STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT
Execution
Copy
STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT
This
STOCKHOLDER
AGREEMENT
(this
“Agreement”),
dated
as of August 17, 2007, is among (a) ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES,
INC., a Florida corporation (the “Company”),
(b) ACT-DE, LLC (“HIG”),
(c)
the Persons identified on Schedule 1
as
“Sankaty Investors” (the “Sankaty Investors”),
(d) the Persons on Schedule 1
hereto
under the heading “Other Investors” (the “Other Investors”),
and
(e) any other Person who becomes a party to this Agreement by executing an
Instrument of Accession.
WHEREAS,
the
parties hereto wish to set forth their relative rights with regard to the
transfer and issuance of the Company’s securities, election of the Company’s
Board of Directors and certain other matters concerning the Company’s capital
stock;
NOW,
THEREFORE,
the
parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
§1. DEFINITIONS.
For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below:
Affiliate.
Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any Stockholder, any Person directly
or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control
with such Stockholder and shall include (a) any Person who is a director or
beneficial holder of at least 10% of the then outstanding capital stock (or
partnership interests or membership interests or other shares of beneficial
interest) of such Stockholder and Family Members of any such Person,
(b) any Person of which such Stockholder or an Affiliate (as defined in
clause (a) above) of such Stockholder directly or indirectly, either
beneficially owns at least 10% of the then outstanding capital stock (or
partnership interests or membership interests or other shares of beneficial
interest) or constitutes at least a 10% equity participant, (c) any Person
of which an Affiliate (as defined in clause (a) above) of such Stockholder
is a
partner, director, officer or executive employee and (d) in case of a
specified Person who is an individual, Family Members of such Person. For
purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings,
the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under direct or indirect 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 that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
by
contract or otherwise.
Approved Sale.
See
Section 3.1.
Charter.
Charter
shall mean the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and all amendments
thereto.
Common Equity Rights.
Common
Equity Rights shall mean any options, warrants or other rights issued by the
Company to acquire Common Stock.
Common Stock.
Common
Stock shall mean the Company’s Common Stock, no par value per
share any shares of any other class of capital stock of the Company
hereafter issued which are (i) not preferred as to dividends or assets over
any class of stock of the Company, (ii) not subject to redemption pursuant
to the terms thereof, or (iii) issued to the holders of shares of Common
Stock upon any reclassification thereof.
Company.
See
Preamble.
Company Equity Securities.
Company
Equity Securities shall mean Common Stock and any securities convertible into
or
containing options or rights to acquire shares of Common Stock.
Disposition
Event.
means
any of the following transactions: (i) a consolidation or merger of the Company
with or into any other person(s), entity or entities in which less than a
majority of the outstanding voting power of the surviving person(s), entity
or
entities is held by persons or entities who were stockholders of the Company
prior to such event or (ii) a sale, lease, exchange or disposition of all,
or
substantially all, of the property (with or without the good will) of the
Company otherwise than in its usual and regular course of business.
Family Limited Liability Company.
Family
Limited Liability Company shall mean, with respect to any individual, any
limited liability company created for the benefit of one or more of such
individual’s Related Persons and controlled by such individual.
Family Limited Partnership.
Family
Limited Partnership shall mean, with respect to any individual, any limited
partnership created for the benefit of one or more of such individual’s Related
Persons and controlled by such individual.
Family Members.
Family
Members shall mean, with respect to any individual, any Related Person, Family
Trust, Family Limited Liability Company or Family Limited Partnership of such
individual.
Family
Trust.
Family
Trust shall mean, with respect to any individual, any trust created for the
benefit of such individual or one or more of such individual’s Related
Persons.
HIG.
See
Preamble.
HIG Securities.
HIG
Securities shall mean (a) the shares of Series C Preferred Stock issued to
HIG pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (b) all other Company Equity
Securities purchased by, issued to or otherwise acquired by HIG from time to
time, (c) all shares of the Company’s capital stock issued or issuable upon
conversion or exercise of such securities and (d) all shares of the
Company’s capital stock issued with respect to such shares by way of stock
dividend or stock split or in connection with any merger, consolidation,
recapitalization or other reorganization affecting the Company’s capital stock.
