FORM OF EXCHANGE AGREEMENT dated as of
dated as
of
[
], 2007
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS |
1
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Section
1.1 |
DEFINITIONS
|
1
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Section
1.2 |
GENDER
|
5
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ARTICLE
II EXCHANGE |
5
|
|
Section
2.1 |
EXCHANGE
WITH ENTITIES |
5
|
Section
2.2 |
REVOCABILITY;
EXPENSES |
8
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Section
2.3 |
DELEGATION;
FIG CALL RIGHT |
8
|
ARTICLE
III MISCELLANEOUS |
8
|
|
Section
3.1 |
NOTICES
|
8
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Section
3.2 |
INTERPRETATION
|
9
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Section
3.3 |
PARTNERS
|
9
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Section
3.4 |
PARTNERSHIPS
|
10
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Section
3.5 |
SEVERABILITY
|
10
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Section
3.6 |
COUNTERPARTS
|
10
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Section
3.7 |
ENTIRE
AGREEMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES |
10
|
Section
3.8 |
FURTHER
ASSURANCES |
10
|
Section
3.9 |
GOVERNING
LAW; EQUITABLE REMEDIES |
10
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Section
3.10 |
CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION |
11
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Section
3.11 |
AMENDMENTS;
WAIVERS |
11
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Section
3.12 |
ASSIGNMENT
|
12
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Section
3.13 |
TAX
TREATMENT |
12
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Section
3.14 |
HEADINGS
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12
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i
EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of
[
], 2007, among FIG Corp., a Delaware corporation ("FIG"), FIG Asset Co. LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company ("FIGA"), Fortress Operating Entity I LP, a
Delaware limited partnership ("FOE I"), Fortress Operating Entity II LP, a
Delaware limited partnership ("FOE II"), Fortress Operating Entity III LP, a
Delaware limited partnership ("FOE III"), Principal Holdings I LP, a Delaware
limited partnership ("PH I"), and Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx., Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx (the "Original Partners").
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective
meanings ascribed thereto in Section 1.1.
WHEREAS,
in connection with the closing of the IPO, Fortress and its Affiliates intend
to consummate the transactions described in the Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Commission on November 8, 2006 (Registration No. 333-138514)
(as amended and supplemented from time to time, the "IPO Registration
Statement");
WHEREAS,
each Original Partner owns Partnership Units in each Partnership;
WHEREAS,
the parties hereto desire to provide for the possible future exchange of
Partnership Units for Class A Shares, on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS,
an Exchange Right, once exercised, represents a several, and not a joint and
several, obligation of the Partnerships, and no Partnership shall have any
obligation or right to acquire Partnership Units issued by another
Partnership;
WHEREAS,
no Partnership shall have any obligation to acquire from any Partner any
Partnership Unit issued by it unless such Partner exercises its Exchange Right
with respect to an equal number of Partnership Units in each Partnership and
delivers to Fortress for cancellation a number of Class B Shares equal to such
number of Partnership Units; and
WHEREAS,
the parties intend that an Exchange consummated hereunder be treated for
Federal income tax purposes, to the extent possible, as a taxable sale of
Partnership Units by the exchanging Partner to FIG or FIGA, as the case may
be;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained
herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1 DEFINITIONS. As
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
An
"AFFILIATE" of any Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly,
through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under
common Control with, such first Person. "CONTROL" means the possession, direct
or indirect, of the power to direct
or cause
the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
"AGGREGATE
VALUE" means, with respect to any Potentially Exchanged FOG Units, an amount
equal to the product of (a) the number of such Potentially Exchanged FOG Units,
multiplied by (b) the closing sales price of a Class A Share on the primary
securities exchange on which the Class A Shares are then traded on the Business
Day immediately preceding the date of delivery of the Exchange Request or
Exchange Notice for such Potentially Exchanged FOG Units.
"AGREEMENT"
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
"AGREEMENT
AMONG PRINCIPALS" means
the Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Original
Partners.
