EXHIBIT 3
GHS, INC.
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
This Stockholders Agreement dated as of May 27, 1999 (this
"Agreement") by and among GHS, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
each of the individuals or entities signatory hereto (each a "Stockholder" and
together the "Stockholders").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Stockholders are parties to a Contribution and
Exchange Agreement dated as of May 20, 1999 (the "Contribution Agreement");
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the
Company to proceed with the Closing (as defined in the Contribution Agreement)
that the parties hereto enter into this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the parties to proceed
with the Closing and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.01 DEFINED TERMS. The following terms when used in this
Agreement, including its preamble and recitals, shall, except where the context
otherwise requires, have the following meanings, such meanings to be equally
applicable to the singular and plural forms thereof:
"AFFILIATE" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any person
that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under
common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean 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 securities or by contract or otherwise.
"CLOSING" means the closing of the transactions contemplated
by the Contribution Agreement.
"COMMON STOCK" shall mean and include the Company's currently
authorized common stock, par value $.01 per share and shall include any
securities which may be issued or distributed with respect to, or in exchange
for, such Common Stock, pursuant to a stock
dividend, stock split, or other distribution, merger, consolidation,
recapitalization or reclassification or similar transaction.
"COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS" shall mean the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, exchange or conversion of any security.
"CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in
the first recital hereof.
"EQUITY SECURITIES" shall mean any security exercisable for,
or convertible or exchangeable into, Common Stock.
"EXPIRATION DATE" shall mean the later to occur of (i) March
31, 2014 or (ii) the termination of the Content Provider Agreement and License
by and among Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Research International Inc. and
XxxxxxXxxxXxxx.xxx, LLC dated April 23, 1999, as it may hereinafter be amended
from time to time.
"PERSON" shall mean and include an individual, a corporation,
a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, a trust or estate, a
government or any department or agency thereof.
"REGISTRABLE SHARES" shall consist of any and all shares of
Common Stock held by the Stockholders.
"VOTING STOCK" shall mean any shares of Common Stock or of any
Equity Securities entitling the holder thereof to case one or more votes for the
election of the Directors of the Company.
ARTICLE 2
VOTING AGREEMENT
2.01 BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY; GOVERNANCE. (a) The
Stockholders hereby agree that the Board of Directors shall consist of eight
members and that the initial members of the Board of Directors who shall be
elected within 45 days of the Closing shall be those persons listed on Exhibit A
hereto. At each subsequent election of directors and for so long as Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx or any of his Affiliates shall hold in the aggregate at least 10% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock or Common Stock equivalents, (i) Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx or such Affiliates shall have the right to nominate three persons as
Directors of the Company (the "Xxxxxxx Directors"), and (ii) a Nominating
Committee consisting of the directors (other than the Xxxxxxx Directors and the
Company's Chief Executive Officer) and their respective successors shall have
the right to nominate four persons as Directors of the Company and (iii) the
eighth Director shall be the Company's Chief Executive Officer. Except as
otherwise provided in the Company's by-laws, all decisions of the Board of
Directors shall be made by a majority of its members. The Board of Directors
shall be headed by a non-executive Chairman of the Board who, provided Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx or any of his Affiliates shall hold in the aggregate at least 10% of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock or Common Stock equivalents, shall be
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx or a person nominated by Xx. Xxxxxxx from amongst the
Directors and said
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person shall also serve as the Chairman of the Executive Committee. The
Chairman shall perform his duties at the direction of the Board of Directors.
The Company shall have a Chief Executive Officer responsible for the
management and day to day operations of the Company. The Chief Executive
Officer shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company and shall
execute his duties in accordance with the decisions of and shall report to
the Board of Directors. Officers and employees of the Company shall report to
the Chief Executive Officer.
