SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT by and among ALDEN GLOBAL DISTRESSED OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, L.P., ALDEN GLOBAL VALUE RECOVERY MASTER FUND, L.P., ALDEN MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC, JS ACQUISITION, LLC and (solely with respect to Sections 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3,...
Exhibit
2
EXECUTION COPY
SECURITIES
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
by and among
ALDEN GLOBAL DISTRESSED OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, L.P.,
ALDEN GLOBAL VALUE RECOVERY MASTER FUND, L.P.,
ALDEN MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC,
JS ACQUISITION, LLC
and
(solely with respect to
Sections 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.8 and Article X)
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
Dated as of May 24, 2010
by and among
ALDEN GLOBAL DISTRESSED OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, L.P.,
ALDEN GLOBAL VALUE RECOVERY MASTER FUND, L.P.,
ALDEN MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC,
JS ACQUISITION, LLC
and
(solely with respect to
Sections 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.8 and Article X)
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
Dated as of May 24, 2010
IMPORTANT: The representations and warranties of each party set
forth in this Agreement (i) have been qualified by
confidential disclosures made to the other party in connection
with this Agreement, (ii) are qualified in certain
circumstances by a materiality standard which may differ from
what may be viewed as material by investors, (iii) were
made only as of the date of this Agreement or such other date as
is specified in this Agreement, and (iv) may have been
included in this Agreement for the purpose of allocating risk
between the parties rather than establishing matters as facts.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
|
II-2 | |||||
1.1
|
Defined Terms | II-2 | ||||
ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES; PURCHASE PRICE | II-7 | |||||
2.1
|
Issuance and Purchase of Securities | II-7 | ||||
2.2
|
Closing; Closing Date | II-7 | ||||
2.3
|
Deliveries At Closing | II-7 | ||||
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | II-7 | |||||
3.1
|
Due Organization; Authority to Execute and Perform Agreement | II-7 | ||||
3.2
|
No Defaults or Conflicts | II-8 | ||||
3.3
|
No Governmental Authorization Required | II-8 | ||||
3.4
|
Capitalization | II-8 | ||||
3.5
|
Absence of Litigation | II-8 | ||||
3.6
|
Newly-Formed Entities | II-8 | ||||
3.7
|
Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries | II-9 | ||||
3.8
|
Capitalization; Existence; Articles of Incorporation and By-laws | II-9 | ||||
3.9
|
Compliance with Laws; Governmental Permits; No Conflict | II-10 | ||||
3.10
|
ECC SEC Documents | II-11 | ||||
3.11
|
Related Party Transactions | II-11 | ||||
3.12
|
Taxes | II-12 | ||||
3.13
|
Controls and Procedures | II-12 | ||||
3.14
|
Intellectual Property | II-13 | ||||
3.15
|
Real Estate | II-13 | ||||
3.16
|
Absence of Certain Changes or Events | II-14 | ||||
3.17
|
No Undisclosed Liabilities | II-14 | ||||
3.18
|
ECC Absence of Litigation | II-14 | ||||
3.19
|
Brokers | II-14 | ||||
3.20
|
Sufficiency of Assets | II-14 | ||||
3.21
|
Adoption of Resolutions | II-14 | ||||
3.22
|
Exclusivity of Representations | II-14 | ||||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTOR AND XXXXX | XX-14 | |||||
4.1
|
Due Organization; Authority to Execute and Perform Agreement | II-14 | ||||
4.2
|
No Defaults or Conflicts | II-15 | ||||
4.3
|
No Governmental Authorization Required | II-15 | ||||
4.4
|
Absence of Litigation | II-15 | ||||
4.5
|
Title to the Investor ECC Shares | II-15 | ||||
4.6
|
Purchase for Investment | II-15 | ||||
4.7
|
Financial Ability | II-15 | ||||
4.8
|
Brokers | II-15 | ||||
4.9
|
Ownership Requirements | II-15 | ||||
4.10
|
Exclusivity of Representations | II-16 | ||||
II-i
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE V COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS | II-16 | |||||
5.1
|
Conduct of the Business | II-16 | ||||
5.2
|
Filings and Authorizations; Consummation | II-18 | ||||
5.3
|
Efforts | II-18 | ||||
5.4
|
ECC Capital Stock | II-18 | ||||
5.5
|
Offer to Purchase | II-19 | ||||
5.6
|
Confidentiality | II-19 | ||||
5.7
|
Tender Offeror | II-19 | ||||
5.8
|
Obligations of the Controlling Stockholder | II-20 | ||||
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE INVESTOR TO CLOSE | II-20 | |||||
6.1
|
Representations and Covenants | II-20 | ||||
6.2
|
No Orders | II-20 | ||||
6.3
|
Tender Conditions | II-20 | ||||
6.4
|
Employment Agreement | II-20 | ||||
6.5
|
Articles Amendments | II-20 | ||||
6.6
|
Opinion | II-20 | ||||
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY TO CLOSE | II-21 | |||||
7.1
|
Representations and Covenants | II-21 | ||||
7.2
|
No Orders | II-21 | ||||
7.3
|
Tender Conditions | II-21 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT | II-21 | |||||
8.1
|
Termination | II-21 | ||||
8.2
|
Survival After Termination | II-22 | ||||
ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION | II-22 | |||||
9.1
|
Indemnification by the Company | II-22 | ||||
9.2
|
Indemnification by the Investor | II-23 | ||||
9.3
|
Termination of Indemnification | II-24 | ||||
9.4
|
Procedures | II-24 | ||||
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS | II-25 | |||||
10.1
|
Expenses | II-25 | ||||
10.2
|
Specific Performance | II-26 | ||||
10.3
|
Notices | II-26 | ||||
10.4
|
Entire Agreement | II-27 | ||||
10.5
|
Waivers and Amendments | II-27 | ||||
10.6
|
Governing Law | II-27 | ||||
10.7
|
Binding Effect; Assignment | II-27 | ||||
10.8
|
Usage | II-27 | ||||
10.9
|
Articles and Sections | II-28 | ||||
10.10
|
Interpretation | II-28 | ||||
10.11
|
Severability of Provisions | II-28 |
II-ii
Page | ||||||
10.12
|
Counterparts | II-28 | ||||
10.13
|
No Personal Liability | II-28 | ||||
10.14
|
No Third Party Beneficiaries | II-28 | ||||
10.15
|
Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial | II-28 |
Annexes
|
||||||
Annex 5.4(a)
|
Investor ECC Shares | |||||
Annex 5.4(b)
|
Controlling Stockholder ECC Shares | |||||
Annex 10.1(b)
|
Expenses | |||||
Exhibits
|
||||||
Exhibit A
|
Form of Amendments to Articles of Incorporation of ECC | |||||
Exhibit B
|
Form of Amended and Restated Operating Agreement | |||||
Exhibit C
|
Form of Registration Rights Agreement | |||||
Exhibit D
|
Rollover Agreement | |||||
Exhibit E
|
Distribution Letter | |||||
Exhibit F
|
Tender Conditions | |||||
Exhibit G
|
Opinion | |||||
Exhibit H
|
ECC Board Resolutions | |||||
Exhibit I
|
Merger Agreement |
II-iii
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 24, 2010
(this “Agreement”), by and among Alden
Global Distressed Opportunities Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman
Islands limited partnership, Alden Global Value Recovery Master
Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (collectively,
“Alden”), in each case solely with
respect to Sections 2.3, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.8 and
Article IV, Article IX and Article X, and Alden
Media Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
“Investor”), JS Acquisition, LLC, an
Indiana limited liability company (the
“Company” and together with Alden and
the Investor, the “Parties”) and, solely
with respect to Sections 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and
5.8 and Article X insofar as the foregoing pertain to
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (the “Controlling
Stockholder”), the Controlling Stockholder.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to commence a tender offer (the
“Tender Offer”) to purchase all shares
of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(“ECC Class A Common Stock”), of
Emmis Communications Corporation, an Indiana corporation
(“ECC”);
WHEREAS, in connection therewith, ECC shall commence an offer to
exchange (the “Exchange Offer”) all of
the outstanding shares of 6.25% Series A Preferred Stock,
$0.01 par value per share (“ECC Preferred
Stock”), of ECC for newly-issued 12% senior
subordinated notes of ECC (the “ECC Subordinated
Notes”) upon the satisfaction of the conditions
thereof (the “Exchange Closing”) at a
rate of $30 principal amount of ECC Subordinated Notes per $50
of liquidation preference of ECC Preferred Stock;
WHEREAS, it is expected that, following the consummation of the
Tender Offer (the “Tender Closing”) upon
the satisfaction of Tender Conditions (as defined below) and the
Exchange Closing, (a) the remaining outstanding shares of
ECC Class A Common Stock (including the shares thereof held
by the Investor, and excluding certain shares thereof held by
the Controlling Stockholder and his Affiliates (as defined
below)) shall be converted into the right to receive $2.40 in
cash per share (the “Offer Price”) in a
merger (the “Back-End Merger”) of ECC
and JS Acquisition, Inc., an Indiana corporation and wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company
(“Mergerco”), (b) the outstanding
shares of ECC Preferred Stock beneficially owned by the Investor
or its Affiliates will be converted into the right to receive
ECC Subordinated Notes at a rate of $30 principal amount of ECC
Subordinated Notes per $50 of liquidation preference of ECC
Preferred Stock and (c) the outstanding shares of ECC
Preferred Stock not beneficially owned by the Investor or its
Affiliates or the Controlling Stockholder shall be converted
into the right to receive the amount of consideration payable
with respect to the number of shares of ECC Class A Common
Stock into which such shares of ECC Preferred Stock would be
convertible immediately prior to the Back-End Merger;
WHEREAS, the Company shall solicit proxies (i) from holders
of ECC Preferred Stock and ECC Class A Common Stock to vote
for certain amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of ECC
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto
(the “Articles Amendments”) and
(ii) if the Tender Offer is successful, from holders of ECC
Common Stock to approve the Back-End Merger (the
“Proxy Solicitations”).
WHEREAS, in order to finance the Tender Offer, the Back-End
Merger and to pay certain fees, expenses and other costs
incurred in connection therewith, the Company wishes to issue to
the Investor, and the Investor wishes to purchase from the
Company, an interest in the Company, as described in
Section 2.1 and in the Operating Agreement (as defined
below) (the “Securities”), upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement (the
“Securities Purchase”);
WHEREAS, (a) the Company (i) was formed as a limited
liability company on May 3, 2010 pursuant to and in
accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana pursuant to the
filing of articles of organization (the
“Articles”) in the office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Indiana and (ii) adopted
the Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of May 6,
2010 (the “Initial Operating Agreement”
and together with the Articles, the “Initial
Governing Documents”); and (b) on May 6,
2010, (x) Mergerco was recapitalized such that Mergerco
issued to the Controlling Stockholder (1) 10 shares of
Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
Mergerco (“Mergerco Voting Shares”) and
(2) 1,000,000 shares of Class A Non-Voting Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, (“Mergerco Non-Voting
Shares”); and (y) the Controlling Stockholder
contributed the Mergerco Non-Voting Shares to the Company;
II-1
WHEREAS, concurrently with the Closing, the Controlling
Stockholder, the Investor, the Company and the other parties
designated as “Other Members” on the signature pages
thereto (the “Other Members”) shall
amend and restate in its entirety the Initial Operating
Agreement by entering into the Amended and Restated Operating
Agreement of the Company substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit B (the “Operating
Agreement”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the Closing, the Company, the
Investor and the Controlling Stockholder shall enter into the
Registration Rights Agreement substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit C (the “Registration Rights
Agreement”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Rollover Agreement, dated as of the
date hereof, by and among the Company and the Other Members,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the
“Rollover Agreement”), concurrently with
the Closing, the Company shall issue to the Other Members, and
the Other Members shall purchase from the Company, Common
Interests (as defined below), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions thereof (the “Rollover” and,
together with the Tender Closing, the Back-End Merger, the
Exchange Closing, the Proxy Solicitations and the Securities
Purchase, the “Transactions”);
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to make certain representations,
warranties and agreements in connection with the Securities
Purchase and also to prescribe certain conditions to the
Securities Purchase;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants,
representations, warranties and agreements entered into herein,
and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Defined Terms.
