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EXHIBIT 10.10
SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
XXXXXX X. XXXXX AND XXXXXXXXX X. XXXXX
AND
XXXXXXX X. XXXX
DL&A
NOVEMBER 27, 1996
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I - SALE AND PURCHASE
SECTION 1.1 Transfer of Shares ........................... 2
SECTION 1.2 Purchase Price and Payment ................... 2
ARTICLE II - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 2.1 Representations of Xxxxx and Lilo ............ 3
SECTION 2.2 Representations of Xxx ....................... 4
ARTICLE III - CONFIDENTIALITY ....................................... 4
ARTICLE IV - RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
SECTION 4.1 Arbitration .................................. 5
SECTION 4.2 Equitable Remedies ........................... 6
ARTICLE V - DEFINITIONS ............................................. 6
ARTICLE VI - MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.1 Further Assurances ........................... 7
SECTION 6.2 Entire Agreement; Binding Effect ............. 7
SECTION 6.3 Amendment .................................... 8
SECTION 6.4 Applicable Law ............................... 8
SECTION 6.5 Severability ................................. 8
SECTION 6.6 No Waiver .................................... 8
SECTION 6.7 Notices ...................................... 9
SECTION 6.8 Assignment ................................... 10
SECTION 6.9 Gender and Number ............................ 10
SECTION 6.10 Headings ..................................... 10
SECTION 6.11 Counterparts ................................. 10
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SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Share Purchase Agreement, made and entered into on this 27th day
of November, 1996, by and among Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx ("Xxxxx"), Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
("Lilo") (Xxxxx and Lilo sometimes collectively the "Selling Stockholders"), and
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx ("Xxx").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Xxx is a key senior executive of CMP Media Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company");
WHEREAS, Xxxxx and Lilo desire to create substantial incentives for Xxx
to (i) cause the Company to grow continuously and successfully in sales, profits
and profitability, (ii) take a long-term view of the Company's future, (iii)
help the Company attain its long-term goals, including its diversity goals as
set forth in its corporate Principles, and (iv) remain with the Company for the
long term; and
WHEREAS, to create such incentives, Xxxxx and Lilo desire to provide
Xxx with the opportunity to purchase shares of the Company's Class A Common
Stock from them, provided that Xxx simultaneously enters into a Stockholders'
Agreement with the Company, Xxxxx and Lilo, which provides for certain
restrictions on Ken's right to sell such shares and to compete with the Company;
and
WHEREAS, Xxx desires to have the opportunity to purchase such shares of
Class A Common Stock from Xxxxx and Lilo and, as an inducement to Xxxxx and Lilo
to sell him such shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock and as a condition
to the closing of such sale, Xxx desires to enter simultaneously therewith into
such Stockholders' Agreement;
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged by each of the parties, the parties hereto hereby represent,
warrant, covenant and agree, as follows:
ARTICLE I
SALE AND PURCHASE
SECTION 1.1. TRANSFER OF SHARES.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of Xxxxx
and Lilo hereby sells to Xxx, and Xxx hereby purchases from each of Xxxxx and
Lilo, five hundred twenty-eight (528) shares of Class A Stock (which number of
shares equals approximately one percent (1%) of the number of shares of the
Company's Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date hereof), or an
aggregate of one thousand fifty-six (1,056) shares of Class A Stock (which
number of shares equals approximately two percent (2%) of the number of shares
of the Company's Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date hereof).
SECTION 1.2. PURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT.
The purchase price for such shares of Class A Stock (the "Shares")
shall be Three Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($375.00) per Share. Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, Xxx shall pay to each of Xxxxx and Lilo,
as the full purchase price for the Shares purchased by Xxx from such Selling
Stockholder hereunder, the sum of one hundred ninety-eight thousand dollars
($198,000), or an
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aggregate purchase price of three hundred and ninety-six thousand dollars
($396,000). Payment shall be made simultaneously herewith in cash or by check,
bank draft or wire transfer, in exchange for which each of Xxxxx and Lilo shall
cause to be delivered to Xxx stock certificates representing the Shares.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 2.1. REPRESENTATIONS OF XXXXX AND LILO.
