EXHIBIT 99.2
CALL AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of February 9, 1998, between
Tele-Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("TCI"), and Xxxx Xxxxxxx,
a resident of Colorado, both in any Representative Capacity (as defined
below) and individually ("Xxxx"), Xxx Xxxxxxx, a resident of Colorado, both
in any Representative Capacity and individually ("Xxx"), the Estate of Xxx
Xxxxxxx (the "Xxx Estate"), the Estate of Xxxxx Xxxxxxx (the "Xxxxx Estate");
and each individual or entity which hereafter becomes a party to or bound by
this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
WHEREAS, TCI desires to have the right to acquire all of the
shares of its Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, of any series that has
voting rights greater than one vote per share, that are beneficially owned by
the other parties to this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, each such other party, for himself and his successors
(including his estate upon his death), desires to grant such right to TCI;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
1.1 Certain Definitions.
"Affiliate" means, when used with reference to a specified Person, any
Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries
Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with, such specified
Person.
"Agreement" means this Call Agreement, as the same may be
amended or supplemented from time to time.
"beneficially own" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
provided that a Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all
securities that such Person has a right to acquire without regard to the 60
day limitation in such Rule, and except that a Person shall not be deemed a
beneficial owner of, or to own beneficially, any securities as to which such
Person does not, directly or indirectly, have or share investment power
within the meaning of said Rule. The terms beneficially owned, own
beneficially and beneficial owner shall have correlative meanings.
"Xxxxx Estate" has the meaning given to it in the introductory paragraph
of this Agreement.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any
authorized committee thereof.
"Bob Estate" has the meaning given to it in the introductory paragraph
of this Agreement.
"Bona Fide Offer" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i) hereof.
"Call Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b) hereof.
"Call Right" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) hereof.
A "Change of Control" shall have occurred with respect to the Company if:
(i) a merger or consolidation occurs between the Company and any
other Person in which the voting power of all voting securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior thereto represent (either by
remaining outstanding or being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity) less than 50% of the voting power of the Company or the
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation
(or if the Company or the surviving entity after giving effect to such
transaction is a subsidiary of the issuer of securities in such
transaction, then the voting power of all voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior to such transaction represent (by being
converted into voting securities of such issuer) less than 50% of the
voting power of the issuer outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation); or
(ii) in any share exchange, extraordinary dividend, acquisition,
disposition or recapitalization (or series of related transactions of such
nature) (other than a merger or consolidation) the holders of voting
securities of the Company immediately prior thereto continue to own
beneficially voting securities representing less than 50% of the voting
power of the Company (or any successor entity) immediately thereafter.
"Charitable Transferee" means, with respect to either Group, any private
charitable foundation or donor advised fund established by one or more members
of such Group that, in either case, (i) is controlled directly or indirectly
solely by one or more members of such Group and (ii) meets the requirements
under the Code for such member(s) or Related Parties to deduct donations to such
foundation or donor advised fund.
"Close of Business" means 5:00 p.m. local time in Denver, Colorado.
"Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a) hereof.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a) hereof.
"Closing Date Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d) hereof.
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"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
rules and regulations from time to time promulgated thereunder.
"Commencement Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(i) hereof.
"Common Stock" means the Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the
Company, as constituted on the date of this Agreement, and any capital stock
into which such Common Stock may thereafter be changed (whether as a result of a
recapitalization, reorganization, merger consolidation, share exchange, stock
dividend or other transaction or event). The Common Stock currently is issuable
in series.
"Company" means Tele-Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any
successor (by merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, exchange, or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of its business and assets.
"Company Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b) hereof.
"Company Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(ii) hereof.
"Control", as to any Person, means 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. "Controlled" and
"Controlling" shall have corresponding meanings.
"Current Market Price" of any security on any day means (i) the last
reported sale price (or, if no sale is reported, the average of the high and low
bid prices) on The Nasdaq Stock Market on such day, or (ii) if the primary
trading market for such security is not The Nasdaq Stock Market, then the
closing sale price regular way on such day (or, in case no such sale takes place
on such day, the reported closing bid price regular way on such day) in each
case on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such security is not listed or
admitted to trading on such exchange, then on the principal exchange on which
such security is traded, or (iii) if the Current Market Price of such security
on such day is not available pursuant to one of the methods specified above,
then the average of the bid and asked prices for such security on such day as
furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm selected from time to time
by the Board of Directors for that purpose.
"Difference" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b) hereof.
"Disposition" means any sale, assignment, alienation, gift, exchange,
conveyance, transfer, hypothecation or other disposition whatsoever, whether
voluntary or involuntary and whether direct or indirect. The term "dispose"
(whether or not capitalized) shall mean to make a Disposition.
"Election Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(iii).
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"Excepted Shares" means, subject to the last two sentences of this
definition, that number of Member Shares which, in the aggregate for all
Members, is equal to five percent (5%) of the largest total number
(calculated without duplication) of Member Shares beneficially owned
collectively by all Members at any time during the period from and after the
date of this Agreement until this Agreement shall no longer be in effect.
For purposes of determining the total number of Member Shares beneficially
owned by the Member at any time of determination during such period, the
Members shall be deemed to own all Member Shares actually beneficially owned
by them at such time and also to continue to beneficially own all Member
Shares, if any, sold or otherwise disposed of without violation of this
Agreement at any time prior to such time of determination, so that such
number of Member Shares as of any time of determination shall be calculated
as though the Members at all times continued to beneficially own all Member
Shares that they beneficially owned at any time during such period, without
deduction of any Member Shares that were disposed of at any time during that
period and in each case without duplication. In the event that the Company
(i) pays a dividend or distribution on the outstanding High Vote Stock in
shares of High Vote Stock, (ii) subdivides the outstanding High Vote Stock
into a greater number of shares of High Vote Stock, (iii) combines the
outstanding shares of High Vote Stock into a smaller number of shares of High
Vote Stock or (iv) issues by reclassification of or other change in the High
Vote Stock (whether pursuant to a merger or consolidation or otherwise) any
other shares of High Vote Stock, then (A) any such shares of High Vote Stock
received by any Member in exchange for or replacement of the Excepted Shares
shall themselves be Excepted Shares and (B) calculations of the number of
Excepted Shares as of any time pursuant to the first sentence of this
definition shall take appropriate account of such event.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Exempt Transfer" means, with respect to any Member Shares of any Member,
any Disposition:
(i) that is a Permitted Pledge;
(ii) that is an exchange of Low Vote Stock of any class or series for
High Vote Stock of the corresponding class or series on a one-for-one basis
(but such High Vote Stock will continue to be Member Shares);
(iii) of Tag-Along Shares (as defined in the Xxxxxx Call Agreement)
pursuant to the Xxxxxx Call Agreement and Section 4.1 of the Stockholders
Agreement;
(iv) pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof;
(v) to another Member;
(vi) to a member of the Xxxxxx Group;
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(vii) that is an exchange or conversion of such Member Shares that
occurs by operation of law in connection with a merger or consolidation
of the Company with or into another corporation or a reclassification or
similar event, that has been duly authorized and approved by the
required vote of the Board of Directors and the stockholders of the
Company pursuant to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
Delaware law; provided, however, that any shares of capital stock issued
in exchange for or in reclassification of such Member Shares or into
which such Member Shares are converted in any such transaction shall
continue to be Member Shares for purposes of this Agreement unless such
transaction resulted in a Change of Control of the Company;
(viii) to a Prospective Purchaser in compliance with subsections
(a) through (e), inclusive, of Section 2.3 hereof;
(ix) pursuant to Section 2.3(f) hereof;
(x) that is a gift or assignment for no consideration by such
Member (if a natural person) during his life to any one or more of his
Related Parties;
(xi) that is a transfer to the legal representatives of such Member
(if a natural person) upon his death or adjudication of incompetency or by
any such legal representatives to any Person to whom the transferor could
have transferred such security pursuant to any clause of this definition;
(xii) subject to subsections (a) through (e), inclusive, of Section
2.3 hereof, pursuant to 4.2 of the Stockholders Agreement; or
(xiii) in the case of a pledge that when made qualified, and that
continues to qualify, as a Permitted Pledge, a bona fide transfer to the
pledgee or its nominee upon the bona fide exercise of such pledgee's
rights and remedies under such pledge, but not any further transfer by
such assignee except in an Exempt Transfer (including a transfer
permitted by Section 2.3 hereof); provided, however, that no Disposition
pursuant to clause (v), (x), (xi) or (xiii) shall be an Exempt Transfer
unless each Person to whom any such Disposition is made (unless already
such a party and so bound) simultaneously therewith becomes a party to
this Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement and agrees to be bound
hereby and thereby with respect to such Member Shares to the same extent
as such Member.