HIG Securities will continue to be HIG Securities in the hands of any holder
and
each transferee thereof will succeed to the rights and obligations of a holder
of HIG Securities hereunder, provided
that
shares of HIG Securities will cease to be HIG Securities when transferred
(i) to the Company, (ii) to a Sankaty Stockholder, (iii) to an Other
Stockholder or (iv) pursuant to a Public Sale.
HIG Stockholder.
HIG
Stockholder shall mean HIG for so long as such Person holds HIG Securities
and
any other Person to whom HIG Securities are transferred for so long as such
Person holds any HIG Securities.
Instrument
of Accession.
See
Preamble.
Majority
HIG Holders.
Majority HIG Holders shall mean the holder or holders at the relevant time
of
determination of fifty-one percent (51%) or more of the number of then issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock included in the HIG Securities
(determined on a fully-diluted basis).
Majority
Sankaty Holders.
Majority Sankaty Holders shall mean the holder or holders at the relevant time
of determination of fifty-one percent (51%) or more of the number of then issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock included in the Sankaty Securities
(determined on a fully-diluted basis).
Major Stockholder.
Major
Stockholder means (i) any HIG Stockholder and (ii) any Sankaty Stockholder,
for
as long as the Sankaty Stockholders continue to hold at least 25% of the Sankaty
Securities outstanding on the date hereof.
Offer Notice.
See
Section 2.2.
Other
Securities.
Other
Securities shall mean (a) all Company Equity Securities purchased by,
issued to or otherwise acquired by any of the Other Investors or any Person
who
is not a HIG Stockholder or a Sankaty Stockholder, (b) all shares of the
Company’s capital stock issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of such
securities, and (c) all shares of the Company’s capital stock issued with
respect to such shares by way of stock dividend or stock split or in connection
with any merger, consolidation, recapitalization or other reorganization
affecting the Company’s capital stock. Other Securities will continue to be
Other Securities in the hands of any holder and each transferee thereof will
succeed to the rights and obligations of a holder of Other Securities hereunder,
provided
that
shares of Other Securities will cease to be Other Securities when transferred
(i) to the Company, (ii) to an HIG Stockholder, (iii) to a
Sankaty Stockholder or (iv) pursuant to a Public Sale.
Other
Stockholder.
Other
Stockholder shall mean any Person who holds Other Securities and any other
Person to whom Other Securities are issued or transferred for so long as such
Person holds any Other Securities.
Participating Stockholders.
See
Section 2.2.
Person.
Person
shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation,
association, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, or any
government, governmental department or agency or political subdivision
thereof.
Personal Representative.
Personal Representative shall mean the successor or legal representative
(including, without limitation, a guardian, executor, administrator or
conservator) of a dead or incompetent Stockholder.
Preferred
Stock.
Preferred Stock shall mean (a) the Company’s Series C Preferred Stock, $0.01 par
value per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), (b) the Company’s Series D
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, (c) the Company’s Series A-2
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share and (d) any capital stock of the
Company which is (i) preferred as to distributions upon a liquidation of the
Company or dividends over any other class of stock of the Company, (ii) subject
to redemption pursuant to the terms thereof or (iii) issued to the holders
of
Preferred Stock upon any reclassification thereof.
Public
Sale.
Public
Sale shall mean any sale of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement
under the Securities Act or to the public through a broker or market-maker
pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 (or any successor rule) adopted under
the
Securities Act.
Purchase
Agreement.
The
Purchase Agreement, of even date herewith, among the Company the HIG Investor
and the Sankaty Investors.
Related
Persons.
Related
Persons shall mean, with respect to any individual, such individual’s parents,
spouse, siblings, children and grandchildren.
Sankaty Securities.
Sankaty
Securities shall mean (a) the shares of Series C Preferred Stock issued to
Sankaty pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (b) all other Company Equity
Securities purchased by, issued to or otherwise acquired by Sankaty from time
to
time, (c) all shares of the Company’s capital stock issued or issuable upon
conversion or exercise of such securities and (d) all shares of the
Company’s capital stock issued with respect to such shares by way of stock
dividend or stock split or in connection with any merger, consolidation,
recapitalization or other reorganization affecting the Company’s capital stock.
