AMENDED AND RESTATED GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT Among ITC^DeltaCom, Inc. and the Securityholders of ITC^DeltaCom, Inc. listed on the signature pages hereof Dated as of July 26, 2005
Exhibit 10.5
AMENDED AND RESTATED
Among
ITC^DeltaCom, Inc.
and
the Securityholders of ITC^DeltaCom, Inc.
listed on the signature pages hereof
Dated as of July 26, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 | |
| SECTION 1.1. Definitions |
1 | |
| ARTICLE II RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS OF VOTING SECURITIES |
11 | |
| SECTION 2.1. Restrictions on Transfers. |
11 | |
| SECTION 2.2. Restrictions on Transfer to Competitors. |
13 | |
| SECTION 2.3. Other Transfer Restrictions. |
13 | |
| SECTION 2.4. Other Stockholder Tag-Along. |
14 | |
| SECTION 2.5. Effect of Transfers |
16 | |
| SECTION 2.6. Transfers in Violation of Agreement Void |
16 | |
| SECTION 2.7. Certain Transfers by Parent. |
16 | |
| ARTICLE III ACQUISITIONS OF VOTING SECURITIES AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS |
16 | |
| SECTION 3.1. Purchases of Voting Securities |
16 | |
| SECTION 3.2. Squeeze-Outs and Business Combinations. |
17 | |
| SECTION 3.3. Interested Transactions. |
17 | |
| SECTION 3.4. Subscription Right. |
18 | |
| ARTICLE IV CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
21 | |
| SECTION 4.1. Composition of the Board of Directors. |
21 | |
| SECTION 4.2. Voting. |
22 | |
| SECTION 4.3. Vacancies. |
22 | |
| SECTION 4.4. Board Committees |
24 | |
| SECTION 4.5. Subsidiary Boards of Directors and Committees |
25 | |
| SECTION 4.6. Director Expenses; Indemnity and Exculpation |
25 | |
| SECTION 4.7. No Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; Board Observers |
25 | |
| ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIVES |
27 | |
| ARTICLE VI LEGEND |
28 | |
| ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS |
28 | |
| SECTION 7.1. Notices |
28 | |
| SECTION 7.2. Amendments; Waivers |
30 | |
| SECTION 7.3. Further Assurances |
31 | |
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| SECTION 7.4. Enforcement of this Agreement |
31 | |
| SECTION 7.5. Severability |
31 | |
| SECTION 7.6. Entire Agreement; Assignment |
31 | |
| SECTION 7.7. Parties in Interest |
32 | |
| SECTION 7.8. Remedies. |
32 | |
| SECTION 7.9. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction |
32 | |
| SECTION 7.10. Recapitalization, etc. |
32 | |
| SECTION 7.11. Public Statements |
33 | |
| SECTION 7.12. Portfolio Company Actions |
33 | |
| SECTION 7.13. HSR Filing Fees and Expenses |
33 | |
| SECTION 7.14. Non-Solicitation |
33 | |
| SECTION 7.15. Headings |
34 | |
| SECTION 7.16. Counterparts |
34 | |
| SECTION 7.17. Effectiveness; Termination |
34 | |
| SECTION 7.18. Obligations Imposed By Law |
34 | |
| SECTION 7.19. Definition of Stockholder |
34 |
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GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT, amended and restated as of July 26, 2005 (this “Agreement”), among ITC^DeltaCom, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), each Person listed on the signature pages hereof under the heading “WCAS Securityholders” (each, and each Permitted Transferee of such Person that agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, a “WCAS Securityholder” and, collectively, “W”), each Person listed on the signature pages hereof under the heading “TCP Securityholders” (each, and each Permitted Transferee of such Person that agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, a “TCP Securityholder” and, collectively, “TCP”), and Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, III (the “Other Holder”);
WHEREAS, Parent, each WCAS Securityholder and the Other Holder are parties to a Governance Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2003, as amended as of March 29, 2005 (the “Original Agreement”), which establishes terms and conditions concerning the corporate governance of Parent and the acquisition and disposition of securities of Parent;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, W and TCP beneficially own the shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, and warrants to purchase shares of common stock and preferred stock as set forth in Annex A attached hereto; and
WHEREAS, the parties to the Original Agreement and TCP wish to amend and restate the Original Agreement as hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” has the same meaning as in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided that, for purposes of this Agreement (i) Parent and any Subsidiary of Parent shall not be treated as an Affiliate of any other party hereto and (ii) Affiliate shall not include any portfolio company of any Holder or of any Affiliate of such Holder or its Affiliates.
“Agreement” is defined in the preamble.
“Amended Ownership Percentage” means the Ownership Percentage represented by the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by W immediately following the issuance of the Series C Warrants. For purposes of this definition, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by W immediately following the issuance of the Series C Warrants shall be calculated assuming the conversion, exchange or exercise into or for shares of Common Stock of all Voting Securities beneficially owned by W at such time.
“Article IV Breach” means any material breach by Parent of any material provision of Article IV if (i) the WCAS Representative or the TCP Representative (if WCAS or TCP then has rights and obligations under Article IV) has provided Parent with written notice of such breach, (ii) Parent has not cured such breach within 30 days after receipt of such notice by such Representative and (iii) in the event of any unresolved dispute between Parent and W or TCP, as the case may be, regarding the existence of any such material breach (or whether Parent has cured such breach), Parent and such Holders have submitted such dispute to binding arbitration pursuant to the procedures described in Annex B hereto, and the arbitration panel has rendered a decision that Parent has committed such breach and has not cured such breach within the period provided in clause (ii) above.
“Associate” has the same meaning as in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof.
“Beneficial owner” and to “beneficially own” has the same meaning as in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided that in determining beneficial ownership for purposes of this Agreement as of any date, (i) a Person shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Voting Securities which may be acquired by such Person upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any Voting Security Equivalents irrespective of whether such Voting Security Equivalents are exercisable within 60 days and (ii) a Person shall not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Voting Securities solely because such Person is a party to this Agreement, if such Person would not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such Voting Securities within the meaning of such Rule 13d-3 if such Person were not a party to this Agreement.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of Parent.
“BTI” means BTI Corp., a North Carolina corporation.
“Change of Control” means (i) the consummation of a Qualifying Asset Sale; (ii) the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions (including any merger or consolidation) as a result of which any Person or Group of Persons, other than W and its Affiliates, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Power (other than any such transaction or series of related transactions subject to Section 2.3 or any such transaction or series of related transactions that would violate any provision of this Agreement); and (iii) at any time that W and its Affiliates do not beneficially own more than 50% of the Voting Power, the first day on which a majority of the Directors are not Continuing Directors, provided that none of W or its Affiliates shall have engaged in any Contest that caused a majority of the Directors not to be Continuing Directors.
“Closing Date” means July 26, 2005.
“Committee of Independent Directors” means a standing committee of the Board of Directors composed of all of the Independent Directors; provided that the Series A Designee which has a Disqualifying Relationship (whether or not the Series A Designee is an “independent director” within the meaning of the rules and regulations of any national securities exchange or Interdealer Quotation System on which Parent’s securities may be listed or traded) shall serve
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(unless the Series A Designee declines to serve) on the Committee of Independent Directors unless the Committee of Independent Directors (other than the Series A Designee who has a Disqualifying Relationship) determines in its good faith judgment, after considering advice of outside legal counsel, that the Series A Designee’s ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a Director has been compromised in a material respect as a result of a change in circumstances subsequent to the date hereof relating to such Director’s Disqualifying Relationship.
“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent.
“Competitor” means any Person who is or, based on the publicly announced intention or plan of such Person, is reasonably likely to become a competitor of Parent or any subsidiary of Parent in the business of providing retail or wholesale telecommunications services.
“Contest” means any action by a Person, whether such Person acts alone or in concert with any other Person, (i) seeking to elect an individual to, or place a representative on, the Board of Directors who is not a Continuing Director, (ii) seeking to remove (other than for cause) from the Board of Directors any individual who is a Continuing Director, or (iii) opposing the recommendation of a majority of the Continuing Directors with respect to the nomination, appointment or election of any individual as a Director; provided that any action by W or its Affiliates with respect to the nomination, designation, election or removal of any WCAS Designee, any other Director employed by W or any of its Affiliates or any Director elected by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to the Series B Certificate of Designation (including the nomination, designation or election of any successor to any WCAS Designee or any such Director) shall, in each case, not be deemed a “Contest.”
“Continuing Directors” means the Directors immediately following the Effective Time; provided that any individual becoming a Director during any year shall be considered to be a Continuing Director if such individual’s election, appointment or nomination was recommended or approved by at least two-thirds of the other Continuing Directors continuing in office following such election, appointment or nomination present, in person or by telephone, at any meeting of the Board of Directors, after the giving of a sufficient notice to each Continuing Director so as to provide a reasonable opportunity for each such Continuing Director to be present at such meeting. For purposes of this definition, any Director elected by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Series A Certificate of Designation and any Director elected by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to the Series B Certificate of Designation shall be deemed to be a Continuing Director.
“Control,” as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors” means, with respect to any matter, a determination made in good faith, on the basis of such relevant factors as the Committee of Independent Directors consider, in their judgment, appropriate, by a vote of the majority of the members of the Committee of Independent Directors present at a meeting of the
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Committee of Independent Directors called for such purpose, a quorum being present, or without a meeting if all members of the Committee of Independent Directors consent to such determination in writing. For these purposes, a majority of all members of the Committee of Independent Directors, acting at a meeting duly assembled, shall constitute a quorum for the making of any such determination at such meeting. In connection with any specific determination to be made by the Committee of Independent Directors, a Director serving on the Committee of Independent Directors shall not be deemed to be an Independent Director for purposes of participating in such determination of the Committee of Independent Directors, and shall not be entitled to participate in such determination, if, in the judgment of the Committee of Independent Directors (other than such Director), such Director has an interest in the matter subject to determination that would interfere with such Director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a Director.
“Director” means a member of the Board of Directors.
“Disinterested Stockholders” mean the holders of Voting Securities and/or Voting Security Equivalents that (i) are not (A) W or Affiliates or Associates of W or (B) portfolio companies of W or its Affiliates, and (ii) are not officers or employees of Parent or its Subsidiaries.
