AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT
THIS
AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), dated as of February 4, 2009, is made by and among
White Electronic Designs Corporation, an Indiana corporation (“WEDC”), Wynnefield Partners
Small Cap Value, L.P. (and its affiliates) (“Wynnefield Partners”), Caiman Partners, L.P.
(and its affiliates), Xxxx Capital Management LLC (“Xxxx Partners”) (“Xxxx Partners”,
“Caiman Partners” with Wynnefield Partners, each a “Shareholder Party” and collectively,
the “Shareholder Parties”) and, solely with respect to Section 8(b) of this Agreement in
each of their respective capacities as shareholders, Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Toy and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx. From time to time in this Agreement, WEDC, the
Shareholder Parties and the individuals specified in the immediately preceding sentence are
referred to individually as a “Party” and together as the “Parties.”
WHEREAS, the Shareholder Parties may be deemed to beneficially own shares of common stock of
WEDC (the “Common Stock”) totaling, in the aggregate, 2,230,701 shares, or approximately
9.8% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding; and
WHEREAS, WEDC and the Shareholder Parties have agreed that it is in their mutual interests to
enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations, warranties, and
agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the Parties mutually agree
as follows:
1. Representations and Warranties of the Shareholder Parties. Each of the Shareholder Parties
represents and warrants to WEDC that (a) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by such Shareholder Party, and is a valid and binding obligation of such Shareholder
Party, enforceable against such Shareholder Party in accordance with its terms, except as
enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and
subject to general equity principles; (b) neither the execution of this Agreement nor the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby nor the fulfillment of the terms
hereof, in each case in accordance with the terms hereof, will conflict with, result in a breach or
violation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of such
Shareholder Party or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to any law, any order of any court or other
agency of government, the organizational documents of such Shareholder Party as currently in
effect, or the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement,
loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which such
Shareholder Party is a party or bound or to which its or its property or assets is subject; and (c)
as of the date of this Agreement, the Shareholder Parties may be deemed to beneficially own in the
aggregate 2,230,701 shares of Common Stock.
2. Representations and Warranties of WEDC. WEDC hereby represents and warrants to the
Shareholder Parties that (a) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
WEDC, and is a valid and binding obligation of WEDC, enforceable against WEDC in accordance with
its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws generally
affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity principles; (b) neither the
execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby nor
the fulfillment of the terms hereof, in each case in accordance with the terms hereof, will
conflict with, result in a breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
upon any property or assets of WEDC or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to any law, any order of
any court or other agency of government, WEDC’s Restated Articles of Incorporation, Amended and
Restated Bylaws, or the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note
agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to
which WEDC is a party or bound or to which its property or assets is subject nor trigger any
“change of control” provisions in any agreement to which WEDC is a party; and (c) the only
proposals to be included in WEDC’s definitive proxy statement for its 2009 annual shareholder
meeting will be a proposal for a slate of nominees to the Board of Directors of WEDC, the proposal
described in Section 5(a) of this Agreement and a proposal to approve WEDC’s independent auditors.
3. Directorships.
(a) Prior to the time that WEDC mails its definitive proxy statement for its 2009 annual
shareholder meeting, but in any event no later than seven (7) days after the date hereof, WEDC
shall increase the size of its board of directors (the “Board”) from five (5) to seven (7)
members. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating
Committee”) has in good faith, having reviewed and approved the credentials of Messrs. Xxxxx
Xxxx and Xxx Xxxxxxx in the exercise of its fiduciary duties, concluded that each such candidate
has business experience in such areas as would reasonably be expected to enhance the Board, and
determined, consistent with WEDC’s guidelines relating to director qualifications and Board
composition, to immediately appoint Messrs. Xxxxx Xxxx and Xxx Xxxxxxx to the Board (the “New
Appointees”) to fill the vacancy on the Board created by increasing its size to seven (7)
members, pending the Nominating Committee’s expected completion of background checks of the New
Appointees by February 6, 2009.