Sankaty Securities will continue to be Sankaty Securities in the hands of any
holder and each transferee thereof will succeed to the rights and obligations
of
a holder of Sankaty Securities hereunder, provided
that
shares of Sankaty Securities will cease to be Sankaty Securities when
transferred (i) to the Company, (ii) to a HIG Stockholder, (iii) to an
Other Stockholder or (iv) pursuant to a Public Sale.
Sankaty Stockholder.
Sankaty
Stockholder shall mean each Sankaty Investor for so long as such Person holds
Sankaty Securities and any other Person to whom Sankaty Securities are
transferred for so long as such Person holds any Sankaty
Securities.
Securities.
Securities shall mean the HIG Securities, the Sankaty Securities and the Other
Securities.
Securities
Act.
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Stockholders.
Stockholders shall mean, collectively, the HIG Stockholders, the Sankaty
Stockholders and the Other Stockholders.
Stock Options.
Stock
Options shall mean any options to purchase capital stock of the Company pursuant
to a Stock Option Agreement.
Stock Option Agreements.
Stock
Option Agreements shall mean any agreement between the Company and any employee,
director or consultant of the Company entered into from time to time in
compliance with the terms hereof, pursuant to which any such employee, director
or consultant is awarded an option to purchase equity in the Company, in each
case as amended and in effect from time to time.
Subsidiary.
Subsidiary shall mean any corporation, association, trust, or other business
entity, of which the designated parent shall at any time own or control directly
or indirectly through a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries at least a majority (by
number of votes) of the outstanding shares of capital stock (or other shares
of
beneficial interest) which are (a) entitled ordinarily, in the absence of
contingencies, to vote for the election of a majority of such business entity’s
directors (or Persons exercising similar functions), even though the right
so to
vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency, or
(b) entitled at the time to vote for the election of a majority of such
business entity’s directors (or Person exercising similar functions), whether or
not the right so to vote exists by reason of the happening of a
contingency.
Transfer.
See
Section 2.1.
Transferring Stockholder.
See
Section 2.2.
§2. RESTRICTIONS
ON TRANSFER OF SECURITIES.
2.1. Series
C Transfers.
No
Stockholder may sell, assign, pledge or otherwise transfer (a “Transfer”)
any
interest in any Series C Preferred Stock, either voluntarily or involuntarily,
by operation of law or otherwise, except:
(a) in
the
case of any HIG Stockholder, (i) to its Affiliates, (ii) as a
distribution to its members or partners, in the case of an HIG Stockholder
organized as a limited liability company, limited partnership or general
partnership, (iii) to any successor purchasing substantially all of its assets,
or (iv) to any other Person so long as such HIG Stockholder has complied
with Section 2.3; or
(b) in
the
case of any Sankaty Stockholder, (i) to its Affiliates, (ii) as a
distribution to its members or partners, in the case of an Sankaty Stockholder
organized as a limited liability company, limited partnership or general
partnership, (iii) to any successor purchasing substantially all of its assets,
(iv) to the extent permitted by Section 2.3 or (v) to any other Person so
long as such Sankaty Stockholder has complied with Section 2.4; or
(c) in
the
case of any Other Stockholder who is an individual, (i) to such Other
Stockholder’s Family Members, provided
that
such Other Stockholder or his Personal Representative retains exclusive voting
control over the transferred Securities, or (ii) to such Other
Stockholder’s Personal Representative; or
(d) in
the
case of any Other Stockholder that is not an individual, to any successor
purchasing substantially all of its assets; or
(e) in
the
case of any Stockholder, pursuant to a Disposition Event or to the
Company;
provided that
(x) the restrictions contained in this Section 2 will continue to be
applicable to the Series C Preferred Stock after any Transfer pursuant to
clauses (a), (b), (c) or (d) above, and (y) the transferee of such
Securities in any such Transfer pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c) or (d) above
shall either be a party hereto or shall have executed and delivered to the
Company an Instrument of Accession.
