EXECUTION COPY
_____________________________________________________________________
STOCKHOLDER'S AGREEMENT
By and Between
XXXXXX XXXXXXX INTERNATIONAL INC.
and
X.X. XXXXXXXX
_____________________________________________________________________
STOCKHOLDER'S AGREEMENT
STOCKHOLDER'S AGREEMENT, dated as of June 1, 1999 (this "Agreement"),
by and between XXXXXX XXXXXXX INTERNATIONAL INC., a Mississippi corporation (the
"Company"), and X.X. XXXXXXXX (the "Stockholder").
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, the Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of
9,919,977 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the
"Common Stock"), representing approximately 42% of all issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Company is entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as
of the date hereof (the "Merger Agreement") with Halter Marine Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Halter Marine"), pursuant to which Halter Marine will be
merged with and into the Company, and the shareholders of Halter Marine shall
receive, in exchange for their shares of Halter Marine common stock, shares of
Common Stock at the exchange ratio provided for in the Merger Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement further contemplates that the Company
and the Stockholder shall enter into this Agreement which sets forth the
understanding among the Company, the Stockholder and Halter Marine as to the
matters set forth herein with respect to, among other things, the holding,
acquisition and transfer of the Common Stock by the Stockholder and his
Affiliates (as defined below) following consummation of the merger contemplated
by the Merger Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree
as follows:
SECTION 1. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Affiliate" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2, as in
effect on the date hereof, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act").
"beneficially own" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3, as
in effect on the date hereof, under the Exchange Act.
"Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Business Day" shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or
United States federal holiday.
"Columbus Rights Agreement" shall mean the Columbus Stockholder Rights
Agreement dated as of December 7, 1998 between Columbus and American Stock
Transfer and Trust Company or any amendment thereof.
"Effective Time" shall mean the Effective Time as defined in the
Merger Agreement.
"Employee Plan" shall mean any equity incentive plan, agreement,
bonus, award, stock purchase plan, stock option plan or other stock arrangement
with respect to any directors, officers or other employees of the Company.
"Group" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-5, as in effect
on the date hereof, under the Exchange Act.
"Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation,
association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, as well as any
syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a person under Section 13(d)(3) of
the Exchange Act.
"Required Board Approval" means approval of the Board by majority vote
including the affirmative vote of at least one director originally nominated by
Halter Marine.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
"Voting Stock" shall mean the Common Stock and any other security or
securities the holders of which are entitled, other than solely by reason of
events of default or the failure to pay dividends, to vote for the election of
the members of the Board, and options and rights to acquire such securities and
securities convertible into such securities, in each case now or hereafter
outstanding.
SECTION 2. Restrictions. The Stockholder covenants and agrees that
during the term of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the
Company approved by two-thirds of the directors of the Company, the Stockholder
and each of his Affiliates shall not, directly or indirectly, alone or through
or with others:
(a) except as provided in Section 3 hereof, acquire, announce an
intention to acquire, offer to acquire, or enter into any agreement, arrangement
or undertaking of any kind the purpose of which is to acquire, by purchase,
exchange or otherwise, (i) any shares of Voting Stock (other than by means of a
stock split or stock dividend of Voting Stock, or pursuant to any Employee Plan)
or (ii) any other security convertible into, or any option, warrant or right to
acquire, Voting Stock (other than by means of a dividend paid to holders of
Voting Stock, or pursuant to any Employee Plan) or (iii) all or any substantial
part of the assets of the Company or any of its Affiliates;
(b) solicit, or participate in any solicitation of, proxies with
respect to any Voting Stock, or become a "participant" in a "solicitation" (as
such terms are defined in Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act) in opposition to
any matter that has been recommended by the directors of the Company or in favor
of any matter that has not been approved by the directors of the Company, in
each case approved by the Required Board Approval;
(c) propose or otherwise solicit stockholders of the Company for the
approval of one or more stockholder proposals, seek or solicit support for
(whether publicly or privately) any written consent of stockholders of the
Company, attempt to call a special meeting of stockholders, or nominate or
attempt to nominate any Person for election as a director of the Company;
(d) deposit any Voting Stock in a voting trust or similar agreement or
subject any Voting Stock to any arrangement or agreement with respect to the
voting of such Voting Stock;
(e) take any action to form, join or in any way participate in any
partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other Group with respect to
Voting Stock or otherwise act in concert with any Person for the purpose of
circumventing the provisions or purposes of this Agreement;
(f) make or in any way advance any request or proposal to amend,
modify or waive any provision of this Agreement except in a nonpublic and
confidential manner; or
(g) announce an intention to do, or solicit, assist, prompt, induce or
attempt to induce any Person to do, any of the actions restricted or prohibited
under subparagraphs (a) through (f) above.
