INVESTOR
SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of [__________],
2007, between Nomura Investment Managers U.S.A., Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Initial Investor” and, collectively with all other Persons (as
defined herein) who become Investors in accordance with this Agreement,
“Investors”), and Fortress Investment Group LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“Fortress”).
WHEREAS,
in connection with the IPO (as defined herein), Fortress and its Affiliates (as
defined herein) intend to consummate the transactions described in the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission (as defined
herein) on November 8, 2006 (Registration No. 333-138514) (the “IPO
Registration Statement”);
WHEREAS,
Initial Investor has entered into a securities purchase agreement (the
“Securities Purchase Agreement”) with the Principals pursuant to
which Initial Investor, prior to the consummation of the IPO, will acquire
[___] Class A Shares (as defined herein); and
WHEREAS,
Initial Investor and Fortress desire to address herein certain relationships
among themselves with respect to the Class A Shares held by Initial
Investor.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained
herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.1 DEFINITIONS.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“ADVISERS
ACT” means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, supplemented
or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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An
“AFFILIATE” of any Person means any other Person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or
is under common Control with, such first Person. “CONTROL” means the
possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
“AGREEMENT”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“APPROVED
SALE” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a).
A
“BENEFICIAL OWNER” of a security is a Person who directly or
indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or
otherwise has or shares: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or
to direct the voting of, such security and/or (ii) investment power, which
includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, such security.
The terms “BENEFICIALLY OWN” and “BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP”
shall have correlative meanings.
“BOARD”
means the board of directors of Fortress.
“CLASS
A SHARES” means the Class A Shares of Fortress representing Class A
limited liability company interests of Fortress and any equity securities
issued or issuable in exchange for or with respect to such Class A Shares by
way of a dividend, split or combination of shares or in connection with a
reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other
reorganization.
“CLASS
B SHARES” means the Class B Shares of Fortress representing Class B
limited liability company interests of Fortress and any equity securities
issued or issuable in exchange for or with respect to such Class B Shares by
way of a dividend, split or combination of shares or in connection with a
reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other
reorganization.
“CODE”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from
time to time.
“COMMISSION”
means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any similar
agency then having jurisdiction to enforce the Securities Act.
“DEMAND”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).
“DEMAND
INVESTOR” means an Investor that, together with its Permitted Transferees
and their respective Permitted Transferees who are in each case Investors,
holds at least a Registrable Amount.
“DEMAND
REGISTRATION” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).
“DISQUALIFIED
PERSON” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
“EXCHANGE
ACT” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented
or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
A
reference to an “EXCHANGE ACT RULE” shall mean such rule or
regulation of the SEC under the Exchange Act, as in effect from time to time or
as replaced by a successor rule thereto.
“FOG
UNIT” refers to a unit in the Fortress Operating Group, as described in
the Private Placement Memorandum, which represents one limited partnership
interest in each of the limited partnerships that comprise the Fortress
Operating Group and any corresponding Class B Shares and any equity securities
issued or issuable (including Class A Shares) in exchange for or with respect
to such FOG Units or Class B Shares (x) by way of a dividend, split or
combination of shares, (y) in connection with a reclassification,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, or (z)
otherwise.
“FORTRESS”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“FORTRESS
OPERATING GROUP” has the meaning set forth in the IPO Registration
Statement.
“GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITY” means any court, administrative agency, regulatory body,
commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality,
domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof.
“GROUP”
has the meaning set forth in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on
the date of this Agreement.
“INDEPENDENT
DIRECTOR” means a person who meets the independence criteria specified in
the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual Section
303A.02, as the same may be amended from time to time or as provided in any
other similar New York Stock Exchange rule that replaces such
rule.
“INITIAL
CLASS A SHARES” means the Class A Shares purchased by Initial Investor
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
“INITIAL
INVESTOR” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“INSPECTORS”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a)(viii).
“INVESTMENT
COMPANY ACT” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
“INVESTOR”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“IPO”
means the initial public offering of Class A Shares.
“IPO
REGISTRATION STATEMENT” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this
Agreement.
“LOSSES”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a).
“NONQUALIFIED
TRANSFEREE” means any Person that the Board, in its good faith and
reasonable judgment, determines should not be allowed to purchase Class A
Shares from Initial Investor or its Permitted Transferees in a transaction
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act because such
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purchase
could reasonably be expected to be materially detrimental to the business or
prospects of Fortress.
“OBSERVER”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c)(ii).
“OPERATING
AGREEMENT” means the amended and restated limited liability company
agreement of Fortress.
“OTHER
DEMANDING SELLERS” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.2(b).
“OTHER
PROPOSED SELLERS” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.2(b).
“PERMITTED
TRANSFEREE” shall mean (i) with respect to Initial Investor, such Initial
Investor’s Subsidiaries or Controlled Affiliates and (ii) with respect to
each Principal, (a) such Principal’s spouse, (b) a lineal descendant of
such Principal’s maternal or paternal grandparents (or any such
descendant’s spouse), (c) a Charitable Institution (as defined below), (d)
a trustee of a trust (whether inter
vivos or
testamentary), the current beneficiaries and presumptive remaindermen of which
are one or more of such Principal and persons described in clauses (a) through
(c) of this definition, (e) a corporation, limited liability company or
partnership, of which all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or
interests therein are owned by one or more of such Principal and Persons
described in clauses (a) through (d) of this definition, (f) an individual
mandated under a qualified domestic relations order and (g) a legal or personal
representative of such Principal in the event of his death or Disability. For
purpose of this definition: (i) “lineal descendants” shall not
include individuals adopted after attaining the age of 18 years and such
adopted Person’s descendants; (ii) Charitable Institution shall refer to
an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Code (or any
corresponding provision of a future United State Internal Revenue law) which is
exempt from income taxation under section 501(a) thereof; and (iii)
“presumptive remaindermen” shall refer to those Persons entitled to a
share of a trust’s assets if it were then to terminate.
“DISABILITY” shall refer to any physical or mental incapacity which,
as determined by the Board, prevents a Principal from carrying out all or
substantially all of his duties under his employment agreement with Fortress in
such capacity for any period of 120 consecutive days or any aggregate period of
six months in any 12-month period.
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“PERSON”
means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization,
Governmental Entity or other entity.
“PIGGYBACK
INVESTOR” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“PIGGYBACK
NOTICE” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“PIGGYBACK
REGISTRABLE AMOUNT” shall mean an amount of Shares representing at least
1% of the Total Voting Power of Fortress.
“PIGGYBACK
REGISTRATION” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.2(a).
“PIGGYBACK
SELLER” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“PRINCIPALS”
means Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx., Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx.
“PROCEEDING”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.12.
“RECORDS”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a)(viii).
“REGISTRABLE
AMOUNT” shall mean an amount of Shares representing at least 2.5%
of the
Total Voting Power of Fortress.
“REGISTRABLE
SECURITIES” shall mean the Initial Class A Shares and any
equity securities issued or issuable to any of the Investors with respect to
the Initial Class A Shares by way of a
dividend, split or combination of shares or in connection with a
reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other
reorganization.
As to
any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be
Registrable Securities when (x) a registration statement registering such
securities under the Securities Act has been declared effective and such
securities have been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder thereof
pursuant to such effective registration statement or (y) such securities
are sold in accordance with Rule 144 (or any successor provision) promulgated
under the Securities Act.
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“REGISTRATION
RIGHTS” means the rights described herein in Article IV.
“REPRESENTATIVE”
means with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, manager,
employee, agent, consultant, advisor, accountant, financial advisor, legal
counsel or other representative of that Person.
“REQUESTING
INVESTOR” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).
“SECURITIES
ACT” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time and any successor to such statute, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“SECURITIES
PURCHASE AGREEMENT” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“SELECTED
COURTS” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.12.
“SELLING
INVESTORS” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.5(a)(i).
“SHARES”
means, collectively, the outstanding Class A Shares and Class B Shares (as
equitably adjusted to reflect any split, combination, reorganization,
recapitalization, reclassification or other similar event involving the Class A
Shares and/or Class B Shares).
“STOCK
EQUIVALENTS” means any security or obligation which is by its terms,
whether directly or indirectly, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for Class A Shares, Class B Shares or other equity securities of the
Fortress Entities, and any
option, warrant or other subscription or purchase right with respect to Class A
Shares, Class B Shares or other equity securities of any of
the Fortress
Entities.
“SUBSIDIARIES”
means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other
Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise
controls more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests or the
sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such
Person.