(a) For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the respective meanings set forth in this
Section 1.1 (such definitions to be equally applicable to
both the singular and plural forms of the terms herein defined):
“401(k) Plan” means the 401(k) plan of
ECC as in effect from time to time.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any
Person, (i) any other Person controlling, controlled by or
under common control with such Person, (ii) any trust or
other estate in which such Person has a beneficial interest or
as to which such Person serves as a trustee or in a similar
fiduciary capacity, or (ii) who is an individual, a member
of such Person’s immediate family, including his or her
spouse, parents, siblings, children or grandchildren. The term
“control” (including, with correlative meaning, the
terms “controlled by” and “under common control
with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract
or otherwise. For the purposes of this Agreement and in addition
to the foregoing, (a) each of Global Distressed
Opportunities Fund, LP, Alden Global Distressed Opportunities
Fund GP, LLC and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx shall be deemed an
Affiliate of the Investor and (b) ECC and its controlled
Affiliates shall not be deemed an Affiliate of any of the
Company, Alden, the Investor or the Controlling Stockholder.
“Business” means the business of ECC and
its subsidiaries, as conducted as of the date of this Agreement.
“Business Day” means a day other than
Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banks located in New York,
New York are authorized or obligated by Law to close.
“Common Interests” means Common
Interests of the Company having the terms and conditions set
forth in the Operating Agreement.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means
any effect that is, or is reasonably likely to be, materially
adverse to the Business, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company, ECC and ECC’s
II-2
subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however,
that no fact, circumstance, event or change resulting from,
attributable to or arising out of any of the following shall
constitute, or be considered in determining whether there has
occurred, a Company Material Adverse Effect: (a)(i) changes in
general economic or political conditions or the securities,
banking, credit, currency, commodities, capital or financial
markets in general (including general changes to monetary
policy, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates or stock, bond
or debt prices) in the United States or in any other geographic
market, (ii) changes that are generally applicable to the
industries in which the Company, ECC and ECC’s subsidiaries
operate (including any competitive
and/or
technological changes relevant to such industries),
(iii) changes in general legal, regulatory or political
conditions, including the adoption, implementation,
promulgation, repeal, modification, reinterpretation or proposal
of any Law after the date hereof, or changes in GAAP or in other
applicable accounting standards (or in the interpretation
thereof), (iv) the negotiation, execution, announcement or
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the
Transactions, including the threatened or actual impact thereof
on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with current or
prospective customers, suppliers, vendors, distributors,
partners, financing sources, employees or landlords,
(v) the identity of the Investor as the purchaser of the
Securities or any facts or circumstances concerning the
Investor, Alden or any of their respective Affiliates,
(vi) compliance with the terms of, or the taking of any
action required or contemplated by, this Agreement or action or
inaction consented to or requested by Alden of the Investor,
(vii) changes in the trading volume or market price of ECC
Common Stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market or the suspension of
trading generally on the NASDAQ Stock Market (provided that the
exception in this clause shall not in any way prevent or
otherwise affect a determination that any change, event,
circumstance, development or effect underlying such decrease has
resulted in, or contributed to, a Company Material Adverse
Effect), (viii) any litigation or investigation arising
from allegations of a breach of fiduciary duty or other
violation of applicable Law relating to this Agreement or the
Transactions, other than litigation or investigations commenced
or threatened in writing by any Governmental Body or
(ix) any restatement of the consolidated financial
statements of ECC and its subsidiaries contained in the ECC SEC
Documents that results in an accounting charge thereto that does
not require a cash settlement and would not otherwise constitute
a Company Material Adverse Effect, except, in the case of the
foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), for such
changes or developments referred to therein have a materially
disproportionate impact on the Company, ECC and ECC’s
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other companies that
operate in multiple geographic markets, including large markets,
in the industries in which the Company, ECC and ECC’s
subsidiaries operate or (b) any failure to meet internal or
published projections, forecasts, estimates, performance
measures, operating statistics or revenue or earnings
predictions for any period or the issuance of revised
projections that are not as optimistic as those in existence as
of the date hereof.
“Controlling Stockholder Options” means
options to purchase (i) 97,565 shares of ECC
Class A Common Stock and (ii) 1,170,796 shares of
ECC Class B Common Stock, in each case, held directly by
the Controlling Stockholder.
“Controlling Stockholder Retained
Shares” means (i) 5,877.0745 shares of
ECC Class A Common Stock held in the 401(k) Plan,
(ii) 30,625 shares of ECC Class A Common Stock
held by The Smulyan Family Foundation and (iii) at the
election of the Controlling Stockholder, up 200,000 shares
of ECC Class A Common Stock held directly by the
Controlling Stockholder (some of which may be converted into
shares of ECC Class A Common Stock from ECC Class B
Common Stock after the date hereof).
“Credit Agreement” means the Amended and
Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, by and among
Emmis Operating Company, ECC, the lending institutions party
thereto and Bank of America as administrative agent, dated as of
November 2, 2006, as amended.
“Distribution Letter” means that certain
letter agreement, executed and delivered by the Company, the
Controlling Stockholder and the Investor concurrently with the
execution of this Agreement, as attached hereto as
Exhibit E.
“ECC Board” means the board of directors
of ECC.
“ECC Capital Stock” means ECC Common
Stock and ECC Preferred Stock.
II-3
“ECC Class B Common Stock” means
Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
ECC.
“ECC Common Stock” means (a) ECC
Class A Common Stock and (b) ECC Class B Common
Stock.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“FCC” means the Federal Communications
Commission.
“FCC Licenses” means all licenses,
construction permits and authorizations issued by the FCC and
used or usable for the operation of the Stations.
“GAAP” means generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States.
“Governmental Body” means with respect
to any nation or government, any state, province or other
political subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administration
functions of or pertaining to government.
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge of Alden” means the actual
past or present knowledge of any of Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxx or Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx.
“Knowledge of the Company” means the
actual past or present knowledge of any of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, J. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx or Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx.
“Law” means any law, statute, ordinance,
code, rule, regulation or other requirement of any Governmental
Body.
“Lien” means any lien, pledge, mortgage,
deed of trust, security interest, claim, lease, license, charge,
option, right of first refusal, easement, servitude, transfer
restriction, encumbrance, adverse claim or any other restriction
or limitation whatsoever other than restrictions on sale imposed
by the Securities Act and state securities laws.
“Losses” of any Person means any and all
demands, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, Orders,
proceedings, assessments, losses, fines, damages, liabilities,
costs and expenses incurred by such Person, including interest,
penalties and attorneys’ fees, third-party expert and
consultant fees and expenses,.
“Merger Agreement” means the Agreement
and Plan of Merger substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit I.
“Offer to Purchase” means the Offer to
Purchase mailed to the holders of ECC Common Stock in connection
with the Tender Offer.
“Order” means any order, judgment,
injunction, award, decree or writ of any Governmental Body.
“Person” means any individual,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited
liability partnership, firm, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,
Governmental Body or any other entity.
“Purchase Price” means an amount equal
to the sum of (a) $90 million, plus (b) an
amount equal to the product of (x) (i) the number of
outstanding shares of ECC Preferred Stock that, as of the time
of the consummation of the Exchange Offer, have not been
exchanged for ECC Subordinated Notes pursuant to the Exchange
Offer; provided that if any ECC Preferred Stock is converted
into ECC Class A Common Stock after the date hereof, then
for purposes of the foregoing clause such ECC Preferred Stock
shall be considered to remain outstanding and not so exchanged
minus (ii) the number of shares of ECC Preferred
Stock held by Alden and its Affiliates, multiplied by
(y) the number of shares of ECC Class A Common Stock
that each share of ECC Preferred Stock is convertible into
pursuant to the terms thereof (as amended by the
Articles Amendments), multiplied by (z) $2.40,
plus (c) the amount (if any) by which the
Transaction Expenses reimbursable by the Company pursuant to
Section 10.1(a) exceeds $10.28 million.
II-4
“Representatives” means, with respect to
any Person, such Person’s directors, officers and employees
and its and their respective advisors, agents and
representatives.
“Rules and Regulations” means the rules
of the FCC as set forth in Title 47 of the Code of Federal
Regulations and all policies of the FCC.
“Securities Act” means the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
“Series A Preferred Interests”
means Series A Convertible Redeemable PIK Preferred
Interests of the Company having the terms and conditions set
forth in the Operating Agreement.
“subsidiary” means, with respect to any
Person, any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability
company or other non-corporate business enterprise in which such
Person (or another Subsidiary of such Person) holds stock or
other ownership interests representing (A) more that 50% of
the voting power of all outstanding stock or ownership interests
of such entity, (B) the right to receive more than 50% of
the net assets of such entity available for distribution to the
holders of outstanding stock or ownership interests upon a
liquidation or dissolution of such entity or (C) a general
or managing partnership interest in such entity.
“Tax” includes all federal, state, local
and foreign income, profits, franchise, gross receipts, capital
stock, severances, stamp, payroll, sales, employment,
unemployment, disability, use, property, withholding, excise,
production, value added, occupancy and other taxes, duties or
assessments of any nature whatsoever, together with all
interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such
amounts and any interest in respect of such penalties and
additions imposed by a governmental entity (a “Taxing
Authority”) responsible for the imposition of any
such tax (domestic or foreign), and any liability for any of the
foregoing as a transferee.
“Tax Return” includes all returns and
reports (including elections, declarations, disclosures,
schedules, estimates and information returns, as well as
attachments thereto and amendments thereof) required to be
supplied to a Taxing Authority or maintained relating to Taxes.
“Tender Conditions” means the conditions
to the Tender Closing set forth in the Offer to Purchase,
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F hereto.
The following capitalized terms are defined in the following
Sections of this Agreement:
Term
|
Section
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble | |
Alden
|
Preamble | |
Articles
|
Recitals | |
Articles Amendments
|
Recitals | |
Back-End Merger
|
Recitals | |
Closing
|
2.1 | |
Closing Date
|
2.2 | |
Company
|
Preamble | |
Company Disclosure Schedule
|
III | |
Controlling Stockholder
|
Preamble | |
Controlling Stockholder ECC Shares
|
5.4(b) | |
Deductible Amount
|
9.1(b)(i) | |
Early Termination Date
|
8.1(b) | |
ECC
|
Recitals | |
ECC 10-K
|
III | |
ECC Class A Common Stock
|
Recitals | |
ECC Intellectual Property Rights
|
3.14(a) | |
ECC Preferred Stock
|
Recitals |
II-5
Term
|
Section
|
|
ECC SEC Documents
|
3.10(a) | |
ECC Subordinated Notes
|
Recitals | |
Exchange Closing
|
Recitals | |
Exchange Offer
|
Recitals | |
Governmental Permits
|
3.9(a) | |
indemnified party
|
9.4(a) | |
indemnifying party
|
9.4(a) | |
Initial Governing Documents
|
Recitals | |
Initial Operating Agreement
|
Recitals | |
Intellectual Property Rights
|
3.14(a) | |
Investor
|
Preamble | |
Investor ECC Shares
|
5.4(a) | |
Investor Indemnified Party
|
9.1 | |
Investor Specified Representations
|
9.2(b)(i) | |
Lease
|
3.15(b) | |
Leases
|
3.15(b) | |
Merger Agreement
|
6.06 | |
Mergerco
|
Recitals | |
Mergerco Non-Voting Shares
|
Recitals | |
Mergerco Voting Shares
|
Recitals | |
Offer Price
|
Recitals | |
Operating Agreement
|
Recitals | |
Opinion
|
2.3(b)(ii) | |
Other Members
|
Recitals | |
Outside Date
|
8.1(c) | |
Owned Intellectual Property Rights
|
3.14(a) | |
Parties
|
Preamble | |
Permitted Liens
|
3.7(b) | |
Proxy Solicitations
|
Recitals | |
Recipient
|
5.6 | |
Registration Rights Agreement
|
Recitals | |
Rollover
|
Recitals | |
Rollover Agreement
|
Recitals | |
Securities
|
Recitals | |
Securities Purchase
|
Recitals | |
Seller Specified Representations
|
9.1(b)(i) | |
Senior Preferred Stock
|
3.8(a) | |
Stations
|
3.9(a) | |
Tender Closing
|
Recitals | |
Tender Offer
|
Recitals | |
Third Party Claim
|
9.4(a) | |
Transaction Expenses
|
10.1(b) | |
Transactions
|
Recitals |
II-6
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND
ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES; PURCHASE PRICE
2.1 Issuance and Purchase of
Securities. At the closing of the Securities
Purchase (the “Closing”), upon the terms
and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Company
shall issue to the Investor, and the Investor shall, and Alden
shall provide sufficient funds to the Investor to, purchase from
the Company, all of the Securities for the Purchase Price, to be
paid in cash in accordance with Section 2.3.
