Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreement September 4, 2009
Exhibit (d)(6)
September 4, 2009
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Chairman of the Board
Ambassadors International, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Chairman of the Board
Ambassadors International, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Dear Art:
We refer to our recent discussions regarding the proposed exchange offer (the “Exchange
Offer”) by Ambassadors International, Inc. (the “Company”) to accept tenders of up to
100% of the Company’s outstanding 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Convert
Notes”), of which approximately $97 million in aggregate principal amount is currently
outstanding, in exchange for (1) up to an aggregate of $26.5 million aggregate principal amount of
the Company’s new non-convertible senior secured notes (the “New Notes”) and (2) up to an
aggregate of 22,346,534 newly-issued shares of common stock of the Company (the “New
Shares”). The undersigned beneficial owner(s) of the Convert Notes identified on the signature
page(s) hereto (such beneficial owner or owners, the “Noteholder”) and the Company hereby
agree as follows (this Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreement being referred to
hereinafter as this “Agreement”):
1. Commitment to Launch Exchange Offer. The Company and the Noteholder agree to work
in good faith towards launching the Exchange Offer as promptly as practicable. The Company and the
Noteholder agree to work in good faith towards agreeing upon definitive documentation for the
Exchange Offer that incorporates reasonably acceptable terms, it being agreed that such reasonably
acceptable terms shall be based on the terms set forth in this Agreement and the Term Sheet
attached hereto as Annex A. Unless this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the
Company and its affiliates and the Noteholder and its affiliates shall not pursue, work on or
negotiate (or authorize their officers or representatives to pursue, work on or negotiate) any
other restructuring proposal for the Company; provided that the Company may continue to
pursue, work on and negotiate the two existing alternative proposals described in a letter from the
Company to the Noteholder (the “Two Existing Proposals”) and may, after
written notice to the Noteholder, pursue, work on and negotiate any unsolicited alternative
transaction for the Company if the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”)
determines in good faith, after consultation with counsel, that such unsolicited alternative
transaction would, if consummated, result in a transaction that is more favorable to the Company
than the Exchange Offer (an “Unsolicited Alternative Transaction”). It is understood that the
proviso to the preceding sentence shall not be deemed a waiver by the Noteholder of any of its
rights under the terms of the Convert Notes and the related indenture
with respect to, or a consent by the Noteholder to, either of the two Existing Proposals or
any Unsolicited Alternative Transaction.
2. Termination of Commitment to Launch Exchange Offer. The Company or the Noteholder
may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the other that it is unable to reach agreement
on reasonably acceptable terms for definitive documentation for the Exchange Offer after working in
good faith as set forth in Section 1. In addition, either the Company or the Noteholder may
terminate this Agreement upon written notice from the Company to the Noteholder that the Board has
determined in good faith in accordance with the preceding paragraph that one of the Two Existing
Proposals or an Unsolicited Alternative Transaction would, if consummated, result in a transaction
that is more favorable to the Company than the Exchange Offer or that the Board has otherwise
determined in good faith that the consummation of the Exchange Offer is inconsistent with the
directors’ fiduciary duties. In the event of a material breach of this Agreement by the Company or
the Noteholder, the non-breaching party may terminate this Agreement by written notice to the
other. Upon the termination of any other Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreement between
the Company and any other holder of Convert Notes (an “Other Exchange Offer Commitment and Support
Agreement”), this Agreement shall automatically terminate.
3. Agreement to Participate in and Support the Exchange Offer. Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, and provided this Agreement has not been terminated in accordance
with Section 2 or Section 4:
(a) The Noteholder (i) shall tender (or cause to be tendered) all Convert Notes (free
and clear of any encumbrances or restrictions) now owned or hereafter acquired by it
pursuant to and in accordance with the Exchange Offer within ten (10) days following the
commencement by the Company of the Exchange Offer and (ii) shall not withdraw or revoke any
such tender unless and until this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section
4.