“Disqualifying Relationship” between a Director and Parent means any of the following relationships: (i) such Director is, or during any of the past three fiscal years of Parent was, employed by Parent or by any parent or subsidiary of Parent; (ii) such Director has accepted or has a Family Member who has accepted any payments from Parent or any parent or subsidiary of Parent in excess of $60,000 during the current fiscal year or any of the past three fiscal years of Parent, other than compensation for board service, payments arising solely from investments in Parent’s securities, compensation paid to a Family Member who is an employee of Parent or a parent or subsidiary of Parent (but not if such person is an executive officer of Parent or any parent or subsidiary of Parent), benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan, or non-discretionary compensation; (iii) such Director is a Family Member of an individual who is, or during any of the past three fiscal years of Parent was, employed by Parent or by any parent or subsidiary of Parent as an executive officer; (iv) such Director is a partner in, or a controlling shareholder or an executive officer of, any organization to which Parent made, or from which Parent received, payments (other than those arising solely from investments in Parent’s securities) that exceed 5% of the recipient’s consolidated gross revenues for that year, or $200,000, whichever is more, in the current fiscal year or any of the past three fiscal years of Parent; (v) such Director is employed as an executive officer of another entity where any of the executive officers of Parent serve on the compensation committee of such other entity, or if such relationship existed during any of the past three fiscal years of Parent; or (vi) such Director is or was a partner or employee of Parent’s outside auditor, and worked on Parent’s audit, during any of the past three fiscal years of Parent. For purposes of this definition, each three year “look back” period referenced above shall instead be the period since the Effective Time, and “subsidiary” shall include BTI and any subsidiary of BTI. For the avoidance of doubt, ownership of any class of capital stock of Parent alone shall not constitute a Disqualifying Relationship.
“Effective Time” means October 6, 2003.
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“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Executive Employment Agreements” means (i) the Employment Agreement, dated as of February 3, 2005, between Parent and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, as amended from time to time, (ii) the Employment Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2005, between Parent and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xx., as amended from time to time, and (iii) the Employment Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2005, between Parent and Xxxxx X. X’Xxxxx, as amended from time to time.
“Family Member” of any person means any other person who is a relative of such first person by blood, marriage or adoption or who has the same residence as such first person.
“Final TCP Board Membership Period” means the period beginning on the date of expiration of the Initial TCP Board Membership Period and ending on the date on which TCP shall first cease collectively to beneficially own Common Stock representing at least 1% of the outstanding Voting Power. For purposes of this definition, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by TCP on any date shall be calculated assuming the conversion, exchange or exercise into or for shares of Common Stock of all Voting Securities beneficially owned by TCP on that date.
“Group” has the same meaning as in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided that for purposes of this Agreement, other than Section 3.1(b), a “Group” shall not include any Group the formation of which has not been publicly announced and with respect to which there is no publicly available information indicating that Persons are acting as part of such Group unless W or TCP, as the case may be, knows of the existence of such Group.
“HSR Act” means the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Holder” means, collectively, the WCAS Securityholders, the TCP Securityholders and the Other Holder that are parties to this Agreement from time to time.
“Holder Group” means the WCAS Holder Group or the TCP Holder Group.
“Independent Director” means (i) if Parent has securities listed or traded on any national securities exchange or Interdealer Quotation System, a Director of Parent that (A) is not an Affiliate or Associate of W, (B) is not an officer or employee of Parent or its Subsidiaries and (C) is otherwise an “independent director” within the meaning of the rules or regulations of such national securities exchange or Interdealer Quotation System and (ii) if Parent does not have securities so listed or traded, a Director of Parent that (A) is not an Affiliate or Associate of W, (B) is not an officer or employee of Parent or its Subsidiaries and (C) does not have any relationship with Parent which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors and a Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors at the time of the nomination, appointment or election of such Director, would interfere with such Director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a Director. Persons who have a Disqualifying Relationship with Parent shall not qualify as Independent Directors.
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“Initial Other Holder Position” means, with respect to the Other Holder, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Other Holder immediately following the Effective Time. For purposes of this definition, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Other Holder immediately following the Effective Time shall be calculated assuming the conversion, exchange or exercise into or for shares of Common Stock of all Voting Securities beneficially owned by the Other Holder at such time.
“Initial Ownership Percentage” means the Ownership Percentage represented by the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by W immediately following the Effective Time. For purposes of this definition, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by W immediately following the Effective Time shall be calculated assuming the conversion, exchange or exercise into or for shares of Common Stock of all Voting Securities beneficially owned by W at such time.
“Initial TCP Board Membership Period” means the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date on which the TCP Fund Holders shall first cease collectively to beneficially own at least 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock (which number shall be proportionately adjusted in connection with any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split or other combination, reclassification or other similar event affecting the Common Stock). For purposes of this definition, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the TCP Fund Holders on any date shall be calculated assuming the conversion, exchange or exercise into or for shares of Common Stock of all Voting Securities beneficially owned by the TCP Fund Holders on that date.
“Initial TCP Position” means the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by TCP immediately after the Closing Date. For purposes of this definition, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by TCP immediately following the Closing Date shall be calculated assuming the conversion, exchange or exercise into or for shares of Common Stock of all Voting Securities beneficially owned by TCP immediately following the Closing Date.
“Initial W Position” means the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by W and its Affiliates immediately prior to the closing pursuant to Section 8.09 of the Merger Agreement, (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock issued to W at the closing pursuant to Section 8.09 of the Merger Agreement, (iii) the number of shares of Common Stock received by W and its Affiliates as Merger Consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (iv) the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Series B Preferred Stock beneficially owned by W and its Affiliates immediately following the Effective Time are convertible immediately following the Effective Time, and (v) the number of shares of Common Stock into which any shares of Series B Preferred Stock purchased by W and its Affiliates pursuant to Section 8.21 of the Merger Agreement are convertible after the Effective Time.
“Interdealer Quotation System” means any of (i) the NASDAQ National Market or (ii) the NASDAQ SmallCap Market, unless NASDAQ shall be registered as a national securities exchange after the date hereof.
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“Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 2, 2003, as amended from time to time, among Parent, 8DBCI Corp., W and BTI.
“NASDAQ” means The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.
“Notes” means the Senior Secured Notes due 2009 issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005, among Parent, Interstate FiberNet, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, the Purchasers named therein, Xxxxxxxxxx Capital Partners, LLC, as Agent, and TCP Agency Services, LLC, as Collateral Agent.
“Other Holder” means Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, III solely in such Holder’s capacity as a holder of Voting Securities and/or Voting Security Equivalents and not in such Holder’s capacity as the Series A Designee or other Director of Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent, provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, such Holder shall not be required to take any action that would violate such Director’s fiduciary duty.
“Ownership Percentage” means, with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock (other than, with respect to W, except for purposes of Section 3.4, Post-Closing Shares) beneficially owned by any Person on any date (the “Designated Securities”), the percentage of all shares of Common Stock (other than, with respect to W, except for purposes of Section 3.4, Post-Closing Shares) outstanding on such date that is represented by the Designated Securities. For purposes of this definition, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by any Person or outstanding on any date shall be calculated assuming the conversion, exchange or exercise into or for shares of Common Stock of all Voting Securities beneficially owned by such Person on such date or outstanding on such date, as the case may be.
“Parent Benefit Plan” means any stock option, restricted stock, stock incentive, deferred compensation, profit sharing, defined benefit or other benefit plan of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the ITC^DeltaCom, Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan and the ITC^DeltaCom, Inc. Executive Stock Incentive Plan.
“Permitted Transferee” means:
(i) with respect to any WCAS Securityholder and any Permitted Transferee of a WCAS Securityholder, (A) any other WCAS Securityholder, (B) any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of any WCAS Securityholder, (C) in connection with a Transfer by a WCAS Securityholder to its partners, members or shareholders for no consideration pro rata based on their respective percentage interests in the applicable WCAS Securityholder, which Transfer is effected in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement or other organizational document of such WCAS Securityholder, such partners, members or shareholders in such WCAS Securityholder (a “W Distribution In Kind”), (D) the heirs, executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries of any WCAS Securityholder or Permitted Transferee of a WCAS Securityholder and (E) a trust, corporation, partnership or other entity substantially all of the economic interests of which are held by or for the benefit of any WCAS Securityholder, Permitted Transferee of a WCAS Securityholder, their spouses or their children (whether by birth or adoption);
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(ii) with respect to any TCP Securityholder and any Permitted Transferee of a TCP Securityholder, (A) any other TCP Securityholder, (B) any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of any TCP Securityholder, (C) in connection with a Transfer by a TCP Securityholder to its partners, members or shareholders for no consideration pro rata based on their respective percentage interests in the applicable TCP Securityholder, which Transfer is effected in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement or other organizational document of such TCP Securityholder, such partners, members or shareholders in such TCP Securityholder (a “TCP Distribution In Kind”), (D) the heirs, executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries of any TCP Securityholder or Permitted Transferee of a TCP Securityholder and (E) a trust, corporation, partnership or other entity substantially all of the economic interests of which are held by or for the benefit of any TCP Securityholder, Permitted Transferee of a TCP Securityholder, their spouses or their children (whether by birth or adoption); and
(iii) with respect to the Other Holder and any Permitted Transferee of the Other Holder, (A) any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Other Holder, (B) in connection with a Transfer by the Other Holder to its partners, members or shareholders for no consideration pro rata based on their respective percentage interests in the Other Holder, which Transfer is effected in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement or other organizational document of the Other Holder, such partners, members or shareholders in the Other Holder (an “Other Holder Distribution In Kind”), (C) the heirs, executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries of the Other Holder or Permitted Transferee of the Other Holder and (D) a trust, corporation, partnership or other entity substantially all of the economic interests of which are held by or for the benefit of the Other Holder, Permitted Transferee of the Other Holder, their spouses or their children (whether by birth or adoption).
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government body.
“Post-Closing Shares” means Voting Securities acquired by W after October 6, 2003 pursuant to Article 10 or Section 8.21 of the Merger Agreement.
“Primary Voting Power” means, as of any date, the aggregate number of votes that may be cast on such date by the holders of Voting Securities generally (other than in connection with the election of Directors). In determining the Primary Voting Power of a particular Person that beneficially owns Voting Securities, as of any date, the Primary Voting Power represented by such Voting Securities shall exclude any votes that may be cast upon the acquisition by such Person of Voting Securities upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any Voting Security Equivalents beneficially owned by such Person on such date.
“Qualifying Asset Sale” means the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the property and assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, including goodwill and corporate franchises, to any Person or Group of Persons (other than any Subsidiary of Parent); provided that in no event shall any such sale be deemed to be a Qualifying Asset Sale unless the property and assets involved produced more than two-thirds of Parent’s consolidated annual revenues in
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at least two of the prior three fiscal years or more than two-thirds of Parent’s consolidated annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in at least two of the prior three fiscal years.
“Rule 13e-3 Transaction” means a Rule 13e-3 transaction as defined in Rule 13e-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Series A Certificate of Designation” means the certificate of designation of the Series A Preferred Stock as amended from time to time.
“Series A Designee” means Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, III and any Director thereafter appointed to the Board of Directors or elected by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, pursuant to the Series A Certificate of Designation.
“Series A Preferred Stock” means the 8% Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent.