Each of the Selling Stockholders hereby represents and warrants to Xxx
that (a) such Selling Stockholder has full legal right, power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions herein
contemplated; (b) this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of
such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to
the extent that such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general
principles of equity; (c) neither this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated will conflict with, violate or infringe any
legal restriction, contract or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is
subject, other than the restrictions set forth in the Shareholders' Agreement
and in the Credit Agreement and the Negative Pledge Agreement, all the
applicable provisions of which have been waived and/or satisfied to permit the
sale and purchase contemplated by this Agreement; (d) such Selling Stockholder
is the legal and beneficial owner of the Shares to be transferred by such
Selling Stockholder hereunder and has not previously sold, assigned or
transferred such Shares, or created or suffered to exist any security interest
therein or lien or encumbrance thereon; (e) such Selling Stockholder has full
power to convey to Xxx xxxx title to the Shares to be so
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transferred hereunder, free and clear of any liens, charges, encumbrances,
options, pledges or claims of any nature whatsoever; and (f) the sale of such
Shares to Xxx will, absent any incapacities occurring through an action or
omission of Xxx, transfer to Xxx xxxx, legal and valid right, title and interest
in and to such Shares.
SECTION 2.2. REPRESENTATIONS OF XXX.
Xxx hereby represents and warrants to each of Xxxxx and Lilo that (a)
he has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions herein contemplated; (b) this Agreement constitutes
the valid and binding obligation of Xxx, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, except to the extent that such enforcement may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and
by general principles of equity; and (c) neither this Agreement nor the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will conflict with, violate
or infringe any legal restriction, contract or instrument to which Xxx is
subject or by which he is bound.
ARTICLE III
CONFIDENTIALITY
The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be kept confidential
by the parties, and none of the parties shall disclose them to any non-party
unless such disclosure is necessitated by (a) legal and/or financial
requirements of any of the parties or the Company, in which case the form of
such disclosure shall first be mutually agreed upon by Gerry, Lilo, the Company
and Xxx, or (b) any arbitration or other legal proceeding contesting or seeking
to enforce any provision or interpretation of this Agreement (including any
deposition or testimony that either
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party provides in connection therewith), regardless of whether such proceeding
is initiated by Xxx, Xxxxx or Lilo. Except as provided in the preceding
sentence, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Xxx shall not
respond to or in any way participate in or contribute to any public discussion,
notice or other publicity concerning or in any way relating to execution of this
Agreement or the events (including any negotiations) which led to its execution,
and Xxx specifically agrees that he shall not disclose information regarding
this Agreement to any current or former employees of the Company other than
those expressly authorized by the Company to have knowledge hereof. Without
limiting the comprehensive confidentiality agreed to, Xxx xxx disclose this
Agreement to his attorneys, financial advisors and members of his and his
spouse's immediate families, provided he informs them of this confidentiality
provision and they agree to abide by it. Xxx hereby agrees that any disclosure
by him of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement in violation of the
foregoing shall constitute and be treated as a material breach of this Agreement
and Xxx shall be responsible for damages occasioned thereby, including but not
limited to reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Company to enforce this
Article III.
ARTICLE IV
RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
SECTION 4.1. ARBITRATION.
Except as provided in Section 4.2, all controversies arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the breach hereof shall be settled by arbitration
in the County of Nassau, State of New York, in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Any
arbitration hereunder shall be before three (3) arbitrators.
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SECTION 4.2. EQUITABLE REMEDIES.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.1, any proceeding for
injunctive relief or specific performance in connection with this Agreement
shall be commenced in Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Nassau,
and each of the parties hereby accepts the exclusive jurisdiction of such Court
for such purpose; provided, however, that the petitioner may commence such
proceeding in such other court as may be necessary, in the petitioner's
judgment, in order to more effectively or expeditiously obtain personal
jurisdiction over the respondent.
ARTICLE V
DEFINITIONS
"Credit Agreement" shall mean that certain Credit Agreement originally
dated as of July 15, 1993 by and among the Company (fka CMP Publications, Inc.),
Fleet National Bank (fka Shawmut Bank Connecticut, National Association) and The
Chase Manhattan Bank (fka The Chase Manhattan Bank, National Association), as
most recently amended on November 14, 1996.
