase price is the greater of the fair market value of the member units or the original purchase price less previous distributions, excluding tax distributions. The conversion and redemption features were evaluated under the guidance in ASC 815-10, and the Company has determined that bifurcation is not required.
The Class P Units are classified as temporary equity until such time as the conditions are removed or lapse, since the redemption feature is beyond the control of the Company. Since the redemption feature is currently exercisable, the Class P Units are adjusted each reporting period to their redemption value through a reclassification from the carrying value of the Class F Units to the carrying value of the Class P Units for the change in the period.
As discussed below, the carrying value of the redeemable convertible preferred units was decreased by $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, and increased by $18.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
F-24
Warrants for Class P units and Fair Value Disclosures
Warrants for Class P Units consisted of the following during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Number of units under warrant |
Issue date | Expiration date | Exercise price | Fair value per warrant on issue date |
||||||||||||
333,333 |
9/30/2019 | 9/30/2029 | $ | 5.25 | $ | 0.25 | ||||||||||
25,000 |
12/17/2020 | 12/17/2030 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
358,333 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Warrants for Class P units were issued to the Lender in connection with borrowings. The fair value on the date of issue is recorded as a debt issuance cost (contra-liability) and a liability because the Class P units underlying the warrants were classified outside of members deficit. The fair value of warrants is remeasured each reporting period using Level 3 inputs with the increase or decrease charged to other income or expense in the accompanying statement of operations. Fair value remeasurements during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are discussed below.
Equity-Based Compensation Associated with Class M Units
Class M Units are profit interests granted to certain employees at the Companys discretion without consideration. The agreements granted to date generally provide for 25.00% vesting on the first anniversary from the date of grant (or shorter period at managements discretion), with the remainder vesting monthly over the subsequent three years. Compensation cost related to these Class M Units is measured as of the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is expensed ratably over the service period. Class M Units are deemed issued and outstanding as they vest.
The fair value of grants of restricted Class M Units is based on the fair value of an unrestricted Class M Unit underlying the award as discussed below.
The following summarizes M Unit activity from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020:
Units | Weighted average grant date fair value |
|||||||
Balance, January 1, 2019, unvested |
231,423 | $ | 0.45 | |||||
Granted |
100,000 | $ | 0.51 | |||||
Vested |
(103,090 | ) | ||||||
Forfeited or canceled |
(13,750 | ) | $ | 0.48 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Balance, December 31, 2019, unvested |
214,583 | $ | 0.49 | |||||
Granted |
890,594 | $ | 0.47 | |||||
Vested |
(98,591 | ) | ||||||
Forfeited or canceled |
(136,042 | ) | $ | 0.48 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Balance, December 31, 2020, unvested |
870,544 | $ | 0.47 | |||||
|
|
Total equity compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $46,000 and $43,000, respectively. Total unamortized compensation of $0.4 million as of December 31, 2020 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average term of 3.1 years.
Vested Class M Units are subject to repurchase at the option of the Company upon termination of the holders employment based on the then fair value of the units. No units have been repurchased through December 31, 2020.
F-25
Fair Value Measurement for Class P Unit Redemption Value, Warrants Exercisable into Class P Units, and Valuation as of the Grant Date of Class M Units
Measurements of the redemption value of the Class P Units, the fair value of warrants exercisable into Class P Units, and the valuation as of the grant date of Class M Units are the responsibility of the Company with assistance from independent third-party valuations.
Measurements of the redemption value of the Class P Units and the fair value warrants exercisable into Class P Units were determined in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements. The objective of fair value measurements is estimation of an exit price from the perspective of a market participant that holds the asset or owes the liability. As such, unobservable inputs reflect market participant assumptions about risk, both in terms of the inherent risks in a valuation technique, as well as the inputs to that valuation technique. Although unobservable inputs used in determining the fair value by market participants may consider the Companys own data, the metrics are not entity-specific because they do not incorporate the assets current use or any specific advantages or disadvantages the company derives from the asset.
Measurements of the grant date fair value of Class M Units were determined in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation Stock Compensation. ASC 718 defines fair value as the amount at which asset (or liability) could be bought (or incurred) or sold (or settled) in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than a forced or liquidated sale, and excludes the effect of certain conditions, restrictions and other features that would be considered in a true fair value measurement.
For the years ending December 31, 2020 and 2019, fair value measurements were based on an estimate of the implied equity value of the Company using a combination of guideline public company analysis, a guideline transaction analysis, and a discounted cash flows analysis, with a 33.3% weighting given to each method. The enterprise value was then adjusted for cash and interest-bearing debt to determine equity value. In determining fair value for the relevant period, the aggregate equity value for the Company was then allocated to each instrument with consideration given to the preferences of each class of units using a hypothetical distribution of value (commonly referred to as the waterfall). Then, the allocation of the equity values to warrants exercisable into Class P Units and to the fair value on the grant date for Class M Units were further adjusted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
Key inputs included valuations of guideline companies and transactions. The guideline company and transaction methods also considered a control premium. The discounted cash flow analysis included estimates of the Companys future financial performance discounted at a rate which considered the cost of capital and venture capital required rates of return studies. All inputs are Level 3 fair value measurements in the fair value hierarchy.
F-26
The quantitative information about certain significant Level 3 unobservable inputs for the three valuation methods and for Black-Scholes are summarized as follows:
2020 |
2019 | |||||
Guideline company and transaction analysis: |
||||||
Control premium |
20.00% | 20.00% | ||||
Discounted cash flow analysis: |
||||||
Discount rate |
22.00% to 25.00% | 25.00% | ||||
Option pricing model inputs for warrants and Class M Units: |
||||||
Volatility |
45.00% | 35.00% | ||||
Time to Liquidity in years |
1.2 to 1.5 | 2.4 | ||||
Risk free rate |
0.10% | 1.60% | ||||
Discount for lack of marketability |
12.00% to 15.00% | 18.00% |
The fair value amounts using Level 3 inputs for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in thousands except for per unit amounts):
Class P Unit redemption value |
Class P Unit warrant liability |
Weighted average grant date fair value for Class M Units |
||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2019 |
$ | 62,579 | $ | | ||||||||
Increase/decrease |
18,250 | 83 | ||||||||||
Grant date fair value |
| | $ | 0.51 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2019 |
80,829 | 83 | ||||||||||
Special distributions to members |
(10,000 | ) | | |||||||||
Net income allocable to Class P Units |
3,997 | | ||||||||||
Increase/decrease |
(8,499 | ) | 1 | |||||||||
Grant date fair value |
| | $ | 0.47 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2020 |
$ | 66,327 | $ | 84 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
Application of these approaches involves the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that are highly complex and subjective, such as those regarding expected future company financial performance, discount rates, valuations and selection of comparable companies, and the probability of possible future events. Changes in any or all these estimates and assumptions or the relationships between those assumptions impact the Companys valuations as of each valuation date and may have a material impact on the valuation of Class P Units.
401K Plan
The Company maintains a qualified defined contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, which provides for voluntary contributions from the Company and its employees. Contributions from the Company were $0.4 million and $0.3 million, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Note 9 Related Party Transactions
As discussed in Note 7, Long-Term Debt, the Company paid off a Note Purchase Agreement with lenders who are investors in or affiliates of investors in the entity holding Class P Units.
F-27
Note 10 Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may be subject from time to time to various proceedings, lawsuits, disputes or claims. In addition, the Company is regularly audited by various tax authorities. Although the Company cannot predict with assurance the outcome of any litigation or audit, it does not believe there are currently any such actions that, if resolved unfavorably, would have a material impact on the Companys financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Non-Income Related Taxes
The Company collects and remits sales and use taxes in a variety of jurisdictions across the U.S. The amounts payable to relevant sales and use tax authorities are accrued in the period incurred and presented on the balance sheet as a component of accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
Purchase Obligations
From time to time in the normal course of business, the Company will enter into agreements with suppliers or service providers. As of December 31, 2020, the Companys unconditional future minimum payments under agreements to purchase services primarily related to software maintenance and marketing and advertising spending in a total aggregated amount of $2.4 million, payable as follows: $1.7 million and $0.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Letter of Credit
As of December 31, 2020, the Company has an unused letter of credit in the amount of $0.2 million, which was issued in lieu of a security deposit at one of its showroom locations. The certificate of deposit used to secure this letter of credit is recorded as restricted cash on the Companys accompanying balance sheets.
Note 11 Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events that have occurred from the balance sheet date of December 31, 2020 through June 9, 2021, the date the financial statements were available to be issued. The following are events subsequent to year end:
The LLC Agreement was amended on March 11, 2021 (Fifth Amendment) to increase the number of Class M units authorized to be issued to 3,548,704 and to limit distributions on Class M Units to cash provided in connection with a sale or liquidation of the Company.
The LLC Agreement was amended on May 10, 2021 (Sixth Amendment) to increase the number of Class M units authorized to be issued to 4,393,536.
In the first and second quarter of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company declared and paid $12.2 million of distributions to or on behalf of members associated with their estimated income tax obligations for 2020 and $2.3 million of distributions to members associated with their estimated income tax obligations for the first quarter of 2021.
The Company entered into new lease agreements in six locations in the U.S. with aggregate rent payments totaling $14.5 million. The Company also amended certain existing leases to extend their terms, resulting in additional minimum lease payments totaling $1.4 million.
The Company entered into agreements totaling $2.1 million in capital commitments relating to the design and store construction of its new showroom locations.
F-28
Brilliant Earth, LLC
(Unaudited and in thousands except unit amounts)
June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 65,001 | $ | 66,269 | ||||
Restricted cash |
205 | 205 | ||||||
Inventories, net |
17,162 | 13,559 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
3,919 | 2,939 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
86,287 | 82,972 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net |
4,194 | 1,986 | ||||||
Other assets |
2,121 | 258 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
$ | 92,602 | $ | 85,216 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred units and members deficit |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 11,726 | $ | 10,972 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
17,838 | 16,961 | ||||||
Current portion of deferred revenue |
20,002 | 10,775 | ||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
10,263 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
59,829 | 38,708 | ||||||
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs |
52,626 | 62,211 | ||||||
Long-term deferred revenue |
205 | 179 | ||||||
Deferred rent |
1,395 | 662 | ||||||
Warrant liability |
2,530 | 84 | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities |
2,613 | 2,440 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
119,198 | 104,284 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) |
||||||||
Redeemable convertible preferred units (Class P Units) - 17,380,953 units authorized, 17,000,000 units issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively |
250,746 | 66,327 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Members deficit |
||||||||
Class F Units - 26,900,953 units authorized, 26,520,000 units issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively |
(277,830 | ) | (85,695 | ) | ||||
Class M Units - 4,393,536, and 2,615,729 units authorized, 1,692,923 and 1,430,986 units issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively |
488 | 300 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total members deficit |
(277,342 | ) | (85,395 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred units and members deficit |
$ | 92,602 | $ | 85,216 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
F-29
Brilliant Earth, LLC
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited and in thousands)
For the six months ended June 30, |
||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Net sales |
$ | 163,044 | $ | 91,764 | ||||
Cost of sales |
85,924 | 51,970 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross profit |
77,120 | 39,794 | ||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
59,814 | 37,203 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income from operations |
17,306 | 2,591 | ||||||
Interest expense |
(3,874 | ) | (2,393 | ) | ||||
Other expense, net |
(2,547 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income |
$ | 10,885 | $ | 182 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
F-30
Brilliant Earth, LLC
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED UNITS AND MEMBERS DEFICIT
(Unaudited and in thousands except unit amounts)
Class P | Class F | Class M | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Units | Amounts | Units | Amounts | Units | Amounts | Retained Earnings |
Total Members Deficit |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2020 |
17,000,000 | $ | 80,829 | 26,520,000 | $ | (91,773 | ) | 1,332,395 | $ | 254 | $ | | $ | (91,519 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Vested Class M Units |
| | | | 30,000 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation |
| | | | | 14 | | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | 182 | | | | 182 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment of redeemable convertible preferred units to redemption value |
| (21,889 | ) | | 21,889 | | | | 21,889 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2020 |
17,000,000 | $ | 58,940 | 26,520,000 | $ | (69,702 | ) | 1,362,395 | $ | 268 | $ | | $ | (69,434 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2021 |
17,000,000 | $ | 66,327 | 26,520,000 | $ | (85,695 | ) | 1,430,986 | $ | 300 | $ | | $ | (85,395 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Tax distributions to members |
| (8,655 | ) | | (9,946 | ) | | | | (9,946 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Vested Class M Units |
| | | | 261,937 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation |
| | | | | 188 | | 188 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| 4,252 | | 6,633 | | | | 6,633 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment of redeemable convertible preferred units to redemption value |
| 188,822 | | (188,822 | ) | | | | (188,822 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2021 |
17,000,000 | $ | 250,746 | 26,520,000 | $ | (277,830 | ) | 1,692,923 | $ | 488 | $ | | $ | (277,342 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
F-31
Brilliant Earth, LLC
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited and in thousands)
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Operating activities |
||||||||
Net income |
$ | 10,885 | $ | 182 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation expense |
321 | 339 | ||||||
Provision (recovery) for inventory obsolescence |
(24 | ) | 14 | |||||
Equity-based compensation expense |
188 | 14 | ||||||
Change in fair value of warrants |
2,446 | | ||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
851 | 546 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Inventories |
(3,579 | ) | (2,672 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
(980 | ) | 760 | |||||
Other assets |
(253 | ) | (63 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable |
837 | (1,405 | ) | |||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
(468 | ) | (1,671 | ) | ||||
Deferred revenue |
9,253 | 8,808 | ||||||
Deferred rent |
733 | (64 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
20,210 | 4,788 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Investing activities |
||||||||
Purchases of property and equipment |
(2,646 | ) | (179 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(2,646 | ) | (179 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Financing activities |
||||||||
Tax distributions to members |
(18,601 | ) | | |||||
Payments of deferred offering costs |
(231 | ) | | |||||
Borrowings from PPP loan |
| 2,657 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
(18,832 | ) | 2,657 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
(1,268 | ) | 7,266 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
66,474 | 40,598 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period |
$ | 65,206 | $ | 47,864 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Non-cash investing and financing activities |
||||||||
Adjustment of redeemable convertible preferred units to redemption value |
$ | 188,822 | $ | (21,889 | ) | |||
Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
1,379 | | ||||||
Debt issuance costs capitalized to principal of long-term debt |
173 | 86 | ||||||
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
(117 | ) | (79 | ) | ||||
Supplemental information |
||||||||
Cash paid for interest |
$ | 3,033 | $ | 1,853 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
F-32
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note 1 Description of the Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The Business
Brilliant Earth, LLC (the Company), a Delaware limited liability company, designs, procures and sells ethically-sourced diamonds, gemstones and jewelry online and through showrooms operated in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, San Diego, Washington DC, Denver, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, and Dallas. The Company is co-headquartered in San Francisco, California and Denver, Colorado, and was incorporated in Delaware on August 25, 2005, and subsequently converted to its current limited liability company status on November 29, 2012.
The Company operates in one operating and reporting segment, retail sale of diamonds, gemstones and jewelry. Over 90% of sales are to customers in the United States (US); sales to non-US customers immediately settle in US dollars and no cash balances are carried in foreign currencies.
The Companys Limited Liability Company Agreement, including any subsequent amendments (the LLC Agreement), provides that obligations and liabilities of the Company shall be solely the debts, expenses, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Member or Manager shall be obligated personally for any such debt, expense, and obligation. The Company shall continue in existence perpetually until terminated and liquidated by the Board of Managers in compliance with the provisions of the LLC Agreement.
Basis of Presentation
The unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and the requirements of the SEC for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by U.S. GAAP can be condensed or omitted. These unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as its annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for the fair statement of the Companys financial information. These interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, or for any other interim period or for any other future year.
The accompanying condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 has been derived from the audited financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Companys audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in the prospectus herein.
Risks and Uncertainties COVID-19
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic based on the spread of the virus worldwide, including to the US, where the Companys principal operations occur.
On March 16, 2020, the Company temporarily closed its showrooms to the public, but continued to fulfill orders during this period of time. COVID-19 also temporarily disrupted the Companys supply chain operations resulting in some delays to jewelry production and delivery timelines in 2020. While
F-33
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
the Company re-opened all of its showrooms to the public in 2020, the Companys operations are still subject to local or regional public health orders that could include temporary government-mandated closures which may impact the Companys showrooms or other operations.
The Companys financial performance was adversely impacted by COVID-19 in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic remains ongoing and the potential duration and magnitude of the pandemics future impact on the jewelry industry and on the Companys operations and supply chain remains unknown and depends on factors outside of the Companys control including the duration and intensity of the pandemic, the availability and efficacy of treatments and vaccines, and the impact of COVID-19 on financial markets, industry supply chains and consumer behavior. The potential impact of these factors on the Companys future liquidity, financial condition and results of operations cannot be estimated.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) was signed into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act includes many measures to provide relief to companies. The Company has not participated in any such measures, other than obtaining a U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP Loan) under the CARES Act, which was fully repaid in December 2020. See Note 6, Long-Term Debt, for further discussion.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Some of the more significant estimates include the allowance for sales returns, inventory valuation, useful lives and depreciation of long-lived assets, fair value of equity-based compensation and warrants and redemption value of the redeemable convertible preferred units (Class P Units). Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company reviews its estimates to ensure that they appropriately reflect changes in its business or new information available.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. U.S. GAAP prescribes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 | | Valuation based on quoted prices (unadjusted) observed in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. | ||||
Level 2 | | Valuation techniques based on inputs that are quoted prices of similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not in active markets; inputs other than quoted prices used in a valuation model that are observable for that instrument; and inputs that are derived from, or corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means. | ||||
Level 3 | | Valuation techniques with significant unobservable market inputs. |
F-34
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The Company is required to disclose its estimate of the fair value of material financial instruments, including those recorded as assets or liabilities in its financial statements, in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Class P Units and warrants on Class P Units were the only financial instruments (assets or liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities and were classified as Level 1. The carrying value of long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs, also approximates its fair value, which has been estimated by management based on the consideration of applicable interest rates (including certain instruments at variable or floating rates) and were classified as Level 2. As further discussed in Note 7, Members Units Including Redeemable Convertible Class P Units, Class P Units, Class P warrants and Class M Units (Class M Units) granted as equity compensation were classified as Level 3.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income is the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and all other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Other comprehensive income may include unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities, foreign currency items, and minimum pension liability adjustments. The Company did not have components of other comprehensive income. As a result, comprehensive income is the same as net income.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less and deposits in transit from banks for payments related to third-party credit and debit card transactions to be cash equivalents. Credit and debit card transactions are short-term, highly liquid in nature.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash from the accompanying condensed balance sheets to the statements of cash flows for the periods ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 (in thousands):
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 65,001 | $ | 47,660 | ||||
Restricted cash |
205 | 204 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
$ | 65,206 | $ | 47,864 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Revenue Recognition
Overview
Net sales primarily consist of revenue from diamond, gemstone and jewelry retail sales and payment is required in full prior to order fulfillment. Delivery is determined to be the time of pickup for orders picked
F-35
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
up in showrooms, and for shipped orders, typically within one to two business days after shipment. Credit is not extended to customers except through third-party credit cards or financing offerings. A return policy of 30 days from when the item is picked up or ready for shipment is typically provided; one complimentary resizing for standard ring styles is offered within 60 days of when an order is available for shipment or pickup; a lifetime manufacturing warranty is provided on all jewelry, with the exception of estate and vintage jewelry and center diamonds/gemstones; and a lifetime diamond upgrade program is included on all independently graded natural diamonds. The complimentary resizing, lifetime manufacturing warranty claims and lifetime diamond upgrades have not historically been material. A three-year extended service plan, which provides full inspection, cleaning and certain repairs due to normal wear, is offered for an additional charge.
The following table discloses the Companys total net sales by geography (in thousands):
Sales by geography: | ||||||||
For the six months ended June 30, |
||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
United States |
$ | 151,995 | $ | 85,207 | ||||
International |
11,049 | 6,557 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total net sales |
$ | 163,044 | $ | 91,764 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). ASC 606 requires that revenue from customers be recognized as control of the promised goods is transferred to customers, which generally occurs upon delivery if the order is shipped, or at the time the customer picks up the completed product at a showroom. Revenue arrangements generally have one performance obligation and are reported net of estimated sales returns and allowances which are determined based on historical product return rates and current economic conditions. The Company also offers a three-year extended service plan, which gives rise to an additional performance obligation, when purchased by the customer, which is recognized over the course of the service plan. Additionally, sales taxes are collected and remitted to taxing authorities, and the Company has elected to exclude sales taxes from revenues recognized under ASC 606.
Contract Balances
In transactions where payment has been received from customers, but control has not transferred, the Company records these transactions as customer deposits in deferred revenue and defers revenue recognition until delivery has occurred. Deferred revenue also includes revenue deferred on the Companys three-year extended service plan that customers have elected to purchase. As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, total deferred revenue was $20.2 million and $11.0 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $10.2 million and $7.1 million, respectively, of revenue that was deferred as of the last day of the respective prior period.
F-36
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Sales Returns and Allowances
A returns asset account and a refund liabilities account are maintained to record the effects of estimated product returns and sales returns allowance. Returns asset and refund liabilities are updated at the end of each financial reporting period and the effect of such changes are accounted for in the period in which such changes occur.
The Company estimates anticipated product returns in the form of a refund liability based on historical return percentages and current period sales levels, and accrues a related returns asset for goods expected to be returned in salable condition less any expected costs to recover such goods, including return shipping costs that the Company may incur.
As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, refund liabilities balances were $1.3 million and $2.3 million, respectively, and are included as a provision for sales returns and allowances within accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the accompanying condensed balance sheets. As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, returns asset balances were $0.6 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and are included within prepaid expenses and other current assets in the accompanying condensed balance sheets.
Fulfillment Costs
The Company generally does not bill customers separately for shipping and handling charges. Any fulfillment costs incurred by the Company when shipping to customers is reflected in cost of sales in the accompanying condensed statements of operations.
Consignment Inventory Sales
Sales of consignment inventory are presented on a gross sales basis as control of the merchandise is maintained through the point of sale. The Company also provides independent advice, guidance and after-sales service to customers. Consigned products are selected at the discretion of the Company, and the determination of the selling price as well as responsibility of the physical security of the products is maintained by the Company. The products sold from consignment inventory are similar in nature to other products that the Company sells to customers and are sold on the same terms.
Marketing, Advertising and Promotional Costs
Marketing, advertising and promotional costs are expensed as incurred and totaled approximately $30.7 million and $20.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Deferred Offering Costs
The Company capitalizes certain legal, accounting and other third-party fees that are directly related to an anticipated equity financing until such transaction is consummated. After consummation of an equity financing, these costs are recorded as a reduction of the proceeds received. Should a planned equity financing be abandoned, terminated or significantly delayed, the deferred offering costs are immediately written off to operating expenses in the accompanying condensed statements of operations in the period of determination. As of June 30, 2021, $1.6 million of deferred offering costs were included in other assets in the accompanying condensed balance sheet.
F-37
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note 2 Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted that could have a material effect on future results of operations or financial position are presented in the Companys audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in the prospectus herein.
Note 3 Inventories, Net
Inventories, net consist of the following (in thousands):
June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Loose diamonds |
$ | 6,754 | $ | 4,938 | ||||
Fine jewelry and other |
10,626 | 8,863 | ||||||
Allowance for inventory obsolescence |
(218 | ) | (242 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total inventories, net |
$ | 17,162 | $ | 13,559 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The allowance for inventory obsolescence consists of the following (in thousands):
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Balance at beginning of period |
$ | (242 | ) | $ | (169 | ) | ||
Allowance for inventory obsolescence |
24 | (14 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Balance at end of period |
$ | (218 | ) | $ | (183 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, (recovery) provisions for inventory obsolescence included in cost of sales in the accompanying condensed statements of operations were ($24,000) and $14,000, respectively.
As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $11.8 million and $11.7 million, respectively, in consigned inventory held on behalf of suppliers which is not recorded in the accompanying condensed balance sheets.
Note 4 Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Accrued vendor expenses |
$ | 5,025 | $ | 5,409 | ||||
Inventory received not billed |
4,239 | 3,893 | ||||||
Sales and other tax payable accrual |
1,817 | 2,455 | ||||||
Provision for sales returns and allowances |
1,329 | 2,341 | ||||||
Deferred offering cost |
1,379 | | ||||||
Other |
4,049 | 2,863 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
$ | 17,838 | $ | 16,961 | ||||
|
|
|
|
F-38
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities is a provision for sales returns and allowances. Returns are estimated based on past experience and current expectations and are recorded as an adjustment to revenue. Activity during each period was as follows (in thousands):
June 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Balance at beginning of period |
$ | 2,341 | $ | 1,339 | ||||
Provision |
10,547 | 5,943 | ||||||
Returns and allowances |
(11,559 | ) | (6,666 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Balance at end of period |
$ | 1,329 | $ | 616 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Note 5 Leases
During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company entered into new lease agreements in six locations in the US and amended certain existing leases to extend their terms.
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, total operating lease expense was $1.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively, which is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses included in the accompanying condensed statements of operations.
The aggregate future minimum lease payments under long-term non-cancelable operating leases as of June 30, 2021 are as follows (in thousands):
Amount | ||||
For the six months ending December 31, 2021 |
$ | 1,312 | ||
Years ending December 31, |
||||
2022 |
2,868 | |||
2023 |
2,878 | |||
2024 |
2,490 | |||
2025 |
2,372 | |||
2026 |
2,005 | |||
Thereafter |
6,093 | |||
|
|
|||
Total minimum lease payments |
$ | 20,018 | ||
|
|
Note 6 Long-Term Debt
Term Loan 2019 Original Agreement
The Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the Term Loan Agreement) on September 30, 2019 with Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. (the Lender) for a $40.0 million term loan, of which $35.0 million was defined as the First Tranche Term Loan and $5.0 million was the Second Tranche Term Loan. The $35.0 million First Tranche Term Loan was drawn on September 30, 2019; the additional $5.0 million was available at the Companys option through March 31, 2021 if the Company met certain performance milestones.
F-39
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The Term Loan (the Term Loan) under the Term Loan Agreement was interest only through October 15, 2021 (first scheduled amortization payment) after which equal monthly payments of principal were due through April 15, 2023 (maturity date) unless extended to October 15, 2023 if the Company met certain performance milestones. Interest was at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 8.25%, unless LIBOR becomes no longer attainable or ceases to accurately or fairly cover or reflect the costs of the lender, in which case the applicable interest rate shall be Prime Rate plus 5.40%.
The Term Loan was secured by substantially all assets of the Company, and the Company is required to comply with certain covenants, including a covenant that requires the Company to reach certain minimum liquidity requirements of cash and cash equivalents as defined in the Term Loan Agreement. Prepayment fees of 3.00% declining to 0.00% were provided based on the anniversary date of payment.
Debt issuance costs totaled $2.6 million and are being amortized to interest expense in the accompanying condensed statements of operations as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. Included in the debt issuance costs is the present value of a $1.6 million final payment due on April 15, 2023 (the Final Payment) which is being accreted to full value as an adjustment to the interest rate.
In connection with the entrance into the Term Loan Agreement, a warrant for 333,333 Class P LLC Units, equal to 5.00% of the aggregate original principal amount of the Term Loan, divided by the warrant exercise price, was issued to the Lender at the time the proceeds of the loan were drawn, exercisable at any time by the holder in whole or in part with a term of 10 years from the issue date, at an exercise price of $5.25. The warrant can be gross settled, or net settled but only in net units. The fair value of the warrant was $83,000 at the time of issuance which was accounted for as a debt origination cost (contra-liability). The warrant has been classified as a liability as further discussed in Note 7, Members Units Including Redeemable Convertible Class P Units.
The Lender also has a right to invest as is necessary for it to maintain the same percentage ownership of the Companys equity interest on a fully diluted basis, in any next round on the same terms, conditions and same pricing as offered to the lead investor in the applicable next round.
The effective interest rate was 13.46% for the six months ended June 30, 2020.