“Series A Warrant Agreement” means the Warrant Agreement dated as of October 29, 2002, as amended from time to time, between Parent and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Warrant Agent.
“Series A Warrants” means the warrants to purchase Common Stock issued by Parent pursuant to the Series A Warrant Agreement.
“Series B Certificate of Designation” means the certificate of designation of the Series B Preferred Stock as amended from time to time.
“Series B Designee” means the Director or Directors who are appointed to the Board of Directors as of the Effective Time as the Series B Designees and any Director thereafter appointed to the Board of Directors or elected by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, pursuant to the Series B Certificate of Designation.
“Series B Preferred Stock” means the 8% Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent.
“Series B Warrant Agreement” means the Warrant Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2003, as amended from time to time, between Parent and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Warrant Agent.
“Series C Certificate of Designation” means the certificate of designation of the Series C Preferred Stock as amended from time to time.
“Series C Preferred Stock” means the 8% Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent.
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“Series C Warrants” means the warrants to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2005, as amended from time to time, between Parent and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Warrant Agent.
“Subsidiary” has the same meaning as in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof.
“TCP Designees” means any Director designated for nomination for election to the Board of Directors by the TCP Fund Holders pursuant to this Agreement.
“TCP Fund Holders” means, collectively, Special Value Absolute Return Fund, LLC, Special Value Bond Fund II, LLC and their Permitted Transferees.
“TCP Holder Group” means, collectively, the TCP Securityholders that are parties to this Agreement on the date of an Offer.
“TCP Warrant Agreement” means the Warrant Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005, as amended from time to time, between Parent and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Warrant Agent.
“TCP Warrants” means the warrants to purchase Series C Preferred Stock and Common Stock issued by Parent pursuant to the TCP Warrant Agreement and any warrants to purchase Series C Preferred Stock and Common Stock issued by Parent in exchange, replacement or substitution therefor.
“Transfer” means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign, distribute, pledge, encumber, hypothecate, or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, distribution, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition of, whether by operation of law or otherwise, any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents or any interest in any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents; provided that any liquidation, dissolution or other termination of a holder of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents, shall not be deemed a “Transfer” of any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents or any interest in any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents owned by such holder.
“Voting Power” means, as of any date, the aggregate number of votes that may be cast on such date by the holders of Voting Securities generally (other than in connection with the election of Directors). In determining the Voting Power of a particular Person that beneficially owns Voting Securities, as of any date, the Voting Power represented by such Voting Securities shall include, without limitation, any votes that may be cast upon the acquisition by such Person of Voting Securities upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any Voting Security Equivalents beneficially owned by such Person on such date, irrespective of whether such Voting Security Equivalents are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into or for Voting Securities as of such date.
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“Voting Securities” means securities of Parent the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for members of the Board of Directors and any securities issued in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor, in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or similar reorganization. For purposes of this definition, each share of Common Stock, each share of Series A Preferred Stock, each share of Series B Preferred Stock and each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall at all times be considered Voting Securities.
“Voting Security Equivalents” means any warrants, options, rights or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Voting Securities.
“Warrant Exercise Event” means any event specified in clause (ii) or (iii) of the definition of “Initial Exercise Date” in the TCP Warrant Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
“WCAS CP III” means WCAS Capital Partners III, L.P.
“WCAS Designee” means any Director designated for nomination for election to the Board of Directors by W or its Affiliates (including, without limitation, WCAS VIII or WCAS CP III) pursuant to this Agreement.
“WCAS Holder Group” means, collectively, the WCAS Securityholders that are parties to this Agreement on the date of an Offer.
“WCAS VIII” means Welsh, Carson, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx VIII, L.P.
“WCAS Warrant Agreements” means (i) the Series B Warrant Agreement and (ii) the Warrant Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2005, as amended from time to time, between Parent and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Warrant Agent.
“WCAS Warrants” means the warrants to purchase Common Stock issued by Parent pursuant to one or both of the WCAS Warrant Agreements and any warrants to purchase Common Stock issued by Parent in exchange, replacement or substitution therefor.
ARTICLE II
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
SECTION 2.1. Restrictions on Transfers.
(a) W agrees and covenants that for two years following the date of the Effective Time (the “Transfer Restriction Period”), W shall not Transfer any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents, except that during the Transfer Restriction Period W may, subject to Sections 2.2 and 2.3, Transfer Voting Securities and Voting Security Equivalents representing up to 10% of the Initial W Position pursuant to (i) sales made in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (ii) any privately negotiated transaction or transactions made in compliance with the Securities Act or (iii) a public offering in accordance with the registration rights
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provided for in the registration rights agreement, dated as of October 6, 2003, as amended from time to time, between Parent and the other parties thereto (the “WCAS Registration Rights Agreement”); provided that the foregoing restrictions on Transfer shall not be applicable to any of the following Transfers (which shall not be counted in calculating such 10% limitation): (i) any Transfer of Voting Securities pursuant to W’s “piggy-back” registration rights pursuant to the WCAS Registration Rights Agreement; (ii) any Transfer between W and its Permitted Transferees (or among W’s Permitted Transferees, provided that any such Permitted Transferee shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such Permitted Transferee were a party hereto) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (except that W shall not make any W Distributions In Kind during the Transfer Restriction Period); (iii) any Transfer pursuant to a merger or consolidation in which Parent is a constituent corporation; (iv) any Transfer pursuant to a bona fide tender offer or exchange offer; (v) any Transfer pursuant to a business combination or other sale of or involving Parent; (vi) any Transfer by W made solely to satisfy any of its indemnification obligations under Article 10 of the Merger Agreement; or (vii) any Transfer of WCAS Warrants exercisable for up to 850,000 shares of Common Stock to any Person specified in Annex C attached to the Original Agreement; provided, further, that, in the case of clauses (iii) through (v) of this proviso, W is in compliance with Article III.
(b) TCP agrees and covenants that for six months following the Closing Date (the “TCP Transfer Restriction Period”), TCP shall not Transfer any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents, except that during the TCP Transfer Restriction Period TCP may, subject to Sections 2.2 and 2.3, Transfer Voting Securities and Voting Security Equivalents representing up to 10% of the Initial TCP Position pursuant to (i) sales made in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (ii) any privately negotiated transaction or transactions made in compliance with the Securities Act or (iii) a public offering in accordance with the registration rights provided for in the registration rights agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005, as amended from time to time, between Parent and the other parties thereto (the “TCP Registration Rights Agreement”); provided that the foregoing restrictions on Transfer shall not be applicable to any of the following Transfers (which shall not be counted in calculating such 10% limitation): (i) any Transfer of Voting Securities pursuant to TCP’s “piggy-back” registration rights pursuant to the TCP Registration Rights Agreement; (ii) any Transfer between TCP and its Permitted Transferees (or among TCP’s Permitted Transferees, provided that any such Permitted Transferee shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such Permitted Transferee were a party hereto) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (except that TCP shall not make any TCP Distributions In Kind during the TCP Transfer Restriction Period); (iii) any Transfer pursuant to a merger or consolidation in which Parent is a constituent corporation; (iv) any Transfer pursuant to a bona fide tender offer or exchange offer; (v) any Transfer pursuant to a business combination or other sale of or involving Parent; (vi) any Transfer upon exercise of TCP’s rights pursuant to Section 2.4; (vii) any Transfer following the date of a Warrant Exercise Event; or (viii) any Transfer to purchasers of the Notes within 15 days after the Closing Date, provided that, as a condition of such Transfer, such purchasers become parties to this Agreement as TCP Securityholders hereunder by executing a counterpart signature page hereto.
(c) The Other Holder agrees and covenants that during the Transfer Restriction Period the Other Holder shall not Transfer any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents,
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except that during the Transfer Restriction Period the Other Holder may, subject to Section 2.3, Transfer Voting Securities and Voting Security Equivalents representing up to 10% of the Initial Other Holder Position pursuant to (i) sales made in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (ii) any privately negotiated transaction or transactions made in compliance with the Securities Act or (iii) a public offering in accordance with the registration rights provided for in the registration rights agreement dated as of October 29, 2002, as amended from time to time, between Parent and the other parties thereto (the “Series A Registration Rights Agreement”); provided that the foregoing restrictions on Transfer shall not be applicable to any of the following Transfers (which shall not be counted in calculating such 10% limitation): (i) any Transfer of Voting Securities pursuant to the Other Holder’s “piggy-back” registration rights pursuant to the Series A Registration Rights Agreement; (ii) any Transfer between the Other Holder and its Permitted Transferees (or among the Other Holder’s Permitted Transferees, provided that any such Permitted Transferee shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such Permitted Transferee were a party hereto) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (except that the Other Holder shall not make any Other Holder Distributions In Kind during the Transfer Restriction Period); (iii) any Transfer pursuant to a merger or consolidation in which Parent is a constituent corporation; (iv) any Transfer pursuant to a bona fide tender offer or exchange offer; or (v) any Transfer pursuant to a business combination or other sale of or involving Parent.
(d) For purposes of this Section 2.1, any Transfer of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents shall be treated as a Transfer of the number of shares of Common Stock into or for which such Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents are then convertible, exchangeable or exercisable.
SECTION 2.2. Restrictions on Transfer to Competitors. Neither W nor TCP shall Transfer any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents to any Person who is a Competitor if W or TCP, as the case may be, has actual knowledge that such Competitor would (when taken together with such Person’s Affiliates and Associates and with any Group of which such Person forms a part) beneficially own Voting Securities representing 10% or more of the outstanding Voting Power immediately after such Transfer.
SECTION 2.3. Other Transfer Restrictions.
(a) Any Permitted Transferee of any party hereto shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such Permitted Transferee were such party hereto. Prior to the initial acquisition of beneficial ownership of Voting Securities by a Permitted Transferee, and as a condition thereto, each party hereto (other than Parent) agrees (i) to cause its Permitted Transferee to agree in writing with Parent to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (ii) that such party hereto shall remain directly liable for its own performance and the performance of its Permitted Transferee of all obligations of it and such Permitted Transferee under this Agreement. Each party hereto agrees not to cause or permit any of its Permitted Transferees (other than any Permitted Transferee that is a natural person, that is described in clause (i)(D) or (ii)(D) of the definition of “Permitted Transferee” with respect to any party or that is a trust described in clause (i)(E) or (ii)(E) of the definition of “Permitted Transferee” with respect to any party) to cease to be an Affiliate of such party (other than as a
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result of a liquidation, dissolution or other termination of such party or such Permitted Transferee) so long as such Permitted Transferee beneficially owns any Voting Securities, and if such Permitted Transferee shall cease to be an Affiliate of such party, such Permitted Transferee shall automatically upon the occurrence of such event cease to be a Permitted Transferee for any purpose under this Agreement; provided that this sentence shall not apply to any Permitted Transferee of any party that is a Permitted Transferee of such party described in clause (i)(C) or (ii)(C) of the definition of “Permitted Transferee” with respect to any party. Each of W (during the Transfer Restriction Period) and TCP (during the TCP Transfer Restriction Period) agrees not to Transfer any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents to any Affiliate other than a Permitted Transferee. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3, but subject to Section 2.3(b), any Permitted Transferee of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents shall not be subject to the provisions of this Agreement to the extent that the Transfer to such Permitted Transferee is in connection with (x) a W Distribution In Kind unless W elects to cause such Permitted Transferee to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (y) a TCP Distribution in Kind unless TCP elects to cause such Permitted Transferee to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement or (z) an Other Holder Distribution In Kind unless the Other Holder elects to cause such Permitted Transferee to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement; provided that, in each case, such Transfer is otherwise in compliance with this Agreement.
