EXHIBIT D - SCHEDULE 13D
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
Stockholders Agreement dated as of August ______, 1997 among (i) T/SF
COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), (ii)
VS&A COMMUNICATIONS PARTNERS II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
("VSA"), and (iii) FIR TREE VALUE FUND, L.P., FIR TREE INSTITUTIONAL VALUE
FUND, L.P. and FIR TREE VALUE PARTNERS LDC (collectively, "FIR TREE"). VSA
and Fir Tree collectively own a majority of the Company's outstanding
Common Stock and are referred to herein as the "STOCKHOLDERS".
The parties agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the indicated meanings:
"AFFILIATE" of a person means any other person controlling, controlled
by or under common control with such person, whether by ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise, and in the case of any Stockholder
shall include any partner of such Stockholder and in the case of the
Company shall include any officer or director of the Company.
"COMMON STOCK" means the Company's Common Stock, $.10 par value per
share.
"INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY" means any person who does not own in excess
of 5% of the Common Stock on a fully-diluted basis, who is not controlling,
controlled by or under common control with any such 5% owner of Common
Stock and who is not the spouse, ancestor or descendant (by birth or
adoption) of any such 5% owner of Common Stock.
"INVESTOR STOCK" means Shares held by Fir Tree and its Affiliates.
"SALE OF THE COMPANY" means (i) the sale of beneficial ownership of a
majority or more of the outstanding Common Stock by any person or "group"
(as that term is used in Regulation 13D under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934) other than the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates, (ii)
a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, or
(iii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
"SHARES" means (i) all shares of Common Stock now held or hereafter
acquired by the Stockholders, and (ii) all other securities issued or
issuable directly or indirectly with respect to such shares of Common Stock
by way of stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination
of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.
"SPONSOR STOCK" means Shares held by VSA and its Affiliates.
SECTION 2. TAG-ALONG RIGHTS. Not less than 30 days prior to any
proposed transfer of Sponsor Stock, the transferring Stockholder shall
deliver to the other Stockholders a written notice (the "SALE NOTICE")
specifying in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed transferee(s)
and the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer. Each other
Stockholder may elect to participate in the proposed transfer by delivering
to the transferring Stockholder a written notice of such election within
the 20-day period following delivery of the Sale Notice. If any other
Stockholders elect to participate in such transfer, the transferring
Stockholder and each such participating Stockholder will be entitled to
sell in such proposed transfer, at the same price and on the same terms, a
number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the quotient
determined by dividing the percentage of the then-outstanding Common Stock
held by the transferring Stockholder or such participating Stockholder, as
the case may be, by the aggregate percentage of the then-outstanding Common
Stock held by the transferring Stockholder and all participating
Stockholders, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock to be
sold in such proposed transfer. This Section 2 shall not apply to
transfers of Sponsor Stock to Affiliates of VSA (provided that such
Affiliates shall continue to be bound by the terms hereof).
SECTION 3. DRAG-ALONG RIGHTS. If the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Sponsor Stock approve the Sale of the Company to an Independent
Third Party involving the sale of 100% of the outstanding Common Stock or
the sale of all or substantially all of its assets, whether by merger,
consolidation, sale of all of the outstanding Common Stock or otherwise (an
"APPROVED SALE"), the Stockholders shall consent to and raise no objections
against such Approved Sale (including exercising any rights of appraisal)
and shall take all necessary and desirable actions in their capacities as
stockholders in connection with the consummation of such Approved Sale. If
the Approved Sale is structured as a sale of stock, the Stockholders shall
agree to sell all of their shares of Common Stock and rights to acquire
shares of Common Stock on the terms and conditions approved by the holders
of Sponsor Stock. The obligations of the Stockholders with respect to any
Approved Sale are subject to the condition that, upon the consummation of
such Approved Sale, all of the holders of Common Stock will receive the
same form and amount of consideration per share of Common Stock or, if any
holders are given an option as to the form and amount of consideration to
be received, all holders will be given the same option. The obligation of
Fir Tree to participate in such Approved Sale shall be subject to the
further conditions that (x) the consideration receivable by the
Stockholders in such Approved Sale shall consist entirely of cash and/or
securities of an issuer with a market capitalization of $250,000,000 or
more that are either listed on a national securities exchange or traded on
the Nasdaq National Market System, (y) the securities received in such
transaction (if any) by the Stockholders shall not exceed 20% of the total
trading volume of such securities during the 45-day period prior to such
receipt and shall otherwise be freely tradable (except to the extent they
are subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and
(z) the Company shall have received a favorable fairness opinion with
respect to the Approved Sale from an independent investment banking firm of
national standing that is mutually acceptable to VSA and Fir Tree.