(b) WEDC agrees that the Board will take all actions necessary and appropriate to:
(1) nominate the New Appointees as directors of WEDC at WEDC’s 2009 annual shareholder meeting
(other than in the case of such person’s refusal to serve or if such person has committed an act
that would be grounds for removal from the Board for cause, in which case the Shareholder Parties
will have the right to designate and substitute another person or persons, subject to prompt
reasonable evaluation and determination by the Nominating Committee in good faith after exercising
its fiduciary duties that such candidate has business experience in such areas as would reasonably
be expected to enhance the Board, consistent with WEDC’s guidelines relating to director
qualifications and Board composition), together with the other persons included in WEDC’s slate of
nominees for director, with terms expiring at WEDC’s 2010 annual shareholder meeting;
(2) recommend, and reflect such recommendation in WEDC’s definitive proxy statement in
connection with WEDC’s 2009 annual shareholder meeting, that the shareholders of WEDC vote to elect
the New Appointees as directors of WEDC at the 2009 annual shareholder meeting;
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(3) use reasonable efforts consistent with the efforts used to obtain proxies for the other
candidates nominated by the Board to obtain proxies in favor of the election of the New Appointees
at the 2009 annual shareholder meeting; and
(4) ensure that, for all times that either of the New Appointees or any replacement director
appointed pursuant to Section 3(c) below, remains in office, one such appointee will have the
right, subject to compliance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”)) and Nasdaq corporate governance rules, to serve on all committees and
sub-committees of the Board (or any substitutes therefor), provided that the Board shall not be
obligated to appoint or designate either New Appointee as the chairman of any such committee or
sub-committee.
(c) WEDC agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, if a New Appointee resigns or is
otherwise unable to serve as a director or is removed for cause as a director, the Shareholder
Parties will have the right to designate and substitute a person or persons for appointment to the
Board as a replacement director, subject to evaluation and determination by the Nominating
Committee using the standards described in Section 3(b)(1); provided that (1) the Board’s
approval and appointment of the Shareholder Parties’ replacement nominee shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed and (2) the Board shall not be required to approve more than one replacement at
a time for each Board position to which the Shareholder Parties are entitled pursuant to
Section 3(a).
(d) Each of the New Appointees, upon appointment or election to the Board, will be governed by
the same protections and obligations regarding confidentiality, conflicts of interests, fiduciary
duties, trading and disclosure policies and other governance guidelines, and shall have the same
rights and benefits, including (but not limited to) with respect to insurance, indemnification,
compensation and fees, as are generally applicable to any non-employee directors of WEDC. WEDC
represents, warrants and agrees that it does not have any current policy nor will it adopt any
policy requiring any director on the Board to purchase or sell securities of WEDC pursuant to a
10b5-1 plan to be adopted by any such director.
(e) WEDC shall not, and shall cause the Board not to, take any action during the term of this
Agreement, to increase the number of members on the Board to more than seven (7) directors;
provided, however, that the Board may expand the number of members on the Board to eight (8) solely
in the event that the Board determines that WEDC’s Chief Executive Officer should be appointed to
the Board and, at such time, there are seven members then serving on the Board.
(f) WEDC agrees that it shall hold the 2009 annual meeting of WEDC shareholders as soon as
practicable, but in any event, no later than on or before May 15, 2009.
4. Strategic Review Committee. WEDC hereby confirms that the Board has formed a Strategic
Review Committee. Such committee shall, as promptly as practicable, approve and adopt a committee
charter that incorporates the provisions attached hereto as Exhibit A. Any actions taken
by the Board’s Strategic Review Committee (and any successor or other committee of the Board that
performs a similar function), including any committee approvals or recommendations to the full
Board, shall require the unanimous approval of all then serving members of such committee. For
purposes of clarity, at all times during the duration of this Agreement, Xx. Xxxx, one of the New
Appointees (or such other director designated by the Shareholder Parties as provided for in
Section 3(c) above) shall be a member of the Strategic Review Committee.
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5. Charter Documents.
(a) WEDC shall recommend to its shareholders and reflect in its definitive proxy statement for
its 2009 annual shareholder meeting that the shareholders approve amendments to WEDC’s Restated
Articles of Incorporation authorizing WEDC’s shareholders representing a majority of WEDC’s
outstanding shares of Common Stock to amend WEDC’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the
“Bylaws”). In addition, promptly following the execution of this Agreement, the Board
shall amend the Bylaws in order to (1) allow shareholders owning at least 30% of WEDC’s outstanding
shares of Common Stock to call a special meeting of shareholders and (2) limit the number of
directors constituting the entire Board to no more than seven (7) directors; provided, however,
that the Board may expand the number of members on the Board to eight (8) solely in the event that
the Board determines that its Chief Executive Officer should be appointed to the Board and, at such
time, there are seven members then serving on the Board.