2020 Term Loan Amendment
On December 17, 2020, the Company entered into a First Amendment to the Term Loan and Security Agreement with the Lender (the First Amendment) to expand the Second Tranche Term Loan from $5.0 million to $30.0 million for a total commitment of $65.0 million. Up to $30.0 million of the proceeds from the Second Tranche Term Loan could be distributed to the holders of the equity interests within 90 days of closing. Other modifications in the First Amendment include:
| Closing fee of $0.3 million related to this new facility; |
| Reduction in the LIBOR Floor on the entire facility from 2.15% to 1.00% (effective interest rate reduced from 10.40% to 9.25% based on LIBOR); |
| Extension of the maturity to October 15, 2023; |
F-40
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
| Extension of the interest-only period by six months (first scheduled amortization payment on April 15, 2022); |
| Allowance of quarterly tax distributions to members; |
| Extension of the prepayment term trigger dates by six months; |
| Modification of the Final Payment, as defined, to include the present value of an additional $1.4 million, which represents the incremental increase in the Final Payment due to the increase in the Term Loan principal, and an additional $0.2 million, which are included in the debt issuance costs and are being accreted to full value as an adjustment to the interest rate; |
| Issuance of 25,000 new warrants to the Lender with an exercise price of $10.00 per Unit with a term of ten years. These warrants were accounted for using a similar methodology to the valuation of the original warrants discussed above, and the fair value was determined to be $250. |
The Company accounted for the First Amendment as a debt modification as the present value of the cash flows under the new amendment terms were less than 10% different from the present value of the remaining cash flows of the current terms and recognized no gain or loss upon modification. Only debt issuance costs incurred with the Lender under the First Amendment have been capitalized and will be amortized as an adjustment to the interest rate to reflect a level yield and will be amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. Final payments, as defined, provided for in the Term Loan Agreement have been recorded as debt issuance costs.
The effective interest rate was 12.02% for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of June 30, 2021.
The following table provides the net carrying amount of the Companys Term Loan as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, net of debt issuance costs (in thousands):
June 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding principal |
Debt issuance costs |
Net carrying amount |
Outstanding principal |
Debt issuance costs |
Net carrying amount |
|||||||||||||||||||
Term loan |
$ | 65,000 | $ | (2,111 | ) | $ | 62,889 | $ | 65,000 | $ | (2,789 | ) | $ | 62,211 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total debt |
65,000 | (2,111 | ) | 62,889 | 65,000 | (2,789 | ) | 62,211 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Current portion |
10,263 | | 10,263 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Long term |
54,737 | (2,111 | ) | 52,626 | 65,000 | (2,789 | ) | 62,211 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total debt |
$ | 65,000 | $ | (2,111 | ) | $ | 62,889 | $ | 65,000 | $ | (2,789 | ) | $ | 62,211 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of June 30, 2021, the final payment liability was $2.6 million, which is included in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying condensed balance sheets.
F-41
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
As of June 30, 2021, the aggregate future principal payments under the Term Loan, including the Final Payment payable to the lender, are as follows (in thousands):
Principal | Final payment |
Total | ||||||||||
For the six months ending December 31, 2021 |
$ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
Years ending December 31, |
||||||||||||
2022 |
30,789 | | 30,789 | |||||||||
2023 |
34,211 | 3,151 | 37,362 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
$ | 65,000 | $ | 3,151 | $ | 68,151 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note under Paycheck Protection Program
In April 2020, in connection with the significant negative business impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company applied for and received a $2.7 million PPP Loan under the CARES Act that bore interest at 1.00% per annum. The Company elected to repay the PPP Loan, and the PPP Loan was paid in full in December 2020 with interest expense of $18,000.
Note 7 Members Units Including Redeemable Convertible Class P Units
Member Units
At June 30, 2021, the following summarizes the Companys units authorized, issued and outstanding:
Units authorized | Units issued and outstanding |
|||||||
Class F units |
26,900,953 | 26,520,000 | ||||||
Class P units |
17,380,953 | 17,000,000 | ||||||
Class M units |
4,393,536 | 1,692,923 |
The business and affairs of the Company are managed by a board. The Class F Unitholders elect four members and the Class P Unitholders elect three members to the board. The Class F Units and the Class P Units are voting units and the unitholders vote together as a single class on an as-converted basis. The Class M Units are non-voting Units.
Under the LLC Agreement, distributions shall be made to the Members in the following order and priority:
| First, ratably among the holders of the Class P Units, until each holder of Class P Units has received an aggregate amount per unit equal to the Original Class P Purchase Price; |
| Second, ratably among the holders of the Class F Units until the holders of the Class F Units have received an aggregate amount per unit equal to the Original Class P Purchase Price; and |
| Third, ratably among the holders of the Class F Units and the Class P Units (treating each Class P Unit as the number of Class F Units into which it is then convertible) based on the total outstanding Units held by each Member; and among the Class M Units upon the occurrence of certain events such as a sale or liquidation of the Company as more fully described in the LLC Agreement. |
F-42
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Distributions using reasonable efforts are allowed to provide cash for payment of income tax obligations which are treated as advance payment of distributions on liquidation and prior to liquidation.
Allocation of profits and losses to the classes of member units are determined by the Company based on the provisions in the LLC Agreement. Under the Agreement, cumulative net losses are allocated to the Class F Units; subsequent net income is allocated to the Class F Units until cumulative net losses have been recovered. Thereafter, net income is allocated pro rata to the Class P Units and Class F Units based on their relative percent of capital. A Class M Unit shares only in cumulative net profits in excess of thresholds determined on the date of grant of each unit.
Through December 31, 2019, cumulative net losses were allocated to the Class F Units. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, net income of $0.2 million was allocated to the Class F Units to recover previous cumulative net losses. No net income was allocable to the Class P or Class M Units. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, net income was allocated pro rata to the Class F and Class P Units; no net income was allocable to the Class M Units.
Redeemable Convertible Class P Units and Classification as Temporary Equity Carried at Redemption Value
The Class P Units have an embedded conversion feature which allows the holders, at their option, to convert Class P Units into Class F Units on a one-for-one basis. The units also have an embedded redemption feature which is included in an investor rights agreement and is an integral part of the LLC Agreement that allows the Class P Unitholders to put any or all of their units to the Company for settlement in cash currently, or if the Company is unable to satisfy the put in accordance with the investor rights agreement, over time under a senior secured promissory note with interest and principal due over two years. The repurchase price is the greater of the fair market value of the member units or the original purchase price less previous distributions, excluding tax distributions. The conversion and redemption features were evaluated under the guidance in ASC 815-10, and the Company has determined that bifurcation is not required.
The Class P Units are classified as temporary equity until such time as the conditions are removed or lapse, since the redemption feature is beyond the control of the Company. Since the redemption feature is currently exercisable, the Class P Units are adjusted each reporting period to their redemption value through a reclassification from the carrying value of the Class F Units to the carrying value of the Class P Units for the change in the period.
As discussed below, the carrying value of the redeemable convertible preferred units increased by $188.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Warrants for Class P Units and Fair Value Disclosures
Warrants for Class P Units consisted of the following as of June 30, 2021:
Number of |
Issue date | Expiration date | Exercise price |
Fair value per warrant on June 30, 2021 |
Fair value per warrant on December 31, 2020 |
Fair value per warrant on issue date |
||||||||||||||||||
333,333 |
9/30/2019 | 9/30/2029 | $ | 5.25 | $ | 7.35 | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.25 | ||||||||||||||
25,000 |
12/17/2020 | 12/17/2030 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 3.19 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
358,333 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
F-43
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Warrants for Class P Units were issued to the Lender in connection with borrowings. The fair value on the date of issue is recorded as a debt issuance cost (contra-liability) and a liability because the Class P Units underlying the warrants were classified outside of members deficit. The fair value of warrants is remeasured each reporting period using Level 3 inputs with the increase or decrease charged to other expense, net in the accompanying condensed statements of operations. Fair value remeasurements during the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 are discussed below.
Equity-Based Compensation Associated with Class M Units
Class M Units are profit interests granted to certain employees at the Companys discretion without consideration. The agreements granted to date generally provide for 25.00% vesting on the first anniversary from the date of grant (or shorter period at managements discretion), with the remainder vesting monthly over the subsequent three years. Compensation cost related to these Class M Units is measured as of the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is expensed ratably over the service period. Class M Units are deemed issued and outstanding as they vest.
The fair value of grants of restricted Class M Units is based on the fair value of an unrestricted Class M Unit underlying the award as discussed below.
The following summarizes Class M Unit activity from January 1 to June 30 of each period:
Units | Weighted average grant date fair value |
|||||||
Balance, January 1, 2020, unvested |
214,583 | $ | 0.49 | |||||
Granted |
| $ | | |||||
Vested |
(30,000 | ) | ||||||
Forfeited or canceled |
(31,250 | ) | $ | 0.46 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Balance, June 30, 2020, unvested |
153,333 | $ | 0.49 | |||||
|
|
|||||||
Balance, January 1, 2021, unvested |
870,544 | $ | 0.47 | |||||
Granted |
1,349,577 | $ | 0.52 | |||||
Vested |
(261,937 | ) | ||||||
Forfeited or canceled |
(9,999 | ) | $ | 0.49 | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Balance, June 30, 2021, unvested |
1,948,185 | $ | 0.49 | |||||
|
|
Total equity compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 was $0.2 million and $14,000, respectively. Total unamortized compensation of $0.9 million as of June 30, 2021 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average term of 3.3 years.
Vested Class M Units are subject to repurchase at the option of the Company upon termination of the holders employment based on the then fair value of the units. No units have been repurchased through June 30, 2021.
F-44
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Fair Value Measurement for Class P Unit Redemption Value, Warrants Exercisable into Class P Units, and Valuation as of the Grant Date of Class M Units
Measurements of the redemption value of the Class P Units, the fair value of warrants exercisable into Class P Units, and the valuation as of the grant date of Class M Units are the responsibility of the Company with assistance from independent third-party valuations.
Measurements of the redemption value of the Class P Units and the fair value warrants exercisable into Class P Units were determined in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements. The objective of fair value measurements is estimation of an exit price from the perspective of a market participant that holds the asset or owes the liability. As such, unobservable inputs reflect market participant assumptions about risk, both in terms of the inherent risks in a valuation technique, as well as the inputs to that valuation technique. Although unobservable inputs used in determining the fair value by market participants may consider the Companys own data, the metrics are not entity-specific because they do not incorporate the assets current use or any specific advantages or disadvantages the company derives from the asset.
Measurements of the grant date fair value of Class M Units were determined in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation Stock Compensation. ASC 718 defines fair value as the amount at which asset (or liability) could be bought (or incurred) or sold (or settled) in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than a forced or liquidated sale, and excludes the effect of certain conditions, restrictions and other features that would be considered in a true fair value measurement.
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, fair value measurements were based on an estimate of the implied equity value of the Company using a combination of guideline public company analysis, a guideline transaction analysis, and a discounted cash flows analysis, with a 33.3% weighting given to each method. The enterprise value was then adjusted for cash and interest-bearing debt to determine equity value. In determining fair value for the relevant period, the aggregate equity value for the Company was then allocated to each instrument with consideration given to the preferences of each class of units using a hypothetical distribution of value (commonly referred to as the waterfall). The allocation of the equity values to warrants exercisable into Class P Units and to the fair value on the grant date for Class M Units were further adjusted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the enterprise value determined using the method described in the preceding paragraph was further adjusted to reflect the potential for an exit event based on the contemplated initial public offering using a guideline company analysis. The derived equity value was then allocated to each instrument as described in the preceding paragraph. Key inputs included valuations of guideline companies and transactions. The guideline company and transaction methods also considered a control premium. The discounted cash flow analysis included estimates of the Companys future financial performance discounted at a rate which considered the cost of capital and venture capital required rates of return studies. All inputs are Level 3 fair value measurements in the fair value hierarchy.
F-45
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The quantitative information about certain significant Level 3 unobservable inputs for the three valuation methods and for Black-Scholes are summarized as follows for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:
Six months ended June 30, | ||||
2021 |
2020 | |||
Guideline company and transaction analysis: |
||||
Control premium |
20.00% | 10.00% | ||
Discounted cash flow analysis: |
||||
Discount rate |
22.00% | 30.00% | ||
Option pricing model inputs for warrants and Class M Units: |
||||
Volatility |
40.00% | 40.00% | ||
Time to liquidity in years |
0.8 to 1.0 | 1.6 to 1.9 | ||
Risk free rate |
0.07% | 0.16% to 0.22% | ||
Discount for lack of marketability |
7.50% to 10.00% | 15.00% |
The fair value amounts using Level 3 inputs from January 1 through June 30 of each period were as follows (in thousands except for per unit amounts):
Class P Unit redemption value |
Class P Unit warrant liability |
Weighted average grant date fair value for Class M Units |
||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2020 |
$ | 80,829 | $ | 83 | ||||||||
Increase/decrease |
(21,889 | ) | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2020 |
$ | 58,940 | $ | 83 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2021 |
$ | 66,327 | $ | 84 | ||||||||
Tax distributions to members |
(8,655 | ) | | |||||||||
Net income allocable to Class P Units |
4,252 | | ||||||||||
Increase/decrease |
188,822 | 2,446 | ||||||||||
Grant date fair value |
| | $ | 0.52 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2021 |
$ | 250,746 | $ | 2,530 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
The increase in the Class P Unit redemption value as of June 30, 2021 reflects an adjustment to reflect the possibility of a future potential exit event, adjustments to inputs in the valuation model for improvements in the Companys financial performance in the first six months of 2021 and the related impact on financial projections, as well as a decrease in the volatility assumption derived from guideline companies.
Application of these approaches involves the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that are highly complex and subjective, such as those regarding expected future company financial performance, discount rates, valuations and selection of comparable companies, and the probability of
F-46
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
possible future events. Changes in any or all these estimates and assumptions or the relationships between those assumptions impact the Companys valuations as of each valuation date and may have a material impact on the valuation of Class P Units.
Note 8 Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may be subject from time to time to various proceedings, lawsuits, disputes or claims. In addition, the Company is regularly audited by various tax authorities. Although the Company cannot predict with assurance the outcome of any litigation or audit, it does not believe there are currently any such actions that, if resolved unfavorably, would have a material impact on the Companys financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Non-Income Related Taxes
The Company collects and remits sales and use taxes in a variety of jurisdictions across the US. The amounts payable to relevant sales and use tax authorities are accrued in the period incurred and presented on the balance sheet as a component of accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
Purchase Obligations
From time to time in the normal course of business, the Company will enter into agreements with suppliers or service providers. As of June 30, 2021, unconditional future minimum payments under agreements to purchase services primarily related to software maintenance and marketing and advertising spending in a total aggregated amount of $2.7 million, payable as follows: $1.9 million and $0.8 million during the six months ending December 31, 2021 and the year ending December 31, 2022, respectively.
Capital Commitments
The Company may enter into commitments to expand various locations, which generally include design, store construction and improvements. As of June 30, 2021, these commitments totaled $1.8 million related to the opening of new locations.
Letter of Credit
As of June 30, 2021, the Company has an unused letter of credit in the amount of $0.2 million, which was issued in lieu of a security deposit at one of its showroom locations. The certificate of deposit used to secure this letter of credit is recorded as restricted cash on the Companys accompanying condensed balance sheets.
401K Plan
The Company maintains a qualified defined contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, which provides for voluntary contributions from the Company and its employees. Contributions from the Company were $0.3 million and $0.2 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
F-47
Brilliant Earth, LLC
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note 9 Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events that have occurred from the balance sheet date of June 30, 2021 through August 30, 2021, the date the financial statements were reissued. The following are events subsequent to period end:
The Company entered into a new lease agreement in an additional location in the US with future aggregate rent payments totaling $1.3 million.
On August 26, 2021, Plaintiff Anna Lerman filed a complaint against the Company in California Superior Court for Ventura County. The complaint alleges, on behalf of a putative class, that the Company recorded telephone calls between the Companys customers and its customer service representatives without the customers consent, in violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act Sections 631 and 632.7. The plaintiff seeks statutory damages, injunctive relief, attorneys fees and costs, and other unspecified damages. The Company has not been served with or responded to the complaint. We believe these claims have no merit, and the Company intends to vigorously defend against this lawsuit, though there can be no assurance regarding its ultimate outcome.
On August 29, 2021, the Company executed the Third Amendment to the Term Loan and Security Agreement which, among other changes, revised the variable interest rate above LIBOR to 7.75% from 8.25%; the LIBOR Floor to 0.50% from 1.00%; and the variable rate over the Prime Rate to 4.90% from 5.40% and the Prime Rate Floor to 3.35% from 3.85%.
On August 29, 2021, the Company received conditional Notices of Exercise to exercise all outstanding warrants to purchase Class P Units from the holder of the warrants, subject to, and effective upon, the pricing of the proposed initial public offering of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.
F-48
Shares
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.
Class A Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
J.P. Morgan | Credit Suisse | Jefferies | Cowen |
KeyBanc Capital Markets |
Piper Sandler | William Blair | Telsey Advisory Group |
, 2021
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other expenses of issuance and distribution.
The following table sets forth all fees and expenses, other than the underwriting discount payable solely by Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. in connection with the offer and sale of the securities being registered. All amounts shown are estimated except for the SEC registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, filing fee and the listing fee.
SEC registration fee |
$ | * | ||
FINRA filing fee |
* | |||
Exchange listing fee |
* | |||
Printing and engraving expenses |
* | |||
Legal fees and expenses |
* | |||
Accounting fees and expenses |
* | |||
Blue sky qualification fees and expenses |
* | |||
Transfer agent fees and expenses |
* | |||
Miscellaneous fees and expenses |
* | |||
|
|
|||
Total |
$ | * | ||
|
|
* | To be filed by amendment |
Item 14. Indemnification of directors and officers.
Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his or her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. We expect to adopt an amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will become effective upon the consummation of this offering, and which will provide that none of our directors shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he or she was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
II-1
Upon consummation of the Transactions, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, subject to certain limited exceptions. We will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of us) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an Indemnitee), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that we will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by us against all expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Each indemnification agreement will provide, among other things, for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws against any and all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of any claim. The indemnification agreements will provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for the reimbursement to us if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws.
We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.
In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.
II-2
Item 15. Recent sales of unregistered securities.
On June 3, 2021, the Registrant issued 100 shares of the Registrants common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, to an officer of the Registrant, for $0.01. The issuance of such shares of common stock was not registered under the Securities Act, because the shares were offered and sold in a transaction by the issuer not involving any public offering exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Item 16. Exhibits and financial statements.
(a) | Exhibits |
The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement.
Exhibit |
||
1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |
3.1 | Certificate of Incorporation of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., as in effect prior to the consummation of the Transactions. | |
3.2* | Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., to be in effect upon the consummation of the Transactions. | |
3.3 | Bylaws of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., as in effect prior to the consummation of the Transactions. | |
3.4* | Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. to be in effect upon the consummation of the Transactions. | |
4.1* | Specimen Stock Certificate evidencing the shares of Class A common stock. | |
5.1* | Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP. | |
10.1 | Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2019, by and among Brilliant Earth, LLC, the Lenders party thereto and Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc., as Agent. | |
10.2 | First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2020, by and among Brilliant Earth, LLC, the Lenders party thereto and Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc., as Agent. | |
10.3 | Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 6, 2021, by and among Brilliant Earth, LLC, the Lenders party thereto and Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc., as Agent. | |
10.4* | Third Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2021, by and among Brilliant Earth, LLC, the Lenders party thereto and Runway Growth Finance Corp. (f/k/a Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc.), as Agent. | |
10.5* | Form of Tax Receivable Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions. | |
10.6* | Form of LLC Agreement of Brilliant Earth, LLC, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions. | |
10.7* | Form of Stockholders Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions. | |
10.8* | Form of Registration Rights Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions. | |
10.9*# | Form of Brilliant Earth, LLC Unit Restriction Agreement (Class M Units). |
II-3
Exhibit |
||
10.10*# | 2021 Incentive Award Plan. | |
10.11*# | Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the 2021 Incentive Award Plan. | |
10.12*# | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2021 Incentive Award Plan. | |
10.13*# | Employee Stock Purchase Plan. | |
10.14*# | Non-Employee Director Compensation Program. | |
21.1 | ||
23.1 | Consent of BDO USA, LLP, as to Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. | |
23.2 | Consent of BDO USA, LLP, as to Brilliant Earth, LLC. | |
23.3* | Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto). | |
24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on signature page). |
* | To be filed by amendment |
# | Indicates management contract or compensatory plan |
| Certain portions of this exhibit (indicated by [***]) have been omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item (601)(b)(10). |
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser. |
(b) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. 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 Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. 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, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction, the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
(c) | The undersigned hereby further 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 Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. 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. |
II-4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of San Francisco, state of California, on this 30th day of August, 2021.
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Beth Gerstein | |
Beth Gerstein | ||
Chief Executive Officer |
Each of the undersigned officers and directors of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints Beth Gerstein and Jeffrey Kuo, and each of them any of whom may act without joinder of the other, the individuals true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this registration statement of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. on Form S-1, and any other registration statement relating to the same offering (including any registration statement, or amendment thereto, that is to become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments to the registration statement), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities set forth opposite their names and on the date indicated above.
Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
/s/ Beth Gerstein Beth Gerstein |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | August 30, 2021 | ||
/s/ Jeffrey Kuo Jeffrey Kuo |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | August 30, 2021 | ||
/s/ Eric Grossberg Eric Grossberg |
Executive Chairman and Director | August 30, 2021 | ||
/s/ Gavin Turner Gavin Turner |
Director | August 30, 2021 | ||
/s/ Beth Kaplan Beth Kaplan |
Director | August 30, 2021 |
II-5
Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
/s/ Jennifer Harris Jennifer Harris |
Director | August 30, 2021 | ||
/s/ Ian Bickley Ian Bickley |
Director | August 30, 2021 | ||
/s/ Attica Jaques Attica Jaques |
Director | August 30, 2021 |
II-6
Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
BRILLIANT EARTH GROUP, INC.
FIRST: The name of the corporation is: Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (the Corporation).
SECOND: The address of the Corporations registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
THIRD: The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (DGCL) or any successor statute.
FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 100 shares of common stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share. 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 stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
FIFTH: The name and mailing address of the sole incorporator is as follows:
NAME John E. Andrews |
MAILING ADDRESS c/o LATHAM & WATKINS LLP 555 Eleventh Street, N.W., Suite 1000 Washington, D.C. 20004 |
SIXTH: In furtherance of and not in limitation of powers conferred by statute, it is further provided:
1. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
2. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.
3. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation.
SEVENTH: Except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
EIGHTH: To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) directors, officers and agents of the Corporation (and any other persons to which applicable law permits the Corporation to provide indemnification) through bylaw provisions, agreements with such agents or other persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by such applicable law. Any repeal or modification of this provision shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
NINTH: Subject to such limitations as may be from time to time imposed by other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, by the bylaws of the Corporation, by the DGCL or other applicable law, or by any contract or agreement to which the Corporation is or may become a party, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and this Certificate of Incorporation, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this express reservation.
TENTH: Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Corporations certificate of incorporation or bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. If any provision or provisions of this Article Tenth shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article Tenth (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article Tenth containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
ELEVENTH: Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternate forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article Eleventh.
- 2 -
EXECUTED on June 2, 2021.
/s/ John E. Andrews |
John E. Andrews, Sole Incorporator |
- 3 -
Exhibit 3.3
BYLAWS
OF
BRILLIANT EARTH GROUP, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
Adopted on June 2, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||||
ARTICLE I. IDENTIFICATION; OFFICES | 1 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
NAME | 1 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
PRINCIPAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES | 1 | ||||||
SECTION 3. |
REGISTERED AGENT AND OFFICE | 1 | ||||||
SECTION 4. |
CORPORATE RECORDS | 1 | ||||||
ARTICLE II. STOCKHOLDERS | 1 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
ANNUAL MEETING | 1 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
SPECIAL MEETING | 1 | ||||||
SECTION 3. |
PLACE OF STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS | 1 | ||||||
SECTION 4. |
NOTICE OF MEETINGS | 2 | ||||||
SECTION 5. |
QUORUM | 2 | ||||||
SECTION 6. |
ADJOURNED MEETINGS | 2 | ||||||
SECTION 7. |
FIXING OF RECORD DATE | 3 | ||||||
SECTION 8. |
VOTING LIST | 3 | ||||||
SECTION 9. |
VOTING | 4 | ||||||
SECTION 10. |
PROXIES | 4 | ||||||
SECTION 11. |
RATIFICATION OF ACTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 4 | ||||||
SECTION 12. |
CONDUCT OF MEETINGS | 5 | ||||||
SECTION 13. |
ACTION WITHOUT MEETING | 5 | ||||||
ARTICLE III. DIRECTORS | 6 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
GENERAL POWERS | 6 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
NUMBER AND TENURE OF DIRECTORS | 6 | ||||||
SECTION 3. |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 6 | ||||||
SECTION 4. |
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD; VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 6 | ||||||
SECTION 5. |
QUORUM | 7 | ||||||
SECTION 6. |
VOTING | 7 | ||||||
SECTION 7. |
VACANCIES | 7 | ||||||
SECTION 8. |
REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS | 7 | ||||||
SECTION 9. |
RESIGNATION | 7 | ||||||
SECTION 10. |
REGULAR MEETINGS | 7 | ||||||
SECTION 11. |
SPECIAL MEETINGS | 7 | ||||||
SECTION 12. |
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 8 | ||||||
SECTION 13. |
WRITTEN ACTION BY DIRECTORS | 8 | ||||||
SECTION 14. |
PARTICIPATION BY CONFERENCE TELEPHONE | 8 | ||||||
SECTION 15. |
COMMITTEES | 8 | ||||||
SECTION 16. |
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS | 9 | ||||||
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS | 9 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
GENERAL PROVISIONS | 9 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE | 9 | ||||||
SECTION 3. |
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS | 9 |
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|
SECTION 4. |
VACANCIES |
10 | |||||
SECTION 5. |
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 10 | ||||||
SECTION 6. |
THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 10 | ||||||
SECTION 7. |
OTHER OFFICERS, ASSISTANT OFFICERS AND AGENTS | 11 | ||||||
SECTION 8. |
ABSENCE OF OFFICERS | 11 | ||||||
SECTION 9. |
COMPENSATION | 11 | ||||||
ARTICLE V. CAPITAL STOCK | 11 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
ISSUANCE OF STOCK | 11 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES; UNCERTIFICATED SHARES | 11 | ||||||
SECTION 3. |
SIGNATURES OF FORMER OFFICER, TRANSFER AGENT OR REGISTRAR | 12 | ||||||
SECTION 4. |
TRANSFER OF SHARES | 12 | ||||||
SECTION 5. |
LOST, DESTROYED OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES | 12 | ||||||
SECTION 6. |
REGULATIONS | 13 | ||||||
ARTICLE VI. INDEMNIFICATION | 13 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 13 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
PREPAYMENT OF EXPENSES OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 13 | ||||||
SECTION 3. |
CLAIMS BY DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 13 | ||||||
SECTION 4. |
INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS | 13 | ||||||
SECTION 5. |
ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS | 14 | ||||||
SECTION 6. |
NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS | 14 | ||||||
SECTION 7. |
PRIMACY OF INDEMNIFICATION | 14 | ||||||
SECTION 8. |
INSURANCE | 14 | ||||||
SECTION 9. |
AMENDMENT OR REPEAL | 15 | ||||||
ARTICLE VII. DIVIDENDS | 15 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
DECLARATIONS OF DIVIDENDS | 15 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
SPECIAL PURPOSES RESERVES | 15 | ||||||
ARTICLE VIII. NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION | 15 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION | 15 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION | 16 | ||||||
SECTION 3. |
INAPPLICABILITY | 16 | ||||||
ARTICLE IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS | 16 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
FISCAL YEAR | 16 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
SEAL | 16 | ||||||
SECTION 3. |
WRITTEN WAIVER OF NOTICE | 17 | ||||||
SECTION 4. |
ATTENDANCE AS WAIVER OF NOTICE | 17 | ||||||
SECTION 5. |
CONTRACTS | 17 | ||||||
SECTION 6. |
LOANS | 17 | ||||||
SECTION 7. |
CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC. | 17 | ||||||
SECTION 8. |
DEPOSITS | 17 | ||||||
SECTION 9. |
ANNUAL STATEMENT | 17 | ||||||
SECTION 10. |
VOTING OF SECURITIES | 17 |
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SECTION 11. |
EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY | 17 | ||||||
SECTION 12. |
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION | 18 | ||||||
SECTION 13. |
SEVERABILITY | 18 | ||||||
SECTION 14. |
PRONOUNS | 18 | ||||||
ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS | 18 | |||||||
SECTION 1. |
BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 18 | ||||||
SECTION 2. |
BY THE STOCKHOLDERS | 18 |
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ARTICLE I.
IDENTIFICATION; OFFICES
SECTION 1. NAME. The name of the corporation is Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (the Corporation).
SECTION 2. PRINCIPAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES. The Corporation may have such principal and other business offices, either within or outside of the state of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may designate or as the Corporations business may require from time to time.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED AGENT AND OFFICE. The Corporations registered agent may be changed from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors. The address of the Corporations registered agent may change from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors or the registered agent. The business office of the Corporations registered agent shall be identical to the registered office. The Corporations registered office may be but need not be identical to the Corporations principal office in the state of Delaware. The Corporations initial registered office shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.
