SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT dated as of August 17, 2007 by and among NCL INVESTMENT LTD. STAR CRUISES LIMITED and NCL CORPORATION LTD.
Exhibit 4.48
SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT
dated as of August 17, 2007
by and among
NCL INVESTMENT LTD.
STAR CRUISES LIMITED
and
NCL CORPORATION LTD.
Table of Contents
1.
|
DEFINITIONS | 1 | ||||
2.
|
RESTRICTION ON TRANSFERS | 11 | ||||
3.
|
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS | 12 | ||||
4.
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SCL OFFER; TAG-ALONG TRANSACTION; DRAG-ALONG TRANSACTION | 13 | ||||
5.
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INVOLUNTARY TRANSFERS | 19 | ||||
6.
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REPURCHASE RIGHT | 21 | ||||
7.
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REPURCHASE DISABILITY | 23 | ||||
8.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 24 | ||||
9.
|
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS | 27 | ||||
10.
|
INFORMATION RIGHTS; COVENANTS | 27 | ||||
11.
|
REGISTRATION RIGHTS | 28 | ||||
12.
|
TERMINATION. | 40 | ||||
13.
|
MISCELLANEOUS | 41 |
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Schedules | ||||
Schedule A | Cruise Line Competitors | |||
Schedule I | Shareholders’ names and shares owned | |||
Schedule II | SCL Consent Rights | |||
Schedule III | SCL Notice and Consultation Rights | |||
Exhibits | ||||
Exhibit A | New Bye-Laws | |||
Exhibit B | Form of Joinder to Shareholders’ Agreement | |||
Exhibit C | Form of Spousal Consent |
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SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, dated as of August 17, 2007 (this “Agreement”), but effective
only on and following the Effective Date, by and among NCL CORPORATION LTD., a company organized
under the laws of Bermuda (the “Company”), NCL INVESTMENT LTD., a company organized under
the laws of Bermuda, and STAR CRUISES LIMITED, a company continued into Bermuda, and the other
Shareholders of the Company from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Other
Shareholders”) (with the Company, the Investor, SCL and the Other Shareholders sometimes
referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, the Investor, and SCL have entered into a Subscription Agreement, dated
as of the date hereof (the “Subscription Agreement”);
WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Subscription Agreement,
the Investor desires to make an equity investment in the Company (the “Equity Investment”)
in the amount of $1,000,000,000 in exchange for newly issued Ordinary Shares; and
WHEREAS, following the Equity Investment at Effective Date, each of SCL and the Investor will
hold 50% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares;
WHEREAS, in connection with entry into the Subscription Agreement on the date hereof, the
Investor, SCL and the Company also entered into a reimbursement and distribution agreement pursuant
to which, among other things, provision is made for the distribution of certain assets and
liabilities of the Company and certain reimbursement obligations of SCL (the “Reimbursement and
Distribution Agreement”);
WHEREAS, on or prior to the Effective Date, SCL, as sole member of the Company, will pass
certain resolutions and the Company will file a memorandum of increase of authorized share capital,
pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will authorize a sufficient number of Ordinary
Shares which shall be issued in connection with the Equity Investment;
WHEREAS, on or prior to the Effective Date, the New Bye-Laws of the Company, substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, will be approved and adopted by the Company; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” means (i) with respect to any natural Person, (A) a member of such
Person’s Family Group or (B) any trust or family partnership or other entity whose beneficiaries
shall solely be a member or members of such Person’s Family Group and (ii) with respect to any
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Person that is not a natural Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly controls,
or is under common control with, or is controlled by, such Person. As used in this definition,
“control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under
common control with”) shall mean, with respect to any Person, possession, directly or
indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of such Person
(whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by Contract
or otherwise).
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, all provisions of common or
statutory laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations or Orders applicable to such Person. For
the avoidance of doubt, Applicable Law shall include the Listing Rules.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in New York, Hong Kong or Bermuda are authorized or required by law to close.
“Cause” means (i) for any Other Shareholder party to an Employment Agreement or an
Option Agreement in effect at any time prior to the date of such Other Shareholder’s termination of
employment or other professional relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, as
the case may be, that defines the term “Cause”, Cause as defined in such Employment Agreement or
Option Agreement, and (ii) for each Other Shareholder, a termination of employment or other
professional relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company after the occurrence of
any of the following on the part of such Other Shareholder: (a) commission of a felony; (b)
intentional violation of law (excluding moving violations or by reason of vicarious liability) or
intentional undertaking of any activity toward another employee or service provider of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries that is punishable by civil penalty; (c) dishonesty, bad faith, gross
negligence, knowing and intentional breach, fraud or willful or reckless disregard of duties in
connection with the performance of any services on behalf of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; (d) intentional failure to comply with any reasonable directive by a supervisor in
connection with the performance of any services on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
following written notice that failure to comply shall constitute “Cause” for termination; (e)
intentional breach of any material provision of any agreement with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; (f) intentional violation of any lawful and reasonable material written policy
adopted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries governing the conduct of persons performing
services on behalf of the Company; or (g) the taking of or omission to take any action that has
caused or contributed to a material deterioration in the business or reputation of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, or that was otherwise materially disruptive of its or their business or
affairs, other than actions taken or omitted in good faith consistent with the best interests of
the Company and its Subsidiaries.
“CEO Observer” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a)(v).
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in the Subscription Agreement.
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“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any other
Governmental Authority at the time administering the Securities Act.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the caption hereto.
“Company Preemptive Rights Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“Company Preemptive Rights Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“Demand Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a).
“Demand Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a).
“Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a).
“Disability Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“Drag-Along Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c)(i).
“Effective Date” shall mean the date on which the Closing occurs.
“Employment Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s most recent
employment agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company entered into on or after the
Effective Date, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time.
“Equity Investment” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
“Equity Securities” means (a) the Ordinary Shares and any other equity securities of
the Company and (b) any securities issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to the
securities referred to in clause (a) above by way of conversion, exercise or exchange, bonus share
issue, share dividend, share sub-division, or share split or in connection with a combination of
shares, recapitalization, reclassification, amalgamation, merger, consolidation, reorganization or
other similar event.
“Excess New Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(d).
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Xxxxxxxx Xxx 0000, and the Rules and
Regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
“Excluded Offering” means any registered public offering of Ordinary Shares effected
pursuant to the terms of Section 11 of this Agreement in which any member of the Investor
Group sells any of such member’s Ordinary Shares.
“Excluded Securities” means Equity Securities issued in connection with any of the
following:
(i) Equity Securities issued pursuant to an equity incentive plan or other compensation
arrangements approved by the Board or Equity Securities issued upon the exercise, conversion
or exchange of any options, warrants or any other derivative or convertible securities of the
Company;
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(ii) Equity Securities issued to a bank or other financial institution in connection with a
debt financing approved by both the Investor and SCL;
(iii) Equity Securities issued in connection with a share dividend or upon a share split,
recapitalization or other subdivision of securities; provided that any such share dividend,
share split, recapitalization or other subdivision is effected pro rata among the
holders of Equity Securities;
(iv) Equity Securities issued in connection with (A) an acquisition (whether by stock sale,
amalgamation, merger, recapitalization, asset sale or similar transaction) of another Person (or
portion thereof), approved by both the Investor and SCL, or (B) a joint venture or strategic
alliance with another Person approved by both the Investor and SCL;
(v) Equity Securities issued by the Company in a public offering by the Company; and
(vi) Equity Securities issued to the Investor pursuant to Sections 9.7 and 9.8
of the Subscription Agreement.
“Existing Credit Facility” means the loan facility of up to $800,000,000 made
available to the Company under a secured loan facility agreement dated July 7, 2004, as amended by
a first supplemental deed thereto dated as of September 30, 2005 and a second supplemental deed
thereto dated as of November 13, 2006 and as the same may from time to time be further amended,
varied, supplemented and/or novated, between the Company, as the Borrower, the Lenders party
thereto and DnB Nor Bank ASA as Agent or any successor facility thereto.
“Existing SCL Controlling Shareholders” means Golden Hope Limited, as trustee of the
Golden Hope Unit Trust, Resorts World Bhd, Genting Overseas Holdings Limited, Tan Sri Xxx Xxx Thay,
Puan Sri Xxx Xxx Hua, Joondalup Limited, Goldsfine Investments Ltd., and each other controlled
Affiliate of Tan Sri Xxx Xxx Thay.
“Family Group” means, with respect to any natural Person, such natural Person’s
spouse, domestic partners, sister, brother, step child and/or lineal descendants, grandparent,
father, mother (whether by blood relationship or adoption), and any other Person as to which such
natural Person is a lineal descendant (whether by blood relationship or adoption), and any trust or
other entity solely for the benefit of such Person and/or any of the foregoing. With respect to
Tan Sri Xxx Xxx Thay, “Family Group” shall be deemed to include each natural Person who is an
Existing SCL Controlling Shareholder.
“Fund VI” means Apollo Investment Fund VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“Good Reason” means, with respect to any Other Shareholder that is a party to an
Employment Agreement or Option Agreement at any time prior to the date of such Other Shareholder’s
termination of employment or other professional relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company, as the case may be, that defines the term “Good Reason” (or a concept of similar
import) as defined therein.
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“Governmental Authority” means any national, European Union, Federal, provincial,
state, county, city, local, foreign or international governmental, administrative or regulatory
authority, commission, committee, agency or body (including any court, tribunal or arbitral body),
and specifically including the HKEX.
“HKEX” means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
“Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(i)(xi).
“Inspectors” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(i)(xi).
“Investor” means NCL Investment Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda.
“Investor Board Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a)(i).
“Investor Directors” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a)(i).
“Investor Group” means the Investor together with its Permitted Transferees who hold
Equity Securities.
“Investor Minimum Ratio Condition” has the meaning set forth in Section
8(a)(ii).
“Involuntary Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“Involuntary Transfer Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section
5(b).
“Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section
5(b).
“Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right” has the meaning set forth in Section
5(b).
“Involuntary Transferee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in
Rule 405) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in any
offering of the Equity Securities pursuant to Section 11.
“Joinder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
“Liquidity Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a).
“Listing Rules” means The Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the HKEX.
“NASD” means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
“NASDAQ” means the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations
system operated by The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.
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“New Bye-laws” means the amended bye-laws of the Company adopted on or about the
Effective Date, as amended from time to time.
“New Securities” means all Equity Securities issued by the Company after the Effective
Date other than Excluded Securities.
“Non-Investor Holder” means SCL and the Other Shareholders from time to time that hold
Equity Securities acquired in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including any of their
respective Permitted Transferees).
“Option Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s agreement with the
Company evidencing the grant of options to subscribe for Ordinary Shares first entered into at or
after Effective Date.
“Order” means all judgments, injunctions, orders and decrees of all Governmental
Authorities in any legal, administrative or arbitration action, suit, complaint, charge, hearing,
mediation, inquiry, investigation or proceeding in which the Person in question is a party or by
which any of its properties or assets are bound.
“Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of the Company, par value $1.00 per share.
“Other Shareholder” has the meaning set forth in the caption hereto, and shall include
any Permitted Transferee of the Other Shareholder.
“Other Shareholder Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(t).
A Person is deemed to “Own” or to have acquired “Ownership” of a security if
such person (i) is the registered owner of such security or (ii) is the beneficial owner of such
security.
“Party” and “Parties” have the meanings set forth in the caption hereto.
“Permitted Issuer Information” means any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433)
used with the prior written consent of the Company in any offering of Equity Securities pursuant to
Section 11.
“Permitted Transfer” means:
(a) with respect to the Investor, any Transfer by the Investor to an Affiliate of the Investor
(including (i) the partners, members and stockholders of the Investor, and, if such Affiliate is an
entity, the partners, members and stockholders of such Affiliate, (ii) any limited partner which
has directly or indirectly invested, or otherwise has ownership interests, in Fund VI or one of its
Affiliated investment funds, or (iii) prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, of up
to 40% of the Equity Securities held by the Investor as at the Effective Date in the aggregate to
any funds, financial institutions, or individuals acting as a co-investor in the Company with the
Investor; and
(b) with respect to SCL, any Transfer by SCL to (i) any wholly-owned Subsidiary of
SCL or (ii) any Existing SCL Controlling Shareholder;
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provided, however, that each such Permitted Transfer must be made in accordance
with Section 2 and no Permitted Transferee may make a subsequent Permitted Transfer other
than in accordance with Section 2.
“Permitted Transferee” means any Person to whom a Permitted Transfer is made or is to
be made.
“Person” shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an
individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability partnership, an investment fund, a
limited liability company, a company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint
venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or
political subdivision thereof.
“Preemptive Rights Acceptance Number” has the meaning set forth in Section
3(b).
“Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to an offering of
Equity Securities pursuant to Section 11.
“Proportionate Percentage” means, as of a particular date, with respect to each
Shareholder, a fraction (expressed as a percentage) the numerator of which is the Ordinary Shares
(assuming for such purposes the conversion or exchange of all Equity Securities by their terms
convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares and the exercise of all vested and “in the
money” options to purchase or rights to subscribe for Ordinary Shares (including warrants) or such
convertible or exchangeable securities) held by such Shareholder (or a Shareholder Holding Company
of such Shareholder) as of such date, and the denominator of which is the total number of Ordinary
Shares (assuming for such purposes the conversion or exchange of all Equity Securities by their
terms convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares and the exercise of all vested and “in
the money” options to purchase or rights to subscribe for Ordinary Shares (including warrants) or
such convertible or exchangeable securities) outstanding as of such date.
“Proposed Drag-Along Purchaser” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c)(i).
“Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to any offering of Equity Securities
pursuant to Section 11, including any prospectus supplement thereto, as filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations.
“Qualified Public Offering” means an underwritten public offering of Ordinary Shares
in which the managing underwriter is a nationally recognized “bulge bracket” investment bank and
following which (i) the Company reasonably expects to qualify for the exemption from United States
Federal income tax set forth in Xxxxxxx 000 xx xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor provision and (ii) such Ordinary Shares are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange, NASDAQ or the London Stock Exchange.
“Records” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(i)(xi).
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“Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(j).
“Reinstatement Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“Repurchase Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
“Repurchase Disability” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).
“Repurchase Event” means, with respect to any Other Shareholder, the termination of
such Other Shareholder’s employment or other professional relationship with the Company and all of
its Subsidiaries for any reason (including upon death).
“Repurchase Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
“Repurchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
“Repurchase Right” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
“Road Show Material” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(k).
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations or any successor rule thereto
or any complementary rule thereto.
“Rule 405” means Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations or any successor rule thereto
or any complementary rule thereto.
“Rule 433” means Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations or any successor rule thereto
or any complementary rule thereto.
“Rules and Regulations” means the rules and regulations of the Commission, as the same
shall be in effect from time to time.
“Sale Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(b)(i).
“Sale of the Company” means the consummation of (i) the Transfer (in one or a series
of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a Person or a group of Persons acting in concert (other than
to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company), (ii) the Transfer (in one or a series of related
transactions) of the then-outstanding Equity Securities to one Person or a group of Persons acting
in concert, or (iii) an amalgamation, merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another
Person, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, under circumstances in which immediately
following such transaction, a Person or group of Persons acting in concert other than the Investor
Group and the SCL Group collectively own a majority in voting power of the then outstanding Equity
Securities or equity securities of the surviving or resulting Person or acquirer, as the case may
be. A sale (or multiple related sales) of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company (whether by way
of amalgamation, merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale of all or substantially all assets
or securities) which constitutes all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company
will be deemed a “Sale of the Company”. For the
avoidance of doubt, an underwritten public offering of the Equity Securities or equity
securities of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries shall in no event constitute a Sale of the Company
for purposes of this Agreement.
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“SCL” means Star Cruises Limited, a company continued into Bermuda.
“SCL Acceptance Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(ii).
“SCL Change of Control” means (i) an amalgamation, merger, consolidation, or similar
transaction involving SCL after which (A) the Existing SCL Controlling Shareholders do not own more
than 50% of the combined voting power of all shares generally entitled to vote at the shareholders’
meetings of the surviving entity and (B) more than 50% of the combined voting power of all shares
generally entitled to vote at the shareholders’ meetings of the surviving entity are held by one or
more of the Persons set forth on Schedule A hereto (or any of their Affiliates), (ii) the
acquisition by one or more of the Persons set forth on Schedule A hereto (or any of their
Affiliates) or parties acting in concert with them or it (as such term is defined in the Hong Kong
Code on Takeovers and Mergers), of the beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the combined voting
power of all shares generally entitled to vote at the shareholders’ meetings of SCL or (iii) the
sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of SCL or similar transaction to one or
more of the Persons described on Schedule A hereto (or any of their Affiliates).
“SCL Consent Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a)(iii).
“SCL Directors” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a)(i).
“SCL Group” means SCL together with its Permitted Transferees who hold Equity
Securities.
“SCL Minimum Ratio Condition” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a)(iii).
“SCL Notice and Consultation Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section
8(a)(vi).
“SCL Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i).
“SCL Offer Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i).
“SCL Refusal Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(iv).
“SCL Sale Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(d).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor Federal statute,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as in effect from time to time.
“Sellers’ Counsel” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(i)(ii).
“Shareholder” means the Investor, SCL and any Other Shareholder and any other Person
from time to time that holds Equity Securities acquired in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
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“Shareholder Holding Company” means, with respect to any Transferring Shareholder (i)
an entity wholly-owned by such Transferring Shareholder that (A) is formed for the sole purpose of
directly or indirectly acquiring Equity Securities, (B) has no substantial assets other than Equity
Securities or (C) has direct or indirect interests in Equity Securities and (ii) with respect to
SCL, a Subsidiary of SCL that holds Equity Securities.
“Spousal Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(f).
“Subscription Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
“Subscription Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association,
partnership, limited liability company or other business entity of which 50% or more of the total
voting power of equity securities or equity interests (including partnership interests) entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of managers,
directors, representatives or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by: (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or
(iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term
“controlled” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the
management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
Contract or otherwise.
“Tag-Along Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(b).
“Transfer” means any direct or indirect transfer, assignment, sale, gift, pledge,
hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition, or any interest therein whatsoever, or any other
transfer of beneficial ownership, whether voluntary or involuntary, including (a) as a part of any
liquidation of assets or (b) as a part of any reorganization pursuant to the United States or other
bankruptcy law or other similar debtor relief laws, but excluding any transfer of Equity Securities
by employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries upon a termination of employment. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, an SCL Change of Control shall not be deemed to be a Transfer for purposes of this
Agreement.
“Transferee” means any Person acquiring or intending to acquire Equity Securities
through a Transfer.
“Underwritten Offering” means a sale of Equity Securities to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in the Subscription Agreement.
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2. Restriction on Transfers.
(a) No Shareholder may Transfer any Equity Securities held by such Shareholder to any
Person, except that:
(i) any Shareholder may Transfer any of the Equity Securities held by such Shareholder
with the written mutual consent of the Investor and SCL;
(ii) any Shareholder may Transfer any of the Equity Securities held by such Shareholder
to a Permitted Transferee;
(iii) at any time after the twenty-four month anniversary of the Effective Date, the
Investor and/or SCL may Transfer Equity Securities in connection with the exercise of
registration rights pursuant to Section 11; and
(iv) subject to the terms of Section 4(e), at any time after the fifty-four
month anniversary of the Effective Date (unless prior to such date an Excluded Offering
shall have occurred), the Investor may sell, on behalf of the Investor Group, all but not
less than all of the Equity Securities held by the Investor Group for cash to a third party
pursuant and subject to the terms of Section 4.
(b) Each Shareholder agrees that, as a condition precedent to any Transfer permitted
under Section 2(a)(i) or Section 2(a)(ii), each Transferee of such Equity
Securities shall have executed a joinder agreement (“Joinder”) substantially in the
form of Exhibit B attached hereto, pursuant to which such Transferee agrees (i) to
become party hereto, (ii) subject to the terms of Section 5, to be treated in the
same manner as the Transferring Shareholder (i.e., as the Investor, as SCL or as an Other
Shareholder), for all purposes under this Agreement and (iii) have his, her or its Equity
Securities subject to the terms of this Agreement. Each of the Investor and SCL further
agrees that, in connection with any Permitted Transfer of the type described in clause (a)
or (b) of such definition, as applicable, the Transferee shall enter into documentation
pursuant to which (i) such Transferee agrees to vote its shares in the manner directed by
the Investor or SCL, as applicable (in the Investor’s or SCL’s sole and absolute discretion,
as applicable) to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law and (ii) acknowledges and
agrees that none of the rights set forth herein that are particular to the Investor or SCL,
as applicable (including the rights in Section 2(a), Section 4, Section
5, Section 8 and Section 11) shall be deemed to have been Transferred to
such Transferee in connection with such Permitted Transfer (provided that the terms
of this sentence shall in no way modify the rights of the Investor or SCL set forth herein
that are particular to the Investor or SCL, as applicable) (provided,
however, that (i) in no event shall any of the rights of the Investor or SCL
hereunder be Transferable in connection with a Permitted Transfer of the type specified in
clause (a) or (b) of the definition thereof and (ii) notwithstanding the terms of clause
(i), the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the Equity Securities Transferred in
connection with a Permitted Transfer of the type specified in clause (a) or (b) of such
definition, as applicable, shall for all purposes, be deemed to be held by the Investor or
SCL, as applicable, for all purposes under this Agreement and included in the Proportionate
Percentage of the Investor or SCL, as the
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case may be). Any failure by a Party to obtain a Joinder from the Transferee to the
extent required under this Section 2(b) shall render such Transfer null and void.
In the case of a Transfer by a Shareholder to a Shareholder Holding Company, as a condition
precedent to such Transfer, each Transferring Shareholder of the Equity Securities to such
Shareholder Holding Company shall have executed an acknowledgement of the Transfer
restrictions contained herein in a form and substance satisfactory to (A) the Investor, in
the case of a Transfer by SCL; (B) SCL, in the case of a Transfer by the Investor; and (C)
the Investor and SCL, in the case of a Transfer by an Other Shareholder, pursuant to which
such Transferring Shareholder agrees (x) subject to the terms of Section 5, that
such Shareholder Holding Company continues to be treated in the same manner as a
“Shareholder” of the same class (i.e., as the Investor, as SCL or as an Other Shareholder,
as applicable) for all purposes under this Agreement, and (y) that the Equity Securities
held by such Shareholder Holding Company continue to be subject to the terms of this
Agreement.
(c) Each Shareholder Holding Company agrees that (i) certificates for ordinary shares
or other instruments reflecting equity interests in such Shareholder Holding Company (and
the certificates for shares or other equity interests in any Persons controlling such
Shareholder Holding Company) will note the Transfer restrictions contained in this Agreement
as if such ordinary shares or other equity interests were Equity Securities, (ii) no
ordinary shares or other equity interests may be Transferred (including any Transfer or
issuance by such Shareholder Holding Company) to any Person other than in accordance with
the terms and provisions of this Agreement as if such ordinary shares or other equity
interests were Equity Securities and (iii) any Transfer of such ordinary shares or other
equity interests shall be deemed to be a Transfer of a Proportionate Percentage of Equity
Securities hereunder.
3. Preemptive Rights.
(a) If the Company proposes to offer New Securities to any Person, the Company shall,
before such offer, deliver to the Shareholders a written offer (the “Company Preemptive
Rights Offer”) to issue to the Shareholders such New Securities upon the terms set forth
in this Section 3. The Company Preemptive Rights Offer shall state that the Company
proposes to issue New Securities and specify their number and terms (including purchase
price). The Company Preemptive Rights Offer shall remain open and irrevocable for a period
of sixty (60) days (the “Company Preemptive Rights Period”) from the date of its
delivery.
(b) Each Shareholder may accept the Company Preemptive Rights Offer by delivering to
the Company a notice (the “Subscription Notice”) within the Company Preemptive
Rights Period. The Purchase Notice shall state the number (the “Preemptive Rights
Acceptance Number”) of New Securities such Shareholder desires to subscribe for. If the
sum of all Preemptive Rights Acceptance Numbers equals or exceeds the number of New
Securities, the New Securities shall be allocated among Shareholders that delivered a
Subscription Notice in accordance with their respective Proportionate Percentage.
12
(c) The issuance of New Securities to the Shareholders who delivered a Subscription
Notice shall be made on a Business Day, as designated by the Company, not less than ten (10)
and not more than thirty (30) days after expiration of the Company Preemptive Rights Period
on those terms and conditions of the Company Preemptive Rights Offer not inconsistent with
this Section 3.
(d) In the event that any Shareholder elects not to subscribe for all of its respective
Proportionate Percentage, the New Securities which were available for subscription by such
non-electing Shareholders (the “Excess New Securities”) shall automatically be
deemed to be accepted for purchase by the Shareholders who indicated in their Subscription
Notice a desire to subscribe for New Securities in excess of their Proportionate Percentage,
as agreed by such Shareholder in the applicable Subscription Notice, such Excess New
Securities to be allocated proportionately among such Shareholders in accordance with their
relative Proportionate Percentage.
(e) If the number of New Securities exceeds the sum of all Preemptive Rights
Acceptance Numbers, the Company, in its sole discretion, may issue such excess or any
portion thereof on the terms and conditions of the Company Preemptive Rights Offer to any
Person within ninety (90) days after expiration of the Company Preemptive Rights Period
(provided such Person executes a Joinder to this Agreement pursuant to which it
agrees to be treated as an Other Shareholder and that such Person and the Equity Securities
held by such Person shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement). If such issuance is
not made within such 90-day period, the restrictions provided for in this Section 3
shall again become effective.
(f) If any Company Preemptive Rights Offer relates to an issue of New Securities in an
underwritten public offering of New Securities, (i) the provisions of Sections 3(a),
3(b), 3(c), 3(d) and 3(e) shall not apply and (ii) each
Shareholder shall be entitled to subscribe for a number of New Securities from the Company
(or any lesser number) that, when added to the number of Equity Securities owned by such
Shareholder immediately prior to the consummation of the underwritten public offering,
results in such Shareholder having the same Proportionate Percentage immediately prior to
and immediately after such underwritten public offering. Any such subscription shall take
place simultaneously as the issue of New Securities in the related underwritten public
offering.
(g) This Section 3 shall not apply to a Drag-Along Transaction under
Section 4.
4. SCL Offer; Tag-Along Transaction; Drag-Along Transaction.
(a) SCL Offer.
(i) Unless prior to such date an Excluded Offering shall have occurred, at any time
after the date that is fifty-four (54) months after Effective Date, if the Investor proposes
to Transfer on behalf of the Investor Group all but not less than all of the Equity
Securities held by the Investor Group to any Person (other than a
13
Permitted Transferee) for cash, the Investor must first deliver to SCL a written offer
(the “SCL Offer Notice”) to permit SCL to purchase (or cause one or more of its
designees to purchase) all such Equity Securities for cash on terms proposed by the
Investor. The SCL Offer Notice shall include a summary of the material terms and conditions
of the offer contemplated by the SCL Offer Notice, the proposed cash purchase price and the
material terms and conditions of payment of such cash purchase price in such offer, in each
case as proposed by the Investor (the “SCL Offer”).