2.2 Closing; Closing
Date. The Closing shall take place at the
offices of Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx,
at 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx at
10:00 a.m. local time, on the first Business Day after the
conditions to closing set forth in Article VI and
Article VII have been satisfied (other than those
conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those
conditions), or such other time or date as the Parties may
mutually agree in writing. The date upon which the Closing
occurs is referred to herein as the “Closing
Date.”
2.3 Deliveries At Closing.
(a) At the Closing, the Investor shall, and Alden shall
cause the Investor to:
(i) deliver, or cause to be delivered to, the Company the
Purchase Price in cash by wire transfer of immediately available
funds in United States dollars to the bank account or accounts
designated by the Company in writing; and
(ii) execute and deliver the Operating Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement.
(b) At the Closing, the Company shall:
(i) issue the Securities to the Investor;
(ii) deliver to the Investor a legal opinion of Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP substantially in the form
of Exhibit G (the
“Opinion”); and
(iii) execute and deliver the Operating Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement.
(c) At the Closing, the Controlling Stockholder shall
execute and deliver the Operating Agreement and the Registration
Rights Agreement.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except (a) as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule which is
being delivered to the Investor concurrently herewith (the
“Company Disclosure Schedule”) or
(b) as disclosed in or incorporated by reference into
(i) ECC’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended February 28, 2010 (the “ECC
10-K”)
or (ii) any other ECC SEC Document (as defined below) filed
with or furnished to the SEC on or after the date the ECC
10-K was
filed but prior to the date hereof (excluding any disclosure set
forth in any risk factor section or any section relating to or
containing forward looking statements, in each case, to the
extent not otherwise disclosed in any other section of the ECC
10-K or such
other ECC SEC Documents) to the extent such disclosure is
reasonably apparent on its face to relate to such section of
Article III below, the Company represents and warrants to
the Investor as follows
3.1 Due Organization; Authority to Execute and
Perform Agreement. The Company is an Indiana
limited liability company duly organized and validly existing
under the laws of the State of Indiana, and has all requisite
organizational power and authority and has taken all
organizational action required to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. Mergerco is
an Indiana corporation duly incorporated and validly existing
under the laws of Indiana. This Agreement constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws,
laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights, and to general equity principles and
public policy.
II-7
3.2 No Defaults or
Conflicts. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions by the
Company and Mergerco and performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder: (i) does not result in any violation
of (x) the Initial Governing Documents or (y) the
articles of incorporation and by-laws of Mergerco;
(ii) does not conflict with, or result in a breach of any
of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under any
agreement or instrument to which the Company or Mergerco is a
party or by which they are bound or to which their respective
properties are subject; and (iii) assuming compliance with
the matters addressed in Section 3.3, does not violate any
existing applicable Law or Order of any Governmental Body having
jurisdiction over the Company or Mergerco; provided,
however, that no representation or warranty is made in
the foregoing clause (iii) with respect to matters that
would not impair the Company’s or Mergerco’s ability
to consummate the Transactions.
3.3 No Governmental Authorization
Required. No authorization or approval by,
and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Body will be
required to be obtained or made by the Company or Mergerco in
connection with the due execution, delivery and performance by
the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the
Company, Mergerco or ECC of the Transactions; provided,
however, that no representation or warranty is made with
respect to authorizations, approvals, notices or filings with
any Governmental Body that, if not obtained or made, would not
materially impair the Company’s or Mergerco’s ability
to consummate the Transactions.
3.4 Capitalization.
(a) As of the date hereof and immediately prior to the
Closing, (i) Common Interests representing 100% of the
ownership interests of the Company are issued, outstanding and
owned by the Controlling Stockholder, which Common Interests are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and
free and clear of any Liens, and (ii) no other class of
capital stock or other ownership interests of the Company is
issued or outstanding.
(b) Immediately after the Closing, the outstanding Common
Interests and Series A Preferred Interests shall be as set
forth in the Operating Agreement.
(c) As of the date hereof and as of the Closing,
(i) 1,000,010 shares of common stock of Mergerco have
been authorized, (ii) (x) 10 Mergerco Voting Shares
are issued and outstanding and owned by the Controlling
Stockholder and (y) 1,000,000 Mergerco Non-Voting Shares
are issued and outstanding and owned by the Company,
(iii) all of the shares described in clause (ii) are
issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free and clear of any
Liens and (iv) no other class of capital stock or other
ownership interests of Mergerco is issued or outstanding.
(d) Except pursuant to the Securities Purchase or the
Rollover, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options,
warrants, calls, convertible securities or other similar rights,
agreements, commitments or contracts of any kind to which the
Company, Mergerco or any of their respective subsidiaries is a
party or by which the Company, Mergerco or any of their
respective subsidiaries is bound obligating the Company,
Mergerco or any of their respective subsidiaries to
(i) issue, transfer, deliver or sell, or cause to be
issued, transferred, delivered or sold, additional shares of
capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, or
securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for,
shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests
in, the Company, Mergerco or any of their respective
subsidiaries; (ii) issue, grant, extend or enter into any
such security, option, warrant, call, right or contract;
(iii) redeem or otherwise acquire any such shares of
capital stock or other equity or voting interests; or
(iv) provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form
of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any subsidiary.
3.5 Absence of
Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is
no claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened against any of the
Controlling Stockholder, the Company or Mergerco or any of their
respective properties or assets at law or in equity, except as
would not materially impair the Company’s ability to
consummate the Transactions or otherwise have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
3.6 Newly-Formed
Entities. Since their respective dates of
organization, the Company, Mergerco and their respective
subsidiaries have not carried on any business or conducted any
operations other than the
II-8
execution of this Agreement and the performance of their
obligations under this Agreement and matters ancillary thereto
(including discussions with prospective financing sources and
other activities and agreements in connection with the
Transactions and other alternative transactions);
provided, that any liabilities therefrom are included on
Annex 10.1(b). The Company, Mergerco and their respective
subsidiaries have no indebtedness of any type and have not
incurred or assumed any indebtedness or liabilities or provided
any guarantee of any indebtedness or other liabilities or
obligations, other than liabilities for reasonable expenses
incurred in connection with the Transactions.
3.7 Organization and Qualification;
Subsidiaries.
(a) Each of ECC and its subsidiaries is a corporation or
legal entity duly organized or formed, validly existing and in
good standing, under the laws of its jurisdiction of
organization or formation and has the requisite corporate,
partnership or limited liability company power and authority and
all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate
its properties and to carry on the Business as it is now being
conducted, except where the failure to have such power,
authority and governmental approvals would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material
adverse effect on the Business. Each of ECC and its subsidiaries
is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to do
business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction in which
the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it
or the nature of its Business makes such qualification or
licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified
or licensed and in good standing as would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material
adverse effect on the Business.
(b) Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a complete and correct structure chart of ECC and its
subsidiaries (other than entities with no material liabilities
and no material assets or operations), including the
jurisdiction of organization and percentage of outstanding
equity or voting interests (including partnership interests and
limited liability company interests) owned by ECC or its
subsidiaries of each of ECC’s subsidiaries, and the
identity of such owners of outstanding equity or voting
interests. All equity or voting interests (including partnership
interests and limited liability company interests) of ECC’s
subsidiaries held by ECC or any of its other subsidiaries have
been duly and validly authorized and are validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable. All such equity or voting interests
owned by ECC or its subsidiaries are free and clear of any Liens
(other than Liens under the Credit Agreement and Liens permitted
thereunder (“Permitted Liens”).
3.8 Capitalization; Existence; Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws.
(a) The authorized capital stock of ECC consists of
(i) 230,000,000 shares of common stock of ECC
consisting of (A) 170,000,000 shares of ECC
Class A Common Stock, (B) 30,000,000 shares of
ECC Class B Common Stock and
(C) 30,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share and
(ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock consisting
of (A) 250 shares of 12.50% Senior Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Senior
Preferred Stock”) and
(B) 2,875,000 shares of ECC Preferred Stock. As of
May 17, 2010, (i) 32,910,753 shares of ECC
Class A Common Stock were issued and outstanding,
(ii) 4,930,680 shares of ECC Class B Common Stock
were issued and outstanding, all of which shares were held by
the Controlling Stockholder, (iii) no shares of
Class C Common Stock of ECC were issued and outstanding,
(iv) no shares of Senior Preferred Stock were issued and
outstanding, (v) 2,809,170 shares of ECC Preferred
Stock were issued and outstanding, (vi) there were
outstanding restricted stock with respect to 144,040 shares
of ECC Class A Common Stock, (vii) there were
outstanding restricted stock unit awards with respect to
25,000 shares of ECC Class A Common Stock,
(viii) there were stock options to purchase an aggregate of
8,663,038 shares of ECC Common Stock at a weighted average
exercise price of $9.46 per share of ECC Common Stock (of
which stock options to purchase an aggregate of
5,778,379 shares of ECC Common Stock were exercisable). No
shares of ECC Class A Common Stock or ECC Class B
Common Stock are held by any subsidiary of ECC. Since
February 28, 2010, other than pursuant to the exercise of
stock options outstanding on such date, the issuance of stock
options under employment agreements in effect on such date, the
issuance of ECC Class A Common Stock pursuant to the
director compensation plan in effect on such date, the vesting
of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards outstanding
on such date and pursuant to the 401(k) Plan and the conversion
of up to 200,000 shares of ECC Class B Common Stock
into a
II-9
like amount of ECC Class A Common Stock, ECC has not issued
any ECC Class A Common Stock has not granted any option,
restricted stock, warrants or rights or entered into any other
agreements or commitments to issue any ECC Class A Common
Stock or ECC Class B Common Stock and has not split,
combined or reclassified any of its shares of capital stock.
Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock, voting
securities or other equity interests of each subsidiary of ECC
is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable
and free of any preemptive rights, and all such securities are
owned by ECC or another wholly owned subsidiary of ECC free and
clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.
(b) Except as set forth above, there are no outstanding
subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, convertible securities
or other similar rights, agreements, commitments or contracts of
any kind to which ECC or any of its subsidiaries is a party or
by which ECC or any of its subsidiaries is bound obligating ECC
or any of its subsidiaries to (i) issue, transfer, deliver
or sell, or cause to be issued, transferred, delivered or sold,
additional shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting
interests in, or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or
exercisable for, shares of capital stock of, or other equity or
voting interests in, ECC or any of its subsidiaries;
(ii) issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security,
option, warrant, call, right or contract; (iii) redeem or
otherwise acquire any such shares of capital stock or other
equity or voting interests; or (iv) provide a material
amount of funds to, or make any material investment (in the form
of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any
subsidiary. From February 28, 2010 to the date hereof, ECC
has not declared or paid any dividend or distribution in respect
of the ECC Capital Stock, and has not repurchased, redeemed or
otherwise acquired any ECC Capital Stock, and the ECC Board has
not authorized any of the foregoing.
(c) Neither ECC nor any of its subsidiaries has outstanding
material bonds, debentures, notes or other securities, the
holders of which have the right to vote (or which are
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for securities
having the right to vote) with the stockholders of ECC or any of
its subsidiaries on any matter.
(d) There are no stockholder agreements, voting trusts or
other agreements or understandings to which ECC or any of its
subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of the
capital stock or other equity interests of ECC or any of its
subsidiaries.
(e) The Company has made available to the Investor a
complete and correct copy of the Second Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws, each as amended to
date, of ECC and the equivalent organization documents for each
of its subsidiaries. The Second Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws (or equivalent organization documents)
of ECC and each of its subsidiaries are in full force and
effect. None of ECC or any of its subsidiaries is in material
violation of any provision of the Second Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation or the By-Laws (or its equivalent
organization documents).