2.2. Other
Transfers.
Any
Stockholder may Transfer any Securities (other than Series C Preferred Stock)
without restrictions hereunder provided that, in the case of any Transfer other
than in connection with a Disposition Event or a Public Sale, the transferee
of
such Securities shall either be a party hereto or shall have executed and
delivered to the Company an Instrument of Accession.
2.3. Participation
Rights.
No HIG
Stockholder may make a Transfer of Series C Preferred Stock pursuant to clause
(a)(iv) of Section 2.1 unless such HIG Stockholder complies with the
provisions of this Section 2.3. The transferring HIG Stockholder (the
“Transferring
Stockholder”)
shall
deliver a written notice (the “Offer Notice”)
to the
Company and to each Sankaty Stockholder that holds Series C Preferred Stock.
The
Offer Notice will disclose in reasonable detail the proposed number of shares
of
Series C Preferred Stock to be transferred, the proposed price, terms and
conditions of the Transfer and the identity of the transferee. Each of the
Sankaty Stockholders holding Series C Preferred Stock may elect to participate
in the contemplated sale by delivering written notice to the Transferring
Stockholder within 10 days after receipt of the Offer Notice. If any of such
Sankaty Stockholders elects to participate in such sale (the “Participating Stockholders”),
each
of the Transferring Stockholder and the Participating Stockholders will be
entitled to sell in the contemplated sale a number of shares of Preferred Stock
equal to the product of (i) the fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock held by such Person, and the
denominator of which is the aggregate number of Series C Preferred Stock owned
by the Transferring Stockholder and the Participating Stockholders, multiplied
by
(ii) the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock to be sold by the
Transferring Stockholder and the Participating Stockholders in the contemplated
sale.
As
a
condition to any Transfer by the Transferring Stockholder, the Transferring
Stockholder must obtain the agreement of the prospective transferee(s) to the
participation of all Participating Stockholders in any contemplated sale and
will not transfer any of its Securities to the prospective transferee(s) if
the
prospective transferee(s) declines to allow the participation of the
Participating Stockholders on the terms specified herein.
2.4. Right
of First Refusal.
No
Sankaty Stockholder may make any Transfer of Preferred Stock pursuant to clause
(b)(v) of Section 2.1 unless such Sankaty Stockholder complies with the
provisions of this Section 2.4. The transferring Sankaty Stockholder (the
“Transferring Sankaty Stockholder”) will deliver a written notice (the “Sankaty
Offer Notice”) to each HIG Stockholder. The Sankaty Offer Notice will disclose
in reasonable detail the desired number of shares of Preferred Stock to be
transferred, and the desired price, terms and conditions of the Transfer. The
HIG Stockholders (or their designees) may elect to purchase all (but not less
than all) of the Preferred Stock specified in the Sankaty Offer Notice at the
price and on the terms specified therein by delivering written notice (the
“HIG
Acceptance Notice”) of such election to the Transferring Sankaty Stockholder and
the other non-transferring Sankaty Stockholders within twenty (20) days after
receipt of the Sankaty Offer Notice (the “Election Period”). If the HIG
Stockholders elect to purchase all of the Preferred Stock being offered, the
Transfer of such Preferred Stock will be consummated within thirty (30) days
after expiration of the Election Period. If the HIG Stockholders do not elect
to
purchase all of the Preferred Stock being offered, the Transferring Sankaty
Stockholder may, within ninety (90) days after the expiration of the Election
Period, complete the Transfer of such Preferred Stock at a price equal to or
greater than the price listed in the Sankaty Offer Notice and otherwise on
terms
no more favorable to the transferees than the terms offered to the HIG
Stockholders in the Sankaty Offer Notice, provided, that no such Transfer may
be
completed unless each of such transferees shall have executed and delivered
to
the Company an Instrument of Accession. If the Transferring Sankaty Stockholder
fails to consummate such Transfer on such terms within the ninety (90) day
period after the expiration of the Election Period, any subsequent proposed
transfer of such Sankaty Securities shall be once again subject to the
provisions of this Section 2.4.