(b) No transferee of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents (other than a Permitted Transferee of any party that is a Permitted Transferee described in clause (i)(C) or (ii)(C) of the definition of “Permitted Transferee” with respect to such party) shall have any rights or obligations under this Agreement, except that if W or TCP has actual knowledge that such transferee (together with its Affiliates and with any Group of which it forms a part) would beneficially own, immediately after such Transfer, Voting Securities representing (i) 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Power and (ii) more of the outstanding Voting Power than the Voting Power that is represented by Voting Securities beneficially owned by any other Person (or Group of Persons) (any such person, a “Section 2.3 Transferee”), then such Section 2.3 Transferee shall be required, as a condition to the effectiveness of such Transfer, to agree to be bound by Section 2.4 and Articles III, IV and V to the same extent as W or TCP, as the case may be. To the extent a Section 2.3 Transferee is not an “ultimate parent entity” (as determined in accordance with the HSR Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder), the ultimate parent entity or entities of such Section 2.3 Transferee shall agree in writing to be directly liable for the performance by such Section 2.3 Transferee hereunder to the same extent that a party hereto would be liable for its Permitted Transferees hereunder.
SECTION 2.4. Other Stockholder Tag-Along.
(a) If W or one of its Affiliates shall propose to Transfer any Voting Securities beneficially owned by W or its Affiliates (“Tag-Along Securities”) to any Person or Group (other than a Permitted Transferee) that, to the actual knowledge of W, would (when taken together with such Person’s or Group’s Affiliates) beneficially own Voting Securities representing (i) 30% or more of the outstanding Voting Power and (ii) more of the outstanding Voting Power than the Voting Power that is represented by Voting Securities beneficially owned by any other Person (or Group of Persons) immediately after such Transfer (a “Tag-Along Transfer”), W shall
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give not less than 20 days prior written notice of such Tag-Along Transfer to each other holder of record of Voting Securities and/or Voting Security Equivalents (each, a “Tag-Along Offeree”). Such notice (the “Tag-Along Notice”) shall set forth the material terms and material conditions of such proposed Tag-Along Transfer, including the name of the proposed transferee, the number of Tag-Along Securities to be Transferred, the purchase price per share proposed to be paid therefor and the payment terms and type of Transfer to be effectuated.
(b) Within 10 days after delivery of the Tag-Along Notice by W to the Tag-Along Offerees, each such Tag-Along Offeree shall, by written notice to W, have the opportunity and right, as a condition to the effectiveness of such Tag-Along Transfer, to Transfer to the transferee in such proposed Tag-Along Transfer (on the same terms and conditions and at the same price per share (on a Common Stock equivalent basis) as W and its Affiliates) up to the number of Common Shares beneficially owned by such Tag-Along Offeree as shall equal the product of (x) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares represented by the Tag-Along Securities, measured on an as-converted, as-exercised basis, and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Common Shares beneficially owned by W and its Affiliates as of the date of the Tag-Along Notice, multiplied by (y) the number of Common Shares beneficially owned by such Tag-Along Offeree as of the date of the Tag-Along Notice. At the conclusion of the 10-day period following delivery of the Tag-Along Notice, each Tag-Along Offeree that has not delivered to W written notice of its election to exercise its right pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to have rejected the offer to participate in the Tag-Along Transfer. If the proposed transferee is unwilling to purchase, in the aggregate, more than a specified number of Common Shares, then, if necessary, the maximum number of Voting Securities and/or Voting Security Equivalents that each holder of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents of Parent, including W or one of its Affiliates, may Transfer in accordance with this Section 2.4 shall be reduced to the product of the maximum number of Common Shares that the proposed transferee is willing to purchase, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares that such holder proposes to Transfer hereunder (subject to the maximum amount for each holder calculated pursuant to the preceding sentence) and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Common Shares that all of the holders of Voting Securities and/or Voting Security Equivalents exercising rights under this Section 2.4, including W and its Affiliates, propose to Transfer hereunder; provided that, for purposes of this Section 2.4(b), “Common Shares” shall include Voting Securities and/or Voting Security Equivalents convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into or for shares of Common Stock, measured on an as-converted, as-exercised basis. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 2.4, there shall be no liability on the part of W or its Affiliates to the Tag-Along Offerees under this Agreement if W or its Affiliates or the proposed transferee in any Tag-Along Transfer determines, for any reason, not to effect a Transfer that would obligate it hereunder to consummate a Tag-Along Transfer. The determination of whether to effect a Transfer that would obligate W or its Affiliates hereunder to consummate a Tag-Along Transfer shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of W and its Affiliates.
(c) The notice, timing, disclosure and other procedural requirements applicable to Tag-Along Transfers set forth in this Section 2.4 shall be modified to the extent required to comply with any applicable laws.
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SECTION 2.5. Effect of Transfers. Each WCAS Securityholder, following the Transfer Restriction Period, and each TCP Securityholder, following the TCP Transfer Restriction Period, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect (i) any Transfers of Voting Securities and Voting Security Equivalents that are part of a W Distribution In Kind or a TCP Distribution in Kind, as the case may be, and (ii) any Transfers of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents in an unregistered open market sale, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), that are otherwise permitted by this Article II, in a manner that minimizes the impact of such Transfers on the market price of the Voting Securities.
SECTION 2.6. Transfers in Violation of Agreement Void. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents by any Holder in violation of any provision of this Agreement shall be void, and Parent shall not record any such Transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents as the owner of such Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents for any purpose.
SECTION 2.7. Certain Transfers by Parent. Parent covenants and agrees that between the date hereof and the date on which the Series C Certificate of Designation is first filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, Parent shall not issue or sell, or effect a deemed issuance or sale, of Common Stock in a transaction which, if the Series C Certificate of Designation were in effect during such period, would constitute a Dilutive Issuance as defined in, and for purposes of, Section 4.2(a) of the Series C Certificate of Designation, unless Parent shall first have received the written consent to consummate such a transaction by TCP Fund Holders holding a majority of the Voting Power represented by the Voting Securities beneficially owned by the TCP Fund Holders. For purposes of this Section 2.7, the Trigger Price, as defined in the Series C Certificate of Designation, shall be deemed to be $.375 per share of Common Stock, as such Trigger Price may be adjusted upon the occurrence of an event specified in Section 4.2(d) of the Series C Certificate of Designation.
ARTICLE III
ACQUISITIONS OF VOTING SECURITIES AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
SECTION 3.1. Purchases of Voting Securities.
(a) W agrees and covenants that following the Effective Time W shall not, and shall cause each of its Affiliates not to, acquire, offer or propose to acquire, or agree to acquire, directly or indirectly, by purchase or otherwise, beneficial ownership of any Voting Securities, except (i) as approved by a Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors, (ii) upon exercise or conversion of any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents then owned by W and its Affiliates, (iii) upon the issuance of any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents, as dividends or otherwise, in respect of securities beneficially owned by W or its Affiliates on March 29, 2005 or in substitution therefor, or in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or similar reorganization, (iv) as contemplated by Section 8.21 or Article 10 of the Merger Agreement, (v) as contemplated by Section 3.4, (vi) during the Transfer Restriction Period, W and its Affiliates
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may acquire, in addition to any acquisitions pursuant to clauses (i) through (v), in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions or from Parent, beneficial ownership of Voting Securities as long as W and its Affiliates do not, following any such acquisition, have an aggregate Ownership Percentage in excess of the sum of the Amended Ownership Percentage, plus 5%, or (vii) following the Transfer Restriction Period, W and its Affiliates may acquire, in addition to any acquisitions pursuant to clauses (i) through (v), in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions or from Parent, beneficial ownership of Voting Securities as long as W and its Affiliates do not, following any such acquisition, have an aggregate Ownership Percentage in excess of the sum of the Amended Ownership Percentage, plus 15%.
(b) TCP agrees and covenants that it and its Affiliates shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors, (i) acquire, or agree to acquire, or disclose any intention to acquire or to offer to acquire, by tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other business combination or other purchase, Voting Securities which, together with Voting Securities beneficially owned by TCP, would represent a majority of the Primary Voting Power, (ii) form, join or in any way participate in a Group in connection with any of the foregoing or (iii) advise, assist or encourage any other Person in connection with any of the foregoing.
SECTION 3.2. Squeeze-Outs and Business Combinations.
(a) W agrees and covenants that it and its Affiliates shall not, directly or indirectly, propose or effect any purchase or other acquisition of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents that they do not beneficially own as of the Effective Time by tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other business combination or other purchase of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents that would result in a Rule 13e-3 Transaction (other than as permitted pursuant to Section 3.1 unless such purchases or acquisitions pursuant to Section 3.1 would result in a Rule 13e-3 Transaction) (each, a “Squeeze-Out Transaction”) unless (i) such Squeeze-Out Transaction is approved by a Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors and (ii) for three years after the Effective Time, such Squeeze-Out Transaction is also conditioned upon obtaining the approval of a majority of the Disinterested Stockholders and such condition is satisfied.
(b) W agrees and covenants that it and its Affiliates shall not, directly or indirectly, propose or effect any merger or other business combination between Parent and any Affiliate of W unless (i) such merger or other business combination is approved by a Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors and (ii) for three years after the Effective Time, such merger or other business combination is also conditioned upon obtaining the approval of a majority of the Disinterested Stockholders and such condition is satisfied.
SECTION 3.3. Interested Transactions.
(a) Parent and W hereby agree and covenant that any issuance of shares of capital stock of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (other than issuances contemplated by the terms of the Merger Agreement or required under the terms of the Voting Securities or the Voting Security Equivalents owned by W or its Affiliates) or sales of assets by Parent or any of the Subsidiaries of Parent to W or any Affiliate of W shall require a Determination of the Committee of
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Independent Directors to approve such issuance or sale. In addition, any enforcement or modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Series B Warrant Agreement or the WCAS Registration Rights Agreement (collectively, the “WCAS Transaction Documents”) by Parent shall require a Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors to approve such enforcement or modification, amendment or waiver.
