EXHIBIT 10.25
STANDSTILL AGREEMENT
Among
DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC.,
XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX,
DW LIPS, L.P.,
M&J K B LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
XX-XX, L.P.
and
DW INVESTMENT II, INC.
Dated As Of October [ ], 2004
STANDSTILL AGREEMENT, dated as of October
[ ], 2004, among DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), DW LIPS, L.P.,
a California limited liability partnership ("DW
Lips"), M&J K B LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware
limited partnership ("M&J K B") (solely for purposes
of Section 4.06(b)), XX-XX, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership ("XX-XX") (solely for purposes of Section
4.06(b)), DW INVESTMENT II, INC., a Washington
corporation ("DWI II") (solely for purposes of
Section 4.06(b)), and XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX.
WHEREAS, DreamWorks L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company ("DW"), and the Company, together with other parties, have entered into
a Separation Agreement dated as of October [ ], 2004, providing for the
separation of the animation business (the "Separation") from DW;
WHEREAS, after the Separation, the Company intends to sell
shares of its Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Class A Stock"),
in a public offering (the "Offering");
WHEREAS, immediately following the consummation of the
Offering, DW Lips will own approximately [ ]% of the Company's issued and
outstanding Class A Stock; and
WHEREAS, each of the parties desires to enter into this
Agreement (as defined below);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this
Agreement:
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
Controls, is Controlled By or is Under Common Control With, such specified
Person.
"Agreement" means this Standstill Agreement, as it may be
amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time.
"Beneficial Owner" or "Beneficially Own" has the meaning
assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and a Person's
beneficial ownership of Common Stock shall be calculated in accordance with the
provisions of such Rule.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday
or other day on which banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in
The City of New York.
"By-laws" means the By-laws of the Company, as amended or
restated from time to time.
"Charter" means the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company, as amended or restated from time to time.
"Class A Stock" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals hereto.
"Class B Holder" means any Person who shall hold of record
shares of Class B Stock.
"Class B Stock" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Vulcan Stockholder Agreement.
"Common Stock" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Vulcan Stockholder Agreement.
"Company" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
preamble hereto.
"Control" (including the terms "Controlled By" and "Under
Common Control With") has the meaning assigned to such term in the Charter as in
effect at consummation of the Offering.
"XX-XX" has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble
hereto.
"Director" means any member of the Board.
"DW" has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals
hereto.
"DW Lips" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
preamble hereto.
"DWI II" has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble
hereto.
"Exchange Act" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
"Family Group" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Vulcan Stockholder Agreement.
"Final Allocation" has the meaning assigned to such term in
the Holdco LLLP Agreement as in effect at consummation of the Offering.
"Group" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
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"Holdco LLLP Agreement" means the limited liability limited
partnership agreement of Holdco, dated as of October [ ], 2004, as it may be
amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time.
"KG Termination Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in
the Vulcan Stockholder Agreement.
"M&J K B" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
preamble hereto.
"Offering" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals hereto.
"Person" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Charter
(as modified in Section 2(f) of Article IV thereof) as in effect at consummation
of the Offering.
"Principal Holder" has the meaning assigned to such term in
the Vulcan Stockholder Agreement.
"Proceeding" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.09.
"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act.
"Securities Act" means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
"Separation" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals hereto.
"Separation Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Vulcan Stockholder Agreement.
"Xxxxxxxxx Parties" means Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, DW Lips and any
Person Controlled By Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx.
"Vulcan Stockholder Agreement" means the Stockholder
Agreement, dated as of October [ ], 2004, among the Company, [Holdco] LLLP, M&J
K B, M&J K Dream Limited Partnership, The JK Annuity Trust, The MK Annuity
Trust, Xxxxxxxxxx 1994 Irrevocable Trust, XX-XX, DWI II, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxx as in effect at consummation of the Offering.
Section 1.02. Other Definitional Provisions. (a) The words
"hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this
Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement, and Article and Section references are to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified. The words "include", "includes" and
"including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation".
(b) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be
equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.