2.5. Transfers
of Securities in Breach of this Agreement.
In the
event of any Transfer of Securities in breach of this Agreement, commencing
immediately upon the date of such attempted Transfer (a) such Transfer
shall be void and of no effect, (b) no dividend of any kind or any
distribution pursuant to any liquidation, redemption or otherwise shall be
paid
by the Company to the purported transferee in respect of such Securities (all
such rights to payment by the transferring Stockholder and/or the purported
transferee being deemed waived), (c) the voting rights of such Securities,
if any, shall terminate, and (d) neither the transferring Stockholder nor
the purported transferee shall be entitled to exercise any rights with respect
to such Securities until such Transfer in breach of this Agreement has been
rescinded.
§3. SALE
OF
THE COMPANY.
3.1. Approved
Sale.
In the
event that a Disposition Event is approved by the Company’s Board of Directors
and consented to by the Majority HIG Holders at any time when the HIG
Stockholders collectively hold at least fifty percent (50%) of the Common Stock
on a fully-diluted basis (an “Approved
Sale”),
each
Stockholder hereby waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all rights
to object to or dissent from such Approved Sale and hereby agrees to consent
to
and raise no objection against such Approved Sale.
3.2. Obligations
of Stockholders.
The
Company and the Stockholders hereby agree to cooperate fully in any Approved
Sale and not to take any action prejudicial to or inconsistent with such
Approved Sale. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each
Stockholder hereby agrees to (i) vote such Stockholder’s Securities to
approve the terms of any such Approved Sale and such matters ancillary thereto
as may be necessary in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company
to
effect such Approved Sale, (ii) waive any appraisal rights that such
Stockholder would have with respect to such Approved Sale, (iii) in an
Approved Sale structured as a sale of stock, sell all of such Stockholder’s
Securities on the terms and conditions approved by the Board of Directors of
the
Company and (iv) upon request, deliver such Stockholder’s Securities
(together with executed instruments of transfer) in escrow (pending receipt
of
the purchase price therefor) to counsel for the Company in such sale. Nothing
contained in this Section 3 shall be construed to require any director of the
Company to vote or refrain from voting in any particular manner.
3.3. Received
Consideration.
The
obligations of the Stockholders with respect to any Approved Sale are subject
to
the satisfaction of the conditions that (a) upon the consummation of such
Approved Sale, the Stockholders will receive (i) the amount of consideration
to
which such Stockholders are entitled pursuant to a Liquidation under the Charter
and (ii) the same form and amount of consideration per share of Common Stock
or
Preferred Stock of such series, as applicable, or if any such sellers are given
an option as to the form and amount of consideration to be received per share
of
Common Stock or Preferred Stock of such series, all holders of Common Stock
and
Preferred Stock of such series, as applicable, will be given the same option,
(b)
the
representations and warranties to be made by any Stockholder shall be limited
to
enforceability of its obligations and title to its Securities, (c) any
indemnification obligations of a Stockholder shall be several, not joint, and
shall (other than with respect to breaches representations and warranties with
respect to enforceability of such Stockholder’s obligations and title to
Securities) be pro rata based on the value of the proceeds received by the
sellers in connection with such Approved Sale, and
(d)
the aggregate liability of a Stockholder with respect to indemnification
obligations in connection with such Approved Sale shall be limited to the
proceeds received by such Stockholder in connection with such Approved
Sale.
3.4. Proxy.
Each
Stockholder hereby appoints the Majority HIG Stockholders as such Stockholder’s
true and lawful proxy and attorney in connection with any Approved Sale, with
full power of substitution, to vote all Securities owned by such Stockholder
or
over which such Stockholder has voting control to effectuate the agreements
set
forth in this Section 3 in the event of any breach by such Stockholder of its
obligations under this Section 3. The proxies and powers granted by each
Stockholder pursuant to this Section 3.4 are coupled with an interest and are
given to secure the performance of such Stockholder’s duties under this Section
3. Such proxies are irrevocable for so long as this Section 3 remains in effect
and will survive the death, incompetence or disability of any Stockholder who
is
an individual and the merger, liquidation or dissolution of any Stockholder
that
is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other
entity.