(b) Any other transactions between Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and W or any of its Affiliates not referred to in Section 3.3(a), including, without limitation, loans or payments of fees (but excluding (i) transactions referred to in Sections 3.2(a) and 3.2(b), which shall be governed by Section 3.2(a) or 3.2(b), as the case may be, and (ii) any other transactions contemplated by the terms of the WCAS Transaction Documents or the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of Parent or required under the terms of Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents owned by W or its Affiliates) shall require the approval of the audit committee of the Board of Directors; provided that this Section 3.3(b) shall not apply to any transaction involving Common Stock beneficially owned by W or its Affiliates to the extent that W and its Affiliates, as applicable, are treated in the same manner in connection with such transaction as all other holders of Common Stock, and W and its Affiliates have no interest in the transaction apart from their interest as holders of Common Stock or their interest in the Common Stock underlying any Voting Securities beneficially owned by W or its Affiliates.
(c) Any condition or requirement for the approval of a majority of the Disinterested Stockholders, Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors or approval of the audit committee as provided in this Agreement shall be in addition to any other vote or approval required by applicable law or otherwise.
SECTION 3.4. Subscription Right.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 3.4, each Holder Group shall have the right to purchase such Holder Group’s Pro Rata Share of all Offered Securities which Parent may propose to issue and sell from time to time after the date of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 3.4, “Offered Securities” means all Voting Securities and Voting Security Equivalents other than “Excluded Securities,” as defined in Section 3.4(g). The “Pro Rata Share” of each Holder Group with respect to any proposed issuance or sale of Offered Securities shall be equal to the Ownership Percentage (rounded down to the nearest one-tenth of a percent) of such Holder Group as of the date of the related Offer. No Holder Group shall have the right provided for in this Section 3.4 with respect to any proposed issuance or sale of Offered Securities unless the Ownership Percentage of such Holder Group on the date of the related Offer is at least 2%.
(b) Before it may issue or sell any Offered Securities, Parent shall deliver to the WCAS Representative, on behalf of the WCAS Holder Group, and the TCP Representative, on behalf of the TCP Holder Group, written notice of the proposed issuance or sale of such Offered Securities (the “Offer”). The Offer shall set forth (i) the name and material terms of the Offered Securities, (ii) the number and amount of the Offered Securities, (iii) the proposed price at which the Offered Securities will be issued or sold (the “Sale Price”), the payment terms (including the form of consideration payable for the Offered Securities (the “Sale Consideration”)) and the other material terms and conditions of the proposed issuance or sale of the Offered Securities,
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(iv) if then known to the Company, the Person or class of Persons, if any, to which the Offered Securities are to be issued or sold, and (v) an offer to issue and sell to each Holder Group such Holder Group’s Pro Rata Share of the Offered Securities at the same price and otherwise on substantially the same terms and conditions as those set forth in the Offer. If the Sale Consideration specified in the Offer includes any consideration other than cash, such Sale Consideration shall be deemed to be the amount of any cash included in the Sale Consideration plus the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of Parent, of such non-cash consideration included in such Sale Consideration. Any Holder Group that accepts the Offer shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to purchase the Offered Securities solely for cash consideration even if the Sale Consideration specified in the Offer includes non-cash consideration. Parent may require as a condition of any Offer, which it shall set forth in such Offer, that (i) any Holder who shall purchase the Offered Securities shall be (A) a “Qualified Institutional Buyer” as defined in Rule144A under the Securities Act, (B) an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act or (C) a Holder to which Parent may sell the Offered Securities in a transaction that would comply with Regulation S under the Securities Act (such a Holder, a “Qualified Holder”), and (ii) no Holder may receive a copy of such Offer until such Holder shall first have executed a confidentiality agreement with respect to the making of such Offer and the information set forth in such Offer. Parent may reserve the right in any Offer to withdraw such Offer at any time and for any reason.
(c) Each Holder Group shall have the right, which it must exercise within 20 days after such Holder Group’s receipt of the Offer (the “Offer Period”), to give written notice to Parent (the “Acceptance Notice”) that such Holder Group irrevocably exercises its right to purchase its Pro Rata Share of the Offered Securities, or such portion of its Pro Rata Share as it shall specify in the Acceptance Notice (all Offered Securities specified in any Acceptance Notice, the “Holder Offered Securities”). The WCAS Representative shall deliver the Acceptance Notice on behalf or the WCAS Holder Group and the TCP Representative shall deliver the Acceptance Notice on behalf of the TCP Holder Group. The Acceptance Notice shall identify each Holder within the Holder Group that shall purchase the Offered Securities, the number or amount of Offered Securities that shall be purchased by such Holder and, if such a requirement was a condition of the Offer, whether such Holder is, of the date of the Acceptance Notice, and will be, as of the date of the consummation of the Sale to such Holder, a Qualified Holder. Unless Parent shall otherwise provide in the Offer, the delivery of the Acceptance Notice to Parent by a Holder Group shall constitute a legally binding agreement by such Holder Group with Parent to purchase such amount of the Offered Securities as shall be specified in the Acceptance Notice; provided that, notwithstanding any reference in this Section 3.4 to the acceptance of an Offer by a Holder Group, the parties hereto agree, and any Acceptance Notice delivered by such Holder Group may expressly provide, that the purchase obligations of the specified Holders therein shall be several and not joint.
(d) If it shall have complied with the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.4, Parent shall have 90 days after the expiration of the Offer Period to consummate the sale or issuance of all or any part of the Offered Securities that do not constitute Holder Offered Securities (the “Remaining Offered Securities”), provided that such 90-day period may be extended from time to time by Parent upon written notice to the WCAS Representative and the TCP Representative (but in no event for longer than 90 days after the end of such 90-day period)
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to the extent reasonably necessary to comply with applicable securities, antitrust, communications and other laws and regulations. Parent may sell or issue the Remaining Offered Securities only to the Person or class of Persons, if any, specified in the Offer and only at a sale price and otherwise upon terms and conditions that are not materially more favorable, in the aggregate, to the purchasers of the Remaining Offered Securities or materially less favorable, in the aggregate, to Parent than the Sale Price and the other terms and conditions set forth in the Offer. If Parent shall not have consummated the sale or issuance of the Remaining Offered Securities within such 90-day period (as extended, if applicable), Parent may not thereafter issue or sell any Offered Securities without first offering such Offered Securities to the Holder Groups pursuant to this Section 3.4.
(e) Unless it shall have specified different settlement terms in the Offer, Parent shall consummate its issuance or sale of the Holder Offered Securities to the Holder Groups substantially concurrently with its issuance and sale of the Remaining Offered Securities to the purchasers thereof. The purchase and sale of the Holder Offered Securities shall be subject to such customary purchase agreements and other documentation as the Holder Groups delivering Acceptance Notices shall reasonably require.
(f) The notice, timing and other procedural requirements applicable to any Offer set forth in this Section 3.4 shall be modified to the extent required to comply with applicable law. In addition, notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 7.2), the WCAS Representative shall have the right, on behalf of the WCAS Holder Group, and the TCP Representative shall have the right, on behalf of the TCP Holder Group, to waive Parent’s compliance with this Section 3.4, in whole or in part, with respect to any proposed issuance or sale of Offered Securities and to agree to any modifications of any notice, timing or other procedural requirements applicable to any Offer pursuant to this Section 3.4.
(g) For purposes of this Section 3.4, “Excluded Securities” means Voting Securities and Voting Security Equivalents issued or issuable (i) pursuant to any Parent Benefit Plan or the Executive Employment Agreements, (ii) pursuant to the Series A Certificate of Designation, the Series B Certificate of Designation, the Series C Certificate of Designation, the Series A Warrant Agreement, the WCAS Warrant Agreements or the TCP Warrant Agreement, (iii) upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock, the Series A Warrants, the WCAS Warrants or the TCP Warrants, (iv) in payment of payment-in-kind dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock or the Series C Preferred Stock, (v) as consideration in connection with the acquisition of another corporation or other Person by merger, consolidation or otherwise, or in connection with the purchase of the assets of such corporation or other Person, in each case as approved by the Board of Directors, (vi) in connection with any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split or combination, reclassification, recapitalization or similar transaction or (vii) to lenders to Parent or its Subsidiaries in connection with a restructuring or refinancing of indebtedness of Parent or its Subsidiaries.
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ARTICLE IV
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
SECTION 4.1. Composition of the Board of Directors.
(a) Each of Parent and W shall use its best efforts to take such action as is required under applicable law to cause to be appointed to the Board of Directors, effective as of the Closing Date or promptly thereafter, the Directors referred to in Section 4.1(c).
(b) Each of WCAS VIII and WCAS CP III shall be entitled to designate one member for nomination for election to the Board of Directors for so long as W and its Affiliates beneficially own Voting Securities representing a majority of the outstanding Primary Voting Power. W shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the WCAS Designees to nominate, and W shall vote in favor of, and take all other necessary or desirable actions (including, without limitation, attending all meetings in person or by proxy for purposes of obtaining a quorum and executing all written consents in lieu of meetings) to cause the election of, at least three Independent Directors.
(c) The TCP Fund Holders shall be entitled to designate (i) two members for nomination for election to the Board of Directors, during the Initial TCP Board Membership Period, and (ii) one member for nomination for election to the Board of Directors, during the Final TCP Board Membership Period. The TCP Fund Holders shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the TCP Designees to nominate, and TCP shall vote in favor of, and take all other necessary or desirable actions (including, without limitation, attending all meetings in person or by proxy for purposes of obtaining a quorum and executing all written consents in lieu of meetings) to cause the election of, at least three Independent Directors.
(d) The parties hereto agree that, in addition to the designation of the WCAS Designees pursuant to Section 4.1(b) and the designation of the TCP Designees pursuant to Section 4.1(c), (i) the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect up to two Directors for so long as such holders are entitled, voting as a separate class, to elect Directors pursuant to the Series B Certificate of Designation, (ii) the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect one Director for so long as such holders are entitled, voting as a separate class, to elect such Director pursuant to the Series A Certificate of Designation, (iii) the chief executive officer of Parent shall be nominated for election as a Director and (iv) the remaining Directors to be nominated for election shall be designated by the Board of Directors.
(e) Each of Parent, W and TCP agrees not to take any action that would cause the Board of Directors to have more than 15 members prior to October 6, 2006.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for so long as W and its Affiliates beneficially own Voting Securities representing a majority of the outstanding Primary Voting Power, Parent agrees that, following receipt of written notice from WCAS VIII and WCAS CP III, Parent promptly shall initiate all actions necessary to increase the size of the Board of Directors to the number specified in such written notice (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.1(e)).
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SECTION 4.2. Voting.
