VOTING AGREEMENT
THIS
AGREEMENT is made as of the 10th
day of January,
2007.
BETWEEN:
SOUTHHILL
STRATEGY INC., a corporation existing
under
the
laws of the Province of Ontario (“SHS”)
-and-
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX, an individual resident in the City of Toronto, Province of
Ontario (“MacMillan”)
-and-
XXXXXX
XXXXXX, an individual resident in the City of Toronto, Province of
Ontario (“XxXxxx”)
(SHS,
MacMillan and XxXxxx each referred to as a “Shareholder” and
collectively referred to as the “Shareholders”)
-and-
6681859
CANADA INC., a corporation existing under the laws of
Canada (the “Purchaser”)
WHEREAS
SHS is the registered and beneficial owner of
670,995 Class A voting shares (the “AA
Shares”) in the capital of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. (the
“Corporation”);
AND
WHEREAS MacMillan and XxXxxx are the registered and beneficial owners
respectively of 27,889 and 540,986 Class B non-voting shares (“Class B
Shares”) in the capital of the Corporation (the “Principals’ AA
Shares”), (the AA Shares and the Principals’ AA Shares together being,
the “Subject Shares”);
AND
WHEREAS MacMillan and XxXxxx are the registered and beneficial owners
of 30,000 Class A Voting Shares and 640,995 Class B Non-Voting
Shares in the capital of SHS (the “SHS
Shares”);
AND
WHEREAS MacMillan and XxXxxx are the registered and beneficial owners
of all of the outstanding SHS Shares;
AND
WHEREAS the Purchaser and the Corporation have entered into an
arrangement agreement concurrently with the entering into of this Agreement
(the
“Arrangement Agreement”);
1
ANDWHEREAS
the Shareholders acknowledge that (i) the Purchaser would not enter into
the Arrangement Agreement but for the execution and delivery of this Agreement
by the Shareholders and (ii) it is a condition of the Purchaser’s obligation
under the Arrangement
Agreement to consummate the Arrangement that this Agreement be in effect and
not
be terminated;
NOW
THEREFORE this Agreement witnesses that, in consideration of the
premises and the covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1 Definitions
in Arrangement Agreement
All
terms
used in this Agreement that are not defined herein and that are defined in
the
Arrangement Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in
the
Arrangement Agreement.
Section 1.2 Schedules
The
following Schedule attached hereto constitutes an integral part of this
Agreement:
ARTICLE 2
COVENANTS
OF THE SHAREHOLDERS
Section 2.1 General
The
Shareholders hereby covenant and agree in favour of the Purchaser that, from
the
date hereof until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 4, except as permitted by this
Agreement:
|
(a)
|
at
any meeting of shareholders of the Corporation called to vote upon
the
Arrangement Agreement or the transactions contemplated by the Arrangement
Agreement or at any adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances
upon
which a vote, consent or other approval (including by written consent
in
lieu of a meeting) with respect to the Arrangement Agreement or the
transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement is sought,
each
Shareholder shall cause its Subject Shares to be counted as present
for
purposes of establishing quorum and shall vote (or cause to be voted)
its
Subject Shares (i) in favour of the approval of the Arrangement and
the
Arrangement Agreement and each of the transactions contemplated by
the
Arrangement Agreement, and (ii) in favour of any other matter necessary
for the consummation of the Arrangement. In connection
therewith, each Shareholder hereby appoints the Purchaser as attorney
in
fact, for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, for and on
its
behalf to execute a proxy appointing such person designated by the
Purchaser to attend and act on behalf of such Shareholder at the
meeting
of the Corporation in respect of any of the matters referred to in
this
Subsection 2.1(a) and to act on behalf of such Shareholder on every
action
or approval by written consent of the Shareholders of the Corporation
in
respect of such matters, and if pursuant to this power of attorney
the
Purchaser has executed and not revoked a proxy in respect of such
a
meeting, which proxy has been accepted by the Corporation, then in
such
circumstances the Shareholder shall not be responsible for voting
under
this Subsection 2.1(a). The Purchaser shall advise the
Shareholder upon executing any proxies in respect of such
Shareholder;
|
|
(b)
|
at
any meeting of shareholders of the Corporation or at any adjournment
thereof or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent
or other
approval of all or some of the shareholders of the Corporation is
sought
(including by written consent in lieu of a meeting), each Shareholder
shall cause its Subject Shares to be counted as present for purposes
of
establishing quorum and shall vote (or cause to be voted) its Subject
Shares against (i) any merger agreement or merger (other than the
Arrangement Agreement), consolidation, combination, sale or transfer
of a
material amount of assets, amalgamation, plan of arrangement,
reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding
up