"Exercise Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b) hereof.
"Free to Sell Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(v) hereof.
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"Xxxx" has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph
of this Agreement.
"Grant Consideration Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1
hereof.
"Gross Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c) hereof.
"Gross Stock Value" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d) hereof.
"Group" means either the Xxxxxxx Group or the Xxxxxx Group (as defined in
the Stockholders Agreement), as the context requires.
"High Vote Stock" means Common Stock of any series that has voting rights
greater than one vote per share. The High Vote Stock is currently comprised of
the Series B TCI Group Common Stock, Series B LMG Common Stock and Series B
Ventures Group Common Stock.
"Holder" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b) hereof.
"Holder Election Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d)
hereof.
"Independent Committee" means a committee of the Board of Directors
consisting of directors other than a Member, any Permitted Transferee, or any
Related Party of any Member or any such Permitted Transferee.
"Xxx" has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph
of this Agreement.
"Low Vote Stock" means Common Stock of any series that has voting rights no
greater than one vote per share. The Low Vote Stock is currently comprised of
Series A TCI Group Common Stock, Series A LMG Common Stock and Series A Ventures
Group Common Stock.
"Xxxxxxx Group" shall mean (i) each of Xxxx (individually and in any
Representative Capacity), Xxx (individually and in any Representative Capacity),
the Bob Estate, the Xxxxx Estate, each other Person who now or hereafter has a
Representative Capacity with respect to either of such estates or any trust
established thereunder, (ii) each other Person who is required to become or
becomes a party to this Agreement and a member of the Xxxxxxx Group pursuant to
any provision of this Agreement, (iii) each other Person who at any time
acquires any High Vote Stock in a transaction or a chain of transactions
initiated by another member of the Xxxxxxx Group that satisfy all applicable
provisions of this Agreement (including, in the case of a Permitted Pledge, the
provisions of the definition of such term), except for acquisitions in Exempt
Transfers other than those described in clauses (v), (x), or (xi) or (xiii) of
the definition of "Exempt Transfer" in Section 1.1 hereof and (iv) each spouse
or other Related Party of any member of the Xxxxxxx Group, in each case so long
as such Person is or is required to be a party to this Agreement or such Person
or any
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of its Related Parties is the direct or indirect Beneficial Owner of any High
Vote Stock. Unless Xxxxxx (or his estate), the Company and the Xxxxxxx Group
Representative otherwise agree in writing, no member of the Xxxxxx Group shall
be a member of the Xxxxxxx Group or a Related Party of any Member.
"Xxxxxxx Group Representative" means any natural person who is a member of
the Xxxxxxx Group duly appointed and serving as the representative of the
Xxxxxxx Group for purposes of this Agreement. The initial Xxxxxxx Group
Representative is Xxx. The Xxxxxxx Group may, at any time by a written notice
delivered to the Company and the members of the Xxxxxx Group, remove and replace
the Person then serving as Xxxxxxx Group Representative, provided that such
representative shall at all times be a natural person and a member of the
Xxxxxxx Group.
"Xxxxxx" means Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, a resident of Colorado.
"Xxxxxx Call Agreement" means the Call Agreement, dated as of the date
hereof, between the Company, Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, as it may be amended from
time to time.
"Member" means any member of the Xxxxxxx Group.
"Member Shares" means, with respect to any Member, any and all shares of
High Vote Stock beneficially owned by such Member on the date hereof or of which
beneficial ownership is hereafter acquired by such Member or by any Permitted
Transferee from such Member or from another Permitted Transferee.
"Net Proceeds" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a) hereof.
"Offered Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i) hereof.
"Offering Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a) hereof.
"Offer Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(ii) hereof.
"Permitted Pledge" means, with respect to any Member Shares, a bona fide
pledge of such Member Shares by the Member who beneficially owns them to an
unaffiliated commercial bank or financial institution to secure bona fide
borrowings by such Member permitted by applicable law; provided that such bank
or financial institution (for itself and its successors, assigns and
transferees) agrees with the Company in writing at the time of such pledge that
all such Member Shares shall continue to be subject to all of the provisions of
this Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement to the same extent and with the
same effect as if they continued to be beneficially owned solely by such Member,
other than those Member Shares, if any, as to which such bank or other financial
institution commences an action to foreclose or takes any other action to
enforce the security interest represented by such pledge, irrevocably commits to
the Company in writing (for itself and its successors, assigns and transferees)
to convert into shares of Low Vote Stock on a share-for-share
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basis and (provided the Company cooperates as set forth in Section 2.3(g)
hereof) thereafter cooperates with the Company to consummate such conversion.
Nothing in this provision shall require any such bank or financial institution
to elect to convert any pledged Member Shares into Low Vote Stock, but unless
such election is made as provided above in this definition, such Member Shares
shall continue to be subject to this Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement as
provided above. Unless and at all times until the time of the actual conversion
of all Member Shares, if any, as to which such an election is made by such bank
or financial institution, the pledged Member Shares shall continue to be subject
to all of the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent and with the same
effect as if they continued to be beneficially owned solely by such Member;
provided, that if such an election is made but the actual conversion of the
Member Shares is not completed within five Business Days after notice of that
election is given to the Company for any reason other than as a result of the
failure of such bank or financial institution to substantially comply with the
requirements of this definition or the entry of a court order enjoining such
conversion, such bank or financial institution may revoke such conversion
election, whereupon the number and kind of Member Shares as to which such
election was made (but not any Member Shares as to which such election was not
made) shall cease to be subject to this Agreement or the Stockholders Agreement
unless subsequently acquired by a Person who then is (or is required to be) a
Member of the Xxxxxxx Group.
In the case of a pledge that when made qualified and that continues
to qualify as a Permitted Pledge, if the lender, simultaneously with a bona
fide assignment of the loan secured by such pledge (or of a participation
interest therein), assigns to the assignee a proportionate part of such
lender's rights under such pledge, such assignment shall be an Exempt
Transfer and a Permitted Pledge provided that (i) the assignee is a
commercial bank or other financial institution that is not an Affiliate or
Related Party of any of the members of the Xxxxxxx Group or any of their
respective Related Parties, and (ii) prior to such assignment, such bank or
financial institution (for itself and its successors, assigns and
transferees) enters into a written agreement with the Company to the effect
stated in the proviso of the first sentence of this definition.
"Permitted Transferee" means, with respect to any Member, a Related Party
of such Member or another Person to whom any of such Member's Member Shares are
transferred, directly or indirectly, in an Exempt Transfer, in each case if such
Person is or is required to become a party to this Agreement or is or is
required to be bound by its terms and for so long as such Person is the
beneficial owner of any Member Shares.