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“TAG-ALONG
NOTICE” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2(b).
“TAG-ALONG
PRINCIPAL” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2(a).
“TAG-ALONG
PURCHASER” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“TAG-ALONG
RIGHTSHOLDER” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“TAG-ALONG
SHARES” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2(a).
“TOTAL
VOTING POWER OF FORTRESS” means the total number of votes that may be cast
in the election of directors of Fortress if all Voting Securities outstanding
or treated as outstanding pursuant to the final two sentences of this
definition were present and voted at a meeting held for such purpose. The
percentage of the Total Voting Power of Fortress Beneficially Owned by any
Person is the percentage of the Total Voting Power of Fortress that is
represented by the total number of votes that may be cast in the election of
directors of Fortress by Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by such Person.
In calculating such percentage, the Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by any
Person that are not outstanding but are subject to issuance upon exercise or
exchange of rights of conversion or any options, warrants or other rights
Beneficially Owned by such Person shall be deemed to be outstanding for the
purpose of computing the percentage of the Total Voting Power of Fortress
represented by Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by such Person, but shall
not be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of
the Total Voting Power of Fortress represented by Voting Securities
Beneficially Owned by any other Person.
“UNDERWRITTEN
OFFERING” shall mean a sale of securities of Fortress to an underwriter or
underwriters for reoffering to the public.
“VOTING
SECURITIES” means Class A Shares, Class B Shares and any other securities
of Fortress or any Subsidiary of Fortress entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors of Fortress.
SECTION
1.2 GENDER. For
the purposes of this Agreement, the words “he,” “his” or
“himself” shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine and
corporate, other entity or trust form.
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ARTICLE
II
GOVERNANCE
RIGHTS
SECTION
2.1 INVESTOR
BOARD REPRESENTATION.
(a) Nominees.
(i) (x) At
any time prior to the consummation of the IPO, so long as Initial Investor and
its Permitted Transferees have retained at least two-thirds of the number of
the Initial Class A Shares held by Initial Investor as of the date hereof (as
adjusted by any dividend, split or combination of shares or in connection with
a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other
reorganization), at the election of the Initial Investor, the Board shall
nominate one individual designated by Initial Investor such that Initial
Investor will have one designee on the Board, and (y) at any time after the
consummation of the IPO, so long as Initial Investor and its Permitted
Transferees Beneficially Own Voting Securities representing more than 10% of
the Total Voting Power of Fortress, at the election of the Initial Investor,
the Board shall nominate one individual designated by Initial Investor such
that Initial Investor will have one designee on the Board;
(ii) In the
event that any designee of Initial Investor under this Section 2.1 shall
for any reason cease to serve as a member of the Board during his or her term
of office, and Initial Investor has the right at such time to nominate one
individual to serve on the Board pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i), the resulting
vacancy on the Board shall be filled by an individual designated by Initial
Investor.
(iii) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, Fortress shall not be required pursuant to
this Section 2.1 to nominate or select any individual (a “Disqualified
Person”) to serve as a member of the Board:
(A) whose
appointment would cause Fortress or any its Affiliates registered under the
Advisers Act as an
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investment
adviser to provide (i) an affirmative answer to any question of Item 11 of Part
I of Form ADV or (ii) any disclosure to investment advisory clients or
prospective clients under Rule 206(4)-4 of the Advisers Act; or
(B) who has
committed any act that would reasonably be expected to cause such individual,
Fortress or any Fortress Subsidiary or any “affiliated person” (as
defined in the Investment Company Act) of any of the foregoing to be
disqualified in any manner under Section 9 of the Investment Company Act, or
that would constitute grounds for the SEC to deny, revoke or suspend the
registration of Fortress or any its affiliates registered under the Advisers
Act as an investment adviser under Section 203(e) of the Advisers
Act.
(b) Removal.
Fortress shall be entitled to take all appropriate actions to remove any
designee of Initial Investor on the Board at any time after such designee
becomes a Disqualified Person, and Initial Investor shall take all actions
reasonably requested by Fortress in connection with the foregoing.
(c) Waiver;
Observer Rights.
(i) At any
time as of the date hereof, upon 10 days prior written notice to Fortress,
Initial Investor may, in its sole discretion, waive and relinquish its rights
to designate a member of the Board pursuant to Section 2.1(a).
(ii) Upon the
delivery of a waiver contemplated by Section 2.1(c)(i), the Initial Investor
shall have the right to: (A) appoint a non-voting representative (the
“Observer”)
to attend meetings of the Board but not Board committee meetings, to change the
Observer so appointed at any time and, upon the resignation of the Observer for
any reason, to reappoint another Observer; (B) make proposals,
recommendations and suggestions to Fortress’s officers and directors
relating to the business and affairs of Fortress at such reasonable times as
may be requested by Initial Investor; (C) discuss Fortress’s business
and affairs with Fortress’s officers, directors and independent
accountants at such
reasonable times as may be requested by Initial Investor. In
addition, Fortress
14
shall
provide Initial Investor with copies of all written consents, resolutions,
reports, or other written materials provided to the Board at the same time and
in the same manner such materials are circulated to the Board (whether or not
Initial Investor has elected to have an Observer pursuant to this Section
2.1(c)); provided that no Observer shall be entitled to receive any information
without agreeing in writing to be a party to any confidentiality restrictions
with respect to such information.
Any
action taken by the Board at any meeting will not be invalidated by the absence
of the Observer at such meeting. Prior to any meeting of the Board, Fortress
shall provide due notice of such meeting to the Observer in accordance with the
Operating Agreement.
(iii) Initial
Investor shall cease to have any rights under this Section 2.1(c) at the time
Initial Investor ceases to have the right to nominate one individual to serve
on the Board pursuant to Section 2.1(a).
SECTION
2.2 INSPECTION
RIGHTS. Prior
to the IPO, so long as Initial Investor and its Permitted Transferees
Beneficially Own Voting Securities representing more than 5% of the Total
Voting Power of Fortress:
(a) each of
Fortress, each Fortress Subsidiary and each Fortress Fund will permit each
Investor or a representative of each Investor, to visit and inspect any of the
properties of such entity, including its books of account and other records
and, at such entity’s expense and subject to such Investor’s or
representative’s execution of a non-disclosure agreement in a form
acceptable to such entity, make copies thereof and take extracts therefrom, and
to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with such entity’s officers
and its independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as
often as any such Investor may reasonably request; provided that any records or
copies provided shall be subject to any confidentiality restrictions with
respect to such record or copies.
(b) each of
Fortress, each Fortress Subsidiary and each Fortress Fund will deliver to each
Investor, who so requests in writing, as soon as practicable after transmission
or occurrence and in any event within ten (10) days thereof, copies of any
reports or communications delivered to any class of such entity’s security
holders or investors, or broadly to the financial community, including any
filings by such entity with any securities exchange, the Commission
or
15
the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; provided, however, that no
Investor shall be entitled to receive any information from a Fortress Fund
without first agreeing in writing to be bound by any restrictions that are
generally applicable to investors of such Fortress Fund with respect to such
information;
(c) the
provisions of this Section 2.2 shall not be in limitation of any rights which
any Investor may have with respect to the books and records of the Fortress
Entities, or to inspect their properties or discuss their affairs, finances and
accounts, under the laws of the jurisdictions in which they are organized;
(d) the
Company shall cooperate with the Investors to develop mutually agreeable
financial information and reporting procedures to enable the Investors to
comply on a timely basis with applicable requirements under law, accounting
rules or other regulations with regard to the ownership of the Class A Shares
by the Investors; provided that the above obligations of the Company to
cooperate with, and provide information to, the Investors shall expire upon the
consummation of the IPO; and
(e) each
Investor acknowledges and agrees that any non-public information of Fortress or
any of its Affiliates is confidential and, except as required by law or legal
process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Investor shall keep and
retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person all
confidential matters of Fortress or any of its Affiliates.
ARTICLE
III
TERMINATION
SECTION
3.1 TERM. This
Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earlier of (a) January 1,
2025 or (b) the date that Initial Investor, together with its Permitted
Transferees, no longer holds Shares representing at least the Piggyback
Registrable Amount.
SECTION
3.2 SURVIVAL. If
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 3.1, this Agreement shall
become void and of no further force and effect, except for the provisions set
forth in Section 4.7 and Article VIII.
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ARTICLE
IV
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS
SECTION
4.1 DEMAND
REGISTRATION.