SECTION 3. Additional Purchases. (a) Notwithstanding the
restrictions contained in Section 2 hereof, during the term of this Agreement:
(i) In the event of the "commencement" (as that term is defined in
Rule 14d-2, as in effect on the date hereof, under the Exchange Act) of a
bona fide tender offer by an independent Person or Group to acquire a
majority or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock then
outstanding, which tender offer meets all of the requirements set forth in
this Section 3(a)(i) and which is opposed, or is not supported by the
Required Board Approval within ten (10) Business Days after the date of
commencement of the tender offer, the Stockholder and his Affiliates may,
directly or indirectly, acquire, announce an intent to acquire, offer to
acquire or enter into agreements or undertakings to acquire by purchase,
exchange or otherwise, Voting Stock. In addition to meeting the
requirements set forth in the preceding sentence, (A) such tender offer
must contain no material conditions except (1) a requirement or
requirements that a minimum number of shares of Voting Stock be tendered,
and (2) a condition for receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, consents
and exemptions and (B) in the reasonable judgment of the Stockholder and a
nationally recognized
investment banker jointly chosen by the Stockholder and the Company, the
Person or Group making such tender offer has a reasonable probability of
succeeding in such tender offer. The right of the Stockholder and his
Affiliates to acquire shares of Voting Stock in response to any tender
offer under this Section 3(a)(i) shall terminate upon the termination of
such tender offer; provided, however, that the Stockholder and his
Affiliates have the right to fulfill any commitments with respect to Voting
Stock which they may have on the date such tender offer is terminated.
(ii) In the event of (A) a tender offer by a Person or Group other
than the Company or its subsidiaries to acquire a majority or more of the
total voting power of the Voting Stock then outstanding which is supported
by the Required Board Approval within ten (10) Business Days after the date
of the commencement of the tender offer or (B) the announcement by the
Company of the acceptance by the Required Board Approval of a proposal by
any person or Group to acquire, by consolidation, merger or otherwise, a
majority or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock then
outstanding or all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and
its subsidiaries; then the Stockholder and/or his Affiliates may make, and
purchase Voting Stock in, a tender offer pursuant to Section 14 of the
Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder to acquire (in addition to
Voting Stock then held by the Stockholder and/or his Affiliates) at least
that percentage of the total voting power of the Voting Stock sought to be
acquired in the offer or proposal referred to in clause (A) or (B) of this
Section 3(a)(ii) (or at least that percentage of Voting Stock equal to the
percentage of assets of the Company sought to be acquired in the offer or
proposal referred to in clause (B) of this Section 3(a)(ii)) for any
consideration it may select at a per share price or value which, in the
determination of a nationally recognized investment banker selected jointly
by the Stockholder and the Company, exceeds the per share price or value of
the tender offer or proposal described in clause (A) or (B) of this Section
3(a)(ii). Any offer made by the Stockholder or any Affiliate under this
Section 3(a)(ii) must include the agreement of the Stockholder or such
Affiliate to take any additional action which has been agreed to by the
Person or Group making the tender offer or proposal referred to in clause
(A) or (B) of this Section 3(a)(ii); provided, however, that if it is not
possible for the Stockholder or his Affiliate to take such action, it may
substitute an agreement which, in the determination of a nationally
recognized investment banker selected jointly by the Stockholder and the
Company, is of at least equal value with the agreement of such Person or
Group.