(b) The Noteholder shall not, so long as this Agreement remains in effect (i) Transfer
(as defined below) any of the Convert Notes now owned or hereafter acquired by it, in whole
or in part, (ii) grant any power-of-attorney or other authorization or consent in or with
respect to any such Convert Notes, (iii) deposit such Convert Notes into a voting trust or
enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to such Convert Notes, or (iv)
take any other action with respect to such Convert Notes that would in any way restrict,
limit or interfere with the performance of such Noteholder’s obligations hereunder or the
transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, the Noteholder shall have the right to
Transfer Convert Notes to any transferee which has entered into an Exchange Offer Commitment
and Support Agreement with the Company substantially identical to this Agreement or a
joinder in the form attached as Annex B to this Agreement or any such substantially
identical Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Transfer” means, directly or indirectly, to (i) sell, pledge, encumber, grant an
option with respect to, transfer or dispose of such security or any interest in such
security to any person other than the Company, (ii) enter into an agreement or legally
binding commitment contemplating the
possible sale of, pledge of, encumbrance of, grant of an option with respect to,
transfer of or disposition of, such security or any interest therein to any person other
than the
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Company or (iii) reduce the Noteholder’s beneficial ownership of, interest in or
risk relating to, such security.
(c) The Noteholder shall permit public disclosure, including in a press release and in
documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC”), of the contents of this
Agreement; provided, however, that, except to the extent required by
applicable law and SEC rules and regulations, no such disclosure shall include the name of
the Noteholder without the prior written approval of the Noteholder in its sole discretion.
The Noteholder shall be given the opportunity to review in advance and, if desired, comment
upon, any proposed public disclosure of this Agreement.
(d) The Noteholder shall not object to, or otherwise commence any proceeding to oppose,
the Exchange Offer and shall not take, or permit any of its affiliates or representatives to
take, any action that (i) is inconsistent with its obligations hereunder or (ii) would
reasonably be expected to delay the consummation of the Exchange Offer.
(e) The Noteholder further agrees that any Notes directly or indirectly acquired by
such Noteholder following the date of this Agreement shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and shall be tendered by the Noteholder as if such Notes had
been held by such Noteholder as of the date hereof.
(f) The Noteholder represents and warrants that it is the sole “beneficial owner”
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of
the principal amount of the Convert Notes set forth on Schedule 1, with full power and
authority to dispose of such Notes and to exchange, assign and Transfer the Notes in the
Exchange Offer, and the Noteholder has not lent or agreed to lend such Convert Notes to any
third party.
4. Termination of Agreement to Participate in and Support the Exchange Offer. The
obligations of the Noteholder set forth in Section 1 and Section 3 above shall terminate
automatically if any of the following shall occur:
(a) The Exchange Offer shall not have been commenced by October 15, 2009;
(b) The Exchange Offer shall not have been consummated within 60 days after the
commencement thereof; or
(c) The Company shall have provided written notice to the Noteholder that it has
determined not to proceed with, or has determined to terminate, the Exchange Offer.
5. Consummation of Exchange Offer. Following commencement of the Exchange Offer, the
Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to
be consummated in accordance with its terms, so long as the conditions to such consummation
specified in the Exchange Offer documentation are satisfied.
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6. Director Nomination. Within two (2) business days of the consummation of the
Exchange Offer, the Company shall hold a special meeting of its Board and the Board shall elect as
a director of the Company at such meeting a suitably qualified (as reasonably determined by the
Noteholder) individual designated in writing by the Noteholder not later than one week before the
initially scheduled expiration date of the Exchange Offer on the condition that at least 58% of the
outstanding Convert Notes (i.e., $56,260,000 in principal amount) are acquired in the Exchange
Offer.
7. Representations. Each party represents and warrants that:
(a) It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite corporate, partnership or other power
and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the transactions contemplated
by, and perform its respective obligations under, this Agreement.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations
hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership or other action
on its part.
(c) The execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement does not and will
not (i) violate any order, judgment or provision of law, rule or regulation applicable to it
or its properties or (ii) conflict with, result in the breach of, or constitute (with due
notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, any material contractual obligations to
which it is a party or its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other governing
instruments.