of or by the Corporation or any Acquisition Proposal (ii) any amendment
of
the Corporation’s articles or by-laws or other proposal or transaction
involving the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, which amendment
or
other proposal or transaction would in any manner delay, impede,
frustrate, prevent or nullify the Arrangement Agreement or any of
the
transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement or change
in any
manner the voting rights of the Subject Shares or any other shares
of the
Corporation (iii) any action, agreement, transaction or proposal
that
would reasonably be expected to result in a breach
of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or other obligation
of the Corporation in the Arrangement Agreement, in a Material Adverse
Change or in a breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement
or other obligation of any Shareholder under this Agreement and
(iv) any action, agreement, transaction or proposal that might reasonably
be regarded as being directed towards or likely to prevent or delay
the
Meeting or thesuccessful completion of the transactions contemplated
by
the Arrangement Agreement and this
Agreement;
|
|
(c)
|
each
Shareholder shall not, directly or indirectly, through any officer,
director, employee, representative or agent of SHS or the
Corporation:
|
|
(i)
|
solicit,
assist, initiate, encourage or otherwise facilitate (including, without
limitation, by way of furnishing non-public information, permitting
any
visit to any facilities or properties of the Corporation or any subsidiary
or entering into any form of written or oral agreement, arrangement
or
understanding) any inquiries, proposals or offers regarding an Acquisition
Proposal;
|
|
(ii)
|
engage
in or otherwise facilitate any discussions or negotiations regarding
or
provide any confidential information with respect to any Acquisition
Proposal;
|
|
(iii)
|
approve
or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, any Acquisition
Proposal;
|
|
(iv)
|
withdraw
support, or propose publicly to withdraw support, from the
transactions contemplated by the Arrangement
Agreement;
|
|
(v)
|
enter,
or propose publicly to, enter into any agreement related to any
Acquisition Proposal;
|
|
(d)
|
the
Shareholders will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any
existing solicitation, discussion or negotiation with any Person
(other
than the Purchaser) by the Shareholders or any of the officers, directors,
employees, representatives or agents of SHS with respect to any potential
Acquisition Proposal, whether or not initiated by
Shareholders or any of the officers, directors, employees,
representatives or agents of SHS;
|
|
(e)
|
promptly
notify the Purchaser by telephone, followed by notice in writing,
of any
Acquisition Proposal received by the Shareholders after the date
hereof,
or any request received by SHS after the date hereof for non-public
information relating to SHS in connection with an Acquisition
Proposal. Such notice shall include a description of the
material terms and conditions of any proposal received by SHS and
provide
such details of the proposal, enquiry or contact as the Purchaser
may
reasonably request, including the identity of the Person making such
proposal, inquiry or contact;
|
2
|
(f)
|
except
in accordance with Section 2.2, each
Shareholder agrees not to directly or indirectly, (i) sell, transfer,
assign, grant a participation interest in, option, pledge, hypothecate,
grant a security or voting interest in or otherwise convey or encumber
(each, a “Transfer”), or enter into any agreement, option or other
arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect
to the
Transfer of, any of its Subject Shares to any Person, other than
pursuant
to the Arrangement Agreement (or for greater certainty pursuant to
the
Holdco Alternative), or (ii) grant any proxies or power of attorney,
deposit any of its Subject Shares into any voting trust or enter
into any
voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise,
with
respect to its Subject Shares, other than pursuant to this
Agreement;
|
|
(g)
|
each
of MacMillan and XxXxxx agrees not to directly or indirectly, (i)
Transfer
or enter into any agreement, option or other arrangement (including
any
profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the Transfer of any of
his SHS
Shares to any Person, or (ii) grant any proxies, power of attorney,
deposit any of his SHS Shares into any voting trust or enter into
any
voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement or
otherwise;
|
|
(h)
|
each
Shareholder shall not take any other action of any kind, directly
or
indirectly, which might reasonably be regarded as likely to reduce
the
success of, or delay or interfere with the completion of the transactions
contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement;
|
|
(i)
|
each
Shareholder shall use all commercially reasonable efforts in its
capacity
as a holder of Subject Shares or SHS Shares, as applicable, to assist
the
Corporation to successfully complete the Arrangement and the other
transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement and this Agreement
and to oppose any of the matters listed in (i) to (iv) in Section 2.1(b);