(a) Each of W and TCP agree to vote (and use its reasonable best efforts to cause each of its respective Affiliates to vote, if applicable), or to act by written consent with respect to (and use its reasonable best efforts to cause each of its respective Affiliates to act by written consent, if applicable), and shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all other necessary or desirable actions (including, without limitation, attending all meetings in person or by proxy for purposes of obtaining a quorum and executing all written consents in lieu of meetings) to cause the Directors to be designated or nominated in accordance with Sections 4.1 and 4.3 to the Board of Directors. Parent agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take all necessary actions to cause the Directors be nominated in accordance with Sections 4.1 and 4.3 to the Board of Directors. Each of Parent, W and TCP agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the election of each such Director to the Board of Directors, including, without limitation, by nominating such individuals to be elected as members of the Board of Directors as provided herein and calling an annual or special meeting of stockholders in order to ensure that the composition of the Board of Directors shall be as set forth in this Article IV and otherwise to give effect to the provisions of this Article IV. Each party hereto shall take (and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each of its Affiliates to take, if applicable) all other actions necessary to ensure that the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Parent facilitate and do not at any time conflict with any provision of this Agreement.
(b) Parent agrees to vote (and use its reasonable best efforts to cause each of its Affiliates to vote, if applicable), or to act by written consent with respect to (and use its reasonable best efforts to cause each of its Affiliates to act by written consent, if applicable), and shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all other necessary or desirable actions (including, without limitation, attending all meetings in person or by proxy for purposes of obtaining a quorum and executing all written consents in lieu of meetings) to cause the directors to be designated or nominated in accordance with Section 4.5 to the board of directors of each of Parent’s subsidiaries (each, a “Subsidiary Board”), and Parent agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the election of each such director to each Subsidiary Board, including, without limitation, by nominating such individuals to be elected as members of each Subsidiary Board as provided herein and calling an annual or special meeting of stockholders in order to ensure that the composition of each Subsidiary Board shall be as set forth in this Article IV and otherwise to give effect to the provisions of this Article IV. Each party hereto shall take (and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each of its Affiliates to take, if applicable) all other actions necessary to ensure that the organizational documents of each of Parent’s subsidiaries facilitate and do not at any time conflict with any provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 4.3. Vacancies.
(a) For so long as W and its Affiliates beneficially own Voting Securities representing a majority of the Primary Voting Power, in the event that a vacancy is created at any time by death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal (with or without cause) of any WCAS Designee, or in the event that the size of the Board of Directors is increased pursuant to Section 4.1(e) or Section 3.01 of the bylaws of Parent, the WCAS Securityholder entitled to designate such Director for nomination for election to the Board of Directors (or, if no particular WCAS Securityholder is so entitled, then all WCAS Securityholders) or the remaining WCAS
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Designees (even though less than a quorum) shall have the right to designate a replacement to fill such vacancy, and each of W, Parent, TCP and the Other Holder shall use its reasonable best efforts to take (and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates to take, if applicable) all necessary or desirable actions as may be required under applicable law to cause the individuals designated by such WCAS Securityholders or WCAS Designees to be appointed or elected including, without limitation, by using its reasonable best efforts to cause Directors designated for nomination by such party to vote in favor of the individuals designated by the WCAS Securityholders or remaining WCAS Designees. For so long as W and its Affiliates beneficially own Voting Securities representing a majority of the Primary Voting Power, Parent, TCP and the Other Holder shall not take any action (and shall not support the taking of any action by any other Person) to cause the removal of any WCAS Designee without cause unless it is directed to do so by a WCAS Securityholder, and if Parent, TCP or the Other Holder is so directed, such party shall use its reasonable best efforts to take (and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its respective Affiliates to take) all actions necessary to effect such removal and to elect a replacement WCAS Designee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence.
(b) In the event that a vacancy is created at any time by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal (with or without cause) of any TCP Designee, the TCP Fund Holders shall have the right to designate a replacement to fill such vacancy, and each of TCP, Parent, W and the Other Holder shall use its reasonable best efforts to take (and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates to take, if applicable) all necessary or desirable actions as may be required under applicable law to cause the individuals designated by the TCP Fund Holders to be appointed or elected including, without limitation, by using its reasonable best efforts to cause Directors designated for nomination by such party to vote in favor of the individuals designated by the TCP Fund Holders.
(c) In the event that a vacancy is created at any time by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal (with or without cause) of the Director appointed or nominated for election pursuant to Section 4.1(d)(iii), the parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the replacement for such Director to be the chief executive officer of Parent.
(d) At such time as the TCP Fund Holders shall cease to be entitled pursuant to Section 4.1(c) to designate for nomination for election to the Board of Directors the number of individuals then serving as TCP Designees, the TCP Fund Holders shall take all necessary actions (including actions as stockholders of Parent) to cause the Director or Directors that the TCP Fund Holders have previously designated for appointment or nomination for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 4.1(c) to resign or otherwise to be removed from the Board of Directors as soon as reasonably practicable, so that, following such resignation or resignations, the number of Directors who are serving on the Board of Directors pursuant to a designation by the TCP Fund Holders is not greater than the number of Directors which the TCP Fund Holders shall then be entitled to designate for nomination for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 4.1(c).
(e) Each Director appointed or elected to the Board of Directors pursuant to a designation made in accordance with Section 4.2(a), 4.2(b) or 4.2(c) shall be deemed for purposes of this Article IV to be a Director who was designated for nomination for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 4.1.
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SECTION 4.4. Board Committees.
(a) Parent shall maintain, and W and the TCP Fund Holders shall support (and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the WCAS Designees and the TCP Designees, as the case may be, to support) Parent’s maintenance of, an audit committee and a compensation committee performing functions comparable to those customarily performed by such committees of boards of directors of public companies in the United States and as otherwise required by applicable law. Subject to applicable law and the requirements of any national securities exchange or Interdealer Quotation System on which any of Parent’s securities are listed or traded, Parent, W and the TCP Fund Holders shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause (i) at least one WCAS Designee or one Series B Designee that is an Affiliate of W to be appointed to the compensation committee and each other committee of the Board of Directors other than the audit committee and the Committee of Independent Directors and (ii) one TCP Designee to be appointed to the compensation committee, and the remaining members of the compensation committee and any other committee of the Board of Directors other than the audit committee shall be Independent Directors and, solely with respect to the Committee of Independent Directors, the Directors referred to in the definition of “Committee of Independent Directors.” Each of Parent, W and the TCP Fund Holders shall use their reasonable best efforts to take all actions to cause the audit committee to be composed solely of Independent Directors who also qualify as independent directors within the meaning of Section 301 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto by any national securities exchange or Interdealer Quotation System on which any of Parent’s securities are listed or traded. Each of W and each TCP Fund Holder shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all actions to support, including, without limitation, by using its reasonable best efforts to cause the WCAS Designees and the TCP Designees, as the case may be, to support, the constitution of the audit committee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any appointment of any Director to a committee shall be subject to applicable law and the requirements of any national securities exchange or Interdealer Quotation System on which any of Parent’s securities are listed or traded.
(b) W shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such action as may be required under applicable law to cooperate with the Board of Directors in connection with the formation of the Committee of Independent Directors including, without limitation, by using its reasonable best efforts to cause the WCAS Designees (i) to vote in favor of the formation of such committee, (ii) to authorize such committee to retain legal, financial and other advisors without seeking approval of such retention by the Board of Directors and (iii) to provide that Parent shall provide appropriate funding, as determined by such committee, for payment of the compensation of any advisors retained by such committee. Parent shall maintain, and W shall support (and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the WCAS Designees to support) Parent’s maintenance of, the Committee of Independent Directors.
(c) The TCP Fund Holders shall have the right to designate one TCP Designee to attend each meeting of each committee of the Board of Directors on which no TCP Designee shall be a member (other than the Committee of Independent Directors) as a non-voting observer, whether such meeting is conducted in person or by teleconference. Parent shall cause such TCP Designee to be provided with all communications and materials that are provided by Parent or
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its consultants to the members of such committees generally, including all notices, committee packages, reports, presentations, minutes and consents, at the same time and in the same manner that such communications and materials are provided to such members.
SECTION 4.5. Subsidiary Boards of Directors and Committees. The composition requirements of each Subsidiary Board, and of each committee of each such Subsidiary Board, shall be proportionate to the composition requirements of the Board of Directors and of each committee thereof (other than the audit committee and the Committee of Independent Directors), such that the WCAS Designees and the Independent Directors shall have proportionate representation (rounded to the nearest whole number of directors) on each such Subsidiary Board and committee thereof; provided that such composition requirements shall be satisfied by membership on each such Subsidiary Board and committee thereof that consists of (i) one WCAS Designee or one Series B Designee that is an Affiliate of W, (ii) one Independent Director and (iii) the chief executive officer of Parent. The quorum and action requirements of each Subsidiary Board, and of each committee of each such Subsidiary Board, shall be the same as the quorum and action requirements of the Board of Directors and of each committee thereof. The TCP Fund Holders shall have the right to designate one TCP Designee to attend each meeting of each Subsidiary Board and each committee thereof on which no TCP Designee shall be a member as a non-voting observer, whether such meeting is conducted in person or by teleconference. Parent shall cause such TCP Designee to be provided with all communications and materials that are provided by Parent, the applicable Subsidiary or their consultants to the members of each Subsidiary Board and each committee thereof generally, including all notices, committee packages, reports, presentations, minutes and consents, at the same time and in the same manner that such communications and materials are provided to such members.
SECTION 4.6. Director Expenses; Indemnity and Exculpation. Parent or its Subsidiaries shall pay all of the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Director in connection with attending the meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof and by each director in connection with attending the meetings of each Subsidiary Board and any committee thereof, in each case, in accordance with Parent’s standard policy for travel by senior executives. During the term of this Agreement, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Parent and the certificate or articles of incorporation and bylaws of each of Parent’s Subsidiaries shall provide for indemnification and exculpation of members of the Board of Directors and each Subsidiary Board to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.
SECTION 4.7. No Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; Board Observers.
(a) W shall not (and shall cause its Affiliates not to) take any action to amend the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Parent (other than any amendment contemplated by the Merger Agreement) in a manner that would modify the rights of the parties pursuant to this Agreement in any respect, unless such amendment is approved by a Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors, provided, however, that no such modification may adversely affect the rights of the TCP Securityholders pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) For so long as any WCAS Securityholder is subject to this Agreement, and in addition to any other vote required by law, Parent agrees that it shall not alter, amend or repeal,
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or propose to alter, amend or repeal, whether directly or indirectly, Section 8(B), 8(C) or 8(E) of the certificate of incorporation of Parent, or this Section 4.7(b), if any such alteration, amendment or repeal would (i) adversely affect the rights or obligations of any WCAS Securityholder under Section 8(B), 8(C) or 8(E) of the certificate of incorporation of Parent or this Section 4.7(b) or (ii) modify or change the rights of any WCAS Securityholder under, or modify or change the provisions of, the bylaws of Parent or this Agreement. In addition, for so long as any WCAS Securityholder is subject to this Agreement, and in addition to any other vote required by law, Parent agrees that it shall not alter, amend or repeal, or propose to alter, amend or repeal, whether directly or indirectly, any of Section 2.03, 2.05, 2.09, 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 3.06 or 5.02 of the bylaws of Parent or this Section 4.7(b) if any such alteration, amendment or repeal would adversely affect the rights or obligations of any WCAS Securityholder under the bylaws of Parent or this Agreement.
