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).
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.
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.
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.
Board Observation Rights (a) The Borrower shall permit one (1) person representing the Lender (the “Observer”) to attend and observe (but not vote) at all meetings of the Borrower’s (or its Subsidiaries, as applicable) board of directors and any committee thereof, whether in person, by telephone or otherwise. The Borrower shall notify the Observer in writing at least five (5) Business Days in advance of (i) the date and time for each general or special meeting of its board of directors or any committee thereof and (ii) the adoption of any resolutions or actions by written consent (describing, in reasonable detail, the nature and substance of such action). The general meetings shall take place on no less than a quarterly basis. The Borrower shall concurrently deliver to the Observer all notices and any materials delivered to the board of directors or any committees thereof in connection with a board meeting or action to be taken by written consent, including a draft of any material resolutions or actions proposed to be adopted by written consent. The Observer shall be free prior to such meeting or adoption by consent to contact the board of directors and discuss the pending actions to be taken.
(b) The Borrower (or its Subsidiaries, as applicable) shall pay the Observer’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including the cost of travel, meals and lodging) in connection with the attendance of such meetings.
(c) If an issue is to be discussed or otherwise arises at any meeting of the board of directors of the Borrower or committee thereof which, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the board of directors, is not appropriate to be discussed in the presence of the Observer in order to avoid a conflict of interest on the part of such Observer or would result in disclosure of trade secrets or to preserve an attorney-client privilege, then such issue may be discussed without the Observer being present and any materials delivered to the board of directors pertaining to such issue need not be delivered to the Observer, so long as the Observer is given notice of the occurrence of such judgment by the board of directors, that the Observer is being excused, and that certain materials will not be delivered to the Observer.
(d) The rights described in this Section 7.14 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the assignment or transfer of the Lender’s rights and obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
Independent Directors Those Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company as such term is defined in the 1940 Act.
Special Committee The term “Special Committee” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 13(a).
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.
Observers Each Sponsor and MCK shall have the right, exercisable by delivering notice to the Company, to designate one (1) non-voting observer to attend any meetings of the Board of Directors, the boards of directors and equivalent governing bodies of Echo’s Subsidiaries and any committees of either of the foregoing. Notice of meetings of the Board of Directors, the boards of directors and equivalent governing bodies of Echo’s Subsidiaries and any committees thereof shall be furnished (together with all materials to be provided to the Board of Directors) to each non-voting observer no later than, and using the same form of communication as, notice of meetings of the Board of Directors, the Board of Managers, the boards of directors and equivalent governing bodies of Echo’s Subsidiaries and any committees thereof, as the case may be, that are furnished to the members of the Board of Directors, the Board of Managers, the boards of directors and equivalent governing bodies of Echo’s Subsidiaries and any committees thereof, respectively; provided, that Echo, the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, shall be entitled to remove such observer from such portions of a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Board of Managers, the boards of directors or equivalent governing bodies of any of Echo’s Subsidiaries or any committees thereof, in each case, to the extent such observer’s presence would be likely to result in the waiver of any attorney client privilege. Any observer designated under this Section 3.1(h) shall be permitted to attend any meeting of any of the Board of Directors, the boards of directors and equivalent governing bodies of Echo’s Subsidiaries and any committees of either of the foregoing, in each case, using the same form of communication permitted for members of such Board of Directors, boards of directors and equivalent governing bodies of Echo’s Subsidiaries or any committees thereof.
Associate Directors (A) Any person who has served as a director may be elected by the Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) An associate director shall be entitled to attend all directors meetings and participate in the discussion of all matters brought to the Board, with the exception that he would have no right to vote. An associate director will be eligible for appointment to Committees of the Company, with the exception of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Compensation Committee, which must be comprised solely of active directors.
