NOTE 11- REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITY

ESGEN Business Combination

The consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ deficit reflect the reverse recapitalization and ESGEN Business Combination as described in Note 1 – Organization and Business Operation and Note 4 – Reverse Recapitalization. As Sunergy was deemed to be the accounting acquirer in the ESGEN Business Combination, all periods prior to the consummation of the ESGEN Business Combination reflect the balances and activity of Sunergy Renewables, LLC. The consolidated balances as of December 31, 2023 from the financial statements of Sunergy Renewables, LLC as of that date and membership unit activity in the consolidated statements of change in stockholders’ equity, prior to the consummation of the ESGEN Business Combination have not been retroactively adjusted.

Upon consummation of the ESGEN Business Combination, the Company’s capital stock consisted of (i) 3,257,436 shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Sponsor, (ii) 1,026,960 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to public stockholders, net of redemptions as well as certain service providers, (iii) 742,568 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to Sunergy Renewables, LLC initial Stockholders other than Sponsor, (iv) 32,230,000 shares of Class V Common Stock issued to Sun Managers and other prior investors of Sunergy; and (v) 1,500,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 1,500,000 shares of Class V Common Stock issued to Sponsor investors pursuant to the Sponsor PIPE Investment.

Private Placement

As described in Note 1- Organization and Business Operation, pursuant to the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, at the Closing, a total of 1,500,000 Convertible OpCo Preferred Units (including an equal number of shares of the Company’s Class V Common Stock) were issued to the Sponsor in return for aggregate consideration of $15,000,000.

Lock-Up Agreements

Concurrently with the execution of the ESGEN Business Combination Agreement, on April 19, 2023, the Sponsor, ESGEN’s independent directors at the time of its initial public offering (“IPO”) and one or more client accounts of Westwood Group Holdings, Inc. (successor to Salient Capital Advisors, LLC) (the “Westwood Client Accounts” and, together with the Sponsor and certain independent directors of ESGEN, the “Initial Shareholders”), entered into an amendment to that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2021 (the “Letter Agreement”) (and as further amended on January 24, 2024, the “Letter Agreement Amendment”), pursuant to which, among other things, (i) the Initial Shareholders agreed not to transfer his, her or its ESGEN Class B ordinary shares (or the Class A Common Stock) prior to the earlier of (a) six months after the Closing or (b) subsequent to the Closing (A) if the last sale price of the Zeo Class A Common Stock quoted on Nasdaq is greater than or equal to $12 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-consecutive trading day period commencing at least 90 days after Closing, or (B) the date on which Zeo completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of Zeo’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Zeo Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property; and (ii) the Initial Shareholders and Sponsor agreed to forfeit an additional 500,000 shares of Zeo Class A Common Stock if, within two years of Closing, the Convertible OpCo Preferred Units are redeemed or converted (with such shares subject to a lock-up for two years after Closing).

On March 13, 2024, concurrently with the Closing, the Sellers entered into the Lock-Up Agreement, pursuant to which each of the Sellers  agreed not to transfer its Exchangeable OpCo Units, as defined below, and corresponding shares of Zeo Class V Common Stock received in connection with the ESGEN Business Combination until the earlier of (i) six months after the Closing and (ii) subsequent to the Closing, (a) satisfaction of the Early Lock-Up Termination or (b) the date on which Zeo completes a PubCo Sale (as defined in the Lock-Up Agreement).

Registration Rights

Also concurrent with the Closing, on March 13, 2024, the Sellers, the Initial Shareholders, Piper (the “New PubCo Holders”) and Zeo entered into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “A&R Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Zeo will provide the stockholders certain registration rights with respect to certain shares of Class A Common Stock held by them or otherwise issuable to them pursuant to the ESGEN Business Combination Agreement, the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement (as defined below) or the Company’s certificate of incorporation filed on March 13, 2024 (the “Zeo Charter”).

The table below reflects share information about the Company’s capital stock as of December 31, 2024.