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ARTICLE II
Standstill
Section 2.01. Standstill Restrictions. Each of Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx and DW Lips covenants and agrees with the Company that they shall not,
and shall cause each Xxxxxxxxx Party not to, prior to the earlier of (i) the
fifth anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (ii) the KG Termination
Date, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with others, unless
specifically requested in writing by a Principal Holder or by a resolution of a
majority of the Directors or pursuant to a transaction (x) in which the Company
has entered into a definitive agreement or (y) the Board has recommended in
favor of, take any of the actions set forth below (or take any action that would
require the Company to make an announcement regarding any of the following):
(a) effect, seek, offer, engage in, propose (whether publicly
or otherwise) or cause or participate in, or assist any other Person to effect,
seek, engage in, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) or participate
in:
(i) any tender or exchange offer, merger, consolidation, share
exchange, business combination, recapitalization, restructuring,
liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction involving
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material portion of its
or their business or any purchase of all or any substantial part of the
assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material
portion of its or their business; or
(ii) any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as such terms are used
in the proxy rules of the SEC but without regard to the exclusion set
forth in Section 14a-1(1)(2)(iv) from the definition of "solicitation")
with respect to the Company or any of its Affiliates or any action
resulting in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, DW Lips, any Affiliate of Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx or DW Lips or such other Person becoming a "participant" in
any "election contest" (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of
the SEC) with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(b) propose any matter for submission to a vote of
stockholders of the Company or call or seek to call a meeting of the
stockholders of the Company;
(c) seek election to, seek to place a representative on or
seek the removal of any Director; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 2.01(c) shall restrict the manner in which a Xxxxxxxxx Party may vote
its shares of Common Stock (if any);
(d) grant any proxy with respect to any Common Stock (other
than to a Principal Holder, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or a bona
fide financial institution in connection with a bona fide recourse borrowing);
(e) execute any written consent with respect to any Common
Stock other than at the request of a Principal Holder or the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company;
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(f) form, join or participate in a Group with respect to any
Common Stock or deposit any Common Stock in a voting trust or subject any Common
Stock to any arrangement or agreement with respect to the voting of such Common
Stock or other agreement having similar effect (in each case except with the
Class B Holders);
(g) take any other action to seek to affect the control of the
management or Board of the Company or any of its Affiliates, including publicly
suggesting or announcing its willingness to engage in or have another Person
engage in a transaction that could reasonably be expected to result in a
transaction of the type described in Section 2.01(a)(i); provided, however, that
nothing in this Section 2.01(g) shall restrict the manner in which a Xxxxxxxxx
Party may vote its shares of Common Stock (if any);
(h) enter into any discussions, negotiations, arrangements or
understandings with any Person with respect to any of the foregoing, or advise,
assist, encourage or seek to persuade others to take any action with respect to
any of the foregoing (in each case except with the Class B Holders);
(i) disclose to any Person, or otherwise induce, encourage,
discuss or facilitate, any intention, plan or arrangement inconsistent with the
foregoing or which would result in the Company or any of its Affiliates or any
Class B Holder or any Affiliates of any Class B Holder being required to make
any such disclosure in any filing with a governmental entity or being required
to make a public announcement with respect thereto;
(j) bring any action or otherwise act to contest the validity
of this Article II (including this Section 2.01) or seek a release from the
restrictions contained in this Article II; or
(k) request the Company or any of its Affiliates, directors,
officers, employees, representatives, advisors or agents, or any party hereto,
directly or indirectly, to amend or waive this Article II, the Charter or the
By-laws (or similar constituent documents) of the Company or any of its
Affiliates.
Section 2.02. Exceptions to Standstill. Notwithstanding
Section 2.01, no Xxxxxxxxx Party shall be subject to any of the restrictions set
forth therein if (a) the Company shall have entered into a definitive agreement
providing for, or, in the case of clause (ii) below, the Board shall have
recommended in favor of, (i) any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase by
any Person or Group of a majority of the Common Stock of the Company, (ii) any
tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or
Group acquiring a majority of the Common Stock of the Company or (iii) any
merger, consolidation, share exchange or other business combination involving
the Company which, if consummated, would result in the stockholders of the
Company immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction ceasing to own
at least a majority of the equity interests in the surviving entity (or any
direct or indirect parent of such surviving entity); (b) any Person or Group
(other than the Company, any Class B Holder, any Xxxxxxxxx Party or any Group
that includes a Xxxxxxxxx Party) acquires 25% or more of the number of then
outstanding shares of Common Stock or other voting securities of the Company
having the right to vote generally in the election of Directors; (c) any Class B
Holder, Principal, Family Group member or any of their respective Affiliates
commences (x) a "going private" transaction subject to Rule 13e-3 under Section
13(e) of the
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Exchange Act involving the Company or any of its material subsidiaries or (y) a
transaction of the type contemplated in clause (a) above; or (d) the KG
Termination Date shall have occurred.