(a) At any
time after the six month anniversary of the IPO, any Investors that on the date
a Demand (as hereinafter defined) is made constitute Demand Investors (the
“Requesting Investor”) shall be entitled to make a written request of
Fortress (a “Demand”) for registration under the Securities Act of an
amount of Registrable Securities that, when taken together with the amounts of
Registrable Securities requested to be registered under the Securities Act by
such Requesting Investor’s Permitted Transferees who are then Investors in
accordance with this Agreement, equals or is greater than the Registrable
Amount (based on the number of Registrable Securities outstanding on the date
such Demand is made) (a “Demand Registration”) and thereupon Fortress
will, subject to the terms of this Agreement, use its reasonable best efforts
to effect the registration as promptly as practicable under the Securities Act
of:
(i) the
Registrable Securities which Fortress has been so requested to register by the
Requesting Investor for disposition in accordance with the intended method of
disposition stated in such Demand;
(ii) all
other Registrable Securities which Fortress has been requested to register
pursuant to Section 4.1(b); and
(iii) all
Shares which Fortress may elect to register in connection with any offering of
Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 4.1, but subject to Section
4.1(g);
all to
the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended
methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities and the additional Shares, if
any, to be so registered.
(b) A Demand
shall specify: (i) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to
be registered in such Demand Registration, (ii) the intended method of
disposition in connection with such Demand Registration, to the extent then
known and (iii) the identity of the Investor (or Requesting Investor). Subject
to Section 4.1(g), Fortress shall include in the Demand Registration
covered
17
by such
Demand all Registrable Securities with respect to which Fortress has received a
written request for inclusion therein within ten days after Fortress’s
notice required by this paragraph has been given. Such written request shall
comply with the requirements of a Demand as set forth in this Section
4.1(b).
(c) Initial
Investor and its Permitted Transferees, collectively, shall be entitled to an
aggregate of two Demand Registrations.
(d) A Demand
Registration shall not be deemed to have been effected and shall not count as a
Demand (i) unless a registration statement with respect thereto has become
effective and has remained effective for a period of at least 90 days (or such
shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Demand
Registration have actually been sold thereunder), (ii) if, after it has
become effective, such Demand Registration becomes subject prior to 90 days
after effectiveness to any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement
of the SEC or other Governmental Entity or court for any reason or (iii) if the
conditions to closing specified in the purchase agreement or underwriting
agreement entered into in connection with such Demand Registration are not
satisfied, other than by reason of any act or omission by such Requesting
Investors.
(e) Demand
Registrations shall be on such appropriate registration form of the SEC as
shall be selected by the Requesting Investor and shall be reasonably acceptable
to Fortress.
(f) Fortress
shall not be obligated to (i) maintain the effectiveness of a registration
statement under the Securities Act, filed pursuant to a Demand Registration,
for a period longer than 90 days or (ii) effect any Demand Registration (A)
within six months of a “firm commitment” Underwritten Offering in
which all Piggyback Investors (as hereinafter defined) were given
“piggyback” rights pursuant to Section 4.2 (subject to Section
4.1(g)) and at least 50% of the number of Registrable Securities requested by
such Piggyback Investor to be included in such Demand Registration were
included, (B) within four months of any other Demand Registration or (C) if, in
Fortress’s reasonable judgment, it is not feasible for Fortress to proceed
with the Demand Registration because of the unavailability of audited or other
required financial statements, provided that Fortress shall use its reasonable
best efforts to obtain such financial statements as promptly as practicable. In
addition, Fortress shall be entitled to postpone (upon written notice to the
Demand Investor) for up to two occasions, and in no event for more than an
aggregate of 120 days, the filing or the effectiveness of a registration
statement for any Demand
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Registration
(in any period of 12 consecutive months) if the Board determines in good faith
and in its reasonable judgment that the filing or effectiveness of the
registration statement relating to such Demand Registration would cause the
disclosure of material, non-public information that Fortress has a bona fide
business purpose for preserving as confidential. In the event of a postponement
by Fortress of the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement for a
Demand Registration, the holders of a majority of Registrable Securities held
by the Requesting Investors shall have the right to withdraw such Demand in
accordance with Section 4.3.
(g) Fortress
shall not include any securities other than Registrable Securities in a Demand
Registration, except with respect to securities held by the Principals or with
the written consent of Investors participating in such Demand Registration that
hold a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Demand
Registration. If, in connection with a Demand Registration, any managing
underwriter (or, if such Demand Registration is not an Underwritten Offering, a
nationally recognized independent investment bank selected by the Investors
holding a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Demand
Registration, reasonably acceptable to Fortress, and whose fees and expenses
shall be borne solely by Fortress) advises Fortress, in writing, that, in its
opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities, including securities of
Fortress that are not Registrable Securities, sought to be registered in
connection with such Demand Registration would adversely affect the
marketability of the Registrable Securities sought to be sold pursuant thereto,
then Fortress shall include in such registration statement only such securities
as Fortress is advised by such underwriter or investment bank can be sold
without such adverse effect as follows and in the following order of priority:
(i) first, up to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included
in such Demand Registration by the Investors, which, in the opinion of the
underwriter or investment bank can be sold without adversely affecting the
marketability of the offering, pro rata among such Investors requesting such
Demand Registration on the basis of the number of such securities requested to
be included by such Investors and such Investors that are Piggyback Sellers;
(ii) second, securities the Principals propose to sell; (iii) third, securities
Fortress proposes to sell; and (iv) fourth, all other securities of Fortress
duly requested to be included in such registration statement, pro rata on the
basis of the amount of such other securities requested to be included or such
other method determined by Fortress.
(h) Any time
that a Demand Registration involves an Underwritten Offering, Fortress shall
select the investment banker or investment
19
bankers
and managers that will serve as lead and co-managing underwriters with respect
to the offering of such Registrable Securities.
(i) All
rights of the Investors under this Section 4.1 shall be subject to the
restrictions of Section 6.2.
SECTION
4.2 PIGGYBACK
REGISTRATION.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, whenever Fortress proposes to register any
of its equity securities under the Securities Act (other than a registration by
Fortress on a registration statement on Form S-4 or a registration statement on
Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto) (a “Piggyback
Registration”), whether for its own account or for the account of others,
Fortress shall give each Investor that on such date, together with its
Permitted Transferees who are then Investors in accordance with this Agreement,
holds at least a Piggyback Registrable Amount (each, a “Piggyback
Investor”), prompt written notice thereof (but not less than ten business
days prior to the filing by Fortress with the SEC of any registration statement
with respect thereto). Such notice (a “Piggyback Notice”) shall
specify, at a minimum, the number of equity securities proposed to be
registered, the proposed date of filing of such registration statement with the
SEC, the proposed means of distribution, the proposed managing underwriter or
underwriters (if any and if known) and a good faith estimate by Fortress of the
proposed minimum offering price of such equity securities. Upon the written
request of any Persons that on the date of the Piggyback Notice constitute a
Piggyback Investor (a “Piggyback Seller”) (which written request
shall specify the number of Registrable Securities then presently intended to
be disposed of by such Piggyback Seller) given within ten days after such
Piggyback Notice is received by such Piggyback Seller, Fortress, subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall use its reasonable best efforts
to cause all such Registrable Securities held by Piggyback Sellers with respect
to which Fortress has received such written requests for inclusion to be
included in such Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as
Fortress’s equity securities being sold in such Piggyback
Registration.
(b) If, in
connection with a Piggyback Registration, any managing underwriter (or, if such
Piggyback Registration is not an Underwritten Offering, a nationally recognized
independent investment bank selected by Investors holding a majority of the
Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration, reasonably
acceptable to Fortress, and whose fees and expenses shall be borne solely by
Fortress) advises Fortress in writing that, in its opinion, the
inclusion
20
of all
the equity securities sought to be included in such Piggyback Registration by
(i) Fortress, (ii) others who have sought to have equity securities of Fortress
registered in such Piggyback Registration pursuant to rights to demand (other
than pursuant to so-called “piggyback” or other incidental or
participation registration rights) such registration (such Persons being
“Other Demanding Sellers”), (iii) the Piggyback Sellers and (iv) any
other proposed sellers of equity securities of Fortress (such Persons being
“Other Proposed Sellers”), as the case may be, would adversely affect
the marketability of the equity securities sought to be sold pursuant thereto,
then Fortress shall include in the registration statement applicable to such
Piggyback Registration only such equity securities as Fortress is so advised by
such underwriter can be sold without such an effect, as follows and in the
following order of priority:
(i) if the
Piggyback Registration relates to an offering for Fortress’s own account,
then (A) first, such number of equity securities to be sold by Fortress as
Fortress, in its reasonable judgment and acting in good faith and in accordance
with sound financial practice, shall have determined, (B) second, Registrable
Securities of Piggyback Sellers, securities of Principals and securities sought
to be registered by Other Demanding Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the
number of Class A Shares proposed to be sold by such Piggyback Sellers, the
Principals and Other Demanding Sellers and (C) third, other equity securities
proposed to be sold by any Other Proposed Sellers (excluding the Principals);
or
(ii) if the
Piggyback Registration relates to an offering other than for Fortress’s
own account, then (A) first, such number of equity securities sought to be
registered by each Other Demanding Seller, the Piggyback Sellers and the
Principals, pro rata in proportion to the number of securities sought to be
registered by all such Other Demanding Sellers, Piggyback Sellers and the
Principals and (B) second, other equity securities proposed to be sold by any
Other Proposed Sellers (excluding the Principals) or to be sold by Fortress as
determined by Fortress.