(iii) In the event that it is publicly disclosed that Voting Stock
representing more than 30% of the total voting power of the shares of
Voting Stock then outstanding have been acquired by any Person or Group
(other than the Stockholder and his Affiliates or employee benefit plans of
the Company), the Stockholder and his Affiliates may acquire, announce an
intent to acquire, offer to acquire or enter into agreements or
undertakings to acquire by purchase, exchange or otherwise, Voting Stock in
an amount up to that, when added to the Voting Stock then owned by the
Stockholder and his Affiliates, would equal the amount owned by such other
Person or Group.
(iv) The Stockholder and his Affiliates may purchase additional shares
of Voting Stock provided that, as a result of such additional purchases the
Stockholder and his Affiliates, in the aggregate, do not beneficially own
more than 30% of the total voting power of the shares of Voting Stock then
outstanding.
(b) The Stockholder or his Affiliates, as the case may be, shall give
notice to the Company on or prior to the third business day after such purchases
or acquisitions of additional shares of Voting Stock pursuant to Section 3(a),
indicating the number of shares of Voting Stock which the Stockholder and each
of his Affiliates have acquired.
(c) The Stockholder and his Affiliates shall not be obligated to
dispose of any Voting Stock if the aggregate percentage ownership of the
Stockholder and his Affiliates is increased as a result of a recapitalization of
the Company or any other action taken by the Company.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 3, neither
the Stockholder nor any of his Affiliates may purchase additional shares of
Voting Stock if any of the Stockholder and his Affiliates are in default under,
or have breached any material provision of, this Agreement.
(e) All shares of Voting Stock acquired pursuant to this Section 3 or
as a result of a recapitalization of the Company or any other action taken by
the Company, shall be subject to all of the terms, covenants and conditions of
this Agreement.
SECTION 4. Sales and Other Dispositions. (a) The Stockholder
covenants and agrees that during the term of this Agreement neither he nor any
of his Affiliates shall sell, transfer, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose
of any shares of Voting Stock except:
(i) to the Company;
(ii) to a Person or Group not disapproved on a reasonable basis by the
Required Board Approval within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of
written notice to the Company from the Stockholder identifying the person
or members of the Group, which immediately after the acquisition of such
shares would not be the beneficial owner of more than 10% of the total
voting power of shares of Voting Stock then outstanding and which
acknowledges in a writing reasonably satisfactory to the Company that such
Person or Group has received a copy of this Agreement and agrees to be
bound by all of its provisions with respect to the Voting Stock as if such
Person or Group were the Stockholder;
(iii) in a bona fide underwritten registered public offering or in
the market in accordance with the timing and volume provisions of paragraph
(e) of Rule 144 (whether or not applicable) and of paragraphs (f) and (g)
of Rule 144, as in effect on the date hereof, under the Securities Act;
(iv) in privately negotiated sales or distributions to any Person or
Group in amounts which would result in such Person or Group beneficially
owning not more than 5% of the total voting power of shares of Voting Stock
then outstanding;
(v) in privately negotiated sales or distributions to any Person or
Group in amounts not to exceed 5% of the total voting power of shares of
Voting Stock then outstanding which would result in such Person or Group
beneficially owning in the aggregate less than 10% of the total voting
power of shares of Voting Stock then outstanding;
(vi) in privately negotiated sales or distributions to any Financial
Institution in amounts not to exceed 5% of the total voting power of shares
of Voting Stock then outstanding which would result in such Financial
Institution beneficially owning in the aggregate less than 15% of the total
voting power of shares of Voting Stock then outstanding. "Financial
Institution" is defined herein to include (A) any bank as defined in
section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act that is not affiliated to the
Stockholder; or (B) any investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 or a business development company as defined in section
2(a)(48) of that Act;
(vii) in privately negotiated sales or distributions during a single
twelve-month period to any Financial Institution in amounts not to exceed
2% of the total voting power of shares of Voting Stock then outstanding;
(viii) pursuant to a bona fide pledge of, or granting of a security
interest, in the Voting Stock owned by the Stockholder and his Affiliates
to an institutional lender for money borrowed or pursuant to the
foreclosure of any such pledge or security interest; provided, however,
that either (A) such pledge relates to no more than an aggregate of 25,000
shares of Voting Stock, or (B) such lender (a "Lender") prior thereto
acknowledges in a writing reasonably satisfactory to the Company that it
has received a copy of this Agreement and agrees to be bound by all of the
provisions of Annex A with respect to the Voting Stock;
(ix) pursuant to a tender in response to a tender offer described in
Section 3(a)(ii) of this Agreement;
(x) to an Affiliate of the Stockholder, if such Affiliate acknowledges
in a writing reasonably satisfactory to the Company that it has received a
copy of this Agreement and agrees to be bound by all its provisions with
respect to the Voting Stock as if it were the Stockholder; or
(xi) pursuant to a merger or consolidation in which the Company is
acquired, or a plan of liquidation of the Company.
