MASTER AGREEMENT dated as of December 3, 2009 among GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, NBC UNIVERSAL, INC., COMCAST CORPORATION and NAVY, LLC
Exhibit
2.1
dated as
of December 3, 2009
among
GENERAL
ELECTRIC COMPANY,
NBC
UNIVERSAL, INC.,
COMCAST
CORPORATION
and
NAVY,
LLC
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
PAGE
Section 1.01. |
Certain Defined
Terms
|
2
|
ARTICLE
2
CONTRIBUTIONS AND SALE; CLOSING
Section
2.01.
|
Pre-Closing
Transactions
|
3
|
Section
2.02.
|
Contribution
of the NBCU Shares and the NBCU Businesses
|
3
|
Section
2.03.
|
Contribution
of the Contributed Comcast Businesses
|
8
|
Section
2.04.
|
Sale
of Newco Membership Interests
|
14
|
Section
2.05.
|
Assignment
of Certain Contributed Assets
|
14
|
Section
2.06.
|
Closing;
NBCU Dividend; Other Distribution.
|
15
|
Section
2.07.
|
NBCU
Conversion
|
17
|
Section
2.08.
|
Closing
Actions
|
17
|
Section
2.09.
|
Beneficial
Ownership in Newco by Comcast and GE
|
19
|
Section
2.10.
|
Closing
Statement
|
19
|
Section
2.11.
|
Adjustments
|
21
|
ARTICLE
3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NBCU
Section
3.01.
|
Incorporation,
Qualification and Authority
|
22
|
Section
3.02.
|
Incorporation
and Qualification of the NBCU Entities
|
22
|
Section
3.03.
|
Capital
Structure of NBCU, the NBCU Entities and Other Equity
Interests.
|
23
|
Section
3.04.
|
No
Conflict
|
24
|
Section
3.05.
|
Consents
and Approvals
|
24
|
Section
3.06.
|
Financial
Information; Accounting Controls; Absence of Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
25
|
Section
3.07.
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
26
|
Section
3.08.
|
Absence
of Litigation
|
26
|
Section
3.09.
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
26
|
Section
3.10.
|
Governmental
Licenses and Permits
|
27
|
Section
3.11.
|
Sufficiency
of the NBCU Assets; Liens
|
28
|
Section
3.12.
|
Intellectual
Property
|
29
|
Section
3.13.
|
Environmental
and Health and Safety Matters
|
31
|
Section
3.14.
|
Significant
NBCU Contracts
|
33
|
Section
3.15.
|
Employment
and Employee Benefits Matters
|
36
|
Section
3.16.
|
NBCU
Real Property
|
40
|
Section
3.17.
|
Insurance
|
41
|
i
Section
3.18.
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
41
|
Section
3.19.
|
Library
Rights
|
42
|
Section
3.20.
|
Distribution
|
42
|
Section
3.21.
|
No
Debt as of Closing
|
43
|
Section
3.22.
|
Comcast/NBCU
Sale
|
43
|
Section
3.23.
|
NBCU
Financing
|
43
|
Section
3.24.
|
No
Other Representations or Warranties
|
44
|
ARTICLE
4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GE
Section
4.01.
|
Incorporation,
Qualification and Authority
|
45
|
Section
4.02.
|
No
Conflict
|
46
|
Section
4.03.
|
Consents
and Approvals
|
47
|
Section
4.04.
|
Brokers
|
47
|
Section
4.05.
|
Securities
Matters
|
47
|
Section
4.06.
|
Newco
|
48
|
ARTICLE
5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMCAST
Section
5.01.
|
Incorporation,
Qualification and Authority
|
49
|
Section
5.02.
|
Incorporation
and Qualification of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries
|
50
|
Section
5.03.
|
Capital
Structure of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries and
Other Equity Interests
|
50
|
Section
5.04.
|
No
Conflict
|
51
|
Section
5.05.
|
Consents
and Approvals
|
52
|
Section
5.06.
|
Financial
Information; Accounting Controls; Absence of Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
52
|
Section
5.07.
|
SEC
Reports
|
53
|
Section
5.08.
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
54
|
Section
5.09.
|
Absence
of Litigation
|
54
|
Section
5.10.
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
54
|
Section
5.11.
|
Governmental
Licenses and Permits
|
54
|
Section
5.12.
|
Sufficiency
of the Comcast Assets; Liens
|
56
|
Section
5.13.
|
Intellectual
Property
|
56
|
Section
5.14.
|
Environmental
and Health and Safety Matters
|
59
|
Section
5.15.
|
Significant
Comcast Contracts
|
60
|
Section
5.16.
|
Employment
and Employee Benefits Matters
|
64
|
Section
5.17.
|
Comcast
Real Property
|
68
|
Section
5.18.
|
Insurance
|
69
|
Section
5.19.
|
Brokers
|
69
|
Section
5.20.