(b) In connection with the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders, the Board shall take all
actions necessary and appropriate to recommend that the shareholders of WEDC vote to approve the
proposal described in Section 5(a) above.
(c) WEDC shall use reasonable efforts consistent with the efforts used to obtain proxies for
the other proposals set forth in the proxy statement for the 2009 annual meeting to obtain proxies
in favor of approval of the proposal described in Section 5(a).
6. Standstill Restrictions. Subject to applicable law, including Section 13(d) and (g) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), except as permitted
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, during the term of this Agreement, the Shareholder Parties
shall not, and shall cause their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and
agents not to, in any manner, directly or indirectly:
(a) solicit (as such term is used in the proxy rules of the SEC) proxies or written consents
of shareholders, or conduct any nonbinding referendum with respect to Common Stock, or make, or in
any way participate in, any “solicitation” of any “proxy” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1
promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act to vote any shares of Common Stock with respect to
any matter, or become a “participant” in any “contested solicitation” for the election of directors
with respect to WEDC (as such terms are defined or used in the Exchange Act and the rules
promulgated thereunder), other than solicitations or acting as a participant in support of all of
WEDC’s nominees and proposal described in Section 5(a) above;
(b) purchase or cause to be purchased or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire beneficial
ownership (as determined under Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of any Common Stock
or other securities issued by WEDC, if in any such case, immediately after the taking of such
action, (1) Wynnefield Partners would, in the aggregate, beneficially own more than 9.9% of the
then outstanding shares of Common Stock or (2) Xxxx Partners and Caiman Partners, L.P. (with its
affiliates) would, in the aggregate, collectively beneficially own more than 9.9% of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock;
(c) make or be the proponent of any shareholder proposal, whether pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of
the Exchange Act or otherwise;
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(d) form, join or in any way participate in any “group” (within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) with respect to the Common Stock (other than a group comprised solely
of the Shareholder Parties);
(e) deposit any Common Stock in any voting trust or subject any Common Stock to any
arrangement or agreement with respect to the voting of any Common Stock, other than any such voting
trust, arrangement or agreement solely among the Shareholder Parties;
(f) execute any written consent as a shareholder with respect to WEDC or its Common Stock,
except as set forth herein;
(g) otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to (i) make any public statement critical
of WEDC, its directors or management or (ii) control or seek to control the Board, other than
through non-public communications with the officers and directors of WEDC;
(h) seek, alone or in concert with others, (i) to call a meeting of shareholders, (ii)
representation on the Board, except as specifically contemplated in Sections 3(a), (b) and (c), or
(iii) the removal of any member of the Board, except as specifically contemplated in Section
3(b)(5);
(i) make any proposal regarding any of the foregoing;
(j) publicly disclose any request to amend, waive or terminate any provision of this
Agreement; or
(k) take or seek to take, or cause or seek to cause others to take, directly or indirectly,
any action inconsistent with any of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, any member of the Shareholder
Parties shall be entitled to:
(i) vote their shares in favor of the election of the New Appointees at the 2009 WEDC annual
meeting of shareholders and in favor of the proposal described in Section 5(a) hereof;
(ii) vote their shares in accordance with Section 8 of this Agreement;
(iii) propose a slate of nominees for election as directors and/or a proposal for
consideration or approval by shareholders at the 2010 WEDC annual meeting or any special meeting of
shareholders called for such purpose (other than by the Shareholder Parties) in order to comply
with the advance notice provisions or other requirements of WEDC’s Restated Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws and to take such other actions with respect thereto as required to comply
with the laws of the State of Indiana and the United States of America, and the regulations
thereunder.
7. Actions by the Shareholder Parties.
(a) At WEDC’s 2009 annual shareholder meeting, the Shareholder Parties shall vote, and cause
their respective officers, directors, employees and agents to vote, all of the shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by him or them for each of WEDC’s nominees for election to the
Board, for
the ratification of the appointment of WEDC’s independent auditors and for approval of the proposal
described in Section 5(a) hereof.
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(b) Upon the execution of this Agreement by the Parties and appointment of the New Appointees
as directors of WEDC, the Shareholder Parties shall terminate the pending proxy contest with
respect to the election of directors at WEDC’s 2009 annual shareholder meeting, as described in the
preliminary proxy statement filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act on January 9,
2009.