(b) Any purported sale or transfer of Voting Stock not in compliance
with
Section 4 of this Agreement during the term hereof shall be void and of no force
or effect and the Company shall not be required to transfer any Voting Stock to
the new purported owner or recognize it as a stockholder for any purpose.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, bona fide
pledges of shares of Voting Stock outstanding as of the date hereof shall not be
subject to the rights and obligations contained in Section 4.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the
Stockholder shall be permitted to purchase puts, sell calls and enter into other
derivative transactions with respect to the Voting Stock, provided that (i) any
such transaction is entered into solely for the purpose of reducing risk with
respect to the market price of the Voting Stock and (ii) any other party or
parties to any such transaction agrees to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement unless any such put, call or other derivative transaction is
transacted on an national securities exchange or over-the-counter market and the
other party to such transaction is unknown to the Stockholder.
(d) In the event that the Stockholder shall receive from any Person an
offer, proposal or other indication of interest (i) to purchase 5% or more of
Voting Stock, (ii) to enter into any merger, consolidation or other business
combination with the Company, (iii) to enter into a transaction or series of
transactions to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire a substantial portion of
the assets of the Company or (iv) to enter into any other extraordinary business
transaction involving or otherwise relating to the Company (for the purposes of
this paragraph (d), a "Proposed Offer"), the Stockholder shall promptly notify
the Board of his receipt of such Proposed Offer and provide to the Board such
details with respect to such Proposed Offer as any director shall request,
including, without limitation, (A) the identity of the Person making the
Proposed Offer and (B) a description of the terms of the Proposed Offer.
SECTION 5. Voting Agreement; Management Succession. (a) The
Stockholder shall take such action as may be required so that all Voting Stock
owned by the Stockholder and each of his Affiliates are (i) voted for the
Company's nominees for election as directors of the Company and (ii) voted in
support of the Management Succession Plan (as defined below). The Stockholder
and his Affiliates agree that all Voting Stock held by them shall be present, in
person or by proxy, at all meetings of stockholders of the Company so that all
such Voting Stock may be counted for the purpose of determining the presence of
a quorum at such meetings.
(b) The Stockholder hereby agrees to resign as Chairman and CEO of the
Company by the second anniversary of the Effective Time (as defined in the
Merger Agreement), and further agrees to support the appointment of Xxxx Xxxx
III to succeed him in such positions at the time of his resignation (the
"Management Succession Plan").