"Per Share Value", as to any series of High Vote Stock on any relevant day,
means the average of the Current Market Prices of the Low Vote Stock into which
the shares of such series of High Vote Stock are convertible at the option of
the holder for the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on (i) in the
case of any calculation pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, the last trading day
prior to the date of Xxxxxx'x death, (ii) in the case of any calculation of the
Gross Purchase Price for purposes of Section 2.3(b), the last trading day prior
to the date the Offer Notice is given, and (iii) in the case of any
determination pursuant to Section 6.1, the last trading day prior to the date on
which a letter of intent or other documentation for the proposed transaction is
executed, in each case
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appropriately adjusted to take into account any stock dividends on the Low Vote
Stock, or any stock splits, reclassifications or combinations of the Low Vote
Stock, during the period following the first of such 30 trading days and ending
on the last full trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date.
"Person" means any natural person, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association or
other entity.
"Prohibited Premium" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a) hereof.
"Prospective Purchaser" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i)
hereof.
"Public Sale Dollar Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)
hereof.
"Public Sale Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
"Qualified Appraiser" means a Person who is nationally recognized as being
qualified and experienced in the appraisal of assets comparable to the noncash
consideration proposed to be given pursuant to the Bona Fide Offer and shall not
be an Affiliate or Related Party of any party to this Agreement.
"Qualified Trust" means, with respect to any member of either Group, any
trust that is directly or indirectly controlled solely by one or more members of
such Group and the beneficiaries of which are one or more Related Parties or
Charitable Transferees of one or more of such members, including, without
limitation, any such trust that is so controlled and (i) qualifies under the
Code as a so-called "charitable remainder trust," provided that the income
beneficiaries consist solely of one or more Related Parties of such member(s)
and the remainder interest reverts to one or more Charitable Transferees, or
(ii) qualifies under the Code as a so-called "charitable lead trust," provided
that the income beneficiaries consist solely of one or more Charitable
Transferees and the remainder interest reverts to either such members(s) or one
or more Related Parties of such member(s).
"Registration Rights Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e)
hereof.
"Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a)
hereof.
"Related Party" means, with respect to any Member or Permitted Transferee:
(i) the spouse, siblings and lineal descendants (which shall
include a Person adopted before the age of 18) of such Person or any
spouse of any such sibling or lineal descendant;
(ii) any Qualified Trust;
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(iii) a custodian under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or similar
fiduciary for the exclusive benefit of such Person's children during their
lives or a Charitable Transferee; or
(iv) a corporation, limited liability company, private foundation
or other entity organized under the laws of any state in the United
States which is Controlled by, and all equity, participation, beneficial
or similar interests (and rights to acquire any thereof, contingently or
otherwise) of which are beneficially owned solely by, such Person or
such Person and one or more Related Parties of such Person referred to
in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this definition,
provided that in any case under clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) the requisite
relationship with such Member or Permitted Transferee described in such
clause is maintained and if, as the result of any completed or proposed act,
transaction or event, any Person who previously was Related Party of a Member
or a Permitted Transferee ceases to qualify as a Related Party of such Person
or if any shares of High Vote Stock beneficially owned by any such Related
Party are to be distributed or otherwise Disposed of to any Person not
already a party to this Agreement and bound by this Agreement as a Member of
the Xxxxxxx Group, then simultaneously therewith such Person must become a
party to this agreement and the Stockholders Agreement and agree to be bound
hereby and thereby with respect to such shares as a Member of the Xxxxxxx
Group.
"Representative Capacity" means, with respect to any Person that is a party
to this Agreement, such Person as an executor or administrator of the Bob
Estate, the Xxxxx Estate or any other estate, a trustee of any trust or in any
other fiduciary or representative capacity if such Person, in such capacity,
directly or indirectly possesses or shares the power to vote or dispose or
direct the voting or disposition of any High Vote Stock or Rights to acquire any
High Vote Stock issued by any Company or any other shares of capital stock,
Rights or other securities subject to any provisions of this Agreement.
"Resale Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
"Sale of the Company" means any transaction which results in a Change in
Control of the Company, specifically excluding, however, any sale of any of the
Member Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any Member Shares or
other securities pursuant to the terms of the Xxxxxx Call Agreement.
"Sales" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a) hereof.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Seller" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
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"Series A Common Stock" means, collectively, the Series A TCI Group Common
Stock, Series A LMG Common Stock, and Series A Ventures Group Common Stock, into
which the Series B Common Stock of the corresponding series is convertible.
"Series A LMG Common Stock" means the Tele-Communications, Inc. Series A
Liberty Media Group Common Stock.
"Series A TCI Group Common Stock" means the Tele-Communications, Inc.
Series A TCI Group Common Stock.
"Series A Ventures Group Common Stock" means the Tele-Communications, Inc.
Series A TCI Ventures Group Common Stock.
"Series B Common Stock" means, collectively, the Series B TCI Group Common
Stock, Series B LMG Common Stock and Series B Ventures Group Common Stock set
forth in the recitals hereto.
"Series B TCI Group Common Stock" means the Tele-Communications, Inc.
Series B TCI Group Common Stock.
"Series B LMG Common Stock" means the Tele-Communications, Inc. Series B
Liberty Media Group Common Stock.
"Series B Ventures Group Common Stock" means the Tele-Communications, Inc.
Series B TCI Ventures Group Common Stock.
"Series Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c) hereof.
"Series Stock Value" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d) hereof.
"Settlement Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(b) hereof.
"Stockholders Agreement" means the Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of the
date hereof, by and among the Company, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx, Xxx, the Xxx
Estate and the Xxxxx Estate, as it may be amended from time to time.
"Stock Proceeds Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) hereof.
"Subject Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) hereof.
"Subsidiary", when used with respect to the Company, means any corporation,
partnership or other business entity of which an aggregate of 50% or more of the
outstanding capital stock or other securities have ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors, managers,
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trustees or other controlling persons, or an equivalent controlling interest
therein, of such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time, capital stock or
other securities of any other class or classes of such entity shall have or
might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is, or of
which an aggregate of 50% or more of the interests in which are, at the time,
directly or indirectly, owned by the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries of
the Company (irrespective of whether any other Person, by reason of a pledge of
capital stock or other securities or otherwise, shall or might have ownership
thereof or voting power with respect thereto by reason of the happening of any
contingency).
"Third Appraiser" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(iv) hereof.
"Transferor" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i) hereof.
"Underwriters" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a) hereof.
1.2 Terms Defined in the Stockholders Agreement. Capitalized terms used
but not defined in this Agreement are intended to have the definitions assigned
to them in the Stockholders Agreement, and such definitions are hereby
incorporated by reference.
1.3 Definitions Include the Singular and the Plural. Terms defined in
the singular include the plural and vice versa.