(c) During the periods described below in this Section 4.7(c), WCAS VIII and WCAS CP III shall each have the right to appoint one representative (collectively, the “Observer Representatives”) to attend each meeting of the Board of Directors as a non-voting observer, whether such meeting is conducted in person or by teleconference. The Observer Representatives shall have the right to present matters for consideration by the Board of Directors and to speak on matters presented by others. Subject to the confidentiality provisions of this Section 4.7(c), Parent shall cause the Observer Representatives to be provided with all communications and materials that are provided by Parent or its consultants to the members of the Board of Directors generally, including all notices, board packages, reports, presentations, minutes and consents, at the same time and in the same manner that such communications and materials are provided to such members. The Observer Representatives shall be entitled to meet and consult with the senior executive management team of Parent on a quarterly basis to discuss the quarterly and annual business plans of Parent and Parent’s Subsidiaries and to review the progress of Parent and Parent’s Subsidiaries in achieving their plans. In addition, upon request to the chief executive officer of Parent, the members of the senior executive management team of Parent shall make themselves available during normal business hours to meet with the Observer Representatives on an interim basis, as the Observer Representatives may reasonably request from time to time. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to notify the Observer Representatives of any significant business issues or initiatives affecting Parent or Parent’s Subsidiaries, such as changes in Parent’s capital structure, incurrence of any significant indebtedness, significant business acquisitions, dispositions or similar transactions, developments or proposals entailing a potentially significant liability, nomination of directors, appointment or election of senior management personnel, and adoption of contracts, plans or other compensation arrangements covering senior management personnel. Whenever reasonably practicable, such notice shall be provided to the Observer Representatives in a manner that affords the Observer Representatives an opportunity to consult with Parent prior to any significant action on such issues or initiatives. Upon reasonable request by the Observer Representatives to the chief executive officer of Parent, the Observer Representatives shall be entitled, at their cost and expense, to inspect the books and records and the facilities of Parent and Parent’s Subsidiaries during normal business hours and to request and receive reasonable information regarding the financial condition and operations of Parent and Parent’s Subsidiaries. The right of each of WCAS VIII and WCAS CP III (each, a “Fund”) to appoint an Observer Representative, and the rights of that Observer Representative described above, shall exist
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(i) solely during the periods, if any, in which such Fund does not have the right to designate any member for nomination for election to the Board of Directors or no person designated for nomination by such Fund under Sections 4.1(b) or 4.1(c) is serving as a member of the Board of Directors and (ii) solely for so long as each Fund is intended to qualify as a “venture capital operating company” under U.S. Department of Labor Regulation 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.7(c) to the contrary, the Board of Directors shall have the right to keep confidential from the Observer Representatives for such period of time as the Board of Directors deems reasonable any information and copies of written materials Parent is required by law or agreement with a third party to keep confidential. As a condition of the exercise of their rights under this Section 4.7(c), the Observer Representatives shall enter into such agreements or undertakings with Parent to maintain the confidentiality of information provided to them in connection with the exercise of such rights as Parent may reasonably request.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIVES
The WCAS Securityholders hereby appoint Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx (the “WCAS Representative”) and the TCP Securityholders hereby appoint the General Counsel from time to time of Xxxxxxxxxx Capital Partners, LLC (the “TCP Representative”), in each case, as the attorney-in-fact of such Holders, with full authority to act, for and on behalf of any or all of such Holders (with full power of substitution in the premises), in connection with such matters as this Agreement provides for action by each such representative (each of the above-named representatives, as well as any successor representative which the WCAS Securityholders or TCP Securityholders may appoint from time to time and designate in writing to Parent to replace such above-named representative being referred to herein as a “Representative”). No Representative shall be liable to any Holder, Parent or their respective Affiliates or any other Person with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by such Representative in its role as a Representative under or in connection with this Agreement (all of which actions and omissions being legally binding upon the Holders represented by such Representative), unless such action or omission constitutes fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of such Representative. Parent shall be entitled to rely on such appointments and treat each Representative as the duly appointed attorney-in-fact of each Holder that shall have appointed such Representative with respect to the matters set forth herein. Each Holder who executes this Agreement, by such execution and without any further action, confirms such appointment and authority.
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ARTICLE VI
LEGEND
Each certificate representing Voting Securities and Voting Security Equivalents beneficially owned by the parties hereto (other than Parent), except for Voting Securities and Voting Security Equivalents beneficially owned by the WCAS Securityholders and the Other Holder as of the date hereof which have been stamped or otherwise engraved with the legend specified in Article VI of the Original Agreement, shall, except as otherwise provided in this Article VI, be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend substantially in the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JULY 26, 2005, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AMONG ITC^DELTACOM, INC. AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF ITC^DELTACOM, INC. EXCEPT FOR A DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES PERMITTED BY THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE II OF SUCH AGREEMENT IF THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH ARTICLE ARE THEN IN EFFECT, STOP TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS SHALL BE APPLICABLE TO ANY DISPOSITION OF SUCH SECURITIES AND THIS LEGEND SHALL BE STAMPED OR OTHERWISE IMPRINTED ON ANY CERTIFICATE REPRESENTING SUCH SECURITIES.
A certificate shall not bear such legend if (i) the holder thereof shall provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to Parent that the Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents being sold thereby may be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act and in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement or (ii) the Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents represented by such certificate are Transferred in a transaction registered under the Securities Act. If any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents shall cease to be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement, Parent shall, upon the written request of the holder thereof, issue to such holder a new certificate evidencing such Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents without the last sentence of the legend (or the reference therein to this Agreement) set forth above.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.1. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have
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been duly received if so given) by facsimile, hand delivery, by mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) or by any courier service, such as Federal Express, providing proof of delivery. All communications hereunder shall be delivered to the respective parties at the following addresses:
if to any WCAS Securityholder, to such WCAS Securityholder in care of its Representative as follows:
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx
Welsh, Carson, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
if to any TCP Securityholder, to such TCP Securityholder in care of its Representative as follows:
Xxxxxxxxxx Capital Partners, LLC
0000 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Milbank, Tweed, Xxxxxx & XxXxxx LLP
0 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
0xx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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if to Parent, to:
ITC^DeltaCom, Inc.
0000 Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xx.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
XxXxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
if to any other party hereto, to the address set forth under the name of such party on the signature pages hereof.
SECTION 7.2. Amendments; Waivers. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective against Parent or any other party hereto, unless such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by Parent and each other party hereto (other than the Other Holder), provided that (i) any modification, amendment or waiver approved by Parent shall not be effective without a Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors to approve such modification, amendment or waiver, (ii) any modification, amendment or waiver approved by the holders of a majority of the Voting Power represented by the Voting Securities beneficially owned by W and its Affiliates shall be effective against each WCAS Securityholder, provided that any modification, amendment or waiver of Section 3.4(f) shall be effected in accordance with the terms of Section 3.4(f), (iii) any modification, amendment or waiver approved by the holders of a majority of the Voting Power represented by the Voting Securities beneficially owned by TCP shall be effective against each TCP Securityholder, provided that any modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of Article IV affecting the rights or obligations of the TCP Fund Holders thereunder shall be subject to approval solely by the TCP Fund Holders, and any such modification, amendment or waiver approved by the holders of a majority of the Voting Power represented by the Voting Securities beneficially owned by the TCP Fund Holders shall be effective against each TCP Fund Holder, and provided further, that any modification, amendment or waiver of Section 3.4(f) shall be effected in accordance with the terms of Section 3.4(f), and (iv) the consent of the Other Holder shall be required with respect to any modification, amendment or waiver of Section 2.1 or Article IV to the extent that, in each case, the Other Holder remains subject to the provisions of Section 2.1 or Article IV, as the case may be, and either (A) the obligations of the Other Holder are increased or (B) the rights of the Other Holder are adversely affected. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
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SECTION 7.3. Further Assurances. At any time or from time to time after the date hereof, the parties agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as such other party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out the intent of the parties hereunder.
SECTION 7.4. Enforcement of this Agreement. The Board of Directors shall take such action as is required under applicable law, if any, to ensure that the Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors shall be required for Parent to seek to enforce the terms of this Agreement against W. The Committee of Independent Directors, acting pursuant to a Determination of the Committee of Independent Directors, shall have the right to enforce this Agreement and the other WCAS Transaction Documents on behalf of Parent against W. W agrees and covenants that it shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the WCAS Designees not to repeal, rescind or modify the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors that authorize the Committee of Independent Directors to enforce this Agreement and the other WCAS Transaction Documents on behalf of Parent against W.
SECTION 7.5. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions 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 by this Agreement and the other WCAS Transaction Documents is not affected in any manner adverse to any party to this Agreement or any such other WACS Transaction Document, as the case may be. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties to this Agreement or the parties to the applicable WCAS Transaction Document, as the case may be, shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement or such WCAS Transaction Document, as applicable, so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such other WCAS Transaction Document shall be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
SECTION 7.6. Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement and, with respect to W and Parent, the other WCAS Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede, except as set forth in such agreements, all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, this Agreement may be assigned by Parent to any entity by operation of law or in connection with the sale of all or substantially all of the assets or Parent or other business combination involving Parent, subject to Section 7.10.
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SECTION 7.7. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
SECTION 7.8. Remedies.
(a) Each party hereto acknowledges that money damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the covenants or agreements in this Agreement are not performed in accordance with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the non-breaching party shall have the right to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof.
(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 7.9. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. Except as otherwise contemplated by the definition of “Article IV Breach” and Annex B hereto, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and of the United States of America, in each case located in the County of New York, for any action, proceeding or investigation in any court or before any governmental authority (“Litigation”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to its respective address set forth in this Agreement shall be effective service of process for any Litigation brought against it in any such court, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any Litigation arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the courts of the State of New York or the United States of America, in each case located in the County of New York, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such Litigation brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
SECTION 7.10. Recapitalization, etc. In the event that any capital stock or other securities are issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of, any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents by reason of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, spin-off, partial or complete liquidation, stock dividend, split-up, sale of assets, distribution to holders of Voting Securities and/or Voting Security Equivalents or combination of the Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents or any other change in capital structure of Parent, appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to the relevant provisions of this Agreement so as to fairly and equitably preserve, as far as practicable, the original rights and obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement.