(c) In
connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Section 4.2 for
Fortress’s account, Fortress shall not be required to include the
Registrable Securities of an Investor in the Underwritten Offering unless the
Investor accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between Fortress
and the underwriters selected by Fortress.
21
(d) If, at
any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any of its
equity securities as set forth in this Section 4.2 and prior to the time the
registration statement filed in connection with such Piggyback Registration is
declared effective, Fortress shall determine for any reason not to register
such equity securities, Fortress shall give written notice of such
determination to each Piggyback Investor within five (5) days thereof and
thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable
Securities in connection with such particular withdrawn or abandoned Piggyback
Registration (but not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in
connection therewith as provided herein); provided, that Demand Investors may
continue the registration as a Demand Registration pursuant to the terms of
Section 4.1.
(e) All
rights of the Investor under this Section 4.2 shall be subject to the
restrictions of Section 6.2.
SECTION
4.3 WITHDRAWAL
RIGHTS.
Any
Investor having notified or directed Fortress to include any or all of its
Registrable Securities in a registration statement under the Securities Act
shall have the right to withdraw any such notice or direction with respect to
any or all of the Registrable Securities designated by it for registration by
giving written notice to such effect to Fortress prior to the effective date of
such registration statement. In the event of any such withdrawal, Fortress
shall not include such Registrable Securities in the applicable registration
and such Registrable Securities shall continue to be Registrable Securities for
all purposes of this Agreement. No such withdrawal shall affect the obligations
of Fortress with respect to the Registrable Securities not so withdrawn;
provided, however, that in the case of a Demand Registration, if such
withdrawal shall reduce the number of Registrable Securities sought to be
included in such registration below the Registrable Amount, then Fortress shall
as promptly as practicable give each Investor seeking to register Registrable
Securities notice to such effect and, within ten days following the mailing of
such notice, such Investor still seeking registration shall, by written notice
to Fortress, elect to register additional Registrable Securities, when taken
together with elections to register Registrable Securities by their Permitted
Transferees, to satisfy the Registrable Amount or elect that such registration
statement not be filed or, if theretofore filed, be withdrawn. During such ten
day period, Fortress shall not file such registration statement if not
theretofore filed or, if such registration statement has been theretofore
filed, Fortress shall not seek, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to prevent, the effectiveness thereof. Any
22
registration
statement withdrawn or not filed (a) in accordance with an election by
Fortress, (b) in accordance with an election by the Requesting Investors in the
case of a Demand Registration or (c) in accordance with an election by Fortress
subsequent to the effectiveness of the applicable Demand Registration statement
because any post-effective amendment or supplement to the applicable Demand
Registration statement contains information regarding Fortress which Fortress
deems adverse to Fortress, shall not be counted as a Demand. If an
Investor withdraws its
notification or direction to Fortress to include Registrable Securities in a
registration statement in
accordance with this Section 4.3, such Investor shall be required to promptly
reimburse Fortress for all expenses incurred by Fortress in connection with
preparing for the registration of such Registrable Securities.
SECTION
4.4 HOLDBACK
AGREEMENTS.
Each
Piggyback Seller agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution
(including sales pursuant to Rule 144) of equity securities of Fortress, or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such equity
securities, during any time period reasonably requested by Fortress (which
shall not exceed 90 days) with respect to any Public Offering, Demand
Registration or Piggyback Registration (in each case, except as part of such
registration), or, in each case, during any time period (which shall not exceed
180 days) required by any underwriting agreement with respect
thereto.
SECTION
4.5 REGISTRATION
PROCEDURES.
(a) If and
whenever Fortress is required to use reasonable best efforts to effect the
registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided
in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 Fortress shall as expeditiously as reasonably
possible:
(i) prepare
and file with the SEC a registration statement to effect such registration and
thereafter use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to
become and remain effective pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided,
however, that Fortress may discontinue any registration of its securities which
are not Registrable Securities at any time prior to the effective date of the
registration statement relating thereto; provided, further that before filing
such registration statement or any amendments thereto, Fortress will furnish to
the counsel selected by
23
the
Investors which are including Registrable Securities in such registration
(“Selling Investors”) copies of all such documents proposed to be
filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such counsel, and such
review to be conducted with reasonable promptness;
(ii) prepare
and file with the SEC 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 and to comply with the provisions
of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered
by such registration statement until the earlier of such time as all of such
securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration
statement or (i) in the case of a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 4.1,
the expiration of 90 days after such registration statement becomes effective
or (ii) in the case of a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 4.2, the
expiration of 90 days after such registration statement becomes
effective;
(iii) furnish
to each Selling Investor and each underwriter, if any, of the securities being
sold by such Selling Investor such number of conformed copies of such
registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each
case including all exhibits), such number of copies of the prospectus contained
in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any
summary prospectus) and each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act) (a “Free Writing Prospectus”) utilized in
connection therewith and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the
Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and
such other documents as such Selling Investor and underwriter, if any, may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition
of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Investor;
(iv) use
reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities
covered by such registration
24
statement
under such other securities laws or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any
Selling Investor and any underwriter of the securities being sold by such
Selling Investor shall reasonably request, and take any other action which may
be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Selling Investor and
underwriter to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Investor, except that Fortress
shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do
business as a foreign limited liability company in any jurisdiction wherein it
would not but for the requirements of this clause (iv) be obligated to be so
qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file
a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
(v) use
reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on
each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by Fortress are
then listed and, if no such securities are so listed, use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on the New
York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock
Market;
(vi) use
reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Selling
Investor(s) thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities;
(vii) in
connection with an Underwritten Offering, obtain for each Selling Investor and
underwriter:
(A) an
opinion of counsel for Fortress, covering the matters customarily covered in
opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be
reasonably requested by such Selling Investor and underwriters,
and
(B) a
“comfort” letter (or, in the case of any such Person which does not
satisfy the conditions for receipt of a “comfort” letter specified in
Statement on Auditing Standards No.
