Board Composition and Board Designations The Company shall ensure that: (i) the qualifications of the persons serving as members of the Board of Directors and the overall composition of the Board comply with the Sxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, with the Exchange Act and with the listing rules of the Exchange or any other national securities exchange, as the case may be, in the event the Company seeks to have its Public Securities listed on another exchange or quoted on an automated quotation system, and (ii) if applicable, at least one member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation S-K and the listing rules of the Exchange.
Board Observer Rights (a) The Company agrees that it will invite Observer to attend, in a non-voting observer capacity, all meetings of the Board and any and all Committees for the purposes of permitting Observer to have current information with respect to the affairs of the Company and the actions taken by the Board and Observer to provide input and advice with respect thereto (the “Approved Purposes”). Observer shall have the right to be heard at any such meeting, but in no event shall Observer: (i) be deemed to be a member of the Board or such Committees; (ii) have the right to vote on any matter under consideration by the Board or such Committees or otherwise have any power to cause the Company to take, or not to take, any action; or (iii) except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, have or be deemed to have, or otherwise be subject to, any duties (fiduciary or otherwise) to the Company or its stockholders or any duties (fiduciary or otherwise) otherwise applicable to the directors of the Company. As a non-voting observer, Observer will also be provided (concurrently with delivery to the directors of the Company and in the same manner delivery is made to them) copies of all notices, minutes, consents, and all other materials or information (financial or otherwise) that are provided to the directors with respect to a meeting or any written consent in lieu of meeting (except to the extent Observer has been excluded therefrom pursuant to clause (c) below).
(b) If a meeting of the Board or any of the Committees is conducted via telephone or other electronic medium (e.g., videoconference), Observer may attend such meeting via the same medium; provided, however, that it shall be a material breach of this Agreement by Observer to provide any other person access to such meeting without the Company’s express prior written consent (which consent may be by e-mail).
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may exclude Observer from access to any material or meeting or portion thereof if: (i) the Board concludes in good faith, upon advice of the Company’s counsel, that such exclusion is reasonably necessary to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the Company and such counsel; provided, however, that any such exclusion shall apply only to such portion of the material or such portion of the meeting which would be required to preserve such privilege and not to any other portion thereof; or (ii) such portion of a meeting is an executive session limited solely to independent director members of the Board, independent auditors and/or legal counsel, as the Board may designate, and Observer (assuming Observer were a member of the Board) would not meet the then-applicable standards for independence adopted by the New York Stock Exchange, or such other exchange on which the Company’s securities are then traded.
(d) The Company shall compensate Observer in the same amount of all cash retainers, meeting fees and any other cash fees as if Observer were an independent director member of the Board and a member of each of the committees thereof, as such cash compensation may be modified from time to time. Further, the Company shall reimburse Observer for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Observer in connection with attendance at Board and Committee meetings. All compensation and reimbursements payable by the Company pursuant to this Section 1(d) shall be paid to Observer in accordance with the Company’s policies and practices with respect to director compensation and expense reimbursement then in effect; provided, however, that any such compensation or reimbursement shall be paid to Observer no later than comparable compensation or reimbursement is paid to the members of the Board.
(e) The rights described in this Section 1 shall terminate upon: (i) the end of the Observer Period, as described in the Merger Agreement; (ii) any material violation of the terms of this Agreement by Observer which (A) remains uncured within ten business days after receipt of notice thereof, or (B) if such violation is not subject to cure, directly causes harm to the Company in the Board’s sole and absolute discretion; or (iii) the death or disability of Observer.