2. Grant of Call Right.
2.1 Grant. Subject to and on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, each Member, on behalf of himself, his Permitted Transferees and his
estate, heirs, administrators, executors, other legal representatives,
successors and assigns, hereby grants to the Company the call right, as provided
in Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 of this Agreement, and makes the covenants for
the benefit of the Company set forth herein. Subject to the penultimate
sentence of this Section 2.1, in consideration of the grant to it of the call
right and the making of such covenants, on or prior to February 9, 1998 (or on
such earlier or later date as the parties to numbered paragraph 4 of the
Settlement Agreement may agree), the Company shall pay the Xxxxxxx Group,
collectively, the aggregate sum equal to the Grant Consideration Amount. The
"Grant Consideration Amount" shall be the sum, determined after giving effect to
all transfers of High Vote Stock of any class or series required by the
Settlement Agreement on or before such date, of the respective products obtained
by multiplying the aggregate number of shares of High Vote Stock of each class
or series beneficially owned (without duplication) by the Xxxxxxx Group as of
the date of payment by the same per share dollar amount, if any, paid by the
Company to the members of the Xxxxxx Group for each share of High Vote Stock of
that class or series beneficially owned by them pursuant to Section 2.1 of the
Xxxxxx Call Agreement. Based on information available to the Company, the
parties estimate that the Grant Consideration Amount will be approximately One
Hundred and Twenty-Four Million Dollars ($124,000,000), but the actual Grant
Consideration Amount will be the amount determined as provided above in this
Section 2.1. The Grant Consideration Amount shall be
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allocated among the grant of the call right hereunder, the grant of the
acceleration feature of such call right contained herein and the making of the
other covenants contained herein in the same proportions (subject to rounding
differences) as the amount of the payment to Xxxxxx under Section 2.1 of the
Xxxxxx Call Agreement is allocated among the comparable items of the Xxxxxx Call
Agreement. Such payment shall be made when due in cash by wire transfer of next
day funds to an account designated by the Xxxxxxx Group Representative. Such
payment shall be allocated among the Members in any manner in which they agree
among themselves. Without limiting the generality of Section 7.1, the Company
shall be entitled to rely exclusively and conclusively on information provided
by the Xxxxxxx Group Representative as to any such allocation or other matters
in connection with the exercise of the rights of the Xxxxxxx Group and each of
its Members under this Agreement and shall not, in any event, have any liability
to any Member as a result of such reliance. The Company shall not be obligated
to make such payment unless or until the actions contemplated by numbered
paragraph 4 of the Settlement Agreement are duly taken on a timely basis or if
this Agreement, the Xxxxxx Call Agreement or the Stockholders Agreement is
terminated or subject to termination under Section 6.20(d) or 6.20(e) of the
Stockholders Agreement. Each member of the Xxxxxxx Group shall provide such
information and otherwise cooperate with the Company in such manner as the
Company shall reasonably request in order to determine and verify the number of
shares of High Vote Stock of each class or series beneficially owned by the
Xxxxxxx Group on the date of the payment provided for in this Section.
2.2 Call Right. (a) Subject to the last sentence of this subsection
(a), upon Xxxxxx'x death, the Company shall have the right (the "Call Right"),
exercisable by action of the Independent Committee, to purchase all but not less
than all of the shares of High Vote Stock beneficially owned by each Member at
the time of Xxxxxx'x death and all but not less than all of the shares of High
Vote Stock that are then beneficially owned by any Permitted Transferee of any
Member and which shares were acquired directly or indirectly from a Member or
another Permitted Transferee of Member Shares in any Exempt Transfer or other
transaction except a sale to a prospective Purchaser in accordance with Section
2.3(b) hereof (collectively for all Members and Permitted Transferees, the
"Subject Shares"). The Company may not exercise its Call Right under this
Section 2.2 unless it concurrently exercises its corresponding call right under
the corresponding provisions of the Xxxxxx Call Agreement.
(b) The Company may exercise the Call Right, by giving written notice
of such exercise (the "Company Notice") to each Member and each such Permitted
Transferee, if any (collectively, the "Holder"), at any time during the period
commencing on and including the date of Xxxxxx'x death and ending at the Close
of Business on the 50th day after the date, following Xxxxxx'x death, on which
any legal action that may be required to confirm the appointment of the personal
representative(s) for Xxxxxx'x estate or for Xxxxxx'x estate to act through its
personal representative(s) has been completed (such period, the "Call Period").
The date the Company Notice is given to the Holder is referred to as the
"Exercise Date."
(c) The total consideration payable to the members of the Xxxxxxx
Group collectively for all of the Subject Shares (the "Gross Purchase Price")
will be an amount equal to the
13
sum of the amounts determined in accordance with the following formula for each
series of High Vote Stock included in the Subject Shares: 110% of the product of
the Per Share Value for such series as of the date of Xxxxxx'x death, multiplied
by the number of shares of such series included in the Subject Shares (such
amount, as to each series, the "Series Purchase Price"). In calculating any
Series Purchase Price or the Gross Purchase Price, the number of Subject Shares
and the number of shares of any series included in the Subject Shares shall be
calculated without duplication for any shares that may, by virtue of the
definition of "beneficially owned," be deemed to be beneficially owned by more
than one Member.
(d) The Gross Purchase Price will be payable in cash or, as to any
series of High Vote Stock included in the Subject Shares, in fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Low Vote Stock of the corresponding series, or any
combination of the foregoing, as the Xxxxxxx Group Representative, on behalf of
the Holder, may elect, subject to the rights of the Company pursuant to Section
3.1, by written notice given to the Company at least 60 days prior to the
Closing Date (the "Holder Election Notice"). The Holder Election Notice shall
specify as to each series of High Vote Stock included in the Subject Shares, the
portion of the Series Purchase Price to be paid in Low Vote Stock of the
corresponding series (such portion, as to each series of High Vote Stock, being
the "Series Stock Value" and as to all series for which payment in Low Vote
Stock has been elected being, in the aggregate, the "Gross Stock Value"). The
Gross Purchase Price less the Gross Stock Value is herein referred to as the
"Closing Date Amount". Subject to the Company's right to elect to require a
public sale in accordance with Section 3, the Closing Date Amount shall be
delivered to the Xxxxxxx Group Representative, on behalf of all Members and
Permitted Transferees who held any of the Subject Shares purchased in cash on
the Closing Date.
(e) If the Holder has timely elected in accordance with Section 2.2(d)
to receive any portion of the Gross Purchase Price in shares of Low Vote Stock,
the number of shares of any series of Low Vote Stock to be delivered to the
Holder on the Closing Date shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing
(i) the Series Stock Value for the corresponding series of High Vote Stock by
(ii) the Per Share Value of such corresponding series of High Vote Stock. The
shares to be so delivered on the Closing Date will not have been registered for
sale under the Securities Act and may not be sold except pursuant to an
effective registration statement or an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act. The Company will be under no obligation to
register such shares for resale except as otherwise provided in a Registration
Rights Agreement to be entered into by the Company and the Holder on or prior to
the Closing Date pursuant to which the Company shall grant to the Holder
registration rights with respect to such Shares not less favorable to the Holder
than any registration rights granted by the Company to Xxxxxx pursuant to the
Xxxxxx Call Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement"). The certificates
for the shares of Low Vote Stock to be delivered to the Holder on the Closing
Date shall bear a customary legend to the foregoing effect but shall be free of
any rights of the Company hereunder.
(f) Amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement in cash shall, unless
otherwise agreed by the Company and the Xxxxxxx Group Representative, be paid by
wire transfer of next day
14
funds on or prior to the Closing Date to an account designated in writing by
the Xxxxxxx Group Representative at least two (2) Business Days before the
Closing Date.
2.3 Acceleration of Call Right. (a) During the term of this
Agreement, neither any Member nor any Permitted Transferee shall dispose of
any Member Shares, except in an Exempt Transfer. If any Related Party of any
Member to whom such Member transfers any Member Shares in an Exempt Transfer
ceases to be a Related Party of its transferor and is not then a Related
Party of any other Member or Permitted Transferee, then such occurrence shall
be deemed to be a Disposition of the Member Shares then held by such Person
giving rise to the Company's purchase right unless the requirements of the
proviso in the definition of "Related Party" in Section 1.1 hereof are
satisfied.
(b) (i) If any Member or any Permitted Transferee (as
applicable, the "Transferor") receives a bona fide written offer (a
"Bona Fide Offer") from a Person who is not an Affiliate of any Member
or any Permitted Transferee (a "Prospective Purchaser") to purchase all
or any of the Member Shares beneficially owned by the Transferor and
the Transferor desires to accept the Bona Fide Offer, then prior to the
acceptance of the Bona Fide Offer by the Transferor, the Call Right
shall accelerate as to the Member Shares that are the subject of the
Bona Fide Offer (the "Offered Shares") and the Company may exercise the
Call Right in the manner and to the extent set forth in this Section
2.3(b).