25
72, an
“agreed upon procedures” letter) signed by the independent public
accountants who have certified Fortress’s financial statements included in
such registration statement;
(viii) promptly
make available for inspection by any Selling Investor, any underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant to any registration statement, and
any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained by any such
Selling Investor or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of
Fortress (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably
necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and
cause Fortress’s officers, directors and employees to supply all
information requested by any such Inspector in connection with such
registration statement; provided,
however, that,
unless the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in the registration statement or the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of
competent jurisdiction, Fortress shall not be required to provide any
information under this subparagraph (viii) if (i) Fortress believes, after
consultation with counsel for Fortress, that to do so would cause Fortress to
forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or
(ii) if either (A) Fortress has requested and been granted from the SEC
confidential treatment of such information contained in any filing with the SEC
or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (B) Fortress reasonably
determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the
Inspectors in writing unless prior to furnishing any such information with
respect to (i) or (ii) such Selling Investor requesting such information
agrees, and causes each of its Inspectors, to enter into a confidentiality
agreement on terms reasonably acceptable to Fortress; and provided,
further, that
each Selling Investor agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of
such Records by such Selling Investor is sought in a court of competent
jurisdiction, give notice to Fortress and allow Fortress, at its expense, to
undertake appropriate action and to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed
confidential;
(ix) promptly
notify in writing each Selling Investor and the underwriters, if any, of the
following events:
26
(A) the
filing of the registration statement, the prospectus or any prospectus
supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the registration
statement or any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection therewith, and,
with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto, when the same has become effective;
(B) any
request by the SEC or any other Governmental Entity for amendments or
supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus or for additional
information;
(C) the
issuance by the SEC or any other Governmental Entity of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of
any proceedings by any Person for that purpose; and
(D) the
receipt by Fortress of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or
blue sky laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation or threat of any proceeding
for such purpose;
(x) notify
each Selling Investor, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery that, or upon
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 any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, at the
request of any Selling Investor, promptly prepare and furnish to such seller a
reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such
prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of such Registrable Securities, 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;
27
(xi) use
reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness of such registration statement;
(xii) otherwise
use reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of the SEC, and make available to Selling Investors, as soon as reasonably
practicable, an earnings statement of Fortress covering the period of at least
12 months, but not more than 18 months, beginning with the first day of
Fortress’s first full quarter after the effective date of such
registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions
of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;
(xiii) use its
reasonable best efforts to assist Selling Investors who made a request to
Fortress to provide for a third party “market maker” for the Class A
Shares; provided,
however, that
Fortress shall not be required to serve as such “market maker”;
(xiv) cooperate
with the Selling Investors and the managing underwriter to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates (which shall not bear any
restrictive legends unless required under applicable law) representing
securities sold under any registration statement, and enable such securities to
be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing
underwriter or such Selling Investor may request and keep available and make
available to Fortress’s transfer agent prior to the effectiveness of such
registration statement a supply of such certificates; and
(xv) have
appropriate officers of Fortress prepare and make presentations at any
“road shows” and before analysts and rating agencies, as the case may
be, and other information meetings organized by the underwriters, take other
actions to obtain ratings for any Registrable Securities (if they are eligible
to be rated) and otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to cooperate as
reasonably requested by the Selling Investors and the underwriters in the
offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities.
28
Fortress
may require each Selling Investor and each underwriter, if any, to furnish
Fortress in writing such information regarding each Selling Investor or
underwriter and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as Fortress may
from time to time reasonably request to complete or amend the information
required by such registration statement.
(b) Underwriting.
Without limiting any of the foregoing, in the event that the offering of
Registrable Securities is to be made by or through an underwriter, Fortress, if
requested by the underwriter, shall enter into an underwriting agreement with a
managing underwriter or underwriters in connection with such offering
containing representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements customarily
included (but not inconsistent with the covenants and agreements of Fortress
contained herein) by an issuer of common stock in underwriting agreements with
respect to offerings of common stock for the account of, or on behalf of, such
issuers.
(c) Each
Selling Investor agrees that upon receipt of any notice from Fortress of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4.5(a)(ix), such
Selling Investor shall forthwith discontinue such Selling Investor’s
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable registration
statement and prospectus relating thereto until such Selling Investor’s
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by
Section 4.5(a)(ix) and, if so directed by Fortress, deliver to Fortress, at
Fortress’s expense, all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in
such Selling Investor’s possession of the prospectus current at the time
of receipt of such notice relating to such Registrable Securities. In the event
Fortress shall give such notice, any applicable 90 day or one year period
during which such registration statement must remain effective pursuant to this
Agreement shall be extended by the number of days during the period from the
date of giving of a notice regarding the happening of an event of the kind
described in Section 4.5(a)(ix) to the date when all such Selling Investors
shall receive such a supplemented or amended prospectus and such prospectus
shall have been filed with the SEC.
SECTION
4.6 REGISTRATION
EXPENSES.
All
expenses incident to Fortress’s performance of, or compliance with, its
obligations under this Agreement including, without limitation, all
registration and filing fees, all fees and expenses of compliance with
securities and “blue sky” laws, all fees and expenses associated with
filings required to be made
29
with the
NASD (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified
independent underwriter” as such term is defined in Schedule E of the
By-Laws of the NASD), all fees and expenses of compliance with securities and
“blue sky” laws, all printing (including, without limitation,
expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form
eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and of printing
prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by a holder of
Registrable Securities) and copying expenses, all messenger and delivery
expenses, all fees and expenses of Fortress’s independent certified public
accountants and counsel (including, without limitation, with respect to
“comfort” letters and opinions) and fees and expenses of one firm of
counsel to the Investors selling in such registration (which firm shall be
selected by the Investors selling in such registration that hold a majority of
the Registrable Securities included in such registration) (collectively, the
“Registration Expenses”) shall be borne by Fortress, regardless of
whether a registration is effected. Fortress will 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 annual
audit and the expense of any liability insurance) and the expenses and fees for
listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange and
included in each established over-the-counter market on which similar
securities issued by Fortress are then listed or traded. Each Selling Investor
shall pay its portion of all underwriting discounts and commissions and
transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale of such Selling Investor’s
Registrable Securities pursuant to any registration.
SECTION
4.7 INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) By
Fortress.
Fortress agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, each Selling Investor and its Permitted Transferees and their
respective officers, directors, employees, managers, partners and agents and
each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such Selling Investor or such other
indemnified Person from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
and expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable
attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, the “Losses”)
caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged
untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement,
prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of 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, except insofar as the same are caused by any
30
information
furnished in writing to Fortress by such Selling Investor expressly for use
therein. In connection with an Underwritten Offering and without limiting any
of Fortress’s other obligations under this Agreement, Fortress shall also
indemnify such underwriters, their officers, directors, employees and agents
and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriters or such
other indemnified Person to the same extent as provided above with respect to
the indemnification (and exceptions thereto) of Selling Investors.
Reimbursements payable pursuant to the indemnification contemplated by this
Section 4.7(a) will be made by periodic payments during the course of any
investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expenses
incurred.
(b) By
the Selling Investors. In
connection with any registration statement in which an Investor is
participating, such Selling Investor will furnish to Fortress in writing
information regarding such Selling Investor’s ownership of Registrable
Securities and its intended method of distribution thereof and, to the extent
permitted by law, shall, jointly with Initial Investor and all other Investors
and not severally, indemnify Fortress, its Affiliates and their respective
directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person who controls (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) Fortress or such other indemnified Person against all Losses caused by any
untrue statement of material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto or any omission of 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, but only to the
extent that such untrue statement or omission is caused by and contained in
such information so furnished in writing by such Selling Investor expressly for
use therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Investors shall be
liable to Fortress for amounts in excess of the net amount received by such
holder in the offering giving rise to such liability.
(c) Notice. Any
Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall give prompt written notice
to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks
indemnification; provided,
however, the
failure to give such notice shall not release the indemnifying party from its
obligation, except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been
materially prejudiced by such failure to provide such notice on a timely
basis.
31
(d) Defense
of Actions. In any
case in which any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it
notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it may
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, 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 will
not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest,
litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this paragraph)
be liable to such indemnified party hereunder for any legal or other expense
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, supervision and
monitoring (unless (i) such indemnified party reasonably objects to such
assumption on the grounds that there may be defenses available to it which are
different from or in addition to the defenses available to such indemnifying
party or (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed within a reasonable
period of time to assume such defense and the indemnified party is or is
reasonably likely to be prejudiced by such delay, in either event the
indemnified party shall be promptly reimbursed by the indemnifying party for
the expenses incurred in connection with retaining separate legal counsel). An
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of an action or claim
effected without its consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld).
The indemnifying party shall lose its right to defend, contest, litigate and
settle a matter if it shall fail to diligently contest such matter (except to
the extent settled in accordance with the next following sentence). No matter
shall be settled by an indemnifying party without the consent of the
indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, it being
understood that the indemnified party shall not be deemed to be unreasonable in
withholding its consent if the proposed settlement imposes any obligation on
the indemnified party).
(e) Survival. The
indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
indemnified Person and will survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities
and the termination of this Agreement.
(f) Contribution. If
recovery is not available under the foregoing indemnification provisions for
any reason or reasons other than as specified therein, any Person who would
otherwise be entitled to indemnification by the terms thereof shall
nevertheless be entitled to contribution with respect to any Losses with
respect to which such Person would be entitled to such indemnification
32
but for
such reason or reasons. In determining the amount of contribution to which the
respective Persons are entitled, there shall be considered the Persons’
relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect
to which the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any
statement or omission, and other equitable considerations appropriate under the
circumstances. It is hereby agreed that it would not necessarily be equitable
if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita
allocation. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any Person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Investor or
transferee thereof shall be required to make a contribution in excess of the
net amount received by such holder from its sale of Registrable Securities in
connection with the offering that gave rise to the contribution
obligation.