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SECTION 7.11. Public Statements. Parent agrees, and agrees to cause its subsidiaries, not to use or make reference to, the name of any WCAS Securityholder or any TCP Securityholder or any of their respective Affiliates in any public statement, announcement or filing, in each case without the prior written consent of the WCAS Representative or the TCP Representative, as the case may be, except as may be required (i) by applicable law, rule or regulation, including the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules of any national securities exchange or Interdealer Quotation System, (ii) pursuant to the rules of any regulatory entity in the regular course of Parent’s dealings with such entity as long as such entity is advised of the confidential nature, if any, of such information or (iii) by legal process.
SECTION 7.12. Portfolio Company Actions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) each WCAS Securityholder and each TCP Securityholder agrees that it shall use its reasonable best efforts not to (and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates not to) direct, encourage or facilitate the taking of any action by any portfolio company of such Holder or Affiliate of such Holder to the extent that such action would be prohibited by the terms of this Agreement if taken directly by such Holder, and (ii) no provision of this Agreement shall bind any portfolio company of Holder and, except as provided in clause (i) above, no Holder shall be liable for any actions taken by any such portfolio company that are not caused or induced by such Holder or its Affiliates.
SECTION 7.13. HSR Filing Fees and Expenses
(a) Parent covenants and agrees that, in the event that any WCAS Securityholder or any of its Affiliates is required to make a filing under the HSR Act (i) in connection with any transaction to which Parent is a party because such WCAS Securityholder or such Affiliate thereof is the “ultimate parent entity” (as determined in accordance with the HSR Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder) of Parent or the applicable Affiliate of Parent involved in such transaction, or (ii) in connection with the acquisition by any WCAS Securityholder or such Affiliate of any Voting Securities or Voting Security Equivalents, Parent shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to such WCAS Securityholder or Affiliate in preparing such filing, together with all related filing fees.
(b) Parent covenants and agrees that, in the event any TCP Securityholder or any of its Affiliates is required to make a filing under the HSR Act in connection with any exercise of the TCP Warrants, Parent shall cooperate with such TCP Securityholder or Affiliate in preparing and making any such filing as expeditiously as reasonably practicable and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to such TCP Securityholder or Affiliate in preparing such filing, together with all related filing fees.
SECTION 7.14. Non-Solicitation. For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on October 6, 2006, without the prior written approval of Parent, W shall not, and shall cause each of its Affiliates not, directly or indirectly, to solicit, encourage, entice or induce, for employment or hire as an employee or consultant any person who was an employee of BTI or any Subsidiary of BTI at any time between the date of the Merger Agreement and the date
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hereof; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any actions taken by any portfolio company of W or any of W’s affiliated investment funds that are not caused or induced by any WCAS Securityholder or its Affiliates. If it is ever held that the restriction placed on W by this Section 7.14 is too onerous and is not necessary for the protection of Parent, W agrees that any court of competent jurisdiction may impose lesser restrictions, which such court may consider necessary or appropriate to properly protect Parent.
SECTION 7.15. Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 7.16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 7.17. Effectiveness; Termination. This Agreement shall be effective upon its execution by Parent, each WCAS Securityholder, each TCP Securityholder as of the Closing Date and the Other Holder. This Agreement shall terminate (a) with respect to W, at the earliest of (i) the date on which W and its Affiliates no longer beneficially own Voting Securities representing at least 20% of the outstanding Voting Power, (ii) the date of a Change of Control of Parent and (iii) the date of an Article IV Breach with respect to W, (b) with respect to TCP, at the later of (i) the date of expiration of the TCP Transfer Restriction Period and (ii) the date of expiration of the Final TCP Board Membership Period (subject to compliance by the TCP Fund Holders with their obligations pursuant to Section 4.3(d)), provided that TCP may elect to terminate this Agreement on an earlier date upon the occurrence of an Article IV Breach with respect to TCP, and (c) with respect to the Other Holder, on October 6, 2005.
SECTION 7.18. Obligations Imposed By Law. Any obligation imposed upon Parent or any Holder hereunder shall not be exclusive of, or otherwise relieve such party of, any obligation imposed upon Parent or such Holder by the laws of the State of Delaware.
SECTION 7.19. Definition of Stockholder. As used herein, the word “stockholder” shall mean the holder of any Voting Securities.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
| ITC^DELTACOM, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ J. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | J. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
| Title: |
Senior Vice President-Legal and | |
| WCAS SECURITYHOLDERS: | ||
| WCAS CAPITAL PARTNERS III, L.P. | ||
| By: | WCAS CP III Associates L.L.C., General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Rather | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Rather | |
| Title: | Managing Member | |
| WELSH, CARSON, XXXXXXXX & XXXXX VIII, L.P. | ||
| By: | WCAS VIII Associates LLC, General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Rather | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Rather | |
| Title: | Managing Member | |
| WCAS INFORMATION PARTNERS, L.P. | ||
| By: | WCAS Info Partners, General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Rather | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Rather | |
| Title: | Managing Member | |
| Individual investors and trusts: | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Rather | |
| Xxxxxxxx X. Rather, as Attorney-in-fact for the individual investors listed below: | ||
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
| Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
| Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxxxxx X. xx Xxxxxx | ||
| Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
| The Estate of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
| D. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
| Xxxxx XxxXxxxx | ||
| Xxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxx X. Xxx | ||
| Xxxxxxxx X. Rather | ||
| Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
| XXX f/b/o Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
| XXX f/b/o Xxxxxxxx X. Rather | ||
| OTHER HOLDER: | ||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
| Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, as Attorney-in-Fact for Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, III | ||
| SPECIAL VALUE ABSOLUTE RETURN FUND, LLC, | ||
| By: | SVAR/MM, LLC, | |
| Managing Member | ||
| By: | XXXXXXXXXX CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC, | |
| Managing Member | ||
| By: | XXXXXXXXXX & CO., LLC, | |
| Managing Member | ||
| SPECIAL VALUE BOND FUND, LLC, | ||
| By: | SVIM/XX XX, LLC, | |
| Managing Member | ||
| By: | XXXXXXXXXX & CO., LLC, | |
| Managing Member | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Managing Partner | |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | ||
| BY: |
Babson Capital Management LLC as Investment Adviser | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
| Address: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX Xxxxxx Capital Management LLC 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
| MASSMUTUAL PARTICIPATION INVESTORS | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
| The foregoing is executed on behalf of MassMutual Participation Investors, organized under a Declaration of Trust, dated April 7, 1988, as amended from time to time. The obligations of such Trust are not binding upon, nor shall resort be had to the property of, any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, employees or agents of such Trust individually, but the Trust’s assets and property only shall be bound. | ||
| Address: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX Babson Capital Management LLC 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
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| MASSMUTUAL CORPORATE INVESTORS | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
| The foregoing is executed on behalf of MassMutual Corporate Investors, organized under a Declaration of Trust, dated April 7, 1988, as amended from time to time. The obligations of such Trust are not binding upon, nor shall resort be had to the property of, any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, employees or agents of such Trust individually, but the Trust’s assets and property only shall be bound. | ||
| Address: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX Xxxxxx Capital Management LLC 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
| TOWER SQUARE CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P. | ||
| By: | Babson Capital Management LLC as Investment Adviser | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
| Address: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX Xxxxxx Capital Management LLC 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
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ANNEX A
Beneficial Ownership of Voting Securities and Voting Security Equivalents
| Numbers of Shares/Warrants Owned by W | ||
| Shares of Common Stock | ||
| Shares of Series B Preferred Stock | ||
| WCAS Warrants | ||
| Number of Warrants Owned by TCP | ||
| TCP Warrants | 9,000,000 |
ANNEX B
ARBITRATION PROCEDURES
In the event of any unresolved dispute between Parent and W or TCP regarding the termination of the Governance Agreement as a result of an Article IV Breach, Parent and, as applicable, W or TCP (W or TCP, the “Disputing Holder Group”) shall jointly submit such dispute to binding arbitration in New York, New York, or such other location as mutually agreed upon by Parent and W, in accordance with the Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration of the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution (the “CPR”).
Each of Parent and the Disputing Holder Group shall select one arbitrator. If either party fails to make a selection, the CPR shall select one arbitrator on behalf of such party. The two arbitrators so selected will choose within 20 days after their selection a third arbitrator (or, if they fail to make choice, the CPR shall choose a third arbitrator). All three arbitrators (the “Arbitrators”) shall be neutral arbitrators and subject to CPR Rules. In connection with any such arbitration, the following rules shall apply: (i) each of Parent and the Disputing Holder Group shall furnish to the Arbitrators such documents and information as the Arbitrators may reasonably request and will be afforded the opportunity to present to the Arbitrators any material relevant to the existence of any material breach by Parent of any material provision of Article IV of the Governance Agreement and whether Parent has cured such breach within 30 days after the receipt by Parent of written notice of such breach from the Disputing Holder Group; (ii) each of Parent and the Disputing Holder Group shall have the right to have counsel represent such party at the arbitration hearing and in pre-arbitration proceedings; (iii) pre-hearing discovery shall be limited to exchange or production of documents; (iv) the Arbitrators shall have the authority to resolve any discovery disputes and to invoke an action to cease or permit further discovery; (v) each party shall have the right to a written transcript made of the arbitration proceedings and submit a post-hearing brief within 20 days after the conclusion of the arbitration hearing; (vi) the Arbitrators shall have no power or authority, under the CPR Rules or otherwise, to (A) modify or disregard any provision of the Governance Agreement, including this Annex B, or (B) address or resolve any issue other than the dispute submitted to such arbitration.
The agreed upon decision of any two of the Arbitrators shall constitute the binding decision of the arbitration panel with respect to the dispute (the “Arbitration Decision”). The Arbitration Decision shall be in writing and made available to both Parent and the Disputing Holder Group. Such decision need not state the reasoning of the Arbitrators in reaching their decision. The Arbitrators shall conduct the arbitration so that the Arbitration Decision is made or rendered as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 30 days after the submission of the post-hearing briefs nor later than 30 days following the completion of the hearing, unless either period is reduced or extended by agreement of the parties, or by the Arbitrators for cause.
The Arbitrators shall award the costs and expenses of the arbitration, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, disbursements, and fees and expenses of the Arbitrators and CPR, to the prevailing party as the Arbitrators see fit. Any amount awarded in the final decision of the Arbitrators shall be paid by the party responsible therefor to the other party within 10 business days of rendering the Arbitrators’ Decision. Each party shall have the right to enforce the decision of the Arbitrators in any judicial proceeding.
If W and TCP shall both have any unresolved dispute with Parent as described in this Annex B, W and TCP may elect to submit such dispute jointly with Parent to binding arbitration as described herein, in which event “Disputing Holder Group” shall refer to W and TCP.