§4. BOARD
OF
DIRECTORS.
4.1. Boards
of Directors; Voting Agreements.
(a) In any and all elections of directors of the Company (whether at
a meeting or by written consent in lieu of a meeting), each Stockholder shall
vote, or cause to be voted, or cause such Stockholder’s designees as directors
to vote, all Securities owned by such Stockholder or over which such Stockholder
has voting control so as to fix the number of directors of the Company at seven
(7), and to nominate and elect such directors as follows:
(i) Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, for as long as he continues to serve as the Chief Executive Officer
of
the Company and for any replacement Chief Executive Officer;
(ii) three
(3)
independent directors designated by the Majority HIG Holders; and
(iii) one
independent director designated by the independent directors of the Company
immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement and reasonably
acceptable to the Majority HIG holders; and
(iv) two
(2)
other individuals designated by the Majority HIG Holders.
The
initial directors designated by the Majority HIG Holders pursuant to clause
(iv)
above shall be Xxxx X. Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx. The independent director
designated pursuant to clause (iii) above shall be Xxxxxxx Xxxxx. The three
independent directors initially designated pursuant to clause (ii) above shall
be X.X. (Xxxx) Ball, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx X. Kettteler.
(b) If
any
vacancy shall occur in the Board of Directors of the Company as a result of
death, disability, resignation or any other termination of a director, in any
stockholder vote for the replacement of such director, each Stockholder agrees
to vote for the replacement for such vacating director designated by the
Majority HIG Holders. In the event that the Majority HIG Holders designate
for
removal any director initially designated by the Majority HIG Holders pursuant
to this Section 4.1, each Stockholder shall vote to remove such director in
any
vote held for such purpose. Each Stockholder hereby agrees to vote or cause
to
be voted or cause such Stockholder’s designees as directors to vote all
Securities owned by such Stockholder or over which such Stockholder has voting
control so as to comply with this Section 4.1(b).
4.2. PROXY.
EACH STOCKHOLDER HEREBY GRANTS TO THE MAJORITY HIG HOLDERS AN IRREVOCABLE PROXY,
COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST, TO VOTE ALL OF THE SECURITIES OWNED BY SUCH
STOCKHOLDER OR OVER WHICH SUCH STOCKHOLDER HAS VOTING CONTROL TO THE EXTENT
NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 4 IN THE EVENT OF ANY
BREACH BY SUCH STOCKHOLDER OF HIS, HER OR ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE VOTING
AGREEMENT CONTAINED HEREIN.
4.3. Action
by Stockholders.
Each
Stockholder further agrees that such Stockholder will not vote any Securities
owned by such Stockholder or over which such Stockholder has voting control,
or
take any action by written consent, or take any other action as a stockholder
of
the Company, to circumvent the voting arrangements required by this Section
4.
4.4. Expense
Reimbursement.
The
Company hereby agrees to pay all reasonable expenses incurred by the directors
designated pursuant to this Section 4 in connection with their attendance at
meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(including all travel and lodging expenses related thereto).
§5. PRE-EMPTIVE
RIGHTS.
5.1. Pre-Emptive
Rights.
Except
for the issuance of Common Equity Securities (a) pursuant to a Public Sale,
(b) as consideration for the acquisition of all or any substantial portion
of the assets or all or any portion of the capital stock of any Person,
(c) upon conversion or exercise of any instrument convertible into
Preferred Stock, (d) pursuant to any issuance of shares of Common Equity
Securities to any employee, director, officer or consultant of the Company
or
any of its Subsidiaries, (e) as partial consideration for any debt
financing extended to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a
non-independent director affiliated with or employed by HIG or any of its
affiliates), (f) in connection with any joint venture or strategic relationship
approved by the Board of Directors ((a) through (f) are each an “Excluded
Equity Event”)
or (g)
pursuant to any right of first refusal or right of first offer granted by the
Company to any of its financing sources or their affiliates, if the Company
authorizes the issuance and sale of any Common Equity Securities, the Company
will first offer to sell to each Major Stockholder a pro rata portion of such
securities equal to the percentage determined by dividing (i) the number of
shares of Common Stock held by such Major Stockholder (determined on a
fully-diluted basis), by
(ii) the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding (determined on a
fully-diluted basis). Each such Major Stockholder will be entitled to purchase
all or part of such stock or securities at the same price and on the same terms
as such stock or securities are to be offered to any other Persons.