|
|
(j)
|
SHS
shall deliver a Certificate of Non-Participation (as defined in paragraph
5 of Article F of Schedule “A” to the Articles of Amalgamation of the
Corporation dated October 14, 2003) to the transfer agent of the
Class A
Voting Shares and to the Secretary of
the Corporation prior to the end of the seventh day
after any Exclusionary Offer (as defined in Article F of Schedule
“A” to
the Articles of Amalgamation of the Corporation dated October 14,
2003)
has been made. SHS shall not deliver a Notice of Tender (as
defined in paragraph 5 of Article F of Schedule “A” to the Articles of
Amalgamation of the Corporation dated October 14, 2003) to the transfer
agent of the Class A Voting Shares or the Secretary of the Corporation
nor
shall SHS deliver a Notice of Transfer (as defined inArticle F of
Schedule
“A” to the Articles of Amalgamation of the Corporation dated October
14,
2003) to the transfer agent of the Class A Voting Shares or the Secretary
of the Corporation;
|
|
(k)
|
each
Shareholder hereby waives any rights of appraisal or rights of dissent
from the Arrangement or the transactions contemplated by the Arrangement
Agreement that such Shareholder may
have;
|
|
(l)
|
each
Shareholder hereby agrees to promptly notify the Purchaser and the
other
Shareholders of the amount of any new equity interests in the Corporation
acquired by such Shareholder, if any, after the date
hereof. Any such equity interests shall be subject to the terms
of this Agreement as though owned by such Shareholder on the date
hereof;
and
|
|
(m)
|
each
Shareholder shall, from time to time, execute and deliver, or cause
to be
executed and delivered, such additional or further consents, documents
and
other instruments and shall take all such other action necessary
or as
Purchaser or any of the other Shareholders may reasonably request
for the
purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions contemplated
by this
Agreement.
|
Section 2.2 Gifts
to Charity
At
any
time following the Meeting at which the Special Resolution is passed and prior
to the Effective Date, each Shareholder shall have the right directly or
indirectly to gift any portion of its Subject Shares to various charities
provided that such charities agree to the restrictions in Section 3.5 and the
Purchaser is satisfied, acting reasonably, that such gift will not affect the
ability of the Shareholders to vote such AA Shares in favour of the Special
Resolution or the ability of the Purchaser to acquire such AA Shares pursuant
to
the Arrangement or the ability of the Purchaser to claim a tax bump as described
in section 5.1(h) of the Arrangement Agreement. In the event of an Alternative
Transaction, the Shareholders shall have a period of five (5) Business Days
prior to the expiry time for tendering their Subject Shares to, directly or
indirectly, gift any portion of its Subject Shares to various charities provided
that such charities agree to the restrictions in Section 3.5 and provided that
such gifting shall not materially and adversely affect the ability to cause
the
Alternative Transaction.
Section 2.3 Co-operation/Alternative
Transaction
If
the
Purchaser concludes after the date of this Agreement that it is necessary or
desirable to proceed with a form of transaction other than pursuant to the
Arrangement Agreement (including, without limitation, a take-over bid) whereby
the Purchaser and/or its affiliates would effectively acquire all the Subject
Shares on economic terms and conditions having consequences to each Shareholder
(in such Shareholder’s reasonable determination) that are equivalent to or
better than those contemplated by this Agreement (any such transaction is
referred to as an “Alternative
Transaction”) ,provided that the Purchaser makes available
such Alternative Transaction to each shareholder of the Corporation on economic
terms and conditions that are equivalent to those provided to each
Shareholder, each Shareholder agrees to support the completion of the
Alternative Transaction in the same manner as the Arrangement Agreement,
including, in the case of a take-over bid, by causing all of such Shareholder’s
Subject Shares to be validly tendered in acceptance of such take-over bid
together with the letter of transmittal and, if applicable, notice of guaranteed
delivery, and any other documents required in accordance with such take-over
bid, and will not withdraw the Shareholder’s Subject Shares from such take-over
bid except as expressly otherwise provided in this Agreement.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
Section 3.1 Representations
and Warranties of SHS
Each
of
MacMillan, XxXxxx and SHS hereby severally, and in the case of MacMillan and
SHS, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to and covenants with the
Purchaser as follows, and acknowledges that the Purchaser is relying upon such
representations, warranties and covenants in entering into this Agreement and
the Arrangement Agreement:
|
(a)
|
Incorporation;
Capacity. SHS is a subsisting corporation under the
laws of the Province of Ontario. SHS has the requisite corporate
power and
capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder.