SECTION 6. Registration Rights. The Stockholder shall be entitled to
the registration rights set forth in Annex B hereto, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
SECTION 7. Representations; Covenants. (a) The Company represents
and
warrants that it has the requisite corporate power to enter into this Agreement,
that it has duly authorized, executed and delivered this Agreement and that the
Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
(b) The Stockholder represents and warrants that:
(i) he has the requisite power to enter into this Agreement, that
he has duly executed this Agreement and that this Agreement
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder,
enforceable against the Stockholder and his Affiliates in accordance
with its terms;
(ii) as of the date hereof, the Stockholder and his Affiliates
own, beneficially, in the aggregate 9,919,977 shares of Common Stock,
and no other Voting Stock or other securities issued by the Company;
(iii) all of such shares of Common Stock so owned as set forth
in clause (ii) above are owned by the Stockholder free and clear of
any pledge, lien, security interest, mortgage, charge, claim, proxy,
voting restriction or other encumbrance of any kind, other than
pursuant to this Agreement, the Voting and Proxy Agreement referred to
in the recitals to the Merger Agreement, the Agreement dated August
19, 1998 between the Stockholder and X.X. Xxxxxxx & Sons, Inc. with
respect to not more than 1,309,500 shares of Common Stock, and the
Credit Agreement and the two Pledge Agreements each dated July 15,
1998 between the Stockholder and Nations Bank (the "Nations Bank
Agreements") with respect to not more than 5,229,500 shares of Common
Stock and except that the Stockholder does not own 650,000 shares of
Voting Stock listed on Exhibit A but only the voting rights with
respect to such shares pursuant to a Voting Trust Agreement, dated as
of January 25, 1999 by and between the Stockholder and Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx;
(iv) except for the Stockholder and his Affiliates, no other
Person, corporation, entity or association is, or may be deemed to be,
a member of a Group which includes the Stockholder or any of his
Affiliates with respect to the Voting Stock; and
(v) the Stockholder has been informed by the Company that the
Company is under no obligation to register the sale, transfer or other
disposition of the Common Stock except pursuant to Section 6 of this
Agreement or to take any other action necessary in order to make an
exemption from registration under the Securities Act available.
(c) The Stockholder agrees that (i) he will not permit any Voting
Stock to be owned by any Affiliates of the Stockholder unless either (A) the
Stockholder owns at least a majority of the outstanding securities of such
Affiliate which are ordinarily entitled to vote for the election of directors or
others performing similar functions with respect to such Affiliate or
(B) with respect to an Affiliate that is a trust or partnership, the Stockholder
otherwise controls, or has the authority to control, such Affiliate in the
Stockholder's capacity as a trustee or general partner, as the case may be, of
such Affiliate, (ii) that he will not sell or otherwise dispose of any voting
securities of any Affiliate of the Stockholder which owns Voting Stock so as to
reduce its actual or potential (assuming the conversion of any such convertible
securities) ownership of the outstanding voting securities of such Affiliate to
below 50.1%, unless either (A) prior thereto the shares of Voting Stock held by
such entity are transferred to the Stockholder or one or more of its Affiliates
in which the Stockholder owns at least a majority of the outstanding securities
which are ordinarily entitled to vote for the election of directors or other
performing similar functions with respect to such Affiliate or (B) with respect
to an Affiliate that is a trust or partnership, such transfer will not result in
the loss of control, or the loss of the authority to control, such Affiliate in
the Stockholder's capacity as a trustee or general partner, as the case may be,
of such Affiliate and (iii) that he will use his reasonable best efforts to
maintain all voting and dispositive rights on the Voting Stock pledged pursuant
to the Nations Bank Agreements.
SECTION 8. Term of Agreement; Amendments. (a) This Agreement shall
be in full force and effect for a term of five (5) years following the Effective
Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), which five (5) year period shall
constitute the term of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding on the
parties hereto from the date hereof.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be amended or
waived orally or in writing, except by a writing signed by the parties hereto
and approved by two-thirds of the Board; provided that, any such amendment or
waiver prior to the Effective Time shall also require the written consent of
Halter Marine to be effective.
SECTION 9. Termination. This agreement shall terminate in the event
that:
(i) the Merger Agreement shall be terminated prior to the Effective
Time; or
(ii) (A) the aggregate amount of Voting Stock beneficially owned by
Stockholder shall be less than 15% of the total voting power of shares of Voting
Stock then outstanding, (B) the Stockholder shall not have been an officer or
director of the Company during the previous six months; and (C) the Columbus
Rights Agreement shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 10. Specific Enforcement. The Stockholder acknowledges and
agrees that the Company and its stockholders would be irreparably injured in the
event that any provision of this Agreement is breached or not performed by the
Stockholder and his Affiliates in accordance with its specific terms.