(ii) The Transferor shall give written notice (the "Offer
Notice") to the Company of its receipt of the Bona Fide Offer and
desire to accept the same, which notice shall (A) state the identity of
the Prospective Purchaser and, if the Prospective Purchaser is not its
own ultimate parent within the meaning of the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, the identity of its
ultimate parent(s) and (B) set forth all material terms of the Bona
Fide Offer (including the purchase price and the method of payment
thereof). The Company shall then have the option to exercise the Call
Right as to all but not less than all of the Offered Shares at the
applicable price determined in accordance with the following sentence
and, subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 2.3, on the
terms of the Bona Fide Offer (as disclosed in the Offer Notice). The
price at which the Offered Shares may be purchased by the Company shall
be the lesser of (x) the price offered in the Bona Fide Offer and (y)
an amount equal to the Gross Purchase Price, as determined in
accordance with Section 2.2, that would be payable if the Offered
Shares were the Subject Shares (such lesser amount being, the "Company
Price"). The Transferor shall enclose with the Offer Notice a true and
complete copy of the Bona Fide Offer and all documents related thereto.
In determining the Company Price, (i) if any portion of the price
offered in the Bona Fide Offer consisted of consideration other than
cash, the fair market value of such non-cash consideration shall be
deemed to be equal to the amount determined by agreement of the
Transferor and the Company or, failing such agreement, as determined in
accordance with the procedures as set forth in Section 2.3(c); and (ii)
the number of Subject Shares and the number of shares of any series
included in the Subject Shares shall
15
be calculated without duplication for any shares that may, by virtue of
the definition of "beneficially owned," be deemed to be beneficially owned
by more than one Member.
(iii) The Company shall have the right, exercisable (if so
determined by the Independent Committee) by the written notice (an
"Election Notice") given to the Transferor on or before the Close of
Business on the tenth (10th) Business Day after receipt of the Offer
Notice, to exercise the Call Right as to the Offered Shares and to
purchase all but not less than all of the Offered Shares. If the
Company duly delivers an Election Notice for the Offered Shares in
accordance with the foregoing procedure, it shall (subject to the
Company's right to elect to pay a portion of the Company Price in debt
securities in accordance with Section 2.3(b)(iv) and subject to the
Company's right to elect to require a public sale in accordance with
Section 3.1), purchase the Offered Shares for cash, paid by wire
transfer of next day funds on or prior to the Closing Date to an
account designated by the Transferor in writing at least two (2)
Business Days before such date. Notwithstanding the date fixed as the
Closing Date in Section 4.1, the Closing Date for the purchase and sale
of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be subject to
extension in accordance with Section 2.3(c).
(iv) In the event that the Company Price is the price
offered in the Bona Fide Offer and any part of the price specified in
the Bona Fide Offer is proposed to be paid in debt securities, the
Company may, in its discretion, elect to pay the equivalent portion of
the Company Price through the issuance of debt securities with
substantially similar terms in an amount the fair market value of which
is equal to the fair market value of the equivalent portion of the debt
securities specified in the Offer Notice, in each case as agreed by the
Company and the Transferor or, failing such agreement, as determined in
accordance with the procedures specified in Section 2.3(c), taking into
consideration relevant credit factors relating to the Prospective
Purchaser and the Company and the marketability and liquidity of such
debt securities.
(v) In the event that (A) no Election Notice has been given
by the tenth (10th) Business Day after receipt of the Offer Notice, or
(B) if an Election Notice is given, the Closing has not occurred by the
61st day after the Election Notice is given (or such later date as the
parties may have scheduled for the Closing or to which the Closing may
have been extended pursuant to Section 2.3(c), for any reason other
than a breach by the Transferor or another Member or Permitted
Transferee of its obligations hereunder (the first to occur of such
events being the "Free to Sell Date"), then the Transferor shall have
the right to sell all but not less than all of the Offered Shares to
the Prospective Purchaser at the price (or a greater price) and upon
the terms (or terms no more favorable to the Prospective Purchaser)
specified in the Offer Notice and, in connection with any such sale the
Transferor shall not be required to convert any of the Offered Shares
into shares of Low Vote Stock prior to the sale to such Prospective
Purchaser. The Transferor's right to sell the Offered Shares to the
Prospective Purchaser pursuant to this Section 2.3(b)(v) shall expire
and the provisions of this Section 2.3(b) shall be reinstated in the
event that the Prospective
16
Purchaser has not purchased such Offered Shares within ten (10) Business
Days after the Free to Sell Date.
(c) (i) If a Bona Fide Offer proposes to pay a portion of the
price for the Offered Shares in consideration other than cash and the
Company and the Transferor have not agreed upon the value thereof (or,
in the case of debt securities, if the Company has elected to pay a
portion of the Company Price in equivalent securities and the Company
and the Transferor have not agreed upon the value of the debt
securities the Company proposes to issue) by the Close of Business on
the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the date otherwise fixed for the
Closing (the "Commencement Date") then the procedures set forth in this
Section 2.3(c) shall be commenced and the Closing Date shall be
extended to the fifth (5th) Business Day following the date on which
the fair market value of the noncash consideration (or Company issued
debt securities) has been finally determined pursuant to this Section
2.3(c).
(ii) The Company and the Transferor shall each retain a
Qualified Appraiser and notify the other party of its selection within
five (5) Business Days of the Commencement Date to render the
determination required by this Section 2.3(c). If either party fails
to timely select its Qualified Appraiser then the Qualified Appraiser
selected by the other party shall render such determination. The
Company and the Transferor shall each be responsible for the fees and
expenses of the Qualified Appraiser selected by it, unless only one
Qualified Appraiser is selected in which case the Company and the
Transferor shall each bear 50% of such fees and expenses. If a Third
Appraiser is selected pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) the fees and
expenses of the Third Appraiser will be shared equally by the Company
and the Transferor.
(iii) The Qualified Appraisers selected by the parties
shall submit their respective independent determinations of the fair
market value of the noncash consideration (and, if applicable, Company
issued debt securities), within 15 Business Days after the Commencement
Date. If the respective determinations of such Qualified Appraisers
vary by less than ten percent (10%), the fair market value of the
noncash consideration (and, if applicable, Company issued debt
securities) shall be the average of the two determinations.
(iv) If such respective determinations vary by ten percent
(10%) or more, the two Appraisers shall promptly designate a third
Qualified Appraiser (the "Third Appraiser"). No party to this
Agreement or any Affiliate of any party to this Agreement or Qualified
Appraiser shall, provide any information to the Third Appraiser as to
the determinations of the initial Qualified Appraisers or otherwise
influence the Third Appraiser's determination in any way. The Third
Appraiser shall submit its determination of the fair market value of
the noncash consideration (and, if applicable, Company issued debt
securities), within ten (10) Business Days after the date on which the
Third Appraiser is retained. If a Third Appraiser is retained, the
fair market value of the noncash consideration (and, if applicable,
Company issued debt securities) shall equal the average of
17
the two closest of the three determinations, except that, if the
difference between the highest and middle determinations is no more
than 105% and no less than 95% of the difference between the middle and
lowest determinations, then the fair market value shall equal the
middle determination.
(v) In determining the fair market value of the noncash
consideration (and, if applicable, the Company issued debt securities),
each Qualified Appraiser retained pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)
shall: (A) assume that the fair market value of the applicable asset is
the price at which the asset would change hands between a willing buyer
and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell
and each having reasonable knowledge of all relevant facts; (B) assume
that the applicable asset would be sold for cash; and (C) use valuation
techniques then prevailing in the relevant industry.
