EXHIBIT A
VOTING AGREEMENT
VOTING AGREEMENT, dated as of February 10, 1998, between Sombrero
Acquisition Corp., a Florida corporation ("Sub"), and the persons listed on
Schedule A hereto (each a "Stockholder", and, collectively, the "Stockholders").
WHEREAS, Sub and MTL Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"),
propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger of even date herewith (as
the same may be amended or supplemented, the "Merger Agreement") providing for
the merger of Sub with the Company (the "Merger");
WHEREAS, each Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of, or
the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the beneficial owners, such
number of shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the
"Company Common Stock") set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on Schedule A
----------
hereto; such shares of Company Common Stock, as such shares may be adjusted by
stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination or exchange of
shares, merger, consolidation, reorganization or other change or transaction of
or by the Company, together with shares of Company Common Stock that may be
acquired after the date hereof by such Stockholder, including shares of Company
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase Company Common
Stock (as the same may be adjusted as aforesaid), being collectively referred to
herein as the "Shares"; and
WHEREAS, as a condition to their willingness to enter into the Merger
Agreement, Sub has requested that the Stockholders enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Sub to enter into, and in consideration of
it entering into, the Merger Agreement, and in consideration of the premises and
the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, the parties
agree as follows:
1. Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders. Each
--------------------------------------------------
Stockholder hereby, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to Sub as
follows:
(a) Authority. The Stockholder has all requisite power and authority
---------
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by the Stockholder. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Stockholder and, assuming this Agreement constitutes a valid
and binding obligation of Sub, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the
Stockholder enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms.
Except for the expiration or termination of the waiting periods under the HSR
Act and informational filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the
Stockholder nor the consummation by the Stockholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby will (i) require
any filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any federal,
state, local or municipal foreign or other government or subdivision, branch,
department or agency thereof or any governmental or quasi-governmental authority
of any nature, including any court or other tribunal, (a "Governmental Entity"),
(ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due
notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to any right of
termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration under, or result in the
creation of any pledge, claim, lien, option, charge, encumbrance or security
interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (a "Lien") upon any of the properties
or assets of the Stockholder under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions
of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, permit, concession,
franchise, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation (a "Contract")
to which the Stockholder is a party or by which the Stockholder or any of the
Stockholder's properties or assets, including the Stockholder's Shares, may be
bound or (iii) violate any judgment, order, writ, preliminary or permanent
injunction or decree (an "Order") or any statute, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation of any Governmental Entity (a "Law") applicable to the Stockholder or
any of the Stockholder's properties or assets, including the Stockholder's
Shares.
(b) The Shares. The Stockholder's Shares and the certificates representing
----------
such Shares are now, and at all times during the term hereof will be, held by
such Stockholder, or by a nominee or custodian for the benefit of such
Stockholder, and the Stockholder has good and marketable title to such Shares,
free and clear of any Liens (except as provided on Schedule B), proxies, voting
----------
trusts or agreements, understandings or arrangements, except for any such Liens
or proxies arising hereunder. The Stockholder owns of record or beneficially no
shares of Company Common Stock other than such Stockholder's Shares and shares
of Company Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Company Stock Options (as
defined in the Merger Agreement), in each case as set forth on Schedule A
hereto.
(c) Merger Agreement. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Sub
----------------
is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder's
execution and delivery of this Agreement.
2. Board Approval. The Board of Directors of the Company has, to the extent
--------------
required by applicable law, duly and validly authorized and approved by all
necessary corporate action, this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, so that by the execution and
delivery hereof no restrictive provision of any "fair price," "moratorium,"
"control-share acquisition," "interested shareholders" or other similar anti-
takeover statute or regulation (including, without limitation, Sections 607.0901
and 607.0902 of the Florida Business Corporation Act) or restrictive provision
of any applicable anti-takeover provision in the Articles of Incorporation or
by-laws of the Company is, or will be, applicable to the Company, Sub the
Shares, the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
3. Agreements of All Stockholders. Each Stockholder, severally and not
------------------------------
jointly, agrees as follows:
2
(a) Until the Merger is consummated or the Merger Agreement is terminated in
accordance with its terms, the Stockholder shall not, (i) sell, transfer,
pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any Contract, option or
other arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) or understanding
with respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, assignment or other disposition of,
the Shares to any person other than Sub or Sub's designee, (ii) enter into any
voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement, voting trust, power-of-
attorney or otherwise, with respect to the Shares or (iii) take any other action
that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of its
obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) At any meeting of Stockholders of the Company called to vote upon the
Merger and the Merger Agreement or at any adjournment thereof or in any other
circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval (including by written
consent) with respect to the Merger and the Merger Agreement is sought, each
Stockholder shall, including by initiating a written consent solicitation if
requested by Sub, vote (or cause to be voted) such Stockholder's Shares in favor
of the Merger, the adoption by the Company of the Merger Agreement and the
approval of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
(c) Unless the Merger Agreement shall have been earlier terminated in
accordance with its terms, at any meeting of Stockholders of the Company or at
any adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which the
Stockholder's vote, consent or other approval is sought, such Stockholder shall
vote (or cause to be voted) such Stockholder's Shares against (i) any merger
agreement or merger (other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger),
consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization,
recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company or
any other Alternative Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement)
(collectively, "Alternative Transactions") or (ii) any amendment of the
Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or by-laws or other
proposal or transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which
amendment or other proposal or transaction would in any manner impede,
frustrate, prevent or nullify, the Merger, the Merger Agreement or any of the
other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (collectively,
"Frustrating Transactions").
