Restrictions on Certain Actions During the earlier of (a) five years from the date of this Agreement or (b) two years after the termination of the Venture Agreement, except as permitted pursuant to Section 5 hereof, Buyer, without the prior consent of the Company's Board of Directors will not, nor will it permit any affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of Regulation 12B under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of Buyer to:
(a) acquire (other than through stock splits or stock dividends), directly or indirectly or in conjunction with or through any other person, by purchase or otherwise, beneficial ownership of any additional shares of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company entitled to vote generally for the election of directors ("Voting Securities");
(b) directly or indirectly or through any other person, solicit proxies with respect to Voting Securities under any circumstance; or become a "participant" in any "election contest" relating to the election of directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit Buyer from soliciting proxies for the purpose of opposing any increase in the ownership limitation currently contained in the Company's Articles of Incorporation.
(c) deposit any Voting Securities in a voting trust, or subject any Voting Securities to a voting or similar agreement;
(d) directly or indirectly or through or in conjunction with any other person, engage in a tender or exchange offer for the Company's Voting Securities made by any other person or entity without the prior written approval of the Company, or engage in any proxy solicitation with any person or entity relating to the Company;
(e) take any action alone or in concert with any other person to acquire or change the control of the Company or, directly or indirectly, participate in any group seeking to obtain or take control of the Company; or
(f) sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Voting Securities except (i) as set forth in Section 7 hereof, (ii) to an affiliate of the Buyer, provided that the transferee agrees to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement, or (iii) pursuant to a public offering of the Shares registered under the Securities Act.
Limitation on Certain Restrictions on Subsidiaries Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its capital stock or any other interest or participation in its profits owned by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) make loans or advances to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (c) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(i) applicable law;
(ii) this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the other definitive documentation entered into in connection with any of the foregoing;
(iii) any Refinancing Note Documents;
(iv) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing any leasehold interest of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(v) customary provisions restricting assignment of any licensing agreement (in which Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is the licensee) or other contract entered into by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(vi) restrictions on the transfer of any asset pending the close of the sale of such asset;
(vii) any agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, to the extent the relevant encumbrance or restriction was not agreed to or adopted in connection with, or in anticipation of, the respective Permitted Acquisition and does not apply to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings, or the properties of any such Person, other than the Persons or the properties acquired in such Permitted Acquisition;
(viii) encumbrances or restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(ix) any agreement or instrument relating to Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary incurred pursuant to Section 10.04 to the extent such encumbrance or restriction only applies to such Foreign Subsidiary;
(x) an agreement effecting a refinancing, replacement or substitution of Indebtedness issued, assumed or incurred pursuant to an agreement or instrument referred to in clause (vii) above; provided that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in any such refinancing, replacement or substitution agreement are no less favorable to Holdings or the Lenders in any material respect than the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in the agreements or instruments referred to in such clause (vii);
(xi) restrictions on the transfer of any asset subject to a Lien permitted by Section 10.01;
(xii) restrictions and conditions imposed by the terms of the documentation governing any Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, which Indebtedness is permitted by Section 10.04;
(xiii) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 10.05 and applicable solely to such joint venture;
(xiv) on or after the execution and delivery thereof, (x) the Permitted Junior Debt Documents and (y) the Permitted Pari Passu Notes Documents;
(xv) negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness for borrowed money permitted under Section 10.04 but only if such negative pledge or restriction expressly permits Liens for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent and the Secured Creditors with respect to the credit facilities established hereunder and the Obligations under the Credit Documents on a senior basis and without a requirement that such holders of such Indebtedness be secured by such Liens securing the Obligations under the Credit Documents equally and ratably or on a junior basis; and
(xvi) restrictions and conditions under the terms of the documentation governing any Qualified Securitization Transaction or a Receivables Facility that, in each case, permitted by Section 10.04, are necessary or advisable, in the good faith determination of the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, to effect such Qualified Securitization Transaction or such Receivables Facility.