|
|
(b)
|
Authorization. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by SHS have
been
duly authorized by its board of directors and shareholders and no
other
internal proceedings on its part, including any approvals pursuant
to a
unanimous shareholders agreement (the “USA”) dated March 18, 2005 among
Xxxxxxx XxxXxxxxx, Xxxxxx XxXxxx and Southhill Strategy Inc., are
necessary to authorize this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereunder.
|
|
(c)
|
Enforceable. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by SHS and constitutes
its
legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar
Laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of
equity.
|
|
(d)
|
Ownership
of Shares and Other Securities by SHS. SHS is the sole registered
and beneficial owner of the AA Shares. SHS does not own or have
any interest in any other shares of the Corporation. Except as
contemplated in the Arrangement Agreement, including pursuant to
the
Holdco Alternative, SHS is, and, subject to Section 2.2, will be immediately prior to
the Effective Date, the registered and beneficial owner of the AA
Shares,
with good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any and
all
mortgages, liens, charges, restrictions, security interests, adverse
claims, pledges, encumbrances and demands or rights of others of
any
nature or kind whatsoever, other than (i) the pledge by SHS of 653,750
Class A voting shares (“Class A Shares”) in the capital of the Corporation
in favour of the Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) to secure its obligations to
RBC under a limited recourse guarantee dated March 18, 2005 relating
to
loan obligations of MacMillan to RBC; and (ii) the pledge by SHS
of 14,427
Class A Shares in favour of RBC to secure its obligations to RBC
under a
limited recourse guarantee dated March 18, 2005 relating to loan
obligations of XxXxxx to RBC.
|
|
(e)
|
No
Breach. Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Shareholders, the consummation by the Shareholders
of the
transactions contemplated hereby nor the compliance by the Shareholders
with any of the provisions hereof
will:
|
|
(i)
|
result
in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which with
notice
or lapse of time or both would become a default) (or give rise to
any
third party right of termination, cancellation, material modification,
acceleration, purchase or right of first refusal) under any provision
of
the certificate of incorporation, articles or by-laws of SHS, or
under any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, loan agreement,
bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, license, agreement, lease, permit
or other
instrument or obligation to which any Shareholder is a party or by
which
any Shareholder or any of its properties or assets (including the
Subject
Shares) may be bound, except that the consent of RBC is required
for any
sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of the shares in the
capital
of the Corporation that have been pledged to RBC by the Shareholders
as
security for their respective obligations, to
RBC,
|
|
(ii)
|
require
on the part of the Shareholder any filing with (other than pursuant
to the
requirements of applicable securities legislation (which filings
the
Shareholder will undertake)) or permit, authorization, consent or
approval
of, any Governmental Entity or any other Person,
or
|
3
|
(iii)
|
subject
to compliance with any approval or Laws contemplated by the Arrangement
Agreement, violate or conflict with any judgement, order, notice,
decree,
statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Shareholder
or any of its properties or assets.
|
|
(f)
|
No
Proceedings. There is no private or governmental action, suit,
proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation pending before any
Governmental Entity, or, to the knowledge of the Shareholder, threatened
against the Shareholder or any of its properties that, individually
or in
the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect
on
the Shareholder’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. There is no order of any Governmental Authority
against the Shareholder that could prevent, enjoin, alter or materially
delay any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or
that
could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the
Shareholder’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
|
|
(g)
|
No
Agreements. No Person has any agreement or option, or any right
or privilege (whether by law, pre-emptive or contractual) capable
of
becoming an agreement or option, for the purchase, acquisition or
transfer
of any of the AA Shares, or any interest therein or right thereto,
except
pursuant to this Agreement.
|
|
(h)
|
Voting. The
Shareholders have the sole and exclusive right to enter into this
Agreement and to vote the Subject Shares as contemplated herein and
each
of MacMillan and XxXxxx has the sole and exclusive right to vote
the SHS
Shares that are owned by him. None of the Subject Shares is
subject to any proxy, power of attorney, attorney-in-fact, voting
trust,
vote pooling or other agreement with respect to the right to vote,
call
meetings of shareholders or give consents or approvals of any kind,
other
than as provided in a unanimous shareholders agreement dated March
18,
2005 among Xxxxxxx XxxXxxxxx, Xxxxxx XxXxxx and Southhill Strategy
Inc.
|
|
(i)
|
Consents.