(ii) SCL may accept the SCL Offer by delivering a written notice of such acceptance
(the “SCL Acceptance Notice”) to the Investor within 120 days of receiving the SCL
Offer Notice. In the event that SCL delivers an SCL Acceptance Notice, SCL and the Investor
Group shall take such action as may be necessary to enter into a definitive agreement, which
will include the terms of the SCL Offer, within 30 days of receipt of the SCL Acceptance
Notice. In the event that any member of the Investor Group is required to provide
representations, warranties, covenants or indemnities in its individual capacity in
connection with such transaction, such representations, warranties, covenants and
indemnifications shall be limited to customary fundamental representations and warranties of
such member of the Investor Group concerning (1) brokers and finders, (2) title to Equity
Securities, free of all liens and encumbrances (other than those arising under applicable
securities laws), (3) authority, power and right to enter into and consummate the
transaction without violating any other material agreement, Applicable Law or Order, to
which such member of the Investor Group is a party or subject to, (4) such member of the
Investor Group’s power and right to enter into and consummate the transaction without the
consent of a governmental authority or Person, and (5) the absence of any required consents
for such member of the Investor Group to enter into and consummate the transaction and the
absence of any registration requirements in connection therewith. Each member of the
Investors Group’s liability under the definitive purchase agreement with respect to such
transaction will not exceed the total purchase price paid by SCL and received by such member
of the Investor Group in such transaction except for liability resulting from fraud or
knowing and intentional breach (it being further agreed that no such portion shall be
subject to any escrow or holdback).
(iii) Following delivery of an SCL Acceptance Notice and prior to the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by the SCL Offer to which such SCL Acceptance Notice applies,
SCL shall be entitled to require the Company and the Other Shareholders, as applicable, to,
and the Company and Other Shareholders shall, enter into agreements with SCL whereby the
Other Shareholders and the Company (as applicable) consent to and raise no objection to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by paragraph (ii) immediately above. The
representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities provided by such Other Shareholders
in connection with such transaction shall be limited in the manner set forth in the second
sentence of clause (ii) of this Section 4.
(iv) If SCL decides not to accept the SCL Offer, SCL will be required to provide a
written refusal notice (the “SCL Refusal Notice”) to the Investor to such effect
within 120 days after receiving the SCL Offer. In the event 120 days have passed
since SCL received the SCL Offer Notice and neither a SCL Acceptance Notice nor a SCL
Refusal Notice has been provided to the Investor, SCL shall be deemed to have provided a SCL
Refusal Notice.
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(v) Following the receipt (or deemed receipt) of the SCL Refusal Notice, the Investor
will have 120 days to enter into a definitive agreement with any Person or Persons to sell
all but not less than all of the Equity Securities held by the members of the Investor Group
for cash; provided that the implied equity value to be paid for the Company in such
transaction must be greater than the implied equity value to be paid for the Company in the
SCL Offer.
(vi) SCL’s decision as to whether or not to accept the SCL Offer under Section
4(a)(i) is subject to the requirements of the Listing Rules as may be applicable to SCL
from time to time. If, in connection with any SCL Offer, SCL would be required under the
Listing Rules to obtain the approval of its shareholders to accept or not accept the SCL
Offer, then regardless of whether or not the board of directors (or other governing body) of
SCL has determined to recommend acceptance or rejection of such SCL Offer, SCL shall
nevertheless take all steps required, necessary or appropriate to convene and hold the
requisite shareholders’ meeting and to submit to its shareholders for a vote, the decision
to accept or not to accept the SCL Offer. Such meeting shall be held in a timely manner
sufficient to obtain such shareholder decision within the 120-day period provided in this
Section 4(a) for the delivery of either an SCL Acceptance Notice or the SCL Refusal
Notice. In connection with any such meeting SCL will inform its shareholders that, in the
event SCL gives or is deemed to have given the SCL Refusal Notice, the Investor will be
entitled to exercise its rights, and SCL shall be obligated to comply with all of its
obligations under Section 4(c), without any further SCL shareholder approval.
(b) Tag-Along Transaction.
(i) If the Investor receives a bona fide offer made by a third party, as contemplated
in Section 4(a)(v), to purchase all but not less than all of the Equity Securities
held by the members of the Investor Group for cash, and does not elect to exercise its
rights pursuant to
Section 4(c), the Investor shall give written notice (a “Sale Notice”) to the Non-Investor Holders offering the Non-Investor Holders the option to participate in such transaction (a “Tag-Along Transaction”) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Sale Notice (which shall be the same terms and conditions applicable to the Investor in such Tag-Along Transaction, subject to the first proviso contained in the immediately succeeding sentence). The Sale Notice shall include the name of the parties to the proposed Tag-Along Transaction, a summary of the material terms and conditions of the proposed Tag-Along Transaction, the proposed cash purchase price and the material terms and conditions of payment of such cash purchase price contemplated by the proposed Tag-Along Transaction. The Non-Investor Holders may, by written notice to the Investor delivered within sixty (60) days of the date of the Sale Notice, elect to sell in such Tag-Along Transaction, on the same terms and conditions as those on which the Investor Group’s Equity Securities are sold and consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the Sale Notice; provided, that if the proposed
Section 4(c), the Investor shall give written notice (a “Sale Notice”) to the Non-Investor Holders offering the Non-Investor Holders the option to participate in such transaction (a “Tag-Along Transaction”) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Sale Notice (which shall be the same terms and conditions applicable to the Investor in such Tag-Along Transaction, subject to the first proviso contained in the immediately succeeding sentence). The Sale Notice shall include the name of the parties to the proposed Tag-Along Transaction, a summary of the material terms and conditions of the proposed Tag-Along Transaction, the proposed cash purchase price and the material terms and conditions of payment of such cash purchase price contemplated by the proposed Tag-Along Transaction. The Non-Investor Holders may, by written notice to the Investor delivered within sixty (60) days of the date of the Sale Notice, elect to sell in such Tag-Along Transaction, on the same terms and conditions as those on which the Investor Group’s Equity Securities are sold and consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the Sale Notice; provided, that if the proposed
15
Transferee desires to purchase an aggregate amount of Equity Securities that is less
than the aggregate amount of Equity Securities proposed to be Transferred by the Investor
Group and the Non-Investor Holders in the Tag-Along Transaction, then the Investor may elect
to (A) terminate such Tag-Along Transaction as to all Shareholders (including the sale by
any member of the Investor Group as contemplated by Section 4(a)(v)) or (B) on behalf of the
Investor and the Non-Investor Holders, sell that agreed portion of the Equity Securities
held by the members of the Investor Group and the Non-Investor Holders that is equal to the
product of (x) the total number of Equity Securities subject to the proposed Tag-Along
Transaction that the proposed Transferee is willing to purchase and (y) such Shareholder’s
Proportionate Percentage. No Transfer permitted under this Section 4(b) shall be
subject to the requirements of Section 2 hereof.
(ii) In the event that the Shareholders are required to provide representations,
warranties, covenants or indemnities in their individual capacity as selling shareholders in
connection with a Tag-Along Transaction, such representations, warranties, covenants and
indemnifications shall be limited to those concerning (1) brokers and finders, (2) each
Shareholder’s title to Equity Securities, free of all liens and encumbrances (other than
those arising under applicable securities laws), (3) each Shareholder’s authority, power and
right to enter into and consummate the Tag-Along Transaction without violating any other
material agreement, Applicable Law or Order, (4) each Shareholder’s power and right to enter
into and consummate the Tag-Along Transaction without the consent of a governmental
authority or Person, (5) the absence of any required consents to enter into and consummate
the transaction and the absence of any registration requirements in connection therewith and
(6) such other representations, warranties, covenants and indemnifications (including
indemnification relating to breaches of representations, warranties or covenants of the
Company and including any escrow or similar holdback to the extent the amount so escrowed or
held back is pro rata among the Shareholders) as may reasonably be considered necessary and
appropriate by the Investor in order to consummate such Tag-Along Transaction. Each
Shareholder’s liability under the definitive purchase agreement with respect to such
Tag-Along Transaction will not exceed the total purchase price received by such Shareholder
for its Equity Securities except for liability resulting from fraud or knowing and
intentional breach.
(iii) Upon the closing of the sale of any Equity Securities pursuant to paragraph
(b)(i) above, the selling Shareholders shall deliver at such closing, against payment of the
purchase price therefor, certificates (or other documentation governing the terms of any
such Equity Securities) representing their Equity Securities to be sold, duly endorsed for
Transfer or accompanied by duly endorsed share transfer forms, evidence of good title to the
Equity Securities to be sold, the absence of liens, encumbrances and adverse claims with
respect thereto and such other documents as are deemed reasonably necessary by the Investor
and the Company for the proper Transfer of such Equity Securities on the books of the
Company.
(iv) For the avoidance of doubt, the terms set out in this Section 4(b) shall
not apply to a Permitted Transfer.
16
(v) SCL’s decision as to whether or not to enter into the Tag-along Transaction under
Section 4(b)(i) is subject to the requirements of the Listing Rules as may be
applicable to SCL from time to time.
(c) Drag-Along Transactions.
(i) If the Investor has received (or has been deemed to have received) an SCL Refusal
Notice, the Investor shall be entitled, within 120 days thereafter, in connection with
entering into a definitive agreement pursuant to Section 4(a)(v), to deliver to the
Company and the Non-Investor Holders notice of a bona fide offer made by a third party to
purchase all but not less than all of the Equity Securities held by the Investor Group and
the Non-Investor Holders for cash consideration (the “Drag-Along Transaction”),
which notice shall include the name of the parties to the proposed Drag-Along Transaction, a
summary of the material terms and conditions of the proposed Drag-Along Transaction
negotiated by the Investor, the proposed cash purchase price and the material terms and
conditions of payment of such cash purchase price contemplated by the proposed Drag-Along
Transaction, and shall state that it desires the Company and all Non-Investor Holders, as
applicable, to enter into definitive agreements with such bona fide third party or parties
(the “Proposed Drag-Along Purchaser”) in connection with such Drag-Along
Transaction. Following receipt of such notice, (A) all Non-Investor Holders and the Company
(as applicable) shall consent to and raise no objections against the Drag-Along Transaction
and (B) if the Drag-Along Transaction is structured as (1) an amalgamation, merger or
consolidation of the Company, all Non-Investor Holders shall vote in favor of such
amalgamation, merger or consolidation, waive any dissenter’s rights, appraisal rights or
similar rights in connection with such amalgamation, merger or consolidation and instruct
the Board to vote in favor of such Drag-Along Transaction and (2) if the Drag-Along
Transaction is structured as a sale or issuance of shares of capital stock, all Non-Investor
Holders shall sell their respective Equity Securities on the terms and conditions of the
Drag-Along Transaction as set out in the notice and waive preemptive or other rights with
respect thereto. All Non-Investor Holders shall take all necessary and desirable actions in
connection with the consummation of the Drag-Along Transaction, including the execution of
such agreements and such instruments and other actions reasonably necessary to (1) provide
the representations, warranties, indemnities, covenants, conditions, escrow agreements and
other provisions and agreements relating to such Drag-Along Transaction that have been
negotiated by the Investor (subject to the terms of this Agreement) and (2) effectuate the
allocation and distribution of the aggregate consideration upon the Drag-Along Transaction
as set forth below. In the event that the Shareholders are required to provide
representations, warranties, covenants or indemnities in their individual capacity as
selling shareholders in connection with a Drag-Along Transaction, such representations,
warranties, covenants and indemnifications shall be limited to those concerning (1) brokers
and finders, (2) title to Equity Securities, free of all liens and encumbrances (other than
those arising under applicable securities laws), (3) authority, power and right to enter
into and consummate the Drag-Along Transaction without violating any other material
agreement (including any debt agreements), Applicable Law or Order, (4) the power and right
of such Person and his, her or its Affiliates to enter into and consummate the Drag-Along
Transaction
17
without the consent of any governmental authority or Person, (5) the absence of any
required consents to enter into and consummate the transaction and the absence of any
registration requirements in connection therewith and (6) such other representations,
warranties, covenants and indemnifications (including indemnification relating to breaches
of representations, warranties or covenants of the Company and including any escrow or
similar holdback to the extent the amount so escrowed or held back is pro rata among the
Shareholders) as may reasonably be considered necessary and appropriate by the Investor in
order to consummate such Drag-Along Transaction. Each Shareholder’s liability under the
definitive purchase agreement with respect to such Drag-Along Transaction will not exceed
the total purchase price received by such Shareholder for its Equity Securities except for
liability arising from fraud or knowing and intentional breach.
(ii) The obligations of the Non-Investor Holders to participate in any Drag-Along
Transaction pursuant to this Section 4(c) are subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:
(A) the terms and conditions of the proposed Drag-Along Transaction offered to
the Non-Investor Holders shall be the same as the terms and conditions offered to
the Investor Group;
(B) the implied equity value to be paid for the Company in the Drag-Along
Transaction must be greater than the implied equity value for the Company in the
transaction for which the SCL Refusal Notice was received (or deemed received); and
(C) in the event that the Proposed Drag-Along Purchaser is a “connected person”
(as defined in the Listing Rules) of SCL, any affirmative vote or approval of the
shareholders of SCL other than such “connected person” and its “associates” (as
defined in the Listing Rules) as required by the Listing Rules shall have been
obtained.