3.9 Compliance with Laws; Governmental Permits;
No Conflict.
(a) Each of ECC and its subsidiaries is in possession of
all FCC Licenses required to operate the radio stations owned or
operated by them (the “Stations”), and
all other material franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses,
permits, easements, variances, exceptions, consents,
certificates, approvals and orders necessary for ECC or any of
its subsidiaries to own, lease and operate the properties of ECC
and its subsidiaries or to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted and contemplated to be conducted (the
“Governmental Permits”). All of the
Governmental Permits are in full force and effect, and no
suspension or cancellation of any of the Governmental Permits is
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, except
where the failure to have in full force and effect, or the
suspension or cancellation of, any of the Governmental Permits
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, Company Material Adverse Effect. None of the
Governmental Permits are subject to any conditions, other than
as may be generally applicable to the industry in which ECC
operates except as would not be reasonably expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect. None of ECC or any of its subsidiaries is, or during the
past two years has been, in conflict with, or in default or
violation of, nor will the transactions result in any conflict
with, or default or violation of, (i) any Laws applicable
to ECC or any of its subsidiaries or by which any property or
asset of ECC or any of its subsidiaries is bound or affected,
(ii) any of the Governmental Permits or (iii) any
loan, guarantee of indebtedness or credit agreement, note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license,
permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which ECC
or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which ECC or any of
its subsidiaries or any
II-10
property, asset or right of ECC or any of its subsidiaries is
bound or affected, except for any such conflicts, defaults or
violations that would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. None of ECC or any
of its subsidiaries has received written or, to the Knowledge of
the Company, oral (or otherwise has any knowledge of any) notice
during the past three years, of any material violation of or
noncompliance with any Law applicable to ECC or any of its
subsidiaries, or directing ECC or any of its subsidiaries to
take any remedial action with respect to such applicable Law or
otherwise, and no material deficiencies of ECC or any of its
subsidiaries have been asserted to ECC or any of its
subsidiaries in writing or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
orally, by any Governmental Body.
(b) The Business is being operated in compliance with Law
and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Governmental Permits applicable to it, in each case except as
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. No proceedings or
investigations are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
are threatened which may result in the revocation, cancellation,
suspension, rescission, modification or non-renewal of any of
the Governmental Permits, the denial of any pending application,
the issuance of any cease and desist order or the imposition of
any fines, forfeitures or other administrative actions by the
FCC with respect to the Business or its operation, other than
proceedings that are not likely to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. There is not on the date of this Agreement
pending before the FCC any issued or outstanding, nor to the
Knowledge of the Company is there on the date of this Agreement
threatened, any application, complaint, petition or proceeding
with respect to any station owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by ECC. ECC and its subsidiaries have complied in
all material respects with all requirements to file reports,
applications and other documents with the FCC. The Company has
no knowledge of any matters which would result in the revocation
of or the refusal to renew any of the Governmental Permits.
3.10 ECC SEC Documents.
(a) ECC has filed with the SEC all material reports,
schedules, forms, registration statements and other documents
required to be filed or furnished with the SEC since
February 29, 2008, together with any amendments,
restatements or supplements thereto and those filed subsequent
to the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “ECC
SEC Documents”) and as of their respective dates
or, if amended or restated prior to the date of this Agreement,
as of the date of the last such amendment or applicable
subsequent filing, the ECC SEC Documents complied, and each of
the ECC SEC Documents to be filed subsequent to the date hereof
will comply, in all material respects with the requirements of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and
the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and
none of the ECC SEC Documents at the time they were filed, or
will be filed, as the case may be, or, if amended or restated
prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the date of the last
such amendment or applicable subsequent filing, contained, or
will contain, any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted, or will omit, to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, or are to
be made, not misleading.
(b) The consolidated financial statements (giving effect to
any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto filed prior
to the date of this Agreement, and including all related notes
and schedules) of ECC and its subsidiaries included in the ECC
SEC Documents fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of ECC and its consolidated
subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and their
consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flows
for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of
the unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments
and to any other adjustments described therein including the
notes thereto) in conformity with GAAP (except, in the case of
the unaudited statements, as permitted by
Form 10-Q
of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods
involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes
thereto).
3.11 Related Party
Transactions. There are no contracts or
arrangements that are in existence as of the date of this
Agreement under which there are any existing or future
liabilities between ECC or any of its subsidiaries, on the one
hand, and, on the other hand, any (i) present executive
officer or director of ECC or (ii) record or beneficial
owner of more than 5% of the shares of ECC Common Stock as of
the date hereof except as set forth in the ECC SEC Documents on
the date hereof.
II-11
3.12 Taxes. Except as would
not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect:
(a) All Tax Returns required by applicable Law to be filed
with any Taxing Authority by, or on behalf of, ECC or any
subsidiary have been filed when due unless extended in
accordance with all applicable laws and all such Tax Returns are
true and complete in all respects;
(b) ECC and each subsidiary has paid (or has had paid on
its behalf) to the appropriate Taxing Authority all Taxes due
and payable, or, where payment is not yet due, has established
(or has had established on its behalf and for its sole benefit
and recourse) in accordance with GAAP an adequate accrual for
all Taxes through the end of the last period for which ECC and
its subsidiaries ordinarily record items on their respective
books;
(c) Neither ECC nor any subsidiary has waived any statute
of limitations with respect to Taxes or requested or agreed to
any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or
deficiency;
(d) There is no claim, audit, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation (whether judicial, administrative or otherwise)
now pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened
against or with respect to ECC or any subsidiary in respect of
any Tax or Tax asset;
(e) Each of ECC and its subsidiaries has withheld and paid
to the appropriate Taxing authority all Taxes required to have
been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing
to any current or former insured, reinsured, insurer or
reinsurer, employee, independent contractor, creditor, member or
other third party;
(f) Neither ECC nor any subsidiary is a party to, is bound
by or has an obligation under any Tax sharing agreement, Tax
indemnification agreement, Tax allocation agreement or similar
contract or arrangement (including any agreement, contract or
arrangement providing for the sharing or ceding of credits or
losses) or has a potential liability or obligation to any person
as a result of or pursuant to any such agreement, contract,
arrangement or commitment;
(g) Neither ECC nor any subsidiary has participated in a
“reportable transaction” within the meaning of
Treasury Regulations
Section 1.6011-4(b)(1); and
(h) There are no liens or security interests on the assets
of ECC or any subsidiary that arose in connection with any
failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax.
3.13 Controls and Procedures.
(a) ECC has established and maintains disclosure controls
and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting as
required by
Rule 13a-15
under the Exchange Act. ECC’s disclosure controls and
procedures are designed to ensure that information required to
be disclosed in ECC’s periodic reports filed or submitted
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the required time periods and that all such
information is accumulated and communicated to ECC’s
management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure and to make the certifications required
pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
ECC’s management has completed an assessment of the
effectiveness of ECC’s internal controls over financial
reporting in compliance with the requirements of
Section 404 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act for the fiscal year
ended February 28, 2010, and a description of such
assessment is set forth in the ECC
10-K. To the
Knowledge of the Company, ECC has disclosed, based on its most
recent evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting,
to ECC’s outside auditors and the audit committee of the
ECC Board (i) all significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over
financial reporting (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(f)
of the Exchange Act) which are reasonably likely to adversely
affect in any material respect ECC’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial data and (ii) any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in ECC’s
internal controls over financial reporting.
(b) Since February 28, 2010 (i) to the Knowledge
of the Company, none of ECC, any of its subsidiaries, and any
director, officer, auditor or accountant of ECC or any of its
subsidiaries or any employee of ECC or
II-12
its subsidiaries whose position includes monitoring ECC’s
audit committee complaint reporting procedures has received any
material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, in writing,
regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures,
methodologies or methods of ECC or any of its subsidiaries or
their respective internal accounting controls, including any
material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that ECC or
any of its subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting
or auditing practices, and (ii) no attorney representing
ECC or any of its subsidiaries, whether or not employed by ECC
or any of its subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material
violation of securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duty or
similar violation by ECC or any of its officers, directors,
employees or agents to the ECC Board or any committee thereof or
to any director or executive officer of ECC.
3.14 Intellectual Property.
(a) Except as would not be reasonably expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect, ECC and its subsidiaries own or possess valid licenses
or other rights to use in the manner currently used, all
patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, brand names,
logos, domain names, certification marks, trade names, trade
dress and other indications of origin and the goodwill
associated with the foregoing (the “Intellectual
Property Rights”) used in or necessary for the
conduct of the Business as currently conducted (the
“ECC Intellectual Property Rights”).
Neither ECC nor any of its subsidiaries has received, in the
past two (2) years, any written charge, complaint, claim,
demand or notice challenging the validity or enforceability of
any of the ECC Intellectual Property Rights owned by ECC or any
of its subsidiaries (the “Owned Intellectual Property
Rights”) that has not been settled or otherwise
resolved, or that would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect, and no legal proceeding relating to the foregoing is
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, has been threatened.
(b) To the Knowledge of the Company, (i) the conduct
of the Business as currently conducted does not infringe upon,
misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property
Rights of any other person in any material respect and
(ii) except as would not be material to ECC and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, none of ECC or any of its
subsidiaries has received, in the past two (2) years, any
written charge, complaint, claim, demand or notice alleging any
such infringement, misappropriation or other violation
(including any claim that ECC or any of its subsidiaries must
license or refrain from using any Intellectual Property Rights
of any other person) that has not been settled or otherwise
fully and finally resolved, and no legal proceeding relating to
the foregoing has been initiated.
(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect, each of ECC and its subsidiaries has taken reasonable
steps in accordance with normal industry practice to maintain
the confidentiality of its trade secrets and other confidential
Owned Intellectual Property Rights and any other Intellectual
Property Rights obtained from third parties under the obligation
of confidentiality.
3.15 Real Estate.
(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect, (i) each of ECC and its subsidiaries has good and
valid fee simple title to its owned properties, assets and
rights or good and valid leasehold or licensed interests in all
of its leasehold or licensed properties, assets and rights.
Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a list of all of the real property owned by ECC or any of
its subsidiaries and (ii) all such owned properties, assets
and rights, and all such leasehold, subleasehold or licensed
interests in leased, subleased or licensed properties, assets
and rights, are free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted
Liens.
(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect, each of ECC and its subsidiaries has complied with the
terms of all leases, subleases and occupancy agreements (each a
“Lease” and collectively, the
“Leases”) to which it is a party and all
such Leases are legal, valid, binding and enforceable in
accordance with their terms by ECC or its subsidiaries party
thereto and are in full force and effect. Since
February 28, 2008, to the Knowledge of the Company, except
as would not be material to ECC and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, neither ECC not any of its subsidiaries has received
notice of any default, delinquency or breach on the part of ECC
or any of its
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subsidiaries, and there are no existing defaults (with or
without notice or lapse of time or both) by ECC or any of its
subsidiaries or any other party thereto, beyond any applicable
grace periods under Leases.
3.16 Absence of Certain Changes or
Events. Since February 28, 2010, except
as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or in connection with
the Transactions, (a) the Business of ECC and its
subsidiaries has been conducted in all material respects in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and
(b) there has not been any fact, change, effect,
occurrence, event, development or state of circumstances that
would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.17 No Undisclosed
Liabilities. Except (a) as adequately
reflected or reserved against in ECC’s consolidated balance
sheet as at February 28, 2010, included in the ECC SEC
Documents or (b) for liabilities or obligations incurred
since the date of such balance sheet in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, which have not had, and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any liabilities or
obligations of any nature, whether or not accrued, contingent or
otherwise, that are required by GAAP to be reflected on a
consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto) of ECC and its
subsidiaries.
3.18 ECC Absence of
Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is
no material claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending
or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against ECC or
any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties,
assets or rights, or against any employees of ECC or any of its
subsidiaries, at law or in equity, and there are no material
Orders, before any arbitrator or Governmental Body in each
except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule.
3.19 Brokers. The Company
has not paid or agreed to pay, or received any claim with
respect to, any brokerage commissions, finders’ fees or
similar compensation in connection with the Transactions, except
as set forth in Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the
Company.
