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EXHIBIT 10.1
AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made this 30th day of January, 1998 by and between
ACME Television Licenses of Tennessee, LLC ("Acme"), Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, d/b/a
E&R Communications ("E&R") and the Xxxxxx-Xxxxx Partnership (the "Partnership")
(collectively, "the Parties").
WHEREAS, E&R filed an application (the "Application") with the
Federal Communications Commission (the "Commission" or "FCC") for a construction
permit to build a new television station on Channel 31 at Harrison, Arkansas
(the "Station"); and
WHEREAS, three (3) other parties (sometimes referred to as the
"Competing Applicants") filed separate and mutually exclusive applications for a
construction permit to build a new television station on Channel 31 at Harrison,
Arkansas; and
WHEREAS, E&R has executed separate settlement agreements (the
"Settlement Agreements") with each of the Competing Applicants to dismiss their
respective applications with prejudice and to grant E&R's application, subject
to the approval of the FCC; and
WHEREAS, the Partnership has assisted E&R to achieve the Settlement
Agreements with the Competing Applicants; and
WHEREAS, the Partnership and E&R require the financial assistance of
Acme to provide funds to effect the Settlement Agreements; and
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WHEREAS, Acme is capable of providing the necessary funds to effect
the Settlement Agreements and is willing to do so under the terms and conditions
set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in light of the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein, Acme, E&R and the Partnership agree as follows:
1. Acme will be substituted for E&R as the sole surviving applicant for the
Station in exchange for that right, ACME will pay Xxxxxx $425,000 at the closing
of this Agreement as specified herein. The aforesaid monies will be applied as a
credit to the monies to be paid ACME under paragraph 3 hereof upon exercise of
the Partnership's rights thereunder.
2. Within one business day after execution of this Agreement and the filing of
this Agreement, as well as the Settlement Agreements, with the FCC (if so filed
by January 30, 1998), ACME shall establish a separate account with NationsBank,
N.A. ("NationsBank") in St. Louis, Missouri and place in such account the sum of
Two Million Two Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand ($2,225,000) (the "Settlement
Monies"), which sum represents the total amount of monies to be paid to E&R
under paragraph 1 of this Agreement and the amounts which E&R is obligated to
pay the Competing Applicants under the Settlement Agreements. As soon thereafter
is practicable, ACME, E&R and the Partnership shall enter into an Escrow
Agreement with NationsBank as the Escrow Agent pursuant to an Escrow Agreement
in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, subject to any amendments as may be
required by NationsBank.
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3. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Partnership shall have
an irrevocable right and obligation to acquire all of ACME's right and interest
as the surviving applicant or, in the event of FCC action, the construction
permit for the Station, by (a) making a payment to ACME of an amount equal to
$3,337,500 plus (i) ACME's expenses incurred by ACME in conjunction with the
negotiation, execution, and implementation of this Agreement, including legal
fees and (ii) an amount equal to any and all interest on the Settlement Monies
accrued from the date of placement of the Settlement Monies in an escrow account
with NationsBank through the date of exercise of the Partnership's rights
hereunder, and (b) accepting an assignment of ACME's rights and obligations
under The WB Television Network Affiliation Agreement (the "WB Affiliates
Agreement") which ACME has executed or will execute in due course for the
Station: provided, that the foregoing monies to be paid to ACME shall be reduced
by $100,000 if the Partnership exercises its rights within 30 days from the date
hereof, $50,000 if exercised within 60 days from the date hereof, and $25,000 if
exercised within 90 days from the date hereof. Simultaneously with the payment
of the foregoing monies and the acceptance of the assignment of the WB
Affiliation Agreement, ACME will execute an appropriate notice to NationsBank,
as the escrow agent under the aforementioned Escrow Agreement, assigning to the
Partnership any and all rights and obligations which ACME will have under that
Escrow Agreement, including the right to a return of the Settlement Monies plus
interest accrued thereon. The Partnership's right under this paragraph to
acquire ACME's interest in the application or, as the case may be, the
construction permit
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for the Station shall expire if not exercised within 120 days from the date of
this Agreement. In the event that the Partnership does not fulfill its
obligation within the aforesaid 120-day period, then, in that event, ACME will
have no obligation to pay Xxxxxx $300,000 of the monies which ACME is otherwise
obligated to pay Xxxxxx under paragraph 1 of the Agreement.
4. Within five (5) business days of any written request from the Partnership,
Acme shall provide documentation of the expenses to be paid pursuant to
Paragraph 3 hereof.
5. If and when the Partnership exercises its rights under paragraph 3 of this
Agreement, ACME and the Partnership shall, by a letter signed by an officer of
each party, notify the Commission within one business day thereafter of the
Partnerships exercise of its rights.
6. The Partnership and Acme shall cooperate with each other in the preparation
and prosecution of any joint request or other pleading necessary to secure FCC
approval of this Agreement.
7. Unless the Partnership exercises its rights under paragraph 3 of this
Agreement, the closing (the "Closing") of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement and the Settlement Agreements shall occur at the offices of ACME's
counsel in Washington, DC at a mutually convenient time within ten (10) days
after the FCC order approving this Agreement and the Settlement Agreements,
along with the substitution of ACME as the party to receive the Construction
Permit for the Station, becomes "final," meaning that the order is no longer
subject to reconsideration or review by the FCC or a court of competent
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jurisdiction. At the Closing, the Settlement Monies shall be distributed in
accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.
8. Any notice or other communication required or authorized by this Agreement
shall be delivered in person, by certified mail-return receipt requested
(postage prepaid) or by overnight courier (charges prepaid) to the parties at
the address specified below (or at any other address with any other party may
specify in writing to the other party:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
If to Acme: ACME Television Licenses of Tennessee, LLC
00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xx. Xxxxx, XX 00000
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, d/b/a E&R Communications
If to E&R: 0000 Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
00000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
If to Partnership:
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
0000 Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
9. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties and
supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous agreements, contracts and
understandings, whether oral or written. This Agreement may not be amended
except in a writing executed by all parties.
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10. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the District of Columbia
without regard to the conflict of laws provisions.
11. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and all counterparts shall
be collectively deemed to be one and the same document.
12. This Agreement shall terminate upon any one of the following events: (a) the
FCC issues an order which denies or dismisses any pleading requesting approval
of this Agreement: provided, that ACME may, in the exercise of its sole
discretion, postpone termination until such order becomes final; or (b) the FCC
has not issued an order approving this Agreement by August 1, 1998 or, if issued
such order does not become final by September 30, 1998.
(REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement with the
intent of it being effective as of the date first set forth above
ACME TELEVISION, LICENSES OF
TENNESSEE, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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XXXX XXXXX XXXXXX, D/B/A E&R
COMMUNICATIONS
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
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XXXXXX XXXXX PARTNERSHIP
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Exhibit A - Escrow Agreement has been intentionally omitted by the
Registrants.
A copy of this omitted Exhibit will be provided to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon request.
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