(d) Assuming the due execution and delivery of this Agreement by the other parties,
this Agreement is the legally valid and binding obligation of it, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to bankruptcy,
moratorium, insolvency, reorganization, voidable preference, fraudulent conveyance and other
similar laws relating to, or affecting, the rights of creditors or the obligations of
debtors generally and except as the same may be subject to the effect of general principles
of equity.
8. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the date that the Company
enters into separate Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreements with other unaffiliated
holders of Convert Notes that represent to the Company that they beneficially own in the aggregate
a sufficient principal amount of Convert Notes that, when such amount is added to the amount set
forth on Schedule 1, the total equals at least $56,260,000 (i.e., 58% of the outstanding principal
amount of the Convert Notes), in each case, on terms agreed between the Company and such other
holder but containing agreements to substantially the same effect as those contained herein.
9. Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse the Noteholder for all
reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket fees and expenses of the Noteholder (including fees and
expenses of outside counsel) incurred after August 1, 2009 associated with the Exchange Offer
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and
the preparation, review, negotiation, execution and delivery of any Exchange Offer documentation
(including documents seeking stockholder approval for the Exchange Offer) and any amendment or
waiver with respect thereto requested by the Company, regardless of whether this Agreement is
terminated for any reason or the Exchange Offer is commenced or is consummated; provided,
however, that if this Agreement is terminated by the Company due to a material breach by
the Noteholder, the Company shall not be liable for any fee or expense reimbursement obligation
hereunder (although, for the avoidance of doubt, this proviso shall not limit any obligation with
respect to jointly incurred expenses that are incurred prior to such breach which the Company is
obligated to reimburse under any Other Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreement). Nothing
in this Section 9 shall limit in any manner whatsoever the rights of the Company with respect to
any breach hereof by the Noteholder, all such rights being expressly reserved. The Noteholder
shall cause its counsel to make a good faith effort to monitor and to provide the Company with an
update on the aggregate fees and expenses for which the Company is liable under this Agreement and
the Other Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreements if and whenever such counsel learns that
such fees and expenses in the aggregate exceed $100,000 or an increment of $50,000 above $100,000
within three (3) business days after learning that such fees and expenses exceed any such level.
This Section 9 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
10. Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE EXECUTED AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY IN SUCH
STATE. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY
RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING
OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
11. Miscellaneous. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
Company and the Noteholder with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement is not
intended to confer upon any person or entity other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall
be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto. Any
purported assignment without such consent shall be void. This Agreement may only be amended by a
writing signed by all the parties hereto. Each party agrees that money damages would not be a
sufficient remedy for any breach of this Agreement by any party and that each non-breaching party
shall be entitled to specific performance or injunctive or other equitable relief as a remedy for
any such breach. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement
be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the law and public policies applied in each
jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, in the event that any provision of this
Agreement would be held in any jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any
reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the
remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such
provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could
be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction,
it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining
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provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any
other jurisdiction. All parties agree to cooperate fully and to execute any and all supplementary
documents and to take all additional actions that may be necessary or appropriate to give full
force to the basic terms and intent of this Agreement and that are not inconsistent with its terms.
Whenever the words “included,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
[Signature pages follow.]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and
return a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Agreement, along with all counterparts, will become a
binding agreement between the Company and the Noteholder in accordance with its terms.
| Very truly yours, | ||||||
| HIGHBRIDGE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC | ||||||
| By: Highbridge Capital Management, LLC, |
||||||
| as Trading Manager | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Malda Hibri
|
|||||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||||||
| Address: | ||||||
| c/o Highbridge Capital Management, LLC | ||||||
| 0 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx | ||||||
| Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 | ||||||
| Facsimile: 000-000-0000 | ||||||
Acknowledged and agreed:
AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: Name: |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Chief Executive Officer |
Highbridge Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreement
Annex A
Term Sheet
[see attached]
CONFIDENTIAL — FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY
Ambassadors International, Inc.