SECTION 4. CORPORATE RECORDS. Any records and documents required by law to be kept by the Corporation permanently or administered by the Corporation in the regular course of business may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, method, or one more electronic networks or databases, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and, with respect to the stock ledger, the records so kept comply with Section 224 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to applicable law.
ARTICLE II.
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held on such date as may be designated by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. At each annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect directors to hold office for the term provided in Section 2 of Article III of these Bylaws and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or any other person designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
SECTION 3. PLACE OF STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS. The Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may designate any place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special
meeting. If no such place is designated by the Board of Directors, the place of meeting will be the principal business office of the Corporation or the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but will instead be held solely by means of remote communication as provided under Section 211 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
SECTION 4. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise provided by law or waived as herein provided, whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, whether annual or special, notice of the meeting shall be given stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders 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. Such notice shall be given unless otherwise required by law not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting.
When a meeting is adjourned to reconvene at the same or another place, if any, or by means of remote communications, if any, in accordance with Section 6 of Article II of these Bylaws, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.
SECTION 5. QUORUM. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of capital stock is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. If a quorum is present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting, such stockholders may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of such number of stockholders as may leave less than a quorum.
SECTION 6. ADJOURNED MEETINGS. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to any other time and to any other place (or by means of remote communications, if any) at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these Bylaws by the chairman of the meeting or by a majority of the stockholders present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, although less than a quorum. It shall not be necessary to notify any stockholder of any adjournment of less than 30 days if the time and place, if any, of the adjourned meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which adjournment is taken, unless after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
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SECTION 7. FIXING OF RECORD DATE.
(a) The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof. Such record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, 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. 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 of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
(b) For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is established by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than 10 days after the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal office, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which the proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery to the Corporations registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for determining stockholders consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(c) For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect to any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix the record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining the stockholders for any such purpose shall be the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
SECTION 8. VOTING LIST. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of 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. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose
3
germane to the meeting, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting, (i) by 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 principal place of business of the Corporation. 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 the 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. Except as otherwise provided by law, such list shall be the only evidence as to the identity of stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 8 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list.
SECTION 9. VOTING. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by each stockholder. When a quorum is present at any meeting, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, except when a different vote is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. When a quorum is present at any meeting, directors shall be elected by plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by a proxy at the meeting entitled to vote on the election of directors.
SECTION 10. PROXIES . Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting (including by means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting) may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy (executed or transmitted in a manner permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law), but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may remain irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.
SECTION 11. RATIFICATION OF ACTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, any transaction or contract or act of the Corporation or of the directors or the officers of the Corporation may be ratified by the affirmative vote of the holders of the number of shares which would have been necessary to approve such transaction, contract or act at a meeting of stockholders, or by the written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting.
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SECTION 12. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS.
(a) Chairman of Meeting. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Chairmans absence by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Vice Chairmans absence by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officers absence, by a Vice President, or in the absence of all of the foregoing persons by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman chosen by vote of the stockholders at the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) Rules, Regulations and Procedures. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
SECTION 13. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING.
(a) Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be delivered to the Corporation signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
(b) Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.
(c) An electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxy holder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a
5
stockholder or proxy holder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this section, provided that any such electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Corporation can determine (i) that the electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or proxy holder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the stockholder or proxy holder and (ii) the date on which such stockholder or proxy holder or authorized person or persons transmitted such electronic transmission. A consent given by electronic transmission is delivered to the Corporation upon the earliest of: (i) when the consent enters an information processing system, if any, designated by the Corporation for receiving consents, so long as the electronic transmission is in a form capable of being processed by that system and the Corporation is able to retrieve that electronic transmission; (ii) when a paper reproduction of the consent is delivered to the Corporations principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders or members are recorded; (iii) when a paper reproduction of the consent is delivered to the Corporations registered office in this State by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested; or (iv) when delivered in such other manner, if any, provided by resolution of the Board of Directors or governing body of the Corporation. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing.
ARTICLE III.
DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. GENERAL POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 2. NUMBER AND TENURE OF DIRECTORS. Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation to elect directors, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be determined from time to time by the stockholders or the Board of Directors in a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such directors successor is elected and qualified or until such directors earlier death, resignation or removal.
SECTION 3. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders by such stockholders as have the right to vote on such election. Directors need not be residents of the State of Delaware. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot.
SECTION 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD; VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors may appoint from its members a Chairman of the Board and a Vice Chairman of the Board, neither of whom need be an employee or officer of the Corporation. If the Board of Directors appoints a Chairman of the Board, such Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned by the Board of Directors. If the Board of
6
Directors appoints a Vice Chairman of the Board, such Vice Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or, in the Chairmans absence, the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. QUORUM. A majority of the directors at any time in office shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors. If less than a quorum are present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until such quorum shall be present.
SECTION 6. VOTING. The vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation requires a vote of a greater number.
SECTION 7. VACANCIES. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, unless and until filled by the stockholders, any vacancy or newly-created directorship on the Board of Directors, however occurring, may be filled by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of such directors predecessor in office, and a director chosen to fill a position resulting from a newly-created directorship shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until a successor is elected and qualified, or until such directors earlier death, resignation or removal.
SECTION 8. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS . Except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, a director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, except that the directors elected by the holders of a particular class or series of stock may be removed without cause only by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or series.
SECTION 9. RESIGNATION. Any director may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event.
SECTION 10. REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time, place and manner as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
SECTION 11. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, two or more directors or by one director in the event that there is only a single director in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any time, date or place, either within or without the State of Delaware, for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.
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SECTION 12. NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Notice of the date, place, if any, and time of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director (a) in person, by telephone, fax or by electronic transmission at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, (b) by sending written notice by reputable overnight courier or delivering written notice by hand, to such directors last known business, home or facsimile address at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting, or (c) by sending written notice by first-class mail to such directors last known business or home address at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of the meeting.
SECTION 13. WRITTEN ACTION BY DIRECTORS. 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 of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, or by electronic transmission. Without limiting the manner by which consent may be given, members of the Board of Directors may consent by delivery of an electronic transmission when such transmission is directed to a facsimile number or electronic mail address at which the Corporation has consented to receive such electronic transmissions, and copies of the electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, or the committee thereof, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.
SECTION 14. PARTICIPATION BY CONFERENCE TELEPHONE. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by such board, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or committee thereof, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment as long as all persons participating in the meeting can speak with and hear each other, and participation by a director pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
SECTION 15. COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as the Board of Directors thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board may designate one 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 at any meeting 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 of Directors 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 of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors 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 which may require it, but no such committee shall
8
have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by law to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation. Each such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board of Directors may from time to time request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
SECTION 16. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefore. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.
ARTICLE IV.
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers with such other titles as the Board of Directors shall determine, including one or more Vice Presidents. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers as it may deem appropriate. No officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. The officers elected by the Board of Directors shall have such duties as are hereafter described and such additional duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 2. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the regular meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of the stockholders. If the election of officers is not held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient. Other officers may be appointed at any time, at a meeting or by the written consent of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until his successor has been duly elected and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the resolution electing or appointing such officer, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.
SECTION 3. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS. Any officer may resign by delivering a written resignation to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt
9
unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event. Any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by vote of a majority of the directors then in office. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, no officer who resigns or is removed shall have any right to any compensation as an officer for any period following such officers resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal, whether such officers compensation be by the month or by the year or otherwise, unless such compensation is expressly provided for in a duly authorized written agreement with the Corporation.
SECTION 4. VACANCIES. The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy occurring in any office for any reason and may, in its discretion, leave unfilled for such period as it may determine any offices other than those of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Each such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term of such officers predecessor and until a successor is elected and qualified, or until such officers earlier death, resignation or removal.
SECTION 5. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and supervision of the business and affairs of the Corporation subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or that are delegated to such officer by the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall see that orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer may sign bonds, mortgages, certificates for shares and all other contracts and documents whether or not under the seal of the Corporation except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by law, by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general powers of supervision and shall be the final arbiter of all differences between officers of the Corporation and his decision as to any matter affecting the Corporation shall be final and binding as between the officers of the Corporation subject only to the Board of Directors.
SECTION 6. THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of chief financial officer, including without limitation, the duty and power to have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and to keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, as required by the Board of Directors, an account of all his transactions as the Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer shall give the Corporation a bond (which shall be renewed every six years) in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his
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death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.
SECTION 7. OTHER OFFICERS, ASSISTANT OFFICERS AND AGENTS. Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these Bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8. ABSENCE OF OFFICERS, DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. In the absence of any officer of the Corporation, or for any other reason the Board of Directors may deem sufficient, the Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties, or any of such powers or duties, of any officers or officer to any other officer or to any director.
SECTION 9. COMPENSATION. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to establish reasonable salaries, compensation or reimbursement of all officers for services to the Corporation.
ARTICLE V.
CAPITAL STOCK
SECTION 1. ISSUANCE OF STOCK. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation or the whole or any part of any shares of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation held in the Corporations treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board of Directors in such manner, for such lawful consideration and on such terms as the Board of Directors may determine.
SECTION 2. CERTIFICATES OF SHARES; UNCERTIFICATED SHARES.
(a) The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board of Directors, signed in a manner that complies with Section 158 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, representing the number of shares held by such holder registered in certificate form. Any or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile or pdf.
(b) Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of stockholders or among such holders and the Corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.
(c) If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative,
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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 each certificate representing shares of such class or series of stock, provided that in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the face or back of each certificate representing shares of such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests a copy of the full text of the powers, designations, preferences and 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.
(d) Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to Sections 151, 156, 202(a) or 218(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or, with respect to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and 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.
SECTION 3. SIGNATURES OF FORMER OFFICER, TRANSFER AGENT OR REGISTRAR. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have 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 such person or entity were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
SECTION 4. TRANSFER OF SHARES. Transfers of shares of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation, or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, shares of stock represented by certificates shall be transferred only on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, and with such proof of authority or the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these Bylaws.
SECTION 5. LOST, DESTROYED OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES. Whenever a certificate representing shares of the Corporation has been lost, destroyed or stolen, the holder thereof may file in the office of the Corporation an affidavit setting forth, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the time, place, and circumstance of such loss, destruction or theft together with a statement of indemnity and posting of such bond sufficient in the opinion of the Board of Directors to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss of any such certificate. Thereupon the Board may cause to be issued to such person or such persons legal representative a new certificate or a duplicate of the certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen. In the exercise of its discretion, the Board of Directors may waive the indemnification and bond requirements provided herein.
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SECTION 6. REGULATIONS. The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI.
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 1. RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (an Indemnified Person) 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 such person, or a person for whom such person is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, 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, limited liability company, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys fees) reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 3 of this Article VI, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify an Indemnified Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Indemnified Person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnified Person was authorized in advance by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. PREPAYMENT OF EXPENSES OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by an Indemnified Person 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 Indemnified Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.
SECTION 3. CLAIMS BY DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim therefor by the Indemnified Person has been received by the Corporation, the Indemnified Person 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. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.
SECTION 4. INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS. The Corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that such
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person, or a person for whom such person is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or, while an employee or agent of the Corporation, 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, limited liability company, trust, enterprise or nonprofit 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 such Proceeding. The ultimate determination of entitlement to indemnification of persons who are non-director or officer employees or agents shall be made in such manner as is determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Corporation shall not be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person if the Proceeding was not authorized in advance by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES OF EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS. The Corporation may pay the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by an employee or agent in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 6. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any person by this Article VI 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.
SECTION 7. PRIMACY OF INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation (collectively, the Covered Persons) may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by other persons (collectively, the Other Indemnitors), with respect to the rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance set forth herein, the Corporation: (i) shall be the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Covered Persons are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by Covered Persons are secondary); and (ii) shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by Covered Persons and shall be liable for the full amount of all liabilities, without regard to any rights Covered Persons may have against any of the Other Indemnitors. No advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors on behalf of Covered Persons with respect to any claim for which Covered Persons have sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the immediately preceding sentence, and the Other Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Covered Persons against the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the obligations of the Corporation under this Section 7 shall only apply to Covered Persons in their capacity as Covered Persons.
SECTION 8. INSURANCE. The Board of Directors may, to the full extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists, or may hereafter be amended from time to time, authorize an appropriate officer or officers to purchase and maintain at the Corporations expense insurance: (a) to indemnify the Corporation for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors, officers and employees under the provisions of this Article VI; and (b) to indemnify or insure directors, officers and employees against liability in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the Corporation under the provisions of this Article VI.
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SECTION 9. AMENDMENT OR REPEAL. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VI shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification. The rights provided hereunder shall inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person and such persons heirs, executors and administrators.
ARTICLE VII.
DIVIDENDS
SECTION 1. DECLARATIONS OF DIVIDENDS. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 2. SPECIAL PURPOSES RESERVES. The Board of Directors 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.
ARTICLE VIII.
NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
SECTION 1. NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholders mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholders electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given (1) if mailed, when the notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, (2) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholders address or (3) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholders electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by Section 3 of this Article. A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation.
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, but subject to Section 3 of this Article, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, 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 or electronic transmission to the Corporation.
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Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:
(a) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;
(b) 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
(c) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be given by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation and (2) 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, provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
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 shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
SECTION 2. DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION; ELECTRONIC MAIL; ELECTRONIC MAIL ADDRESS. 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. An electronic mail means an electronic transmission directed to a unique electronic mail address (which electronic mail shall be deemed to include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the Corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files and information). An electronic mail address means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, consisting of a unique user name or mailbox (commonly referred to as the local part of the address) and a reference to an internet domain (commonly referred to as the domain part of the address), whether or not displayed, to which electronic mail can be sent or delivered.
SECTION 3. INAPPLICABILITY. Notice by a form of electronic transmission shall not apply to Sections 164, 296, 311, 312 or 324 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
ARTICLE IX.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. SEAL. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words Corporate Seal, Delaware or such other form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors. Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
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SECTION 3. WRITTEN WAIVER OF NOTICE. A written waiver of any notice required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, signed by or electronically transmitted by the person entitled to notice, whether before, at or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
SECTION 4. ATTENDANCE AS WAIVER OF 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, and objects, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
SECTION 5. CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 6. LOANS. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 7. CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by one or more officers or agents of the Corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8. DEPOSITS. The funds of the Corporation may be deposited or invested in such bank account, in such investments or with such other depositaries as determined by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 9. ANNUAL STATEMENT. The Board of Directors shall present at each annual meeting, and at any special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the stockholders, a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the Corporation.
SECTION 10. VOTING OF SECURITIES. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise designate, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer may waive notice of, vote, or appoint any person or persons to vote, on behalf of the Corporation at, and act as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact for this Corporation (with or without power of substitution) at, any meeting of stockholders or securityholders of any other entity, the securities of which may be held by this Corporation.
SECTION 11. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY. A certificate by the secretary, an assistant secretary, or a temporary secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the Corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive evidence of such action.
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SECTION 12. CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. All references in these Bylaws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.
SECTION 13. SEVERABILITY. Any determination that any provision of these Bylaws is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or invalidate any other provision of these Bylaws.
SECTION 14. PRONOUNS. All pronouns used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons may require.
ARTICLE X.
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new Bylaws may be adopted by the Board of Directors, when such power is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 2. BY THE STOCKHOLDERS. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new Bylaws may be adopted, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders, provided notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new Bylaws shall have been stated in the notice of such special meeting. If the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation it shall not divest or limit the power of the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws.
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Exhibit 10.1
[***] Certain information in this document has been excluded pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item (601)(b)(10). Such excluded information is not material and would likely cause competitive harm to the registrant if publicly disclosed.
LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
This LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this Agreement) dated as of September 30, 2019 (the Closing Date) is entered into among BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Borrower Representative), and each other Person party hereto as a borrower from time to time (collectively, Borrowers, and each, a Borrower), the lenders from time to time party hereto (collectively, Lenders, and each, a Lender), and RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC., as administrative agent and collateral agent for Lenders (in such capacity, Agent).
AGREEMENT
Each Borrower from time to time party hereto, Agent and each Lender hereby agrees as follows:
1. | ACCOUNTING AND OTHER TERMS |
Accounting terms not defined in this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, and calculations and determinations shall be made following GAAP, consistently applied. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth on Exhibit A. All other terms contained in this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated, shall have the meaning provided by the Code to the extent such terms are defined therein. As used in the Loan Documents, the word shall is mandatory, the word may is permissive, the word or is not exclusive, the words includes and including are not limiting, the singular includes the plural, and numbers denoting amounts that are set off in brackets are negative. Unless otherwise specified, all references in this Agreement or any Annex or Schedule hereto to a Section, subsection, Exhibit, Annex, or Schedule shall refer to the corresponding Section, subsection, Exhibit, Annex, or Schedule in or to this Agreement. For purposes of the Loan Documents, whenever a representation or warranty is made to a Persons knowledge or awareness, knowledge or awareness means the actual knowledge, after reasonable investigation, of any Responsible Officer of such Person.
2. | LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT |
2.1 Promise to Pay. Each Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, the outstanding principal amount of all Loans, accrued and unpaid interest, fees and charges thereon and all other amounts owing hereunder as and when due in accordance with this Agreement.
2.2 Availability and Repayment of the Loans.
(a) Availability.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make to Borrowers one or more advances during the First Tranche Availability Period in principal amount equal to its First Tranche Term Loan Commitment (the First Tranche Term Loans), provided that Borrowers agree to request, and Lenders agree to make, First Tranche Term Loans in aggregate principal amount of a minimum of $30,000,000 on the Closing Date. Lenders commitments to make the First Tranche Term Loans shall terminate upon the earlier of (A) the end of the First Tranche Availability Period, and (B) the date that First Tranche Term Loans in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate amount of the First Tranche Term Loan Commitments have been funded.
(ii) Subject to the Second Tranche Milestone and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make to Borrowers one or more advances having a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 during the Second Tranche Availability Period in principal amount equal to its Second Tranche Term Loan Commitment (the Second Tranche Term Loans, and together with the First Tranche Term Loans, collectively, the Term Loans, and each, a Term Loan). Lenders commitments to make the Second Tranche Term Loans shall terminate upon the earlier of (A) the end of the Second Tranche Availability Period, and (B) the date that Second Tranche Term Loans in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate amount of the Second Tranche Term Loan Commitments have been funded.
Borrowers shall use the proceeds of the Term Loans (i) to repay existing outstanding Indebtedness of Borrower Representative pursuant to the Existing Notes, and (ii) for general corporate purposes, including without limitation, Permitted Tax Distributions. Once repaid, the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
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(b) Repayment. Commencing on the Amortization Date, and continuing thereafter on each Payment Date, Borrowers shall make payments of equal principal, which would fully amortize the principal amount of the Term Loans by the Term Loan Maturity Date, plus accrued and unpaid interest, provided that if the Term Loan Maturity Date is extended, in accordance with its terms, the monthly payments shall be recalculated according to the remaining number of Payment Dates through the Term Loan Maturity Date, as extended. Any and all unpaid Obligations, including principal and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the Term Loans, the Final Payment, other fees and other sums, if any, shall be due and payable in full on the Term Loan Maturity Date. The Term Loans may only be prepaid in accordance with Sections 2.2(c) or (d).
(c) Mandatory Prepayment Upon an Acceleration. If the Loans are accelerated following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Borrowers shall immediately pay to Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, an amount equal to the sum of:
(i) all outstanding principal plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, plus
(ii) the Prepayment Fee, plus
(iii) the Final Payment, plus
(iv) all other sums, if any, that shall have become due and payable, including interest at the Default Rate, if applicable.
(d) Permitted Prepayment of Loans. Borrowers shall have the option to prepay the Loans in full or in part, provided that each partial prepayment shall be in a principal amount of at least $5,000,000, or, if less, the remaining principal balance of the Loans then outstanding, and provided further, that Borrower Representative provides written notice to Agent (whereupon Agent shall promptly deliver a copy of such written notice to Lenders) of its election to prepay the Loans at least five (5) Business Days prior to such prepayment, and pay, on the date of such prepayment, to Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, an amount equal to the sum of:
(i) the outstanding principal of all or the portion of the Loans, as applicable, Borrower intends to prepay, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, plus
(ii) the Prepayment Fee then due in respect of such prepayment, plus
(iii) the Final Payment then due, plus
(iv) all other sums, if any, that shall have become due and payable, including interest at the Default Rate, if applicable.
2.3 Payment of Interest.
(a) Interest Rate. Subject to Section 2.3(b), the outstanding principal amount of the Loans shall accrue interest from and after its Funding Date, at the Applicable Rate, and Borrowers shall pay such interest monthly in arrears on each Payment Date commencing on October 15, 2019.
(b) Default Rate. Immediately upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, unless Agent elects otherwise, the Obligations shall bear interest at a rate per annum which is four percentage points (4.0%) above the rate that is otherwise applicable thereto (the Default Rate). Fees and expenses which are required to be paid by Borrowers pursuant to the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Lender Expenses) but are not paid when due shall bear interest until paid at a rate equal to the highest rate applicable to the Obligations. Payment or acceptance of the increased interest rate provided in this Section 2.3(b) is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of Agent or Lenders.
(c) Payment; Interest Computation. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed. In computing interest, (i) all payments received after 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on any day may, at Agents discretion, be deemed received at the opening of business on the next Business Day, and (ii) the date of the making of any Loan shall be included and the date of payment shall be excluded. Changes to the Applicable Rate based on changes to LIBOR or the Prime Rate, as applicable, shall be effective as of the Payment Date immediately following such change.
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(d) Maximum Interest. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, it is the parties intent not to contract for, charge or receive interest at a rate that is greater than the maximum rate permissible by law that a court of competent jurisdiction shall deem applicable hereto (the Maximum Rate). If a court of competent jurisdiction shall finally determine that a Borrower has actually paid to or for the benefit of Lenders an amount of interest in excess of the amount that would have been payable if all of the Obligations had at all times borne interest at the Maximum Rate, then such excess interest actually paid by Borrowers shall be applied as follows: first, to the payment of principal outstanding in respect of the Loans; second, after all principal is repaid, to the payment of accrued interest, third, to the payment of Lender Expenses and any other Obligations; and fourth, after all Obligations are repaid, the excess (if any) shall be refunded to Borrowers or paid to whomsoever may be legally entitled thereto, provided that amounts payable to Lenders, shall be paid ratably.
2.4 Fees and Charges. Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders:
(a) Closing Fee. A closing fee in the amount of $400,000 due and payable on the Closing Date;
(b) Prepayment Fee. The Prepayment Fee as and when due pursuant to Sections 2.2(c) and 2.2(d). Each Borrower agrees that the Prepayment Fee is a reasonable calculation of Lenders lost profits in view of the difficulties and impracticality of determining actual damages resulting from an early repayment of the Loans;
(c) Final Payment. The Final Payment as and when due pursuant to Sections 2.2(b), 2.2(c) and 2.2(d); and
(d) Lender Expenses; Setup and Annual Administration Fee. All Lender Expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys fees and expenses for documentation and negotiation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) incurred through and after the Closing Date, when due (or, if no stated due date, within two (2) Business Days after demand by Agent); provided that, Borrower shall not be required to reimburse Lender Expenses incurred through the Closing Date in excess of $60,000. Borrower shall also pay to Agent an administrative agency fee of $10,000, due on the Closing Date and on the Payment Date immediately prior to each anniversary of the Closing Date.
(e) Fees Fully Earned. Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the fees and charges specified in clauses (a) through (c) above are fully-earned as of the Closing Date, and in no event shall any Borrower be entitled to any credit, rebate, refund, reduction, proration or repayment of any fees or charges earned by each Lender pursuant to this Agreement notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement or the suspension or termination of a Lenders obligation to make loans and advances hereunder and notwithstanding the required payment date for such fees or charges. Agent, on behalf of Lenders, may debit and deduct amounts owing by Borrowers under the clauses of this Section 2.4 pursuant to the terms of Section 2.5(c). Agent shall provide Borrowers with written notice of deductions made pursuant to the terms of this clause (e).
2.5 Payments; Application of Payments; Automatic Payment Authorization.
(a) All payments to be made by Borrowers under any Loan Document, including payments of principal and interest and all fees, charges, expenses, indemnities and reimbursements, shall be made in immediately available funds in Dollars, without setoff, recoupment or counterclaim, before 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the date when due. Payments of principal and/or interest received after 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time may, at Agents discretion, be considered received at the opening of business on the next Business Day. When a payment is due on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment shall be due the next Business Day, and additional fees or interest, as applicable, shall continue to accrue until paid.
(b) No Borrower shall have a right to specify the order or the loan accounts to which a Lender shall allocate or apply any payments made by a Borrower to or for the benefit of such Lender or otherwise received by such Lender under this Agreement when any such allocation or application is not expressly specified elsewhere in this Agreement and unless such prepayment is a prepayment in part when no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case such prepayment shall be applied pro rata amount all payments owed.
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(c) Unless otherwise notified by Agent in writing, Agent, for itself or for the ratable benefit of Lenders, as applicable, may initiate debit entries to any Deposit Accounts as authorized on the Automatic Payment Authorization for principal and interest payments or any other amounts Borrowers owe Agent or Lenders when due. These debits shall not constitute a set-off. If the ACH payment arrangement is terminated for any reason, Borrowers shall make all payments due to Agent or Lenders at Agents address specified in Section 10, or as otherwise notified by Agent in writing.
(d) Borrowers, Agent and Lenders each hereby agree to the terms and conditions set forth on Exhibit I attached hereto.
2.6 Promissory Notes. Borrowers agree that: (a) upon written notice by or on behalf of any Lender to Borrowers that a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness is requested by such Lender to evidence the Loans and other Obligations owing or payable to, or to be made by, such Lender, Borrowers shall promptly (and in any event within five (5) Business Days of any such request) execute and deliver to such Lender an appropriate promissory note, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, and (b) upon any Lenders written request, and in any event within five (5) Business Days of any such request, Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender new notes and/or divide the notes in exchange for then existing notes in such smaller amounts or denominations as such Lender shall specify in its reasonable discretion; provided, that the aggregate principal amount of such new notes shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Loans made by such Lender; provided, further, that such promissory notes that are to be replaced shall then be deemed no longer outstanding hereunder and replaced by such new notes and returned to Borrowers promptly after such Lenders receipt of the replacement notes. Regardless whether or not any such promissory notes are issued, this Agreement shall evidence the Loans and other Obligations owing or payable by Borrowers to each Lender.
3. | CONDITIONS OF LOANS |
3.1 Conditions Precedent to Initial Loan. Each Lenders obligation to make the initial Loan is subject to the condition precedent that Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, such documents, and completion of such other matters, as Agent may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate, including, without limitation:
(a) duly executed signatures to this Agreement;
(b) duly executed original signatures to the Warrant;
(c) duly executed signatures to the IP Security Agreement;
(d) subject to Section 3.3(b), duly executed signatures to the Account Control Agreement(s) required under Section 6.6(b);
(e) subject to Section 3.3(b), duly executed signatures to the Collateral Access Agreement(s) for such locations as Agent may require;
(f) a certificate of Borrower, duly executed by a Responsible Officer, certifying and attaching (i) the Operating Documents, (ii) resolutions duly approved by the Board, (iii) any resolutions, consent or waiver duly approved by the requisite holders of Borrowers Equity Interests, if applicable (or certifying that no such resolutions, consent or waiver is required), and (iv) a schedule of incumbency;
(g) a payoff letter with respect to the Existing Notes, together with all documents reasonably required in connection with the payoff and release of any Liens securing the Existing Notes;
(h) the Perfection Certificate of Borrower Representative, together with the duly executed signature thereto;
(i) evidence satisfactory to Agent, that the insurance policies and endorsements required by Section 6.5 are in full force and effect;
(j) a legal opinion of counsel to Borrowers;
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(k) budget for fiscal year 2019, approved by Borrower Representatives Board and projections for Borrower Representatives fiscal year ending December 31, 2020;
(l) all documentation and other information that Agent or any Lender reasonably requires in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act, to include a duly executed copy of an IRS Form W-9 or other such applicable IRS Forms;
(m) a disbursement letter, duly executed by each Borrower;
(n) the Automatic Payment Authorization, duly executed by Borrower Representative;
(o) payment of the closing fee as specified in Section 2.4(a) and Lender Expenses and administrative agent fee then due as specified in Section 2.4(d); and
(p) capitalization tables for Borrower Representative, including a summary of Equity Interests outstanding, by class.