Class A Common Stock

Each holder of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record in person or by proxy on all matters which stockholders generally are entitled to vote,  except that, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each holder has no voting power with respect to, and will not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of any outstanding Preferred Stock if the holders of such Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a separate class thereon (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The holders of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such class of Common Stock in a manner that is disproportionately adverse as compared to the Class V Common Stock. Except as otherwise required in its Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of Preferred Stock).

Class A Common Stockholders have rights to the economics of the Company and to receive dividend distributions, subject to applicable laws and the rights and preferences of holders of Series A Preferred Stock or any other series of stock having preference over or participation rights with Class A Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of Company, Class A Common Stock has rights to assets and funds of the Company available for distribution after making provisions for preferential and other amounts to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock or any other series of stock having preference over or participation rights with Class A Common Stock.

LHX Subscription Agreement

On October 25, 2024, the Company and LHX entered into a Subscription Agreement (the “LHX Subscription Agreement”) pursuant to which LHX purchased 1,873,103 shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”) at a purchase price per share of $1.45 for an aggregate purchase price of $2,716,000 (the “Share Purchase”) which is reflected on the statement of changes in stockholders’ deficit and statement of cash flows. Pursuant to the LHX Subscription Agreement, the Company has also (i) appointed one individual designated by LHX to its board of directors (the “Board”) and (ii) filed a registration statement registering the resale of the Shares within 15 days of the Share Purchase and to use reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable thereafter.

Class V Common Stock

Each holder of Class V Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share of Class V Common Stock held of record in person or by proxy on all matters which stockholders generally are entitled to vote, except that, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each holder has no voting power with respect to, and will not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of any outstanding Preferred Stock if the holders of such Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a separate class thereon (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or under the DGCL. The holders of the outstanding shares of Class V Common Stock are entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such class of Common Stock in a manner that is disproportionately adverse as compared to the Class A Common Stock. Except as otherwise required in its Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of Preferred Stock).

Class V Common Stockholders do not have rights to the economics of the Company nor to receive dividend distributions, and would not be entitled to receive, with respect to such shares, any assets of the Corporation, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Class A Convertible Preferred Units (Mezzanine Equity)

The Class A Convertible Preferred Unitholders have no voting rights and only have certain consent rights. However, as outlined above, the Preferred Units were issued in conjunction with Class V Common Stock, which entitle the holders to voting rights. The Class A Convertible Preferred Unitholders are to be paid dividends, quarterly in arrears at the rate of 10% per annum of the original price per share, plus the amount of previously accrued, but unpaid dividends, compounded monthly On each Dividend Payment Date, the Company must: (i) pay the Sponsor an amount equal to 30% of the Preferred Unit Dividends that have accrued for such Dividend Period (or portion of a Dividend Period, as applicable) and (ii) may elect to either (A) pay the remainder of the Preferred Unit Dividends that have accrued for the applicable Dividend Period in cash or (B) to the extent the remaining portion of any such Preferred Unit Dividends are not paid on the Dividend Payment Date in cash, the remaining portion of the Preferred Unit Dividends will continue to accrue and compound, as described above.

Following the first anniversary of the date on which the first Class A Convertible Preferred Unit was issued (the “Class A Convertible Preferred Unit Original Issue Date”) and continuing until the earlier of (A) March 13, 2027, the “Maturity Date,” (B) a Required Redemption (as described in the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement), (C) the date the Sponsor elects for a Put Option Redemption, or (D) a Transaction Event Conversion (as described in the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement) , the Sponsor has the option to convert all, but not less than all, of the outstanding Class A Convertible Preferred Units into such number of Class B Units (an “Optional Conversion”) as is determined by dividing the Class A Convertible Preferred Unit Original Issue Price plus the aggregate accumulated and unpaid Class A Convertible Preferred Unit Accruing Dividends with respect to such Class A Convertible Preferred Units, if any, through the date the conversion occurs, by $11.00 (the “Optional Conversion Price”). The Sponsor must elect to convert all, but not less than all, of the outstanding Class A Convertible Preferred Units.