2.02 COVENANT TO VOTE. Each of the Stockholders shall appear
in person or by proxy at any annual or special meeting of stockholders for the
purpose of obtaining a quorum and shall vote or cause the vote of the shares of
Voting Stock owned by such Stockholder or by any Affiliate of such Stockholder,
either in person or by proxy, at any annual or special meeting of stockholders
of the Company called for the purpose of voting on the election, if such
Director has been nominated for election, or removal, if such Director has been
designated for removal, of Directors, or by consensual action of stockholders
with respect to such election or removal of Directors, in favor of such election
of the Directors nominated, or removal of the Directors designated, in
accordance with Section 2.01 and for the replacement of the Directors in
accordance with Section 2.03. In addition, each of the Stockholders shall appear
in person or by proxy at any annual or special meeting of stockholders for the
purpose of obtaining a quorum and shall vote or cause the vote of the shares of
Voting Stock owned by such Stockholder or any Affiliate of such Stockholder upon
any matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company in the manner
recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that such
recommendation has received the required vote of such body, and in a manner so
as to be consistent and not in conflict with, and to implement, the terms of
this Agreement.
2.03 VACANCIES. The Stockholders hereby agree that if any
Director is unable to serve or, once having commenced to serve, is removed or
withdraws from the Board of Directors of the Company, the replacement of such
Director on the Board of Directors of the Company will be nominated in
accordance with the procedures described in Section 2.01.
2.04 NO VOTING OR CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. Each of the
Stockholders agrees that it will not and will not permit any Affiliate to grant
any proxy or enter into or agree to be bound by any voting trust with respect to
its shares of Voting Stock or to enter into any stockholder agreements or
arrangements of any kind with any Person with respect to its shares of Voting
Stock in any such case in a manner that is inconsistent with the provisions of
this Agreement.
2.05 ACTIONS CONSISTENT WITH AGREEMENT. Except as required by
applicable law, the Company shall not take any action inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement.
2.06 VOTING OF COMMON STOCK BY THE COMPANY. To the extent not
prohibited by applicable law, if the Company or one or more of its Affiliates
shall hold, beneficially or of record, shares of Voting Stock at the time of any
vote of holders of Common Stock, the Company shall vote or cause to be voted
such shares of Voting Stock for and against any proposal in the same proportion
as the shares of Common Stock held by the Stockholders (other than the Company
or any of its Affiliates) are voted for and against such proposal.
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2.07 NO CUMULATIVE VOTING The Stockholders agree that they
will not amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to permit cumulative
voting.
2.08 EXPIRATION OF RIGHTS. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree that the rights
granted pursuant to this Article 2 shall expire and be of no further force
and effect as of the Expiration Date.
ARTICLE 3
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS BY THE STOCKHOLDERS
3.01 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS GENERALLY. Each Stockholder
hereby agrees that such Stockholder shall not, and shall not permit any
Affiliate to, directly or indirectly, transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of any
shares of Common Stock or Equity Securities, other than (i), pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (ii) pursuant to the
terms and conditions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (iii) pursuant to
an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and any state securities
or Blue Sky laws; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any transfer, sale or other
disposition pursuant to clause (iii) above shall be only to a transferee who
shall agree to be bound by the terms hereof and be deemed to be a Stockholder
under this Agreement.
3.02 TRANSFERS TO AFFILIATES. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in Section 3.01 and subject to the provisions of Section
3.04, a Stockholder may transfer its shares of Common Stock or Equity Securities
to an Affiliate of such Stockholder ("Permitted Transferee") provided that such
Stockholder shall not transfer control of any such Affiliate to a person which
is not an Affiliate of such Stockholder without first reacquiring such shares of
Common Stock or Equity Securities; and provided further, that the Permitted
Transferee of a Stockholder may only transfer its shares of Common Stock or
Equity Securities to the transferor Stockholder from whom such Permitted
Transferee received such shares of Common Stock or Equity Securities or any of
such transferor's Permitted Transferees or otherwise in accordance with the
terms hereof.
3.03 RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS. Each share of Common Stock and
Equity Securities shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO,
AND ARE TRANSFERABLE ONLY UPON COMPLIANCE WITH, THE PROVISIONS
OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT DATED MAY 27, 1999, AMONG GHS,
INC. AND CERTAIN OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS. A COPY OF THE
ABOVE-REFERENCED AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE OFFICE OF GHS,
INC.