(g) Request
for Information. Not
less than ten business days before the expected filing date of each
registration statement pursuant to this Agreement, Fortress shall notify each
Investor who has timely provided the requisite notice hereunder entitling the
Investor to register Registrable Securities in such registration statement of
the information, documents and instruments from such Investor that Fortress or
any underwriter reasonably requests in connection with such registration
statement, including, but not limited to a questionnaire, custody agreement,
power of attorney, lock-up letter and underwriting agreement (the
“Requested Information”). If Fortress has not received, on or before
the second day before the expected filing date, the Requested Information from
such Investor, Fortress may file the Registration Statement without including
Registrable Securities of such Investor. The failure to so include in any
registration statement the Registrable Securities of an Investor (with regard
to that registration statement) shall not in and of itself result in any
liability on the part of Fortress to such Investor.
(h) No
Grant of Future Registration Rights.
Fortress shall not grant any shelf, demand, piggyback or incidental
registration rights that are senior to the rights granted to the Investors
hereunder to any other Person without the prior written consent of Initial
Investor.
(i) Permitted
Transferees. Any
time an Investor transfers Registrable Securities to a Permitted Transferee of
Initial Investor, such Permitted Transferee must execute a joinder to this
Agreement, and become an “Investor” for purposes of this Agreement,
in order to be entitled to the registration rights set forth in this Article
IV.
33
SECTION
4.8 MOST
FAVORED NATIONS. Except
with respect to the shelf registration rights and the number of demand rights
granted to the Principals and their Permitted Transferees in their Shareholder
Agreement with Fortress as described in the Private Placement Memorandum, to
the extent that, on or after the date of this Agreement, Fortress grants
superior or more favorable demand, piggyback or incidental registration rights
than those provided in this Article IV, any such superior or more favorable
rights and/or terms shall be deemed to have been granted simultaneously to the
Investors with respect to their Registrable Securities.
ARTICLE
V
DRAG-ALONG
RIGHTS AND TAG-ALONG RIGHTS
SECTION
5.1 DRAG-ALONG
RIGHTS.
(a) If,
prior to the consummation of the IPO, the Board approves a sale of all or
substantially all of
the business conducted by Fortress to a Third Party (an “Approved
Sale”), each Investor, each other Permitted Transferee of Initial Investor
that holds Initial Class A Shares and each of their respective direct or
indirect transferees of Initial Class A Shares, shall take all actions approved
or requested by the Board in connection with the Approved Sale.
(b) The
obligations of a holder of Initial Class A Shares pursuant to this Section 5.1
are subject to the following conditions:
(i) upon
consummation of the Approved Sale, such holder shall receive from the Approved
Sale the same amount of consideration with respect to each of its, his or her
Class A Shares that each Principal shall receive with respect to each of his
FOG Units;
(ii) if any
Principal is given an option as to the form and amount of consideration to be
received in respect of his FOG Units, each holder of Class A Shares will be
given the same option and the requirement that all holders of Class A Shares
and FOG Units receive the same amount of consideration per Class A Share and
FOG Unit shall be satisfied without regard to the particular choices of
particular holders among any such options;
34
(iii) such
holder shall not be obligated to make any out-of-pocket expenditure prior to
the consummation of the Approved Sale (excluding modest expenditures for
postage, copies, etc.) and such holder shall not be obligated to pay more than
its, his or her pro rata share (based upon the amount of consideration
received) of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with a consummated
Approved Sale to the extent such costs are incurred for the benefit of such
holder and are not otherwise paid by Fortress or the acquiring party, provided
that such holder’s liability for such expenses shall be capped at the
total purchase price received by such holder for its, his or her Class A
Shares; and
(iv) in the
event that such holder is required to provide any representations or
indemnities in connection with the Approved Sale (other than representations
and indemnities concerning such holder’s valid ownership of its, his or
her Class A Shares, free and clear of any and all Liens, such holder’s
authority, power and right to enter into and consummate such purchase or merger
agreement without violating any other agreement and other representations and
indemnities which are individual to such holder and that are also provided by
the holders of FOG Units, as applicable to FOG Units), then such holder shall
not be liable for more than its, his or her pro rata share (based upon the
Class A Shares held and not the amount of consideration received) of any
liability for misrepresentation or indemnity and such liability shall not
exceed the total purchase price received by such holder for its, his or her
Class A Shares.
SECTION
5.2 TAG-ALONG
RIGHTS.
(a) Except
for transfers to a Permitted Transferee and except for the potential transfer
of FOG Units and Class B Shares to employees of Fortress and/or its
Subsidiaries, if, prior to the consummation of the IPO, any of the Principals
(in each case, a “Tag-Along Principal”) transfers Class A Shares or
FOG Units to one or more Persons (a “Tag-Along Purchaser”), then each
Investor that holds Initial Class A Shares (each, a “Tag-Along
Rightsholder”) shall have the right to sell to such Tag-Along Purchaser,
upon the terms set forth in the Tag-Along Notice (except that the purchase
price payable to the participating Tag-Along Rightsholders and such Tag-Along
Principal in respect of any Stock Equivalents sold
35
in such
transaction shall be net of the exercise price thereof (i.e., the additional
consideration payable to Fortress upon the exercise thereof, if any)) that
number specified
by such Tag-Along Rightsholder of Class A
Shares, up to
that number equal
to the percentage of the number of the sum of the Class A Shares and FOG Units
proposed to be transferred by such Tag-Along Principal (the “Tag-Along
Shares”) determined by dividing (A) the total number of Class A Shares
(including for such purposes all Class A Shares which are subject to issuance
upon exercise or conversion of Stock Equivalents held by
such
Tag-Along Rightsholder) then owned by such Tag-Along Rightsholder by (B) the
sum of (x) the total number of Class A Shares (including for such purposes
all Class A Shares and FOG Units which are subject to issuance upon exercise or
conversion of Stock Equivalents held by the Tag-Along Rightsholders) then owned
by all such Tag-Along Rightsholders exercising their rights pursuant to this
Section 5.2(a) and (y) the total number of Class A Shares and FOG
Units then owned by such Tag-Along Principal (including for such purposes all
Class A Shares and FOG Units which are subject to issuance upon exercise or
conversion Stock Equivalents held by such Principal). The Tag-Along Principal
shall effect the sale of the Tag-Along Shares and the Tag-Along Rightsholders
shall sell the number of Class A Shares which each Tag-Along Rightsholder has
elected to sell pursuant to this Section 5.2(a), and the number of Class A
Shares and FOG Units to be sold to such Tag-Along Purchaser by such Tag-Along
Principal shall be reduced accordingly.
(b) The
Tag-Along Principal intending to transfer Class A Shares and/or FOG Units to a
Tag-Along Purchaser shall give written notice to each Tag-Along Rightsholder of
each proposed transfer by it of Class A Shares and/or FOG Units which gives
rise to the rights of such Tag-Along Rightsholders set forth in this Section
5.2, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed consummation of such
transfer, setting forth the name of such Tag-Along Principal, the number of
Tag-Along Shares, the name and address of the proposed Tag-Along Purchaser, the
beneficial
owner(s) of such Tag-Along Purchaser if such purchaser is an entity and is
known by such Tag-Along Principal after due inquiry, the
proposed amount and form of consideration and terms and conditions of payment
offered by such Tag-Along Purchaser and the maximum percentage of Class A
Shares that such Tag-Along Rightsholder may sell to such Tag-Along Purchaser
(determined in accordance with Section 5.2(a)) (the “Tag-Along
Notice”). The tag-along rights provided by this Section 5.2 must be
exercised by each Tag-Along Rightsholder within ten (10) days following receipt
of the Tag-Along Notice, by delivery of a written notice to the Tag-Along
Principal indicating such Tag-Along Rightsholder’s wish to exercise its
rights and specifying the number of Tag-Along Shares (up to the
36
maximum
number of Tag-Along Shares as determined in accordance with Section 5.2(a)) it
wishes to sell, provided that such Tag-Along Rightsholder may waive its rights
under this Section 5.2 prior to the expiration of such 10-day period by
giving written notice to the Tag-Along Principal, with a copy to Fortress. The
failure of any Tag-Along Rightsholder to respond within such 10-day period
shall be deemed to be a waiver of such Tag-Along Rightsholder’s rights
under this Section 5.2. Each Tag-Along Rightsholder hereby agrees to be bound
by the same terms and conditions as the Tag-Along Principal, including
representations, warranties and indemnities on a pro
rata basis (based
on the number of Shares and/or FOG Units to be sold by such Tag-Along Principal
or Tag-Along Rightsholder, as the case may be) and the payment of its pro rata
share of all out-of-pocket costs associated with such transaction.