"BUSINESS
DAY” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday
recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the
State of New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
"CALL
RIGHT" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
"CLASS A
SHARES" means the Class A Shares of Fortress.
"CLASS B
SHARES" means the Class B Shares of Fortress.
"CLOSING"
and "CLOSING DATE" shall have the meanings set forth in Section
2.1(g).
"COMMISSION"
means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any similar
agency then having jurisdiction to enforce the Securities Act.
"EXCHANGE"
shall mean the exchange by a Partner of a FOG Unit for a Class A Share, as
described in Article II of this Agreement.
"EXCHANGE
RIGHT" shall mean the right of a Partner to exchange a FOG Unit for a Class A
Share pursuant to Article II of this Agreement.
"EXCHANGE
REQUEST" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
"EXCHANGE
NOTICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
"FIG"
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
"FIGA"
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
"FINAL
EXCHANGED FOG UNITS" shall mean, with respect to any Partner and any Closing,
an amount of FOG Units equal to (a) the number of Potentially Exchanged FOG
Units of such Partner with respect to such Closing, less (b) the number of such
Potentially Exchanged FOG Units with respect to which such Partner revokes an
Exchange Request or Exchange Notice pursuant to Section 2.2.
2
"FOG
UNIT" refers to a unit in the Fortress Operating Group, which represents one
Partnership Unit in each Partnership.
"FORTRESS"
shall mean Fortress Investment Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
formerly known as Fortress Investment Group Holdings LLC.
"FORTRESS
OPERATING GROUP" means, collectively, the Persons directly Controlled by FIG or
FIGA. As of the date of this Agreement, FOE I, FOE II, FOE III and PH I
constitute the Fortress Operating Group.
"GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITY" means any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or
other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or
foreign and any subdivision thereof.
"INVESTING
FOG UNIT" means refers one Partnership Unit in each of the Principal
Entities.
"IPO"
means the initial offering and sale of Class A Shares to the public, as
described in the IPO Registration Statement.
"IPO
REGISTRATION STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this
Agreement.
"LIENS"
means any and all liens, charges, security interests, options, claims,
mortgages, pledges, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, obligations,
understandings or arrangements or other restrictions on title or transfer of
any nature whatsoever.
"OPERATING
FOG UNIT" means one Partnership Unit in each of the Operating
Entities.
"OPERATING
ENTITIES" means the Persons directly Controlled by FIG.
"ORIGINAL
PARTNERS" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
"PARTNERS"
means the Original Partners and all other Persons who execute and deliver a
joinder to this Agreement, as contemplated in Section 3.3.
“PARTNERSHIP”
shall mean any Person that is included in the Fortress Operating Group, and
shall mean any Operating Entity or Principal Entity. As of the date of this
Agreement, the Partnerships consist of FOE I, FOE II, FOE III and PH I, but if
any other Person subsequently becomes a Partnership, FIG and FIGA will cause it
to execute a joinder to this Agreement, pursuant to Section 3.4.
"PARTNERSHIP
PARTICIPATION NOTICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.1(b).
"PARTNERSHIP
UNIT" means one unit of interest in any of the Partnerships (including, without
limitation, a limited partnership interest and a limited liability company
interest).