Accordingly, it is agreed that each party shall be entitled to temporary and
permanent injunctive relief with respect to each and any breach or purported
repudiation of this Agreement by the other and to specifically enforce strict
adherence to this Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof against the
other in any action instituted in a court of competent jurisdiction, in addition
to any other remedy which
such aggrieved party may be entitled to obtain. Moreover, in the event of the
breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement, timeliness in obtaining
relief is of the essence.
SECTION 11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein
shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand, by facsimile, telecopied or
sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed in the manner set forth below (or in such other manner for a party as
shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11(a)):
(i) if to the Company, to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx International Inc.
000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
(ii) if to the Stockholder, to:
X.X. Xxxxxxxx
000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
All such notices shall be conclusively deemed to be received and shall be
effective, if sent by facsimile, hand delivery or telecopied, upon receipt, or
if sent by registered or certified mail, on the fifth day after the day on which
such notice is mailed.
(b) Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party
incurring such costs and expenses.
(c) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the
parties. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Stockholder without the
prior written consent of the directors of the Company, approved by the Required
Board Approval.
(d) Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing expressed or implied in this
Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any Person, other than the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement; provided
that, during the period from the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective
Time or the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms,
Halter Marine shall be an intended beneficiary of this Agreement.
(e) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties to be
a final expression of their agreement and a complete and exclusive statement of
their agreement and understanding in respect of the subject matter contained
herein. This Agreement supercedes all prior agreements and understandings
between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
(f) Severability. In the event that any provision contained herein,
or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and
enforceability of such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being
intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties hereto shall be
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(g) Waiver; Remedies. No delay on the part of any party hereto in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of any party hereto of any right,
power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver of any other right, power or
privilege hereunder, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right,
power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder.
(h) Attorneys' Fees. In any action at law or in equity brought to
enforce or interpret any provision of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall
be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and disbursements, in
addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
(i) Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company and the Stockholder hereby
irrevocably waives all right to trial by jury in any action or proceeding
(whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to
this Agreement.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements
made and to be performed entirely within that State.
(k) Service of Process; Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto
irrevocably (i) appoints The Corporation Trust Company as its lawful agent and
attorney to accept and acknowledge service of process against such party, and
upon whom process may be served in any action, suit or proceeding arising out
of, or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby with the same effect as if such parties were a resident of the State of
Delaware and had been lawfully served with such process in such jurisdiction,
and (ii) consents to the service of any process, pleading, notices or other
papers by the mailing of copies thereof by registered, certified or first class
mail postage prepaid or by reputable courier service, to such party at such
party's address set forth herein, or by any other method provided or permitted
under Delaware law, with the same effect as if such parties were a resident of
the State of Delaware and had been lawfully served with such process in such
jurisdiction.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, (x) each party
hereto agrees that any claim, action or proceeding by such party seeking any
relief whatsoever arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought only in the United States
District Court in the State of Delaware and in any Delaware State court and not
in any other State or Federal court in the United States of America or any court
in any other country, (y) to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts
located in the State of Delaware for purposes of all legal proceedings arising
out of, or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby, and (z) irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court
and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought
in an inconvenient forum.
(l) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(m) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(n) Action as Director. Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in
this Agreement, actions taken by the Stockholder as a member of the Board
pursuant to his responsibilities in such capacity shall not be deemed to violate
this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement in their individual capacity or caused it to be duly executed by their
respective authorized signatories thereunto duly authorized as of the date first
above written.
XXXXXX XXXXXXX INTERNATIONAL INC.