ARTICLE
VI
STANDSTILL
AND TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
SECTION
6.1 STANDSTILL.
(a) Except
as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, or as specifically approved
by a majority of the members of the Board, including at least a majority of the
Sellers who are members of the Board, no Investor or any of its Affiliates
shall, directly or indirectly, (i) by purchase or otherwise, Beneficially Own,
acquire, agree to acquire or offer to acquire any Voting Securities or direct
or indirect rights or options to acquire Voting Securities (including any
voting trust certificates representing such securities) other than the Initial
Class A Shares, (ii) enter, propose to enter into, solicit or support any
merger or business combination or similar transaction involving Fortress or any
of its Subsidiaries, or purchase, acquire, propose to purchase or acquire or
solicit or support the purchase or acquisition of any portion of the business
or assets of Fortress or any of its Subsidiaries (except for proposals to
purchase or acquire a non-material portion of the assets of Fortress or any of
its Subsidiaries that are not required to be publicly disclosed), (iii)
initiate or propose any securityholder proposal without the approval of the
Board granted in accordance with this Agreement or make, or in any way
participate in, any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such
terms are used in the proxy rules promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange
Act) to vote, or seek to advise or influence any Person with respect to the
voting of, any Voting Securities or request or take any action to obtain any
list of securityholders for such purposes with respect to any matter (or, as to
such matters,
37
solicit
any Person in a manner that would require the filing of a proxy statement under
Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act), (iv) form, join or in any way participate
in a Group (other than a Group consisting solely of Investor and its respective
Affiliates) formed for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing
of or taking any other action with respect to Voting Securities, (v) deposit
any Voting Securities in a voting trust or enter into any voting agreement or
arrangement with respect thereto (other than this Agreement and such voting
trusts or agreements which are solely between an Investor and its Affiliates or
made between an Investor and its Affiliates and Fortress pursuant to this
Agreement), (vi) seek representation on the Board, the removal of any directors
from the Board or a change in the size or composition of the Board (in each
case, other than as provided in this Agreement), (vii) make any request to
amend or waive any provision of this Section 6.1, which request would require
public disclosure under applicable Law, (viii) disclose any intent, purpose,
plan, arrangement or proposal inconsistent with the foregoing (including any
such intent, purpose, plan, arrangement or proposal that is conditioned on or
would require the waiver, amendment, nullification or invalidation of any of
the foregoing) or take any action that would require public disclosure of any
such intent, purpose, plan, arrangement or proposal, (ix) take any action
challenging the validity or enforceability of the foregoing or (x) assist,
advise, encourage or negotiate with any Person with respect to, or seek to do,
any of the foregoing; provided that (a) it shall not be a violation of this
Section 6.1(a)(x) to sell Initial Class A Shares and (b) it shall not be a
violation of this Section 6.1(a) by an Investor to (1) trade securities of
Fortress and its Subsidiaries for the accounts of its customers in the ordinary
course of trading, investment management, financing and brokerage activities
subject to appropriate information barriers being in place or (2) participate
in any coinvestment opportunities offered to it by Fortress or any Fortress
Subsidiary.
(b) Nothing
in this Section 6.1 shall (i) prohibit or restrict an Investor from responding
to any inquiries from any shareholder of Fortress as to such Investor’s
intention with respect to the voting of any Voting Securities Beneficially
Owned by Investor so long as such response is consistent with the terms of this
Agreement; (ii) restrict the right of each director on the Board or any
committee thereof to vote on any matter as such individual believes appropriate
in light of his or her duties as a director or committee member or the manner
in which a director may participate in his or her capacity as a director in
deliberations or discussions at meetings of the Board or as a member of any
committee thereof; (iii) prohibit such Investor from Beneficially Owning Voting
Securities issued as dividends or distributions in respect of, or issued upon
conversion, exchange or exercise
38
of,
securities which such Investor is permitted to Beneficially Own under this
Agreement; or (iv) prohibit any officer, director, employee or agent of
Investor from purchasing or otherwise acquiring Voting Securities so long as he
or she is not a member of a Group that includes such Investor or is not
otherwise acting on behalf of Investor.
SECTION
6.2 TRANSFER
RESTRICTIONS.
(a) Initial
Investor and its Permitted Transferee(s) may not, directly or indirectly,
voluntarily effect the transfer of any Initial Class A Shares for a period of
one year from the date hereof, other than with respect to transfers from
Initial Investor to a Permitted Transferee of Initial Investor and between
Permitted Transferees of Initial Investor, provided that such Permitted
Transferee is an “Investor” for purposes of this Agreement or, in
connection with such transfer, executes a joinder to this Agreement, in form
and substance reasonably acceptable to Fortress, in which such Permitted
Transferee agrees to be an “Investor” for all purposes of this
Agreement.
(b) Following
the first anniversary of the date hereof, Initial Investor and its Permitted
Transferee(s) may transfer any or all of the Initial Class A Shares (i) to any
Person in a registered public offering, (ii) after the consummation of the IPO,
to any Person in accordance with Rule 144 or in a transaction exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act, or (iii) prior to the
consummation of the IPO, to any Person that is not a Nonqualified Transferee in
accordance with Rule 144 or in a transaction exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act; provided, however, that no Investor or any
other Permitted Transferee of Initial Investor that holds Initial Class A
Shares may transfer such Initial Class A Shares in a transaction exempt from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act under this Section 6.2(b)
unless (a) the transferor has delivered to Fortress an opinion of counsel to
Fortress reasonably acceptable to Fortress that such transfer would not violate
the registration or qualification requirements of the Securities Act or any
applicable blue sky laws (including any investor suitability standards); (b) if
the Class A Shares are not then registered under the Exchange Act, the
transferor has demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction
of Fortress that such transfer would not require Fortress to register the Class
A Shares under the Exchange Act and (c) Fortress receives a notice of
assignment signed by both the transferor and transferee, in a form reasonably
approved by Fortress. Prior to the consummation of the IPO, each transferee of
Initial Class A Shares shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5.1(a).
Prior to the consummation of the IPO,
39
Fortress
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate as reasonably
requested by Initial Investor with respect to the offering, marketing or
selling of Initial Class A Shares and to otherwise assist Initial Investor in
effecting one or more valid private placements of Initial Class A Shares in
accordance with the Securities Act.
(c) Each
certificate representing Class A Shares shall contain the following
legend:
“THE
SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF AN
INVESTOR SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT DATED AS OF [ ], 2007 BETWEEN FORTRESS
INVESTMENT GROUP LLC AND THE INVESTORS NAMED THEREIN (THE “INVESTOR
SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INVESTOR
SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF
FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP LLC.”
(d) Each
Permitted Transferee of Initial Investor who becomes an “Investor”
for purposes of this Agreement agrees to comply with the provisions of this
Section 6.2.
ARTICLE
VII
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
7.1 REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTOR.
Initial Investor represents and warrants to Fortress that (a) Initial Investor
is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement; (b) this
Agreement has been duly executed by Initial Investor or its attorney-in-fact on
behalf of Initial Investor and is a valid and binding agreement of Initial
Investor, enforceable against Initial Investor in accordance with its terms;
(c) the execution, delivery and performance by Initial Investor of this
Agreement does not violate or conflict with or result in a breach of or
constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both constitute) a default under
any agreement to which Initial Investor is a party or the organizational
documents of Initial Investor; and (d) Initial Investor has good and marketable
title to the Class A Shares owned by Initial Investor as of the date hereof
free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, charge, claim, equity or
40
encumbrance
of any kind, other than pursuant to this Agreement or the Operating
Agreement.
SECTION
7.2 REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF FORTRESS.
Fortress represents and warrants to Initial Investor that (a) Fortress is duly
authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement; (b) this Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Fortress and is a valid and
binding agreement of Fortress, enforceable against Fortress in accordance with
its terms; and (c) the execution, delivery and performance by Fortress of this
Agreement does not violate or conflict with or result in a breach by Fortress
of or constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both constitute) a default
by Fortress under its Certificate of Formation, the Operating Agreement, any
existing applicable Law of any Governmental Entity exercising any statutory or
regulatory authority of any of the foregoing, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over Fortress, any of the Fortress Subsidiaries or any of the
Fortress Funds or any of their respective properties or assets, or any
agreement or instrument to which Fortress or any of the Fortress Subsidiaries
or any of the Fortress Funds is a party or by which Fortress, any of the
Fortress Subsidiaries or any of the Fortress Funds or any of their respective
properties or assets may be bound.