(c) Upon the execution of this Agreement by the Parties and appointment of the New Appointees
as directors of WEDC, no further action will be taken by the Shareholder Parties with respect to
the letter from the Shareholder Parties, dated December 18, 2008, as filed with the SEC on Schedule
14A under the Exchange Act on December 22, 2008, (the “December Letter”), and such December
Letter will be stayed, except that the Shareholder Parties may notify the SEC that they are
withdrawing their preliminary proxy statement as a result of this Agreement and file a Schedule
13D/A disclosing the execution of this Agreement and terminating their status as a group (which
notice and filing shall not make any statements or disclosures that conflict with the terms of this
Agreement).
(d) Upon appointment of the New Appointees as directors of WEDC, the December Letter will,
without any further action necessary on the part of any person, be automatically and irrevocably
withdrawn.
8. Voting of Shares.
(a) From the date hereof until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9,
the Shareholder Parties shall, and shall cause their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents to, vote any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them in
connection with any matter or proposal submitted to a vote of WEDC’s shareholders in their
discretion either (1) as recommended by the Board or (2) proportionately in accordance with the
votes of all other shareholders of WEDC who have voted with respect to such matter or proposal
(excluding shares beneficially owned, or deemed to be beneficially owned, by the Shareholder
Parties or by members of the Board for purposes of determining such “at large” vote).
(b) From the date hereof until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9,
each member of the Board (other than the New Appointees and their successors, who shall be governed
by Section 8(a)) shall vote any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by him in
connection with any matter or proposal submitted to a vote of WEDC’s shareholders in his discretion
either (1) as recommended by the Board or (2) proportionately in accordance with the votes of all
other shareholders of WEDC who have voted with respect to such matter or proposal (excluding shares
beneficially owned, or deemed to be beneficially owned, by the Shareholder Parties or by members of
the Board for purposes of determining such “at large” vote).
9. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and the obligations of the Parties under this
Agreement shall cease:
(a) at the option of WEDC, upon the earliest of (i) a material breach by any Shareholder Party
of any obligation hereunder which has not been cured within 14 days after
receiving notice of such
breach from WEDC, (ii) the Shareholder Parties having, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of
less than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (iii) any person becoming the
beneficial owner of more than 50% of WEDC’s voting stock, including by merger, acquisition, tender
offer, exchange offer or other type of business combination; or (iv) any
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person publicly announcing their intent to become the beneficial owner of more than 50% of
WEDC’s voting stock, including any merger, acquisition, tender offer, exchange offer or other type
of business combination;
(b) at the option of the Shareholder Parties, upon the earliest of (i) a material breach by
WEDC of any obligation hereunder which has not been cured within 14 days after receiving notice of
such breach from the Shareholder Parties or (ii) (A) the public announcement by WEDC of its
intention to enter into a definitive agreement to transfer all or substantially all of the assets
of WEDC or more than 50% of the voting power of WEDC, whether by merger, acquisition, tender offer,
exchange offer or other type of business combination or (B) any person (other than the Shareholder
Parties) publicly announcing their intent to become the beneficial owner of more than 50% of WEDC’s
voting stock, including any merger, acquisition, tender offer, exchange offer or other type of
business combination;
(c) on the second business day preceding the date of WEDC’s 2010 annual shareholder meeting
(the “Termination Date”);
(d) on the day that a former member of the Shareholder Parties submits a slate for election as
directors or a public proposal for consideration by WEDC’s shareholders at WEDC’s 2010 annual
shareholder meeting (which date shall be no earlier than seven (7) days prior to the last date on
which a WEDC shareholder may validly submit a proposal, other than pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act, for consideration at WEDC’s 2010 annual shareholder meeting, which date shall be
disclosed in WEDC’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2009 annual shareholder
meeting);
(e) on the day that the Board of WEDC publicly announces its nominees for election as
directors at WEDC’s 2010 annual shareholder meeting, which do not include both New Appointees, or
their successors as determined by the Shareholder Parties; or
(f) at any time, upon the written consent of all of the Parties.
10. Public Announcement. WEDC and the Shareholder Parties shall promptly disclose the
existence of this Agreement after its execution pursuant to a joint press release that is mutually
acceptable to the parties, including the terms of this Agreement and also shall include a statement
to the effect that the compensation committee of the Board shall examine and consider the use of
performance-based criteria with respect to future equity awards and grants. Subject to applicable
law, none of the Parties shall disclose the existence of this Agreement until the joint press
release is issued. The Parties agree that, while this Agreement remains in effect, each Party
shall refrain from any disparagement, defamation, libel, or slander with respect to any other Party
or its affiliates or from publicly criticizing such other Party or its affiliates.