ARTICLE III
Term
Section 3.01. Term. This Agreement shall become effective on
the Separation Date and shall continue in effect until the earliest of (i) the
KG Termination Date, (ii) the fifth anniversary hereof and (iii) such time,
following the Final Allocation, as the Xxxxxxxxx Parties shall cease to
Beneficially Own in the aggregate at least 5% of the issued and outstanding
Common Stock.
ARTICLE IV
General Provisions
Section 4.01. Notices. All notices and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given and received (a) on
the date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile upon confirmation
of transmission by the sender's fax machine if sent on a Business Day (or
otherwise on the next Business Day) or (b) on the first Business Day following
the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service. All
notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such
other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such
notice:
(i) if to the Company, to:
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.
Grandview Building
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, General Counsel
with a copy to:
Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx LLP
Worldwide Plaza
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
(ii) if to any Xxxxxxxxx Party, to:
[ ]
Fax: [ ]
Attention: [ ]
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(iii) if to any other party hereto, to the address of such
party specified on the signature page hereto.
Section 4.02. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being
understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.
Section 4.03. Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
(a) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to
the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit
or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 4.04. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without
giving effect to applicable principles of conflict of laws, except to the extent
the substantive laws of the State of Delaware are mandatorily applicable under
Delaware law.
Section 4.05. Severability. If any term or other provision of
this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or
public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in
order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally
contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
Section 4.06. Assignment; Amendments. (a) Neither this
Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be
assigned by any of the parties hereto, in whole or in part (whether by operation
of law or otherwise), without the prior written consent of the other parties,
and any attempt to make any such assignment without such consent shall be null
and void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding
upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the parties and their
respective successors (including any executor or administrator of a party's
estate) and permitted assigns.
(b) No amendment to or waiver of this Agreement shall be
effective unless it shall be in writing and signed by the Company and each of
the parties hereto.
Section 4.07. Enforcement. (a) Each of the Company and each
party hereto acknowledges that the other parties would not have an adequate
remedy at law for money
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damages in the event that any of the covenants or agreements of any of the other
parties in this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its terms, and
it is therefore agreed that each of the Company and each party hereto, in
addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will
have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of
competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such actual or potential breach and
enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the Company
and each party hereto hereby waives (i) any and all defenses they may have on
the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an
injunction or other equitable relief and (ii) the need to post any bond that may
be required in connection with the granting of such an injunction or other
equitable relief.
(b) All rights, powers and remedies provided under this
Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity shall be
cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise of
any thereof by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise
of any other such right, power or remedy by such party.
Section 4.08. Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections
and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are
not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
Section 4.09. Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. With
respect to any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement
(collectively, a "Proceeding"), each party to this Agreement irrevocably (a)
consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the States
of New York and the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and any court of
the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City; (b)
waives any objection which such party may have at any time to the laying of
venue of any Proceeding brought in any such court, waives any claim that such
Proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum and further waives the
right to object, with respect to such Proceeding, that such court does not have
jurisdiction over such party; (c) consents to the service of process at the
address set forth for notices in Section 4.01 herein; provided, however, that
such manner of service of process shall not preclude the service of process in
any other manner permitted under applicable law; and (d) waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, any and all rights to trial by jury in
connection with any Proceeding.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Standstill Agreement as of the date first written above.
DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC.,
By
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
DW LIPS, L.P.,
By DW SUBS, INC.,
General Partner
By
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: President
M&J K B LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
By M&J K DREAM CORP.,
General Partner
By
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: President
Address:
XX-XX, L.P.,
By XX-XX, INC.,
General Partner
By
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: President
Address:
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DW INVESTMENT II, INC.,
by
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Address:
XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------
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