No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or declaration or
filing
with, any Governmental Entity or other Person is required to be obtained
by SHS, MacMillan or XxXxxx in connection with the execution, delivery
or
performance of this Agreement, other than the consent of RBC that
is
required for the sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of
the
shares in the capital of the Corporation that have been pledged to
RBC by
the Shareholders as security for their respective obligations to
RBC.
Furthermore, it is specifically acknowledged and agreed by the Purchaser
that the Purchaser is responsible for any consents required with
respect
to CRTC Approval whether pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement or
this
Agreement.
|
|
(j)
|
Legal
Proceedings. There are no legal proceedings in progress or
pending before any Governmental Entity or threatened against SHS,
MacMillan or XxXxxx or any judgment, decree or order against SHS,
MacMillan or XxXxxx that would adversely affect in any manner the
ability
of any such party to enter into this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder or the title of SHS to any of the AA Shares
or the
title of MacMillan or XxXxxx, as applicable, to any of the Principals’ AA
Shares or the SHS Shares.
|
|
(k)
|
Investments. SHS
has not, since June 30, 2006, acquired directly or
indirectly any debt or shares in the capital of a Prohibited Issuer
(as
defined in Section 3.5(2)) if existing on the date
hereof.
|
Section 3.2 Representations
and Warranties of MacMillan
MacMillan
hereby represents and warrants to and covenants with the Purchaser as follows,
and acknowledges that the Purchaser is relying upon such representations,
warranties and covenants in entering into this Agreement:
|
(a)
|
Binding. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by MacMillan and
constitutes his legal, valid and binding obligation enforceable against
him in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency
and
other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general
principles of equity.
|
|
(b)
|
Ownership
of Shares, SHS Shares and Other Securities by MacMillan.
MacMillan is the sole registered and beneficial owner of
27, 889
Class B Shares and 15,000 Voting Shares and 640,995 Non-Voting
Shares in the capital of SHS (collectively, the “MacMillan
Shares”). MacMillan does not own or have any
interest in any other shares of the Corporation or SHS, except for
options
that he holds to acquire 176,000 Class B Shares. Except as
contemplated in the Arrangement Agreement, including pursuant to
the
Holdco Alternative, MacMillan is, and will be immediately prior
to the Effective Date, the registered and beneficial owner of the
MacMillan Shares, with good and marketable title thereto, free and
clear
of any and all mortgages, liens, charges, restrictions, security
interests, adverse claims, pledges, encumbrances and demands or rights
of
others of any nature or kind whatsoever.
|
|
(c)
|
No
Agreements. No Person has any agreement or option, or any right
or privilege (whether by law, pre-emptive or contractual) capable
ofbecoming an agreement or option, for the purchase, acquisition
or
transfer of any of the MacMillan Shares, or any interest therein
or right
thereto, except pursuant to this
Agreement.
|
|
(d)
|
Voting.
None of the MacMillan Shares is subject to any proxy, voting trust,
vote
pooling or other agreement with respect to the right to vote, call
meetings of shareholders or give consents or approvals of any
kind.
|
|
(e)
|
Investments. MacMillan
has not, since June 30, 2006, acquired directly or indirectly any
debt or
shares in the capital of a Prohibited Issuer (as defined in Section
3.5(2)) if existing on the date
hereof.
|
Section 3.3 Representations
and Warranties of XxXxxx
XxXxxx
hereby represents and warrants to and covenants with the Purchaser as follows,
and acknowledges that the Purchaser is relying upon such representations,
warranties and covenants in entering into this Agreement:
|
(a)
|
Binding. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by XxXxxx and constitutes
his legal, valid and binding obligation enforceable against him in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and
other
similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general
principles of equity.
|
|
(b)
|
Ownership
of Shares, SHS Shares and Other Securities by XxXxxx. XxXxxx is
the sole registered and beneficial owner of 540,986 Class B Shares
and
15,000 Voting Shares in the capital of SHS (collectively, the
“XxXxxx Shares”). XxXxxx does not own or
have any interest in any other shares of the Corporation or
SHS. Except as contemplated in the Arrangement Agreement,
including pursuant to the Holdco Alternative, XxXxxx is, and will
be
immediately prior to the Effective Date, the registered and beneficial
owner of the XxXxxx Shares, with good and marketable title thereto,
free
and clear of any and all mortgages, liens, charges, restrictions,
security
interests, adverse claims, pledges, encumbrances and demands or rights
of
others of any nature or kind whatsoever, other than (i) as provided
in a
unanimous shareholders agreement dated March 18, 2005 among Xxxxxxx
XxxXxxxxx, Xxxxxx XxXxxx and Southhill Strategy Inc. and (ii) in
respect
of the pledge by him of 539, 323 Class B Shares to
RBC.