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx III
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx III
Title: Secretary and General Counsel
/s/ X.X. Xxxxxxxx
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X.X. XXXXXXXX
Annex A
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AGREEMENT OF LENDER REGARDING VOTING STOCK
SUBJECT TO PLEDGE OR SECURITY INTEREST
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SECTION 1. Definitions. (a) As used herein, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Price" per share of Common Stock or Voting Stock shall mean the last
reported sale price for such shares on the New York Stock Exchange; or if such
shares are not then listed on such exchange, then the last reported sale price
on the largest exchange (based on the aggregate dollar value of securities
listed) on which such shares are listed; or, if such shares are not listed or
traded on any exchange, then the average of the last reported sale prices for
such shares on the NASDAQ National Market, or (if not authorized for quotation
on the NASDAQ National Market) in the over-the-counter market, as reported on
the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System; or,
if such sale price is not reported thereon, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices so reported; or if such prices shall not be reported thereon, the
value set by good faith negotiations between the Lender and the Company,
provided that, if the Lender and the Company are unable to agree upon such
value, the value shall be set by a nationally recognized investment banker
jointly chosen by the Lender and the Company.
"Stockholder's Agreement" shall mean the Stockholder's Agreement,
dated as of June 1, 1999 between X.X. Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx International
Inc.
SECTION 2. Sales and Dispositions. The Lender covenants and agrees
that, in the event of the ownership by the Lender of any shares of Voting Stock
pursuant to the foreclosure of any pledge or security interest relating to
shares of Voting Stock subject to the Stockholder's Agreement, the Lender shall
not take any action that would violate Section 4 of the Stockholder's Agreement
as if the Lender were the Stockholder.
SECTION 3. Right of First Offer. (a) The Lender covenants and agrees
that in the event that the Lender or any of its Affiliates proposes to sell any
Voting Stock pursuant to any transaction, sale or other disposition permitted
under paragraphs (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) of Section 4(a) of the
Stockholder's Agreement, then the Lender, its Affiliates, or each of them, as
the case may, shall first deliver to the Company (i) a written offer to sell to
the Company or its assignee the Voting Stock proposed to be sold, along with a
statement of intention to transfer; (ii) the name and address of the prospective
transferees, if known by the Lender; (iii) the amount and type of Voting Stock
involved in the proposed transfer; and (iv) the price and other terms of the
proposed transfer. The right to purchase Voting Stock pursuant to such offer to
the Company shall be fully assignable in whole or in part by the Company to one
or more other Persons in its sole discretion.
(b) As soon as reasonably practicable but not later than five (5)
Business Days after the Company's receipt of such offer, the Company or the
Person or Persons to
whom the offer is assigned may elect, by written notice to the offeror, to
purchase all or arrange for an assignee to purchase all, but not less than all,
the Voting Stock involved in the proposed transfer. In the event that the
proposed transfer is pursuant to Section 4(a)(ii) or 4(a)(iv) of the
Stockholder's Agreement, the Company or its assignees shall be entitled to
purchase such Voting Stock for the same price and on the same terms (including
any installment or extended payment terms) and conditions as the proposed
transfer; provided, however, that if the price and payment terms proposed for
such proposed transfer provide for consideration other than cash, the Company or
its assignees may, at their option, substitute cash equal to the value of such
non-cash consideration (which value shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm jointly chosen by the Lender and the
Company). The date on which the Company must exercise its right of first offer
shall be within five (5) Business Days from the date specified above.
(c) In the event that the proposed transfer is pursuant to Section
4(a)(iii) of the Stockholder's Agreement, the cash price to be paid by the
Company or its assignees shall be the average Price per share of Common Stock
(or other Voting Stock) for the five (5) consecutive trading days immediately
preceding the Company's receipt of such offer.
(d) If the Company or its assignees elect to purchase such Voting
Stock, such purchase shall be consummated at a closing to be held at a time and
place mutually agreeable to the offeror and the Company or its assignees not
later than twenty (20) days after acceptance of the offer (or if any regulatory,
stockholder or other approval of such purchase is required, within twenty (20)
days after receipt of such approval).
(e) If the Company does not exercise its right of first offer
hereunder within the time period specified for such exercise, the party giving
the written offer to the Company shall be free during the period of ninety (90)
days following the expiration of such time period to sell the Voting Stock
specified in such offer to the prospective transferees and/or in the manner
identified therein at the price specified therein (or at any price in excess
thereof) and on the terms set forth in such written offer.