(d) No voluntary transfers of Member Shares may be made by any
Holder during the Call Period and if the Call Right is exercised, thereafter,
except (i) to the Company pursuant to the Call Right or (ii) in the case of
any pre-existing Permitted Pledge that continues to qualify as a Permitted
Pledge, a transfer of the pledged Member Shares to the pledgee (or its
nominee) as a result of the bona fide exercise by such pledgee of its rights
and remedies as contemplated by the definition of "Permitted Pledge" in
Section 1.1 hereof, but not any further transfer by such assignee (it being
understood that a conversion by the pledgee of the pledged Member Shares into
shares of Low Vote Stock in the manner and on the terms set forth in the
definition of "Permitted Pledge" in Section 1.1 hereof shall be permitted).
Accordingly, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no voluntary
transfer may be made during such period pursuant to a Bona Fide Offer,
notwithstanding the Transferor's compliance with this Section 2.3 prior to
Xxxxxx'x death.
(e) If there shall be more than one Transferor in any transaction or
series of related transactions covered by an Offer Notice, and if, to the extent
permitted by this Agreement, the Company pays the Company Price with more than
one form of consideration, then unless otherwise agreed in writing by the
Transferors or by the Xxxxxxx Group Representative on their behalf, each
Transferor shall receive on a per share basis substantially the same combination
of consideration.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
one or more Members may, at any time and from time to time, sell a number of
Member Shares that in the aggregate for all transfers made pursuant to this
subsection by any or all of the Members is equal to or less than the number
of Excepted Shares, provided that each such sale is exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and is effected through
unsolicited broker transactions within the meaning of paragraph (g) and the
first sentence of paragraph (f) of Rule 144 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Act, as in effect on the date of this
Agreement. Prior to the consummation of a disposition of any Member Shares in
accordance with this Section 2.3(f), such Member Shares must be converted
into shares of Low Vote Stock of the corresponding series. The number of any
Member Shares disposed of pursuant to this Section 2.3(f) shall be subtracted
from the number of Excepted Shares. Upon the consummation of a disposition
of
18
Member Shares pursuant to this Section 2.3(f), the Xxxxxxx Group Representative
shall deliver to the Company a written notice stating the number of Member
Shares so disposed of, identifying the Member or Members selling such Member
Shares and the number sold by each, and the aggregate number of Excepted Shares
which the Members of the Xxxxxxx Group continues to beneficially own.
(g) The Company agrees that if a Permitted Pledge of any Member Shares
is made and the lender forecloses or takes any other action to enforce the
security interest represented by such pledge and makes an irrevocable
commitment, in accordance with the definition of "Permitted Pledge" in Section
1.1 hereof, to convert such Member Shares into shares of Low Vote Stock on a
share-for-share basis, the Company shall permit such conversion and shall
reasonably cooperate with such lender in effecting such conversion as promptly
as reasonably practicable and shall comply with Section 6.4(b) of the
Stockholders Agreement.
3. Public Sale Election.
3.1 Company Election. (a) Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.2(d) or
Section 2.3(b)(iii) to the contrary, but subject to Section 2.3(e), the Company
shall have the right to pay all or any portion of the Closing Date Amount or
Company Price, as applicable, in shares of Low Vote Stock in accordance with the
following procedures. At least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing
Date, the Company shall notify (the "Public Sale Notice") the Xxxxxxx Group
Representative, on behalf of the Holder or each Transferor, as the case may be,
as to the portion of the Closing Date Amount or Company Price, as applicable, to
be paid in shares of Low Vote Stock (the "Public Sale Dollar Amount"). The
number of shares of Low Vote Stock (the "Resale Stock") deliverable to the
Underwriters pursuant to Section 3.2 shall be that number of shares which when
sold in accordance with Section 3.2 will reasonably be expected to yield
aggregate net proceeds collectively to all the Member(s) and Permitted
Transferee(s), if any, participating in the sale (collectively, the "Seller")
(after deduction of underwriting discounts and commissions and assuming the
payment by the Company of all other expenses of registration and sale of the
Resale Stock) of an aggregate amount equal to the Stock Proceeds Amount.
(b) The term "Stock Proceeds Amount" shall mean the sum of (i) Public
Sale Dollar Amount, plus (ii) interest on the Public Sale Dollar Amount,
accruing from and including the Closing Date to the date of payment pursuant to
Section 3.2, at a rate equal to the weighted average interest rate applicable as
of the Closing Date to that portion of the consolidated indebtedness of the
Company that bears interest at a floating interest rate.
(c) Subject to the foregoing, the decision as to which series of Low
Vote Stock and the number of shares of each such series that will comprise the
Resale Stock shall be made by the Company at its discretion. Such shares shall
be held by the Company on behalf of the Seller pending the Sales, and the
Company shall be authorized to deliver such shares to the Underwriters on such
Seller's behalf prior to the closing of the Sales.
19
3.2 Public Sale. (a) On the Closing Date, the Company shall
provide an effective registration statement (the "Registration Statement")
registering under the Securities Act resales of the Resale Stock deliverable
pursuant to Section 3.1 having a maximum aggregate offering price (net of
underwriting fee and commissions) equal to the Stock Proceeds Amount. Such
Resale Stock shall be sold (at the Company's discretion but in the form of
one or more secondary offerings on behalf of each Seller) under the
Registration Statement during the period of not more than 45 days following
the Closing Date as specified by the Company (the "Offering Period"). The
Company may by notice to each Seller at any time shorten the Offering Period,
and in such event, the Offering Period as referred to herein shall mean such
shorter period. All sales (the "Sales") of the Resale Stock shall be made on
behalf of each Seller by underwriters selected by the Company (the
"Underwriters") pursuant to one or more block trades, underwritten offerings
or otherwise, in each case as determined by the Company. The actual net
proceeds from the Sales (after deduction of underwriting discounts and
commissions) are referred to as the "Net Proceeds". The Company shall pay
all expenses of registration and sale of the Resale Stock.
(b) On the fifth Business Day following the termination of the
Offering Period, the Company shall deliver the Net Proceeds to the Xxxxxxx
Group Representative, as agent for the Member(s) and Permitted Transferee(s),
if any, comprising the Seller, and if the Net Proceeds are less than the
Stock Proceeds Amount, the difference (the "Difference") shall be paid by the
Company in cash on such date to the Xxxxxxx Group Representative, as such
agent. The Company may elect to pay some or all of the Difference prior to
such date and in such event the interest component of the portion of the
Difference so paid early shall be calculated with respect to such earlier
payment date. If the Net Proceeds exceed the Stock Proceeds Amount, the
Company may retain the excess.
(c) The Company shall indemnify the Seller and the Underwriters in
respect of the Sales to the same extent as the Company would indemnify the
Holder and the Underwriters as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement,
but the Sales shall not be deemed to have been made pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement.
(d) Each Seller shall be required to cooperate with the Company in
connection with the Registration Statement and the Sales (including, without
limitation, by executing and delivering underwriting and other documents and
instruments, taking actions and providing information) as shall be reasonably
requested by the Company in connection therewith.
4. Closing Matters.
4.1 Closing Date. The consummation of the purchase and sale of (i) the
Subject Shares following the exercise of the Call Right pursuant to Section
2.2 or (ii) the Offered Shares following the exercise of the Call Right
pursuant to Section 2.3 (in each case, a "Closing") shall be held at 10:00
a.m. local time on, respectively, (x) the 155th day following the Exercise
Date, or (y) the 60th day following the date the Election Notice is given or
(z) such other date and at such other time as the Holder or the Transferor
and the Company may agree (the date on which any such Closing occurs is
referred to herein as the "Closing Date"). The Closing shall take place at
the principal
20
offices of the Company or at such other place as the Xxxxxxx Group
Representative and the Company may agree.