|
|
(c)
|
No
Agreements. No Person has any agreement or option, or any right
or privilege (whether by law, pre-emptive or contractual) capable
of
becoming an agreement or option, for the purchase, acquisition or
transfer
of any of the XxXxxx Shares, or any interest therein or right thereto,
except pursuant to this Agreement, other than as provided in a unanimous
shareholders agreement dated March 18, 2005 among Xxxxxxx XxxXxxxxx,
Xxxxxx XxXxxx and Southhill Strategy
Inc.
|
|
(d)
|
Voting.
None of the XxXxxx Shares is subject to any proxy, voting trust,
vote
pooling or other agreement with respect to the right to vote, call
meetings of shareholders or give consents or approvals of any kind,
other
than as provided in a unanimous shareholders agreement dated March
18,
2005 among Xxxxxxx XxxXxxxxx, Xxxxxx XxXxxx and Southhill Strategy
Inc.
|
|
(e)
|
Investments. XxXxxx
has not, since June 30, 2006, acquired directly or indirectly any
debt or
shares in the capital of a Prohibited Issuer (as defined in Section
3.5(2)) if existing on the date
hereof.
|
Section 3.4 Representations
and Warranties of the Purchaser
The
Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Shareholders as follows, and
acknowledges that each Shareholder is relying upon such
representations, and warranties in entering into this Agreement
that:
|
(a)
|
Capacity. It
has the requisite corporate power and capacity to execute and deliver
this
Agreement and to perform its obligations
hereunder.
|
|
(b)
|
Authorization. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it have
been duly
authorized by its board of directors or similar authority and no
other
internal proceedings on its part are necessary to authorize this
Agreement
or the transactions contemplated
hereunder.
|
|
(c)
|
Enforceable. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes
its
legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar
Laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of
equity.
|
|
(d)
|
No
Breach. The execution, delivery and performance by it
of this Agreement will not:
|
|
(i)
|
result
in a violation or breach of, require any consent to be obtained under
or
give rise to any termination rights or payment obligation under any
provision of:
|
|
(A)
|
its
articles or by-laws (or other constating
documents);
|
|
(B)
|
any
resolution of its board of directors (or any committee thereof) or
of its
shareholders;
|
4
|
(C)
|
subject
to obtaining the Regulatory Approvals relating to the Purchaser,
any
applicable Laws; or
|
|
(D)
|
any
material Contract to which it or its subsidiaries is a party or by
which
any of them is bound or their respective properties or assets are
bound.
|
|
(ii)
|
(E)
|
give
rise to any right of termination or acceleration of indebtedness,
or cause
any third party indebtedness to come due before its stated maturity
or
cause any available credit to cease to be
available.
|
|
(e)
|
Consents. No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, or declaration or filing
with, any Governmental Entity or other Person is required to be obtained
by it in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of
this
Agreement other than the Regulatory Approvals relating to
it.
|
|
(f)
|
Legal
Proceedings. There are no legal proceedings in progress or
pending before any Governmental Entity or threatened against it or
any
judgment, decree or order against it that would adversely affect
in any
manner its ability to enter into this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder.
|
Section 3.5 Prohibited
Securities
(1)
|
Each
Shareholder hereby declares that it has no current intention
to:
|
|
(a)
|
acquire;
or
|
|
(b)
|
cause
a person, including a trust or partnership, over which it has influence,
to acquire,
|
either
directly or indirectly, any shares, warrants, debt instruments or other
securities of any Prohibited Issuer (the aforesaid securities are hereinafter
referred to as “Prohibited Securities”) with the exception of any Prohibited
Securities that such Shareholder may acquire, directly or indirectly by reason
of Prohibited Securities being acquired by (i) a mutual fund (or like investment
vehicle) over which such Shareholder does not have any influence and in which
such Shareholder owns (directly or indirectly) an interest, or by (ii) an
independent investment manager who acquires the Prohibited Securities, by reason
of its own independent decision and without any consultation with such
Shareholder.