(iii) At the closing of any Drag-Along Transaction pursuant to this Section
4(c), each Shareholder shall deliver at such closing, against payment of the purchase
price therefor, certificates (or evidence thereof) representing its Equity Securities to be
sold, duly endorsed for Transfer or accompanied by duly endorsed share transfer forms,
evidence of good title to the Equity Securities to be sold, the absence of liens,
encumbrances and adverse claims with respect thereto and such other documents as are deemed
reasonably necessary by the Investor and the Company for the proper Transfer of such Equity
Securities on the books of the Company.
(iv) The Other Shareholders hereby grant an irrevocable proxy and power of attorney
which, it is agreed, is coupled with an interest, to any nominee of the Investor to take all
necessary actions and execute and deliver all documents reasonably deemed necessary and
appropriate to effectuate the consummation of any Drag-Along Transaction. To the extent any
Other Shareholder fails to comply with the provisions of this Section 4(c), such
Other Shareholder shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
each Shareholder against all liability, loss or damage, together with all reasonable
costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), relating to, or arising
from, its failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 4(c).
18
(v) SCL represents, warrants, acknowledges and agrees that, after having obtained the
vote of its shareholders to accept or not to accept the SCL Offer as contemplated by
Section 4(a)(vi), under the Listing Rules as of the date hereof no further vote or
approval of the shareholders of SCL (other than as contemplated by Section
4(c)(ii)(C)) shall be required for SCL to comply with its obligations under this
Section 4(c).
(d) SCL Offer and Drag-Along Transaction Limitation.
Notwithstanding the terms of Sections 4(a)-(c), the Investor acknowledges and
agrees that (i) it shall be entitled to make an SCL Offer and commence a transaction of a
type set forth in Section 4(a) (a “SCL Sale Transaction”) and, in the event
that SCL delivers an SCL Refusal Notice, a Drag-Along Transaction, and in each case enforce
its rights with respect thereto pursuant to Section 4(a) or Section 4(c), as
applicable, no more than three (3) times in the aggregate and (ii) in the event that a Sale
Termination Event has occurred, the Investor shall not be permitted to commence another SCL
Sale Transaction or Drag-Along Transaction, as the case may be, until the date that is 18
months from the date on which the applicable Sale Termination Event shall have occurred.
“Sale Termination Event” means, with respect to any SCL Sale Transaction or
Drag-Along Transaction that has been commenced by the Investor, the date on which (i) such
SCL Sale Transaction or Drag-Along Transaction has been terminated or abandoned by the
Investor (as noted in writing to SCL) or (ii) the date on which such SCL Sale Transaction or
Drag-Along Transaction has been terminated pursuant to the terms of the definitive
transaction documentation entered into in connection with such transaction.
(e) SCL Offer and Drag-Along Transaction and Certain IPOs.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Parties acknowledge and
agree that in the event an initial public offering by the Company of primary Ordinary Shares
is consummated without the prior written consent of SCL, the rights and obligations of the
Investor, SCL and the Other Shareholders under this Section 4 (and under related Section
2(a)(iv)) shall be terminated and of no further force and effect.
5. Involuntary Transfers.
(a) In the case of any Transfer of title or beneficial ownership of Equity Securities
upon default, foreclosure, forfeit, divorce, court order or otherwise, other than by a
voluntary decision on the part of a Shareholder made in accordance with Section 2
(each, an “Involuntary Transfer”), the Shareholder shall promptly (but in no event
later than five (5) days after the Involuntary Transfer) furnish written notice (the
“Involuntary Transfer Notice”) to the Company indicating that the Involuntary
Transfer has occurred,
19
specifying the name of the Person to whom the Equity Securities were transferred (the
“Involuntary Transferee”), giving a description of the circumstances giving rise to,
and stating the legal basis for, the Involuntary Transfer (and, if practicable, such
Shareholder shall notify the Company of any potential Involuntary Transfer in advance of
such Involuntary Transfer, together with any material details regarding the nature and
circumstances of such potential Involuntary Transfer).
(b) Upon the receipt of the Involuntary Transfer Notice, and for sixty (60) days
thereafter, the Shareholders of the Company (other than any Involuntary Transferees) shall
have the right to cause the Company to repurchase, and the Involuntary Transferee shall have
the obligation to sell, all (but not less than all) of the Equity Securities acquired by the
Involuntary Transferee to the Company for a repurchase price equal to the “fair market
value” (as determined in accordance with Section 5(d)) of such Equity Securities as
of the date of the Involuntary Transfer (the “Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price”
and such right, the “Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right”). The Involuntary
Transfer Repurchase Right shall be exercised by written notice (the “Involuntary
Transfer Repurchase Notice”) to the Involuntary Transferee given in accordance with
Section 13(k) of this Agreement on or prior to the last date on which the
Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right may be exercised.
(c) Subject to Section 7 hereof, the repurchase of Equity Securities pursuant
to the exercise of the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right shall take place on a date
specified by the Company, but in no event following the later of the 60th day following the
date of the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice or the 10th day following the receipt by
the Company of all necessary legal and governmental approvals in connection with such
repurchase. On such date, the Involuntary Transferee shall Transfer the Equity Securities
subject to the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice to the Company, free and clear of all
liens and encumbrances, by delivering to the Company the certificates representing the
Equity Securities to be purchased, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or accompanied
by a share transfer form duly executed in blank, and the Company shall pay to the
Involuntary Transferee the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price. The Involuntary
Transferee shall use his, hers or its reasonable best efforts to assist the Company in order
to expedite all proceedings described in this Section 5. If the Involuntary
Transferee does not Transfer the Equity Securities to the Company as required, the Company
will cancel such Equity Securities and deposit the funds in a non-interest bearing account
and make payment upon delivery.
(d) For purposes of this Section 5 and Section 6, the “fair market
value” of any Equity Securities shall be determined as follows:
(i) if the Equity Securities are listed on one or more national securities exchanges
(within the meaning of the Exchange Act), each share shall be valued at the average closing
price per share on the principal exchange on which such shares are then trading for the ten
(10) trading days immediately preceding the date of determination;
20
(ii) if the Equity Securities are not traded on a national securities exchange but are
quoted on NASDAQ or a successor quotation system, each share shall be valued at the average
of the last sales price per share for the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the
date of determination as reported by NASDAQ or any such successor quotation system; and
(iii) if the Equity Securities are not listed on a national securities exchange and are
not traded on NASDAQ, the fair market value shall be determined by the Board in good faith
based on its good faith determination of the fair market value of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as a whole without regard to the percentage of shares represented by the shares
subject to such determination or any minority discount or control premium.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Person whose Equity Securities are being valued
pursuant to Section 5(d)(iii) above disagrees with the valuation determined by the
Board, such Person may elect to choose within five Business Days of being advised of the
determination of the Board to have the fair market value determined by an independent
appraiser, the selection of which shall be subject to the mutual agreement of the Company
and such Person. The fees and expenses of any such independent appraiser shall be borne
equally by the Company and the Person whose Equity Securities are being valued hereunder and
the determination by the independent appraiser selected in accordance with this Section
5(e) shall be final and binding.
6. Repurchase Right.
(a) From and after a Repurchase Event, the Company shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to repurchase all or any portion of the Equity Securities held by the applicable
Other Shareholder (including any Equity Securities received upon a distribution from any
deferred compensation plan or other Equity Incentive Plan or any Equity Securities issuable
upon exercise of any option, warrant or similar equity-linked security of the Company held
by such Other Shareholder) in accordance with this Section 6 (the “Repurchase
Right”), in each case, at a price (the “Repurchase Price”) equal to “fair market
value,” but subject to Section 6(b), and subject further to any provisions to the
contrary contained in such Other Shareholder’s Employment Agreement or Option Agreement, as
applicable. The Company may exercise the Repurchase Right by delivering written notice (a
“Repurchase Notice”) to such Other Shareholder within six months after the
Repurchase Event; provided, however, that with respect to Equity Securities
acquired by the Other Shareholder after such Repurchase Event (whether by exercise of any
option, warrant or similar equity-linked security of the Company, distribution of shares
from any deferred compensation plan or otherwise), the Company may exercise the Repurchase
Right by delivering a Repurchase Notice to such Other Shareholder within six months after
the acquisition of such Equity Securities by such Other Shareholder (each date on which any
such purchase is closed with respect to the subject Equity Securities, the “Repurchase
Date”). The determination date for purposes of determining the fair market value shall
be the Repurchase Date applicable to the subject Equity Securities. The Repurchase Date
with respect to any repurchase of Equity Securities pursuant to the exercise of the
Repurchase Right shall take place on
the later of (i) the date specified by the Company, which shall in no event be later
than thirty (30) days following the date of the Repurchase Notice and (ii) within ten (10)
days following the receipt by the Company of all necessary government approvals.
21
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, unless otherwise
provided in the applicable Employment Agreement or Option Agreement of the Other
Shareholder, in the event the Other Shareholder’s employment or consulting relationship with
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is terminated for Cause by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or by the Other Shareholder without Good Reason, then the Company may exercise
the Repurchase Right by delivering a Repurchase Notice to such Other Shareholder within the
time periods set forth in Section 6(a) above at a price equal to the least of the
(i) the Per Share Subscription Price (as defined in the Subscription Agreement) for each
Ordinary Share issued on the Effective Date, (ii) the cost per security for all other Equity
Securities, in each case subject to adjustment by the Company to reflect any share
sub-division, stock split, recapitalization or similar adjustment to the applicable Equity
Securities and (iii) the fair market value of such Equity Securities. The determination
date for purposes of determining the fair market value shall be the closing date of the
purchase of the applicable Equity Securities.
(c) The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Investor and SCL stating
whether the Company will exercise the Repurchase Rights pursuant to Section 6(a) or
Section 6(b) above. If such notice states that the Company will not exercise such
Repurchase Rights for all or any portion of the applicable Equity Securities subject
thereto, the Investor and SCL (or their designee) shall have the right (exercisable by
delivery of written notice to such Other Shareholder on or before the later of (i) the
30th day following the receipt of such notice or (ii) six months after the
Repurchase Event) to purchase any such Equity Securities not purchased by the Company on the
same terms and conditions as the Company set forth in Section 6(a) or Section
6(b) pro rata to their Proportionate Percentage.
(d) The Repurchase Date shall take place on a date designated by the Company or the
Investor and/or SCL, as applicable, in accordance with Section 6(a) or Section
6(c), respectively; provided, however, that the Repurchase Date may be
deferred to a date designated by the Company or the Investor and/or SCL, as applicable, or,
to the extent required to avoid liability under applicable securities laws, the Other
Shareholder, until such time as the subject Other Shareholder has held the Equity Securities
for a period of at least six months and one day. The Company or the Investor and/or SCL, as
applicable, may effect such repurchase of Equity Securities and the Company shall record
such Transfer on its books whether or not such Other Shareholder attends such closing or
delivers certificates representing such Equity Securities to the Company. Each Other
Shareholder hereby grants an irrevocable proxy and power of attorney which, it is agreed, is
coupled with an interest to any nominee of the Company or the Investor and SCL, as
applicable, to take all necessary actions and execute and deliver all documents deemed
necessary and appropriate by such nominee to effect such repurchase of Equity Securities.
Any Other Shareholder who fails to take all necessary actions and execute and deliver all
documents necessary and appropriate to fulfill his, her or its obligations under this
Section 6 shall indemnify, defend and hold such
nominee harmless against all liability, loss or damage, together with all reasonable
costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), relating to or arising
from such nominee’s exercise of the proxy and power of attorney granted hereby.
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7. Repurchase Disability.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5 or Section 6,
the Company shall not be permitted to purchase any Equity Securities held by any Other
Shareholder or Involuntary Transferee upon exercise of the Repurchase Right or the
Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right if the Board reasonably determines that:
(i) the Company is prohibited from purchasing the Equity Securities by Applicable Law;
or
(ii) the purchase of Equity Securities would constitute a breach of, default, or event
of default under, or is otherwise prohibited by, the terms of any loan agreement or other
agreement or instrument representing indebtedness to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or the Company or its applicable Subsidiaries is not able to obtain
the requisite consent of any of its senior lenders to the purchase of the Equity Securities.
The events described in (i) and (ii) above each constitute a “Repurchase
Disability”.
(b) In the event of a Repurchase Disability, the Company shall so notify in writing the
Other Shareholders or Involuntary Transferee with respect to whom the Repurchase Right or
the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Right has been exercised (a “Disability
Notice”). The Disability Notice shall specify the nature of the Repurchase Disability.
The Shareholders of the Company (other than any Involuntary Transferee) shall have the right
to cause the Company to (in the case of an Involuntary Transfer), and the Company or the
Investor and SCL, as the case may be, shall have the right to (in the case of a Repurchase
Event), repurchase the Equity Securities described in the Repurchase Notice or Involuntary
Transfer Repurchase Notice at any time during the one-year period following the Repurchase
Event or Involuntary Transfer, as the case may be (or a nominee of the Company or the
Investor and SCL, as the case may be, may exercise such right); provided,
however, that if some, but not all of the Equity Securities to be repurchased can be
so repurchased without creating a Repurchase Disability, then the foregoing provisions of
this Section 7 shall not apply to any portion of the Equity Securities that can be
so repurchased without creating a Repurchase Disability. In the event of a Repurchase
Disability, (i) the Company shall provide written notice to each applicable Other
Shareholder or Involuntary Transferee as soon as practicable after all Repurchase
Disabilities cease to exist (the “Reinstatement Notice”); (ii) the fair market value
of the Equity Securities subject to a Repurchase Notice or Involuntary Transfer Repurchase
Notice shall be equal to the greater of the fair market value (as determined in accordance
with Section 5(d)) of the Equity Securities as of the date of the Repurchase Notice
or the Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, and the fair market value
(as determined in accordance with Section 5(d)) determined as
23
of the date the Reinstatement Notice is delivered to the Other Shareholder or
Involuntary Transferee, which fair market value shall be used to determine the Repurchase
Price or Involuntary Transfer Repurchase Price in the manner described above; and (iii) the
repurchase shall occur on a date specified by the Company within 10 days following the
determination of the fair market value of the Equity Securities to be repurchased as
provided in clause (ii) above.