SECTION 4. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. If the Company proposes to issue
any shares of Common Stock or other securities exercisable for or
convertible into Common Stock (other than issuances for non-cash
consideration in connection with business or asset acquisition
transactions, compensatory issuances to directors, officers, employees and
consultants of the Company, issuances to lenders in connection with
financing transactions and issuances pursuant to registered public
offerings), each Stockholder shall have the right of first refusal to
purchase a portion of such securities equal to such Stockholder's
percentage interest in the Common Stock on a fully-diluted basis
immediately prior to such issuance. The Company shall give each
Stockholder at least 20 days' prior written notice of any such proposed
issuance setting forth in reasonable detail the proposed terms and
conditions thereof and shall offer to each Stockholder the opportunity to
purchase such securities at the same price, on the same terms, and at the
same time as the securities are proposed to be issued by the Company. A
Stockholder may exercise its right of first refusal by delivery of an
irrevocable written notice to the Company not more than 10 days after
delivery of the Company's notice. The obligation of the Stockholders
exercising their rights pursuant to this Section 4 to purchase and pay for
securities shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the proposed
issuance by the Company.
SECTION 5. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
(a) BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Each Stockholder agrees to vote all
securities of the Company over which such Stockholder has voting control
and to take all other necessary or desirable actions within its control
(whether as a stockholder, director or officer of the Company or otherwise,
and including without limitation attendance at meetings in person or by
proxy for purposes of obtaining a quorum and execution of written consents
in lieu of meetings), and the Company shall take all necessary and
desirable actions within its control (including, without limitation,
calling special board and stockholder meetings), so that: (i) designees of
VSA shall be elected to the Company's Board of Directors and shall
constitute a simple majority of the Board, and (ii) designees of Fir Tree
(the "FIR TREE DIRECTORS") shall be elected to the Company's Board of
Directors such that Fir Tree's representation on the Board shall be in
proportion to its percentage interest in the Common Stock (rounded up to
the next whole number of directors). In the event that any director for
any reason ceases to serve as a member of the Board during his term of
office, the resulting vacancy on the Board shall be filled by the
Stockholders entitled to designate such director as provided in this
Section 5 and not by a vote of the Stockholders generally and, if the
Stockholders fail to designate a representative to fill a directorship
pursuant to the terms of this Section 5, such directorship shall remain
vacant until filed by the Stockholders entitled to designate such director.
(b) CONCURRENCE RIGHTS. The Company and the Stockholders agree that
the approval of a majority of the Fir Tree Directors shall be necessary for
the Company to undertake any of the following actions:
(i) any amendments to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or
by-laws;
(ii) any contract or transaction between the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company and VSA or any Affiliate of VSA;
(iii) the Sale of the Company (other than an Approved Sale) or the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(iv) any borrowing or transaction that would result in the
Company's pro forma ratio of indebtedness for borrowed money to the
Company's trailing 12-month pro forma EBITDA (in each case determined
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied)
to exceed 6.5;1.0;
(v) any change in the corporate structure of the Company or of its
subsidiaries; or
(vi) any management equity interests or [PERFORMANCE] compensation
that would result in management of the Company receiving greater than 10%
of proceeds from the Sale of the Company.
(C) TERMINATION. The provisions of this Section 5 shall terminate
and be of no further force and effect as of the date on which the
Stockholders cease to collectively own a majority of the then-outstanding
Common Stock.
SECTION 6. FORCED SALE RIGHTS. At any time on or after the fifth
anniversary of the date of this Agreement, Fir Tree shall have the right,
exercisable by written notice to the Company, to require that the Company
proceed with a Sale of the Company in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Section 6. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company shall
promptly engage Veronis, Suhler & Associates, Inc. or an investment banking
firm of national standing that is mutually acceptable to VSA and Fir Tree
to conduct an orderly Sale of the Company as a going concern. The Company
shall exercise best efforts to assist such investment banking firm in
conducting such sale, including the preparation of an offering memorandum
and/or other descriptive materials and financial information regarding the
Company to be provided to interested parties and making management of the
Company available to meet with and make presentations to interested
parties. The Company shall not place any limitations on the scope of the
sales efforts of such investment banking firm. All Stockholders shall be
obligated to participate in a Sale of the Company effected pursuant to this
Section 6 that has been approved by the Company's Board of Directors. Any
such sale shall take place within five days after the date on which all
governmental approvals, if any, required in connection with such sale have
been obtained and all other conditions to closing have been satisfied.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5 above, in the event that a
definitive agreement for the Sale of the Company is not concluded within 18
months after the date of the notice initiating the sale process, the
Stockholders agree to vote their Shares so that a simple majority of the
members of the Company's Board of Directors are designees of Fir Tree.
SECTION 7. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.
(A) STOCK LEGEND. The certificates representing Shares shall bear
the following legend:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY
ISSUED ON _________________, 19___, HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR
UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR
AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES
REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A VOTING AGREEMENT
AND CERTAIN OTHER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN A STOCKHOLDERS
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST _____, 1997 AMONG T/SF
COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS THEREOF, A
COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE HOLDER HEREOF
AT THE COMPANY'S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.