3
"PERMITTED
TRANSFEREE" shall mean with respect to each Original Partner (a) such Original
Partner's spouse, (b) a lineal descendant of such Original Partner's maternal
or paternal grandparents, the spouse of any such descendant or a lineal
descendant of any such spouse, (c) a Charitable Institution (as defined below),
(d) a trustee of a trust (whether inter
vivos or
testamentary), all of the current beneficiaries and presumptive remaindermen of
which are one or more of such Original Partner and Persons described in clauses
(a) through (c) of this definition; provided, however, that any subsequent
transfer of any portion of the ownership of the entity such that it is owned in
any part by a Person other than an Original Partner and/or a Person described
in clauses (a) through (d) of this definition will not be deemed to be a
transfer to a Permitted Transferee, (e) a corporation, limited liability
company or partnership, of which all of the outstanding shares of capital stock
or interests therein are owned by one or more of such Original Partner and
Persons described in clauses (a) through (d) of this definition, (f) an
individual mandated under a qualified domestic relations order, (g) a legal or
personal representative of such Original Partner in the event of his death or
Disability (as defined below), (h) any other Original Partner with respect to
transactions contemplated by the Principals Agreement, (i) any other Original
Partner who is then employed by Fortress or any of its Affiliates or any
Permitted Transferee of such Original Partner in respect to any transaction not
contemplated by the Principals Agreement, and (j) in the case of Xx. Xxxxxxxxx,
XX0 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. For purpose of this definition:
(i) "lineal descendants" shall not include individuals adopted after attaining
the age of eighteen (18) years and such adopted Person's descendants; (ii)
Charitable Institution shall refer to an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Code (or any corresponding provision of a future United State
Internal Revenue law) which is exempt from income taxation under section 501(a)
thereof; (iii) "presumptive remaindermen" shall refer to those Persons entitled
to a share of a trust's assets if it were then to terminate; and (iv)
Disability shall refer to any physical or mental incapacity which prevents such
Original Partner from carrying out all or substantially all of his duties under
his employment agreement with Fortress or any of its Subsidiaries in such
capacity for any period of one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days or any
aggregate period of six (6) months in any 12-month period, as determined, in
its sole discretion, by a majority of the members of the board of directors of
Fortress, including a majority of the Original Partners who are then members of
the board of directors of Fortress (but for the sake of clarity not including
the Original Partner in respect of which the determination is being
made).
"PERSON"
means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization,
Governmental Entity or other entity.
"POSSIBLE
CLOSING DATE" shall mean the fifth Business Day prior to the last Business Day
of the calendar month immediately preceding the last calendar month of each
fiscal quarter of Fortress.
"POTENTIALLY
EXCHANGED FOG UNITS" shall mean, with respect to any Partner and any Closing,
the maximum number of FOG Units that such Partner wishes to exchange for Class
A Shares at such Closing, as set forth in such Partner’s Exchange Request
or Exchange Notice for such Closing.
"PRINCIPAL
ENTITIES" means the Persons directly Controlled by FIGA.
4
"PRINCIPALS
AGREEMENT" means the Agreement Among Principals, dated as of the date hereof,
by and among the Original Partners.
"PROCEEDING"
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.
"SELECTED
COURTS" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.
"SHAREHOLDERS
AGREEMENT" means
the Shareholders Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the
Original Partners and Fortress.
"SUBSIDIARIES"
means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other
Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise
controls more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests or a
sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such
Person.
Section
1.2 GENDER. For
the purposes of this Agreement, the words "he," "his" or "himself" shall be
interpreted to include the masculine, feminine and corporate, other entity or
trust form.
ARTICLE
II
EXCHANGE
Section
2.1 EXCHANGE
WITH ENTITIES.
(a) Notice
for Exchange. A
Partner may elect to exchange any number of his FOG Units for Class A Shares by
delivering a written notice (an "Exchange Request") to such effect to the
Partnerships, not less than 25 Business Days prior to the next Possible Closing
Date, setting forth the maximum number of FOG Units the Partner wishes to
exchange for Class A Shares (such Partner's "Potentially Exchanged FOG Units");
provided, however, that the Potentially Exchanged FOG Units must have an
Aggregate Value, as of the date of such notice, of at least twenty million
dollars ($20,000,000). The Partner shall represent in the Exchange Request that
he owns, and will continue to own until the Closing, his Potentially Exchanged
FOG Units and the Class B Shares required to be delivered to Fortress at the
applicable Closing, in each case, free and clear of all Liens, except as set
forth in such Exchange Request, and, if there are any Liens identified in the
Exchange Request, such Partner shall covenant that he will deliver to the
Partnerships at the applicable Closing evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Partnerships that all such Liens have been released. Any Exchange initiated
pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) shall occur on the applicable Closing
Date.