Board Observers At any time during which there is an outstanding balance on the Tranche A Term Loan (as such capitalized term is defined in that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 15, 2009 (the “Credit Agreement”), among Xxxxxx Communications Company, LLC, Xxxxxx Publishing Group, LLC, the Lenders party thereto, and Tranche Manager, LLC, as Administrative Agent), Tranche Holdings, LLC, or its designee, shall be entitled to designate one (1) nonvoting observer (the “Observer”) to the Company’s Board of Directors and to all committees thereof. Such Observer shall be entitled to attend all Board meetings (which meetings shall generally be held telephonically) but will not be entitled to vote at any Board meeting. Such Observer shall be entitled to receive all consents, proposed consents or Board actions, documents, materials, information and notices (whether or not in writing) provided to the Board; provided, however, that the Company reserves the right to exclude such Observer from access to any material or meeting or portion thereof (only if the Observer is notified of such withholding) if the Board votes in good faith after advice of counsel, that such exclusion is necessary (taking into account any confidentiality agreements that such Observer has executed or is willing to execute): (a) to preserve the attorney-client privilege; (b) to prevent a breach by the Board of Directors of its fiduciary duties; or (c) to avoid the impairment of the Company’s ability to enforce its rights under this Agreement in any bona fide dispute with the Observer. Such Observer may be removed from office only by Tranche Holdings, LLC, except that the Observer may be removed for cause by the Board of Directors in the event of willful misconduct or material breach of any confidentiality agreement with the Company or its affiliates; provided such Observer shall not be removed for cause until after Tranche Holdings, LLC has been notified of the Board’s intent to remove such person for cause and is given Tranche Holdings, LLC a reasonable amount of time to appoint another person as an Observer. Upon the payment and satisfaction in full of Tranche A Term Loan, Tranche Holdings, LLC shall cease to possess the right to designate an Observer, and any Observer so designated will automatically and without further action be removed from the Board. At any time during which there is an outstanding balance on the Tranche A Term Loan (as defined in the Credit Agreement), all travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by Tranche Holdings, LLC or its designee in connection with its rights in this Section 3.1.8 shall be reimbursed by the Company.
Removal of Board Members Each Stockholder also agrees to vote, or cause to be voted, all Shares owned by such Stockholder, or over which such Stockholder has voting control, from time to time and at all times, in whatever manner as shall be necessary to ensure that:
(a) no director elected pursuant to Sections 1.2 or 1.3 of this Agreement may be removed from office other than for cause unless (i) such removal is directed or approved by the affirmative vote of the Person(s) entitled under Section 1.2 to designate that director (including, as applicable, the Noteholders); or (ii) the Person(s) originally entitled to designate or approve such director pursuant to Section 1.2 is no longer so entitled to designate or approve such director;
(b) any vacancies created by the resignation, removal or death of a director elected pursuant to Section 1.2 or 1.3 shall be filled pursuant to the provisions of this Section 1; and
(c) upon the request of any party entitled to designate a director as provided in Section 1.2 to remove such director (including, as applicable, the Noteholders), such director shall be removed. All Stockholders agree to execute any written consents required to perform the obligations of this Agreement, and the Company agrees at the request of any party entitled to designate directors (including, as applicable, the Noteholders) to call a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing directors.
Board Observer (a) Priceline shall have the right, exercisable by delivering notice to the Company, to designate one observer to attend any meetings of the Board and each committee thereof (the “Board Observer”) for so long as (i) Priceline and its Subsidiaries beneficially own at least the Board Observer Threshold Shareholding in the Company, (ii) Priceline and its Subsidiaries comply in all material respects with the provisions of Section 2.1, (iii) Priceline and its Subsidiaries comply in all material respects with the provisions of Section 3.1(a) and (iv) the Marketing Agreement is in full force and effect and Xxxxxxx.xxx B.V. complies in all material respects with the provisions thereof (the “Board Observer Right”).