(2)
|
As
evidence of each Shareholder’s current intention not to acquire any
Prohibited Securities, each Shareholder hereby undertakes that it
will not
under any circumstances prior to the Effective Time or within the
twelve
(12) month period following the Effective
Time:
|
|
(a)
|
acquire
any Prohibited Securities (except for those described in (i) or (ii)
above); or
|
|
(b)
|
cause
any person (including a trust or partnership) over which such Shareholder
has influence to acquire Prohibited
Securities.
|
For
the
purposes of this Section 3.5 a “Prohibited Issuer” means the
Purchaser, CanWest Media Works Inc., The Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Group, Inc., GS Capital
Partners Fund VI, L.P., GS Capital Partners VI Offshore L.P., GS Capital
Partners Gmbh & Co., GS Credit Partners L.P., CanWest Global
Communications Corp., Movie Distribution Income Fund and any company established
to, directly or indirectly, acquire the movie distribution business, the
television program production and distribution business or the specialty
television business currently carried on by the Corporation.
(3)
|
In
addition, where the Purchaser provides notice to a Shareholder either
prior to the Effective Time or within the twelve (12) month period
following the Effective Time that a particular issuer (“Particular
Issuer”) will, directly or indirectly, acquire an asset the value of which
is wholly or partly attributable to properties that were owned, directly
or indirectly, by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries,
each Shareholder hereby undertakes that it will not under any
circumstances within the twelve (12) month period following the Effective
Time:
|
|
(a)
|
acquire
any shares, warrants, debt instruments or other securities of the
Particular Issuer (except with the exception of any such securities
that
the Shareholder may acquire, directly or indirectly by reason of
such
securities being acquired by (a) a mutual fund (or like investment
vehicle) over which the Shareholder does not have any influence and
in
which the Shareholder owns (directly or indirectly) an interest,
or by (b)
an independent investment manager who acquires such securities, by
reason
of its own independent decision and without any consultation with
the
Shareholder); or
|
|
(b)
|
cause
any person (including a trust or partnership) over which the Shareholder
has influence to acquire such
securities.
|
ARTICLE 4
TERMINATION
Section 4.1 Automatic
Termination
This
Agreement shall automatically terminate upon (i) termination of the Arrangement
Agreement where the Purchaser is not proceeding with an Alternative Transaction
supported by the Corporation or (ii) the Corporation and the Purchaser amending
the Arrangement Agreement in a manner that results in a reduction of the
purchase price payable per Subject Share.
5
Section 4.2 Agreement
to Terminate
This
Agreement may be terminated by a written instrument executed by each of the
Purchaser and the Shareholders.
Section 4.3 Effect
of Termination
If
this
Agreement is terminated in accordance with this Article 4, the provisions of this Agreement will
become void and no party shall have liability to any other party, except in
respect of a breach of this Agreement which occurred prior to such termination
and each Shareholder shall be entitled to withdraw any form of proxy in respect
of the Special Resolution and withdraw any certificate of Non-Participation
which it may have given or, if applicable, to withdraw any deposited Subject
Shares to any take-over bid.
ARTICLE 5
GENERAL
Section 5.1 Further
Assurances
(1)
|
Each
of the Shareholders and the Purchaser will, from time to time, execute
and
deliver all such further documents and instruments and do all such
acts
and things as the other party may reasonably require and at the requesting
party’s cost to effectively carry out or better evidence or perfect the
full intent and meaning of this
Agreement.
|
Section 5.2 Disclosure
Except
as
required by applicable laws or regulations or by any Governmental Entity or
in
accordance with the requirements of any stock exchange, no party shall make
any
public announcement or statement with respect to this Agreement without the
approval of the other, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed. Moreover, the parties agree to consult with each other prior
to issuing each public announcement or statement with respect to this Agreement,
subject to the overriding obligations of applicable Laws. The
Shareholders consent to the details of this Agreement being described in any
information circular prepared by the Corporation in connection with the
Arrangement and in any take-over bid circular prepared by the Purchaser with
respect to any offer to acquire Class A voting shares or Class B non-voting
shares of the Corporation and in any material change report prepared
by Guarantor in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Arrangement Agreement.
Section 5.3 Fiduciary
Obligations.
The
Purchaser agrees and acknowledges that the Shareholders are bound hereunder
solely in their capacity as a shareholder of the Corporation or of SHS, as
applicable, and that the provisions hereof shall not be deemed or interpreted
to
bind any Shareholder or any director, officer or shareholder of SHS in his
capacity as a director of the Corporation or SHS. For the avoidance
of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall limit any person from fulfilling
his
fiduciary duties as a director or officer of the Corporation or
SHS.