Each Class A Convertible Preferred Unit that is outstanding on the Maturity Date will be converted into such number of Class B Units (a “Maturity Date Conversion”) as is determined by dividing the Class A Convertible Preferred Unit Original Issue Price plus the aggregate accumulated and unpaid Class A Convertible Preferred Unit Accruing Dividends with respect to such Class A Convertible Preferred Units, if any, through and until the Maturity Date, by the Market Price (the “Maturity Date Conversion Price”). The “Market Price” shall mean the average of the daily VWAP of the Class A Common Stock during the five (5) Trading Days prior to the Maturity Date. The “VWAP” means, for any Trading Day, the per share daily volume weighted average price of the Class A Common Stock for such Trading Day on the principal trading exchange or market for the Common Stock (the “Principal Market”) from 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time through 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (the “Measurement Period”) or, if such price is not available, “VWAP” shall mean the market value per share of Class A Common Stock on such Trading Day as determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by an independent investment banking firm or other similar party chosen by the Company. A “Trading Day” means any days during the course of which the Principal Market on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the exchange of securities.

If, after the Class A Convertible Preferred Unit Original Issue Date, the Company (i) makes a distribution on its Class B Units in securities (including Class B Units), (ii) subdivides or splits its outstanding Class B Units into a greater number of Class B Units, (iii) combines or reclassifies its Class B Units into a smaller number of Class B Units or (iv) issues by reclassification of its Class B Units any securities (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Company is the surviving person), then the Conversion Price in effect at the time of the record date for such distribution or of the effective date of such subdivision, split, combination, or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that the Conversion of the Class A Convertible Preferred Units after such time shall entitle the Sponsor to receive the aggregate number of Class B Units that such holder would have been entitled to receive if the Class A Convertible Preferred Units had been converted into Class B Units immediately prior to such record date or effective date, as the case may be. An adjustment made pursuant to the applicable section of the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement shall become effective immediately after the record date in the case of a distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination, reclassification (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Company is the surviving person) or split. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any event described above shall occur. The Company and the ESGEN OpCo, LLC, as the case may be, agree that it will act in good faith to make any adjustment(s) required by the applicable sections of the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement equitably and in such a manner as to afford the Sponsor the benefits of the provisions hereof, and will not intentionally take any action to deprive such holders of the express benefit hereof.

Redemption

The Class A Convertible Preferred Units are redeemable in whole but not in part, at the then-applicable rate of return (” Required Return”), at the option of the Company (subject to the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement), at any time prior to the Maturity Date (a “Required Redemption”), or (ii) if required by the Company upon the Sponsor’s delivery to the Company of a notice in accordance with the Sponsor electing a Put Option Redemption.

Upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event (as defined in the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement), the Preferred Units will be entitled to distributions as follows:

The Class A Convertible Preferred Units are carried at their current redemption value of $16,130,871 on the accompany balance sheet as of December 31, 2024.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

As of December 31, 2024, the prior investors of Sunergy own 71.8% of the common units of the Company. The OpCo A&R LLC Agreement provides among other things, a holder of corresponding economic, non-voting Class B units of OpCo (the “Exchangeable OpCo Units”) has the right to cause OpCo to redeem one or more of such Exchangeable OpCo Units, together with the cancellation of an equal number of shares of such holder’s Zeo Class V Common Stock, for shares of Zeo Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, or, at the election of Zeo (as manager of OpCo), cash, in each case, subject to certain restrictions set forth in the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement and the Charter. The OpCo A&R LLC Agreement also provides for mandatory OpCo Unit Redemptions in certain limited circumstances, including in connection with certain changes of control. Subject to certain conditions, the Class A Convertible OpCo Preferred Units are redeemable by Zeo and following the first anniversary of the Closing may be converted by the Sponsor into Exchangeable OpCo Units (and then would be immediately exchanged on a one-for-one basis, together with an equal number of accompanying shares of Zeo Class V Common Stock, for shares Zeo Class A Common Stock). The Convertible OpCo Preferred Units have accruing distributions of 10% per annum and the Sponsor as holder thereof has certain consent rights over the taking of certain actions of OpCo and its subsidiaries.

The financial results of OpCo, LLC are consolidated with the Company with the redeemable noncontrolling interests’ share of our net loss separately allocated.