4.2 Closing Deliveries. At the Closing, the Company shall pay to the
Xxxxxxx Group Representative, as agent for the Member(s) and Permitted
Transferee(s), if any, comprising the Seller (i) any portion of the Closing
Date Amount or Company Price, as applicable, that was required to be paid in
cash in the manner provided in Section 2.2(f) or Section 2.3(b)(iii), as and
if applicable, (ii) deliver certificate(s) registered in the name of each
Seller for the number of shares of Low Vote Stock required to be delivered in
payment of the Gross Stock Value portion of the Gross Purchase Price, and
(iii) if the Company has elected to pay any or all of the Closing Date Amount
or Company Price, as applicable, in shares of Low Vote Stock pursuant to
Section 3.1, deliver the Registration Statement conforming to the
requirements of Section 3.2. At the Closing, each of the Member(s) and
Permitted Transferee(s), if any, participating in the sale shall be required,
as a condition to receiving payment, to deliver to the Company (i) a stock
certificate or certificates, duly endorsed for transfer or in blank,
representing such Person's Subject Shares or Offered Shares, as applicable,
(ii) if applicable, copies of Letters Testamentary or other documentation
evidencing the authority of such Person to transfer any of the Subject Shares
that are evidenced by certificates registered in the name of a Person other
than such Seller, (iii) a certificate, executed by or on behalf of such
Person, in which such Person represents and warrants to the Company that such
Person has good title to the Subject Shares or Offered Shares, as applicable,
being sold by him, free and clear of any liens, claims, charges or
encumbrances and has the legal authority to consummate such sale and (iv)
such other certificates and documents as the Company may reasonably request.
5. Certain Representations, Warranties and Covenants.
5.1 Representations and Warranties. Each party hereto hereby
represents and warrants to the other parties as follows (with such
representations and warranties surviving the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement):
(a) Such party has the legal right and all requisite power and
authority to make and enter into this Agreement and to perform his or its
obligations hereunder and comply with the provisions hereof. If such party
is the Company, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
the Company has been duly authorized by all necessary action on its part.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of such party enforceable
against him or it in accordance with its terms except as enforcement may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
the rights of creditors generally and except that the availability of
equitable remedies, including specific performance, is subject to the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought;
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
such party, and the compliance by such party with the provisions hereof, do
not and will not (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) conflict
with, or result in any violation of, or default under, or give
21
rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, any loan or credit
agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement,
instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree,
statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to such party or any
of his or its properties or assets, other than any such conflicts,
violations, defaults, or other effects which individually or in the aggregate
do not and will not prevent, restrict or impede such party's performance of
his or its obligations under and compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement. If such party is the Company, the execution, delivery and
performance of and compliance with this Agreement by it do not and will not
contravene its charter, by-laws or other organizational document; and
(c) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, any governmental or regulatory
authority or any other person is required by such party in connection with
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such party,
except, with respect to the exercise of certain rights granted hereunder, in
connection with Federal and state securities laws.
5.2 General Covenants. (a) In the event that any sale of
shares pursuant to this Agreement would violate any rules or regulations of
any governmental or regulatory agency having jurisdiction or any other
material law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the
parties hereto (including, with respect to the Company, its subsidiaries or
any of the Company's or such subsidiary's respective properties and assets),
then each party hereto hereby agrees (i) to cooperate with and assist the
other in filing such applications and giving such notices, (ii) to use
reasonable efforts to obtain, and to assist the other in obtaining, such
consents, approvals and waivers, and (iii) to take such other actions,
including supplying all information necessary for any filing, as any affected
party may reasonably request, all as and to the extent necessary or advisable
so that the consummation of such sale will not constitute or result in such a
violation.
(b) Each party hereto hereby further agrees that he or it shall
not take any action or enter into any agreement or arrangement restricting or
limiting his or its ability timely and fully to perform all his or its
obligations under this Agreement. The grant by the Members of the Xxxxxxx
Group of the voting rights and proxy provided for in Article II of the
Stockholders Agreement and the exercise of such rights and by this use of
such proxy agreement is not intended to be prohibited or otherwise affected.
6. Stockholder's Covenant Relating to a Sale of Company.
6.1 Limitation on Size of Premium. (a) In connection with any
proposed Sale of the Company, each Member agrees not to negotiate for or
require as a term of such transaction or as a condition to his agreement to
vote therefor that either (i) the holders of High Vote Stock receive for such
High Vote Stock or (ii) any Member or any Related Party or Affiliate of any
Member receives for the shares of High Vote Stock or Common Stock
beneficially owned by any of them, consideration the value of which on a per
share basis exceeds the value per share payable to (x) holders of shares of
Low Vote Stock into which such High Vote Stock is convertible or (y) holders
22
of Common Stock other than any Member or any Related Party or Affiliate of
any Member, in either case by more than ten percent (10%) (a "Prohibited
Premium"). For the purposes of computing the existence of a Prohibited
Premium, if any noncash consideration to be received by any holders of Common
Stock in any proposed Sale of the Company is the same for both (A) (i) the
holders of High Vote Stock or (ii) any Member or any Related Party or
Affiliate of any Member, as applicable, and (B) (x) holders of shares of Low
Vote Stock into which such High Vote Stock is convertible or (y) holders of
Common Stock other than any Member or any Related Party or Affiliate of any
Member, as applicable, a Prohibited Premium shall be deemed to exist if the
ratio of such noncash consideration given to the Persons listed in (A) above
exceeds the amount of such noncash consideration given to the Persons listed
in (B) above by more than ten percent (10%). If different forms of noncash
consideration are to be given to the Persons listed in (A) above than to the
Persons listed in (B) above, and there is any disagreement between the
Independent Committee and any such Person or the Xxxxxxx Group Representative
as to the value of any such consideration for the purposes of determining if
there is a Prohibited Premium, then the noncash consideration shall be valued
by using the appraisal procedures set forth in Section 2.3(c).
(b) If a proposed Sale of the Company containing a Prohibited
Premium is submitted to the stockholders of the Company for a vote, each
Member agrees that he will vote all of his Member Shares, and any other
shares of voting stock entitled to vote on such proposal beneficially owned
by him, against such proposal.
7. Miscellaneous.
7.1 Actions by Xxxxxxx Group. (a) Any notice, consent, approval or
other decision by or on behalf of the Xxxxxxx Group or any Member or Members
required or permitted by this Agreement shall be effective if expressed in a
writing which is either executed by the Xxxxxxx Group Representative or by
all such Member(s), and in either such case the parties to this Agreement may
assume that such the Xxxxxxx Group Representative or such Member(s), as the
case may be, has or have the power and authority to do so and may rely
conclusively on such writing as expressing the action of the Xxxxxxx Group or
such Member or Members, as the case may be.
(b) The Xxxxxxx Group may designate any of its members as the Xxxxxxx
Group Representative by written notice of such designation (and containing
such representatives address for notices and other communications) delivered
to the Company and Xxxxxx. In the event of the death, incapacity or removal
of the Person serving as the Xxxxxxx Group Representative, the Xxxxxxx Group
shall promptly designate a successor. Pending such designation, each party
to this Agreement shall be entitled to treat as the Xxxxxxx Group
Representative the member of the Xxxxxxx Group who holds of record the
greatest number of shares of High Vote Stock.
7.2 Term. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until
the first to occur of the following: (i) all of the Member Shares have been
purchased by the Company, (ii) all of the Member Shares have been sold to one
or more Prospective Purchasers in compliance with Section 2.3(b) and (ii) the
Call Right under Section 2.2 has expired unexercised.