3.2 Conditions Precedent to all Loans. Each Lenders obligation to make each Loan is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) except for the Term Loan made on the Closing Date, timely receipt of an executed Loan Request by Agent (whereupon Agent shall promptly deliver a copy of such Loan Request to each applicable Lender);
(b) the representations and warranties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true, accurate, and complete in all material respects on the date of the Loan Request and on the Funding Date of each Loan; provided, however, that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and provided, further that those representations and warranties expressly referring to a specific date shall be true, accurate and complete in all material respects as of such date;
(c) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result from the Loan; and
(d) there has not been any event or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.3 Covenant to Deliver.
(a) Subject to Section 3.3(b), Borrowers agree to deliver to Agent each item required to be delivered to Agent under this Agreement as a condition precedent to any Loan. Borrowers expressly agree that a Loan made prior to the receipt by Agent of any such item shall not constitute a waiver by Agent of a Borrowers obligation to deliver such item, and the making of any Loan in the absence of a required item shall be in Agents sole discretion.
(b) Borrower agrees to deliver the items set forth on Schedule 2 hereto within the timeframe set forth therein (or by such other date as Agent may approve in writing), in each case, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent, and notwithstanding the terms of Section 3.1, the items listed on Schedule 2 may be delivered within the timeframe set forth therein if not delivered as of the Closing Date.
3.4 Procedures for Borrowing. To obtain a Loan, Borrowers shall deliver a completed Loan Request to Agent (which may be delivered by email) no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, five (5) Business Days prior to the date such Loan is requested to be made (whereupon Agent shall promptly notify all affected Lenders). On the Funding Date, each applicable Lender shall fund the applicable Loan in the manner requested by the Loan Request, provided that each of the conditions precedent to such Loan is satisfied.
4. | CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST |
4.1 Grant of Security Interest. Each Borrower hereby grants to Agent, for itself and the ratable benefit of Lenders, to secure the payment and performance in full of all of the Obligations, a continuing security interest in,
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and pledges to Agent, the Collateral, wherever located, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising, and all proceeds and products thereof. If this Agreement is terminated, Agents Lien in the Collateral shall continue until the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted or is known to exist) are repaid in full in cash. Upon payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted or is known to exist) and at such time as all Commitments have terminated, Agent shall, at Borrowers sole cost and expense, release its Liens in the Collateral and all rights therein shall revert to the applicable Borrower.
4.2 Priority of Security Interest. Each Borrower represents, warrants, and covenants that the security interest granted herein is and shall at all times continue to be a first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral (subject only to Permitted Liens that are permitted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to have superior priority to Agents Lien under this Agreement). If a Borrower shall acquire a commercial tort claim with a potential recovery in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), Borrowers shall promptly notify Agent in writing and deliver such other information and documents as Agent may reasonably require to perfect Agents security interest in such commercial tort claim. If a Borrower shall acquire a certificate with respect to Shares or any instrument, such Borrower shall promptly notify Agent in writing and deliver the same together with a stock power or instrument of transfer and any necessary endorsement, all in form reasonably satisfactory to Agent.
4.3 Authorization to File Financing Statements. Each Borrower hereby authorizes Agent to file at any time financing statements, continuation statements and amendments thereto with all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect or protect Agents interest or rights hereunder. Such financing statements may describe the Collateral as all assets of such Borrower.
4.4 Pledge of Collateral. Each Borrower hereby pledges, assigns and grants to Agent a security interest in all the Collateral consisting of Shares in which such Borrower has any interest, together with all proceeds and substitutions thereof, all cash, stock and other moneys and property paid thereon, all rights to subscribe for securities declared or granted in connection therewith, and all other cash and noncash proceeds of the foregoing, as security for the performance of the Obligations. On the Closing Date or as required pursuant to Section 6.11, the certificate or certificates for such Equity Interests constituting Collateral, to the extent certificated, will be delivered to Agent, accompanied by a stock power or other appropriate instrument of assignment duly executed in blank. To the extent required by the terms and conditions governing such Equity Interests constituting Collateral in which a Borrower has an interest, such Borrower shall cause the books of each Person whose Equity Interests are part of the Collateral and any transfer agent to reflect the pledge of the Equity Interests. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default hereunder, Agent may effect the transfer of any securities included in the Collateral (including but not limited to the Equity Interests) into the name of Agent and cause new certificates representing such securities to be issued in the name of Agent or its transferee. Each Borrower will execute and deliver such documents, and take or cause to be taken such actions, as Agent may reasonably request to perfect or continue the perfection of Agents security interest in the Equity Interests. Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Borrower shall be entitled to exercise any voting rights with respect to the Equity Interests in which it has an interest and to give consents, waivers and ratifications in respect thereof, provided that: no such notice shall be required if a Borrower has commenced an Insolvency Proceeding and, in any event, no vote shall be cast or consent, waiver or ratification given or action taken which would be inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement or which would constitute or create any violation of any of such terms. All such rights to vote and give consents, waivers and ratifications shall terminate upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.
5. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
Each Borrower represents and warrants as follows:
5.1 Due Organization, Authorization; Power and Authority.
(a) Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries are duly existing and in good standing as a Registered Organization in their respective jurisdictions of formation and are qualified and licensed to do business and are in good standing in any other jurisdiction in which the conduct of their respective business or ownership of property require that they be qualified except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. In connection with this Agreement, Borrower Representative has delivered to Agent a completed certificate signed by Borrower Representative entitled Perfection Certificate. Except to the extent Borrower Representative has provided notice of a legal name change to Agent in accordance with Section 7.2, (i) each
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Loan Partys exact legal name is that indicated on the Perfection Certificate and on the signature page hereof; (ii) each Loan Party is an organization of the type and is organized in the jurisdiction set forth in the Perfection Certificate; (iii) the Perfection Certificate accurately sets forth each Loan Partys organizational identification number or accurately states that such Loan Party has none; (iv) the Perfection Certificate accurately sets forth each Loan Partys place of business, or, if more than one, its chief executive office as well as such Loan Partys mailing address (if different than its chief executive office); (v) except as set forth in the Perfection Certificate, each Loan Party (and each of its predecessors) has not, in the past five (5) years, changed its jurisdiction of formation, organizational structure or type, or any organizational number assigned by its jurisdiction; and (vi) all other information set forth on the Perfection Certificate pertaining to each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries is accurate and complete in all material respects (it being understood and agreed that each Loan Party may from time to time update certain information in the Perfection Certificate after the Closing Date to the extent permitted by one or more specific provisions in this Agreement).
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized, and do not (i) conflict with such Loan Partys Operating Documents or other organizational documents, (ii) contravene, conflict with, constitute a default under or violate any material Requirement of Law, (iii) contravene, conflict or violate any applicable order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Authority by which such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their property or assets may be bound or affected, (iv) require any action by, filing, registration, or qualification with, or Governmental Approval from, any Governmental Authority (except such Governmental Approvals which have already been obtained and are in full force and effect), or (v) conflict with, contravene, constitute a default or breach under, or result in or permit the termination or acceleration of, any material agreement by which such Loan Party is bound. No Loan Party is in default under any agreement to which it is a party or by which it is bound in which the default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.2 Collateral.
(a) Each Loan Party has good title to, rights in, and the power to transfer each item of the Collateral upon which it purports to grant a Lien hereunder, free and clear of any and all Liens except Permitted Liens.
(b) Except for the Collateral Accounts described in the Perfection Certificate or in a notice timely delivered pursuant to Section 6.6, no Loan Party has any Collateral Accounts at or with any bank, broker or other financial institution, and each Loan Party has taken such actions as are necessary to give Agent a perfected security interest therein as required pursuant to the terms of Section 6.6(b).
(c) The Collateral is located only at the locations identified in the Perfection Certificate and other Permitted Locations. The Collateral is not in the possession of any third party bailee (such as a warehouse) except as otherwise provided in the Perfection Certificate or as disclosed in writing pursuant to Section 6.12.
(d) Each Loan Party is the sole owner of the material Intellectual Property which it owns or purports to own except for (i) licenses permitted hereunder, including those constituting Permitted Transfers, (ii) open-source software, (iii) over-the-counter software that is commercially available to the public, (iv) material Intellectual Property licensed to such Loan Party and noted on the Perfection Certificate or as disclosed pursuant to Section 6.7(b), and (v) immaterial Intellectual Property licensed to such Loan Party. Each Patent (other than patent applications) which it owns or purports to own and which is material to such Loan Partys business is, to its knowledge, valid and enforceable, and no part of the Intellectual Property which a Loan Party owns or purports to own and which is material to the Loan Parties business has been judged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part. To the best of each Borrowers knowledge, no claim has been made that any part of the Intellectual Property violates the rights of any third party except to the extent such claim could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.3 Accounts; Commercial Agreements. The Accounts are bona fide existing obligations. The property or services giving rise to such Accounts have been delivered or rendered. On the Closing Date, on the date of each Loan Request, and on the date each Loan is funded hereunder, no Borrower is in default in any material respect with any material supplier, nor has any material supplier terminated, significantly reduced any commitment to a Borrower or communicated its intent to do so to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
5.4 Litigation and Proceedings. Except as set forth in the Perfection Certificate or as disclosed in writing pursuant to Section 6.2, there are no actions, suits, litigations or proceedings, at law or in equity, pending, or,
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to the knowledge of any Responsible Officer, threatened in writing, by or against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, officers, managers or directors involving more than, individually or in the aggregate for all related proceedings, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) or in which any adverse decision has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.5 Financial Statements; Financial Condition. All consolidated and consolidating (if applicable) financial statements for the Loan Parties and each of their Subsidiaries delivered to Agent fairly present in all material respects the consolidated and consolidating (if applicable) financial condition and results of operations of the Loan Parties and each of their Subsidiaries as of the respective dates and for the respective periods then ended, and there are no material liabilities (including any contingent liabilities) which are not reflected in such financial statements. On the Closing Date, on the date of each Loan Request, and on each date a Loan is funded hereunder, there has not been any material deterioration in the consolidated and consolidating financial condition of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries or the Collateral since the date of the most recent financial statements submitted to Agent.
5.6 Solvency. The fair salable value of the assets (including goodwill minus disposition costs) of the Loan Parties and each of their Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, exceeds the fair value of liabilities of the Loan Parties and each of their Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; no Loan Party is left with unreasonably small capital after the transactions in this Agreement; and each Loan Party is able to pay its debts (including trade debts) as they mature.
5.7 Consents; Approvals. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries have obtained all third party consents, approvals, waivers, made all declarations or filings with, given all notices to, and obtained all consents, licenses, permits or other approvals from all Governmental Authorities that are necessary (i) to enter into the Loan Documents and consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and (ii) to continue their respective businesses as currently conducted, except (with respect to this clause (ii)) where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
5.8 Subsidiaries; Investments. No Loan Party has any Subsidiaries, except as noted on the Perfection Certificate or as disclosed to Agent pursuant to Section 6.11 below. No Loan Party owns any stock, partnership, or other ownership interest or other Equity Interests except for Permitted Investments.
5.9 Tax Returns and Payments. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed all required federal and state income tax returns and other material tax returns and reports (or appropriate extensions therefor), and such Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has timely paid (subject to any applicable extensions) all foreign, federal, state and local taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions owed by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as applicable, except (a) to the extent such taxes, assessments, deposits or contributions are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, so long as such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor, or (b) if such taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions do not, individually or in the aggregate, exceed Two Hundred Fifty Hundred Thousand Dollars ($250,000). No Borrower is aware of any claims or adjustments proposed for any prior tax years of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which could result in a material amount of additional taxes becoming due and payable by a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
5.10 Shares. Such Borrower has full power and authority to create a first lien on the Shares and no disability or contractual obligation exists that would prohibit such Borrower from pledging the Shares pursuant to this Agreement. There are no subscriptions, warrants, rights of first refusal or other restrictions on transfer relative to, or options exercisable with respect to the Shares. The Shares have been and will be duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable. The Shares are not the subject of any present or threatened suit, action, arbitration, administrative or other proceeding, and such Borrower knows of no reasonable grounds for the institution of any such proceedings.
5.11 Compliance with Laws.
(a) No Loan Party or Subsidiary of Loan Party is an investment company or an affiliated person of, or promoter or principal underwriter for, an investment company, as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended.
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(b) No Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party is engaged, nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security as such terms are defined in Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board as now and from time to time hereafter in effect (such securities being referred to herein as Margin Stock). None of the proceeds of the Loans or other extensions of credit under this Agreement have been (or will be) used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Loans or other extensions of credit under this Agreement to be considered a purpose credit within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.
(c) No Loan Party has taken or permitted to be taken any action which might cause any Loan Document to violate any regulation of the Federal Reserve Board. Neither the making of the Loans hereunder nor Borrowers use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. No Loan Party, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any Affiliate of any Loan Party or of any Subsidiary, nor any present holder of Equity Interests of any of the foregoing (i) is, or will become, a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of Treasury (OFAC) or in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or similar sanctions laws of any other Governmental Authority including of any other applicable jurisdiction, (ii) is, or will become, a citizen or resident of any country that is subject to embargo or trade sanctions enforced by OFAC, (iii) is, or will become, a Person whose property or interest in property is blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order, or (iv) engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or is or will be otherwise associated, with any such Person.
(d) Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA Patriot Act. No part of the proceeds from the Loans made hereunder has been (or will be) used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
(e) No reportable event or prohibited transaction, each as defined in ERISA has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, and no Loan Party has failed to meet the minimum funding requirements of ERISA. No Loan Party has violated any applicable environmental laws in any material respect, maintains any properties or assets which have been designated in any manner pursuant to any environmental protection statute as a hazardous materials disposal site, or has received any notice, summons, citation or directive from the Environmental Protection Agency or any other similar Governmental Authority.
5.12 Full Disclosure. No written representation, warranty or other statement of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in any certificate or written statement by or on behalf of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement, as of the date such representation, warranty, or other statement was made, taken together with all such written certificates and written statements given, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained in the certificates or statements not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made (it being recognized that the projections and forecasts provided by any Loan Party in good faith and based upon reasonable assumptions are not viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections and forecasts may differ from the projected or forecasted results).
6. | AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
Each Borrower shall, and shall cause each Loan Party to, do all of the following:
6.1 Government Compliance. Maintain its and all its Subsidiaries legal existence and good standing in their respective jurisdictions of formation and maintain qualification in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; comply, and cause each Subsidiary to comply, with all laws, ordinances and regulations to which it is subject except where a failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; obtain all of the Governmental Approvals required in connection with such Loan Partys business and for the performance by each Loan Party of its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the grant of a security interest to Agent in accordance therewith, and comply with all terms and conditions with respect to such Governmental Approvals.
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6.2 Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates. Provide Agent with the following:
(a) Monthly Financial Statements. Within thirty (30) days after the last day of each month, a company prepared consolidated and consolidating (if applicable) balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows covering the Loan Parties and each of their Subsidiaries operations for such month, in form reasonably acceptable to Agent, certified by a Responsible Officer as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, except for the absence of footnotes, and subject to normal year-end adjustments.
(b) Monthly Compliance Certificate. Within thirty (30) days after the last day of each month and together with the monthly financial statements, a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer.
(c) Annual Operating Budget and Financial Projections. (i) Within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year of Borrower Representative (and promptly and within five (5) days of any material modification thereto), an operating budget, on a consolidated and consolidating (if applicable) monthly basis (including income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements, by month) for the following fiscal year, together with any related business forecasts used in the preparation thereof, (ii) if at any time the six month period commencing on any Test Date is not covered by previously delivered projections, projections (prepared by management) for the following six month period, and (iii) if at any time reforecasting is required by Section 6.10, updated projections in accordance with Section 6.10, provided that, the foregoing projections described in clauses (i) through (iii) shall be in form reasonably satisfactory to Agent, and shall set forth, on a monthly basis, projected Revenue, EBITDA, capital expenditures and projected cash flow to the extent required to determine required liquidity in accordance with Section 6.10.
(d) Annual Audited Financial Statements. As soon as available, but no later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the last day of Borrower Representatives fiscal year, audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, together with an unqualified opinion on the financial statements from an independent certified public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Agent, together with any management letter with respect thereto, provided that the inclusion of explanatory language or emphasis an emphasis-of-matter paragraph casting doubt on Borrowers ability to continue as a going concern due to the need to raise additional financing or refinance Indebtedness shall not constitute such financial statements to be considered qualified for purposes of this clause (d).
(e) Other Statements. Within ten (10) Business Days of delivery, copies of all material statements, reports and notices generally made available to all Borrower Representatives Equity Interest holders or to any holders of Subordinated Debt, in each case other than solely in their capacity as members of the Borrower Representatives Board or management.
(f) SEC Filings. In the event that Borrower Representative becomes subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act within five (5) Business Days of filing, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by Borrower Representative with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to the terms hereof (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) may be delivered electronically to Agent and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which Borrower provides a link thereto, on Borrower Representatives website on the internet at Borrowers website address.
(g) Legal Action Notice. A prompt report of any legal actions pending or threatened in writing against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that could result in damages or costs to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate for all related proceedings, of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000)or more, or of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries taking or threatening material legal action against any third person with respect to a material claim, and with respect to any pending material action or threatened action, a prompt report of any material development with respect thereto.
(h) Valuation Reports; Capitalization Tables. A copy of (i) any independent third party valuation analysis received by Borrower Representative with respect to its Equity Interests or (ii) any similar determination with respect to Equity Interests of Borrower Representative intended to be profit interests for U.S.
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federal income tax purposes (or, if Borrower Representative is converted to a corporation, a copy of any independent third-party 409A valuation report), and an updated copy of Borrower Representatives register of unit ownership within five (5) days of any material modification thereto, relative to the version then most recently delivered to Agent (or if Borrower Representative is converted to a corporation, any material update to its capital table).
(i) Put Notice. Immediately upon receipt, a copy of any Put Notice that has been delivered to Borrower Representative.
(j) Intellectual Property Report. Together with any Compliance Certificates delivered at the end of a calendar quarter, a report in form reasonably acceptable to Agent, listing any applications or registrations that any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries has made or filed during such calendar quarter in respect of any Patents, Copyrights or Trademarks and the status of any outstanding applications or registrations, as well as any material change in any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries Intellectual Property.
(k) Other Reports and Information. Together with the monthly financial reports, reports as to the following, in form acceptable to Agent: accounts payable aging and within five (5) Business Days of Agents written request, any other information related to the financial or business condition of any Loan Party as and when reasonably requested by Agent.
(l) Bank Account Statements. Together with the monthly financial reports, to the extent not delivered to Agent directly by depository or securities intermediary pursuant to the applicable Account Control Agreement, a copy of each account statement, with transaction detail, for each Deposit Account or Securities Account of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or within 3 (three) Business Days, upon Agents request, evidence satisfactory to Agent of the balance maintained in any such Deposit Account or Securities Account.
(m) Annual Tax Return. Within five (5) days of filing, a copy of Borrower Representatives federal income tax return, and any amendment thereto, or if Borrower Representative does not elect to be taxed as a corporation, any calculation of federal taxable income allocable to the members when provided to the members.
(n) Equity Financing Documents. Together with the next Compliance Certificate due after the consummation of any equity financing, a copy of the documents entered into in connection with such financing.
(o) Evidence of Insurance Renewal. Simultaneously with the expiration and renewal of Borrowers liability and casualty property insurance policies as required in accordance with Section 6.5, updated insurance certificates confirming required coverage and endorsements.
Agent may require Borrowers to provide any required reports, notices and certificates through various electronic means, including Agents portfolio monitoring online portal.
6.3 Inventory; Returns. Keep all Inventory in good and marketable condition, free from material defects. Returns and allowances between a Loan Party and its Account Debtors shall follow such Loan Partys customary practices as they exist at the Closing Date (or as such practices are amended or adjusted based on customary market practice). Other than any returns, recoveries, disputes and claims in the Ordinary Course of Business, Borrower Representative shall promptly notify Agent of all returns, recoveries, disputes and claims that involve individually or in the aggregate more than $500,000.
6.4 Taxes; Pensions. Timely file, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to timely file (subject to any applicable extensions), all required federal and state income tax returns and other material tax returns and reports and timely pay, and require each of its Subsidiaries to timely pay (subject to any applicable extensions), all foreign, federal, state and local taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions owed by such Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, except for deferred payment of any taxes, assessments, deposits or contributions contested pursuant to the terms of Section 5.9 or as otherwise permitted in Section 5.9, and shall deliver to Agent, on demand, appropriate certificates attesting to such payments, and pay all amounts necessary to fund in all material respects all present pension, profit sharing and deferred compensation plans in accordance with their terms.
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6.5 Insurance.
(a) Keep, and cause each Subsidiary to keep, its business and the Collateral insured for risks and in amounts standard for companies in the Loan Parties industry and location and as Agent may reasonably request. Insurance policies shall be in a form, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies that are not Affiliates of any Loan Party, and in amounts that are reasonably satisfactory to Agent.
(b) Ensure that proceeds payable under any property policy with respect to Collateral are, at Agents option, payable to Agent on account of the Obligations. To that end, all property policies shall have a lenders loss payable endorsement showing Agent as lender loss payable, all liability policies shall show, or have endorsements showing, Agent as an additional insured, in each case, in form satisfactory to Agent and as set forth on Exhibit E.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Loan Parties shall have the option of applying the proceeds of any casualty policy up to Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000), in the aggregate per fiscal year, toward the prompt replacement or repair of destroyed or damaged property; provided that any such replaced or repaired property (i) shall be of equal or like value as the replaced or repaired Collateral and (ii) shall be deemed Collateral in which Agent has been granted a first priority security interest and (b) after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all such proceeds shall, at the option of Agent, be payable to Agent on account of the Obligations.
(d) At Agents reasonable request, Borrower Representative shall deliver certified copies of insurance policies and evidence of all premium payments. Each provider of any such insurance required under this Section 6.5 shall agree, by endorsement upon the policy or policies issued by it or by independent instruments furnished to Agent, that it will give Agent thirty (30) days prior written notice before any such policy or policies shall be canceled (or ten (10) days notice for cancellation for non-payment of premiums).
(e) If any Loan Party fails to obtain insurance as required under this Section 6.5 or to pay any amount or furnish any required proof of payment to third persons and Agent, Agent may make all or part of such payment or obtain such insurance policies required in this Section 6.5, and take any action under the policies Agent deems prudent.
6.6 Deposit and Securities Accounts.
(a) Maintain Collateral Accounts only at the banks and other financial institutions identified in the Perfection Certificate or as disclosed pursuant to a notice timely delivered pursuant to subsection (b) below. Borrowers shall further maintain an ACH payment structure in favor of Agent, reasonably satisfactory to Agent.
(b) Provide Agent five (5) Business Days prior written notice (or such shorter time period as approved by Agent in its sole discretion) before establishing any Collateral Account at or with any bank, broker or other financial institution, and upon opening such account, provide Agent with a written notice identifying the name, address of each bank or other institution, the name in which the account is held, a description of the purpose of the account, and the complete account number therefor. Except to the extent delivery is permitted after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 3.3(b), for each Collateral Account that any Loan Party at any time maintains, Borrowers shall cause the applicable bank, broker or financial institution at or with which any Collateral Account is maintained to execute and deliver an Account Control Agreement or other appropriate instrument with respect to such Collateral Account to perfect Agents Lien in such Collateral Account in accordance with the terms hereunder which Account Control Agreement may not be terminated without the prior written consent of Agent. The provisions of the previous sentence shall not apply to (i) Deposit Accounts exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes, and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of Borrowers employees and identified to Agent by Borrower as such on the Perfection Certificate or from time to time after the Closing Date by written notice to Agent, provided that the aggregate balance maintained in all such accounts shall not exceed the amount as is necessary to fund payroll, payroll taxes and other such payments as are due at the end of the then-next 150% of one payroll period, (ii) the Qualified Merchant Accounts, (iii) Permitted Cash Collateral Accounts, and (iv) other Collateral Account provided that the aggregate balance thereof at any time shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000).
6.7 Intellectual Property.
(a) Protect, defend and maintain the validity and enforceability of its Intellectual Property material to its business; promptly advise Agent in writing of material infringements or any other event that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the value of its Intellectual Property material to its business;
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not suffer any material claim of infringement that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect unless such claim is dismissed within thirty (30) days from initiation thereof or Borrowers have demonstrated to Agents satisfaction that such proceedings are without merit and adequate reserves have been taken; and not allow any Intellectual Property material to the Loan Parties business to be abandoned, forfeited or dedicated to the public without Agents written consent.
(b) If any Loan Party (i) obtains any Patent, registered Trademark, registered Copyright, registered mask work, or any pending application for any of the foregoing, whether as owner or licensee, or (ii) applies for any Patent or the registration of any Trademark, then Borrower Representative shall provide written notice thereof to Agent within the later of (1) thirty (30) days and (2) the Compliance Certificate issued at the end of the current calendar quarter and shall execute such intellectual property security agreements and other documents and take such other actions as Agent may request to perfect and maintain a first priority perfected security interest in favor of Agent in such property. If a Loan Party decides to register any Copyrights or mask works in the United States Copyright Office, Borrower Representative shall: (x) provide Agent within the later of (1) thirty (30) days and (2) the Compliance Certificate issued at the end of the current calendar quarter of such Loan Partys intent to register such Copyrights or mask works together with a copy of the application it intends to file with the United States Copyright Office (excluding exhibits thereto); and (y) execute an intellectual property security agreement and such other documents and take such other actions as Agent may request to perfect and maintain a first priority perfected security interest in favor of Agent in the Copyrights or mask works intended to be registered with the United States Copyright Office.
6.8 Litigation Cooperation. From the Closing Date and continuing through the termination of this Agreement, make available to Agent and Lenders, without expense to Agent or Lenders, each Loan Party and its officers, employees and agents and each Loan Partys books and records, to the extent that Agent or any Lender may deem them reasonably necessary to prosecute or defend any third-party suit or proceeding instituted by or against Agent or any Lender with respect to any Collateral or relating to such Loan Party.
6.9 Access to Collateral; Books and Records. Allow Agent, or its agents, to inspect the Collateral and audit and copy such Loan Partys Books in accordance with Section 6.13. Such inspections or audits shall be conducted no more often than once every six (6) months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing in which case such inspections and audits shall occur as often as Agent shall determine is necessary. The foregoing inspections and audits shall be at Borrowers expense.
6.10 Financial Covenant Minimum Liquidity. Maintain at all times unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents in a Collateral Account subject to a first priority perfected lien in favor of Agent (except to the extent delivery is permitted after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 3.3(b)) in an amount not less than the sum of (a) projected negative cash flow from operations (including interest payments due in respect of any Indebtedness) for the immediately following six (6) month period, plus (b) projected capital expenditures on property, plant and/or equipment, including any leasing expenditures and principal repayments in respect of any Indebtedness, for the immediately following six (6) month period, as determined monthly on the last day of each month (each, a Test Date). In each case, projected values used in the calculation required in the immediately preceding sentence shall be the values set forth in Projections, provided that from the Closing Date until the first delivery of the Projections, the calculation shall be based on the projections delivered to Agent prior to the Closing Date (with interest payments adjusted for the incurrence of Indebtedness under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents), provided further, that (x) if as of any Test Date, either of Revenue or EBITDA for any two (2) months in the most recent consecutive three (3) month period for which financial statements are required to have been delivered as of such Test Date, negatively deviates from amounts of Revenue or EBITDA set forth in the Projections for such month by more than 15%, Borrower Representative shall within ten (10) Business Days, provide updated projections (prepared by management) for the consecutive six (6) month period commencing on such Test Date, with reasonable backup materials as to the basis for any changes thereto and, if requested by Agent, Borrower Representative shall cause management to make itself available to discuss the updated projections and basis therefor with Agent upon reasonable notice and at a time and place (or by teleconference), as mutually agreed between Borrower Representative and Agent, and this Section 6.10 shall be retested as of the Test Date based on such updated projections, and such updated projections shall control for purposes of this Section 6.10 thereafter (unless further updates thereto are required in accordance with the foregoing), and (y) if Borrower Representative does not provide Projections or updated projections required to be delivered in accordance with Section 6.2(c) or this Section 6.10, Agent shall determine the amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents required to be maintained pursuant to this Section 6.10, in good faith and based on available information.