8. Board of Directors.
(a) Number of Directors; Nomination; Removal.
(i) Subject to the other provisions of this Section 8, the Company and the
Shareholders shall take such actions as may be required to ensure that at all relevant times
(A) the number of directors constituting the Board shall be five (5), (B) three members of
the Board shall be appointed (the right to appoint a majority of the Board and the related
quorum provision in clause (D) below, the “Investor Board Rights”) by the Investor
(such directors, the “Investor Directors”), (C) two members of the Board shall
appointed by SCL (the “SCL Directors”) and (D) the presence of three (3) directors
(including at least two (2) of the Investor Directors and at least one (1) of the SCL
Directors) shall be required to constitute a quorum of the Board.
(ii) If at any time the number of the Equity Securities owned by the Investor Group on
a fully diluted basis divided by the number of the Equity Securities owned by SCL Group on a
fully diluted basis is less than 0.6 (the “Investor Minimum Ratio Condition”), the
Investor Board Rights shall immediately terminate and be of no further force or effect, and
members of the Board shall be appointed by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of
the then-outstanding Equity Securities.
(iii) For so long as the ratio of the number of the Equity Securities owned by SCL
Group on a fully diluted basis divided by the number of the Equity Securities owned by the
Investor Group on a fully diluted basis is at least 0.6 (the “SCL Minimum Ratio
Condition”), the Company shall not take any of the actions set forth in Schedule
II attached hereto without the prior written approval of SCL (the “SCL Consent
Rights”).
(iv) Each of the Investor or SCL, as the case may be, shall be entitled to nominate or
replace its Investor Directors or SCL Directors, as the case may be, by delivering a written
notice to the Company. As promptly as practicable, but in any event within five (5) days,
after delivery of such notice, the parties hereto shall take or cause to be taken such
corporate actions as may be reasonably required to cause the election or replacement
proposed in such notice, and the Shareholders agree to vote their shares in favor of such
election or replacement. Such corporate actions may include calling a meeting or soliciting
a written consent of the Board, or calling a meeting or soliciting a written consent of the
Shareholders of the Company, as applicable.
(v) The Board shall designate the chief executive officer as a non-voting observer (the
“CEO Observer”) to be present at all meetings of the Board and all
committees thereof. The Company shall give the CEO Observer the same notice and
information with respect to meetings of the Board and all committees thereof.
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(vi) Prior to permitting the Company to take any of the actions set forth in
Schedule III attached hereto, the Board shall cause the Company to, and the Company
shall provide reasonable advance written notice to SCL of, and shall consult with (but not
be required to obtain the consent of) SCL regarding, any such action (the “SCL Notice
and Consultation Rights”).
(vii) Following a Qualified Public Offering, if the Company is required by Applicable
Law (including any applicable stock exchange rules) to appoint independent directors to the
Board or any committee thereof, for so long as the Investor Minimum Ratio Condition is
maintained, the number of independent directors shall be maintained at an odd number and the
majority of independent directors so required to be appointed shall be appointed to the
Board or applicable committee thereof by the Investor, and the remainder of independent
directors so required to be appointed shall be appointed to the Board or applicable
committee thereof by SCL.
(b) Voting Covenant.
(i) In the event that under Applicable Law or the terms of the Company’s or any
Subsidiary of the Company’s organizational documents, any action or proposed action of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries requires the affirmative vote of the Shareholders of the
Company in order for such action or proposed action to be effective (unless such action or
proposed action is subject to the SCL Consent Rights), each Shareholder that is a member of
the SCL Group hereby agrees that, for so long as the Investor Minimum Ratio Condition is
maintained, such Shareholder shall cause all of its Equity Securities to be voted in the
manner directed by the Investor (in the Investor’s sole discretion); provided,
however, that in no event shall the obligations of this Section 8(b)(i) be
applicable to those matters that are subject to the SCL Consent Rights or otherwise impact
in any way the SCL Consent Rights or the agreements with respect to the composition of the
Board set forth in this Article 8.
(ii) By way of execution and delivery of this Agreement, each Shareholder that is a
member of the SCL Group appoints and constitutes the Investor as its attorney and proxy with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, with respect to the Equity Securities Owned
by him, her or it, to vote all of the Equity Securities of such Shareholder that is a member
of the SCL Group on any action or proposed action of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
on the matters of the type described in Section 8(b)(i). Upon the execution of this
Agreement, all prior proxies and similar rights and agreements given by each such
Shareholder that is a member of the SCL Group with respect to any of the Equity Securities
Owned by him, her or it shall be deemed revoked. This proxy is irrevocable and is coupled
with an interest.
(iii) In furtherance of the foregoing terms of Section 8(b)(i), for so long as
the Investor Minimum Ratio Condition is maintained, each Shareholder that is a member of the
SCL Group hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable
Law all rights of such Shareholder to vote on the matters of the type described in
Section 8(b)(i) and further agrees to waive any dissenters, appraisal or similar
rights in connection with such matters to the extent voted on by the Investor and the
Shareholders comprising the SCL Group.
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(iv) The terms of Section 8(b)(i), Section 8(b)(ii) and Section
8(b)(iii) shall be binding upon the Permitted Transferees of each Shareholder that is a
member of the SCL Group.
(c) Expenses; Compensation. The Company shall reimburse each director for his
or her reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including travel and related expenses) incurred in
connection with (A) attending the meetings of the Board and all committees thereof and (B)
to the extent such director is not an employee of the Company, conducting any other Company
business requested by the Company. The Company shall maintain directors and officers’
indemnity insurance coverage reasonably satisfactory to the Investor and SCL, and the New
Bye-laws shall provide for indemnification and exculpation of directors to the fullest
extent permitted under Applicable Law.
(d) Increase in Number of Directors. Subject to Section 8(a)(vii), and
provided the Investor and SCL jointly agree in writing, the number of directors
constituting the Board may be increased to more than five (5), and for so long as the
Investor Minimum Ratio Condition is maintained, the Investor shall have the right to
nominate additional directors such that the majority of the directors comprising the Board
shall be Investor Directors, and the Company and Shareholders shall take all corporate
actions as may be required to ensure that (x) nominees of the Investor constitute a majority
of the directors of the Board, (y) all directors constituting less than a majority of the
Board are appointed by SCL and (z) the presence of a majority of directors (including a
majority of the Investor Directors and at least one SCL Director) is required to constitute
a quorum of the Board.
(e) Committees and Subsidiaries. The provisions of this Section 8
shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to any committee of the Board and to the board of directors
and any committee of the board of directors of each Subsidiary of the Company.
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9. Representations, Warranties and Covenants.
Each Shareholder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants that (a) effective as of
the Effective Date, such Shareholder is the registered owner of the number and type of Equity
Securities set forth opposite its name on Schedule I attached hereto, (b) this Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Shareholder and constitutes the valid and
binding obligation of such Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and (c) such
Shareholder has not granted and is not a party to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement which
is inconsistent with or conflicts with the provisions of this Agreement, and each Shareholder
covenants that it shall not grant any proxy or become party to any voting trust or other agreement
which is inconsistent with or conflicts with the provisions of this Agreement.
10. Information Rights; Covenants.
(a) For so long as any Shareholder owns at least 10% of the then-outstanding Equity
Securities, such Shareholder shall be entitled to receive regular and suitable business
(e.g. sales, marketing and technology), financial and other information reasonably
appropriate to monitor and manage its ownership interests and such other information as it
may reasonably request, from time to time. Such information will include, without
limitation, the following:
(i) Access to Records. The Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of
the Company to, afford to each such Shareholder and its officers, employees, advisors,
counsel and other authorized representatives, during normal business hours, reasonable
access, upon reasonable advance notice, to all of the books, records and properties of the
Company and each such Subsidiary and all officers and employees of the Company and each such
Subsidiary.
(ii) Financial Reports. The Company shall furnish each such Shareholder with
copies of the financial information it is required to provide to its lenders under the
Company’s Existing Credit Facility, which delivery shall be made in accordance with the
terms (including without limitation, terms relating to the timing of delivery and the
presentation of such financial information) set forth in the Company’s Existing Credit
Facility.
(iii) Miscellaneous. Promptly as practicable (but in any event within ten (10)
days) upon becoming available, the Company shall provide to each such Shareholder:
(1) copies of all financial statements, reports, press releases, notices, proxy
statements and other documents sent by the Company or its Subsidiaries to its or
their shareholders generally or released to the public and copies of all regular and
periodic reports, if any, filed by the Company or its Subsidiaries with the
Commission, any securities exchange or the NASD or similar Governmental Authority;
27
(2) notification in writing of any litigation or governmental proceeding in
which it or any of its Subsidiaries is involved and which might, if determined
adversely, materially and adversely effect the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(3) notification in writing of the existence of any default under any material
agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or by which any of their assets are bound;
(4) copies of all reports prepared for or delivered to the management of the
Company or its Subsidiaries by its or their accountants; and
(5) upon request, any other routinely collected financial or other information
available to management of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(b) Notwithstanding the disclosure obligations set forth in Section 10(a), to
the extent applicable to the Company, the Company shall comply in all material respects with
the applicable requirements and provisions of Regulation FD (17 C.F.R. § 243.100, as
amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time).
11. Registration Rights.
(a) Public Offering; Right to Demand; Demand Notices. Subject to the
provisions of this Section 11, at any time following the second anniversary of the
Effective Date (the “Liquidity Date”), the Investor and SCL (each a “Demand
Party”) shall each have the right in accordance with the provisions of the Securities
Act and the terms of this Agreement, to make written requests in unlimited numbers to the
Company for registration for all or a part of its Ordinary Shares; provided, (i)
that the initial registration of Ordinary Shares shall only be made in connection with a
Qualified Public Offering and (ii) the Company shall not be required to act on any such
request, for a six (6) month period following the effective date of a previous Demand
Registration (as defined below). All requests made pursuant to this Section 11,
after a Qualified Public Offering, will specify an aggregate offering price of at least
$20,000,000 for the Ordinary Shares to be registered, and will also specify the intended
method of disposition thereof (a “Demand Notice”), including, if such disposition is
pursuant to an Underwritten Offering, whether such offering shall be a “firm commitment”
underwriting. Subject to Section 11(b) and Section 11(c), promptly upon
receipt of any such Demand Notice, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to file,
as soon as possible, but in any event within ninety (90) days and will use its reasonable
best efforts to have declared effective by the Commission, as soon as possible, but in any
event within seventy five (75) days from the date of filing, a Registration Statement
relating to such registration under the Securities Act of the Ordinary Shares that the
Company has been so requested to register (each a “Demand Registration”). If,
following 180 days after any Demand Registration made pursuant to this Section 11,
the Demand Party submits a Demand Notice to the Company requesting another Demand
Registration, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to file, as soon as possible,
but in any event within forty five (45) days and will use its reasonable best efforts to
have declared
28
effective, as soon as possible, but in any event within forty five (45) days from the
date of filing, a Registration Statement (as defined below) relating to such Demand
Registration. Any Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 11 may be made for a
shelf registration on an appropriate form pursuant to Section 11(g).
(b) Registration Statement Form. Registrations under this Section 11
shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission (i) as shall be selected by
the Company and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Demand Party and (ii) as shall
permit the disposition of Ordinary Shares in accordance with the intended method or methods
of disposition specified in the Demand Party’s Demand Notice. If, in connection with any
registration under this Section 11 that is proposed by the Company to be on Form F-3
or S-3 or any successor form, the managing underwriter, if any, shall advise the Company in
writing that in its opinion the use of another permitted form is of material importance to
the success of the offering, then such registration shall be on such other permitted form.
(c) Effective Registration Statement. The Company shall be deemed to have
effected a Demand Registration if the Registration Statement relating to such Demand
Registration is declared effective by the Commission; provided, however,
that no Demand Registration shall be deemed to have been requested for purposes of
Section 11(a) if (x) such registration, after it has become effective, is or becomes
subject to any stop order, injunction or other Order of the Commission or other Governmental
Authority or court by reason of an act or omission by the Company and such interference is
not cured within 20 Business Days; (y) the conditions to closing specified in the purchase
agreement or underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such registration are
not satisfied because of an act or omission by the Company, or (z) if the Company shall
postpone the filing of any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by any Demand Registration and within 30 days
after receipt of the notice of postponement, the Demand Party advises the Company in writing
that such Demand Party has determined to withdraw its request for a Demand Registration.
(d) Cutbacks. If the managing underwriter advises the Company that the
inclusion of all such Ordinary Shares proposed to be included in any registration would
interfere with the successful marketing (including pricing) of the Ordinary Shares to be
offered thereby, then the number of Ordinary Shares proposed to be included in such
registration shall be allocated among the Company and the selling Shareholders in the
following order of priority:
(i) first, the amount of Ordinary Shares which all Shareholders have requested to be
included in such registration (that the managing underwriter believes can be sold without
interfering with the successful marketing (including pricing) of the Ordinary Shares),
pro rata based upon the number of Ordinary Shares proposed to be sold by
each such Shareholder in such registration; and
(ii) second, the Ordinary Shares to be offered by the Company.