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
69
|
Section
5.21.
|
Library
Rights
|
70
|
ii
Section
5.22.
|
Distribution
|
70
|
Section
5.23.
|
No
Debt as of Closing
|
71
|
Section
5.24.
|
Securities
Matters
|
71
|
Section
5.25.
|
Availability
of Funds; Ability to Close
|
71
|
Section
5.26.
|
No
Other Representations or Warranties
|
71
|
ARTICLE
6
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
Section
6.01.
|
Conduct
of Business Prior to the Closing
|
72
|
Section
6.02.
|
Access
to Information
|
85
|
Section
6.03.
|
Retention
of Books and Records
|
85
|
Section
6.04.
|
Confidentiality
|
86
|
Section
6.05.
|
Reasonable
Best Efforts; Regulatory and Other Authorizations;
Consents
|
86
|
Section
6.06.
|
Insurance
|
88
|
Section
6.07.
|
Letters
of Credit; Other Obligations
|
91
|
Section
6.08.
|
Rights
to GE Name and XX Xxxxx
|
92
|
Section
6.09.
|
Rights
to NBCU Trademarks
|
93
|
Section
6.10.
|
Rights
to Comcast Name and Comcast Marks
|
94
|
Section
6.11.
|
Further
Action Regarding Intellectual Property and Technology
|
95
|
Section
6.12.
|
Ancillary
Agreements
|
95
|
Section
6.13.
|
Further
Action
|
96
|
Section
6.14.
|
Pre-Closing
Restructurings
|
98
|
Section
6.15.
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
98
|
Section
6.16.
|
Financing
|
98
|
Section
6.17.
|
Future
Transactions
|
101
|
Section
6.18.
|
Indemnification
and Insurance
|
101
|
Section
6.19.
|
Real
Property
|
102
|
Section
6.20.
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
103
|
Section
6.21.
|
Post-Closing
Services
|
105
|
Section
6.22.
|
Relevant
Transactions
|
106
|
Section
6.23.
|
Organizational
Documents
|
107
|
Section
6.24.
|
Advertising
|
107
|
Section
6.25.
|
Contributed
Comcast Business 2008 EBITDA
|
107
|
Section
6.26.
|
Certain
Other Agreements
|
108
|
Section
6.27.
|
Newco
|
108
|
Section
6.28.
|
Certain
Investments
|
109
|
Section
6.29.
|
Certain
Obligations
|
109
|
Section
6.30.
|
Vivendi
Agreements
|
109
|
iii
Section
7.01.
|
Employee
Matters
|
110
|
Section
7.02.
|
Newco
Executive Incentive Compensation Summary of Principles
|
110
|
ARTICLE
8
TAX MATTERS
Section
8.01.
|
Tax
Matters Agreement
|
110
|
ARTICLE
9
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
Section
9.01.
|
Conditions
to Obligations of GE and NBCU
|
110
|
Section
9.02.
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Comcast
|
112
|
ARTICLE
10
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section
10.01.
|
Termination
|
114
|
Section
10.02.
|
Notice
of Termination
|
115
|
Section
10.03.
|
Effect
of Termination
|
115
|
Section
10.04.
|
Extension;
Waiver
|
115
|
ARTICLE
11
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
11.01.
|
Indemnification
by GE
|
116
|
Section
11.02.
|
Indemnification
by Comcast
|
117
|
Section
11.03.
|
Indemnification
by Newco
|
118
|
Section
11.04.
|
Notification
of Claims
|
119
|
Section
11.05.
|
Exclusive
Remedies
|
120
|
Section
11.06.
|
Additional
Indemnification Provisions
|
120
|
Section
11.07.
|
Newco
Claims
|
121
|
Section
11.08.
|
Mitigation
|
121
|
Section
11.09.
|
Third
Party Remedies
|
122
|
Section
11.10.
|
Limitation
on Liability
|
122
|
ARTICLE
12
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section
12.01.
|
Survival
|
123
|
Section
12.02.
|
Expenses
|
123
|
Section
12.03.
|
Notices
|
124
|
iv
Section
12.04.
|
Severability
|
126
|
Section
12.05.
|
Entire
Agreement
|
126
|
Section
12.06.
|
Assignment
|
127
|
Section
12.07.
|
No
Third-Party Beneficiaries
|
127
|
Section
12.08.