11. Nonpublic Information.
(a) In connection with discussions between the Shareholder Parties and their representatives
and WEDC and its representatives, or otherwise during the term of this Agreement, the Shareholder
Parties or their representatives have obtained information about WEDC or its securities that is
confidential. Each of the Shareholder Parties agrees, as set forth below, to treat confidentially
any such information (whether oral or written, provided that all written information shall have
been identified as confidential) furnished to or otherwise obtained by such Shareholder Party or
his or its representatives from WEDC or on its behalf together with those portions of
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analyses, summaries, notes or other documents prepared by a Shareholder Party or any of their
representatives which contain or otherwise reflect such information (herein collectively referred
to as the “Confidential Information”). Each Shareholder Party agrees that, except with
WEDC’s prior written consent, neither such party nor such party’s representatives will disclose any
Confidential Information to any other person or use any of the Confidential Information for any
purpose other than on WEDC’s behalf. For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “Confidential
Information” shall not include information which (i) becomes lawfully available to the public other
than as a result of a disclosure by a Shareholder Party or his or its representatives, (ii) was
lawfully available to the Shareholder Parties on a nonconfidential basis prior to its disclosure to
the Shareholder Parties or their representatives by WEDC or on its behalf or (iii) lawfully becomes
available to the Shareholder Parties on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than WEDC or
WEDC’s representatives or agents, provided that such source is not bound by a confidentiality
agreement with WEDC of which the Shareholder Parties have been made aware. WEDC has no obligation
to furnish Confidential Information to the Shareholder Parties or their representatives by virtue
of this Agreement. In the event that any member of the Shareholder Parties is requested pursuant
to, or required by, law, regulation, legal process or regulatory or civil authority to disclose any
portion of the Confidential Information, the Shareholder Parties shall give prompt notice to WEDC,
to the extent such notice is legally permissible. The Shareholder Parties shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to limit the scope of such required disclosure, and the Shareholder
Parties shall be permitted to disclose, without any liability to WEDC, only that portion of the
Confidential Information which the Shareholder Parties’ counsel advises that the Shareholder
Parties are legally required to disclose.
(b) WEDC has been advised by the Shareholder Group that, upon execution of the Agreement, and
filing an appropriate Schedule 13D/A with the SEC, the Shareholder Parties shall dissolve their
group. Accordingly, Wynnefield Partners and its affiliates shall not be entitled to nor do they
expect to receive any Confidential Information. However, in connection with this Agreement and the
ongoing relationship of Caiman Partners and Xxxx Capital Management LLC (and their affiliates) with
WEDC, there may be instances in which material nonpublic information concerning WEDC will be
divulged to them by WEDC or its representatives or agents. Caiman Partners and Xxxx Capital
Management LLC expressly acknowledge, on behalf of themselves and their representatives and agents,
that federal and state securities laws prohibit any person who misappropriates material nonpublic
information about a company from purchasing or selling securities of such company, or from
communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably
foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.
12. Releases.
(a) The Shareholder Parties hereby agree for the benefit of WEDC, and each controlling person,
officer, director, stockholder, agent, affiliate, employee, partner, attorney, heir, assign,
executor, administrator, predecessor and successor, past and present, of WEDC (WEDC and each such
person being a “WEDC Released Person”) as follows:
(i) The Shareholder Parties, for themselves and for their members, officers, directors,
assigns, agents and successors, past and present, hereby agree and confirm that, effective from and
after the date of this Agreement, they hereby acknowledge full and complete satisfaction of, and
covenant not to xxx, and forever fully release and discharge each WEDC Released Person of, and hold
each WEDC Released Person harmless from, any and all rights,
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claims, warranties, demands, debts, obligations, liabilities, costs, attorneys’ fees, expenses,
suits, losses and causes of action of any nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, suspected or
unsuspected (collectively, “Claims”) that the Shareholder Parties may have against the WEDC
Released Persons, in each case with respect to facts and circumstances occurring any time or period
of time on or prior to the date of the execution of this Agreement (including the future effects of
such transactions, occurrences, conditions, acts or omissions).
(ii) The undersigned understand and agree that the Claims released by the Shareholder Parties
above include not only those Claims presently known but also include all unknown or unanticipated
claims, rights, demands, actions, obligations, liabilities, and causes of action of every kind and
character that would otherwise come within the scope of the Claims as described above. The
Shareholder Parties understand that they may hereafter discover facts different from or in addition
to what they now believe to be true, which if known, could have materially affected this Release of
Claims, but they nevertheless waive any claims or rights based on different or additional facts.