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6.11 Joinder of Subsidiaries. No later than thirty (30) days (or such longer period as Agent may allow in its sole discretion) after such time as a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries forms any direct or indirect Subsidiary or acquires any direct or indirect Subsidiary after the Closing Date, or at any time upon Agents reasonable request with respect to any Subsidiary whether existing as of the Closing Date or thereafter created or acquired and not joined pursuant to the foregoing thirty-day (or longer as allowed by Agent) period: (a) promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days (or such longer period as Agent may allow in its sole discretion) of creation, acquisition or request, as applicable, provide written notice to Agent together with certified copies of the Operating Documents for such Subsidiary, and (b) promptly, and in any event within thirty (30) days of formation or creation (or such longer period as Agent may allow in its sole discretion), or upon Agents reasonable request, as applicable: (i) take all such action as may be reasonably required by Agent to cause the applicable Subsidiary to either: (A) provide to Agent a joinder to this Agreement pursuant to which such Subsidiary becomes a Loan Party hereunder, or (B) guarantee the Obligations of Borrowers under the Loan Documents and grant a security interest in and to the collateral of such Subsidiary (substantially as described on Exhibit B), in each case together with such Account Control Agreements and other documents, instruments and agreements reasonably requested by Agent, all in form and substance satisfactory to Agent (including being sufficient to grant Agent a first priority Lien, subject to Permitted Liens) in and to the assets of such Subsidiary and (ii) to pledge all of the Shares in such Subsidiary. Any document, agreement, or instrument executed or issued pursuant to this Section 6.11 shall be a Loan Document.
6.12 Property Locations.
(a) Provide to Agent at least ten (10) Business Days (or such shorter period as permitted by Agent in its sole discretion) prior written notice before adding any new offices or business or Collateral locations, including warehouses (unless such new offices or business or Collateral locations qualify as Excluded Locations).
(b) With respect to any property or assets of a Loan Party located with a third party after the Closing Date, including a bailee, data center or warehouse (other than Excluded Locations), Borrowers shall cause such third party to execute and deliver a Collateral Access Agreement for such location, including an acknowledgment from each of the third parties that it is holding or will hold such property for Agents benefit. Borrowers shall deliver to Agent each warehouse receipt, where negotiable, covering any such property.
(c) With respect to any property or assets of a Loan Party located on leased premises after the Closing Date (other than Excluded Locations), Borrowers shall cause such third party to execute and deliver a Collateral Access Agreement for such location.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to the contrary, with respect to any leased location or bailee location even if such location does not constitute an Excluded Location, no Event of Default shall result if a Collateral Access Agreement is not obtained with respect to any bailee location or leased location in accordance with this Agreement, to the extent the applicable Loan Party has demonstrated to Agents reasonable satisfaction that such Loan Party was unable to cause the applicable third party to execute and deliver a Collateral Access Agreement despite such Loan Partys commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such Collateral Access Agreement, provided that if Borrowers are unable to obtain a Collateral Access Agreement with respect to Borrowers chief executive office or principal place of business, Borrowers shall, at Agents request deliver (i) a copy of the applicable lease and (ii) evidence of monthly payment of all regular rental payments pursuant to the applicable lease.
6.13 Management Rights. Upon reasonable notice, any representative of Lenders shall have the right to meet with management and officers of Borrowers to discuss such books of account and records. In addition, Lenders shall be entitled at reasonable times and intervals to consult with and advise the management and officers of Borrowers concerning significant business issues affecting Borrowers. Such consultations shall not unreasonably interfere with any Loan Partys business operations.
6.14 Right to Invest. Subject to the terms and conditions in this Section 6.14, Borrower Representative hereby grants to each Lender the right (but without obligation) to invest, directly or through one or more of its Affiliates, up to such amount (with respect to each such Lender and its Affiliates, its Pro Rata Portion) as is necessary for such Lender and its Affiliates, in the aggregate, to maintain the same percentage ownership of Borrower Representatives Equity Interests, on a Fully Diluted Basis, in any Next Round on the same terms, conditions and same pricing as offered to the lead investor in the applicable Next Round. Borrower Representative shall provide Agent with at least twenty (20) days prior written notice (a Next Round Notice) of the proposed date of the Next Round, which notice shall include the proposed material terms and conditions and pricing of the Next Round
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(whereupon Agent shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to Lenders). Each Lender (and its Affiliates, if applicable) will have the right to irrevocably elect to purchase up to its Pro Rata Portion by delivering written notice to the Borrower Representative within twenty (20) days after delivery of such Next Round Notice to the Agent (and if any Lender (and its Affiliates) fails to respond to such Next Round Notice within such 20-day period, such Lender (and its Affiliates) will be deemed to have elected to not participate in such Next Round). In connection with any such purchase of Borrower Representatives Equity Interests in a Next Round by a Lender or its Affiliates, such Lender (or its Affiliates, if applicable) shall execute and deliver counterpart signatures to all customary transaction documents related to the purchase of the Equity Interests in such Next Round, including a purchase agreement, investor rights agreement, the Borrower Representatives limited liability company agreement and any other agreements executed by the other purchasers in connection with the applicable Next Round, with customary representations and warranties and transfer restrictions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any term of this Section 6.14 may be amended, modified or terminated and the observance of any term of this Section 6.14 may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), with the written consent of the Borrower Representative and the Lenders who, directly or indirectly through Affiliates, hold at least a majority of the Equity Interests of Borrower Representative then outstanding and held by the Lenders and their Affiliates. In the event of a conflict between this Section 6.14 and the preemptive rights provisions under the Borrower Representatives limited liability company agreement (to the extent a Lender (or any of its Affiliates) is a party to the Borrower Representatives limited liability company agreement), the terms under this Section 6.14 shall control and the preemptive rights provisions set forth in the Borrower Representatives limited liability company agreement shall be deemed satisfied with respect to such Lender and its Affiliates by compliance with this Section 6.14.
6.15 Board Observer Rights. Borrower Representative shall invite a representative of Lenders, who shall initially be Mr. Brian Sapp, to attend all meetings of Borrower Representatives Board (including closed sessions and all update calls) or any committee or subcommittee of the Borrower Representatives Board in a nonvoting observer capacity and, for such purposes, shall give such representative copies of all notices, minutes, consents, and other materials that it provides to its Board when and as provided to the Board; provided, that (a) such representative shall agree to hold in confidence and trust and (b) Borrower Representative reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude such representative from any meeting or portion thereof (i) if attendance at such portion or receipt of such information could result in a conflict of interest, (ii) if such exclusion is necessary to preserve the attorney-client privilege, or (iii) in connection with or with respect to any executive session, provided that to the extent that any matters decided or issues discussed.
6.16 Further Assurances. Execute any further instruments and take further action as Agent reasonably requests to perfect or continue Agents Lien in the Collateral or to effect the purposes of this Agreement.
7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
No Borrower shall, or shall cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, do any of the following:
7.1 Dispositions. Convey, sell, lease, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of (collectively, Transfer) all or any part of its business or property, except for Permitted Transfers.
7.2 Changes in Business, Management, Ownership, or Business Locations. (a) Engage in any business other than the businesses currently engaged in or in other similar or related business by such Person, as applicable; (b) other than transactions permitted hereunder, cease doing business permanently, or liquidate or dissolve; or (c) fail to provide notice to Agent of any Key Person departing from or ceasing to be employed by Borrower within ten (10) Business Days after departure from Borrower Representative; (d) permit or suffer a Change in Control, or (e) without at least ten (10) Business Days prior written notice to Agent (i) change its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) change its organizational structure or type, (iii) change its legal name, or (iv) change its organizational number (if any) assigned by its jurisdiction of organization.
7.3 Mergers or Acquisitions. Other than any Permitted Acquisition, merge or consolidate with any other Person, or acquire all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or property of another Person or business line of another Person (including, without limitation, by the formation of any Subsidiary) or enter into any agreement to do any of the same, provided that a Subsidiary may merge, liquidate, dissolve, or consolidate into another Subsidiary or into a Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, Borrower may create a Subsidiary as provided in the definition of Permitted Investments.
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7.4 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume, or be liable for any Indebtedness, other than Permitted Indebtedness.
7.5 Encumbrance. Create, incur, allow, or suffer any Lien on any of its property, or assign or convey any right to receive income, including the sale of any Accounts, except for Permitted Liens, or otherwise permit any Collateral not to be subject to the first priority security interest granted herein, except in connection with Permitted Liens.
7.6 Maintenance of Collateral Accounts. Maintain any Collateral Account except pursuant to the terms of Section 6.6(b).
7.7 Distributions; Investments. (a) Pay any dividends or make any other distribution or payment or redeem, retire or purchase any Equity Interests provided that (i) Borrower Representative may convert any of its convertible Equity Interests (including warrants) into other Equity Interests issued by Borrower Representative pursuant to the terms of such convertible securities or otherwise in exchange thereof, (ii) Borrower Representative may convert Subordinated Debt issued by Borrower Representative into Equity Interests issued by Borrower Representative pursuant to the terms of such Subordinated Debt and to the extent permitted under the terms of the applicable subordination or intercreditor agreement with Agent; (iii) Borrower Representative may make Permitted Tax Distributions; (iv) any Borrower or Subsidiary thereof may pay dividends solely in Equity Interests of such Borrower or Subsidiary; (v) Borrower Representative may make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares, if applicable; (vi) any Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof that is a Loan Party may pay dividends or make other distributions to another Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof that is a Loan Party, and (vii) Borrower Representative may repurchase the Equity Interests issued by Borrower Representative to employees, officers, directors, contractors and other service providers upon or any time after cessation of employment or service, as applicable, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 per fiscal year, provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred immediately prior to such repurchase and immediately after giving effect thereto; or (b) directly or indirectly make any Investment (including, without limitation, by the formation of any Subsidiary), other than Permitted Investments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and for the avoidance of doubt, the delivery of a Put Notice, in accordance with Section 4 of the Investor Rights Agreement shall not in and of itself constitute a violation of this Section 7.7 or otherwise an Event of Default pursuant to this Agreement except as set forth in Section 8.12.
7.8 Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or indirectly enter into or permit to exist any material transaction with any Affiliate of a Loan Party, except for (a) transactions that are in the Ordinary Course of Business and on fair and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to such Person than would be obtained in an arms length transaction with a non-affiliated Person; (b) bona fide rounds of Subordinated Debt or equity financing by investors in Borrower Representative for capital raising purposes; (c) reasonable and customary director, officer and employee compensation and other customary benefits including retirement, health, equity incentive plan and other benefit plans and indemnification arrangements approved by Borrower Representatives Board or committee or delegate thereof; and (d) Permitted Indebtedness and Permitted Investments, to the extent expressly contemplated to be a transaction with an Affiliate, and distributions pursuant to Section 7.7.
7.9 Subordinated Debt. (a) Make or permit any payment on any Subordinated Debt, except as permitted pursuant to the terms of the subordination, intercreditor, or other similar agreement to which such Subordinated Debt is subject; or (b) amend any provision in any document relating to the Subordinated Debt which would increase the amount thereof, provide for earlier or greater principal, interest, or other payments thereon, or adversely affect the subordination thereof to the Obligations, except in each case under the terms of the subordination, intercreditor, or other similar agreement to which such Subordinated Debt is subject.
7.10 Compliance. Become an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or undertake as one of its important activities extending credit to purchase or carry margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), or use the proceeds of any Loan for that purpose; fail to meet the minimum funding requirements of ERISA, permit a reportable event or prohibited transaction, each as defined in ERISA, to occur; fail to comply with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act or violate any other law or regulation, if the failure or violation could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; withdraw from participation in, permit partial or complete termination of, or permit the occurrence of any other event with respect to, any present pension, profit sharing and deferred compensation plan which could reasonably be expected to result in any material liability of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, including any material liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or its successors or any other governmental agency.
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8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Any one of the following shall constitute an event of default (an Event of Default) under this Agreement:
8.1 Payment Default. Any Loan Party fails to pay any Obligations after such Obligations are due and payable.
8.2 Covenant Default.
(a) A Borrower fails or neglects to perform any obligation in Section 3.3(b), Section 6.1 (with respect to legal existence), Section 6.2, Section 6.4, Section 6.5, Section 6.6, Section 6.8, Section 6.9, Section 6.10, Section 6.11, or violates any covenant in Section 7; or
(b) A Loan Party fails or neglects to perform, keep, or observe any other term, provision, condition, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any Loan Documents, and as to any default (other than those specified in Section 8.2(a)) under such other term, provision, condition, covenant or agreement that can be cured, has failed to cure the default within twenty (20) days after the occurrence thereof, provided that no Loans shall be made during such cure period.
8.3 Material Adverse Effect. A Material Adverse Effect has occurred.
8.4 Attachment; Levy; Restraint on Business.
(a) (i) The service of process seeking to attach, by trustee or similar process, any funds of a Loan Party or of any of its Subsidiaries in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000), or (ii) a notice of Lien or levy is filed against the assets of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with a value in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) by any Governmental Authority, and the same under clauses (i) and (ii) hereof are not, within ten (10) days after the occurrence thereof, discharged or stayed (whether through the posting of a bond or otherwise); provided, however, no Loans shall be made during any ten (10) day cure period; or
(b) (i) Any material portion of the assets of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is attached, seized, levied on, or comes into possession of a trustee or receiver, or (ii) any court order enjoins, restrains, or prevents a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries from conducting all or any material part of its business.
8.5 Insolvency. (a) A Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, as a whole, is unable to pay its debts (including trade debts) as they become due or otherwise becomes insolvent; (b) the realizable value of the Loan Parties assets is less than the aggregate sum of its liabilities; (c) a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries begins an Insolvency Proceeding; or (d) an Insolvency Proceeding is begun against a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and is not dismissed or stayed within forty five (45) days (but no Loans shall be made while any of the conditions described in this Section 8.5 exist and/or until any Insolvency Proceeding is dismissed).
8.6 Other Agreements. There is, under any agreement to which a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with a third party or parties, any default resulting in a right by such third party or parties, whether or not exercised, to accelerate the maturity of any Indebtedness in an amount individually or in the aggregate in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) (except if such third party is restricted from accelerating the maturity of such Indebtedness, including pursuant to the terms of a subordination or similar agreement in favor of Agent); or (b) any breach or default by a Loan Party or a Subsidiary of such Loan Party, the result of which could have a Material Adverse Effect.
8.7 Judgments; Penalties. One or more fines, penalties or final judgments, orders or decrees for the payment of money in an amount, individually or in the aggregate, of at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) shall be rendered against a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority, and the same are not, within ten (10) days after the entry, assessment or issuance thereof, vacated, or after execution thereof, stayed or bonded pending appeal, (provided that no Loans will be made prior to the vacation, stay, or bonding of such fine, penalty, judgment, order or decree).
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8.8 Misrepresentations. Any Loan Party or any Person acting for such Loan Party makes any representation, warranty, or other statement now or later in this Agreement, any Loan Document or in any writing delivered to Agent or any Lender or to induce any Lender to enter this Agreement or any Loan Document, and such representation, warranty, or other statement, when taken as a whole, is incorrect in any material respect when made.
8.9 Subordinated Debt. Any Subordination Agreement governing any Subordinated Debt shall for any reason be revoked or invalidated or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect, in each case other than pursuant to its terms, any party thereto other than Agent or the Lenders shall be in breach thereof or contest in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or deny that it has any further obligation thereunder, or the Obligations shall for any reason not have the priority contemplated by this Agreement.
8.10 Governmental Approval. Any Governmental Approval shall have been revoked, rescinded, suspended, modified in an adverse manner or not renewed for a full term, and such revocation, rescission, suspension, modification or non-renewal has, or could have, a Material Adverse Effect.
8.11 Guaranty. Any guaranty of any Obligations terminates or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, other than the termination of such guaranty pursuant to its terms.
8.12 Put Exercise. Any Put Notice (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) is delivered and is not withdrawn at least 7 days prior to the Repurchase Date, provided that no Loans shall be made after a Put Notice is delivered.
9. AGENTS RIGHTS AND REMEDIES
9.1 Rights and Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Agent shall, upon election by Lenders, shall, without notice or demand, do any or all of the following:
(a) declare all Obligations immediately due and payable (but if an Event of Default described in Section 8.5 occurs all Obligations are immediately due and payable without any action by Agent or any Lender);
(b) stop advancing money or extending credit for any Borrowers benefit under this Agreement (and each Lenders Commitment shall be deemed terminated as long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing);
(c) verify the amount of, demand payment of and performance under, and collect any Accounts and General Intangibles, settle or adjust disputes and claims directly with Account Debtors for amounts on terms and in any order that Agent considers advisable, and notify any Person owing a Borrower money of Agents security interest in such funds;
(d) make any payments and do any acts it considers necessary or reasonable to protect the Collateral and/or its security interest in the Collateral;
(e) ratably apply to the Obligations any amount held by Agent or any Lender owing to or for the credit or the account of a Borrower;
(f) ship, reclaim, recover, store, finish, maintain, repair, prepare for sale, advertise for sale, and sell the Collateral;
(g) deliver a notice of exclusive control, any entitlement order, or other directions or instructions pursuant to any Account Control Agreement or similar agreements providing control of any Collateral;
(h) demand and receive possession of any Borrowers Books; and
(i) exercise all rights and remedies available to Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the Code (including disposal of the Collateral pursuant to the terms thereof).
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Borrowers shall assemble the Collateral if Agent requests and make it available as Agent designates. Agent may enter premises where the Collateral is located, take and maintain possession of any part of the Collateral, and pay, purchase, contest, or compromise any Lien which appears to be prior or superior to its security interest and pay all expenses incurred. Each Borrower grants Agent a license to enter and occupy any of its premises, without charge, to exercise any of Agents rights or remedies. Agent is hereby granted a non-exclusive, royalty-free license or other right to use, without charge, a Borrowers labels, Patents, Copyrights, mask works, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names, Trademarks, and advertising matter, or any similar property as it pertains to the Collateral, in completing production of, advertising for sale, and selling any Collateral and, in connection with Agents exercise of its rights under this Section, a Borrowers rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements inure to Agents benefit.
9.2 Power of Attorney. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints Agent (and any of Agents partners, managers, officers, agents or employees) as its lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, exercisable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to: (a) send requests for verification of Accounts or notify Account Debtors of Agents security interest and Liens in the Collateral; (b) endorse such Borrowers name on any checks or other forms of payment or security; (c) sign such Borrowers name on any invoice or bill of lading for any Account or drafts against Account Debtors schedules and assignments of Accounts, verifications of Accounts, and notices to Account Debtors; (d) settle and adjust disputes and claims about the Accounts directly with Account Debtors, for amounts and on terms Agent determines reasonable; (e) make, settle, and adjust all claims under such Borrowers insurance policies; (f) pay, contest or settle any Lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, and adverse claim in or to the Collateral, or any judgment based thereon, or otherwise take any action to terminate or discharge the same; (g) transfer the Collateral into the name of Agent or a third party as the Code permits; and (h) dispose of the Collateral. Each Borrower further hereby appoints Agent (and any of Agents partners, managers, officers, agents or employees) as its lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, regardless of whether or not an Event of Default has occurred or is continuing to: (i) sign such Borrowers name on any documents and other Security Instruments necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of, or maintain the priority of, Agents security interest in the Collateral and (ii) take any and all such actions as Agent may reasonably determine to be necessary or advisable for the purpose of maintaining, preserving or protecting the Collateral or any of the rights, remedies, powers or privileges of Agent under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. Agents foregoing appointment as each Borrowers attorney in fact, and all of Agents rights and powers, coupled with an interest, are irrevocable until all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted or is known to exist) have been fully repaid, in cash, and otherwise fully performed and all commitments to make Loans hereunder have been terminated.
9.3 Protective Payments. If a Borrower fails to obtain the insurance called for by Section 6.5 or fails to pay any premium thereon or fails to pay any other amount which such Borrower is obligated to pay under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or which may be required to preserve the Collateral, Agent may obtain such insurance or make such payment, and all amounts so paid by Agent are Lender Expenses and immediately due and payable, bearing interest at the then highest rate applicable to the Obligations, and secured by the Collateral. Agent will make reasonable efforts to provide Borrower Representative with notice of Agent obtaining such insurance at the time it is obtained or within a reasonable time thereafter. No payments by Agent are deemed an agreement to make similar payments in the future or Agents waiver of any Event of Default.
9.4 Application of Payments and Proceeds Upon Default. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Agent shall have the right to apply in any order any funds in its possession, whether payments, proceeds realized as the result of any collection of Accounts or other disposition of the Collateral, or otherwise, to the Obligations, for the ratable benefit of Lenders. Agent shall pay any surplus to Borrowers by credit to the Deposit Account designated by Borrowers or to such other Persons legally entitled thereto. Borrowers shall remain liable to Agent and Lenders for any deficiency. If Agent, directly or indirectly, enters into a deferred payment or other credit transaction with any purchaser at any sale of Collateral, Agent shall have the option, exercisable at any time, of either reducing the Obligations by the principal amount of the purchase price or deferring the reduction of the Obligations until the actual receipt by Agent of cash or immediately available funds therefor.
9.5 Agents Liability for Collateral. So long as Agent complies with reasonable secured lender practices regarding the safekeeping of the Collateral in the possession or under the control of Agent, Agent shall not be liable or responsible for: (a) the safekeeping of the Collateral; (b) any loss or damage to the Collateral; (c) any diminution in the value of the Collateral; or (d) any act or default of any carrier, warehouseman, bailee, or other Person. Borrowers bear all risk of loss, damage or destruction of the Collateral.
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9.6 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. Any failure by Agent or any Lender, at any time or times, to require strict performance by each Borrower of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall not waive, affect, or diminish any right of Agent or Lenders thereafter to demand strict performance and compliance herewith or therewith. No waiver hereunder shall be effective unless signed by the party granting the waiver and then is only effective for the specific instance and purpose for which it is given. Agent and Lenders rights and remedies under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are cumulative. Agent has all rights and remedies provided under the Code, by law, or in equity. Agent or any Lenders exercise of one right or remedy is not an election and shall not preclude Agent or any Lender from exercising any other remedy under this Agreement or other remedy available at law or in equity, and any waiver of any Event of Default is not a continuing waiver. Any delay in exercising any remedy is not a waiver, election, or acquiescence.
9.7 Demand Waiver. Each Borrower waives presentment, demand, notice of default or dishonor, notice of payment and nonpayment, release, compromise, settlement, extension, or renewal of accounts, documents, instruments or chattel paper.
9.8 Shares. Each Borrower recognizes that Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Shares, by reason of certain prohibitions contained in federal securities laws and applicable state securities laws or otherwise, and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such Shares for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Shares for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer thereof to register such securities for public sale under federal securities laws or under applicable state securities laws, even if such issuer would agree to do so.
10. NOTICES
All notices, consents, requests, approvals, demands, or other communication by any party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given, or delivered: (a) upon the earlier of actual receipt and three (3) Business Days after deposit in the U.S. mail, first class, registered or certified mail return receipt requested, with proper postage prepaid; (b) upon confirmation of receipt, when sent by electronic mail transmission; (c) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier with all charges prepaid; or (d) when delivered, if hand-delivered by messenger, all of which shall be addressed to the party to be notified and sent to the address, or email address indicated below. Agent and Borrowers may change their respective mailing or electronic mail addresses by giving the other party written notice thereof in accordance with the terms of this Section 10.
If to Borrower: | Brilliant Earth, LLC 26 OFarrell Street, 10th Floor San Francisco, CA 94108 Attention: Co-CEOs and VP of Finance & Technology Email: corpfinhq@brilliantearth.com | |
With a copy, not constituting notice, to: | Latham & Watkins LLP 505 Montgomery Street, Suite 2000 San Francisco, CA 94111-6538 Attention: Haim Zaltzman Email: haim.zaltzman@lw.com | |
If to Agent: | Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. 205 N Michigan Ave., Suite 4200 Chicago, IL 60601 Attention: Legal Reporting Email: legalreporting@runwaygrowth.com runwayagency@cortlandglobal.com |
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With a copy, not constituting notice, to: | Cooley LLP 3175 Hanover Street Palo Alto, CA 94304 Attention: Cynthia Bai Email: cbai@cooley.com |
11. CHOICE OF LAW, VENUE, JURY TRIAL WAIVER, AND JUDICIAL REFERENCE
Except as otherwise expressly provided in any of the Loan Documents, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law. Each party hereto hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State and Federal courts in New York County, City of New York, New York; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to operate to preclude Agent from bringing suit or taking other legal action in any other jurisdiction to realize on the Collateral or any other security for the Obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court order in favor of Agent or any Lender. Each party hereto expressly submits and consents in advance to such jurisdiction in any action or suit commenced in any such court, and each party hereto hereby waives any objection that it may have based upon lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, or forum non conveniens and hereby consents to the granting of such legal or equitable relief as is deemed appropriate by such court. Each party hereto hereby waives personal service of the summons, complaints, and other process issued in such action or suit and agrees that service of such summons, complaints, and other process may be made by registered or certified mail addressed to such party at the address set forth in, or subsequently provided by such party in accordance with, Section 10 and that service so made shall be deemed completed upon the earlier to occur of such partys actual receipt thereof or three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mails, proper postage prepaid. Each party hereto hereby expressly waives any claim to assert that the laws of any other jurisdiction govern this Agreement.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO EACH WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT, TORT, BREACH OF DUTY AND ALL OTHER CLAIMS. THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANYWHERE ELSE, EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT IT SHALL NOT SEEK FROM ANY OTHER PARTY UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (INCLUDING ANY THEORY IN TORTS), ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES. EACH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS COUNSEL.
WITHOUT INTENDING IN ANY WAY TO LIMIT THE PARTIES AGREEMENT TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY, if the above waiver of the right to a trial by jury is not enforceable, including to the extent Agent or any Lender seeks to enforce any judgment or takes any legal action in any other jurisdiction to realize upon the Collateral, the parties hereto agree that, with respect to any actions and proceedings with respect to which the above jury trial waiver is not enforceable, such disputes shall be decided by a reference to a private judge, mutually selected by the parties, including, if applicable, in accordance with the provisions of California Code of Civil Procedure §§638 through 645.1, inclusive. This Section 11 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
12. GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.1 Termination Prior to Term Loan Maturity Date; Survival. All covenants, representations and warranties made in this Agreement continue in full force until this Agreement has terminated pursuant to its terms and all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted or is known to exist and any other obligations which, by their terms, are to survive the termination of this Agreement) have been satisfied in full, in cash and all Commitments have terminated. So long as Borrowers have satisfied the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted or is known to exist and any other obligations which, by their terms, are to survive the termination of this Agreement), this Agreement and any remaining Commitments may be terminated prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date by Borrowers, by written notice of termination to Agent (whereupon Agent shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to Lenders). Those obligations that are expressly specified in this Agreement as surviving this Agreements termination shall continue to survive notwithstanding this Agreements termination.
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12.2 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. This Agreement binds and is for the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of each party. No Borrower may assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations under it without Agents prior written consent (which may be granted or withheld in Agents discretion).
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Each Lender has the right, without the consent of or notice to Borrowers, to sell, transfer, assign, negotiate, or grant participation in all or any part of, or any interest in, such Lenders obligations, rights, and benefits under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (other than any Warrant, as to which assignment, transfer and other such actions are governed by the terms thereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, none of Agent or any Lender shall assign its interest in the Loans and Loan Documents (as applicable) to any Person (i) who is a direct competitor of the Loan Parties, or (ii) who in the reasonable estimation of Agent is a vulture fund or distressed debt fund. In addition, no such assignment shall be made to (A) Borrowers or any of Borrowers Subsidiaries, (B) to any defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) and (C) a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person).
(c) Minimum Amounts.
(i) In the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(ii) In any case not described in Section 12.2(c)(i) the aggregate amount of the Commitment or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment Agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered to Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000.
(d) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned.
(e) Required Consents. Subject to Section 12.2(b), no consent shall be required for any assignment except:
(i) the consent of Borrowers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that Borrowers shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof; and
(ii) the consent of Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any Loans to a Person who is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.
(f) Assignment Agreement. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to Agent an Assignment Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to Agent an Administrative Questionnaire, all required tax forms and any and all documentation and other information with respect to the assignee that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable anti-money-laundering laws.
(g) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of Borrowers and Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the defaulting
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Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such defaulting Lender to Agent and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
(h) Register. Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment Agreement delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of Lenders, the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and Borrowers, Agent and Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by Borrowers and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior written notice. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participants interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the Participant Register); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participants interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, Agent (in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
12.3 Indemnification. Each Borrower agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Agent and each Lender and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, or any other Person affiliated with or representing Lender (each, an Indemnified Person) harmless against: (i) all reasonable and documented obligations, demands, claims, and liabilities (including such claims, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities based on liability in tort, including strict liability in tort) (collectively, Claims) claimed or asserted by any other party in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; and (ii) all reasonable and documented losses or expenses (including Lender Expenses) in any way suffered, incurred, or paid by such Indemnified Person as a result of, following from, consequential to, or arising from any Claim (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses), except for (a) Claims and/or losses to the extent directly caused by such Indemnified Persons gross negligence or willful misconduct, as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (b) result from a claim brought by any Loan Party against an Indemnified Person for a breach in bad faith of such Indemnified Persons funding obligations hereunder, if such Loan Party has obtained a judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (c) any dispute solely among Indemnified Persons (other than any claims against an Indemnified Person in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as an agent or arranger or any similar role hereunder or under any other Loan Document and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of the Loan Parties). This Section 12.3 shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim. This Section 12.3 shall survive until all statutes of limitation with respect to the Claims, losses, and expenses for which indemnity is given shall have run.