3.20 Sufficiency of
Assets. Except as would not be reasonably
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect, (a) the assets of ECC and its
subsidiaries comprise all the material assets used or held for
use in connection with the Business and (b) the assets of
ECC and its subsidiaries are sufficient for the operation and
conduct of the Business by ECC and its subsidiaries immediately
following the Closing in substantially the same manner as
currently conducted.
3.21 Adoption of
Resolutions. The resolutions set forth on
Exhibit H were duly adopted by the ECC Board and have not
been withdrawn or revoked.
3.22 Exclusivity of
Representations. The representations and
warranties made by the Company in this Agreement are in lieu of
and are exclusive of all other representations and warranties,
including any implied warranties. The Company hereby disclaims
any such other or implied representations or warranties,
notwithstanding the delivery or disclosure to the Investor or
its officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives of
any documentation or other information (including any pro forma
financial information, supplemental data or financial
projections or other forward-looking statements).
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTOR AND ALDEN
The Investor and Alden, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to the Company as follows:
4.1 Due Organization; Authority to Execute and
Perform Agreement. The Investor and Alden are
duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent applicable,
in good standing under the laws of the respective jurisdictions
of their formation, and have all requisite organizational power
and authority and have taken all organizational action required
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform their
obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Investor and Alden,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
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moratorium or similar laws, laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, and to general
equity principles and public policy.
4.2 No Defaults or
Conflicts. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions by the
Investor and Alden and performance by the Investor or Alden and
their Affiliates of their respective obligations hereunder:
(i) does not result in any violation of the organizational
documents of the Investor or Alden or any of their applicable
Affiliates; (ii) does not conflict with, or result in a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
default under any agreement or instrument to which the Investor
or Alden or any of their Affiliates is a party or by which it is
bound or to which the its properties are subject; and
(iii) assuming compliance with the matters addressed in
Section 4.3, does not violate any existing applicable Law
or Order of any Governmental Body having jurisdiction over the
Investor or Alden; provided, however, that no
representation or warranty is made in the foregoing
clause (iii) with respect to matters that would not impair
the Investor’s or Alden’s ability to consummate the
Transactions.
4.3 No Governmental Authorization
Required. No authorization or approval by,
and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Body will be
required to be obtained or made by the Investor or Alden or any
of their Affiliates in connection with the due execution,
delivery and performance by the Investor or Alden of this
Agreement and the consummation by the Investor or Alden of the
Transactions; provided, however, that no
representation or warranty is made with respect to
authorizations, approvals, notices or filings with any
Governmental Body that, if not obtained or made, would not
materially impair the Investor’s or Alden’s ability to
consummate the Transactions.
4.4 Absence of
Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is
no claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the
Knowledge of Alden, threatened against Alden, the Investor or
any of their respective properties or assets at law or in
equity, except (a) litigation set forth in the Company
Disclosure Schedule and (b) other litigation which would
not materially impair their respective ability to consummate the
Transactions or otherwise have an material adverse effect on any
of Alden or the Investor.
4.5 Title to the Investor ECC
Shares. The Investor and its Affiliates own
beneficially and of record, free and clear of any Liens, and
have full power and authority to vote and convey free and clear
of any Liens, the Investor ECC Shares (as defined below).
4.6 Purchase for
Investment. The Investor is purchasing the
Securities for its own account for investment and not for resale
or distribution in any transaction that would be in violation of
the securities laws of the United States of America or any state
thereof. The Investor is an “accredited investor” as
defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under
the Securities Act.
4.7 Financial Ability. The
Investor has, or Alden has and will make available to the
Investor, cash on hand
and/or
unexpired and unconditioned capital commitments from its
investors that are sufficient to enable the Investor to pay the
Purchase Price in cash at the Closing and consummate the
Transactions.
4.8 Brokers. Except for fees
and commissions that will be paid by the Investor or Alden, no
Person retained by or on behalf of the Investor or any of their
Affiliates is entitled to any brokerage commissions,
finders’ fees or similar compensation in connection with
the Transactions.
4.9 Ownership Requirements.
(a) Neither (i) the Investor, (ii) any
shareholder, partner, member or owner of the Investor, nor
(iii) any indirect owner of the Investor, is (w) a
person who is a not a citizen of the United States, (x) an
entity organized under the laws of a government other than the
government of the United States or any state, territory, or
possession of the United States, (y) a government other
than the government of the United States or of any state,
territory or possession of the United States, or (z) a
representative of, or an individual or entity controlled by, any
of the foregoing, except that certain indirect owners of the
Investor may be (w)-(z) and therefore qualify as
“foreign” for purposes of the application of
47 U.S.C. § 310(b) and the rules, regulations,
and published policies of the FCC implementing such statute
(collectively “Foreign Ownership Rules”), provided
that such indirect owners do not increase the foreign ownership
of ECC by more than 1% for purposes of determining ECC’s
compliance with the Foreign Ownership Rules.
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(b) Based on information in the ECC
10-K,
neither (i) the Investor, (ii) any officer, director,
manager, shareholder, partner, member or owner of the Investor,
nor (iii) any indirect owner of the Investor, holds any
interest in any Media Company that (x) is cognizable under
the provisions of 47 C.F.R. § 73.3555 or
(y) will become cognizable under such provisions upon
consummation of the Securities Purchase, which interest will
cause (A) the Investor, (B) any officer, director,
manager, shareholder, partner, member or owner of the Investor,
(C) any indirect owner of the Investor, (D) the
Company, or (E) ECC to be in violation of the provisions of
the Communications Act or 47 C.F.R. § 73.3555
when considered in conjunction with the interest of the Investor
in the Company and ECC that will be obtained hereunder on the
Closing Date. The term “Media Company” shall mean any
privately or publicly held businesses or parts thereof which,
directly or indirectly, owns, controls or operates a broadcast
radio or television station licensed by the FCC, a
U.S. cable television system, a “daily newspaper”
(as such term is defined in 47 C.F.R. § 73.3555),
a multipoint multichannel distribution system licensed by the
FCC, a commercial mobile radio service licensed by the FCC or
any other communications facility the ownership or operation of
which is subject to regulation by the FCC under the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
4.10 Exclusivity of
Representations. The representations and
warranties made by the Investor and Alden in this Agreement are
in lieu of and are exclusive of all other representations and
warranties, including any implied warranties. The Investor and
Alden hereby disclaim any such other or implied representations
or warranties, notwithstanding the delivery or disclosure to the
Company or its officers, directors, employees, agents or
representatives of any documentation or other information
(including any pro forma financial information, supplemental
data or financial projections or other forward-looking
statements).
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
AND AGREEMENTS
5.1 Conduct of the
Business. During the period from the date of
this Agreement until the Closing, except as specifically
required by this Agreement or the Transactions or as set forth
on Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company shall, and the Controlling Stockholder, for so long as
he believes in good faith that such action would not constitute
a breach of his fiduciary duties, shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause ECC and Emmis Operating Company to,
(a) conduct their respective businesses in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice and to use
their reasonable best efforts to preserve intact their
respective businesses and relationships with customers,
regulators, suppliers, lessors, licensors, distributors,
creditors, employees and agents, and (b) not, without the
Investor’s prior written consent, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned:
(a) amend, waive or otherwise change, in any material
respect, the Initial Governing Documents, the Second Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation of ECC (other than the
Articles Amendments), the By-Laws of ECC, or such
equivalent organizational documents of any of ECC’s
subsidiaries;
(b) except for (i) the Securities Purchase and
Rollover and (ii) as required by the Credit Agreement,
capital stock or restricted stock units of ECC issued pursuant
to the 401(k) Plan, the exercise of stock options, the vesting
of restricted stock or pursuant to the terms of existing
employment agreements or the director compensation plan, all as
included in Section 3.8(a)(vi) and (vii), issue, sell,
pledge, dispose, encumber or grant any shares of its or its
subsidiaries’ capital stock or other ownership or voting
interests, or any options, warrants, convertible securities,
restricted stock or restricted stock units or other rights of
any kind to acquire any shares of its or its subsidiaries’
capital stock or other ownership or voting interests;
(c) except for dividends and distributions to or among ECC
and its wholly owned subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, declare, set aside, make
or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash,
stock, property or otherwise, with respect to, or directly or
indirectly redeem, purchase or repurchase any shares of its or
any of its subsidiaries’ capital stock or other securities
or obligations convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for any shares of its or its subsidiaries’ capital stock or
any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares;
II-16
(d) make any change to, or permit to lapse without filing
for renewal, any material Government Permits currently held,
except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(e) except as required by Law or pursuant to plans,
agreements and other arrangements in effect on February 28,
2010, (i) increase the compensation or other benefits
payable or to become payable to directors or executive officers,
(ii) grant any severance or termination pay to, or enter
into any severance agreement with any director or executive
officer of the Company, ECC or any of their respective
subsidiaries, except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice or (iii) enter into, amend in
any material respect or terminate (without cause) any employment
agreement with any executive officer of the Company or ECC
(except for entering into or terminating employment agreements
terminable on less than 30 days’ notice without
penalty, and except for extension of employment agreements
without material modification in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice);
(f) acquire, including by merger, consolidation, any other
form of business combination, acquisition of stock or assets,
any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other
business organization or any division thereof, or any material
amount of assets in connection with acquisitions or investments
with a purchase price in excess of $10 million individually
or $20 million in the aggregate;
(g) incur, create, assume or otherwise become liable for
any indebtedness for borrowed money (directly, contingently or
otherwise) or guarantee any such indebtedness for any person
except for indebtedness incurred or permitted by the Credit
Agreement (excluding Sections 10.1(e), (f) and
(k) thereof) and intercompany indebtedness;
(h) make any material change to its methods, policies or
procedures of accounting in effect at February 28, 2010,
except (i) as required by GAAP or as required by a
Governmental Body, or (ii) as required by a change in
applicable Law;
(i) adjust, split, combine, redeem, recapitalize or
reclassify any of its capital stock or issue any other
securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for
shares of its capital stock other than with respect to the
vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units;
(j) make any capital expenditures having an aggregate value
in excess of $5 million;
(k) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim,
action or proceeding (other than waivers, releases, assignments,
settlements or compromises that (i) involve the payment of
monetary damages not in excess of $2 million in the
aggregate not otherwise recoverable under insurance and
(ii) do not otherwise materially restrict the conduct of
the Business) or otherwise pay, discharge or satisfy any claims,
liabilities or obligations in excess of $2 million not
recoverable by insurance;
(l) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation,
dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring,
recapitalization or other reorganization or commence any
proceedings in bankruptcy (including with respect to any
subsidiary of ECC);
(m) other than as required or permitted by the Credit
Agreement (excluding Sections 10.1(e), (f) and
(k) and 10.2.1(xii) thereof), sell, lease, license,
transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise encumber
(including securitizations), or subject to any lien or otherwise
dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or
rights;
(n) enter into any transaction with an Affiliate of the
Company, ECC or any subsidiary of ECC (other than existing
arrangements set forth on Schedule 5.1(n), amendments and
replacements of those arrangements);
(o) engage in any activity which would pose a material risk
that the Company may be treated, for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, as engaged in a trade or business; or
(p) authorize, commit, enter into any agreement or
otherwise agree or make any commitment to do any of the
foregoing.
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5.2 Filings and Authorizations;
Consummation.
(a) Each of the Parties and the Controlling Stockholder, as
promptly as practicable, shall make, or cause to be made, all
filings and submissions under laws, rules and regulations
applicable to it, or to its Affiliates, as may be required for
it to consummate the Transactions and use its reasonable best
efforts in good faith (which shall not require any Party to make
any payment (other than filing fees or other non-punitive fees
required to be paid to any Governmental Body) or concession to
any Person in connection with obtaining such Person’s
consent) to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all other
authorizations, approvals, consents and waivers from all
Governmental Bodies and other Persons necessary to be obtained
by it, or its Affiliates, in order for it to consummate the
Transactions.
(b) Each of the Parties and the Controlling Stockholder
shall coordinate and cooperate with one another in exchanging
and providing such information to each other and in making the
filings and requests referred to in Section 5.2(a). The
Parties and the Controlling Stockholder shall supply such
reasonable assistance as may be reasonably requested by any
other Party in connection with the foregoing.