(b) Notice
to Other Partners.
Promptly upon receipt of a valid Exchange Request from a Partner, each
Partnership shall provide written notice (a "Partnership Participation Notice")
to every other Partner informing all such Partners that they may exchange FOG
Units with the Partnerships for Class A Shares on the next Possible Closing
Date. Each Partner shall have the right to exchange any or all of his FOG Units
with the Partnerships for Class A Shares by delivering to the Partnerships,
within ten Business Days of delivery of such Partnership Participation Notice,
a written notice (an "Exchange Notice"), setting forth the Partner's desire to
Exchange FOG Units and the number of FOG Units the Partner wishes to
5
Exchange
for Class A Shares. The Partner shall represent in the Partner Notice that he
owns, and will continue to own until the Closing, such FOG Units and the Class
B Shares required to be delivered to Fortress at the applicable Closing, in
each case, free and clear of all Liens, except as set forth in such Exchange
Notice, and, if there are any Liens identified in the Partner Notice, such
Partner shall covenant that he will deliver to the Partnerships at the
applicable Closing evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Partnerships that
all such Liens have been released.
(c) Concurrent
Exchanges. The
Exchange Right, once exercised, represents a several, and not a joint and
several, obligation of the Partnerships, and no Partnership shall have any
obligation or right to acquire one or more Partnership Units issued by another
Partnership. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, an Exchange
Request or an Exchange Notice shall not be valid unless the Partner giving such
Exchange Request or Exchange Notice requests an exchange of an equal number of
Partnership Units in each Partnership.
(d) Engagement
of a Financial Advisor. Upon
receiving a valid Exchange Request pursuant to Section 2.1(a), the Partnerships
shall collectively engage a financial advisor of national reputation to
determine the relative value of each Operating Entity and each Principal Entity
as of the applicable Closing Date and the parties hereto agree to be bound by
such financial advisor's determination, including, without limitation, for tax
reporting purposes. The Partnerships shall be responsible for the fees and
expenses of such financial advisor. The parties agree, however, that in the
event that the Partnerships have received a valuation or an opinion from a
financial advisor of national reputation regarding such relative values dated
within 45 days prior to the applicable Closing Date, and each of the board of
directors of FIG and the sole member of FIGA determines in its good faith
judgment that no material change has occurred, or is expected to occur prior to
Closing, with respect to the Partnerships, the Partnerships may elect to use
such valuation or opinion for purposes of this Section 2.1(d) and the parties
hereto agree to be bound by such valuation or opinion, including, without
limitation, for tax reporting purposes.
(e) Closing.
(i) If an
Exchange Request has been timely delivered pursuant to Section 2.1(a), then,
subject to Section 2.2, on the next Possible Closing Date (as such date may be
extended pursuant to Section 2.1(e)(ii) or (iii), the "Closing Date"), the
parties shall effect the closing (the "Closing") of the transactions
contemplated by Section 2.1 at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx
& Xxxx LLP, Four Times Square, New York, New York, 10036, or at such other
time, at such other place, and in such other manner, as the applicable parties
hereto shall agree in writing.
(ii) If the
Closing Date falls on a day during which officers and directors of
Fortress are prohibited by the trading policies of Fortress from disposing
of equity securities of Fortress, such Closing Date shall instead be
deemed to be the first Business Day after such date that the officers and
directors of Fortress are allowed to dispose of equity securities of Fortress
pursuant to the trading policies of Fortress.
6
(iii) Any of
the Partnerships may, if it determines, based on the advice of counsel, that
consummating an Exchange contemplated by this Section 2.1 on the next Possible
Closing Date will result in adverse tax consequences to the general partner of
such Partnership, delay the applicable Closing for up to six months by giving
notice of the new Closing Date to all Partners and Partnerships. The new
Closing Date is not required to be a Possible Closing Date.