(b) The Shareholder Parties agree that so long as any New Appointee (or any other director
designated by the Shareholder Parties as provided for in Section 3(c) above) is a member of
the Board, (i) no member of the Shareholder Parties shall, without the consent of WEDC, instigate,
solicit, assist, intervene in, or otherwise voluntarily participate in any litigation or
arbitration in which WEDC or any of its officers or directors are named as parties; provided that
the foregoing shall not prevent Shareholder Party from responding to a validly issued legal process
and (ii) the Shareholder Parties agree to give WEDC at least five business days notice of the
receipt of any legal process requesting information regarding WEDC or any of its officers or
directors, to the extent that such notice is legally permissible.
(c) WEDC hereby agrees for the benefit of the Shareholder Parties, and each controlling
person, officer, director, stockholder, agent, affiliate, employee, partner, attorney, heir,
assign, executor, administrator, predecessor and successor, past and present, thereof, as well as
each New Appointee and any other director designated by the Shareholder Parties as provided for in
Section 3(c) above (the Shareholder Parties and each such person being a
“Shareholder Released Person”) as follows:
(i) WEDC, for itself and for its affiliates, officers, directors, assigns, agents and
successors, past and present, hereby agrees and confirms that, effective from and after the date of
this Agreement, it hereby acknowledges full and complete satisfaction of, and covenants not to xxx,
and forever fully releases and discharges each Shareholder Released Person of, and holds
each
Shareholder Released Person harmless from, any and all Claims of any nature whatsoever, whether
known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that WEDC may have against the Shareholder Released
Persons, in each case with respect to facts and circumstances occurring any time or period of time
on or prior to the date of the execution of this Agreement (including the future effects of such
transactions, occurrences, conditions, acts or omissions).
(ii) The undersigned understand and agree that the Claims released by WEDC above include not
only those Claims presently known but also include all unknown or unanticipated claims, rights,
demands, actions, obligations, liabilities, and causes of action of every kind and character that
would otherwise come within the scope of the Claims as described above. WEDC understands that it
may hereafter discover facts different from or in addition to what it now
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believes to be true, which if known, could have materially affected this Release of Claims, but it
nevertheless waives any claims or rights based on different or additional facts.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the releases in Sections 11(a), 11(b) and 11(c) do not
extend to claims that the releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in its favor at the
time of executing the release, which, if known by it, must have materially affected its settlement
with the non-releasing party.
(e) The Parties intend that the foregoing release be broad with respect to the matter
released, provided, however, this release of Claims shall not include claims to enforce the terms
of this Agreement; and provided further that nothing in the foregoing release shall be deemed or
construed, now or hereafter, as limiting in any manner any right of indemnification inuring to the
benefit of any director or former director of WEDC arising under its Restated Articles of
Incorporation, the Bylaws or otherwise.
13. Remedies.
(a) Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that a breach or threatened breach by any
Party may give rise to irreparable injury inadequately compensable in damages, and accordingly each
Party shall be entitled to injunctive relief to prevent a breach of the provisions hereof and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any state or federal court having
jurisdiction, in addition to any other remedy to which such aggrieved Party may be entitled to at
law or in equity.
(b) In the event a Party institutes any legal action to enforce such Party’s rights under, or
recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, the prevailing party or parties in such action shall
be entitled to recover from the other party or parties all costs and expenses, including but not
limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, witness fees, disbursements and any other
expenses of litigation or negotiation incurred by such prevailing party or parties.
14. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given under this
Agreement will be sufficient if it is in writing, sent to the applicable address set forth below
(or as otherwise specified by a Party by notice to the other Parties in accordance with this
Section 14) and delivered personally, mailed by certified or registered first-class mail or sent by
recognized overnight courier, postage prepaid, and will be deemed given (a) when so delivered
personally, (b) if
mailed by certified or registered first-class mail, three business days after
the date of mailing, or (c) if sent by recognized overnight courier, one day after the date of
sending.
If to WEDC:
White Electronic Designs Corporation
3600 X. Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxx Xxxxx, Chief Financial Officer (Interim Office of the President)
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
3600 X. Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxx Xxxxx, Chief Financial Officer (Interim Office of the President)
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to WEDC) to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx
Professional Corporation
Professional Corporation
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650 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
and
Xxxxx & Xxxxxx, L.L.P.