29
(e) Postponement. The Company may postpone the filing of any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the Demand Registration for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 180 days, if the
Board determines in good faith that the filing of such Registration Statement on the
consummation of such transactions would (i) require the disclosure of a material transaction
or other material matter and such disclosure would be disadvantageous to the Company or (ii)
materially adversely effect a material financing, acquisition,
disposition of assets or shares, amalgamation, merger or other comparable transaction; provided, that the
Company may postpone a Registration Statement only once during any twelve (12) month period.
(f) Piggyback Registration. If the Company at any time proposes for any reason
to register Ordinary Shares under the Securities Act (other than on Form F-3 or S-4 or Form
S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor forms thereto) including, without
limitation, pursuant to Section 11(a) or Section 11(g), it shall promptly
(and in any event within 5 days after receipt of a Demand Notice, unless the Company has
determined to postpone the registration pursuant to Section 11(g)) give written
notice to each Shareholder of its intention to register the Ordinary Shares and, upon the
written request, given within 15 days after delivery of any such notice by the Company, of
any such Shareholder to include in such registration Ordinary Shares (which request shall
specify the number of Ordinary Shares proposed to be included in such registration), the
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all such Ordinary Shares to be
included in such registration on the same terms and conditions as the Ordinary Shares
otherwise being sold in such registration, and in any event, subject to Section
11(d) the Company shall include the Ordinary Shares if the registration is effected
pursuant to Section 11(a) or Section 11(g) on the same terms and conditions
as the Ordinary Shares otherwise being sold in such registration.
(g) Registrations on Form F-3 or S-3. Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Agreement to the contrary, at such time as the Company shall have qualified for the use
of Form F-3 or S-3 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor form thereto, the
Investor and SCL shall have the right to request in writing an unlimited number of
registrations on Form F-3 or S-3 or such successor form of Ordinary Shares held by such
Shareholders, any such request shall (i) specify the number of Ordinary Shares intended to
be sold or otherwise disposed, (ii) state the intended method of disposition of such
Ordinary Shares and (iii) relate to Ordinary Shares having an aggregate offering price of at
least $20,000,000. Promptly (and in any event within 5 days) after receipt of any such
request (unless the Company has determined to postpone the registration pursuant to
Section 11(g)), the Company shall give written notice of such proposed registration
to the other Shareholders and, subject to Section 11(d), shall include in such
proposed registration any Ordinary Shares requested to be included in such proposed
registration by such Shareholders who respond in writing to the Company’s notice within 15
days after delivery of such Notice (which response shall specify the number of Ordinary
Shares proposed to be included in such registration). A requested registration on Form F-3
or S-3 (or its successor form) in compliance with this Section 11(g) shall not count
as a Demand Registration.
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(h) Holdback Agreement. If the Company at any time shall register any Ordinary
Shares under the Securities Act (including any registration pursuant to Section
11(a), Section 11(f) or Section 11(g)) for sale to the public, the
Shareholders shall not sell, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of,
or otherwise Transfer (other than Permitted Transfers), any Ordinary Shares (other than
those Ordinary Shares included in such registration pursuant to Section 11(f) or
Section 11(g)) without the prior written consent of the Company for a period
designated by the Company in writing to the Shareholders, which period shall not begin more
than 10 days prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement pursuant to which such
public offering shall be made and shall not exceed 90 days (or 180 days in the case of the
initial public offering) after the effective date of such Registration Statement.
(i) Preparation and Filing. If and whenever the Company is under an obligation
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement to use its reasonable best efforts to effect
the registration of any Ordinary Shares, the Company shall, as expeditiously as practicable:
(i) use its reasonable best efforts to cause a Registration Statement that registers
such Ordinary Shares to become and remain effective for a period of 90 days or until all of
such Ordinary Shares have been disposed of (if earlier);
(ii) furnish, at least 5 Business Days before filing a Registration Statement that
registers such Ordinary Shares, a prospectus relating thereto or any amendments or
supplements relating to such a Registration Statement or such prospectus, to one counsel
acting on behalf of all selling shareholders selected by the Investor and SCL (the
“Sellers’ Counsel”), copies of all such documents proposed to be filed (it being
understood that such 5 Business Day period need not apply to successive drafts of the same
document proposed to be filed so long as such successive drafts are supplied to such counsel
in advance of the proposed filing by a period of time that is customary and reasonable under
the circumstances);
(iii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary
to keep such Registration Statement effective until all of such Ordinary Shares have been
disposed of and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the sale
or other Transfer of such Ordinary Shares;
(iv) promptly notify the Sellers’ Counsel in writing (A) of the receipt by the Company
of any notification with respect to any comments by the Commission with respect to such
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus, or any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing
thereof or for additional information with respect thereto, (B) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus,
Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose and (C) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension
of the qualification of such Ordinary Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purposes;
31
(v) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Ordinary Shares under
such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any selling Shareholder
reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the holders of such Ordinary Shares to consummate their
disposition in such jurisdictions, provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then
so qualified or required to be qualified pursuant to Applicable Law or to take any action
which would subject it to general service of process or subject itself to taxation in any
such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(vi) without limiting subsection (v) above, use its reasonable best efforts to
cause such Ordinary Shares to be registered with or approved by such other Governmental
Authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company to
enable the holders of such Ordinary Shares to consummate the Transfer of such Ordinary
Shares;
(vii) furnish to each selling Shareholder and the underwriters, if any, such number of
copies of such Registration Statement, any amendments thereto, any exhibits thereto or
documents incorporated by reference therein (but only to the extent not publicly available
on XXXXX or the Company’s website), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus and the Prospectus (each in conformity with the requirements of the Securities
Act), and such other documents as such selling Shareholder or underwriters may reasonably
request in order to facilitate such selling Shareholders disposition of such Equity
Securities;
(viii) notify in writing on a timely basis each selling Shareholder at any time when
the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any
event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then
in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing and, at the request of such Shareholder, prepare,
if necessary, an amendment to the Registration Statement and furnish to such Shareholder a
number of copies reasonably requested by such Shareholder of a supplement to or an amendment
of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the offerees of
such Ordinary Shares, such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(ix) use its’ reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of an Order suspending
the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, and if one is issued, use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any Order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement as soon as possible;
32
(x) retain in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing
Prospectuses not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations; and if at any
time during such registration any event shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the
information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it
shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to effect
compliance with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, to notify promptly in
writing the selling Shareholders and underwriters and, upon any of their reasonable request,
to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each selling Shareholder
and underwriter as many copies as each such selling Shareholder and underwriter may from
time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect compliance with the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations;
(xi) make available for inspection by the selling Shareholders, the Sellers’ Counsel or
any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and
any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter
(collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to
exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, managers and
employees to supply all information (together with the Records, the “Information”)
reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement.
Any of the Information that the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of
which determination the Inspectors are so notified, shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors
unless (i) the disclosure of such Information is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus, and Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii)
the release of such Information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other Order of a
competent jurisdiction or (iii) such Information has been made generally available to the
public. The selling Shareholders agree that they will, upon learning that disclosure of
such Information is sought by a Governmental Authority, give prompt written notice to the
Company and use their reasonable best efforts to allow the Company, at the Company’s
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Information deemed
confidential;
(xii) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to
obtain, from its accountants, a “cold comfort” letter in customary form and covering such
matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters;
(xiii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, from its counsel, an opinion or
opinions in customary form (which shall also be addressed to the Shareholders selling
Ordinary Shares in such registration) and, in the case of an
Underwritten Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, from its counsel, an
opinion or opinions in customary form;
33
(xiv) provide a transfer agent and registrar (which may be the same entity) for such
Ordinary Shares and a CUSIP number for such Ordinary Shares, in each case no later than the
effective date of such registration;
(xv) upon the request of any underwriter, issue to any underwriter to which any selling
Shareholder may sell Ordinary Shares in such offering, certificates evidencing such Equity
Securities;
(xvi) upon the request of the Investor or SCL, list such Ordinary Shares on any
national securities exchange on which any shares of Equity Securities are listed or, if no
such shares are listed on a national securities exchange, use its reasonable best efforts to
qualify such Ordinary Shares for inclusion on the automated quotation system of the NASD or
such other national securities exchange as the Investor and SCL shall request;
(xvii) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, participate, to the extent
requested by the managing underwriter for the offering or the Investor or SCL, in customary
efforts to sell the Ordinary Shares being offered, cause such steps to be taken as to ensure
the good faith participation of senior management officers of the Company in “road shows” as
is customary and take such other actions as the underwriters, the Investor or SCL may
request in order to expedite or facilitate the Transfer of Ordinary Shares;
(xviii) cooperate with each Shareholder and each underwriter participating in the
disposition of Ordinary Shares and their respective counsel in connection with any filings
required to be made with the NASD, including, if appropriate, the pre-filing of the
Prospectus as part of a shelf Registration Statement in advance of an Underwritten Offering;
(xix) make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable but not
later than eighteen (18) months after the effective date, earnings statements (which need
not be audited) covering a period of twelve (12) months beginning within three (3) months
after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which earnings statements shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;
(xx) during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act, promptly file all documents required to be filed with the Commission,
including pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
(xxi) otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable Rules and
Regulations; and
34
(xxii) use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the
registration of such Ordinary Shares contemplated hereby.
(j) Expenses. All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of, or
compliance with, this Section 11, including (a) all registration and filing fees,
and any other fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with any stock
exchange, the Commission and the NASD (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of
any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel as may be required by the rules and
regulations of the NASD); (b) all fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or
“blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters or
Shareholders in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Ordinary Shares and
determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as
the managing underwriters may designate); (c) all printing and related messenger and
delivery expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Ordinary Shares in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company (or any other depositary or
transfer agent/registrar) and of printing any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto), all fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of all independent certified public
accountants of the issuer (including the expenses of any special audit and “cold comfort”
letters required by or incident to such performance); (d) Securities Act liability insurance
if the Company so desires or the underwriters so require; (e) all fees and expenses incurred
in connection with the listing of the Ordinary Shares on any securities exchange (including
NASDAQ) and all rating agency fees; (f) all fees and disbursements of the Sellers’ Counsel
to represent the selling Shareholders in connection with such registration; and (g)
reasonable fees and expenses of outside counsel, consultants, accountants, attorneys,
investment bankers, agents and other advisors retained by the Company (all such expenses
being herein called “Registration Expenses”), will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether the Registration Statement becomes effective; provided,
however, that all underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the
Ordinary Shares shall not be borne by the Company, but shall be borne by the seller or
sellers thereof, in proportion to the number of Ordinary Shares sold by such seller or
sellers. In addition, the Company will, in any event, pay its internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal
or accounting duties), the expense of any audit and the fees and expenses of any Person,
including special experts, retained by the Company.
(k) Indemnification.
(i) In connection with any registration of any Ordinary Shares under the Securities Act
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each seller of
such Ordinary Shares, each underwriter, broker or any other Person acting on behalf of such
seller, each other Person, if any, who controls any of the foregoing Persons within the
meaning of the Securities Act or Exchange Act, and their respective officers, directors,
employees, shareholders, members, managers, general partners, limited partners, principals,
agents and other representatives against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint
or several, to which any of the foregoing Persons
35
may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
(A) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment
or supplement thereto or (C) any Permitted Issuer Information used or referred to in any
“free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) used or referred to by any underwriter or
(D) any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433) not constituting an Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, when considered together with the most recent Preliminary Prospectus
(collectively, “Road Show Material”), (2) the omission or alleged omission to state
in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer
Information or any Road Show Material any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus, Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, Road Show Material and the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading, or (3) any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or state securities or
blue sky laws applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the
Company in connection with such registration or qualification under such state securities or
blue sky laws; and shall reimburse such seller, such underwriter, such broker or such other
Person acting on behalf of such seller and each such controlling Person for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
or in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information or any
Road Show Material in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company through an instrument duly executed by such seller or underwriter specifically
for use in the preparation thereof.
(ii) In connection with any registration of Ordinary Shares under the Securities Act
pursuant to this Agreement, each seller of Ordinary Shares shall indemnify and hold harmless
(in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in Section 11(k)(i)) the
Company, each officer of the Company who shall sign such Registration Statement, each
underwriter, broker or other Person acting on behalf of such seller, each Person who
controls any of the foregoing Persons within the meaning of the Securities Act or Exchange
Act and each other seller of Ordinary Shares under such Registration Statement with respect
to any untrue statement of material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be
stated in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Road Show
Material, if such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company or such underwriter through an instrument
duly executed by such seller specifically for use in connection with the preparation of such
36
Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement, Prospectus, Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in Road Show Material (and such
information has not been covered in a subsequent writing prior to the sale of such Ordinary
Shares to the Person asserting such untrue statement or omission); provided,
however, that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such indemnification
shall be, limited, in the case of each seller of Ordinary Shares, to an amount equal to the
net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Ordinary Shares effected
pursuant to such registration.
(iii) Indemnification similar to that specified in Sections 11(k)(i) and
11(k)(ii) shall be given by the Company and to each seller of Ordinary Shares (with
such modifications as may be appropriate) with respect to any required registration or other
qualification of their Ordinary Shares under any Federal or state law or regulation of
Governmental Authority other than the Securities Act.