|
Amendment
|
127
|
Section
12.09.
|
Disclosure
Letter
|
127
|
Section
12.10.
|
Dispute
Resolution
|
128
|
Section
12.11.
|
Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers
|
128
|
Section
12.12.
|
Bulk
Sales Laws
|
129
|
Section
12.13.
|
Specific
Performance
|
129
|
Section
12.14.
|
Rules
of Construction
|
130
|
Section
12.15.
|
Counterparts
|
130
|
Section
12.16.
|
Waiver
of Jury Trial
|
131
|
Section
12.17.
|
Non-Recourse
|
131
|
Section
12.18.
|
Public
Announcements
|
131
|
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A
|
Definitions
|
Exhibit
B-1
|
NBCU
Employee Matters Agreement
|
Exhibit
B-2
|
Comcast
Employee Matters Agreement
|
Exhibit
C-1
|
Form
of GE Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement
|
Exhibit
C-2
|
Form
of Comcast Intellectual Property Cross License
Agreement
|
Exhibit
D
|
Form
of Newco Operating Agreement
|
Exhibit
E
|
Form
of Navy Holdco 2 Agreement
|
Exhibit
F-1
|
Form
of GE Note
|
Exhibit
F-2
|
Form
of Comcast Note
|
Exhibit
G-1
|
Form
of GE Transition Services Agreement
|
Exhibit
G-2
|
Form
of Comcast Services Agreement
|
Exhibit
H
|
Lease
Term Sheet
|
Exhibit
I
|
Preliminary
Initial Strategic Plan
|
Exhibit
J
|
Newco
Executive Compensation Summary of
Principles
|
v
This
MASTER AGREEMENT, dated as of December 3, 2009, is made by and among General
Electric Company, a New York corporation (“GE”), NBC Universal, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“NBCU”), Comcast Corporation, a
Pennsylvania corporation (“Comcast”), and Navy, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (“Newco”). Terms used but not
otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in Article
1.
PRELIMINARY
STATEMENTS
A. NBCU,
directly and through its Subsidiaries, is engaged in the NBCU Businesses and
Comcast, directly and through certain of its Subsidiaries, is engaged in the
Contributed Comcast Businesses.
B. National
Broadcasting Company Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Navy Holdco 1”), is a wholly
owned subsidiary of GE that owns all of the outstanding capital stock of Navy
Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Navy Holdco 2”), and Navy
Holdco 2 owns all of the membership interests of Newco.
C. GE and
Comcast wish to combine the NBCU Businesses and Contributed Comcast Businesses
and, in connection therewith, to contribute such businesses to, and jointly own,
Newco, which will engage in the Business.
D. In order
to satisfy the foregoing objectives, the parties hereto desire to take the
following actions at or immediately prior to the Closing:
(1) Navy
Holdco 1 will, and GE will cause Navy Holdco 1 to, acquire all of the
outstanding NBCU Shares that it does not already own;
(2) NBCU
shall complete the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, as
applicable;
(3) Immediately
following the completion of the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, as
applicable, NBCU shall distribute the net proceeds thereof to its stockholder(s)
in proportion to their respective ownership interests in NBCU in accordance with
Section 2.06(c);
(4) Navy
Holdco 1 will, and GE will cause Navy Holdco 1 to, contribute all of the
outstanding NBCU Shares to Navy Holdco 2;
(5) NBCU will
convert from a Delaware corporation to a Delaware limited liability company that
is treated as an entity disregarded as separate from Navy Holdco 2 for U.S.
federal income tax purposes;
(6) Navy
Holdco 2 will, and GE will cause Navy Holdco 2 to, contribute all of the
outstanding NBCU Shares to Newco and Newco will issue membership interests in
Newco (“Newco Membership
Interests”) to Navy Holdco 2 in exchange therefor;
(7) GE will,
and will cause its Subsidiaries (other than the NBCU Entities) to, transfer,
directly or indirectly, the Contributed NBCU Assets to NBCU and NBCU will assume
the Assumed NBCU Liabilities;
(8) Comcast
will, or will cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to, contribute or transfer,
as applicable, the Contributed Comcast Assets to Newco or, at the direction of
Newco, to NBCU, and Newco or NBCU, as applicable, will assume the Assumed
Comcast Liabilities, and Newco will issue to Comcast Newco Membership Interests
in consideration therefor; and
(9)
Immediately following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
foregoing clauses (1) through (8), Comcast will purchase Newco Membership
Interests from Navy Holdco 2, the consummation of which will result in Comcast
and Navy Holdco 2 owning 51% and 49% of the outstanding Newco Membership
Interests, respectively.