Certain Restrictions on Subsidiaries The Borrower will not permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries) to enter into or suffer to exist any indenture, agreement, instrument or other arrangement (other than the Loan Documents) that prohibits or restrains, in each case in any material respect, or imposes materially adverse conditions upon, the incurrence or payment of Indebtedness, the declaration or payment of dividends, the making of loans, advances, guarantees or Investments or the sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of property to the Borrower by any Subsidiary; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to (i) indentures, agreements, instruments or other arrangements pertaining to other Indebtedness permitted hereby (provided that such restrictions would not adversely affect the exercise of rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the Security Documents or restrict any Subsidiary in any manner from performing its obligations under the Loan Documents) and (ii) indentures, agreements, instruments or other arrangements pertaining to any lease, sale or other disposition of any asset permitted by this Agreement or any Lien permitted by this Agreement on such asset so long as the applicable restrictions only apply to the assets subject to such lease, sale, other disposition or Lien.
Restrictions on Sale of Shares Optionee represents and agrees that, upon Optionee's exercise of the Option in whole or part, unless there is in effect at that time under the Securities Act of 1933 a registration statement relating to the shares issued to him, he will acquire the shares issuable upon exercise of this Option for the purpose of investment and not with a view to their resale or further distribution, and that upon each exercise thereof Optionee will furnish to the Company a written statement to such effect, satisfactory to the Company in form and substance. Optionee agrees that any certificates issued upon exercise of this Option may bear a legend indicating that their transferability is restricted in accordance with applicable state or federal securities law. Any person or persons entitled to exercise this Option under the provisions of Paragraphs 5 and 6 hereof shall, upon each exercise of the Option under circumstances in which Optionee would be required to furnish such a written statement, also furnish to the Company a written statement to the same effect, satisfactory to the Company in form and substance.
Restrictions on Issuance of Shares If at any time the Board shall determine in its discretion, that listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Stock covered by the Option upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition to the exercise of the Option, the Option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Board.
Restrictions on Investments Neither the Borrower nor the Trust will, nor will either of them permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make or permit to exist or to remain outstanding any Investment except Investments in:
(a) marketable direct or guaranteed obligations of the United States of America that mature within one (1) year from the date of purchase by the Borrower or its Subsidiary;
(b) marketable direct obligations of any of the following: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Student Loan Marketing Association, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Financing Banks, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Land Banks, or any other agency or instrumentality of the United States of America;
(c) demand deposits, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and time deposits of United States banks having total assets in excess of $100,000,000; provided, however , that the aggregate amount at any time so invested with any single bank having total assets of less than $1,000,000,000 will not exceed $200,000;
(d) [Intentionally Deleted];
(e) [Intentionally Deleted];
(f) repurchase agreements having a term not greater than ninety (90) days and fully secured by securities described in the foregoing subsection (a), (b) or (e) with banks described in the foregoing subsection (c) or with financial institutions or other corporations having total assets in excess of $500,000,000;
(g) shares of so-called “money market funds” registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940 which maintain a level per-share value, invest principally in investments described in the foregoing subsections (a) through (f) and have total assets in excess of $50,000,000;
(h) the acquisition of fee interests by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in Real Estate which is utilized principally for shopping centers, and, subject to the restrictions set forth in §8.3 and §8.9 for development of new shopping centers, the acquisition of undeveloped Real Estate;
(i) Subsidiaries of the Borrower or the Trust that are not one hundred percent (100%) owned by the Borrower or the Trust or in Unconsolidated Affiliates, which Subsidiaries or Unconsolidated Affiliates are engaged in the ownership of Real Estate or development activity pursuant to §8.3 or §8.9, provided that in no event shall such Investments exceed fifteen percent (15%) of Borrower’s Consolidated Total Adjusted Asset Value in the aggregate without the prior written consent of the Required Banks;
(j) (i) in any preferred stock issued by Trust which has been repurchased solely with the proceeds of a new issue of common or preferred stock issued by Trust, or (ii) in any common stock issued by Trust which has been repurchased by the Trust, Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, provided that in no event shall such Investments pursuant to clause (ii) exceed in the aggregate $50,000,000.00 (calculated based upon the consideration given for such stock);