5.2. Major
Stockholders’ Exercise of Right.
Each
Major Stockholder entitled to purchase securities under this Section 5 must
exercise such Major Stockholder’s purchase rights hereunder within 10 days after
receipt of written notice from the Company describing in reasonable detail
the
stock or securities being offered, the purchase price thereof, the payment
terms, and such Major Stockholder’s percentage allotment.
5.3. Company’s
Exercise of Right.
Upon
the expiration of the offering period described above, the Company will be
free
to sell such stock or securities which the Major Stockholders entitled to
purchase such stock or securities have not elected to purchase during the 180
days following such expiration on terms and conditions no more favorable to
the
purchasers thereof, in the aggregate, than those offered to such Major
Stockholders. Any stock or securities offered or sold by the Company after
such
180-day period must be re-offered to the Major Stockholders entitled to purchase
such stock or securities pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.
§6. CONSENT
RIGHTS. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Majority
HIG Holders and, for as long as the Sankaty Stockholders continue to hold at
least 25% of the Series C Preferred issued to the Sankaty Stockholders date
hereof, the Majority Sankaty Holders: (a) enter
into any contract, arrangement or transaction with an affiliate of the Company
unless such contract, arrangement or transaction is on terms that are no less
favorable to the Company than those the Company would have been reasonably
likely to obtain as the result of arms-length negotiations with an unrelated
third party, (b) take any action or enter into any transaction after which
the
Company will no longer hold, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and
outstanding equity of Encompass
Group Affiliates, Inc.,
Cyber-Test, Inc. and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Inc., (c) increase the number of shares
of
Common Stock issuable under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Plan
or (d) except in the case of an Excluded Equity Event, the Company shall not
issue any Common Equity Securities for consideration below the fair market
value
of such Common Equity Securities (as determined by the Board in good
faith).
§7. ADDITIONAL
LEGEND. So long as any Securities are subject to the provisions hereof, all
certificates or instruments representing Securities will have imprinted on
them
the following legend:
The
shares represented by this certificate are subject to the terms of a certain
Stockholder Agreement, dated as of August 17, 2007, among the issuer of this
certificate and certain stockholders. The Stockholder Agreement contains certain
restrictive provisions relating to the voting and transfer of shares of the
stock represented hereby. A copy of the Stockholder Agreement is on file at
the
Company’s principal offices. Upon written request to the Company’s Secretary, a
copy of the Stockholder Agreement will be provided without charge to the holder
of this certificate.
§8. SEVERABILITY.
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in
such
manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision
of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect
under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other
jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in
such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had
never been contained herein.
§9. ENTIRE
AGREEMENT. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this document
embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto
with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes and preempts
any
prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties,
written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any
way.
§10. SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Company and the Stockholders and their respective successors
and permitted assigns.
§11. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which will
be an
original and all of which taken together will constitute one and the same
agreement.
§12. REMEDIES.
The Stockholders will be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement
specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages
by
reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all
other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge
that money damages is not an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions
of
this Agreement and that any Stockholder shall have the remedy of specific
performance and/or injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent any
violation of the provisions of this Agreement. In the event of any dispute
involving the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled
to
collect reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the prevailing party in
connection with such dispute from the other parties to such
dispute.
§13. NOTICES.
Any notice provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed
properly delivered if either personally delivered or sent by telecopier,
overnight courier or mailed certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid to the recipient (a) if to any Stockholder, at
the address listed for such Stockholder in the stock records of the Company,
and
(b) if to the Company, c/o Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer. Any
such notice shall be effective (i) if delivered personally or by
telecopier, when received, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, when
receipted for, and (iii) if mailed, 3 days after being mailed as described
above. The Company agrees to make available to each Stockholder upon request
an
address list of all Stockholders to ensure correct delivery of all notices
hereunder.