Preliminary Term Sheet for Potential Restructuring
Preliminary Term Sheet for Potential Restructuring
The following describes the potential principal terms and conditions of a transaction under
consideration involving an exchange offer (the “Exchange Offer”) by the Company to accept tenders
of up to 100% of its outstanding 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Convert Notes”), of
which approximately $97 million in principal amount is currently outstanding, in exchange for (a)
up to $26.5 million of the Company’s new non-convertible senior secured notes (the “New Notes”) and
(b) up to 22,346,534 newly-issued shares of common stock of the Company (the “New Common Stock”)
(representing up to 66.67% of the common stock of the Company post-Exchange Offer).1
Exchange Overview:
|
Deleveraging transaction whereby the Company will accept tenders of up to 100% of the Convert Notes in exchange for (i) up to $26.5 million principal amount of New Notes and (ii) up to 22,346,534 shares of New Common Stock (representing up to 66.67% of the common stock of the Company post-Exchange Offer). No accrued interest will be due on exchanged Convert Notes (but the Company will make the scheduled October 15, 2009 interest payment on such Convert Notes if the Exchange Offer is not consummated prior to the 30 day grace period provided in the Convert Notes Indenture (i.e., November 15, 2009)). | |
Other Conditions Precedent to
Consummation of Exchange Offer:
|
Completion of legal and other documentation to the reasonable satisfaction of the Noteholder (as defined in the Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreement to which this term sheet is annexed) and the Company; receipt of stockholder approval and any required third party consents to the reasonable satisfaction of the Noteholder and the Company; and satisfaction of the other conditions specified in such agreement and in this term sheet. | |
Board of Directors:
|
The Company will covenant to hold a special meeting of its board of directors (the “Board”) immediately following the consummation of the Exchange Offer. The Company’s Board shall nominate for election as directors at such special meeting three individuals so as to allow |
| 1 | Note: The Company confirms that there are no outstanding warrants or convertible securities (other than the Convert Notes) and all stock options are significantly out of the money. |
| (through increasing the size of the Board to five (5) directors and replacing vacancies created by two (2) directors resigning from the Board) such nominees to constitute a majority of the Board, on the condition that at least 58% of the outstanding Convert Notes (i.e., $56,260,000 in principal amount) are tendered into the Exchange Offer. The individual to be nominated by each Noteholder shall be agreed by the Company and the Noteholder not later than one week before the expiration date of the Exchange Offer. | ||
Management Option Plan:
|
No additional options under the Company’s option plans will be granted. No anti-dilution adjustment will be made to the outstanding options under such option plans as a result of the Exchange Offer. The Board following consummation of the Exchange Offer will consider grants of additional options to management. | |
Electing Holders:
|
Each of the Noteholder and certain other holders of the Convert Notes (the “Committing Holders”) will enter into separate agreements with the Company prior to the commencement of the Exchange Offer, committing to tender the full amount of their Convert Notes, subject to agreement on mutually acceptable documentation and the other conditions specified in such agreements and in this term sheet. Other holders of the Convert Notes may elect to participate in the Exchange Offer on the same terms as the Committing Holders (together with the Committing Holders, the “Electing Holders”). | |
Registration Rights:
|
It is expected that the New Notes and New Common Stock will be issued pursuant to the exemption under section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and be freely tradeable other than by affiliates. In addition, Electing Holders will have customary demand and piggyback registration rights applicable to the New Notes and the New Common Stock. | |
Conditions to Exchange Offer:
|
• Stockholder approval |
|
• Nasdaq approval of listing of New Common Stock |
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• SEC approval of the indenture for the New Notes |
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• Other customary conditions (illegality, injunction,
material adverse effect, etc.). |
Principal Amount of New Notes:
|
Up to $26.5 million. | |
Maturity Date of New Notes:
|
January 15, 2012. | |
Interest Rate of New Notes:
|
10% per annum, payable in kind semi-annually. The Company may elect to pay in cash. | |
Repurchase of New Notes Upon Certain
Events:
|
Each Electing Holder will have the right to require the Company to purchase all or any part of its New Notes upon the occurrence of certain specified triggering events, including a change of control of the Company and a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. The purchase price will be par plus all accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed. | |
Mandatory Redemption of New Notes:
|