(iv) The
Partnerships are not required to effect a Closing relating to the delivery of
an Exchange Request unless the aggregate number of Final Exchanged FOG Units of
all Partners who elect to participate in such Closing by delivering an Exchange
Request or Exchange Notice have an Aggregate Value of at least $50 million;
provided, however, that the Partnerships may, collectively, waive this
condition at any time.
(f) Closing
Condition. The
obligations of all of the parties to consummate an Exchange pursuant to this
Section 2.1 shall be subject to the condition that there shall be no
injunction, restraining order or decree of any nature of any Governmental
Entity that is in effect that restrains or prohibits the exchange of
Partnership Units for Class A Shares.
(g) Closing
Deliveries. At
each Closing, with respect to each Partner that requests the Exchange, or
elects to participate in the Exchange, contemplated for such Closing:
(i) such
Partner shall deliver to each Partnership certificates representing a number of
Partnership Units in such Partnership equal to the number of such Partner's
Final Exchanged FOG Units, together with stock powers duly endorsed in blank;
(ii) such
Partner shall deliver to Fortress for cancellation a certificate or
certificates representing a number of Class B Shares equal to the number of
such Partner's Final Exchanged FOG Units, together with stock powers duly
endorsed in blank;
(iii) if
applicable, such Partner shall deliver evidence reasonably satisfactory to each
Partnership that all Liens on his Final Exchanged FOG Units and Class B Shares
delivered at Closing have been released;
(iv) each
Partnership shall deliver to such Partner a certificate or certificates,
registered in the name of such Partner or its designee, representing a number
of Class A Shares equal to the product of (a) the number of Final Exchanged FOG
Units, multiplied by (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is the value of
such Partnership, and the denominator of which is the value of all
Partnerships, as determined pursuant to Section 2.1(d); provided,
however, that
the Partnerships may elect to collectively deliver to such Partner a
certificate or certificates representing a number of Class A Shares equal to
the number of his Final Exchanged FOG Units;
7
(v) if a
Partner delivers to a Partnership a certificate or certificates that represent
more Partnership Units than the number of Final Exchanged FOG Units, the
Partnership shall deliver to such Partner a certificate or certificates
registered in the name of such Partner or its designee, representing a number
of Partnership Units in such Partnership equal to the excess of (a) the number
of Partnership Units represented by the certificates delivered by such Partner
at Closing, over (b) the number of Final Exchanged FOG Units; and
(vi)
if a
Partner delivers to Fortress a certificate or certificates that represent more
Class B Shares than the number of Final Exchanged FOG Units, the Partnership
shall cause Fortress to deliver to such Partner a certificate or certificates
registered in the name of such Partner or its designee, representing a number
of Class B Shares equal to the excess of (a) the number of Class B Shares Units
represented by the certificates delivered by such Partner at Closing, over (b)
the number of Final Exchanged FOG Units.
(h) The
parties agree that no Partner shall be required in an Exchange to deliver a
number of Partnership Units in any Partnership or a number of Class B Shares
that is different than the number of such Partner's Final Exchanged FOG
Units.
Section
2.2 REVOCABILITY;
EXPENSES. The
parties agree that a Partner may revoke an Exchange Request or an Exchange
Notice with respect to any or all of the Potentially Exchanged FOG Units set
forth in such Partner's Exchange Request or Exchange Notice, by delivery of a
written notice to the Partnerships at any time prior to Closing. If, after
giving effect to all such revocations, the aggregate number of Final Exchanged
FOG Units of all Partners who elect to participate in a Closing have an
Aggregate Value of less than $50 million, the Partnerships will have no
obligation to effect such Closing. Each party hereto shall bear his or its own
expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, whether or
not any such transaction is ultimately consummated.