12.4 Borrower Liability. If any Person is joined to this Agreement as a Borrower, the following provisions shall apply: Each Borrower hereunder shall be jointly and severally obligated to repay all Loans made hereunder, regardless of which Borrower actually receives said Loan, as if each Borrower hereunder directly received all Loans. Each Borrower waives (a) any suretyship defenses available to it under the Code or any other applicable law, and (b) any right to require Agent to: (i) proceed against any Borrower or any other person; (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security; or (iii) pursue any other remedy. Agent may exercise or not exercise any right or remedy it has against any Borrower or any security it holds (including the right to foreclose by judicial or non-judicial sale) without affecting any Borrowers liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or other related document, each Borrower irrevocably waives all rights that it may have at law or in equity (including, without limitation, any law subrogating Borrower to the rights of Agent under this Agreement) to seek contribution, indemnification or any other form of reimbursement from any other Borrower, or any other Person now or hereafter primarily or secondarily liable for any of the Obligations, for any payment made by such Borrower with respect to the
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Obligations in connection with this Agreement or otherwise and all rights that it might have to benefit from, or to participate in, any security for the Obligations as a result of any payment made by Borrower with respect to the Obligations in connection with this Agreement or otherwise. Any agreement providing for indemnification, reimbursement or any other arrangement prohibited under this Section shall be null and void. If any payment is made to a Borrower in contravention of this Section, such Borrower shall hold such payment in trust for Lenders and such payment shall be promptly delivered to Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, for application to the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured.
12.5 Time of Essence. Time is of the essence for the performance of all Obligations in this Agreement.
12.6 Severability of Provisions. Each provision of this Agreement is severable from every other provision in determining the enforceability of any provision.
12.7 Correction of Loan Documents. Agent may correct patent errors and fill in any blanks in the Loan Documents consistent with the agreement of the parties, so long as Agent provides Borrower Representative with written notice of such correction and allows Borrower Representative at least ten (10) Business Days to object to such correction. In the event of such objection, such correction shall not be made except by an amendment signed by Agent and Borrowers.
12.8 Amendments in Writing; Waiver; Integration. No purported amendment or modification of any Loan Document, or waiver, discharge or termination of any obligation under any Loan Document, shall be enforceable or admissible unless, and only to the extent, expressly set forth in a writing signed by the party against which enforcement or admission is sought (with copies to Agent). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no oral promise or statement, nor any action, inaction, delay, failure to require performance or course of conduct shall operate as, or evidence, an amendment, supplement or waiver or have any other effect on any Loan Document. Any waiver granted shall be limited to the specific circumstance expressly described in it, and shall not apply to any subsequent or other circumstance, whether similar or dissimilar, or give rise to, or evidence, any obligation or commitment to grant any further waiver. Any material amendment shall be subject to an administrative fee of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) and payment of Lender Expenses incurred in connection therewith. The Loan Documents represent the entire agreement about this subject matter and supersede prior negotiations or agreements. All prior agreements, understandings, representations, warranties, and negotiations among the parties about the subject matter of the Loan Documents merge into the Loan Documents.
12.9 Counterparts; Electronic Execution of Documents. This Agreement and any other Loan Documents, except to the extent otherwise required pursuant to the terms thereof, may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, is an original, and all taken together, constitute one Agreement. The words execution, signed, signature and words of like import in any Loan Document shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping systems, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of any Loan Document by electronic means including by email delivery of a .pdf format data file shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of such Loan Document.
12.10 Confidentiality. In handling any confidential information, Agent and Lender agree to exercise the same degree of care that it exercises for its own proprietary information, but disclosure of information may be made: (a) to its Subsidiaries or Affiliates; (b) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 12.10, to prospective transferees or purchasers of any interest in the Loans; (c) as required by law, regulation, subpoena, or other order and in connection with reporting obligations applicable to Agent or Lender, including pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (d) to Agent or Lenders regulators or as otherwise required in connection with any examination or audit; (e) as Agent or Lender considers appropriate in connection with the exercise of remedies with respect to the Obligations; and (f) to third-party service providers of Agent or Lenders so long as such service providers are bound by confidentiality terms not more permissive than the terms hereof. Confidential information does not include information that is either: (i) in the public domain or in Agent or any Lenders possession when disclosed to Agent or Lender, as applicable, or becomes part of the public domain (other than as a result of its disclosure by Agent or Lender in violation of this Agreement) after disclosure to Agent or Lender, as applicable; or (ii) disclosed to Agent or Lender by a third party, if Agent or Lender, as applicable, does not know that the third party is prohibited from disclosing the information. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
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12.11 Borrower Representative. Each of the Borrowers hereby appoints Borrower Representative to act as its exclusive agent for all purposes under the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, with respect to all matters related to the borrowing and repayment of any Loan). Each of the Borrowers acknowledges and agrees that (a) Borrower Representative may execute such documents on behalf of any Borrower as Borrower Representative deems appropriate in its sole discretion and each Borrower shall be bound by and obligated by all of the terms of any such document executed by Borrower Representative on its behalf, (b) any notice or other communication delivered hereunder to Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have been delivered to each Borrower and (c) Agent and any Lender shall accept (and shall be permitted to rely on) any document or agreement executed by Borrower Representative on behalf of Borrowers (or any of them). Borrower shall act through the Borrower Representative for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent any provision in this Agreement requires any Borrower to interact in any manner with Agent or any Lender, such Borrower shall do so through Borrower Representative.
12.12 Tax Treatment. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Loans made on the Closing Date are part of an investment unit within the meaning of Section 1273(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, which includes the Warrant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each party hereto hereby further acknowledges and agrees that for United States federal, state and local income tax purposes the amount of the issue price of such investment unit allocated to the Loans made on the Closing Date under Section 1273(b) of the Internal Revenue Code shall equal, and the aggregate fair market value of the Warrant on the Closing Date shall equal, in each case an amount to be agreed to by the Borrowers and Lenders in their good faith using commercially reasonable efforts within 30 (thirty) days of the Closing Date (or such longer period as Agent may approve), based on a valuation performed by Lenders tax advisors on a reasonable basis. Each party hereto agrees to use the foregoing issue price and fair market value, as applicable, for all income financial accounting and regulatory purposes with respect to this transaction..
12.13 Captions. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
12.14 Construction of Agreement. The parties mutually acknowledge that they and their attorneys have participated in the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement. In cases of uncertainty this Agreement shall be construed without regard to which of the parties caused the uncertainty to exist.
12.15 Relationship. The relationship of the parties to this Agreement is determined solely by the provisions of this Agreement. The parties do not intend to create any agency, partnership, joint venture, trust, fiduciary or other relationship with duties or incidents different from those of parties to an arms-length contract.
12.16 Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, is intended to: (a) confer any benefits, rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any persons other than the express parties to it and their respective permitted successors and assigns; (b) relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of any person not an express party to this Agreement; or (c) give any person not an express party to this Agreement any right of subrogation or action against any party to this Agreement.
12.17 Appointment of Agent.
(a) Each Lender hereby appoints Agent to act on behalf of Lenders as administrative agent and collateral agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to hold and enforce any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations. The provisions of this Section 12.17 are solely for the benefit of Agent and Lenders and no Loan Party nor any other Person shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions hereof. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement, Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation toward or relationship of agency or trust with or for any Loan Party or any other Person. Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities except for those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such powers as are reasonably related thereto. The duties of Agent shall be mechanical and administrative in nature and Agent shall not have, or be deemed to have, by reason of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender.
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(b) If Agent shall request instructions from Lenders with respect to any act or action (including failure to act) in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such action unless and until it shall have received instructions from Lenders, and Agent shall incur no liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document for any reason. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against Agent as a result of Agents acting or refraining from acting hereunder or under any other Loan Document in accordance with the instructions of Lenders.
(c) Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by Agent. Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective and their respective related parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Section 12 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the related parties of such Agent and any such sub-agent. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that such Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.
(d) Neither Agent nor any of its Affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for damages solely caused by its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, Agent: (i) may consult with legal counsel, independent chartered accountants and other experts and consultants selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants, experts or consultants; (ii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; (iii) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents on the part of any Loan Party or to inspect the Collateral (including the books and records) of any Loan Party; (iv) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; and (v) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by email, telecopy, telegram, cable or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.
(e) With respect to its Commitments and Loans hereunder, Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not Agent; and the term Lender or Lenders shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include Agent in its individual capacity (to the extent it holds any Obligations owing to Lenders or Commitments hereunder). Agent and each of its Affiliates may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any Loan Party, any of their Affiliates and any Person who may do business with or own securities of any Loan Party or any such Affiliate, all as if Agent was not Agent and without any duty to account therefor to Lenders. Agent and its Affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from any Loan Party for services in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to Lenders.
(f) Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon Agent or any other Lender, made its own credit and financial analysis of the Loan Parties and its own decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement. Each Lender acknowledges the potential conflict of interest of each other Lender as a result of Lenders holding disproportionate interests in the Loans, and expressly consents to, and waives any claim based upon, such conflict of interest.
(g) Each Lender agrees to indemnify Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by Loan Parties and without limiting the obligations of Loan Parties hereunder), ratably according to its respective Pro Rata Share, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted by Agent in connection therewith; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities,
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obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting solely from Agents gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable and documented counsel fees) incurred by Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement and each other Loan Document, to the extent that Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Loan Parties.
(h) Agent may resign at any time by giving not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice thereof to Lenders and Borrowers. Upon any such resignation, Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after Agents giving notice of resignation, then Agent may, on behalf of Lenders, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a Lender, if a Lender is willing to accept such appointment, or otherwise shall be a commercial bank or financial institution or a subsidiary of a commercial bank or financial institution if such commercial bank or financial institution has combined capital of at least $300,000,000. If no successor Agent has been appointed pursuant to the foregoing, by the 30th day after the date such notice of resignation was given by the resigning Agent, such resignation shall become effective and Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning Agent. Upon the earlier of the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent or the effective date of the resigning Agents resignation, the resigning Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, except that any indemnity, expense reimbursement or other rights in favor of such resigning Agent shall continue. After any resigning Agents resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 12.17 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(i) In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, with the prior written consent of Agent, each Lender and each holder of any Obligation is hereby authorized at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Loan Party or to any other Person, any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any and all balances held by it at any of its offices for the account of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party (regardless of whether such balances are then due to such Loan Party or such Subsidiary) and any other properties or assets any time held or owing by that Lender or that holder to or for the credit or for the account of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party against and on account of any of the Obligations which are not paid when due. Any Lender or holder of any Obligation exercising a right to set off or otherwise receiving any payment on account of the Obligations in excess of its Pro Rata Share thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement relating to the priority of the repayment of the Obligations shall purchase for cash (and the other Lenders or holders shall sell) such participations in each such other Lenders or holders Pro Rata Share of the Obligations as would be necessary to cause such Lender to share the amount so set off or otherwise received with each other Lender or holder in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement relating to the priority of the repayment of the Obligations. Each Loan Party agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that (i) any Lender or holder may exercise its right to set off with respect to amounts in excess of its Pro Rata Share of the Obligations and may sell participations in such amount so set off to other Lenders and holders and (ii) any Lender or holders so purchasing a participation in the Loans made or other Obligations held by other Lenders or holders may exercise all rights of set-off, bankers Lien, counterclaim or similar rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender or holder were a direct holder of the Loans and the other Obligations in the amount of such participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if all or any portion of the set-off amount or payment otherwise received is thereafter recovered from Lender that has exercised the right of set-off, the purchase of participations by that Lender shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored without interest.
(j) Nothing in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to require Agent to advance funds on behalf of any Lender or to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Borrowers may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder. To the extent that Agent advances funds to the Borrowers on behalf of any Lender and is not reimbursed therefor on the same Business Day as such advance is made, Agent shall be entitled to retain for its account all interest accrued on such advance until reimbursed by the applicable Lender.
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(k) If Agent pays an amount to a Lender under this Agreement in the belief or expectation that a related payment has been or will be received by Agent from Borrowers and such related payment is not received thereby, then Agent will be entitled to recover such amount from such Lender on demand without set-off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind.
(l) If Agent determines at any time that any amount received thereby under this Agreement shall be returned to Borrowers or paid to any other Person pursuant to any insolvency law or otherwise, then, notwithstanding any other term or condition of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Agent will not be required to distribute any portion thereof to any Lender. In addition, each Lender will repay to Agent on demand any portion of such amount that Agent has distributed to such Lender, together with interest at such rate, if any, as Agent is required to pay to Borrowers or such other Person, without set-off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind.
(m) Agent shall be deemed to have no knowledge of any Event of Default unless such Agent shall have received written notice thereof from a Lender or a Loan Party stating that it is a notice of Default and an Event of Default has occurred. Agent will use reasonable efforts to provide Lenders with any written notice of Event of Default received by Agent from, or delivered by Agent to, any Loan Party; provided, however, that Agent shall not be liable to any Lender for any failure to do so, except to the extent that such failure is attributable solely to Agents gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(n) Anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, each Lender hereby agrees with each other Lender and with Agent that no Lender shall take any action to protect or enforce its rights arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including exercising any rights of set-off) without first obtaining the prior written consent of Agent, it being the intent of Lenders that any such action to protect or enforce rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be taken in concert and at the direction or with the consent of Agent or Lenders.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the Closing Date.
BORROWER | ||
BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC |
By | /s/ Eric Grossberg |
Name: | Eric Grossberg |
Title: | co-Chief Executive Officer and Manager |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]
AGENT: | ||
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. | ||
By |
/s/ David Spreng |
Name: |
David Spreng |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
LENDER: | ||
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. | ||
By |
/s/ David Spreng |
Name: |
David Spreng |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT A
DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
Account means any account as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes, without limitation, all accounts receivable and other sums owing to a Borrower.
Account Control Agreement means any control agreement entered into among the depository institution at which a Loan Party maintains a Deposit Account or the securities intermediary or commodity intermediary at which a Loan Party maintains a Securities Account or a Commodity Account, one or more Loan Parties, and Agent pursuant to which Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, obtains control (within the meaning of the Code) over such Deposit Account, Securities Account, or Commodity Account.
Account Debtor means any account debtor as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.
Acquisition means any merger or consolidation with any other Person, or acquisition of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or property of another Person or business line of another Person (including, without limitation, by the formation of any Subsidiary) or purchase of any store or store location, or entry into any agreement to do any of the same, consisting of a single transaction or a series of related transactions, by any Borrower.
Acquisition Consideration means the consideration for any Permitted Acquisition and all other payments, directly or indirectly, by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party in exchange for, or as part of, or in connection with, any Permitted Acquisition, including consideration paid in cash or by exchange of properties or otherwise, whether payable at or prior to the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or deferred for payment at any future time, or subject to the occurrence of any contingency, including any assumptions of Indebtedness, earn-outs and other agreements to make any payment, the amount of which is, or the terms of payment of which are, in any respect subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flow or profits (or the like), or events or actions of the target or combined Person or business, but excluding any fees, costs, or expenses of the Loan Parties associated with the Permitted Acquisition.
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, each other Person that owns or controls, directly or indirectly the Person, any Person that controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the Person, and each of that Persons senior executive officers, directors, partners and, for any Person that is a limited liability company, that Persons managers and members.
Agent has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
Amortization Date means October 15, 2021.
Anti-Terrorism Order means Executive Order No. 13,224 as of September 24, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism, 66 U.S. Fed. Reg. 49,079 (2001), as amended.
Applicable Rate means a variable annual rate equal to LIBOR, plus 8.25%, provided that if, at any time, Lenders notify Agent that Lenders have determined that (x) Lenders are unable to determine or ascertain LIBOR, or (y) by reason of circumstances affecting the foreign exchange and interbank markets generally, deposits in eurodollars in the applicable amounts or for the relative maturities are not being offered for the LIBOR period, or (z) the Applicable Rate will not accurately or fairly cover or reflect the cost to Lenders of maintaining any of the Obligations under this Agreement based upon the Applicable Rate as determined by reference to LIBOR, due to, for example, without limitation, a change in official reserve requirement or other circumstances affecting the interbank Eurodollar
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market or the position of such Lender in such market, then Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to Borrowers, and, until Agent has received written notification from Lenders that such conditions or circumstances no longer exist, whereupon Agent shall promptly so notify Borrowers, the Applicable Rate shall be the Prime Rate plus 5.40% during such period of time.
Approved Fund means any fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Assignment Agreement means an Assignment Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H, with such amendments or modifications as may be approved by Agent.
Automatic Payment Authorization means the Automatic Payment Authorization in substantially the form of Exhibit F.
Board means, with respect to any Person, the board of directors, board of managers, managers or other similar bodies or authorities performing similar governing functions for such Person.
Borrower and Borrowers has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
Borrower Representative has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
Borrowers Books are all of each Borrowers books and records including ledgers, federal and state tax returns, records regarding such Borrowers assets or liabilities, the Collateral, business operations or financial condition, and all computer programs or storage or any equipment containing such information.
Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in the State of New York or California are required or permitted to be closed; provided that when used in connection with LIBOR, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
Cash Equivalents means (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or any agency or any State thereof having maturities of not more than one (1) year from the date of acquisition; (b) commercial paper maturing no more than one (1) year after its creation and having the highest rating from either Standard & Poors Ratings Group or Moodys Investors Service, Inc.; (c) certificates of deposit issued by any bank with assets of at least $500,000,000 maturing no more than one year from the date of investment therein; and (d) money market funds at least ninety-five percent (95%) of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (a) through (c) of this definition.
Change in Control means any of the following (or any combination of the following) whether arising from any single transaction, event or series of related transactions or events that, individually or in the aggregate, result in: (a) the holders of Borrower Representatives Equity Interests who were holders of Equity Interests as of the Closing Date, ceasing to own at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the Voting Stock of Borrower Representative; (b) any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of a sufficient number of Equity Interests of Borrower Representative ordinarily entitled to vote in the election of directors or managers of Borrower Representative, empowering such person or group to elect a majority of the members of the Board of Borrower Representative, who did not have such power before such transaction; or (c) the Transfer of all or substantially all assets of Borrowers or of a material business line of Borrowers; or (d) Borrower Representative ceasing to own and control, free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens), directly or indirectly, all of the Equity Interests in each of its Subsidiaries or failing to have the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of each such Subsidiary.
Claims has the meaning set forth in Section 12.3.
Closing Date has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
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Code means the Uniform Commercial Code, as the same may, from time to time, be enacted and in effect in the State of New York; provided, that, to the extent that the Code is used to define any term herein or in any Loan Document and such term is defined differently in different Articles or Divisions of the Code, the definition of such term contained in Article or Division 9 shall govern; provided further, that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection, or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Agents Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term Code shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions thereof relating to such attachment, perfection, priority, or remedies and for purposes of definitions relating to such provisions.
Collateral means any and all properties, rights and assets of each Borrower described on Exhibit B, and any collateral securing the Obligations pursuant to any guaranty or pursuant to any other Loan Document.
Collateral Access Agreement means an agreement with respect to a Loan Partys leased location or bailee location, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent.
Collateral Account means any Deposit Account, Securities Account, or Commodity Account of a Loan Party.
Commitment means, as to any Lender, the aggregate principal amount of Loans committed to be made by such Lender, as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.
Commodity Account means any commodity account as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.
Compliance Certificate means that certain certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
Contingent Obligation means, for any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or not, of that Person for (a) any indebtedness, lease, dividend, letter of credit or other obligation of another such as an obligation, in each case, directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed, co-made, discounted or sold with recourse by that Person, or for which that Person is directly or indirectly liable; (b) any obligations for undrawn letters of credit for the account of that Person; and (c) all obligations from any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, interest rate cap or collar agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designated to protect a Person against fluctuation in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices; but Contingent Obligation does not include endorsements in the Ordinary Course of Business. The amount of a Contingent Obligation is the stated or determined amount of the primary obligation for which the Contingent Obligation is made or, if not determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability for it determined by the Person in good faith; but the amount may not exceed the maximum of the obligations under any guarantee or other support arrangement.
Copyrights means any and all copyright rights, copyright applications, copyright registrations and like protections of a Person in each work of authorship and derivative work thereof, whether published or unpublished and whether or not the same also constitutes a trade secret.
Default means any circumstance, event or condition that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
Default Rate has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).
Deposit Account means any deposit account as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes any checking account, savings account or certificate of deposit.
Dollars, dollars or use of the sign $ means only lawful money of the United States and not any other currency, regardless of whether that currency uses the $ sign to denote its currency or may be readily converted into lawful money of the United States.
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Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.
EBITDA means, with respect to any period, (a) Net Income for such period, plus (b)(i) Interest Expense for such period, (ii) to the extent deducted in the calculation of Net Income, depreciation expense and amortization expense for such period, (iii) income tax expense for such period, and (iv) any non-cash expenses incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement; minus (c)(i) interest income for such period, (ii) income tax credits for such period, and (iii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring gains increasing Net Income for such period.
Equipment means all equipment as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes without limitation all machinery, fixtures, goods, vehicles (including motor vehicles and trailers), and any interest in any of the foregoing.
Equity Interests means, with respect to any Person, any of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership, membership or profit interests in) such Person, any of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership, membership or profit interests in) such Person, any of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership, membership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and any of the other ownership, membership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and its regulations.
Event of Default has the meaning set forth in Section 8.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Excluded Locations means the following locations where Collateral may be located from time to time: (a) locations where mobile office equipment (e.g. laptops, mobile phones and the like) may be located with employees in the Ordinary Course of Business, (b) locations of contract manufacturers where, in the Ordinary Course of Business, Collateral is held for manufacturing purposes for no more than five (5) Business Days), and (c) other locations where, in the aggregate for all such locations, the aggregate value of the Collateral located at such locations does not exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000).
Existing Notes means those certain Promissory Notes, issued by Borrower Representative, pursuant to that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2018, by and among Borrower Representative and the noteholders party thereto, as the same may have been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified to date.
Federal Reserve Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or any successor thereto.
Final Payment means a payment (in addition to and not a substitution for the regular monthly payments of principal plus accrued interest) equal to the original principal amount of the Term Loans funded hereunder, multiplied by 4.50% (the Final Payment Amount), provided that, in case of any partial prepayment of the Loans, (i) the Final Payment due upon such partial prepayment shall be an amount equal to the Final Payment Amount multiplied by a ratio of (A) the sum of (x) the principal amount repaid from the Closing Date, or, if applicable, the date of any prior partial prepayment, through the date of such prepayment and (y) the principal amount to be prepaid, to (B) the total principal amount of the Loans funded through such date pursuant this Agreement (the Partial Final Payment), and (ii) the Final Payment Due upon the repayment or prepayment of the Loans shall be an amount equal to the Final Payment Amount less the sum of the Partial Final Payments made, through such date.
First Tranche Availability Period means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on March 31, 2020
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First Tranche Term Loan Commitment means, as to any Lender, the aggregate principal amount of First Tranche Term Loans committed to be made by such Lender, as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.
Foreign Subsidiary means (a) a Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (b) any Subsidiary substantially all of the assets of which are (i) Equity Interests (including any debt instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or (ii) Equity Interests (including any debt instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and debt instruments, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), of one or more entities described in clauses (a) or (b).
Fully Diluted Basis means, as of the date of determination, all of Borrower Representatives outstanding Equity Interests, including (i) all membership units, including all convertible units, on an as-converted basis, (or if Borrower Representative is converted to a corporation, all common stock, and all preferred stock on an as-converted to common stock basis), and (ii) all Equity Interests reserved for grant or issuance under any equity incentive purchase plan or option plan of Borrower Representative, or issuable upon exercise or conversion of any warrants or options to purchase Equity Interests of Borrower Representative and the conversion of all rights to purchase Equity Interests of Borrower Representative and any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of Borrower Representative.
Funding Date means any date on which a Loan is made to or for the account of a Borrower which shall be a Business Day.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other Person as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, provided, however, that if there occurs after the Closing Date any change in GAAP that affects in any respect the calculation of any covenant or threshold in this Agreement, Agent and Borrowers shall negotiate in good faith amendments to the provisions of this Agreement that relate to the calculation of such covenant or threshold with the intent of having the respective positions of Lender and Borrowers after such change in GAAP conform as nearly as possible to their respective positions as of the Closing Date, and, until any such amendments have been agreed upon, such covenants and thresholds shall be calculated as if no such change in GAAP has occurred.
General Intangibles means all general intangibles as defined in the Code in effect on the Closing Date with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes without limitation, all Intellectual Property, claims, income and other tax refunds, security and other deposits, payment intangibles, contract rights, options to purchase or sell real or personal property, rights in all litigation presently or hereafter pending (whether in contract, tort or otherwise), insurance policies (including without limitation key man, property damage, and business interruption insurance), payments of insurance and rights to payment of any kind.
Governmental Approval means any consent, authorization, approval, order, license, franchise, permit, certificate, accreditation, registration, filing or notice, of, issued by, from or to, or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority.
Governmental Authority means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization.
Guarantor means any Person providing a Guaranty with respect to the Obligations or providing collateral, security or other credit support for all or any portion of the Obligations.
Guaranty means any guarantee of all or any part of the Obligations, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented.
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Hedging Obligations means all liabilities under take-or-pay or similar arrangements or under any interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and other interest hedge or protection agreements, treasury locks, equity forward contracts, currency agreements or commodity purchase or option agreements or other interest or exchange rate or commodity price hedging agreements and any other derivative instruments, in each case, whether the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries are liable contingently or otherwise, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, or in respect of which liabilities the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries otherwise assures a creditor against loss.
Indebtedness means (a) indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred price of property or services, (b) any reimbursement and other obligations for surety bonds and letters of credit, (c) obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (d) capital lease obligations, and (e) Contingent Obligations.
Indemnified Person has the meaning set forth in Section 12.3.
Insolvency Proceeding means any proceeding by or against any Person under the United States Bankruptcy Code, or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, including assignments for the benefit of creditors, compositions, extensions generally with its creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other relief.
Intellectual Property means, with respect to any Loan Party (or, as applicable, any of its Subsidiaries), all of such Loan Partys or Subsidiarys right, title, and interest in and to the following:
(a) its Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents;
(b) any and all trade secrets and trade secret rights, including, without limitation, any rights to unpatented inventions, know-how, operating manuals;
(c) any and all source code;
(d) any and all design rights which may be available to such Person;
(e) any and all claims for damages by way of past, present and future infringement of any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect such damages for said use or infringement of the Intellectual Property rights identified above; and
(f) all amendments, renewals and extensions of any of the Copyrights, Trademarks or Patents.
Interest Expense means for any fiscal period, interest expense (whether cash or non-cash) of Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP for the relevant period ending on such date, including, in any event, interest expense with respect to any Loan and other Indebtedness of such Borrower or Subsidiary, including, without limitation or duplication, all commissions, discounts, and other fees and charges with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing net of interest income of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries and the net costs associated with interest rate swap, cap, and similar arrangements, and the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation (including leases of all types).
Internal Revenue Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Inventory means all inventory as defined in the Code in effect on the Closing Date with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.
Investment means any beneficial ownership interest in any Person (including stock, partnership interest or other securities or Equity Interests), and any loan, advance or capital contribution to any Person, or the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or properties of another Person.
Investor Rights Agreement means that certain Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2012, by and among Borrower Representative and the Investors (as defined therein).
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IP Security Agreement means that certain intellectual property security agreement entered into by each Loan Party which is the owner of Intellectual Property registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office and Agent as of the Closing Date or from time thereafter, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, from time to time.
Key Person means the Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Financial Officer of Borrower Representative.
Lender has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
Lender Expenses means all reasonable and documented audit fees and expenses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) for preparing, amending, negotiating, administering, defending and enforcing the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, those incurred in connection with appeals or Insolvency Proceedings) or otherwise incurred with respect to a Loan Party.
LIBOR means (i) the greater of (a) 2.15% and (b) the rate per annum equal to the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited LIBOR Rate, as published by Bloomberg (or another commercially available source providing quotations of LIBOR as reasonably determined by Agent from time to time) for U.S. dollar deposits (for delivery on the fifteenth (15th) day of the applicable month) with a term of three (3) months or the rate otherwise reasonably determined by Agent to be the rate at which U.S. dollar deposits with a term of three (3) months would be offered by banks in London, England to major banks in the London or other offshore interbank market, in each case at approximately 11:45 a.m. (City of London time) on the fifteenth (15th) day of each month.