(c) Each of the Parties and the Controlling Stockholder
shall promptly inform the other of any material communication
from any Governmental Body regarding any of the Transactions
and, if in writing, to furnish a copy thereof to the others. If
the Parties or any of their respective Affiliates receives a
request for additional information or documentary material from
any such Governmental Body with respect to the Transactions,
then such Party will endeavor in good faith to make, or cause to
be made, as soon as reasonably practicable and after
consultation with the other parties, an appropriate response in
compliance with such request. Each Party and the Controlling
Stockholder will advise the other Parties and the Controlling
Stockholder promptly in respect of any understandings,
undertakings or agreements (oral or written) which such Person
proposes to make or enter into with any Governmental Body in
connection with Transactions.
5.3 Efforts. Subject to the
other terms and conditions provided herein and in addition to
the obligations of the Parties pursuant to Section 5.2,
each of the Parties and the Controlling Stockholder agrees to
use its reasonable best efforts and to act in good faith to take
or cause to be taken all actions and to do or cause to be done
all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable Law to consummate and make effective the Transactions
as promptly as possible, including using reasonable best efforts
to (i) obtain all necessary consents, approvals or waivers
from third parties, (ii) contest any legal proceeding
challenging the Agreement or relating to the Transactions and
(iii) execute any additional instruments necessary to
consummate the Transactions. Alden and the Investor shall not,
and shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, directly or
indirectly, make (or enter into any contract, letter of intent
or other agreement with respect to, or otherwise commit or
agree, whether or not in writing, to make) any acquisition of or
investment in any broadcasting or publishing businesses or
assets where such acquisition or investment would reasonably be
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to delay or impair
in any material respect the consummation of the Transactions.
5.4 ECC Capital Stock.
(a) Alden and the Investor shall, and shall cause each of
their respective Affiliates to, vote or provide a consent or
proxy with respect to the shares of ECC Capital Stock
beneficially owned or of record by such Person, as set forth
opposite such Person’s name on Annex 5.4(a)
(“Investor ECC Shares”), in favor of the
Articles Amendments and the Back-End Merger, in each case
to the extent any such class of ECC Capital Stock is eligible to
vote on such matter. Alden and the Investor hereby irrevocably
grants and appoints, and shall cause its Affiliates that
beneficially own or own of record any Investor ECC Shares to
grant and appoint, the Company as such Person’s proxy and
attorney-in-fact
(with full power of substitution), for and in the name, place
and stead of such Person, to vote or provide a consent or proxy
with respect to the Investor ECC Shares in accordance with the
preceding sentence.
(b) The Controlling Stockholder shall, and shall cause each
of his Affiliates to, vote or provide a consent or proxy with
respect to the shares of ECC Capital Stock beneficially owned or
of record by such Person, as
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set forth opposite such Person’s name on Annex 5.4(b)
(“Controlling Stockholder ECC Shares”)
except for the Controlling Stockholder Options, in favor of the
Articles Amendments and the Back-End Merger, in each case
to the extent any such class of ECC Capital Stock is eligible to
vote on such matter. The Controlling Stockholder hereby
irrevocably grants and appoints, and shall cause its Affiliates
that beneficially own or own of record any Investor ECC Shares
to grant and appoint, the Investor as such Person’s proxy
or proxy and
attorney-in-fact
(with full power of substitution), for and in the name, place
and stead of such Person, to vote or provide a consent with
respect to the Controlling Stockholder ECC Shares in accordance
with the preceding sentence.
(c) Upon the satisfaction of all other conditions to the
Back-End Merger and immediately prior to consummation thereof,
the Controlling Stockholder shall, and shall cause each of his
Affiliates to, for no additional consideration and free and
clear of any Liens, contribute to ECC for cancellation in
accordance with the Merger Agreement all of the Controlling
Stockholder’s and his Affiliates’ right, title and
interest in and to the Controlling Stockholder ECC Shares (other
than the Controlling Stockholder Retained Shares, all of which
shall be converted into the right to receive the Offer Price in
cash in the Back-End Merger).
(d) Prior to the Closing, except as explicitly contemplated
by this Agreement or other agreements entered into in connection
with the Transactions, (a) the Controlling Stockholder and
the Company shall not, without the prior written approval of the
Investor, and (b) Alden and the Investor shall not, and
Alden shall cause the Investor not to, without the prior written
approval of the Company, directly or indirectly, whether as an
advisor or principal, acquire or sell (or seek permission to
acquire or sell), of record or beneficially, by purchase, sale
or otherwise, any shares of ECC Capital Stock or other
securities, properties or indebtedness of the ECC or its
subsidiaries, other than “swap” contracts terminated
pursuant to the terms thereof by the counterparty thereto.
5.5 Offer to
Purchase. Subject to Section 5.7, the
Company shall not, without the prior written approval of the
Investor, (a) amend or waive any of the Tender Conditions
or (b) otherwise amend any of the material terms and
conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase. The Controlling
Shareholder shall cause ECC not to, without the prior written
approval of the Investor, amend or waive any of the material
terms and conditions contained in the Exchange Offer.
5.6 Confidentiality. The
Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates and
their respective Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees
and agents (each, a “Recipient”) to,
maintain in confidence the terms of this Agreement, the
Transactions and the other agreements contemplated thereby and
all information furnished to each such Recipient in connection
with or relating thereto or otherwise make any publicity
release, announcement or other communication, of any kind and by
any means, concerning the foregoing without advance written
approval of the other Party. The preceding sentence shall not
apply to information that (i) becomes generally available
to the public other than as a result of disclosure by such
Recipient contrary to this Agreement; (ii) was available to
such Recipient on a non-confidential basis prior to its
disclosure to such Recipient by the Company or any other Party;
(iii) becomes available to such Recipient on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or
any other Recipient unless such Recipient knows that such source
is bound by a confidentiality agreement or is otherwise
prohibited from transmitting the information to such Recipient
by a contractual obligation; (iv) is independently
developed by such Recipient without reference to confidential
information received from the Company or any other Party;
(v) is required to be disclosed by applicable Law or legal
process, provided that any Recipient disclosing pursuant
to this clause (v) shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to notify the other Party at least five days prior to
such disclosure (other than with respect to disclosure on
Schedule 13D) so as to allow such other Party an
opportunity to protect such information through protective order
or otherwise; (vi) is required to be disclosed by any
listing agreement with, or the rules or regulations of, any
securities exchange on which securities of such Recipient or any
of its Affiliates are listed or traded; (vii) is required
to be disclosed in connection with the receipt of the rating of
any securities (including debt securities) from a ratings
agency; or (viii) is disclosed by a Party to such
Party’s legal, accounting and other professional
representatives.
5.7 Tender
Offeror. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in the Agreement, the Parties acknowledge and agree
that, at the election of the Company, the Offer to Purchase may
be made by Mergerco rather than the Company or the Company can
assign to Mergerco its rights to purchase under the Offer to
Purchase;
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provided that no such assignment shall relieve the Company of
its obligations hereunder. In such event, the Tender Conditions
shall reflect that MergerCo is the Offeror or purchaser, as
applicable. Alternatively, if the Company is the Offeror and
does not so assign its rights to purchase, then immediately
prior to the Back-End Merger, the Company shall contribute to
Mergerco all shares of ECC Common Stock purchased by it in the
Tender Closing.
5.8 Obligations of the Controlling
Stockholder. The parties acknowledge and
agree that the Controlling Stockholder is executing this
Agreement solely in his capacity as a holder of ECC Common
Stock. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or affect any
actions taken or not taken by the Controlling Stockholder in his
capacity as a director or officer of ECC or any of its
subsidiaries, or in any way to diminish or restrict his ability
to exercise his fiduciary duties with respect thereto in any
such capacity.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE INVESTOR TO CLOSE
The obligation of the Investor to enter into and complete the
Closing is subject to the fulfillment on the Closing Date of the
following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by
the Investor:
6.1 Representations and
Covenants. (a) The representations and
warranties of the Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.4,
3.16(b) and 3.19 shall be true and correct in all respects; and
(b) all remaining representations and warranties of the
Company contained in Article III shall be true and correct
except for such failures to be true and correct as would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, in the case of
both clauses (a) and (b), on and as of the Closing Date
with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the
Closing Date, except for those representations and warranties
that are expressly limited by their terms to dates or times
other than the Closing Date, which representations and
warranties need only be true and correct as aforesaid as of such
other dates or times; provided, however, that for
purposes of determining the satisfaction on the Closing Date of
clause (b), no effect shall be given to any exception or
qualification in such representations and warranties relating to
materiality, material adverse effect or knowledge. The Company
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with
all covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be
performed or complied with by the Company on or prior to the
Closing Date. The Company shall have delivered to the Investor a
certificate, dated the date of the Closing and signed by an
officer of the Company, to the foregoing effect.
6.2 No Orders. No Order
issued by any Governmental Body preventing, enjoining,
restraining or prohibiting the consummation of the Transactions
shall be in effect. No litigation shall have been commenced or,
to the Knowledge of the Company or the Knowledge of Alden
threatened by any Governmental Body seeking to enjoin, delay or
impede the Transactions or any of the benefits thereof. No Law
shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any
Governmental Body that prohibits or makes illegal consummation
of the Transactions.
6.3 Tender Conditions. All
of Tender Conditions (other than the condition in
clause (vi) thereof that Alden delivers the amounts due
hereunder) shall have been satisfied or waived by the Person or
Persons entitled to waive the same, with the consent of the
Investor, and the Company shall have accepted all shares
tendered therein.
6.4 Employment
Agreement. The Controlling Stockholder
continues to work as Chief Executive Officer of ECC.
6.5 Articles Amendments. The
Articles Amendments shall have been approved by the holders
of
662/3%
of the outstanding ECC Preferred Stock, and ECC shall have filed
such Articles Amendments with the Secretary of State of the
State of Indiana.
6.6 Opinion. The Company
shall have delivered the Opinion to the Investor.
6.7 Merger Agreement. The
Merger Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by the
parties thereto.
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ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY TO CLOSE
The obligation of the Company to enter into and complete the
Closing is subject to the fulfillment on or prior to the Closing
Date of the following conditions, any one or more of which may
be waived by the Company:
7.1 Representations and
Covenants. (a) The representations and
warranties of the Investor and Alden contained in
Sections 4.1, 4.5 and 4.8 shall be true and correct in all
respects; and (b) all remaining representations and
warranties of the Investor and Alden contained in
Article IV shall be true and correct in all material
respects, in the case of both clauses (a) and (b), on and
as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though
made on and as of the Closing Date, except for those
representations and warranties that are expressly limited by
their terms to dates or times other than the Closing Date, which
representations and warranties need only be true and correct as
aforesaid as of such other dates or times provided,
however, that for purposes of determining the
satisfaction on the Closing Date of clause (b), no effect
shall be given to any exception or qualification in such
representations and warranties relating to materiality; and
provided, further, that for purposes of
determining the satisfaction on the Closing Date of
clause (b), such representations and warranties shall be
deemed to be true and correct in all respects unless the failure
or failures of any such representations and warranties to be so
true and correct would reasonably be likely to have a materially
impair the Investor’s ability to consummate the
Transactions. The Investor shall have performed and complied in
all material respects with all covenants and agreements required
by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the
Investor on or prior to the Closing Date. The Investor shall
have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the date of
the Closing and signed by an officer of the Investor, to the
foregoing effect.
7.2 No Orders. No Order
issued by any Governmental Body preventing, enjoining,
restraining or prohibiting the consummation of the Transactions
shall be pending, threatened or in effect. No litigation shall
have been commenced or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened by any Governmental Body seeking to enjoin, delay or
impede the Transactions or any of the benefits thereof. No Law
shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any
Governmental Body that prohibits or makes illegal consummation
of the Transactions.