"Negative Pledge Agreement" shall mean that certain Negative Pledge
Agreement originally dated as of July 15, 1993 by and among Xxxxx, Lilo and
Fleet National Bank (f/k/a/ Shawmut Bank Connecticut, National Association), as
most recently amended and confirmed by Gerry, Lilo, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx and Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx to Fleet National Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank on November 14,
1996.
"Option Agreement" shall mean that certain Option Agreement entered
into as of the date hereof by and between the Company and Xxx.
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"Shareholders' Agreement" shall mean that certain Shareholders'
Agreement entered into as of June 30, 1991 by and among the Company, certain of
its affiliates, Xxxxx, Lilo and their children.
"Stockholders' Agreement" shall mean that certain Stockholders'
Agreement entered into as of the date hereof by and among the Company, Xxxxx,
Lilo and Xxx.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.1. FURTHER ASSURANCES.
Each of the parties hereto, upon request of another party, shall take
all such actions and execute and deliver all such further instruments of sale,
assignment, conveyance, transfer and exchange, and all such other documents and
agreements, as may be necessary or appropriate to assure, complete and evidence
the full and effective sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance and exchange of
the Shares as herein required and as may otherwise be necessary or appropriate
to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.2. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; BINDING EFFECT.
This Agreement contains all of the terms agreed upon by the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and replaces and supersedes any and
all prior agreements, written or oral, between the parties relating to the
Shares (except for the Stockholders' Agreement and the Option Agreement to the
extent their respective terms are not inconsistent herewith). No promises,
agreements or representations with respect to the matters herein contained shall
be binding upon any of the parties unless set forth herein. This Agreement shall
be binding upon
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and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs,
representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
SECTION 6.3. AMENDMENT.
No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived except by a
writing making reference to this Agreement and signed by the party against whom
the enforcement of such amendment or waiver is sought.
SECTION 6.4. APPLICABLE LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its
principles regarding choice or conflicts of law, and in accordance with and
consistent with the Company's election to be treated as an S Corporation.
SECTION 6.5. SEVERABILITY.
Wherever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law and
the Company's S Corporation election, but if any provisions hereof shall be
prohibited by or invalid under any such law or the Company's S Corporation
election, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition
or invalidity, without invalidating or nullifying the remainder of such
provision or any other provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.6. NO WAIVER.
No delay or omission by any party in exercising or enforcing any right
hereunder shall operate as a waiver of such right, and a waiver on one occasion
shall not be construed as a waiver of any right or remedy on any future
occasion.
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SECTION 6.7. NOTICES.
All notices, requests, consents, designations and demands required or
permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given (a) when personally delivered, whether by
messenger, courier or other person, (b) on the second Business Day after the
date it is sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or
(c) on the next Business Day after the date it is sent via telefacsimile
(provided it is actually received and is not materially illegible), as follows:
If to Xxx:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
x/x Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to Xxx at his last known address as reflected on the
records of the Company.
If to Xxxxx:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
c/o CMP Media Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to Lilo:
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
c/o CMP Media Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
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or to such other mail or facsimile address as the recipient party shall have
last designated by notice given to the other in accordance herewith.
SECTION 6.8. ASSIGNMENT.
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no party may assign any
rights or delegate any obligations or liabilities hereunder without the prior
written consent of the other parties, except that each of Xxxxx and Lilo may
assign any of his or her rights and delegate any of his or her obligations or
liabilities to the other; provided, however, that no such assignment or
delegation shall relieve such assignor from his or her obligations or
liabilities hereunder.
SECTION 6.9. GENDER AND NUMBER.
Except when otherwise indicated by the context, references herein to
one gender shall include the other genders, and references herein to the plural
shall include the singular.
SECTION 6.10. HEADINGS.
The headings herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not
be considered in construing this Agreement.
SECTION 6.11. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed as an original and all of which shall together constitute
one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the individual parties have executed this Agreement
on the day and year first above written.
/s/XXXXXX X. XXXXX /s/XXXXXXXXX X. XXXXX
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XXXXXX X. XXXXX XXXXXXXXX X. XXXXX
/s/XXXXXXX X. XXXX
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XXXXXXX X. XXXX
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