Section
2.3 DELEGATION;
FIG CALL RIGHT. Each
of the Operating Entities hereby delegates to FIG all of its obligations to
effect an Exchange, and each of the Principal Entities hereby delegates to FIGA
all of its obligations to effect an Exchange. Each of FIG and FIGA hereby
accept such delegation, agree to perform such obligations, and agree to bear
all of their own expenses associated with any Exchange. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, but subject to a Partnership's right to
defer the Closing of an Exchange pursuant to Section 2.1(e)(iii), FIG shall
have the right (the “Call Right”), but not the obligation, to assume
FIGA’s obligations to effect an Exchange at any particular Closing with
respect to FOG Units issued by a Principal Entity. FIG may exercise the Call
Right by giving written notice to such effect to FIGA prior to such Closing. If
FIG exercises the Call Right, neither FIGA nor any of the Principal Entities
shall be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE
III
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
3.1 NOTICES. All
notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party
shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written
8
instrument
delivered in person or sent by facsimile (provided a copy is thereafter
promptly delivered as provided in this Section 3.1) or nationally recognized
overnight courier, addressed to such party at the address or facsimile number
set forth below or such other address or facsimile number as may hereafter be
designated in writing by such party to the other parties:
(a) |
If to
FIG, FIGA or any Partnership, to: |
c/o
Fortress Invest Group LLC
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
(T)
(000) 000-0000
(F)
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
General Counsel
with a
copy to:
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
(T)
(000) 000-0000
(F)
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Coco, Esq.
(b) |
if to
any of the Partners, to: |
the
address and facsimile set forth in the records of Fortress
Section
3.2 INTERPRETATION. The
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever
the words "included", "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement,
they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation".
Section
3.3 PARTNERS. To
the extent an Original Partner (or an applicable Permitted
Transferee) transfers his FOG Units, and corresponding Class B
Shares, to a Permitted Transferee of such Original Partner or to any
other Person in a transaction not in contravention of, and in
accordance with, applicable Partnership Agreements, the Shareholder Agreement
and Agreement Among Principals, then such Person shall have the right to
execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to each of FIG and FIGA, on behalf of the respective
Partnerships they Control, agreeing to become a "Partner"
for all purposes of this Agreement. FIG and
FIGA may, in their sole discretion, on behalf of the respective Partnerships
they Control, allow an entity (a "Holding Entity") that holds FOG Units and
corresponding Class B Shares on behalf of employees of Fortress or any of its
Subsidiaries to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to FIG and
FIGA, on behalf of the respective Partnerships they Control,
agreeing to become a
9
"Partner"
for all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in such
joinder. In connection with the foregoing, FIG and FIGA may, in their
sole discretion, on
behalf of the respective Partnerships they Control, grant
a Holding Entity in the applicable joinder the right to effect an
exchange of FOG Units and corresponding Class B Shares for Class A
Shares in the event that no Partner delivers an Exchange Request during a
given calendar year.
Section
3.4 PARTNERSHIPS. Each
of FIG and FIGA hereby agree that if any other Person subsequently becomes a
Partnership, it will cause such Person to execute a joinder to this Agreement
and become a "Partnership" for all purposes of this Agreement.
Section
3.5 SEVERABILITY. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this
Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or entity or any
circumstance, is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a)
a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to
carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of
such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement
and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall
not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such
invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such
provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.
Section
3.6 COUNTERPARTS. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which shall, taken together, be considered one
and the same agreement, it being understood that both parties need not sign the
same counterpart.
Section
3.7 ENTIRE
AGREEMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This
Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior
agreements, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any Person, other
than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies hereunder.
Section
3.8 FURTHER
ASSURANCES. Each
party shall execute, deliver, acknowledge and file such other documents and
take such further actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by
the other party hereto to give effect to and carry out the transactions
contemplated herein.
Section
3.9 GOVERNING
LAW; EQUITABLE REMEDIES.
THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES
THEREOF). The
parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any
of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its
specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the
parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other
equitable remedies to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any of the Selected Courts,
this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or
in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with
respect to such remedy are hereby waived by each of the parties hereto. Each
party further agrees that, in the event of any action for an injunction or
other equitable remedy in
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respect
of such breach or enforcement of specific performance, it will not assert the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
Section
3.10 CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION. With
respect to any suit, action or proceeding ("Proceeding") arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby each of the
parties hereto hereby irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or the
Court of Chancery located in the State of Delaware, County of Newcastle (the
"Selected Courts") and waives any objection to venue being laid in the Selected
Courts whether based on the grounds of forum non conveniens or otherwise and
hereby agrees not to commence any such Proceeding other than before one of the
Selected Courts; provided,
however, that a
party may commence any Proceeding in a court other than a Selected Court solely
for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the Selected
Courts; (ii) consents to service of process in any Proceeding by the mailing of
copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by
recognized international express carrier or delivery service, to the Partners
at their respective addresses referred to in Section 3.1 hereof; provided,
however, that
nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law; and (iii) TO
THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, WAIVES, AND
COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR
OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART
UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED
TRANSACTIONS, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING
IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF
THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND
BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE ITS RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS WILL INSTEAD BE TRIED IN A
COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A
JURY.
Section
3.11 AMENDMENTS;
WAIVERS.
(a) Subject
to Section 3.11(c), no provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such
amendment is approved in writing by each of FIG and FIGA, on behalf of
themselves and the respective Partnerships they Control, and by Original
Partners who, together with their Permitted Transferees, collectively hold at
least two-thirds of the FOG Units collectively held by all of the Original
Partners and their respective Permitted Transferees; provided, that no such
amendment shall be effective if such amendment will have a disproportionate
effect on certain Partners unless all such Partners disproportionately effected
consent in writing to such amendment). No provision of this Agreement may be
waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the party against whom
the waiver is to be effective.
(b) No
failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial
exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right, power or
11
privilege.
The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive
of any rights or remedies provided by law.
(c) FIG and
FIGA may amend this Agreement in writing without the approval or consent of any
Original Partners or Permitted Transferees if such amendment does not
materially and adversely affect any Partner’s Exchange Right.
Section
3.12 ASSIGNMENT. Except
as contemplated by Section 3.3, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or
obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without
the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and
assigns.
Section
3.13 TAX
TREATMENT. To the
extent this Agreement imposes obligations upon a particular Partnership or its
general partner, this Agreement shall be treated as part of the partnership
agreement of such Partnership as described in Section 761(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and
1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations. As required by the Code and the
Regulations: (i) the parties shall report an Exchange consummated hereunder as
a taxable sale of Units and Class B Shares by a Partner to (x) FIG, in the case
of an Exchange with an Operating Entity or an Exchange with respect to which
the Call Right has been exercised, or (y) FIGA, in the case of an Exchange with
a Principal Entity; and (ii) no party shall take a contrary position on any
income tax return, amendment thereof or communication with a taxing
authority.
Section
3.14 HEADINGS. The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and
delivered, all as of the date first set forth above.
FIG
CORP. |
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By: | ||
Name: |
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Title: |
FIG
ASSET CO. LLC |
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By: | ||
Name: |
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Title: |
XXXXX X.
XXXXXX, XX. |
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XXXXXX
X. XXXXX |
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XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX |
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XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX |
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XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX |
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FORTRESS
OPERATING ENTITY I LP
FORTRESS
OPERATING ENTITY I LP
FORTRESS
OPERATING ENTITY I LP |
By: FIG Corp., the general partner of each of the foregoing entities | ||
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By: | ||
Name: |
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Title: |
PRINCIPAL
HOLDINGS I LP
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By: FIG
Asset Co. LLC, the general partner of each of the foregoing
entities |
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By: | ||
Name: |
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Title: |
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