The Company will be required to use 75% of the net proceeds from asset dispositions outside of the ordinary course and from the receipt of certain insurance or condemnation proceeds, subject to the limitations in any permitted Working Capital Facility (as defined below) and in existing debt documentation (if any), to make an offer to redeem the New Notes at par plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed. Any sale of the Cypress Re reinsurance business (whether structured as a stock sale or an asset sale or otherwise) shall be excluded from this mandatory repayment obligation. | |
Redemption at the Company’s Option:
|
The Company will have the right to redeem all or any part of the New Notes at any time at par plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed. | |
Guarantees of New Notes:*
|
The New Notes will be guaranteed by all present and future subsidiaries. | |
Collateral for New Notes:*
|
The New Notes will be secured by a first lien on substantially all present and future assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. However, the Company will be permitted to obtain a first lien working capital facility of up to $10 million (the “Working Capital Facility”), in which case the New Notes will release their first lien in favor of a second lien (subject to negotiation and |
| * | Note: Tax consequences of foreign subsidiary guarantees and pledges of foreign assets being reviewed. |
| execution of a customary intercreditor agreement between the indenture trustee for the New Notes and the agent for the Working Capital Facility). In addition, due to the first lien that has (or, in the case of the Columbia Queen, will have) been granted over the Queen of the West and the Columbia Queen in favor of a credit card company to access working capital from credit card receipts, the New Notes shall be secured by a second lien on the Queen of the West and the Columbia Queen to the extent permitted by the applicable credit card company. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary permission from the credit card company. | ||
Events of Default of New Notes:
|
Usual and customary in transactions of this type, including, without limitation, the following: (i) nonpayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts; (ii) failure to perform or observe covenants set forth in the new indenture within a specified period of time, where customary and appropriate, after such failure; (iii) any representation or warranty proving to have been incorrect when made or confirmed; (iv) cross-default to other indebtedness (including the Working Capital Facility) in an amount to be agreed; (v) bankruptcy and insolvency defaults (with grace period for involuntary proceedings); (vi) customary ERISA defaults; (vii) monetary judgment defaults in an amount to be agreed and material nonmonetary judgment defaults; and (viii) the Indenture or any Guarantee of a material Guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or the Company or any such Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or any such Guarantee. | |
Certain Covenants, Representations
and Warranties of New Notes:
|
Covenants will include, without limitation, restrictions on the following: (i) incurrence of any other indebtedness other than (a) a $10 million working capital facility secured by a first lien in the assets of the Windstar Cruises fleet and (b) $5 million in new unsecured indebtedness; (ii) restricted payments; (iii) liens, charges, encumbrances or lease obligations; (iv) sales and other dispositions of property or assets, (vi) capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments; (vii) transactions with affiliates; (viii) repayment and/or modification of other indebtedness (including repayment or modification of Convert Notes); (ix) mergers and other fundamental changes; and (x) |
| dividends and other payment restrictions affecting subsidiaries. The indenture for the New Notes will also include (and the Exchange Offer Documentation will describe) a “most favored nation” clause entitling the Electing Holders to the benefit of any terms for the acquisition of Convert Notes offered by the Company in the future to any holders of Convert Notes not tendered in the Exchange Offer which are more favorable than the acquisition terms of the Exchange Offer or the New Notes. | ||
Minimum Cash Balance Covenant:
|
From and after the Working Capital Facility is established, the Company shall be required to comply with a minimum cash balance covenant under the New Notes indenture. | |
Governing Law:
|
The New Notes will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. |
Annex B
Form of Joinder
The undersigned hereby agrees, effective as of the date hereof, to comply with all obligations
of the “Noteholder” contained in that certain Exchange Offer Commitment and Support Agreement dated
, 2009 (the “Agreement”) between and Ambassadors International, Inc. (the
“Company”), and the undersigned shall, effective as of the date hereof, be deemed to be bound by
the terms and provisions of the Agreement as if the undersigned had been the “Noteholder”
originally named in the Agreement.
The address and facsimile number to which notices may be sent to the undersigned is as
follows:
Address:
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Facsimile No.:
Date: |
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| Name: | ||||
| Principal Amount of Convert Notes held: | ||||
| $ | ||||