(b) The Board Observer shall be entitled (i) to receive notice of each meeting (including telephonic meetings) of the Board and any committee thereof in the same form and manner as is given to the members of the Board and the same materials as and when provided to such members (both before or after a meeting, including copies of minutes thereof), including materials provided other than in connection with a meeting, and neither the Board nor any committee thereof shall conduct any business by written consent without giving such prior notice to the Board Observer and a copy of the proposed consent, any exhibits, annexes or schedules thereto and any related materials and (ii) at the Board Observer’s discretion, to attend each Board meeting or meeting of any committee thereof, either in person or by telephonic conference, and to participate fully in all discussions among directors of the Board at such meetings, and the Company covenants to take reasonable measures to facilitate such attendance and discussion; provided that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.2, (A) the Board Observer shall agree to hold in confidence all information provided (provided that the Board Observer shall not be restricted in any confidential communications or discussions with or the confidential provision of information to Priceline and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, accountants, agents, counsel and other representatives), (B) such Board Observer and Priceline shall be subject to the Company’s xxxxxxx xxxxxxx policies and procedures and shall sign an acknowledgement form stating that he or she and it agree to comply with such policies and procedures (it being understood that such xxxxxxx xxxxxxx policies and procedures shall not restrict Priceline or its Affiliates from purchasing ADSs or Ordinary Shares during any “blackout” or similar non-trading period if such purchases are made pursuant to a purchase plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act) and (C) the Board Observer may be excluded from all or a portion of any meeting or from receiving all or a portion of any materials provided to the member of the Board (x) to the extent that the presence of the Board Observer at such meeting or any portion thereof or the receipt by the Board Observer of such materials or any portion thereof, as the case may be, could reasonably be expected to result in, based on the advice of the Company’s external counsel, the loss of attorney-client privilege in relation to the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates, or (y) to the extent the subject matter to be discussed at the meeting concerns (1) the Company’s rights under agreements with Priceline or its Subsidiaries or (2) matters related to business competition between the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Priceline or its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, in the People’s Republic of China); it being understood that the Board Observer shall not constitute a member of the Board and shall not be entitled to vote on, or consent to, any matters presented to the Board. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the first sentence of this Section 3.2(b), in the event that any regular or special meeting of the Board is convened, the Company shall be deemed to be in full compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.2(b), provided that the Board Observer is given the notice in the same form and manner as, and copies of the same materials as and when provided to, the members of the Board and the Company takes reasonable measures to facilitate the Board Observer’s attendance at any such meeting in accordance with this Section 3.2(b).
Observer (a) For so long as RA Capital holds at least 529,474 Series A Preferred Shares (or Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares) as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events, RA Capital shall be entitled to nominate a representative board observer (the “RA Capital Observer”).
(b) For so long as Venrock holds at least 352,983 Series A Preferred Shares (or Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares) as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events, Venrock shall be entitled to nominate a representative board observer (the “Venrock Observer”).
(c) For so long as FIIF holds at least 352,983 Series A Preferred Shares (or the Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares) as appropriately adjusted for share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events, FIIF shall be entitled to nominate a representative board observer (together with the RA Capital Observer and Venrock Observer, the “Observers”).
(d) Each Observer shall be entitled to (i) attend and participate in all Board or committee meetings in a non-voting capacity and (ii) receive copies of all notices and materials provided to other members of the Board and the committees at the same time and in the same manner as provided to such other members of the Board; provided, however, that the Observer shall agree to hold in confidence and trust and to act in a fiduciary manner with respect to all information so provided; provided further, that the Company reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude such Observer from any meeting or portion thereof based on the advice of counsel or if the Company reasonably believes that (x) access to such information or attendance at such meeting could reasonably result in an adverse effect to the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel or (y) the Observer has a conflict of interest with respect to the subject matter.
Independent Directors Those Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company as such term is defined in the 1940 Act.
Board Committees The Director hereby agrees to sit in the relevant committees of the Board and to perform all of the duties, services and responsibilities necessary thereunder.
Preferred Stock Directors Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of directors of the Issuer shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have the right, with holders of shares of any one or more other classes or series of Voting Parity Stock outstanding at the time, voting together as a class, to elect two directors (hereinafter the “Preferred Directors” and each a “Preferred Director”) to fill such newly created directorships at the Issuer’s next annual meeting of stockholders (or at a special meeting called for that purpose prior to such next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full at which time such right shall terminate with respect to the Designated Preferred Stock, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned; provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Director that the election of such Preferred Director shall not cause the Issuer to violate any corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Issuer may then be listed or traded that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock as a class to vote for directors as provided above, the Preferred Directors shall cease to be qualified as directors, the term of office of all Preferred Directors then in office shall terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors shall be reduced by the number of Preferred Directors elected pursuant hereto. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of Voting Parity Stock, to the extent the voting rights of such holders described above are then exercisable. If the office of any Preferred Director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the remaining Preferred Director may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.
Continuing Directors The Continuing Directors are the individuals constituting the Board as of the date this Agreement was executed by Kaydon and any subsequent directors whose election or nomination for election by Kaydon’s stockholders was approved by a vote of two-thirds of the individuals who are then Continuing Directors, but specifically excluding any individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as the term is used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A issued under the Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board.