Lien means a claim, mortgage, deed of trust, levy, charge, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind, whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of law or otherwise against any property.
Loan Documents means, collectively, this Agreement and any schedules, exhibits, certificates, notices, and any other documents related to this Agreement, the Warrant, the IP Security Agreement, the Automatic Payment Authorization, the Account Control Agreements, the Collateral Access Agreements, any Subordination Agreement, any note, or notes or guaranties executed by a Loan Party, and any other present or future agreement by a Loan Party with or for the benefit of Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement, all as amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time.
Loan Party or Loan Parties means, each Borrower from time to time party hereto, and any Guarantor, if any.
Loan Request means a written request for a Loan pursuant to this Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
Loans means, collectively, the Term Loans, and any other loan from time to time made under this Agreement, and Loan means any of the foregoing.
Margin Stock has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(b).
Material Adverse Effect means (a) a material impairment in the perfection or priority of Agents Lien in the Collateral or in the value of the Collateral; or (b) a material adverse effect upon: (i) the business, operations, properties, assets or financial condition of the Loan Parties as a whole; (ii) the prospect of repayment of any part of the Obligations; or (iii) the ability of Agent to enforce any of its rights or remedies with respect to any Obligations.
Maximum Rate has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(d) hereof.
Net Income means the net profit (or loss), after provision for taxes, of Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for any period as at any date of determination, for such period taken as a single accounting period.
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Next Round means each private equity financing occurring after the Closing Date, in which Borrower Representative shall issue and sell Equity Interests for bona fide equity financing purposes (which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes Exempt Interests, as defined in Borrower Representatives limited liability company agreement (as amended)), whether in single or multiple closings, in each case, in a minimum amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000).
Next Round Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 6.14.
Obligations means all of Borrowers and each other Loan Partys obligations to pay the Loans when due, including principal interest, fees, Lender Expenses, the Prepayment Fee, the Final Payment and any other amounts due to be paid by a Borrower or Loan Party, and each Borrowers and Loan Partys obligation to perform its duties under the Loan Documents (other than the Warrant or any other equity instrument), and any other debts, liabilities and other amounts any Borrower or Loan Party owes to Agent or any Lender at any time, whether under the Loan Documents or otherwise (but excluding obligations arising under the Warrant or any other equity instrument), including, without limitation, interest accruing after Insolvency Proceedings begin (whether or not allowed), and any debts, liabilities, or obligations of any Borrower or Loan Party assigned to Agent or any Lender.
OFAC has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(c).
Operating Documents means, for any Person, such Persons formation documents, as certified by the Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) of such Persons jurisdiction of formation, organization or incorporation on a date that is no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date and, (a) if such Person is a corporation, its bylaws in current form, (b) if such Person is a limited liability company, its limited liability company agreement or operating agreement (or similar agreement), and (c) if such Person is a partnership, its partnership agreement (or similar agreement), each of the foregoing with all current amendments, restatements and modifications thereto.
Ordinary Course of Business means, in respect of any transaction involving any Person, the ordinary course of such Persons business as conducted by any such Person in accordance with (a) the usual and customary customs and practices in the kind of business in which such Person is engaged, and (b) the past practice and operations of such Person, and in each case, undertaken by such Person in good faith and not for purposes of evading any covenant or restriction in any Loan Document.
Participant Register has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2(h).
Patents means all patents, patent applications and like protections of a Person including without limitation improvements, divisions, continuations, renewals, reissues, extensions and continuations-in-part of the same and all rights therein provided by international treaties or conventions.
Payment Date means the fifteenth (15th) calendar day of each month.
Perfection Certificate has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
Performance Milestone means that Borrower Representative shall have provided evidence reasonably satisfactory to Agent that Borrowers have achieved net Revenue of at least $[***], and EBITDA of at least $[***], in each case, for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2020, provided that net Revenue shall be determined consistent with past practices and with Borrowers plan delivered to Agent as of the Closing Date.
Permitted Cash Collateral Account means each Collateral Account used exclusively to maintain cash collateral subject to a Permitted Lien and not in excess of the amount contemplated by the applicable clause of the defined term Permitted Lien and identified as such in writing to Agent in the Perfection Certificate or from time to time after the Closing Date by written notice to Agent.
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Permitted Acquisition means any Acquisition, (i) as to which Agent has granted prior written consent, or (ii) which satisfies and is conducted in accordance with the following requirements:
(a) such Acquisition is of a Person engaged in a line of business which is the same as, reasonably related to, or incidental to, the business engaged by Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date;
(b) such Acquisition shall be of a Person, organized and domiciled in, or assets (other than a de minimis amount of assets in relation to the assets being acquired), located in, the United States;
(c) (i) in case of an Acquisition in the form of a merger or purchase of Equity Interests, any Person that is the target of an Acquisition shall (i) become a wholly-owned (excluding management rollover or incentive equity interests or options to acquire Equity Interests of such Loan Party to the extent not constituting voting Equity Interests) Domestic Subsidiary of a Borrower and shall enter into a joinder or guaranty in accordance with Section 6.11, or (ii) merge into a Borrower, provided that in any Acquisition involving Borrower Representative, Borrower Representative shall be the surviving entity, and (ii) in case of an Acquisition in the form of a purchase of property substantially all such property shall be acquired by a Borrower;
(d) the aggregate Acquisition Consideration (including, without limitation, earn-outs, which shall be valued in accordance with GAAP as of the closing date of such acquisition) for all Acquisitions during any fiscal year does not exceed $2,500,000 (the Permitted Acquisition Amount), provided that to the extent Acquisition Consideration for any fiscal year is less than the Permitted Acquisition Amount for such year, Borrowers shall be permitted to carryforward 50% of such unused amount to the immediately following fiscal year (the Carryforward Amount), provided that such Carryforward Amount shall expire on the last day of such fiscal year;
(e) Borrower Representative shall have delivered to Agent not less than ten (10) days (or such shorter period of time agreed to by Agent), notice of such Acquisition, together with copies of all material documents relating to such Acquisition (including the acquisition agreement and any related material document, which may be in the form of drafts with updated copies provided as available), all material due diligence information prepared in connection with such Acquisition, the terms of any earn-out payments, and historical financial information (including income statements, balance sheets and cash flows) covering at least two (2) complete fiscal years of the Person or assets target of the Acquisition, to the extent available, and updated projections giving pro forma effect to the Acquisition, prior to the effective date of the Acquisition, together with calculations setting forth compliance for the then-next consecutive twelve month period with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.10, tested as of the last day of each month during such period;
(f) such Acquisition shall not materially and adversely affect the prospect of repayment of the Obligations when due or impair Agents rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral and otherwise pursuant to the Loan Documents; and
(g) both immediately before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, (i) each of the representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (except as already subject to materiality qualifier) on the date of such proposed Acquisition or, if such representation or warranty relates to an earlier date, as of such earlier date, and (ii) no Event of Default shall exist.
Permitted Indebtedness means:
(a) each Loan Partys Indebtedness under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and shown on the Perfection Certificate, provided that (i) to the extent the amount of such type of Indebtedness is limited pursuant to a clause of this defined term, amounts existing on the Closing Date or any permitted refinancing thereof shall count towards such limit, and (ii) the inclusion of the Put Rights in the Perfection Certificate shall not be construed to permit the consummation of any repurchase in upon exercise of any Put Right;
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(c) Subordinated Debt;
(d) unsecured Indebtedness to trade creditors incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(e) Indebtedness incurred as a result of endorsing negotiable instruments received in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(f) Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under clauses (c) and (g) of the definition of Permitted Liens hereunder;
(g) Indebtedness (i) among Loan Parties, (ii) of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, incurred in connection with Permitted Investments, (iii) of any Subsidiary to any Loan Party, (iv) of any Loan Party to any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) at any time;
(h) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(i) Indebtedness under corporate credit cards used in the Ordinary Course of Business in an aggregate amount outstanding not to exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) at any time;
(j) obligations in respect of bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases, surety and appeal bonds and other obligations of a like nature arising in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(k) Indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the Ordinary Course of Business against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is repaid within ten (10) Business Days;
(l) Indebtedness consisting of reimbursement obligations pursuant to letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments created or issued in the Ordinary Course of Business in connection with (i) workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), or (ii) lease agreements;
(m) extensions, refinancings, modifications, amendments and restatements of any items of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (b) and (c) above, provided that the principal amount thereof is not increased or the terms thereof are not modified to impose more burdensome terms upon a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be;
(n) earn-out obligations in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, provided the payment of such obligations is subject to the terms of a Subordination Agreement in form reasonably acceptable to Agent;
(o) obligations to return goods (or the proceeds thereof) arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(p) Hedging Obligations incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business in an aggregate amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) at any time outstanding; and
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(q) other unsecured Indebtedness not otherwise permitted hereunder, in an aggregate amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) at any time.
Permitted Investments means:
(a) Investments (including, without limitation, Subsidiaries) existing on the Closing Date and shown on the Perfection Certificate;
(b) (i) Investments consisting of cash and Cash Equivalents, and (ii) any Investments permitted by Borrower Representatives investment policy, as amended from time to time, provided that such investment policy (and any such amendment thereto) has been approved in writing by Agent;
(c) Investments (i) among Loan Parties, (ii) consisting of the creation of a Subsidiary that becomes a Loan Party hereunder, (iii) among Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties or by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in a Loan Party, and (iv) by a Loan Party in a Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party, provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) per fiscal year;
(d) Investments consisting of (i) travel advances and employee relocation loans and other employee loans and advances in the Ordinary Course of Business, and (ii) loans not involving the net transfer of cash proceeds to employees, officers or directors relating to the purchase of Equity Interests of Borrower Representative pursuant to employee equity incentive plans or other similar agreements approved by Borrower Representatives Board;
(e) Investments (including debt obligations) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of customers or suppliers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers or suppliers arising in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(f) Investments consisting of Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts maintained in compliance with Section 6.6;
(g) Investments consisting of repurchases of Borrower Representatives Equity Interests from former employees, officers and directors of Borrower Representative to the extent permitted by Section 7.7;
(h) Investments consisting of accounts receivable of, or prepaid royalties and other credit extensions, to customers and suppliers who are not Affiliates, in the Ordinary Course of Business; provided that this clause (h) shall not apply to Investments of a Loan Party in any Subsidiary;
(i) Investments consisting of the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(j) Investments accepted in connection with Permitted Transfers;
(k) Investments in connection with joint ventures or strategic alliances in the Ordinary Course of Business; provided that Borrowers shall not make any cash investments in such joint ventures or strategic alliances;
(l) guarantees by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of leases (other than capital leases) or of other obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(m) any Permitted Acquisition; and
(n) Investments not otherwise permitted in an aggregate amount of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in any fiscal year.
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Permitted Liens means:
(a) Liens arising under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b) Liens existing on the Closing Date and shown on the Perfection Certificate, provided that (i) to the extent the amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien is limited pursuant to a clause of this defined term, amounts existing on the Closing Date or any permitted refinancing thereof shall count towards such limit, (ii) to the extent the Indebtedness secured by such a Lien is required to be repaid on the Closing Date, in accordance with a payoff letter delivered as a condition to closing, such Lien shall not constitute Permitted Lien after the repayment of the associated Indebtedness, and (iii) to the extent any such Lien is required to be made subject to the terms of a Subordination Agreement as of the Closing Date or thereafter, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, such Lien shall be permitted only to the extent the applicable Subordination Agreement is in effect;
(c) purchase money Liens (i) on Equipment acquired or held by a Loan Party or Subsidiary thereof incurred for financing the acquisition of the Equipment, securing no more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in the aggregate amount outstanding or (ii) existing on Equipment when acquired, if the Lien is confined to the property and improvements and the proceeds of the Equipment;
(d) Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other government charges or levies, either (i) not yet delinquent or (ii) being contested in good faith and for which such Loan Party or Subsidiary maintains adequate reserves on its books;
(e) leases or subleases of real property granted in the Ordinary Course of Business of such Person, and leases, subleases, non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of personal property (other than Intellectual Property) granted in the Ordinary Course of Business of such Person;
(f) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, suppliers, or other Persons that are possessory in nature arising in the Ordinary Course of Business so long as such Liens (i) attach only to Inventory, securing liabilities in the aggregate amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) for any single location and Two Hundred ($200,000) in the aggregate amount outstanding, or (ii) from time to time secure additional liabilities in connection with the renovation or build-out of show rooms; in each case which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings which proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject thereto;
(g) Liens to secure payment of workers compensation, employment insurance, old-age pensions, social security and other like obligations incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business (other than Liens imposed by ERISA);
(h) deposits or pledges of cash to secure bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases, surety and appeal bonds and other obligations of a like nature arising in the Ordinary Course of Business, in an aggregate amount (excluding deposits for leases) not exceeding One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) at any time;
(i) Liens arising from attachments or judgments, orders, or decrees in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default;
(j) Liens in favor of other financial institutions arising in connection with a Deposit Account or Securities Account of a Loan Party or Subsidiary thereof held at such institutions, provided that Agent has a perfected security interest in such Deposit Account, or the securities maintained therein and Agent has received an Account Control Agreement with respect thereto to the extent required pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Agreement;
(k) licenses permitted hereunder;
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(l) Liens on insurance proceeds securing the payment of financed insurance premiums that are promptly paid on or before the date they become due (provided that such Liens extend only to such insurance proceeds and not to any other property or assets);
(m) Liens on equipment arising from precautionary UCC financing statements regarding operating leases of Equipment;
(n) (i) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure the payment of customs duties or taxes in connection with the importation of goods in the Ordinary Course of Business; and (ii) Liens on specific items of Inventory or other goods and proceeds thereof of any Person securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances or letters of credit permitted under this Agreement issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(o) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(p) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents used to defease or to satisfy and discharge Indebtedness; provided that such defeasance or satisfaction and discharge is permitted by this Agreement;
(q) (i) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (p) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness hereunder;
(r) Liens on cash collateral securing Indebtedness described in clause (i) of the defined term Permitted Indebtedness, in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000);
(s) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 or Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection;
(t) Liens on Equity Interests in joint ventures securing obligations of such joint venture;
(u) Liens on cash collateral securing Indebtedness described in clause (l) of the defined term Permitted Indebtedness, provided that the aggregate amount of such cash collateral together with all deposits securing leases permitted in accordance with clause (h) above shall not exceed Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) at any time, as such amount shall be adjusted annually upon review of the Projections and upon consultation among Borrower Representative and Agent;
(v) Liens incurred in the extension, renewal or refinancing of the Indebtedness secured by Liens described in clause (b), but any extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the Indebtedness may not increase.
Permitted Locations means, collectively, the following locations where Collateral may be located from time to time: (a) locations identified in the Perfection Certificate, (b) locations with respect to which Borrowers have complied with the requirements of Section 6.12, and (c) the Excluded Locations.
Permitted Tax Distributions means distributions to holders of Equity Interests of Borrower Representative to pay their state and United States federal income tax cash liabilities in respect of income earned by Borrower Representative in an aggregate amount not greater than the product of (A) the amount of aggregate net taxable income of Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis for the relevant taxable year, multiplied by (B) the highest combined marginal federal and state income tax rate applicable to such holders for the relevant taxable year (determined by taking into account, to the extent permitted by law, the deductibility of state and local income taxes for federal income tax purposes.
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Permitted Transfers means:
(a) Transfers of Inventory by a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business including, for the avoidance of doubt, Transfers of worn-out, obsolete or surplus Inventory;
(b) Transfers of (i) non-exclusive licenses and similar arrangements for the use of Intellectual Property of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business and (ii) licenses that could not result in a legal transfer of title of the licensed property but that may be exclusive as to field of use, exclusive in respects other than territory and that may be exclusive as to territory only as to discrete geographical areas outside of the United States;
(c) Transfers of worn-out, obsolete or surplus Equipment in the Ordinary Course of Business that is, in the reasonable judgment of such Loan Party or Subsidiary, no longer economically practicable to maintain or useful;
(d) Transfers consisting of the granting of Permitted Liens and the making of Permitted Investments;
(e) Transfers consisting of the use or transfer of cash or Cash Equivalents in the Ordinary Course of Business a manner that is not prohibited by the Loan Documents;
(f) Transfers consisting of the sale or issuance of any stock of Borrower Representative permitted under Section 7.2; and
(g) other Transfers of assets having a fair market value of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) per fiscal year of Borrower Representative.
Person means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, firm, joint stock company, estate, entity or government agency.
Prepayment Fee means, with respect to any prepayment of the Loans:
(a) if the prepayment occurs during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on (and including) the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to the principal amount of the Loans prepaid multiplied by 3.00%;
(b) if the prepayment occurs during the period commencing on the day immediately following the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date, and ending on (and including) the two-year anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to the principal amount of the Loans prepaid multiplied by 2.00%;
(c) if the prepayment occurs during the period commencing on the date immediately following the two-year anniversary of the Closing Date, and ending on (and including) the three-year anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to the principal amount of the Loans prepaid multiplied by 1.00%; and
(d) if the prepayment occurs at any time after the three year anniversary of the Closing Date, no Prepayment Fee shall be due.
Prime Rate means, at any time, the greater of (i) the rate of interest noted in The Wall Street Journal, Money Rates section, as the Prime Rate, and (ii) 5.00%. In the event that The Wall Street Journal quotes more than one rate, or a range of rates, as the Prime Rate, then the Prime Rate shall mean the average of the quoted rates. In the event that The Wall Street Journal ceases to publish a Prime Rate, then the Prime Rate shall be the average of the prime rate specified by the three (3) largest U.S. money center commercial banks, as reasonably determined by Agent.
Pro Rata Portion has the meaning set forth in Section 6.14.
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Pro Rata Share means, with respect to any Lender and as of any date of determination, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the aggregate Commitments of such Lender by (ii) the aggregate Commitments of all Lenders provided, that to the extent any Commitment has expired or been terminated, with respect to such Commitment, the applicable outstanding balance of the Loans made pursuant to such Commitment held by such Lender and all Lenders, respectively, shall be used in lieu of the amount of such Commitment, provided further, that with respect to all matters relating to a particular Loan, the Commitment or outstanding balance of the applicable Loan, shall be used in lieu of the aggregate Commitment or outstanding balance of all Loans in the foregoing calculation. Ratable and related terms shall mean, determined by reference to such Lenders Pro Rata Share.
Projections means projections with respect to the business of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, on a monthly basis, including projected Revenue, EBITDA, capital expenditures and including projected statements of cash flow, in form reasonably satisfactory to Agent, delivered in accordance with Section 6.2(c).
Put Notice has the meaning set forth in the Investor Rights Agreement.
Qualified Merchant Account means any Collateral Account of a Borrower used exclusively as a merchant account, payment processing account or consumer financing account and identified as such in the Perfection Certificate or from time to time after the Closing Date in a written notice to Agent, provided that the amounts credit to such account shall be transferred to a Collateral Account subject to an Account Control Agreement in favor of Agent in accordance with the standard terms and conditions governing such account, but in any event no less frequently than every five (5) Business Days.
Register has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2(h).
Registered Organization means any registered organization as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.
Requirement of Law means as to any Person, the organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law (statutory or common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
Responsible Officer means with respect to any Person, any of the Co-Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, or Vice President of Finance & Technology of such Person. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to a Responsible Officer herein shall be a reference to a Responsible Officer of Borrower Representative.
Revenue means revenue, in accordance with GAAP, of Borrower Representative and each of its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.
Second Tranche Availability Period means the period commencing on the date the Performance Milestone has been met and ending on March 31, 2021.
Second Tranche Milestone means that Borrowers shall have achieved the Performance Milestone.
Second Tranche Term Loan has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
Second Tranche Term Loan Commitment means, as to any Lender, the aggregate principal amount of Second Tranche Term Loans committed to be made by such Lender, as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.
Securities Account means any securities account as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.
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Security Instrument means any security agreement, assignment, pledge agreement, financing or other similar statement or notice, continuation statement, other agreement or instrument, or any amendment or supplement to any thereof, creating, governing or providing for, evidencing or perfecting any security interest or Lien.
Shares means all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests owned or held of record by a Loan Party in each of its Subsidiaries, provided that to the extent the pledge of more than 66.6% of the voting Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse tax consequence, with respect to such Foreign Subsidiary, Shares shall not include more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests owned or held of record by such Loan Party.
Subordinated Debt means Indebtedness incurred by a Loan Party that is subordinated in writing to all of the Obligations, pursuant to a Subordination Agreement.
Subordination Agreement means any subordination, intercreditor, or other similar agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent entered into between Agent and the other creditor, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent with respect to Subordinated Debt.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or joint venture in which (i) any general partnership interest or (ii) more than fifty percent (50%) of the stock, limited liability company interest, joint venture interest or other Equity Interest which by the terms thereof has the ordinary voting power to elect the Board of that Person, at the time as of which any determination is being made, is owned or controlled by such Person, directly or indirectly. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to a Subsidiary herein shall be a reference to a Subsidiary of Borrower.
Taxes means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Term Loan and Term Loans each, have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 hereof.
Term Loan Maturity Date means April 15, 2023, provided that, if the Performance Milestone has been met not later than January 31, 2021 and no Event of Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing, then the Term Loan Maturity Date shall be October 15, 2023.
Test Date has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10.
Trademarks means any trademark and servicemark rights of a Person, whether registered or not, applications to register and registrations of the same and like protections, and the entire goodwill of the business connected with and symbolized by such trademarks.
Transfer means defined in Section 7.1.
Voting Stock means, with respect to any Person, all classes of Equity Interests issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors or managers (or Persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
Warrant means, collectively, each Warrant to Class P Units dated as of the Closing Date, executed by Borrower Representative in favor of each Lender, as amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time.
A-16
EXHIBIT B
COLLATERAL DESCRIPTION
The Collateral consists of all of each Borrowers right, title and interest in and to the following personal property wherever located, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired, created or arising:
All goods, Accounts (including health-care receivables), Equipment, Inventory, contract rights or rights to payment of money, leases, license agreements, franchise agreements, General Intangibles, commercial tort claims, documents, instruments (including any promissory notes), chattel paper (whether tangible or electronic), cash, deposit accounts, fixtures, letters of credit rights (whether or not the letter of credit is evidenced by a writing), securities, and all other investment property, supporting obligations, and financial assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, wherever located; and all such Borrowers Books relating to the foregoing, and any and all claims, rights and interests in any of the above and all substitutions for, additions, attachments, accessories, accessions and improvements to and replacements, products, proceeds (both cash and non-cash) and insurance proceeds of any or all of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral does not include: (a) any Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary, to the extent not constituting Shares, (b) intent to use trademarks at all times prior to the first use thereof, whether by the actual use thereof in commerce, the recording of a statement of use with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or otherwise; provided, that upon submission and acceptance by the United States Patent and Trademark Office of an amendment to allege use of an intent-to-use trademark application pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 1060(a) (or any successor provision), such intent-to-use application shall constitute Collateral, (c) any interest of a Borrower as a lessee or sublessee under a real property lease; (d) rights held under licenses that are not assignable by their terms without the consent of the licensor thereof (but only to the extent such restriction on assignment is enforceable under applicable law), (e) any interest of a Borrower as a lessee under an equipment lease if such Borrower is prohibited by the terms of such lease from granting a security interest in such lease or under which such an assignment or Lien would cause a default to occur under such lease (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-407(a) of the Code) and (f) rights held under a license that are not assignable by their terms without the consent of the licensor thereof (but only to the extent such restriction on assignment is enforceable under applicable law).
EXHIBIT C
LOAN REQUEST
Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. | Date: |
|
Legal Reporting | ||||||||
205 N Michigan Ave, Suite 4200 | ||||||||
Chicago, IL 60601 | ||||||||
Email: legalreporting@runwaygrowth.com; runwayagency@cortlandglobal.com |
Reference is made to that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated September 30, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, from time to time, the Agreement), among BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each Person party thereto as a borrower from time to time, the lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, Lenders), and RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC., a Maryland corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent for Lenders (in such capacity, Agent). Capitalized terms have meanings as defined in the Agreement.
Brilliant Earth, LLC, as Borrower Representative hereby requests a Loan in the amount of $[ ] on [ ] (the Funding Date) pursuant to the Agreement, and authorizes Agent to:
(a) Wire Funds to:
Bank: | ||||||
Address: | ||||||
ABA Number: | ||||||
Account Number: | ||||||
Account Holder: |
(b) Deduct amounts from the foregoing advance to be applied to Lender Expenses and outstanding fees then due as set forth on the attached Schedule 1.
Borrower Representative represents that each of the conditions precedent to the Loans set forth in the Agreement are satisfied and shall be satisfied on the Funding Date, including but not limited to: (i) the representations and warranties set forth in the Agreement and in the other Loan Documents are and shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Funding Date with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case they remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); provided, however, that such materiality qualifiers shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof, (ii) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and (iii) no event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect has occurred and is continuing, and the Second Tranche Milestone has been met.
Borrower Representative agrees to notify Agent promptly before the Funding Date if any of the matters which have been represented above shall not be true and correct in all material respects on the Funding Date and if Agent has received no such notice before the Funding Date then the statements set forth above shall be deemed to have been made and shall be deemed to be true and correct in all material respects as of the Funding Date.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO LOAN REQUEST]
This Loan Request is hereby executed as of the date first written above.
BORROWER REPRESENTATIVE: | ||
BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC |
By: |
|
Name: |
|
Title: |
|
EXHIBIT D
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
TO: | RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. | Date: |
|
|||||||||
FROM: | BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC |
Reference is made to that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated September 30, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, from time to time, the Agreement), among BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each Person party thereto as a borrower from time to time (collectively, Borrowers, and each, a Borrower), the lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, Lenders), and RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC., a Maryland corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent for Lenders (in such capacity Agent). Capitalized terms have meanings as defined in the Agreement.
The undersigned authorized officer of Borrower Representative, solely in his/her capacity as an officer of Borrower Representative and not in any individual capacity, hereby certifies in accordance with the terms of the Agreement as follows:
(1) Each Borrower is in compliance for the period ending with all covenants set forth in the Agreement; (2) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and (3) the representations and warranties in the Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on this date; provided, however, that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and provided, further that those representations and warranties expressly referring to a specific date shall be true, accurate and complete in all material respects as of such date. Detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with the financial covenant are attached hereto as Attachment 1.
The undersigned certifies that all financial statements delivered herewith are prepared in accordance with GAAP (other than, with respect to unaudited financials for the absence of footnotes and being subject to normal year-end adjustments), consistently applied from one period to the next. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Agreement.