(f) Any purported sale or transfer of Voting Stock not in compliance
with this Section 3 shall be void and of no force or effect and the Company
shall not be required to transfer any Voting Stock to the new purported owner or
recognize it as a stockholder for any purpose.
Annex B
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Registration Rights
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(a) In the event that the Stockholder shall desire to sell any of the
shares of Voting Stock during the term of this Agreement, and such sale
requires, in the opinion of counsel to the Stockholder (which opinion shall be,
in the reasonable judgment of the Company and its counsel, satisfactory in form
and substance to the Company and its counsel), registration of such shares under
the Securities Act, the Company shall cooperate with the Stockholder and any
underwriters in registering such shares for resale, including, without
limitation, promptly filing a registration statement which complies with the
requirements of applicable federal and state securities laws and entering into
an underwriting agreement with such underwriters upon such terms and conditions
as are customarily contained in underwriting agreements with respect to
secondary distributions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to have declared effective more than three registration statements
hereunder and shall be entitled to delay the filing or effectiveness of any
registration statement for up to 120 days if the offering would, in the judgment
of the Board, require premature disclosure of any material corporate development
or otherwise interfere with or adversely affect any pending or proposed offering
of securities of the Company or any other material transaction involving the
Company. The Stockholder agrees to use all reasonable efforts to cause, and to
cause any underwriters of any Sale to cause, any Sale pursuant to such
registration statement to be effected on a widely distributed basis so that upon
consummation thereof no purchaser or transferee shall acquire beneficially more
than 2% of the then outstanding voting power of the Company.
(b) If the Company proposes to register any shares of Voting Stock
under the Securities Act in connection with an underwritten public offering of
such shares, the Company will promptly give written notice to the Stockholder of
its intention to do so and, upon the written request of the Stockholder given
within 30 days after receipt of any such notice (which request shall specify the
number of shares of Voting Stock intended to be included in such underwritten
public offering by the Stockholder), the Company will cause all such shares for
which the Stockholder requests participation in such registration, to be so
registered and included in such underwritten public offering; provided, however,
that the Company may elect not to cause any such shares to be so registered (i)
if the underwriters in good faith object for valid business reasons or (ii) in
the case of a registration solely to implement an employee benefit plan or a
registration statement filed on Form S-4 of the Securities Act (or any successor
form thereto).
(c) If the Stockholder's shares are registered pursuant to the
provisions of this Annex B, the Company agrees (i) to furnish copies of the
registration statement and prospectus relating to the shares covered thereby in
such numbers as the Stockholder may from
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time to time reasonably request and (ii) if any event shall occur as a result of
which it becomes necessary to amend or supplement any registration statement or
prospectus, to prepare and file under the applicable securities laws such
amendments and supplements as may be necessary to keep available for at least 90
days a prospectus covering the shares meeting the requirements of such
securities laws, and to furnish the Stockholder such numbers of copies of the
registration statement and prospectus as amended or supplemented as may
reasonably be requested. The Company shall bear the cost of the registration,
including, but not limited to, all registration and filing fees, printing
expenses, and fees and disbursements of counsel and accountants for the Company,
except that the Stockholder shall pay the fees and disbursements of his counsel
and the underwriting fees and selling commissions applicable to the shares sold
by the Stockholder. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Stockholder and his Affiliates from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorney's fees) arising out of or based upon any statements contained in,
omissions or alleged omissions from, each registration statement filed pursuant
to this Annex B; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to any
loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent it arises out of any
untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by the Stockholder and his
Affiliates and other representatives expressly for use in any registration
statement (or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus filed
pursuant to this Annex B. The Company shall also indemnify and hold harmless
each underwriter and each person who controls any underwriter within the meaning
of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of or based upon any statements
contained in, omissions or alleged omissions from, each registration statement
filed pursuant to this Annex B; provided, however, that this provision shall not
apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent it arises
out of any untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by the underwriters expressly
for use in any registration statement (or any amendment thereto) or any
preliminary prospectus filed pursuant to this Annex B.