23
7.3 Binding Effect; Assignability; Entire Agreement; Legends (a)
Except as expressly provided herein, no party hereto may assign its rights or
delegate its obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the
other parties hereto, except that the Company may assign its rights and
delegate its obligations without such consent to any successor corporation by
operation of law. Any assignment or delegation in contravention of this
Agreement shall be void and shall not relieve the assigning or delegating
party of any obligation hereunder. This Agreement and all of the provisions
hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
(b) This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and merges
and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any
and every nature among them with respect to such subject matter. For the
sake of certainty, the parties specifically acknowledge that this Agreement
is not intended to merge, supersede or alter the provisions of (i) the
Stockholders Agreement or (ii) any provision of the Agreement, effective as
of January 5, 1998 and titled "AGREEMENT RE: SETTLEMENT OF XXXXXXX ESTATE
LITIGATION" among certain parties to such Stockholders' Agreement and certain
other Persons, as it may be amended from time to time (the "Settlement
Agreement"), other than numbered paragraph 10 thereof or (iii) any separate
agreement, release or instrument granted, entered into or delivered pursuant
to such Settlement Agreement.
(c) Except as expressly set forth herein, none of the provisions
of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of or be enforceable by any
Person not a party hereto.
(d) The provisions of Section 6.4 of the Stockholders Agreement
are hereby incorporated by reference, with the same force and effect as if
set forth at this place.
7.4 Amendments and Waivers. Subject to Section 7.13 hereof, the
provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may
not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers of or consents to
departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless approved in
writing by the Company and the Xxxxxxx Group Representative.
7.5 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of
the laws that might be applicable under principles of conflicts of law.
7.6 Interpretation. The headings of the sections contained in this
Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the
agreement of the parties and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation
of this Agreement.
7.7 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if delivered personally or mailed, certified or registered mail
with postage prepaid, sent by facsimile transmission (with
24
acknowledgment received), or by reliable overnight courier service, with
acknowledgment of receipt requested, to the intended recipient at: (i) in the
case of Xxxxxx or any other member of the Xxxxxx Group, to Xxxxxx or such member
at such address as he may from time to time specify by written notice to the
Company and the Xxxxxxx Group Representative, (ii) in the case of the Xxxxxxx
Group Representative or any member of the Xxxxxxx Group, to the Xxxxxxx Group
Representative at such address as he may from time to time specify by written
notice to the Company and Xxxxxx (or his estate, heirs or personal
representative) and (iii) in the case of the Company, to it at its principal
executive offices or at such changed address as it may from time to time specify
in writing to the Xxxxxxx Group Representative, the Company and Xxxxxx (or his
estate, heirs or personal representative).
All notices and other communications given to a party in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given (i)
three Business Days after the same are sent by certified or registered mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (ii) on the date when delivered by
hand, (iii) on the date sent by facsimile transmission (with acknowledgment
received) unless such day is not a Business Day in which case, the next Business
Day following such day or (iv) one Business Day after the same are sent by a
reliable overnight courier service, with acknowledgment of receipt requested.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, notice of change of address shall be
effective only upon actual receipt thereof.
7.8 No Implied Waivers. No action taken pursuant to this Agreement,
including, without limitation, any investigation by or on behalf of any party,
shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of
compliance with any representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
contained herein or made pursuant hereto. The waiver by any party hereto of a
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a
waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach and no failure by any party to
exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of such
party's rights or privileges hereunder or shall be deemed a waiver of such
party's rights to exercise the same at any subsequent time or times hereunder.
7.9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.
7.10. Further Assurances. Each party shall cooperate and take such actions
as may be reasonably requested by another party in order to carry out the
provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby. If, as a result of any recapitalization, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, share exchange or other transaction or event shares of any
substitute, different or new class or series of High Vote Stock is issued or is
issuable (upon exercise of warrants, options, convertible securities or
otherwise) to any Member, then if and to the extent requested in writing by the
Company, such shares shall be subject to terms as nearly as equivalent as
practicable to the provisions of this Agreement and the Stockholders' Agreement
applicable to such Member.
25
7.11. Remedies. In the event of a breach or a threatened breach by one
party to this Agreement of its obligations under this Agreement, each other
party, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law,
including recovery of damages, shall be deemed to have suffered or be about to
suffer irreparable harm and will be entitled to specific performance of its
rights under this Agreement. The parties agree that the provisions of this
Agreement shall be specifically enforceable, it being agreed by the parties that
the remedy at law, including monetary damages, for breach of such provision will
be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived.
7.12. Use of Certain Words. The use of the words "hereof", "herein",
"hereunder", and words of similar import shall refer to this entire Agreement,
and not to any particular article, section, subsection, clause, or paragraph of
this Agreement, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The use in this
Agreement of the masculine, feminine or neither shall be deemed to include a
reference to the others.
7.13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application
thereof to any Person or circumstance is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions
hereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other
than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain
in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated thereby, provided, that if any provision hereof or the application
hereof shall be so held to be invalid, void or unenforceable by a court of
competent jurisdiction, then such court may substitute therefor a suitable and
equitable provision in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and
enforceable, the intent and purpose of the invalid, void or unenforceable
provision and, if such court shall fail or decline to do so, the parties shall
negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable
provision.
7.14. Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY (i) SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE
NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN WILMINGTON,
DELAWARE (AND OF ANY APPELLATE COURT TO WHICH AN APPEAL OF ANY JUDGMENT, ORDER,
DECREE OR DECISION OF ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE TAKEN) IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR EITHER CALL AGREEMENT
OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT RENDERED IN ANY SUCH SUIT,
ACTION OR PROCEEDING, (ii) WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER
HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH
COURT, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING HAS BEEN
BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, (iii) WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN
ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND (iv) WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY
SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS BY
26
ANY MEANS, MANNER OR METHOD OTHER THAN IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR THE GIVING OF
NOTICES TO SUCH PARTY IN SECTION 7.7, AND AGREES THAT ANY PROCESS SERVED UPON
SUCH PARTY IN SUCH MANNER SHALL HAVE THE SAME VALIDITY AND LEGAL FORCE AND
EFFECT AS IF SERVED UPON SUCH PARTY PERSONALLY WITHIN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.
(b) Nothing in this Section shall affect the right of any party to serve
legal process in any other manner permitted by law or affect the right of any
party to bring any action or proceeding against any other party or its property
in the courts of any other jurisdiction. The consents to jurisdiction set forth
in this Section shall not constitute general consents to service of process in
the State of Delaware, shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided
in this Section and shall not be deemed to confer rights on any Person other
than the parties to this Agreement.
7.15. Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement and any other instrument
executed and delivered by any party pursuant to this Agreement may be executed
by facsimile signatures.
[Rest of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
27
7.16. Attorneys' Fees. In any action or proceeding brought to enforce any
provision of this Agreement, and in any action or proceeding otherwise arising
under or with respect to this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled
to recover reasonable attorneys' fees in addition to any other available remedy.
7.17. Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement,
each party will pay its own costs and expenses in connection with the
negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement,
any amendment or supplement to or modification of this Agreement and any and all
other agreements, instruments, certificates and other documents furnished
pursuant hereto or in connection herewith.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.
TELE-COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
/s/ Tele-Communications, Inc.
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
/s/ Xxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Xxx Xxxxxxx, individually and as Trustee
of the Xxxxxxx Family Irrevocable Trusts
and the Xxxxxxx Issue GST Trusts
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, individually and as Trustee
of the Xxxxxxx Family Irrevocable Trusts
and the Xxxxxxx Issue GST Trusts
ESTATE OF XXXXX XXXXXXX
By:
/s/ Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Personal
Representative
ESTATE OF XXX XXXXXXX
By:
/s/ Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Personal
Representative
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Personal
Representative