(iv) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of
any action involving a claim referred to in this Section 11(k), such indemnified
party will, if a claim in respect thereof is made against an indemnifying party, give
written notice to the latter of the commencement of such action (provided,
however, that an indemnified party’s failure to give such notice in a timely manner
shall only relieve the indemnification obligations of an indemnifying party to the extent
such indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such failure). In case any such action
is brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate in and to assume the defense thereof, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified to the extent that it may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
responsible for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the latter in
connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, (A) if the
indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable
time after receipt of notice of such claim from the indemnified party or to employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party or to continue to defend against such
claim using its reasonable best efforts, or (B) that if any indemnified party shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to
such indemnified party which are additional to or conflict with those available to the
indemnifying party, or that such claim or litigation involves or could have an effect upon
matters beyond the scope of the indemnity agreement provided in this Section 11(k),
then in any such case, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume or continue
the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party and such indemnifying party
shall reimburse such indemnified party and any Person controlling such indemnified party for
that portion of the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the indemnified party which
are reasonably related to the matters covered by the indemnity agreement provided in this
Section 11(k).
37
(v) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 11(k) is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to
any loss, claim, damage or liability referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall contribute to the amounts
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or
liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that
the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the
case of each seller of Ordinary Shares, to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually
received by such seller from the sale of Ordinary Shares effected pursuant to such
registration. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent representations (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) the Securities Act) shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution
hereunder.
(vi) The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement will remain
in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
indemnified party and will survive the Transfer of Ordinary Shares.
(l) Underwritten Offerings.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement:
(i) to the extent that all the holders selling Ordinary Shares in a proposed
registration shall enter into an underwriting or similar agreement, which agreement contains
provisions covering one or more issues addressed in this Section 11, the provisions
contained in this Section 11 addressing such issue or issues shall be of no force or
effect with respect to such registration. If any offering pursuant to a Demand Registration
or pursuant to this Section 11 involves an Underwritten Offering, the Investor and
SCL (whichever has requested the registration) shall have the right to select the managing
underwriter or underwriters to administer the offering which managing underwriter or
underwriters are each a nationally recognized “bulge bracket” investment bank, in which case
the Company shall enter into an agreement with such firm for the underwriting of such
offering containing terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Investor or SCL, as
the case may be, and the Company; and
(ii) no Shareholder may participate in any registration hereunder that is underwritten
unless such Shareholder agrees (A) to sell such Shareholder’s Ordinary Shares proposed to be
included therein on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangement(s) acceptable to the
Investor and SCL, as the case may be, and the Company and consistent with the terms hereof
and (B) as expeditiously as possible, to notify the Company of the occurrence of any event
concerning such Shareholder as a result of which any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus contains an untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
38
(m) Information by Holder. Each holder of Ordinary Shares to be included in
any registration shall furnish to the Company such written information regarding such holder
and the distribution proposed by such holder as the Company may reasonably request in
writing and as shall be reasonably required in connection with any registration,
qualification or compliance referred to in this Agreement.
(n) Exchange Act Compliance. From and after the date a Registration Statement
filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act relating to any class of the Equity
Securities shall have become effective, the Company shall comply with all of the reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act (whether or not it shall be required to do so) and shall
comply with all other public information reporting requirements of the Commission which are
conditions to the availability of Rule 144 for the sale of Ordinary Shares. The Company
shall cooperate with each holder in supplying such information as may be necessary for such
holder to complete and file any information reporting forms presently or hereafter required
by the Commission as a condition to the availability of Rule 144 or any comparable successor
rules). The Company shall furnish to any holder of Ordinary Shares upon request a written
statement executed by the Company as to the steps it has taken to comply with the current
public information requirement of Rule 144 (or such comparable successor rules). After the
consummation of a Qualified Public Offering, subject to the limitations on Transfers imposed
by this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate and
expedite transfers of Ordinary Shares pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which
efforts shall include timely notice to its transfer agent to expedite such transfers of
Equity Securities.
(o) No Conflict of Rights. The Company represents and warrants to the Investor
and SCL that the registration rights granted in this Agreement do not conflict with any
other registration rights granted by the Company. The Company shall not, after the
Effective Date, grant any registration rights which conflict with or impair, or have any
priority over, the registration rights granted hereby.
(p) The rights of the Company to register Ordinary Shares granted to the Shareholders
under this Section 11 may be assigned in full by a Shareholder in connection with a
valid Transfer by such Shareholder of its Ordinary Shares in accordance with Section
2 hereof and the Company agrees to promptly file any required prospectus supplement
electing such transfer and naming the transferee as a selling securityholder therein, if
applicable, enabling the transferee to sell all Ordinary Shares required by it; provided,
however, that (i) such Transfer may otherwise be executed in accordance with applicable
securities laws; (ii) such Shareholder gives prior written notice to the Company; and (iii)
such transferee agrees to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement to the
extent applicable, and such Transfer is otherwise in compliance with this Agreement. Except
as specifically permitted by this Section 11(p), the rights of a Shareholder with
respect to Ordinary Shares as set out herein shall not be
transferable to any other Person, and any attempted Transfer shall cause all rights of
such Shareholder therein to be forfeited.
39
(q) Consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing terms of this Section 11,
to the extent consent is required from the Investor and SCL under this Section 11,
the consent from the Investor or SCL shall only be required to the extent such Shareholder
is selling Ordinary Shares under this Section 11 in the applicable registration or
sale transaction, and in all such cases, such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed.
12. Termination.
(a) Subject to Section 12(b) and Section 12(c), this Agreement shall
terminate on the first to occur of:
(i) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs
of the Company (other than any dissolution, liquidation or winding up in connection with any
reincorporation of the Company in another jurisdiction); or
(ii) the execution of a written instrument approving the termination of this Agreement,
signed by the Company, the Investor and SCL.
(b) Subject to Section 12(c), if at any time:
(i) the Investor Minimum Ratio Condition is no longer maintained, the rights provided
to the Investor under Section 4(c) and Investor Board Rights under Section
8, will immediately terminate;
(ii) the SCL Minimum Ratio Condition is no longer maintained or there is a SCL Change
of Control, whichever is the earlier, the rights provided to SCL under Section 4(a)
and Section 4(b), and the SCL Consent Rights and the SCL Notice and Consultation
Rights under Section 8 will immediately terminate;
(iii) either the Investor Minimum Ratio Condition or the SCL Minimum Ratio Condition is
no longer maintained, the restrictions on Transfer set forth in Section 2 will
immediately terminate; or
(iv) the combined ownership of Equity Securities by the Investor Group and the SCL
Group falls below 25% of the then total outstanding Equity Securities, each of the
Drag-Along Transaction provisions, the Investor Board Rights, the SCL Consent Rights and the
SCL Notice and Consultation Rights will immediately terminate.
(c) The provisions of Section 11, this Section 12 and Section
13 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect when there shall not be any
Equity Securities outstanding; provided, however, that Section 11(j)
and Section 11(k) shall survive the termination of this Agreement indefinitely.
40
13. Miscellaneous.
(a) Restrictive Legends.
(i) Each certificate for Equity Securities (unless otherwise permitted by the
provisions of Section 13(a)(ii)) shall include a legend in substantially the
following form:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN
ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE
SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION
THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT OR LAWS. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS
CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO A SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
AUGUST 17, 2007 BY AND AMONG NCL CORPORATION LTD. (THE
“COMPANY”) AND THE OTHER PARTIES NAMED THEREIN. THE TERMS OF
SUCH SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, RESTRICTIONS
ON TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT
CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”
(ii) Subject to Section 13(b), any holder of Equity Securities that are
registered pursuant to the Securities Act and qualified under applicable state securities
laws may exchange any certificate or other evidence of ownership of such Equity Securities
for a certificate or other evidence of ownership with respect to the Equity Securities so
registered that shall not bear the legend set forth in clause (i) of this Section
13(a).
(b) Compliance with Securities Laws. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, upon any proposed Transfer of Equity Securities, the Company shall not be
obligated to register the Transfer of such Equity Securities on the share transfer register
of the Company until the Company shall have received (i) to the extent required to ensure
compliance with the Securities Act and any other Applicable Laws, an opinion of counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that the proposed Transfer of Equity
Securities may be effected without registration under the Securities Act or any such other
Applicable Laws and/or (ii) representation letters in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Company to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act
and any other Applicable Laws. Each certificate evidencing Equity Securities transferred
shall bear the legend set forth in Section 13(a)(i), except that such certificate
shall not bear such legend if neither such legend nor the restrictions on
Transfer in Section 13(a) and this Section 13(b) are required in order
to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and all other Applicable Law.
41
(c) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under Applicable Law, but if any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect
under any Applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, and such
invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable provisions shall be null and void. It is the
intent of the parties, however, that any invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable provisions
be automatically replaced by other provisions which are as similar as possible in terms to
such invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable provisions but are valid and enforceable to
the fullest extent permitted by law.
(d) Entire Agreement; Inconsistency. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement among the parties hereto and supersedes any other agreements, whether written or
oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties hereto relating
to the subject matter hereof. In the event that any provision of the New Bye-laws is
inconsistent with any provision in this Agreement, (i) the provisions of this Agreement
shall govern and (ii) the Shareholders shall take such action as may be necessary to amend
the applicable provision in the New Bye-laws in order to correct such inconsistency in favor
of such provision of this Agreement. In the event that such provision is required to be set
forth in the New Bye-laws in order to be enforceable upon the Company and/or Shareholders
under Applicable Law, the Shareholders shall take such action as may be necessary to amend
the New Bye-laws in order reflect the applicable provision of this Agreement.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit
of the Company and the Shareholders and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Except as otherwise expressly permitted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (or with the
prior written consent of the Investor and SCL), but subject in all cases to the terms of
this Agreement, the Company shall not assign or otherwise Transfer their rights or
obligations hereunder.
(f) Spousal Consent. If requested by the Company, each Other Shareholder who
is an individual shall cause his or her spouse, as applicable, to execute and deliver a
separate consent and agreement (“Spousal Consent”) in the form attached as
Exhibit C hereto. The signature of a spouse on a Spousal Consent shall not be
construed as making such spouse an Other Shareholder or a party to this Agreement except as
may otherwise be set forth in such consent. Each Other Shareholder who is an individual
will certify his or her marital status to the Company at the Company’s request.
(g) Modifications; Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may only be modified or
amended by an instrument in writing signed by the Company, the Investor and SCL. Any waiver
of any provision of this Agreement requested by any party hereto must be granted in advance,
in writing by the party granting such waiver.
42
(h) Table of Contents and Headings. The table of contents and section headings
of this Agreement are included for reference purposes only and shall not affect the
construction or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
(i) Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of original or facsimile counterparts or counterparts delivered by electronic mail,
and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.
(j) Remedies.
(i) The Shareholders shall have all rights and remedies reserved for the Shareholders
pursuant to this Agreement and the New Bye-laws and all rights and remedies which the
Shareholders have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of
the rights which such holder has under any law or equity. Any Person having any rights
under any provision of this Agreement will be entitled to enforce such rights specifically,
to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement (or any
representation or warranty made herein) and to exercise all other rights granted by law or
equity.
(ii) The parties hereto agree that if any parties seek to resolve any dispute arising
under this Agreement pursuant to a legal proceeding, the prevailing parties to such
proceeding shall be entitled to receive reasonable fees and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with such proceedings.
(iii) It is acknowledged that it will be impossible to measure in money the damages
that would be suffered if the parties fail to comply with any of the obligations herein
imposed on them and that in the event of any such failure, an aggrieved Person will be
irreparably damaged and will not have an adequate remedy at law. Any such Person shall,
therefore, be entitled to injunctive relief, including specific performance, to enforce such
obligations, and if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions
of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall raise the defense that there is an
adequate remedy at law.
(k) Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications
hereunder to any party hereto shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written
instrument and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by
facsimile, by electronic mail, by
43
nationally-recognized overnight courier, or by first class
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set
forth below or such other address as may hereafter be designated in writing by the addressee
to the addressor:
(i) | if to the Company, to: | |||||
NCL Corporation Ltd. | ||||||
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx |
Xxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||
Attention: | Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Telephone: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
Facsimile: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
and, prior to Effective Date, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP | ||||||
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||||||
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||
Attention: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |||||
Telephone: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
Facsimile: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
and, after Effective Date, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
O’Melveny & Xxxxx LLP | ||||||
Times Square Tower | ||||||
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||||
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||
Attention: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||||
Telephone: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
Facsimile: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
(ii) | If, to SCL: | |||||
Star Cruises Limited | ||||||
Suite 1501, | ||||||
Ocean Centre | ||||||
0 Xxxxxx Xxxx, | ||||||
Xxxxxxxxxxx | ||||||
Xxxxxxx, | ||||||
Xxxx Xxxx | ||||||
Attention: | Xxxxxx Xxx | |||||
Telephone: | (000) 0000-0000 | |||||
Facsimile: | (000) 0000-0000 | |||||
and, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP | ||||||
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||||||
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||
Attention: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |||||
Telephone: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
Facsimile: | (000) 000-0000 |
44
(iii) | If, to the Investor: | |||||
NCL Investment Ltd. | ||||||
c/o Apollo Management VI, LP | ||||||
0 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx | ||||||
XX, XX 00000 | ||||||
Attention: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||||
Telephone: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
Facsimile: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
and, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
O’Melveny & Xxxxx LLP | ||||||
Times Square Tower | ||||||
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||||
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||
Attention: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||||
Telephone: | (000) 000-0000 | |||||
Facsimile: | (000) 000-0000 |
All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been
delivered and received: (i) in the case of personal delivery or delivery by facsimile, on the date
of such delivery (and, if such date is not a Business Day, then on the next Business Day); and (ii)
in the case of dispatch by nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next Business Day
following such dispatch.