Please indicate compliance status by circling Yes/No under Complies column. | ||||
Reporting Covenants |
Required |
Complies |
Monthly financial statements and Compliance Certificate | Monthly, within 30 days | Yes No | ||
Annual operating budget and financial projections | Annually, within 60 days of fiscal year end As required to ensure projections are available for the then-next 6 month period, at all times |
Yes No | ||
Annual audited financial statements and any management letters | Annually, within 180 days of fiscal year end | Yes No | ||
Statements, reports and notices to stockholders | Within 10 Business Days of delivery | Yes No | ||
SEC filings | Within 5 Business Days after filing with SEC | Yes No | ||
Legal action notices and updates | Promptly | Yes No | ||
Valuation report / 409A valuation | To extent any valuation report /409A valuation has been performed and not previously delivered | Yes No | ||
Register of unit ownership / capitalization table | Within 5 days of material change | Yes No | ||
Board materials | As and when delivered to Board | Yes No | ||
Board minutes | As and when delivered to Board | Yes No | ||
Put Notice | Immediately upon receipt | Yes No |
IP report | At the end of each fiscal quarter | Yes No | ||
Federal tax return / calculation of federal tax income allocable to members | Within 5 days of when filed / when provided to members | Yes No | ||
Bank account statements (with transaction detail) | Together with monthly financial statements | Yes No | ||
Copies of material preferred stock financing documents | Together with Compliance Certificate due after closing of such financing | Yes No | ||
Updated projections (management prepared) | If Revenue or EBITDA for two out of three preceding months is not at least 85% of Revenue or EBITDA in Projections | __Applies __Does not apply (See Below.) |
Financial Covenant |
Required | Actual | Complies | |||||
Minimum Liquidity |
See Section 6.10 (6-month Liquidity Test) |
|
See Attachment 1 |
|
Yes No | |||
Other Covenants |
Required | Actual | Complies | |||||
Equipment financing Indebtedness |
Not to exceed $500,000 outstanding |
$ | Yes No | |||||
Hedging Obligations |
Not to exceed $500,000 outstanding at any time |
$ | Yes No | |||||
Credit Card Indebtedness |
Not to exceed $1,500,000 outstanding at any time |
$ | Yes No | |||||
Repurchases of stock from former employees, officers and directors |
Not to exceed $500,000 during per fiscal year |
$ | Yes No | |||||
Investments by a Loan Party in a Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party |
Not to exceed $500,000 per fiscal year |
$ | Yes No |
Period |
Revenue (Plan) |
Revenue (Actual) |
Percentage | EBITDA (Plan) |
EBITDA (Actual) |
Percentage | ||||||||||||||||||
[T-3 Month] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
[T-2 Month] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
[T-1 Month] |
Retesting required: [ ] Yes [ ] No
Other Matters
Has any Loan Party changed its legal name, jurisdiction of organization or chief executive office? If yes, please complete details below: | Yes | No | ||
|
Has any Loan Party obtained any Patent, registered Trademark, registered Copyright, registered mask work, or any pending application for any of the foregoing, whether as owner or licensee, or applied for any Patent or the registration of any Trademark since the Closing Date or the previously delivered Compliance Certificate, as applicable? If yes, please complete details below. | Yes | No | ||
|
||||
Have any new Subsidiaries been formed? If yes, please provide complete schedule below. | Yes | No |
Legal Name
of |
Jurisdiction of |
Holder of Subsidiary |
Equity Interests |
Jurisdiction | ||||
Have any new Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts been opened? If yes, please complete schedule below. | Yes | No |
Accountholder |
Deposit Account / |
Address |
Account Number |
Account Control | ||||
The following are the exceptions with respect to the certification above: (If no exceptions exist, state No exceptions to note.) |
|
|
BORROWER REPRESENTATIVE: | ||
BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC |
By: |
|
Name: |
|
Title: |
|
ATTACHMENT 1
FINANCIAL COVENANT CALCULATIONS
EXHIBIT E
REQUIREMENTS FOR INSURANCE DOCUMENTATION
Contact Information for Insurance Documentation:
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. 205 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 4200 Chicago, IL 60601 Attn: Legal Reporting |
Document Requirements:
DOCUMENT
|
REQUIREMENT
| |
1. Certificate of Liability Insurance (ACORD FORM 25) |
Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. and its successors and assigns to be designated as Additional Insured. Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. name and address to be listed as Certificate Holder. | |
2. General Liability Endorsement (Additional Insured Endorsement) |
Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. and its successors and assigns to be named in additional insured endorsement. | |
3. Evidence of Commercial Property Insurance (ACORD FORM 28) |
All-risk commercial property insurance incurring all of each Borrowers property Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. and its successors and assigns to be designated as Lenders Loss Payable, with Lenders Loss Payable provision designated. Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. name and address to be designated in Name and Address of Additional Interest. Insured locations to include all locations of Borrowers listed in the Perfection Certificate | |
4. Commercial Property Endorsement (Lenders Loss Payable Endorsement) |
Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc., as agent, and its successors and assigns to be scheduled and designated as Lender Loss Payable by endorsement Lender loss payable clause with stipulation that coverage will not be cancelled without a minimum of 10 days prior written notice for non-payment of premium, or 30 days for any other cancellation. |
EXHIBIT F
AUTOMATIC PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION
Effective as of September 30, 2019, BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC (Borrower Representative) hereby authorizes RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC., as administrative agent for Lenders (in such capacity, Agent), or any affiliate acting on its behalf pursuant to the Loan Agreement and the bank or financial institution named below (Bank) to automatically debit through the Automatic Clearing House (ACH) from, and initiate variable debit and/or credit entries to, the deposit, checking or savings accounts as designated below maintained in the name of a Borrower, and to cause electronic funds transfers to an account of Agent to be applied to the payment of any and all amounts due under the Loan and Security Agreement, dated September 30, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, from time to time, the Agreement), among BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each Person party thereto as a borrower from time to time (collectively, Borrowers, and each, a Borrower), the lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, Lenders), and Agent, as administrative agent and collateral agent for Lenders, including without limitation, principal, interest, fees, expenses and charges (including Lender Expenses). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein, have the meanings given in the Agreement.
This Authorization shall remain in effect until the Loan Agreement has been terminated.
Bank: | ||
Address: | ||
ABA Number: | ||
Account Number: | ||
Account Holder: |
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AUTOMATIC PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION]
This Authorization is executed as of the date set forth above by the undersigned authorized representative of Borrower Representative:
BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC |
By: |
| |
Name: |
| |
Title: |
|
EXHIBIT G
FORM OF
SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE
$[ ] | [ , 20 ] |
THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1273 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED). UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, BORROWERS WILL PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO ANY HOLDER OF THIS NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1) THE ISSUE PRICE AND ISSUE DATE OF THE NOTE, (2) THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THE NOTE AND (3) THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE NOTE. HOLDERS SHOULD CONTACT THE CO-CEOS AND VP OF FINANCE & TECHNOLOGY, AT 26 OFARRELL STREET, 10TH FLOOR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each Person party thereto as a borrower from time to time (collectively, Borrowers, and each, a Borrower), hereby unconditionally, jointly and severally, promise to pay to [ ] (together with its successors and registered assigns, the Holder) at the times, in the amounts and at the address set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Loan Agreement; capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Loan Agreement), among Borrowers, the Holder, the other lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, Lenders), and RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC., a Maryland corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent for Lenders (in such capacity, Agent), the lesser of (i) the principal amount of [ ] Dollars ($[ ]) and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans made by the Holder to Borrowers according to the terms of Section 2.2 of the Loan Agreement. Borrowers further, jointly and severally, promise to pay interest in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Loan Agreement. In no event shall interest hereunder exceed the maximum rate permitted under applicable law. All payments of principal, interest and any other amounts due shall be made as set forth in Section 2.5 of the Loan Agreement.
The Obligations evidenced by this Secured Promissory Note (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this Note) are subject to acceleration in accordance with Section 9.1 of the Loan Agreement. Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, notice of default or dishonor, notice of payment and nonpayment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the execution, delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note.
This Note is secured by a security interest in the Collateral granted to Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, pursuant to certain other Loan Documents.
The terms of Section 11 are incorporated herein, mutatis mutandis.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrowers have caused this Note to be duly executed and delivered on the date set forth above by the duly authorized representative of each Borrower.
BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC |
By: |
| |
Name: |
| |
Title: |
|
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
This Assignment and Acceptance (this Assignment and Acceptance) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the][each]1 Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] Assignor) and [the][each]2 Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] Assignee). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees]3 hereunder are several and not joint.]4 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan and Security Agreement identified below (the Loan Agreement), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Acceptance as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration set forth below as the Purchase Price, [the][each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and[the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Loan Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignors][the respective Assignors] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Loan Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor][the respective Assignors] under the facility identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)][the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Loan Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the][any] Assignor to [the][any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an] Assigned Interest). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, without representation or warranty (express or implied) by [the][any] Assignor.
1. | Assignor[s]: |
2. | Assignee[s]: [for each Assignee identify Lender] |
3. | Borrower(s): Brilliant Earth, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, |
4. | Agent: Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc., as the Agent under the Loan Agreement. |
5. | Loan Agreement: Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Loan Agreement), among Borrower and any other borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Assignee, (together with any other lenders from time to time party thereto, collectively, Lenders), and Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc., a Maryland corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent for Lenders. |
1 | For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language. |
2 | For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language. |
3 | Select as appropriate. |
4 | Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees. |
6. | Loan Assigned Interest: |
Assignor[s]5 | Assignee[s]6 | Aggregate Amount of Loan for all Lenders |
Amount of Loan Assigned |
Percentage Assigned of Loan7 |
||||||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||||||||
$ | $ | % |
7. | Purchase Price: $ |
Effective Date: , 20 [TO BE INSERTED BY AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
5 | List each Assignor, as appropriate. |
6 | List each Assignee, as appropriate. |
7 | Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Loan of all Lenders thereunder. |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT]
The terms set forth in this Assignment Agreement are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
ASSIGNEE | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Consented to and Accepted:
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC., as Agent
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
SCHEDULE 1
COMMITMENTS
LENDER |
FIRST TRANCHE TERM LOAN COMMITMENT |
SECOND TRANCHE TERM LOAN COMMITMENT |
TOTAL COMMITMENTS |
|||||||||
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. |
$ | 35,000,000 | $ | 5,000,000 | $ | 40,000,000 |
SCHEDULE 2
POST-CLOSING DELIVERIES
1. | Within 30 days of the Closing Date, evidence showing the issuance of lender loss payable provisions and endorsements, additional insured clauses and endorsements in favor of Agent, in accordance with Section 6.5 hereof. |
2. | Within 3 Business Days of the Closing Date, the original signature page to the Warrant. |
3. | Within 10 Business Days of the Closing Date (or such longer period as Agent may in its discretion approve), to the extent required under Section 6.6 hereof, an executed Account Control Agreement for any Collateral Account. |
4. | Within 30 days of the Closing Date, executed Collateral Access Agreements with respect to the leased locations at 26 OFarrell Street, San Francisco, CA 94108, subject to Section 6.12(d). |
EXHIBIT I
Taxes
1. Defined Terms. For purposes of this Exhibit I:
(a) Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (A) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (B) that are Other Connection Taxes, (ii) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (A) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment or (B) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2 or Section 4 of this Exhibit I, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lenders assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (iii) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 7 of this Exhibit I and (iv) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
(b) FATCA means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Internal Revenue Code.
(c) Foreign Lender means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
(d) Indemnified Taxes means (i) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower under any Loan Document and (ii) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (i), Other Taxes.
(e) Other Connection Taxes means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
(f) Other Taxes means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment.
(g) Recipient means Agent or any Lender, as applicable.
(h) U.S. Person means any Person that is a United States person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(i) Withholding Agent means any Borrower or Agent, as applicable.
2. Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable
Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by Borrowers shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2 or Section 4 of this Exhibit I) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
3. Payment of Other Taxes by Borrowers. Borrowers shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
4. Indemnification by Borrower. Borrowers shall indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under Section 2 of this Exhibit I or this Section 4) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to Borrower Representative by a Lender (with a copy to Agent), or by Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
5. [Reserved]
6. Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to the provisions of this Exhibit I, Borrower Representative shall deliver to Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to Agent.
7. Status of Lenders.
(a) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to Borrower Representative and Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by Borrower Representative or Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by Borrower Representative or Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by Borrower Representative or Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by Borrower Representative or Agent as will enable Borrowers or Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii) and 7(b)(iv) of this Exhibit I) shall not be required if in the Lenders reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
(i) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to Borrower Representative and Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of Borrower Representative or Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(ii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to Borrower Representative and Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of Borrower Representative or Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(A) | in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under |
any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty; |
(B) | executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI; |
(C) | in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Borrower Representative and Agent, to the effect that such Foreign Lender (or other applicable Person) is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a 10 percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or |
(D) | to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner; |
(iii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to Borrower Representative and Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of Borrower Representative or Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit Borrowers or Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(iv) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to Borrower Representative and Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by Borrower Representative or Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by Borrower Representative or Agent as may be necessary for Borrowers and Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lenders obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (iv), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
(v) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify Borrower Representative and Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
8. Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to the provisions of this
Exhibit I (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to the provisions of this Exhibit I), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under the provisions of this Exhibit I with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 8 (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8, in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 8 the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This Section 8 shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
9. Survival. Each partys obligations under the provisions of this Exhibit I shall survive the resignation or replacement of Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Term Loan Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
Exhibit 10.2
F1RST AMENDMENT TO
LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
This FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this Amendment) is dated as of December 17, 2020, by and among BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Borrower Representative), the lenders party hereto (Lenders, and each, a Lender), constituting the Required Lenders, and RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC., as administrative agent and collateral agent for Lenders (in such capacity, Agent).
RECITALS
A. Borrower Representative, Lenders and Agent are parties to that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, from time to time, the Agreement).
B. Borrower Representative has requested, and Agent and Lenders although being under no obligation to do so, have agreed amend the Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.
1. | AMENDMENTS |
1.1 Section 2.2(a)(ii) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make to Borrowers an advance having a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 on the First Amendment Effective Date in principal amount equal to its Second Tranche Term Loan Commitment (the Second Tranche Term Loans, and together with the First Tranche Term Loans, collectively, the Term Loans, and each, a Term Loan). Lenders commitments to make the Second Tranche Term Loans shall terminate when Term Loans in the aggregate amount of the Second Tranche Term Loan Commitments have been funded in accordance herewith.
1.2 Section 2.2(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(b) Repayment. Commencing on the Amortization Date, and continuing thereafter on each Payment Date, Borrowers shall make payments of equal principal, which would fully amortize the principal amount of the Term Loans by the Term Loan Maturity Date, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Any and all unpaid Obligations, including principal and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the Term Loans, the Final Payment, other fees and other sums, if any, shall be due and payable in full on the Term Loan Maturity Date. The Term Loans may only be prepaid in accordance with Sections 2.2(c) or (d).
1.3 Section 2.4(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(a) Closing Fee. A closing fee in the amount of $400,000, which has been paid in full on the Closing Date; and an incremental closing fee in the amount of $250,000 in respect of the Commitment increase as of the First Amendment Effective Date, which shall be deducted from the Term Loan funded on the First Amendment Effective Date;
1.4 Section 2.5(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(b) No Borrower shall have a right to specify the order or the loan accounts to which a Lender shall allocate or apply any payments made by a Borrower to or for the benefit of such Lender or otherwise received by such Lender under this Agreement when any such allocation or application is not expressly specified elsewhere in this Agreement and unless such prepayment is a prepayment in part when no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case such prepayment shall be applied to the balance of each Loan outstanding, ratably in accordance with the principal amount of such Loan, and the amortization schedule shall be recalculated based on the reduced principal balance and the number of payments then remaining.
1.5 The last sentence of Section 6.6(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
The provisions of the previous sentence shall not apply to (i) Deposit Accounts exclusively used for sales/use taxes and associated fees, payroll, payroll taxes, and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of Borrowers employees and identified to Agent by Borrower as such on the Perfection Certificate or from time to time after the Closing Date by written notice to Agent, provided that the aggregate balance maintained in all such accounts shall not exceed the amount as is necessary to fund 150% of sales/use tax liabilities that are due in within the next month, plus payroll, payroll taxes and other such payments as are due at the end of the then-next 150% of one payroll period, (ii) the Qualified Merchant Accounts, (iii) Permitted Cash Collateral Accounts, and (iv) other Collateral Account provided that the aggregate balance thereof at any time shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000).
1.6 Section 7.7 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
7.7 Distributions; Investments. (a) Pay any dividends or make any other distribution or payment or redeem, retire or purchase any Equity Interests provided that (i) Borrower Representative may convert any of its convertible Equity Interests (including warrants) into other Equity Interests issued by Borrower Representative pursuant to the terms of such convertible securities or otherwise in exchange thereof, (ii) Borrower Representative may convert Subordinated Debt issued by Borrower Representative into Equity Interests issued by Borrower Representative pursuant to the terms of such Subordinated Debt and to the extent permitted under the terms of the applicable subordination or intercreditor agreement with Agent; (iii) Borrower Representative may make Permitted Tax Distributions; (iv) any Borrower or Subsidiary thereof may pay dividends solely in Equity Interests of such Borrower or Subsidiary; (v) Borrower Representative may make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares, if applicable; (vi) any Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof that is a Loan Party may pay dividends or make other distributions to another Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof that is a Loan Party, (vii) Borrower Representative may repurchase the Equity Interests issued by Borrower Representative to employees, officers, directors, contractors and other service providers upon or any time after cessation of employment or service, as applicable, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 per fiscal year, provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred immediately prior to such repurchase and immediately after giving effect thereto; and (viii) if the Second Tranche Term Loan is drawn in full in accordance with the terms hereof in a single advance, Borrower Representative may repurchase Equity Interests of Borrower Representative, pay dividends, make distributions and/or make loans, in each case, in one or more transactions consummated no later than 90 days following the funding of the Second Tranche Term Loan and in an aggregate amount for all such payments, dividends, repurchases, distributions and loans not to exceed $30,000,000; (b) directly or indirectly make any Investment (including, without limitation, by the formation of any Subsidiary), other than Permitted Investments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and for the avoidance of doubt, the delivery of a Put Notice, in accordance with Section 4 of the Investor Rights Agreement shall not in and of itself constitute a violation of this Section 7.7 or otherwise an Event of Default pursuant to this Agreement except as set forth in Section 8.12.
1.7 The following defined terms in Exhibit A of the Agreement are hereby amended and restated, or added in appropriate alphabetical order, as applicable:
Amortization Date means April 15, 2022.
Final Payment means a payment (in addition to and not a substitution for the regular monthly payments of principal plus accrued interest) equal to the original principal amount of the Term Loans funded hereunder, multiplied by 4.50%, plus, in respect the Second Tranche Term Loan Commitments, an additional amount of $226,000 (the Final Payment Amount), provided that, in case of any partial prepayment of the Loans, (i) the Final Payment due upon such partial prepayment shall be an amount equal to the Final Payment
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Amount multiplied by a ratio of (A) the sum of (x) the principal amount repaid from the Closing Date, or, if applicable, the date of any prior partial prepayment, through the date of such prepayment and (y) the principal amount to be prepaid, to (B) the total principal amount of the Loans funded through such date pursuant this Agreement (the Partial Final Payment), and (ii) the Final Payment Due upon the repayment or prepayment of the Loans shall be an amount equal to the Final Payment Amount less the sum of the Partial Final Payments made, through such date, provided that for purposes of the foregoing, the additional fee of $226,000 shall be allocated to the Second Tranche Term Loans, and shall be payable ratably in accordance with the portion of the Second Tranche Term Loans prepaid.
First Amendment Effective Date means December 17, 2020.
LIBOR means (i) the greater of (a) 1.00% and (b) the rate per annum equal to the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited LIBOR Rate, as published by Bloomberg (or another commercially available source providing quotations of LIBOR as reasonably determined by Agent from time to time) for U.S. dollar deposits (for delivery on the fifteenth (15th) day of the applicable month) with a term of three (3) months or the rate otherwise reasonably determined by Agent to be the rate at which U.S. dollar deposits with a term of three (3) months would be offered by banks in London, England to major banks in the London or other offshore interbank market, in each case at approximately 11:45 a.m. (City of London time) on the fifteenth (15th) day of each month.
Permitted Tax Distributions means distributions (which may be quarterly) to holders of Equity Interests of Borrower Representative in an aggregate amount, for any taxable year, not greater than the product of (A) the amount of aggregate net taxable income of Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries for the relevant taxable year, multiplied by (B) the highest combined marginal federal and state income tax rate applicable to an individual residing in California for the relevant taxable year, in each case as determined by the Board. For the avoidance of doubt, any distributions permitted pursuant to this definition of Permitted Tax Distributions for any taxable year (or portion thereof) may be made after the close of such taxable year.
Prepayment Fee means, with respect to any prepayment of the Loans:
(a) | if the prepayment occurs during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on (and including) the 18 month anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to the principal amount of the Loans prepaid multiplied by 3.00%; |
(b) | if the prepayment occurs during the period commencing on the day immediately following the 18-month anniversary of the Closing Date, and ending on (and including) the 30-month anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to the principal amount of the Loans prepaid multiplied by 2.00%; |
(c) | if the prepayment occurs during the period commencing on the date immediately following the 30-month anniversary of the Closing Date, and ending on (and including) the 42-month anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to the principal amount of the Loans prepaid multiplied by 1.00%; and |
(d) | if the prepayment occurs at any time after the 42-month anniversary of the Closing Date, no Prepayment Fee shall be due. |
Prime Rate means, at any time, the greater of (i) the rate of interest noted in The Wall Street Journal, Money Rates section, as the Prime Rate, and (ii) 3.85%. In the event that The Wall Street Journal quotes more than one rate, or a range of rates, as the Prime Rate, then the Prime Rate shall mean the average of the quoted rates. In the event that The Wall Street Journal ceases to publish a Prime Rate, then the Prime Rate shall be the average of the prime rate specified by the three (3) largest U.S. money center commercial banks, as reasonably determined by Agent.
Second Tranche Term Loan has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(ii).
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Term Loan Maturity Date means October 15, 2023.
1.8 The following defined terms in Exhibit A of the Agreement are hereby deleted:
Performance Milestone
Second Tranche Milestone
1.9 The schedule of Commitments set forth on Schedule 1 to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:
LENDER |
FIRST TRANCHE TERM LOAN COMMITMENT |
SECOND TRANCHE TERM LOAN COMMITMENT |
TOTAL COMMITMENTS |
|||||||||
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. |
$ | 35,000,000 | $ | 30,000,000 | $ | 65,000,000 |
1.10 Any loans made pursuant to Section 7.7(a)(viii) shall constitute Permitted Investments and may, at the option of Borrower, be forgiven. Any such forgiveness shall constitute a Permitted Transfer.
1.11 Notwithstanding any terms of the Agreement to the contrary (including, without limitation, Sections 12.2, 12.10 or otherwise), no assignment, sale or transfer of any portion of the Second Tranche Term Loan shall be made without: (a) such assignee, purchaser or transferee (prospective or otherwise) entering into a confidentiality agreement on terms reasonably acceptable to Borrower and (b) Borrowers consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
2. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
2.1 Borrowers represent and warrant that:
(a) the representations and warranties contained in the Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Amendment, and, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) each Borrower has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment and perform its obligations under the Agreement, as modified by this Amendment;
(c) the execution and delivery by each Borrower of this Amendment, and the performance by each Borrower of its obligations under the Agreement, as modified by this Amendment, have been duly authorized by all requisite action;
(d) the execution and delivery by each Borrower of this Amendment and the performance by each Borrower of its obligations under the Agreement, as modified by this Amendment, do not and will not contravene (a) any material Requirement of Law, (b) any material contractual restriction in any material agreement with a Person binding on such Borrower, (c) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority binding on such Borrower, or (d) the Operating Documents of such Borrower, and do not require any order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by any Governmental Authority, except as already has been obtained or made; and
(e) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each Borrower and is the binding obligation of each Borrower, enforceable against such Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium or other similar laws of general application and equitable principles relating to or affecting creditors rights.
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3. | CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS |
The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the following conditions precedent:
3.1 Agent shall have received
(a) this Amendment, duly executed by Borrowers;
(b) an amendment to the Warrant issued on the Closing Date, duly executed by Borrower Representative;
(c) the Warrant to be issued on the First Amendment Effective Date, duly executed by Borrower Representative; and
(d) a certificate of each Borrower, duly executed by a Responsible Officer, certifying and attaching (i) the Operating Documents, (ii) resolutions duly approved by the Board, (iii) any resolutions, consent or waiver duly approved by the requisite holders of such Borrowers Equity Interests, if applicable (or certifying that no such resolutions, consent or waiver is required), and (iv) a schedule of incumbency.
3.2 Borrowers shall have paid the incremental closing fee in accordance with Section 2.4(a) of the Agreement, and any Lender Expenses due and payable as of the date hereof, which Borrowers hereby authorize may be debited by Agent, in accordance with Section 2.5 of the Agreement.
4. | GENERAL PROVISIONS |
4.1 Unless otherwise defined, all initially capitalized terms in this Amendment shall be as defined in the Agreement. The Agreement and this Amendment shall be and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms and hereby are ratified and confirmed in all respects. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of, or as an amendment of, any right, power, or remedy of Agent or Lenders under the Agreement, as in effect prior to the date hereof. Each Borrower ratifies and reaffirms the continuing effectiveness of the Loan Documents entered into in connection with the Agreement, and that the security interest as granted pursuant to the Agreement continues from the Closing Date.
4.2 This Amendment and the Loan Documents represent the entire agreement with respect to this subject matter and supersede prior negotiations or agreements. All prior agreements, understandings, representations, warranties, and negotiations between the parties about the subject matter of this Amendment and the Loan Documents merge into this Amendment and the Loan Documents.
4.3 This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
4.4 This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document. Accordingly, the provisions of Section 11 of the Agreement shall likewise apply to this Amendment.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed as of the date set forth above.
BORROWER: | ||
BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC | ||
By | /s/ Eric Grossberg
| |
Name: | Eric Grossberg | |
Title: | Co-CEO and Manager |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]
AGENT: | ||
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. | ||
By: | /s/David Spreng
| |
Name: | David Spreng | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
LENDER: | ||
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. | ||
By: | /s/ David Spreng
| |
Name: | David Spreng | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 10.3
[***] Certain information in this document has been excluded pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item (601)(b)(10). Such excluded information is not material and would likely cause competitive harm to the registrant if publicly disclosed.
SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
This SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this Amendment) is dated as of August 6, 2021, by and among BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Borrower Representative), the lenders party hereto (Lenders, and each, a Lender), constituting the Required Lenders, and RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC., as administrative agent and collateral agent for Lenders (in such capacity, Agent).
RECITALS
A. Borrower Representative, Lenders and Agent are parties to that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, from time to time, the Agreement).
B. Borrower Representative has requested, and Agent and Lenders although being under no obligation to do so, have agreed amend the Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.
1. | AMENDMENTS |
1.1 The following defined terms in Exhibit A of the Agreement are hereby amended and restated, or added in appropriate alphabetical order, as applicable:
Brilliant Earth Foundation means a corporate advised fund established with Silicon Valley Community Foundation or similar charitable vehicle established for the purpose of making grants to non-profit organizations.
Second Amendment Effective Date means August 6, 2021.
1.2 The definition of Permitted Transfer in Exhibit A of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding a new clause (h) thereto and deleting and at the end of clause (f) therein, and replacing . at the end of clause (g) with ; and:
(h) Transfers to Brilliant Earth Foundation as follows: (i) $[***] on or about the Second Amendment Effective Date, and (ii) from time to time thereafter, provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, an amount not to exceed [***]% of annual net profits.
2. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
2.1 Borrowers represent and warrant that:
(a) the representations and warranties contained in the Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Amendment, and, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) each Borrower has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment and perform its obligations under the Agreement, as modified by this Amendment;
(c) the execution and delivery by each Borrower of this Amendment, and the performance by each Borrower of its obligations under the Agreement, as modified by this Amendment, have been duly authorized by all requisite action;
(d) the execution and delivery by each Borrower of this Amendment and the performance by each Borrower of its obligations under the Agreement, as modified by this Amendment, do not and will not contravene (a) any material Requirement of Law, (b) any material contractual restriction in any material agreement with a Person binding on such Borrower, (c) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority binding on such Borrower, or (d) the Operating Documents of such Borrower, and do not require any order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by any Governmental Authority, except as already has been obtained or made; and
(e) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each Borrower and is the binding obligation of each Borrower, enforceable against such Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium or other similar laws of general application and equitable principles relating to or affecting creditors rights.
3. | GENERAL PROVISIONS |
3.1 Unless otherwise defined, all initially capitalized terms in this Amendment shall be as defined in the Agreement. The Agreement and this Amendment shall be and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms and hereby are ratified and confirmed in all respects. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of, or as an amendment of, any right, power, or remedy of Agent or Lenders under the Agreement, as in effect prior to the date hereof. Each Borrower ratifies and reaffirms the continuing effectiveness of the Loan Documents entered into in connection with the Agreement, and that the security interest as granted pursuant to the Agreement continues from the Closing Date.
3.2 This Amendment and the Loan Documents represent the entire agreement with respect to this subject matter and supersede prior negotiations or agreements. All prior agreements, understandings, representations, warranties, and negotiations between the parties about the subject matter of this Amendment and the Loan Documents merge into this Amendment and the Loan Documents.
3.3 This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
3.4 This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document. Accordingly, the provisions of Section 11 of the Agreement shall likewise apply to this Amendment.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed as of the date set forth above.
BORROWER: | ||
BRILLIANT EARTH, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Beth Gerstein
| |
Name: | Beth Gerstein | |
Title: | CEO |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]
AGENT: | ||
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Thomas Raterman | |
Name: | Thomas Raterman | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
LENDER: | ||
RUNWAY GROWTH CREDIT FUND INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Thomas Raterman | |
Name: | Thomas Raterman | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 21.1
Legal Name | Jurisdiction of Incorporation | |
Brilliant Earth, LLC | Delaware |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Brilliant Earth Group, Inc.
San Francisco, California
We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated June 11, 2021, relating to the financial statement of Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., which is contained in that Prospectus.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption Experts in the Prospectus.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP |
Denver, Colorado |
August 30, 2021 |
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Brilliant Earth, LLC
San Francisco, California
We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated June 9, 2021, relating to the financial statements of Brilliant Earth, LLC, which is contained in that Prospectus.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption Experts in the Prospectus.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP |
Denver, Colorado |
August 30, 2021 |