One Arizona Center
400 X. Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxx X. Xxxxx
Franc Del Fosse
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
One Arizona Center
400 X. Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxx X. Xxxxx
Franc Del Fosse
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to Wynnefield Partners:
Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P.
450 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
450 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to Wynnefield Partners) to:
Xxxx Xxxxxxx PC
1300 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xx.
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
1300 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xx.
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to Caiman Partners
Xxxx Capital Management, LLC
5500 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
5500 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to Caiman Partners) to:
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Xxxx Moss Kline & Xxxxx LLP
3 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
3 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Xttention: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties
pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements,
understandings, negotiations and discussions of the Parties in connection with the subject matter
hereof.
16. Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and
by the Parties in separate counterparts, and signature pages may be delivered by facsimile, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.
17. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to choice of law principles that
would compel the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
19. Severability. In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any
reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality
or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement
shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained
herein.
20. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall not be assignable by any of the Parties. This
Agreement, however, shall be binding on successors of the Parties.
21. Amendments. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented except
upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by all of the Parties.
22. Further Action. Each Party agrees to execute such additional reasonable documents, and to
do and perform such reasonable acts and things necessary or proper to effectuate or further
evidence the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
23. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably waives all right to trial by
jury and any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise)
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the actions of any Party hereto in negotiation,
administration, performance or enforcement hereof.
24. Expenses. Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, following receipt of
reasonably satisfactory documentation thereof (which shall for purposes of legal fees, require only
a statement from the attorneys representing the Shareholder Parties as to the total fees and
expenses charged by such attorneys, and that such fees and expenses are the customary fees and
-12-
expenses charged by such attorneys for matters of this type, and they were reasonably and
necessarily incurred), WEDC will reimburse the Shareholder Parties for their documented
out-of-pocket fees and expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with their
activities relating to the matters described in this Agreement through the date of the execution
and performance of this Agreement, provided such reimbursement shall not exceed $250,000 in the
aggregate, and the Shareholder Parties hereby agree that such payment shall be in full satisfaction
of any claims or rights it may have for fees, expenses or costs related to the matters described in
this Agreement.
[Signatures are on the following page.]
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EXECUTION
COPY
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first
above written.
White Electronic Designs Corporation | Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P., | |||||||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | By: | Wynnefield Capital Management LLC | |||||||||
Its: | General Partner | |||||||||||
By | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||||||||||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||||||||
Title: | Co-Managing Member | |||||||||||
Title: |
V.P. / CFO | |||||||||||
Caiman Partners, L.P | ||||||||||||
By: | Caiman Capital GP, L.P. | |||||||||||
Its: | General Partner | |||||||||||
By: | Caiman Capital Management LLC, | |||||||||||
Its: | Managing General Partner | |||||||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx | |||||||||||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx | |||||||||||
Title: | Managing Member | |||||||||||
Xxxx Capital Management LLC | ||||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||||
Its: | ||||||||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx | |||||||||||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx | |||||||||||
Title: | Manager |
EXECUTION
COPY
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first
above written.
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, a shareholder
|
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, a shareholder | |||||
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|||||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, a shareholder
|
Xxxxxx X. Toy, a shareholder | |||||
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Toy
|
|||||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, a shareholder |
||||||
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
EXECUTION
COPY
EXHIBIT A
Principles to be incorporated into Strategic Review Committee Charter
Purpose: The committee shall be responsible for developing, reviewing, evaluating
and recommending to the Board all strategic alternatives available to WEDC. The committee
may convene meetings from time to time in its discretion.
Membership: The committee shall consist of three members of the Board, all of whom
shall meet the Nasdaq definition of independence.
Governance:
• | Until the termination of the Agreement, all three members of the committee are required to constitute a quorum and all decisions and recommendations of the committee must be unanimous | ||
• | The committee shall document its proceedings in written minutes, as the committee deems appropriate | ||
• | Until the termination of the Agreement, any amendment of the Charter shall require the unanimous approval of the Committee members. |
Committee Resources
• | The committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its duties and responsibilities, including the authority to select, retain, terminate, and approve the fees and other retention terms of independent counsel, experts or advisors, as it deems appropriate. | ||
• | The committee members shall be reimbursed for all of their reasonable out of pocket expenses, and shall be entitled to receive such fees and compensation as may be determined by the Board. |