(l) Arbitration, Applicable Law and Dispute Resolution
(a) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCLUDING THE CONFLICT OF LAW
RULES OR PRINCIPLES THAT COULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER
THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. ALL MATTERS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS AGREEMENT RELATING TO
MATTERS OF INTERNAL GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF BERMUDA, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY LAW OR RULE THAT COULD
CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN BERMUDA TO BE APPLIED.
(b) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising under, out of, or in connection with or
in relation to this Agreement (including but not limited to any question regarding its
existence, validity, enforceability, interpretation, breach or termination) shall be finally
determined and settled by arbitration in accordance with the applicable rules of the
American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), which rules are deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Section 13(l) and as may be amended by the rest of this
Section 13(l). The Tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators. Each of
45
the claimant and the respondent shall have the right to appoint an arbitrator and the third,
who shall be the Chairman of the Tribunal, shall be appointed by the two party-appointed
arbitrators. It is hereby expressly agreed that if there is more than one claimant party
and/or more than one respondent party, that the claimant parties shall together appoint one
arbitrator and the respondent parties shall together appoint one arbitrator. The seat of
the arbitration shall be New York, New York and the language of the arbitration shall be
English. Within 20 days of the conclusion of the arbitration hearing, the Tribunal shall
prepare written findings of fact and conclusions of law. It is mutually agreed that the
written decision of the Tribunal shall be valid, binding and final from the day it is made
and not capable of appeal; provided, however, that the Parties hereto agree
that the Tribunal shall not be empowered to award punitive damages against any Party
participating in such arbitration. The Tribunal shall have sole power to take whatever
interim measures it deems necessary, including without limitation injunctive relief,
specific performance and other equitable relief. Judgment upon the award rendered by the
Tribunal may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. If an arbitration is
commenced pursuant to this Section 13(l) and to the extent permitted by law, the
arbitrators’ fees and expenses will be borne equally by each Party participating in such
arbitration proceeding, and each Party shall pay its own attorney’s fees and expenses,
regardless of whether in the opinion of the Tribunal there is a prevailing party. EACH OF
THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL, INCLUDING TRIAL BY JURY, IN
ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(m) Interpretive Matters. Unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all
references to articles, sections, schedules or exhibits are to Articles, Sections, Schedules
or Exhibits of or to this Agreement, (ii) words in the singular or plural include the
singular and plural, and pronouns stated in either the masculine, feminine or neuter gender
shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and (iii) the term “including” and any
variation thereof shall mean by way of example and not by way of limitation. Any reference
to a document includes all amendments or supplements to, or replacements or novations of,
such document. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting
of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent arises, this Agreement
shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of
proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(n) Further Assurances. Following the Effective Date, each party hereto shall
do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall
execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as
any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the provisions of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including SCL and
the Investor and their respective Permitted Transferees with respect to their respective
obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to their obligations under
Section 4 and Section 8 hereof).
46
(o) Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly set forth herein (including
in Section 8(c) with respect to directors and officers indemnity insurance and
Section 11(k) in connection with indemnification and contribution relating to
registration of shares), no Person (including, without limitation, any holder of Equity
Securities that is not a party to this Agreement) or anyone acting on behalf of any Person,
other than the Shareholders and their permitted assignees in accordance with this Agreement,
shall be a third party or other beneficiary of such covenants and no such Person shall have
any rights of contribution against the Shareholders or the Company with respect to such
covenants or any matter subject to or resulting in indemnification under this Agreement or
otherwise.
(p) Additional Parties; Additional Equity Securities. In the event any Equity
Securities are issued to a Person that is not a party hereto as a result of the issuance of
Equity Securities (including upon the exercise or conversion of options, warrants or similar
equity-linked Equity Securities of the Company at any time during the term of this
Agreement), such Equity Securities, as a condition to their issuance, shall become subject
to this Agreement via the execution of a Joinder substantially in the form of Exhibit
B pursuant to which the purchaser or holder of such Equity Securities agrees to become
party hereto and have his, her or its Equity Securities subject to the terms of this
Agreement. In the event any Shareholder acquires additional Equity Securities (including
via the issuance of Equity Securities upon the exercise or conversion of options, warrants
or similar equity-linked securities of the Company), such Equity Securities shall
automatically be subject to the terms of this Agreement.
(q) Share Splits, Mergers, etc. If, and as often as, there are any changes in
any Equity Securities, as applicable, by way of share split, share subdivision, stock
dividend, bonus share issue, combination or reclassification, or through amalgamation,
merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other means,
appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be
required, so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue
with respect to the Equity Securities, as so changed.
(r) No Right to Employment. None of the provisions hereof shall create, or be
construed or deemed to create, any right to employment in favor of any Person by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries.
(s) Effective Date. This Agreement shall be effective only upon and following
the Effective Date and shall be of no force or effect if the Subscription Agreement is
terminated and the Closing does not occur.
(t) Other Shareholder Agreements. If an Other Shareholder enters into an
Employment Agreement or an Option Agreement or such other agreement with the Company and/or
one of the Company’s Subsidiaries whereby such Other Shareholder is granted Equity
Securities (the “Other Shareholder Agreements”), then in the event of any
inconsistency between the terms hereof and the terms of the Other Shareholder Agreements,
the terms of this Agreement shall prevail over the terms of any such Other Shareholder
Agreements.
47
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Shareholders’ Agreement on the date
first written above.
NCL CORPORATION LTD. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Deputy Chairman, President and CEO | |||
HOLDERS: STAR CRUISES LIMITED |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx Ming Huat | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx Ming Huat | |||
Title: | President | |||
[Signature Page to Shareholders’ Agreement]
48
NCL INVESTMENT LTD. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Authorized Person | |||
[Signature Page to Shareholders’ Agreement]
49
SCHEDULE A
Cruise Line Competitors
Any entity that is engaged in the cruise industry that operates more than 20
cruise ships and/or has more than 40,000 cruise berths.
50
SCHEDULE I
Shareholders
Shareholders
Shareholder | Equity Securities Owned | |
Star NCLC Holdings Ltd. | 10,000,000 | |
NCL Investment Ltd. | 2,645,036 | |
NCL Investment II Ltd. | 4,854,964 | |
TPG Viking I, L.P. | 1,864,309 | |
TPG Viking II, L.P. | 548,684 | |
TPG Viking AIV III, L.P. | 87,007 |
S-1
SCHEDULE II
SCL Consent Rights
SCL Consent Rights
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not take any of the
following actions without the prior written consent of SCL:
1. | enter into the Sale of the Company (except any Sale of the Company effected in accordance with Section 4); |
2. | effect one or more acquisitions or divestitures if the aggregate consideration paid or received in respect thereof, together with the consideration paid or received in respect of all other acquisitions and divestures effected by the Company after the Effective Date, exceeds $200 million; |
3. | effect any primary issuance of Equity Securities in a public offering; provided that no consent will be required with respect to the Company’s initial public offering of primary Ordinary Shares (the “IPO”) if the number of Ordinary Shares proposed to be issued in the IPO would not exceed 20% of the Ordinary Shares that would be outstanding after giving effect to the IPO (plus any additional Ordinary Shares that would be issuable to the underwriters on exercise of a customary “green shoe”); and provided further, however, that the provisions of Section 4(e) shall be applicable in the event that an IPO is consummated without SCL’s consent; |
4. | effect one or more issuances of any Equity Securities in a private offering to third parties; provided that no consent will be required (i) with respect to any such issuance prior to the IPO if the aggregate gross proceeds received in respect thereof, together with the gross proceeds received in respect of all other Equity Issuances effected after the Effective Date and prior to the IPO (other than in respect of an Equity Issuance effected pursuant to the terms of the Reimbursement and Distribution Agreement) , does not exceed $200 million, or (ii) with respect to any such issuance to the Investor or SCL pursuant to the terms of the Reimbursement and Distribution Agreement; provided, however, where such issuance is for non-voting Equity Securities, such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; |
5. | declare or pay any dividends or distributions to the extent that they are not pro-rata among the Equity Securities owned by Shareholders; |
6. | make one or more capital expenditures (or a series of separate but related transactions), including but not limited to major new build commitments, if the aggregate amount of such capital expenditures (or a series of separate but related capital expenditures), together with all other capital expenditures made after the Effective Date, is in excess of $20,000,000; |
7. | hire a new chief executive officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided, however, such consent should not be unreasonably withheld. |
S-2
8. effect any changes to the memorandum of association of the Company or the New Bye-laws;
9. change the independent accountants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
10. | (A) issue or authorize new equity compensation plans or (B) amend existing equity compensation plans; or |
11. | enter into any contract or agreement with any officer, director, Shareholder, Affiliate or employee of the Investor other than pursuant to (A) director’s and officer’s indemnification provisions set forth in the New Bye-laws; (B) officer compensation arrangements entered into in the normal course of business; or (C) transactions contemplated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. |
S-3
SCHEDULE III
SCL Notice and Consultation Rights
SCL Notice and Consultation Rights
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company must provide reasonable advance written notice
to SCL, and shall consult with (but shall not be required to get the consent of) SCL in advance of
taking any action with respect to, any of the following actions (such notice shall be deemed to
have been given to SCL, if, in a Board meeting at which a SCL Director was present, such matter is
discussed, provided such matter was duly included in reasonable detail (including as may be
required by Applicable Law) in the notice of meeting):
1. the approval of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s consolidated annual budget;
2. | any material action taken thereafter which deviates from the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s consolidated annual budget; |
3. | any incurrence of any Indebtedness (as defined in the Subscription Agreement) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries outside that of which is allocated in the annual budget that, together with all other incurrence of indebtedness outside of that which is allocated in the annual budget, is in excess of $100,000,000; |
4. | the issuance of any Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including the identity of participants and the allocation of securities to be offered in connection with any public offering of Equity Securities; |
5. the declaration of any dividends or distributions on any Equity Securities; or
6. | the commencement or termination of employment of any executive or key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. |
S-4
EXHIBIT A
NEW BYE-LAWS
A-1
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF JOINDER TO SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT
THIS JOINDER (this “Joinder”) to that certain Shareholders’ Agreement (as amended and
supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”) dated as of August 17, 2007, by and among
NCL CORPORATION LTD., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Company”), NCL
INVESTMENT LTD., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Investor”), and STAR
CRUISES LIMITED, a company continued into Bermuda (“SCL”), is made and entered into as of
[___] by and between the Company and [Holder] (“Holder”). Capitalized terms used
but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.
WHEREAS, Holder has acquired certain Ordinary Shares, and the Agreement and the Company
require Holder, as a holder of Ordinary Shares, to become a party to the Agreement, and Holder
agrees to do so in accordance with the terms hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties
to this Joinder hereby agree as follows:
1. Agreement to be Bound. Holder hereby agrees that upon execution of this Joinder, [he,
she or it] shall become a party to the Agreement and shall be fully bound by, and subject to, all
of the covenants, terms and conditions of the Agreement as though an original party thereto and
shall be deemed a [•] Holder for all purposes thereof. In addition, Holder hereby agrees that all
Ordinary Shares held by Holder shall be deemed Ordinary Shares for all purposes of the Agreement.
2. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Joinder shall bind
and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns and
Holder and any subsequent holders of Ordinary Shares and the respective successors and assigns of
each of them, so long as they hold any shares of Ordinary Shares.
3. Counterparts. This Joinder may be executed in separate counterparts, including by
facsimile, each of which shall be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one
and the same agreement.
4. Notices. For purposes of Section 13(k) of the Agreement, all notices, demands
or other communications to the Holder shall be directed to:
[Name]
[Address]
[Attention]
[Facsimile Number]
[Address]
[Attention]
[Facsimile Number]
5. Governing Law. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, THIS JOINDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DOMESTIC LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICTS OF LAWS OR
PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
6. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of this Joinder are inserted for
convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Joinder.
* * * * *
B-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Joinder as of the date first above
written.
NCL CORPORATION LTD. |
||||
By: | /s/ | |||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[HOLDER] |
||||
By: | /s/ | |||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
B-2
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF SPOUSAL CONSENT
Dated __________, _________
Reference is hereby made to that certain Shareholders’ Agreement (as amended and supplemented
from time to time, the “Agreement”) dated as of August 17, 2007 by and among by and among
NCL CORPORATION LTD., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Company”), NCL
INVESTMENT LTD., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Investor”), and STAR
CRUISES LIMITED, a company continued into Bermuda (“SCL”), and the Other Shareholders of
the Company from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise
defined shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Agreement.
This Spousal Consent is being delivered pursuant to Section 13(f) of the Agreement, a
copy of which has been provided to the undersigned
(“Spouse”). Spouse, as the spouse of __________________________(the “Relevant Holder”), consents to all of the provisions of the
Agreement and to the extent that Spouse may lawfully do so, Spouse confirms that the Relevant
Holder may act alone with respect to all matters in connection with the Agreement. Spouse also
confirms that the Relevant Holder may enter into agreements pursuant to the Agreement and consent
to and execute amendments thereof, without further signature or consent of, or notice to, Spouse.
Spouse further agrees that he /she will not take any action to oppose or otherwise hinder the
operation of the provisions of the Agreement.
To the extent of any property interest that Spouse may have in such Equity Securities, Spouse
consents to be bound by the terms of the Agreement, including, without limitation, restrictions on
transfer and obligations to sell set forth therein.
/s/ | ||||
Name of Spouse: | ||||
C-1