Equity Conversion Agreement
This Equity Conversion Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into by and between
General Motors Corporation ("GM") and AM General Corporation ("AMG") with regard
to certain rights granted to GM by AMG to convert all or a portion of the
outstanding balance of the Promissory Note (or series of Promissory Notes)
between GM and AMG (the "Note") into equity in AMG.
Recitals:
1. GM and AMG , concurrent with this Agreement, wish to enter into a series of
contractual agreements through which the parties shall, among other things;
design, assemble, market and distribute a new vehicle (the "New Vehicle").
2. As part of the aforementioned series of contractual agreements, AMG will
execute the Note through which GM will provide AMG the funding required for
jointly agreed upon facility improvements and other capital investment necessary
for AMG to fulfill its assembly obligations regarding the New Vehicle
contemplated above.
3. In connection with the Note, AMG has agreed to provide GM a limited right
to convert all or part of the outstanding balance of the Note into newly issued
common stock of AMG.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained
herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
Section 1 - Grant of Conversion Right
AMG hereby grants GM an irrevocable annual option to convert some or all of the
unpaid balance of the Note and any accrued interest, into newly issued common
stock of AMG, subject to the following provisions:
(a) The right to convert shall occur once annually on November 1 of each
year; provided, however, that the conversion right does not go into effect
until 10,000 New Vehicles have been assembled by AMG and delivered to GM
(the "Annual Exercise Date").
(b) The cumulative total amount of AMG common stock issued to GM pursuant
to this Agreement shall never exceed 40% of the number of shares of AMG
common stock outstanding after the issuance of stock to GM.
(c) GM may exercise its conversion option for any percentage of the
remaining balance of the Note up to the 40% cumulative maximum, provided
the loan balance is sufficient. In the event GM converts any part of the
Note into an equity interest in AMG under this Agreement, the amount of the
40% cumulative maximum interest in AMG which remains available to GM under
this Agreement would be reduced by an amount equal to the percentage
interest in AMG resulting from such conversion.
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(d) Subject to Section 3.3 below, the right to convert the outstanding
balance of the Note granted by this Agreement shall terminate when the note
is fully satisfied.
Section 2 - Exercise of the Conversion Option
2.1 Exercise of Conversion Option. In order to exercise the conversion option,
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GM shall, within 10 business days following the Annual Exercise Date, send a
written notice to AMG indicating the amount of the then outstanding balance
of the Note it wishes to convert into equity.
2.2 Valuation. (a) Following notice by GM, AMG and GM shall have 30 days to
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agree on the number of shares of newly issued common stock of AMG to be issued
to GM in return for the stipulated amount of the Note to be converted. GM and
AMG shall be deemed to have agreed on an equity value if the higher value
presented by one of the parties is within 125% of the lower value presented by
the other party. In that instance, the agreed upon value shall be the average of
the two values.
(b) In the event GM and AMG cannot agree on the valuation within the timeframe
set forth in Section 2.2(a) above, each party will select an Independent
Financial Advisor (IFA). The two IFAs will then select a Chief Independent
Financial Advisor (CIFA). The CIFA will determine the number of shares to be
issued in return for the stipulated amount of the Note to be converted and the
corresponding valuation.
(c) The costs of the IFAs shall be borne independently by the party who selects
that IFA and the costs of the CIFA shall be shared equally between GM and AMG.
(d) Both the IFAs and the CIFA shall be independent internationally recognized
investment banks.
(e) The methodology used by the CIFA for the valuation will be in the CIFA's
sole discretion; provided, however, that the amount of the New Vehicle Assembly
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Agreement between GM and AMG to be included in the valuation shall be as set
forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement.
The above provision notwithstanding, in the event the launch of the New Vehicle
is materially delayed beyond the period contemplated in the New Vehicle Assembly
Agreement between GM and AMG or either party's performance under the New Vehicle
Assembly Agreement is materially delayed by a force majeure event, the parties
acknowledge and agree that the dates reflected in the table set forth above
shall be appropriately adjusted to the mutual satisfaction of the parties to
account for such delay.
(f) Promptly, and in any event not later than 15 days after selection of the
CIFA, each company shall provide to the CIFA their respective valuations,
worksheets and background materials used to prepare such valuations.
(h) No later than 30 days following receipt of the materials referenced above,
the CIFA shall determine the number of shares to be issued in return for the
stipulated amount of the Note to be converted and the corresponding valuation.
2.3 AMG Election. (a) Once the valuation of AMG is established pursuant to
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Section 2.2 above, AMG or its parent The Renco Group, Inc. ("RENCO") shall have
10 business days to notify GM in writing of its election to (i) go through with
the conversion; (ii) make a cash payment to GM equal to the dollar amount of the
Note to be converted into equity, plus a 20% premium on that amount; or (iii) a
partial combination of (i) and (ii) above.
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(b) In the event that either AMG or RENCO elects to satisfy GM's conversion
request, in whole or part, through cash payment as described in Section 2.3
(a)(ii) above, the 40% limitation setforth in Section 1 (b) above will be
reduced by the percentage interest in AMG that GM would have acquired had such
conversion taken place at that time under the terms of this Agreement.