§14. AMENDMENT
AND WAIVER. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement will be effective against the Company or the Stockholders unless
such
modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by the holders of
(i)
at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the total number of then outstanding shares
of Common Stock constituting Securities then held by all HIG Stockholders (on
a
fully-diluted basis) and (ii) at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the total
number of then outstanding shares of Common Stock constituting Securities then
held by all Sankaty Stockholders (on a fully-diluted basis); provided,
however,
that no
amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement that
adversely affects the rights of one particular Party (as hereinafter defined)
to
this Agreement shall be effective against such adversely affected Party unless
approved in writing by the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock constituting Securities then held by all members of
such
Party. As used in this Section 13, the term “Party”
means
any one of the following entities or groups: (a) the Company, (b) the
HIG Stockholders, (c) the Sankaty Stockholders and (d) the Other
Stockholders. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of
this
Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will
not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every
provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
§15. EMPLOYMENT.
Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to create for any Stockholder
who is an officer, employee or director of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries a right to continued employment with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or employment in the same position or on the same terms as those
currently in effect.
§16. TERMINATION.
This Agreement will terminate upon the earliest to occur of (a) the
completion of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of the
Company or (b) the completion of a Disposition Event.
§17. GOVERNING
LAW. ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION
OF
THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT
REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
§18. DESCRIPTIVE
HEADINGS. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for
convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.
§19. CONSTRUCTION.
The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen
by
the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction
will be applied against any party.
§20. CALCULATION
OF FULLY-DILUTED EQUITY. All references herein to calculations of the Company’s
equity or any type, class or series thereof “on a fully diluted basis” or as
“fully diluted” or similar terms shall mean such equity or type, class or series
thereof at any date as diluted by the issuance of all shares of such equity
or
type, class or series thereof then issuable upon the exercise or conversion
of
all then outstanding and exercisable warrants, options or convertible securities
pursuant to which the Company is then obligated to issue such equity or type,
class or series thereof (in all cases, determined assuming that the Company
has
sufficient authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock for the exercise
or
conversion of all such securities), but specifically excluding all shares
issuable under warrants, options or convertible securities (other than Series
D
Preferred Stock) which are not then exercisable or convertible unless the
inability to convert arises solely from the lack of authorized shares of common
stock.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank.]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Stockholder Agreement
on
the day and year first above written.
ADVANCED
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
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By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title:
Chief Executive Officer
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ACT-DE,
LLC
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Title:
Executive Vice President
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PROSPECT
HARBOR CREDIT PARTNERS,
L.P.
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title:
Managing Director
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SANKATY
CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES II, L.P.
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title:
Managing Director
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SANKATY
CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES III, L.P.
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title:
Managing Director
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RGIP,
LLC
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By: | /s/ R.B. Malt | |
Name:
R. B. Malt
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Title:
Managing Member
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SCHEDULE
1
TO
STOCKHOLDER
AGREEMENT
Sankaty
Investors
PROSPECT
HARBOR CREDIT PARTNERS, L.P.
SANKATY
CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES II, L.P.
SANKATY
CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES III, L.P.
RGIP,
LLC
Other
Investors
None
SCHEDULE
2
TO
STOCKHOLDER
AGREEMENT
Instrument
of Accession
The
undersigned, ____________________, in order to become the owner or holder of
________ shares of _____________, of Advanced Communications Technologies,
Inc.,
a Florida corporation, hereby agrees to become [an Other] [a HIG] [a Sankaty]
Stockholder party to that certain Stockholder Agreement, dated as of
August __, 2007 (the “Stockholder Agreement”),
a
copy of which is attached hereto. This Instrument of Accession shall become
a
part of such Stockholder Agreement.
Executed
as of the date set forth below under the laws of the State of New
York.
Signature:
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Address:
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Date:
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Accepted:
Advanced
Communications Technologies, Inc.
By:
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Date:
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