7.3 Tender Conditions. All
of the Tender Conditions shall have been satisfied or waived by
the Person or Persons entitled to waive the same.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
OF AGREEMENT
8.1 Termination. This
Agreement may not be terminated prior to the Closing, except as
follows:
(a) by mutual agreement of the Investor and the Company;
(b) at the election of the Investor or the Company upon
prior written notice, if (i) the Company has not commenced
the Tender Offer or (ii) ECC has not commenced the Exchange
Offer, in each case as of the close of business on the date
which is ten (10) Business Days after the date hereof (the
“Early Termination Date”);
(c) at the election of the Investor or the Company upon
prior written notice, if any one or more of the conditions set
forth in Article VI or Article VII respectively (other
than those that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
Closing) has not been fulfilled as of the close of business on
September 24, 2010 (the “Outside Date”);
provided, however, that the Party whose conduct
substantially results in the failure of such condition to be
fulfilled may not be the terminating Party;
(d) at the election of the Investor or the Company upon
prior written notice, if any court of competent jurisdiction in
the United States or other United States Governmental Body shall
have issued a final order, decree or ruling or taken any other
final action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting
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the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
such order, decree, ruling or other action is or shall have
become non-appealable;
(e) at the election of the Company or the Investor, upon
prior written notice, if there has been a material inaccuracy in
or material breach by the other Party of any representation or
warranty, or material breach or failure to perform of any
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other
agreement, document or certificate delivered pursuant hereto
(i) that would result in a failure of the conditions set
forth in Section 6.1 or 7.1, as applicable, and is
incapable of being cured by the Outside Date or (ii) in the
case of any other breach or failure to perform, is not cured by
the earlier to occur of the Outside Date and within 30 days
following written notice thereof (which notice shall include
such Party’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant
to this Section 8.1(f) and the basis for such termination);
provided, however, that the breaching Party may
not be the terminating Party; or
(f) at the election of the Company if, as a result of the
action or inaction by the Investor, the Closing shall not have
occurred on or prior to the date that is two (2) Business
Days following the date on which all of the conditions to
Closing set forth in Articles VI and VII have been
satisfied or, in the case of Article VII, waived by the
Company.
8.2 Survival After
Termination. If this Agreement terminates
pursuant to Section 8.1 and the transactions contemplated
hereby are not consummated,
(a) this Agreement shall become null and void and have no
further force or effect, except that any such termination shall
be without prejudice to the rights of any Party on account of
the nonsatisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Article VI or Article VII resulting from the
intentional or willful breach or violation of the
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of another
Party under this Agreement; and
(b) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, the provisions of Section 5.6, this
Section 8.2 and Article X shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Indemnification by the
Company. (a) The Company shall indemnify
the Investor, its Affiliates and each of their respective
Representatives and ultimate beneficial owners (each, an
“Investor Indemnified Party”) against,
and hold them harmless from, any Losses, as incurred (payable
promptly upon written request, but subject to an undertaking to
repay any Losses if it is determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction that such Investor Indemnified Party is not
entitled to such indemnification), arising from, in connection
with or otherwise with respect to:
(i) any inaccuracy in, or breach of, any representation or
warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement or any
document delivered in connection herewith or therewith;
(ii) any failure by the Company or the Controlling
Stockholder to perform any covenant, agreement, obligation or
undertaking contained in this Agreement; and
(iii) any and all actions, suits, proceedings, demands,
assessments, judgments, damages, awards, costs and expenses
(including third-party fees and expenses) incident to any of the
foregoing or incurred in connection with the enforcement of the
rights of any such indemnified party with respect to the
foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article IX, the Company shall not have any liability:
(i) under clause (i) and, as it relates to
clause (i), clause (iii) of Section 9.1(a) for
any Loss unless the aggregate amount of such Losses for which
indemnification would otherwise be available exceeds $7,500,000
(the “Deductible Amount”), in which case
the entire amount of such Losses shall be indemnifiable
hereunder; provided, however, that the Deductible
Amount shall not apply to any claim for indemnification to the
extent arising out of an inaccuracy or breach of any
representation or warranty
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contained in Sections 3.1, 3.4 and 3.19 (the
“Seller Specified Representations”) or
to any Loss incurred due to fraud, intentional
misrepresentation, intentional misconduct or intentional
concealment by or on behalf of the Company or the Controlling
Stockholder;
(ii) under clause (i) and, as it relates to
clause (i), clause (iii) of Section 9.1(a) for
any Loss with respect to any individual item or series of
related items of Loss that is of an amount less than $25,000
(which amount shall be an aggregate amount in the case of any
series of related items of Loss) and no such item or series of
related items, as the case may be, shall be applied toward the
calculation of whether the aggregate of all Losses incurred by
such Investor Indemnified Party exceeds the Deductible
Amount; or
(iii) after Closing under Section 9.1(a) for any Loss
arising from, in connection with or otherwise with respect to
any breach of any representation, warranty or covenant that
would have resulted (or would have been deemed to have resulted
as agreed by the other parties in a notice delivered at or prior
to Closing, provided the Company gives Alden notice of such
breach at least two (2) Business Days prior to Closing) in
non-satisfaction of a condition to Closing contained in
Section 6.1.
(c) For purposes of this Article IX and for purposes
of determining whether an Investor Indemnified Party is entitled
to indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.1, any
inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty made
by the Company contained in this Agreement or in any document
delivered herewith shall be determined without regard to any
materiality qualifications set forth in such representation or
warranty or in any document delivered in connection herewith,
and all references to the terms “material”,
“materially”, “materiality” “Company
Material Adverse Effect” or any similar terms shall be
ignored for purposes of determining whether such representation
or warranty was true and correct when made.
9.2 Indemnification by the
Investor. (a) The Investor shall, and
Alden shall provide sufficient funds to the Investor to,
indemnify the Company against, and agree to hold it harmless
from, any Losses, as incurred (payable promptly upon written
request, but subject to an undertaking to repay any Losses if it
is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such
indemnified party is not entitled to such indemnification), for
or on account of or arising from or in connection with or
otherwise with respect to:
(i) any inaccuracy in, or breach of, any representation or
warranty of the Investor contained in this Agreement or any
document delivered in connection herewith or therewith;
(ii) any failure by the Investor to perform any covenant,
agreement, obligation or undertaking contained in this
Agreement; and
(iii) any and all actions, suits, proceedings, demands,
assessments, judgments, damages, awards, costs and expenses
(including third-party fees and expenses) incident to any of the
foregoing or incurred in connection with the enforcement of the
rights of any such indemnified party with respect to the
foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article IX, the Investor shall not have any liability:
(i) under clause (i) and, as it relates to
clause (i), clause (iii) of Section 9.2(a) for
any Loss unless the aggregate amount of such Losses for which
indemnification would otherwise be available exceeds the
Deductible Amount, in which case the entire amount of such
Losses shall be indemnifiable hereunder; provided,
however, that the Deductible Amount shall not apply to
any claim for indemnification to the extent arising out of an
inaccuracy or breach of any representation or warranty contained
in Sections 4.1, 4.5, 4.7 and 4.8 (the “Investor
Specified Representations”) or to any Loss incurred
due to fraud, intentional misrepresentation, intentional
misconduct or intentional concealment by or on behalf of the
Investor;
(ii) under clause (i) and, as it relates to
clause (i), clause (iii) of Section 9.2(a) for
any Loss with respect to any individual item or series of
related items of Loss that is of an amount less than $25,000
(which amount shall be an aggregate amount in the case of any
series of related items of Loss) and no such item or series of
related items, as the case may be, shall be applied toward the
calculation of whether the aggregate of all Losses incurred by
the Company exceeds the Deductible Amount; or
II-23
(iii) after Closing under Section 9.2(a) for any Loss
arising from, in connection with or otherwise with respect to
any breach of any representation, warranty or covenant that
would have resulted (or would have been deemed to have resulted
as agreed by the other parties in a notice delivered at or prior
to Closing, provided Alden gives the Company notice of such
breach at least two (2) Business Days prior to Closing), in
non-satisfaction of a condition to Closing contained in
Section 7.1.
(c) For purposes of this Article IX and for purposes
of determining whether the Company is entitled to
indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.2, any
inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty made
by the Investor contained in this Agreement or in any document
delivered herewith, other than the representation and warranty
contained in Section 3.16(b), shall be determined without
regard to any materiality qualifications set forth in such
representation or warranty or in any document delivered in
connection herewith, and all references to the terms
“material”, “materially”,
“materiality” “material adverse effect” or
any similar terms shall be ignored for purposes of determining
whether such representation or warranty was true and correct
when made.
9.3 Termination of
Indemnification. Except with respect to any
fraud, intentional misrepresentation, intentional misconduct or
intentional concealment by or on behalf of any Party, such
Party’s obligations to indemnify and hold harmless any
other Party pursuant to Section 9.1(a)(i) and, as it
relates thereto, Section 9.1(a)(iii) (other than with
respect to the Seller Specified Representations) or 9.2(a)(i)
and, as it relates thereto, Section 9.2(a)(iii) (other than
with respect to the Investor Specified Representations) shall
terminate on June 30, 2011; provided,
however, that such obligations to indemnify and hold
harmless shall not terminate with respect to any item as to
which the applicable indemnified party shall have, before the
expiration of such period, previously made a claim by delivering
a notice of such claim pursuant to Section 9.4 to the
applicable indemnifying party. Any other obligation to indemnify
and hold harmless any party shall terminate upon the expiration
of the relevant statute of limitations, taking into account
extensions thereof; provided, however, that such
obligations shall not terminate with respect to any item as to
which the applicable indemnified party has, as of the expiration
of the relevant period, taking into account extensions thereof,
a pending suit against the applicable indemnifying party.
9.4 Procedures.
(a) Third Party Claims. If a
claim by a third party is made against a party hereto or any of
its Affiliates (the “indemnified party”)
in respect of, arising out of or involving a matter for which
the indemnified party is entitled to be indemnified by another
Party (the “indemnifying party”)
pursuant to this Article IX (a “Third Party
Claim”), such indemnified party must notify the
indemnifying party in writing of the Third Party Claim within 10
Business Days following receipt by such indemnified party of
written notice of the Third Party Claim; provided,
however, that failure to give such notification shall not
affect the indemnification provided hereunder except to the
extent (and only to the extent) the indemnifying party shall
have been actually and materially prejudiced as a result of such
failure. Thereafter, the indemnified party shall deliver to the
indemnifying party, promptly following the indemnified
party’s receipt thereof, copies of all notices and
documents (including court papers) received by the indemnified
party relating to the Third Party Claim.
(b) Assumption. If a Third
Party Claim is made against an indemnified party, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in the
defense thereof and, if it so chooses, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel selected by the indemnifying party;
provided, however, that such counsel is not
reasonably objected to by the indemnified party. Should the
indemnifying party so elect to assume the defense of a Third
Party Claim, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the
indemnified party for any legal expenses subsequently incurred
by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall bear
the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of one such separate
counsel to the indemnified party in each jurisdiction (and shall
pay such fees, costs and expenses as incurred), if the
defendants in, or targets of, any such action or proceeding
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party,
and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be legal defenses available to it which are different
from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party
or that representation by the same counsel may be a conflict of
interest (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have
the right to direct the defense of such action or
II-24
proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party). If the
indemnifying party assumes such defense, the indemnified party
shall have the right to participate in the defense thereof and
to employ counsel, at its own expense, separate from the counsel
employed by the indemnifying party, it being understood that the
indemnifying party shall control such defense. The indemnifying
party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel employed by the indemnified party for any period during
which the indemnifying party has not assumed the defense
thereof. If the indemnifying party chooses to defend or
prosecute a Third Party Claim, all the indemnified parties shall
cooperate in the defense or prosecution thereof. Such
cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the
indemnifying party’s request) the provision to the
indemnifying party of records and information that are
reasonably relevant to such Third Party Claim, and making
employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide
additional information and explanation of any material provided
hereunder. The indemnified party (A) shall agree to any
settlement, compromise or discharge of a Third Party Claim that
the indemnifying party may recommend and that by its terms
obligates the indemnifying party to pay the full amount of the
liability in connection with such Third Party Claim, which
releases the indemnified party completely in connection with
such Third Party Claim and that would not otherwise adversely
affect the indemnified party, and (B) shall not enter into
any settlement, compromise or discharge of a Third Party Claim
without the prior written consent of the indemnifying party
(which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party
shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Third Party
Claim (and shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses
of counsel incurred by the indemnified party in defending such
Third Party Claim) if the Third Party Claim seeks an order,
injunction or other equitable relief or relief for other than
money damages against the indemnified party that the indemnified
party reasonably determines, after conferring with its outside
counsel, cannot be separated from any related claim for money
damages. In the case of any Third Party Claim referred to in the
immediately preceding sentence, if such equitable relief or
other relief portion of such Third Party Claim can be so
separated from that for money damages, the indemnifying party
shall be entitled to assume the defense of the portion of such
Third Party Claim relating to money damages.