(B) OPINION OF COUNSEL. No holder of Shares may sell, transfer or
dispose of any such stock (other than pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act) without first delivering to the Company
upon its request an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable in form and
substance to the Company that registration under the Securities Act is not
required in connection with such transfer.
SECTION 8. TRANSFERS IN VIOLATION OF AGREEMENT. Any transfer or
attempted transfer of any Shares in violation of this Agreement shall be
void, and the Company shall not be obligated to record such transfer on its
books or treat any purported transferee of such Shares as the owner of such
shares for any purpose.
SECTION 9. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided
herein, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be
effective unless such amendment or waiver is approved in writing by the
Company, the holders of at least a majority of the then-outstanding Sponsor
Stock and the holders of at least a majority of the then-outstanding
Investor Stock; provided, however, that any amendment or waiver that by its
terms affects all Stockholders equally and does not discriminate against
the holders of Investor Stock may be approved by the holders of a majority
of the Shares. Any amendment or waiver that is approved in accordance with
this Section 9 shall be binding upon all existing and future holders of
Shares. The failure of any party to enforce any provision of this
Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of such provision and shall
not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each provision of
this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 10. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any
applicable law of rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other
jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced
in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision
had never been contained herein.
SECTION 11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Except as otherwise expressly set
forth herein, this document embodies the complete agreement and
understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or
representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have
related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
SECTION 12. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall bind and
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and its
successors and by the Stockholders and their respective successors and
transferees, in each case so long as such persons hold Shares. In the
event that the stock of any subsidiary of the Company is distributed to the
holders of Common Stock pursuant to a spin-off or split-off transaction,
the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to and be binding upon such
subsidiary and its stockholders.
SECTION 13. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
separate counterparts each of which shall be an original and all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 14. REMEDIES. The Company and the Stockholders shall be
entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically to
recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement
and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties
hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate
remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that the
Company or any Stockholder may in its sole discretion apply to any court of
law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or
injunctive relief (without posting a bond or other security) in order to
enforce or prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement. In
the event of any legal proceedings seeking to enforce any rights or
obligations under this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to
recover its attorneys fees and costs in connection with such proceeding
from the non-prevailing party.
SECTION 15. NOTICES. Any notice provided for in this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, or sent by
telecopy (confirmed in writing) or sent by reputable overnight courier
service for next-day delivery (charges prepaid) to the Company or the
Stockholders at their respective addresses set forth below and to any
subsequent holder of Shares subject to this Agreement at such address as
indicated by the Company's records, or at such address or to the attention
of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written
notice to the sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given
hereunder when delivered personally, on the date of transmission if sent by
confirmed telecopy (or on the next business day if transmission is not made
on a business day) or on the next business day after deposit with a
reputable overnight courier service.
The Company's address is:
T/SF Communications Corporation
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
VSA's address is:
Veronis, Suhler & Associates
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
Fir Tree's address is:
Fir Tree Partners
1211 Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW. The corporate law of Delaware shall
govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and its
stockholders. All other questions concerning the construction, validity
and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal law,
and not the law of conflicts, of New York.
SECTION 17. CERTAIN FEES. The Stockholders hereby agree as follows
with respect to certain fees:
(a) Any fees payable to VSA or any of its Affiliates in connection
with the acquisition of control of the Company by VSA (not to exceed 1.0%
of the value of the transaction) shall be shared by VSA and Fir Tree in the
ratio that VSA and Fir Tree, respectively, own shares of Common Stock
following the transaction.
(b) Fir Tree shall be entitled to 50% of its pro rata share (based on
the ratio that VSA and Fir Tree, respectively, own shares of Common Stock
following the acquisition of control by VSA) of any monitoring fees (not to
exceed $90,000 per year) and any advisory fees in connection with future
acquisitions and dispositions of assets from or to unaffiliated third
parties (not to exceed 1.0% of transaction value) payable to VSA or its
Affiliates by the Company or its subsidiaries subsequent to the acquisition
of control of the Company by VSA.
(c) VSA agrees that neither VSA nor any of its Affiliates may charge
any fees to the Company or its subsidiaries without Fir Tree's consent
except as set forth above.
SECTION 18. TERMINATION; SURVIVAL. This Agreement (other than
Section 2 hereof) shall terminate and be of no further force and effect
upon consummation of an underwritten public offering of Common Stock under
the Securities Act. This Agreement shall terminate in its entirety on the
tenth anniversary of the date hereof.
*****
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.
T/SF COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
By:
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Name:
---------------------------
Title:
-------------------------
VS&A COMMUNICATIONS PARTNERS
II. L.P.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: President and General Partner
FIR TREE VALUE FUND, L.P.
FIR TREE INSTITUTIONAL VALUE
FUND, L.P.
FIR TREE VALUE PARTNERS LDC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: General Partner