(d) The Stockholders listed on Schedule A to the Merger Agreement understand
and acknowledge that Sub is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon
the conversion of their shares into the Surviving Corporation Common Stock and
agree to such conversion pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Merger Agreement.
4. Grant of Irrevocable Proxy Coupled with an Interest; Appointment of
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Proxy.
(a) Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
and any other individual who shall hereafter be designated by Sub, and each of
them, such Stockholder's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of
substitution), for and in the name, place and stead of such Stockholder, to vote
such Stockholder's Shares, or grant a consent or approval in respect of such
Shares, at any meeting of Stockholders of the Company or at any adjournment
thereof or in any other circumstances upon which
3
their vote, consent or other approval is sought, (i) in favor of the Merger, the
adoption by the Company of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and (ii) unless the Merger
Agreement shall have been earlier terminated in accordance with its terms,
against any Alternative Transaction or Frustrating Transaction.
(b) Each Stockholder represents that any proxies heretofore given in respect
of such Stockholder's Shares are not irrevocable, and that any such proxies are
hereby revoked.
(c) EACH STOCKHOLDER HEREBY AFFIRMS THAT THE PROXY SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 4
IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND IS IRREVOCABLE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THIS AGREEMENT
TERMINATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS TERMS. Such Stockholder hereby further
affirms that the irrevocable proxy is given in connection with the execution of
the Merger Agreement, and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the
performance of the duties of such Stockholder under this Agreement. Such
Stockholder hereby ratifies and confirms all that such irrevocable proxy may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Such irrevocable proxy is
executed and intended to be irrevocable in accordance with the provisions of
Section 607.0722 of the FBCA. Such irrevocable proxy shall be valid until the
later to occur of (i) one year from the date hereof or (ii) the termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.
5. Further Assurances. Each Stockholder will, from time to time, execute
------------------
and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further
transfers, assignments, endorsements, consents and other instruments as Sub may
reasonably request for the purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and to vest the power to vote such Stockholder's
Shares as contemplated by Section 5.
6. Termination. This Agreement, and all rights and obligations of the
-----------
parties hereunder, shall terminate upon the consummation or termination of the
Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms. Nothing in this Section 6 shall
relieve any Stockholder from liability for willful breach of this Agreement.
7. General.
-------
(a) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
------------
all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties
and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need
not sign the same counterpart.
(b) Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (including
----------------------------------------------
the documents and instruments referred to herein) (i) constitutes the entire
agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written
and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (ii)
is not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any
rights or remedies hereunder.
4
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
-------------
accordance with the laws of the State of Florida without regard to any
applicable conflicts of law.
8. Stockholder Capacity. No person executing this Agreement who is or
--------------------
becomes during the term hereof a director or officer of the Company makes any
agreement or understanding herein in his or her capacity as such director or
officer. Each Stockholder signs solely in his or her capacity as the record
holder and beneficial owner of, or the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries
are the beneficial owners of, such Stockholder's Shares and nothing herein shall
limit or affect any actions taken by a Stockholder in its capacity as an officer
or director of the Company to the extent specifically permitted by the Merger
Agreement or as otherwise required by law.
9. Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in
-----------
the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in a court of the United States.
This being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or
in equity. In addition, each of the parties hereto waives any right to trial by
jury with respect to any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Sub has caused this Agreement to be signed by its
officer thereunto duly authorized and each Stockholder has signed this
Agreement, all as of the date first written above.
SOMBRERO ACQUISITION CORP.
By: ______________________________
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
President
__________________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
__________________________________
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
__________________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
__________________________________
Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxx, Xx.
__________________________________
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
__________________________________
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx, as trustee
for Xxxx XxXxxx Children's Trust
__________________________________
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx, as trustee
for Xxxx XxXxxx Children's Trust
__________________________________
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx, as trustee
for Xxxx XxXxxx Children's Trust
6
__________________________________
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx, as trustee
for Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Children's
Trust
__________________________________
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx, as trustee
for Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Children's
Trust
__________________________________
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx, as trustee
for Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Children's
Trust
7
SCHEDULE A
Number of shares of Number of options to purchase
Stockholder and Address Company Common Stock* Company Common Stock*
----------------------- --------------------- -----------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx 324,270
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx 375,380
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx 49,248 164,365
Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxx, Xx. 30,239 28,740
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx 4,000 31,135
Xxxx XxXxxx Children's Trust 56,580
Xxxx XxXxxx Children's Trust 56,580
Xxxx XxXxxx Children's Trust 56,580
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Children's Trust 57,440
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Children's 57,440
Trust
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Children's Trust 57,440
*or such greater amount as they
may otherwise own as of the
date hereof
8
SCHEDULE B
LIENS
-----
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx -- All of his shares are held in an account at BT Alex. Xxxxx,
which has given Xxxxx Xxxxxxx a margin loan of $750,000.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx -- 100,000 shares at Xxxxxxx Xxxxx.
167,000 shares at Mercantile bank.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx has approximately $2,000,000 in outstanding
indebtedness on the basis of the deposit of such shares.
9