(c) Other Claims. In the
event any indemnified party should have a claim against any
indemnifying party under Section 9.1 or 9.2 that does not
involve a Third Party Claim being asserted against or sought to
be collected from such indemnified party, the indemnified party
shall deliver notice of such claim with reasonable promptness to
the indemnifying party. Subject to Section 9.3, the failure
by any indemnified party so to notify the indemnifying party
shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that
it may have to such indemnified party under Section 9.1 or
9.2, except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been
actually and materially prejudiced by such failure.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Expenses.
(a) Transaction Expenses shall be reimbursable as follows:
(i) Upon the Closing, the Company shall promptly reimburse
the Investor and the Controlling Stockholder for their
Transaction Expenses incurred prior to the Closing;
provided that the Company shall not be required to
reimburse Investor’s Transaction Expenses for any amount in
excess of $1,000,000;
(ii) If this Agreement is terminated by the Investor in
accordance with Section 8.1(e), the Company shall, and the
Controlling Stockholder shall cause the Company to, reimburse
the Investor for the Investor’s Transaction Expenses, in
amount not to exceed $1,000,000, in the aggregate; or
(iii) If this Agreement is terminated in accordance with
Section 8.1 for any reason other than as described in
Section 10.1(a)(ii), the Transaction Expenses shall be
borne by the Party incurring such fees or expenses.
(b) “Transaction Expenses” means
with respect to the Investor or the Controlling Stockholder, all
reasonable and documented out of pocket fees and expenses
incurred by such party in connection with the preparation,
execution and performance of this Agreement and the consummation
of the Transactions,
II-25
including reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel
and, with respect to the Controlling Stockholder, the expenses
set forth on Annex 10.1(b); provided that
Transaction Expenses shall not include any commitment,
arrangement, finder or similar financing fees or expenses, which
shall be borne by the party incurring such fees or expenses
(other than the expenses set forth on Annex 10.1(b)).
10.2 Specific
Performance. The Parties each acknowledge
that, in view of the uniqueness of the Transactions, each Party
would not have an adequate remedy at law for money damages in
the event that the covenants to be performed after the Closing
have not been performed in accordance with their terms, and
therefore agree that the other Parties shall be entitled to
specific enforcement of the terms hereof and any other equitable
remedy to which such parties may be entitled. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall, (a) the
Investor be liable for damages in connection with any breach or
violation of this Agreement in excess of an amount equal to the
difference of the Purchase Price and the amount actually funded
by the Investor pursuant to this Agreement or (b) other
than amounts payable pursuant to Section 10.1(a)(ii), the
Company be liable for damages in connection with any breach or
violation of this Agreement in excess of the amount actually
funded by the Investor pursuant to this Agreement.
10.3 Notices. Any notice or
other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) on
the day of delivery if delivered in person, or if delivered by
facsimile upon confirmation of receipt (except if such facsimile
is not received during regular business hours, then the Business
Day following the date of receipt), (b) on the first
Business Day following the date of dispatch if sent for
overnight delivery via a nationally recognized express courier
service or (c) on the date actually received if delivered
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set
forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be
designated by notice given in accordance with this
Section 10.3 by the Party to receive such notice:
(a) if to Alden or the Investor, to:
c/o Alden
Global Capital
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(b) if to the Company, to:
JS Acquisition, LLC
c/o Xxxxx X. Strain
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx & Hollister LLP
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
c/o Xxxxx X. Strain
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx & Hollister LLP
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX
00000-0000
Attention: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
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(c) if to the Controlling Stockholder, to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
c/o Xxxxx X. Strain
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx & Hollister LLP
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
c/o Xxxxx X. Strain
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx & Hollister LLP
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX
00000-0000
Attention: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
10.4 Entire Agreement. This
Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, the
Operating Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Rollover Agreement and the Distribution Letter and any other
collateral agreements executed in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, contains
the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to
Securities Purchase and supersedes all prior agreements, written
or oral, with respect thereto.
10.5 Waivers and
Amendments. This Agreement may be amended,
superseded, canceled, renewed or extended, and the terms hereof
may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by the
Investor and the Company or, in the case of a waiver, by the
Party waiving compliance. No delay on the part of any Party in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate
as a waiver thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of any
Party of any such right, power or privilege, nor any single or
partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege, preclude
any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such
right, power or privilege.
10.6 Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Indiana without regard to any conflict
of laws rules thereof that might indicate the application of the
laws of any other jurisdiction.
10.7 Binding Effect;
Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their
respective successors and assigns. This Agreement is not
assignable by any party without the prior written consent of the
other parties, except that Alden and the Investor shall be
permitted to assign, in their sole discretion, any or all of
their respective rights, interests or obligations under this
Agreement to any Affiliate thereof, but no such assignment shall
relieve Alden or the Investor of its obligations hereunder.
10.8 Usage. All pronouns and
any variations thereof refer to the masculine, feminine or
neuter, singular or plural, as the context may require. All
terms defined in this Agreement in their singular or plural
forms have correlative meanings when used herein in their plural
or singular forms, respectively. Unless otherwise expressly
provided, the words “include,” “includes”
and “including” do not limit the preceding words or
terms and shall be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation.” Any capitalized term used in any
Exhibit or Annex but not otherwise defined therein shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in this Agreement. The word
“extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall
mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and
the phrase shall not mean simply “if”. Any agreement,
instrument or Law defined or referred to herein means such
agreement, instrument or Law as from time to time amended,
modified or supplemented, unless otherwise specifically
indicated.
II-27
10.9 Articles and
Sections. All references herein to Articles
and Sections shall be deemed references to such parts of this
Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. The table
of contents, index of defined terms and Article and Section
headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not
affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
10.10 Interpretation. The
Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) each party and its
counsel reviewed and negotiated the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and have contributed to its revision, (b) the
rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are
resolved against the drafting Party shall not be employed in the
interpretation of this Agreement and (c) the terms and
provisions of this Agreement shall be construed fairly as to all
Parties, regardless of which Party was generally responsible for
the preparation of this Agreement. Any statute, regulation, or
other law defined or referred to herein (or in any agreement or
instrument that is referred to herein) means such statute,
regulation or other law as, from time to time, may be amended,
modified or supplemented, including (in the case of statutes) by
succession of comparable successor statutes. References to a
person also refer to its predecessors and permitted successors
and assigns.
10.11 Severability of
Provisions. If any provision or any portion
of any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or
unenforceable, the remaining portion of such provision and the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby. If the application of any provision or any portion of
any provision of this Agreement to any Person or circumstance
shall be held invalid or unenforceable (a) the application
of such provision or portion of such provision to Persons or
circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or
unenforceable shall not be affected thereby and (b) the
Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement
so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as
possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law in an
acceptable manner to the end that the Transactions are fulfilled
to the fullest extent possible.
10.12 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed by the Parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall
be an original, but all such counterparts together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. Each counterpart may
consist of a number of copies hereof each signed by less than
all, but together signed by all, of the Parties hereto.
10.13 No Personal
Liability. This Agreement (and each
agreement, certificate and instrument delivered pursuant hereto)
shall not create or be deemed to create or permit any personal
liability or obligation on the part of any officer, director,
employee, agent, representative or investor of any Party.
10.14 No Third Party
Beneficiaries. No provision of this Agreement
is intended to, or shall, confer any third party beneficiary or
other rights or remedies upon any Person other than the Parties.
10.15 Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of
Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) Any claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in any
Federal court in the State of New York or if jurisdiction is not
available in such court, any court sitting in New York County,
New York, and each Party agrees not to assert, by way of motion,
as a defense or otherwise, in any such claim, that it is not
subject personally to the jurisdiction of such court, that the
claim is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the
claim is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter
hereof may not be enforced in or by such court. Each party
further irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such court in
any such claim.
Any and all service of process and any other notice in any such
claim shall be effective against any Party if given personally
or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or
by any other means of mail that requires a signed receipt,
postage prepaid, mailed to such Party as herein provided.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of
any Party to serve process in any manner permitted by law or to
commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any
other Party in any other jurisdiction.
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(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY
CONTROVERSY THAT MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO
INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH
PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY.
(c) EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
(i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY
HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY
WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE
WAIVER IN SECTION 10.15(b), (ii) SUCH PARTY
UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER,
(iii) SUCH PARTY MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND
(iv) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS, AGREEMENTS
AND CERTIFICATIONS IN SECTION 10.15(b) AND THIS
SECTION 10.15(c).
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
II-29
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.
ALDEN GLOBAL DISTRESSED OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, L.P.
(solely with respect to Sections 2.3, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4,
5.5 and 5.8, and Article IV, Article IX and Article X)
(solely with respect to Sections 2.3, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4,
5.5 and 5.8, and Article IV, Article IX and Article X)
By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxxx |
Name: | Xxx Xxxxx |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
ALDEN GLOBAL VALUE RECOVERY MASTER FUND, L.P. (solely with
respect to Sections 2.3, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.8 and
Article IV, Article IX and Article X)
By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxxx |
Name: | Xxx Xxxxx |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
ALDEN MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC
By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxxx |
Name: Xxx Xxxxx
Title: | Vice President |
JS ACQUISITION, LLC
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
Title: | Manager |
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
(solely with respect to Sections 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3,
5.4, 5.5 and 5.8 and Article X)
(solely with respect to Sections 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3,
5.4, 5.5 and 5.8 and Article X)
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
[Signature Page to the Securities Purchase Agreement]
II-30
ANNEX 5.4(a)
INVESTOR
ECC SHARES
ECC Class A |
ECC Preferred |
|||||||
Common Stock | Stock | |||||||
Alden Global Distressed Opportunities Master Fund, L.P.
|
1,406,500 | 1,162,737 |
(1) | Alden and its Affiliates disclaim any beneficial ownership in securities that may be referenced in cash-settled equity swap contracts or that may be held from time to time by any counterparties to the contracts. |
‘‘Investor ECC Shares” shall not
include any Controlling Stockholder ECC Shares as set forth on
Annex 5.4(b), which Alden and its Affiliates may be deemed
to beneficially own
Annex 5.4(a) —
Page 1
ANNEX 5.4(b)
CONTROLLING
STOCKHOLDER ECC SHARES
ECC Class A |
ECC Class B |
|||||||
Common Stock | Common Stock | |||||||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
29,752.0745(1 | ) | 4,930,680(2 | ) | ||||
The Smulyan Family Foundation
|
30,625(3 | ) | 0 | |||||
Controlling Stockholder Options
|
97,565(4 | ) | 1,170,796(5 | ) |
(1) | Consists of (i) 5,877.0745 shares of ECC Class A Common Stock held in the Controlling Stockholder’s 401(k) Plan, (ii) 9,755 shares of ECC Class A Common Stock held by the Controlling Stockholder individually, (iii) 11,120 shares of ECC Class A Common Stock held by the Controlling Stockholder as trustee for his children and (iv) 3,000 shares of ECC Class A Common Stock held by the Controlling Stockholder as trustee for his niece. | |
(2) | Consists of 4,930,680 shares of ECC Class B Common Stock held by the Controlling Stockholder individually. | |
(3) | Consists of 30,625 shares of ECC Class A Common Stock held by The Smulyan Family Foundation, as to which the Controlling Stockholder shares voting and dispositive control. | |
(4) | Consists of options to purchase 97,565 shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Controlling Stockholder directly. | |
(5) | Consists of options to purchase 1,170,796 shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Controlling Stockholder directly. |
‘‘Controlling Stockholder ECC Shares”
shall not include any Investor ECC Shares as set forth on
Annex 5.4(a), which the Controlling Stockholder and its
Affiliates may be deemed to beneficially own.
Annex 5.4(b) —
Page 1