(k) subject to the restrictions set forth in §8.9, (i) in securities of real estate investment trusts which own real property which is used principally for fee interests in Real Estate utilized principally for shopping centers located within the United States, and (ii) in mortgages and notes receivables, provided that in no event shall the aggregate costs of all Investments pursuant to this §8.3(k) exceed five percent (5%) of Borrower’s Consolidated Total Adjusted Asset Value in the aggregate. For the purposes of this §8.3(k)(ii) only, notes receivable shall be valued at the lesser of face value (subject to reduction as a result of payments thereon) or book value determined in accordance with GAAP;
(l) whether directly or through a Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, in development permitted by §8.9 which at any time has a total cost (including acquisition, construction and other costs), whether such total costs are incurred directly by the Borrower, the Trust or such Subsidiary or through an Investment in an Unconsolidated Affiliate permitted under this Agreement, individually for each development project that is not in excess of ten percent (10%) of the Consolidated Total Adjusted Asset Value of the Borrower, and in the aggregate for all development projects that is not in excess of fifteen percent (15%) of the Consolidated Total Adjusted Asset Value of the Borrower. For the purposes of calculating the cost of developments by Subsidiaries or Unconsolidated Affiliates, the cost of such developments shall be based upon the Borrower’s interest in such Subsidiaries or Unconsolidated Affiliates. For purposes of this §8.3(l) and §8.9, the term “total cost” shall not include (i) costs specifically reimbursable by tenants or shadow anchors (other than through rent or a gross up of rent), (ii) capitalized general and administrative expenses, or (iii) operating expenses and interest to the extent of operating income received from the applicable development property;
(m) whether directly or through a Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate, in undeveloped parcels of Real Estate which in the aggregate do not exceed five percent (5%) of the Consolidated Total Adjusted Asset Value of the Borrower, provided that the acquisition or holding of any outlots or property adjacent to any Real Estate owned by the Borrower (or any Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate thereof), the Trust or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be deemed to be an undeveloped parcel of Real Estate for this purpose and options and purchase agreements to acquire any property shall not be deemed an acquisition or holding of such property; and
(n) subsidiaries that are one hundred percent (100%) owned by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing or §8.9, in no event shall the aggregate Investments of the Borrower, the Trust and their Subsidiaries in the Investments described in §8.3(i), (k), (l) and (m) exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of Borrower’s Consolidated Total Adjusted Asset Value at any time.
Restrictions on Subsidiaries Except for restrictions contained in this Agreement or any other agreement with respect to Indebtedness of any Borrower or Guarantor permitted hereunder as in effect on the date hereof, there are no contractual or consensual restrictions on any Borrower or Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries which prohibit or otherwise restrict (a) the transfer of cash or other assets (i) between any Borrower or Guarantor and any of its or their Subsidiaries or (ii) between any Subsidiaries of any Borrower or Guarantor or (b) the ability of any Borrower or Guarantor or any of its or their Subsidiaries to incur Indebtedness or grant security interests to Agent or any Lender in the Collateral.
Restrictions on Grant of the Option and Issuance of Shares The grant of the Option and the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities. The Option may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, the Option may not be exercised unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of exercise of the Option be in effect with respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. THE PARTICIPANT IS CAUTIONED THAT THE OPTION MAY NOT BE EXERCISED UNLESS THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED. ACCORDINGLY, THE PARTICIPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE OPTION WHEN DESIRED EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION IS VESTED. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares subject to the Option shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to the exercise of the Option, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.
No Restrictions on Subsidiaries No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.
Restrictions on Transfers (a) Except as provided in Section 4.7(c) below, but notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed), or (iv) cause the Partnership to be subjected to the provisions of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant risk of (i) the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) the Partnership being subjected to the provisions of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided however, that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then traded must have, prior to such amendment being effected, Special LP Approval.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed for trading.
(d) Each Certificate evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form or such other form as the General Partner shall determine in its sole discretion: THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P. THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, C) CAUSE STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P. TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED), OR (D) CAUSE STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P. TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED. STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS GP INC., THE GENERAL PARTNER OF STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P., MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P. BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OR CAUSING STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P. TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS TRADED.