3.04 TRANSFEREES SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT. Any transferee of any
shares of Common Stock or Equity Securities shall, as a condition of the
consummation of such transfer, agree to be subject to the terms of Article 2 of
this Agreement, other than share sold pursuant to Section 3.01(i) or (ii).
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3.05 EXPIRATION OF RESTRICTIONS. The parties hereto hereby
agree that the restrictions set forth in Article 3 hereof shall expire and be of
no further force and effect as of the Expiration Date.
ARTICLE 4
CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS
4.01 STOCKHOLDER REPRESENTATION. Each Stockholder represents
and warrants as to itself that as of the Closing Date (after giving effect to
all transactions occurring on or as of the Closing Date) such Stockholder is not
a party with any other Person to any other agreement other than the Contribution
Agreement with respect to the holding, voting, acquisition or disposition of
shares of Common Stock or Equity Securities.
4.02 COMPANY REPRESENTATION. The Company represents and
warrants that as of the Closing Date it is not a party with any other Person to
any other agreement with respect to the holding, voting, acquisition or
disposition of shares of Common Stock or Equity Securities other than the
Contribution Agreement, the Stockholder Support Agreement by and among the
Company, Xxxxx & Company Incorporated and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, or as described
therein.
ARTICLE 5
MISCELLANEOUS
5.01 INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. It is acknowledged that it will be
impossible to measure in money the damages that would be suffered if the parties
fail to comply with certain of the obligations imposed on them by this
Agreement, including without limitation those obligations set forth in Article 2
and Article 3, and that in the event of any such failure, an aggrieved Person
will be irreparably damaged and will not have an adequate remedy at law. Any
such Person shall, therefore, be entitled to injunctive relief and/or specific
performance to enforce such obligations, and if any action should be brought in
equity to enforce any of such provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties
hereto shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.
5.02 FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each party hereto shall do and
perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and
shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments
and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry
out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.03 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed and
enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by,
the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws
principles thereof.
5.04 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT; WAIVER. This Agreement (i)
together with the Contribution Agreement contains the entire agreement among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, (ii) supersedes all
prior written agreements and negotiations and oral understandings, if any, with
respect thereto, (iii) may not be amended or supplemented
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except by an instrument or counterparts thereof in writing signed by the
Company and the Stockholders so long as they shall hold in the aggregate at
least 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Common Stock
equivalents. No waiver of any term or provision shall be effective unless in
writing signed by the party to be charged.
5.05 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding on and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and, subject to the terms and
provisions hereof, their respective legal representatives, successors and
assigns.
5.06 INVALIDITY OF PROVISION. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in
that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, including
that provision, in any other jurisdiction.
5.07 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed
simultaneously in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be deemed but one
and the same instrument and each of which shall be deemed an original, and it
shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account
for more than one such counterpart.
5.08 NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided
for or given or made hereunder shall be in writing (including delivery by
facsimile transmission) and, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be deemed
to have been given when received by the party to whom such notice is to be given
at its address set on the signature page hereto, or such other address for the
party as shall be specified by notice given pursuant hereto.
5.09 HEADINGS. The descriptive headings of the several
paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not
constitute part of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by or on
behalf of each of the parties hereto as of the date first above written.
GHS, INC.
By
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Name:
Title:
STOCKHOLDERS:
-------------------------------
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
Address: 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
XXXXXXX RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Address: 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
CYL DEVELOPMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Address: 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
EXHIBIT A
(A) NOMINEES OF XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
Three persons to be designated by Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
(B) OTHER NOMINEES
1. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
2. Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
3. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
4. A fourth director to be selected by the Board of Directors of
the Company existing at the Closing
In the event that any of the preceding named persons shall fail to
agree to serve as a director of the Company within 30 days of the Closing, then
the Board of Directors of the Company existing at the Closing shall designate
replacement nominees to serve as directors of the Company.
(C) THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF GHS
The person, if any, designated as the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company.
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