(c) Payment of all amounts due pursuant to an election under Section 2.3(a)(ii)
shall be payable by wire transfer or other immediately available funds within 5
business days of any such election.
2.4 GM Election. (a) Following receipt of the notice contemplated in
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Section 2.3 above, GM shall, in the event that either AMG or RENCO elects, in
whole or in part, to go through with the conversion, have 10 business days to
determine if it desires to proceed with such conversion or wishes to revoke its
initial conversion election; provided, however, that in no case shall GM have
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the ability to revoke its initial conversion election with respect to any
amounts for which either AMG or RENCO has elected to make the cash payment
described in Section 2.3(a)(ii) above.
(b) In the event GM revokes the conversion election, no penalties shall apply,
there shall be no impact on the 40% cumulative limitation (except as required by
Section 2.3 (b) above), and such election shall be deemed null and void.
Section 3 - Impact on the Note, Final Option, and Corporate Structure
3.1 Prepayment Rights. The above provisions notwithstanding, AMG will
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have the right at any time to prepay all or a portion of the Note without
penalty or additional interest; provided, however, that such right of prepayment
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shall be suspended during the time period set forth in Section 1 above for the
annual conversion election, valuation and election periods set forth in Section
2 above, and the time period provided pursuant to Section 3.3 below.
3.2 Amortization of Remaining Balance. In the event the Note has been
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reduced either through conversion into equity or through prepayment, the
remaining balance of the Note will, subject to future elections under this
Agreement, continue to be amortized at the rate originally contemplated under
the terms of the Note until fully satisfied.
3.3 Final Option. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
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contrary, following the expiration of the New Vehicle Assembly Agreement, GM
shall have 90 days to notify AMG in writing of its desire to convert the
remaining outstanding balance of the Note, if any, into newly issued common
stock of AMG, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The
option granted in this Agreement expires upon the expiration of the 90 day
period referenced above as to any portion of the Note remaining outstanding
which GM has not elected to convert into AMG common stock pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement.
3.4 Corporate Structure. At any time prior to issuing any shares to GM on
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the conversion of the Note, AMG may (i) at its option, contribute all of its
assets and liabilities to a limited liability company and (ii) in lieu of
issuing to GM shares of AMG in the amount determined in accordance with this
Agreement, cause such limited liability company to issue to GM membership
interests in such limited liability company equivalent to the same percentage of
ownership and voting rights in AMG that GM would have been
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entitled, had such contribution not occurred. The above provision
notwithstanding, the parties acknowledge and agree that AMG's rights under this
Section 3.4 are subject to Section 6.4 of the Master Agreement between AMG and
GM and that such rights under this Section 3.4 shall be suspended during the
time period set forth in Section 2 above for the annual conversion election, the
valuation and election periods set forth in Section 2 above, and the time period
provided pursuant to Section 3.3 above, unless otherwise mutually agreed by the
parties in writing.
Section 4 - General Provisions
4.1 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by either party without
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the prior written consent of the other party.
4.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
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Michigan, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws.
4.3 Waiver and Delay. No waiver by either party of any breach or series of
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breaches or defaults in performance by the other party, and no failure, refusal
or neglect of either party to exercise any right, power or option given to it
hereunder or to insist upon strict compliance with or performance of either
party's obligations under this Agreement, shall constitute a waiver of the
provisions of this Agreement with respect to any subsequent breach thereof or a
waiver by either party of its right at any time thereafter to require exact and
strict compliance with the provisions thereof.
4.4 Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing (letter,
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telex, facsimile, or telegram) and shall be effective when received by the
addressee at its address indicated below:
Notices to AMG: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
AM General Corporation
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
with a copy to: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Vice President - Law
The Renco Group, Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Notices to GM: General Motors Corporation
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Treasurer
with a copy to: Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
GM Truck Group
MC: 000-000-000
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
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or to such other addresses as the parties may from time to time designate in
writing.
4.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
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the benefit of the successors and assigns of the parties hereto, subject to the
restrictions on assignment contained herein.
4.6 Titles and Headings for Convenience. Titles and headings used in this
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Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to affect the meaning
or construction of any of the terms, provisions, covenants, or conditions of
this Agreement.
4.7 Severability. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as
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requiring the commission of any act contrary to law. If any tribunal or court of
competent jurisdiction deems any provision hereof unenforceable, such provision
shall be modified only to the extent necessary to render it enforceable and the
remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
4.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains all of the terms and conditions
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agreed upon by the parties hereto with reference to the subject matter hereof.
No other agreements, oral or otherwise, shall be deemed to exist or to bind
either of the parties hereto, and all prior agreements and understandings are
superseded hereby. This Agreement cannot be modified or changed except by
written instrument signed by both of the parties hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused two (2) copies this Agreement
to be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized
representatives effective as of the date first written above.
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION AM GENERAL CORPORATION
By: ______________________________ By: __________________________
Title: __________________________ Title: _______________________
Date: December 21, 1999 Date: December 21, 1999
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