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
8.1 EXCHANGES;
REPURCHASES; RECAPITALIZATION.
(a) The
provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein
with respect to (i) the Initial Class A Shares, (ii) any and all
shares of voting common stock of Fortress or any other Person into which the
Initial Class A Shares are converted, exchanged or substituted (including FOG
Units) in any recapitalization or other capital reorganization by Fortress and
(iii) any and all equity securities of Fortress (or any other Person) or
any successor or assign of Fortress (or any other Person) (whether by merger,
consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of,
in conversion of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Initial Class A
Shares or FOG Units and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock
dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like
occurring after the date hereof. Fortress shall cause any
41
successor
or assign (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) to
assume this Agreement
or enter into a new investor shareholder agreement with the Investors on terms
substantially the same as this Agreement as a condition of any such
transaction.
(b) Except
as otherwise
specifically provided herein, Fortress shall not effect any repurchase,
recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation,
share exchange, liquidation, spin-off, stock split, dividend, distribution or
stock consolidation, subdivision or combination that would not afford to each
holder of Class A Shares the same type and amount of consideration
per Class A Share of Fortress or FOG Unit afforded to each Principal (after
taking into account any exercise price or similar
fee necessary to convert a Stock Equivalent into Class A Shares of Fortress or
FOG Unit).
(c) Except
as otherwise specifically provided herein, neither Fortress nor any of the
Fortress Subsidiaries shall
effect any repurchase or redemption of Class A Shares or FOG Units from any
holder of Class A Shares or FOG Units, other than on a pro rata basis from all
holders
of Class A Shares and all
holders of FOG Units
participating in such repurchase or redemption at the same type and amount of
consideration; provided, however that nothing in this Section 8.1(c) shall
apply to repurchases from employees of Fortress or its Affiliates that affect
the Class A Shares and FOG Units on a pro-rata basis.
SECTION
8.2 NOTICES. All
notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party
shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered
in person or sent by facsimile (provided a copy is thereafter promptly
delivered as provided in this Section 8.2) or nationally recognized overnight
courier, addressed to such party at the address or facsimile number set forth
below or such other address or facsimile number as may hereafter be designated
in writing by such party to the other parties:
(a) if to
Fortress, to:
Fortress
Investment Group LLC
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
(T)
(000) 000-0000
(F)
(000) 000-0000
42
Attention:
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
with a
copy to:
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
(T)
(000) 000-0000
(F)
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Coco, Esq.
(b) if to
Initial Investor, to:
Nomura
Investment Managers U.S.A., Inc.
c/o
Nomura Holdings, Inc.
0-0-0,
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx-xx,
Xxxxx
000-0000
Xxxxx
with a copy (which
shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxx,
Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
(T)
(000) 000-0000
(F)
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
SECTION
8.3 NO
DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT.
Notwithstanding
any provision
contained herein that may be to the contrary, (a) in no event shall Fortress
effect
any amendment to, or waiver with respect to, the
Operating Agreement that
would treat any Investor, in its capacity as a holder of Class A Shares, in a
non-ratable, discriminatory manner with respect to securities of Fortress held
by it relative to any Principal without the prior written consent of such
Investor and (b) in no
43
event
shall Fortress declare or pay any dividend or distribution with respect to a
class of capital stock of Fortress or FOG Units that would treat any Investor,
in its capacity as
holder of Class A Shares, in a non-ratable, discriminatory manner with respect
to securities of Fortress held by
it without the prior written consent of such Investor.
SECTION
8.4 COVENANT
NOT TO AMEND.
Prior to
the IPO, Fortress agrees
not to amend or waive the voting or other provisions of the Operating Agreement
or this Agreement if such amendment or waiver would cause any of the Investors
or any of their Affiliates to no longer be in regulatory compliance with any
material regulatory requirement to which it is subject. Each Investor agrees to
notify Fortress as to whether or not it would have such a regulatory problem
promptly after Investor has notice of any such amendment or waiver.
SECTION
8.5 INTERPRETATION. The
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever
the words “included”, “includes” or “including”
are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation”.
SECTION
8.6 SEVERABILITY. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this
Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or entity or any
circumstance, is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a)
a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to
carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of
such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement
and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall
not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such
invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such
provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION
8.7 COUNTERPARTS. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which shall, taken together, be considered one
and the same agreement, it being understood that both parties need not sign the
same counterpart.
SECTION
8.8 ADJUSTMENTS
UPON CHANGE OF CAPITALIZATION. In the
event of any change in the outstanding Class A Shares
44
by
reason of dividends, splits, reverse splits, spin-offs, split-ups,
recapitalizations, combinations, exchanges of shares and the like, the term
“Class A Shares” shall refer to and include the securities received
or resulting therefrom, but only to the extent such securities are received in
exchange for or in respect of Class A Shares.
SECTION
8.9 ENTIRE
AGREEMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This
Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement (a) constitute the entire
agreement and supersede all other prior agreements, both written and oral,
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) are not
intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto, except as
provided in Section 4.7(a) and Section 4.7(b) of this Agreement, any rights or
remedies hereunder.
SECTION
8.10 FURTHER
ASSURANCES. Each
party shall execute, deliver, acknowledge and file such other documents and
take such further actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by
the other party hereto to give effect to and carry out the transactions
contemplated herein.
SECTION
8.11 GOVERNING
LAW; EQUITABLE REMEDIES.
THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES
THEREOF). The
parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any
of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its
specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the
parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other
equitable remedies to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any of the Selected Courts (as
defined below), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are
entitled at law or in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of
any bond with respect to such remedy are hereby waived by each of the parties
hereto. Each
party further agrees that, in the event of any action for an injunction or
other equitable remedy in respect of such breach or enforcement of specific
performance, it will not assert the defense that a remedy at law would be
adequate.
SECTION
8.12 CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION. With
respect to any suit, action or proceeding (“Proceeding”) arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby each of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the United States District
45
Court
for the Southern District of New York or the Court of Chancery located in the
State of Delaware, County of Newcastle (the “Selected Courts”) and
waives any objection to venue being laid in the Selected Courts whether based
on the grounds of forum non conveniens or otherwise and hereby agrees not to
commence any such Proceeding other than before one of the Selected Courts;
provided,
however, that a
party may commence any Proceeding in a court other than a Selected Court solely
for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the Selected
Courts; (ii) consents to service of process in any Proceeding by the mailing of
copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by
recognized international express carrier or delivery service, to Fortress or
Initial Investor at their respective addresses referred to in Section 8.1
hereof; provided,
however, that
nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law; and (iii) TO
THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, WAIVES, AND
COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR
OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART
UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED
TRANSACTIONS, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING
IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF
THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND
BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE ITS RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS WILL INSTEAD BE TRIED IN A
COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A
JURY.
SECTION
8.13 AMENDMENTS;
WAIVERS.
(a) No
provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived unless such amendment or
waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the parties
hereto, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to
be effective.
(b) No
failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any
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single
or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies
herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies
provided by law.
SECTION
8.14 ASSIGNMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be
assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the
other parties, provided that an Investor may assign its rights under this
Agreement (a) to a Permitted Transferee to the extent that it transfers Initial
Class A Shares to such Permitted Transferee and such Permitted Transferee is,
or agrees to be, pursuant to Section 6.2(a), an “Investor” for
purposes of this Agreement, or (b) with the prior written consent of Fortress
(not to be unreasonably withheld), to one other Person, to the extent that it
transfers Initial Class A Shares to such Person and such Person agrees to be,
pursuant to Section 6.2(a), an “Investor” for purposes of this
Agreement; provided, in the case of clause (b), that such Person shall not have
any rights under Article II, and, provided further, for the avoidance of doubt,
that such Person, together with all other Investors, will not as a group have
greater rights with respect to any provision of this Agreement than the Initial
Investor and its Permitted Transferees are entitled to under such provision,
including with respect to the aggregate number of demands pursuant to Section
4.1(c). Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon,
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective
successors and assigns.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and
delivered, all as of the date first set forth above.
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FORTRESS INVESTMENT
GROUP LLC |
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NOMURA INVESTMENT
MANAGERS U.S.A., INC. |
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