Section 5.4 Time
Time
shall be of the essence of this Agreement.
6
Section 5.5 Governing
Law
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
Province of Ontario and of Canada applicable therein (without regard to conflict
of laws principles).
Section 5.6 Entire
Agreement
This
Agreement, including the schedules hereto and the provisions of the Arrangement
Agreement incorporated herein by reference, constitutes the entire agreement
and
understanding between and among the parties hereto with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes any prior agreement, representation or
understanding with respect thereto.
Section 5.7 Amendments
This
Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented, except upon
the
execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by all of the parties
hereto.
Section 5.8 Severability
If
any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of
law
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect. Upon such determination
that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being
enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the terms of this
Agreement remain as originally contemplated to the fullest extent
possible.
Section 5.9 Assignment
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and enure to the benefit
of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns,
provided that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its
rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written
consent of the other parties hereto, except that the Purchaser
may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights,
interests or obligations under this Agreement to an affiliate, without reducing
its own obligations hereunder.
Section 5.10 Survival
The
representations and warranties in Section 3.1(k), Section 3.2(e) and Section 3.3(e)
and the covenants in Section 3.5 contained in this Agreement on the
part of each of the parties shall survive the Effective Date, the execution
and
delivery under this Agreement of any share or security transfer instruments
or
other documents of title to any of the Subject Shares and the payment of the
consideration for the Subject Shares pursuant to the terms of the
Arrangement.
7
Section 5.11 Notices
Any
notice, request, consent, agreement or approval which may or is required to
be
given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently
given or made if delivered, or sent by telecopier, in the case of:
|
(a)
|
the
Purchaser, addressed as follows:
|
00xx
Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
CanWest
Global Place
Winnipeg,
MB R3B 3L7
Attention: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Fax
No.: 204.947.9841
with
a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx & Harcourt LLP
Box
50,
One First Canadian Place
Toronto,
ON M5X 1B8
Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Fax
No.: 416.862.6666
-
and
-
XxXxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XXX
Xxxxx
0000, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX X0X 0X0
Attention: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Fax
No.: 000-000-0000
-
and
Wachtell,
Lipton, Xxxxx & Xxxx
00
Xxxx
00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxx
Fax
No.: 000-000-0000
8
|
(b)
|
the
Shareholders, addressed as follows:
|
x/x
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
00
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
X0X
0X0
Attention: Xxxxxxx
XxxXxxxxx
Fax
No.: 000-000-0000
and
a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Stikeman
Elliott LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
000
Xxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Fax
No.: (000)
000-0000
or
to
such other address as the relevant person may from time to time advise by notice
in writing given pursuant to this Section. The date of receipt of any
such notice, request, consent, agreement or approval shall be deemed to be
the
date of delivery or sending thereof if sent or delivered during normal business
hours on a Business Day at the place of receipt and, otherwise, on the next
following Business Day.
Section 5.12 Specific
Performance and other Equitable Rights
It
is
recognized and acknowledged that a breach by any party of any material
obligations contained in this Agreement will cause the other party to sustain
injury for which it would not have an adequate remedy at law for money damages.
Accordingly, in the event of any such breach, any aggrieved party shall be
entitled to the remedy of specific performance of such obligations and
interlocutory, preliminary and permanent injunctive and other equitable relief
in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled, at law or in
equity.
Section 5.13 Expenses
Each
of
the parties shall pay its respective legal, financial advisory and accounting
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution and
delivery of this Agreement and all documents and instruments executed or
prepared pursuant hereto and any other costs and expenses whatsoever and
howsoever incurred.
Section 5.14 Counterparts
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts which together shall
be
deemed to constitute one valid and binding agreement, and delivery of the
counterparts may be effected by means of telecopier transmission.
[end
of page]
9
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
SOUTHHILL
STRATEGY INC.
|
6681859
CANADA INC.
|
|||
By:
|
Xxxxxxx
XxxXxxxxx
|
By:
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Signature
|
Signature
|
|||
Name:
Xxxxxxx XxxXxxxxx
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Title:
Director
|
|||
By:
|
By:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
||
Signature
|
Signature
|
|||
Name:
|
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Title:
Director
|
Xxxxxxx
XxxXxxxxx
|
||
Witness
|
Xxxxxxx
XxxXxxxxx
|
Xxxxxx
XxXxxx
|
||
Witness
|
Xxxxxx
XxXxxx
|
10
SCHEDULE
“A”
ARRANGEMENT
AGREEMENT
11