E. Concurrently
herewith, NBCU has entered into the NBCU Financing Commitment Letter with the
lenders party thereto.
F. Concurrently
herewith, GE, NBCU, Comcast, Newco and Navy Holdco 2 have entered into the Tax
Matters Agreement.
G. It is
intended that the contributions of the NBCU Shares (except to the extent of (i)
the assumption by Newco of certain liabilities and (ii) the transaction
described in Section 2.04) and Contributed Comcast Businesses to Newco in
exchange for Newco Membership Interests will be treated as exchanges under
Section 721 of the Code.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration for the premises and mutual covenants,
representations, warranties and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties to
this Agreement agree as follows.
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01. Certain Defined
Terms. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings
specified in Exhibit A.
2
ARTICLE
2
CONTRIBUTIONS AND SALE; CLOSING
Section
2.01. Pre-Closing
Transactions. Prior to the Closing, NBCU and Comcast shall complete the
NBCU Restructuring and Comcast Restructuring, respectively, in accordance with
Section 6.14 and Navy Holdco 1 shall become the owner of all of the outstanding
NBCU Shares.
Section
2.02. Contribution of the NBCU
Shares and the NBCU Businesses. (a) On the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the
Closing, (x) Navy Holdco 2 shall, and GE shall cause Navy Holdco 2 to,
contribute to Newco the NBCU Shares, free and clear of all Liens, and (y) GE
shall, and shall cause the other NBCU Transferors to, contribute, convey,
assign, transfer and deliver to NBCU, and NBCU shall acquire and accept from the
NBCU Transferors, all right, title and interest in and to all of the assets,
properties and rights of the NBCU Transferors that are used primarily or held
for use primarily in the NBCU Businesses other than the NBCU Excluded Assets
(the “Contributed NBCU
Assets”) as of the Closing, wherever situated and of whatever kind and
nature, real or personal, tangible or intangible, whether or not reflected on
the books and records of the NBCU Transferors, and whether owned as of the date
hereof or hereafter acquired, including the following, in each case, solely to
the extent used primarily or held for use primarily in the NBCU
Businesses:
(i) all
equity interests in any Person that is not a Subsidiary of GE (including the
NBCU Minority Interests);
(ii) all
personal property and interests therein, including equipment, furniture,
fixtures, furnishings, office equipment, information technology and
communications equipment, vehicles, and other tangible personal property
(including, rights, if any, in any of the foregoing purchased subject to any
conditional sales or title retention agreement in favor of any other
Person);
(iii) the
Contributed NBCU Owned Property and, subject to Section 2.05, the Contributed
NBCU Leased Property;
(iv) subject
to Section 2.05, all rights under all Assumed NBCU Contracts;
(v) subject
to Section 2.05, all rights under the Assumed NBCU IP Licenses (including rights
to all NBCU Licensed Intellectual Property covered thereby);
3
(vi) all
accounts, notes and other receivables arising out of the sale of services, goods
or products, together with each NBCU Transferor’s right (if any) to receive any
unpaid financing charges accrued thereon;
(vii) all
expenses that have been prepaid by any of the NBCU Transferors, including ad
valorem Taxes and lease and rental payments;
(viii) subject
to Section 2.05, all claims, rights, credits, rights of set-off, causes of
action (including counterclaims) and defenses against third
parties;
(ix) all
Contributed NBCU Owned Intellectual Property and Contributed NBCU Technology,
together with the right to xxx for past, present, and future infringement,
misappropriation and other violations and the right to collect and retain
damages therefor;
(x) subject
to Section 2.05, and without limiting the contributions under clauses (v) and
(ix) above, the Library;
(xi) subject
to Section 2.05, all licenses, permits or other governmental
authorizations;
(xii) all books
and records, whether in hard copy or electronic or digital format (including
emails, databases, and other file formats), sales and promotional literature,
marketing materials, advertising materials, manuals and data, intellectual
property prosecution files, sales and purchase correspondence, customer files
and documents, lists of suppliers, personnel and employment records, and copies
of any information relating to Taxes imposed on the NBCU Transferors (but
excluding any Tax Returns);
(xiii) all
goodwill;
(xiv) all
assets, rights and properties expressly to be transferred to NBCU pursuant to
the NBCU Employee Matters Agreement; and
(xv) all
rights under non-disclosure or confidentiality, non- compete, or
non-solicitation agreements between any NBCU Transferor and any third
parties.
(b) Excluded
NBCU Assets. The following assets and properties of the NBCU Transferors and the
NBCU Entities (the “Excluded
NBCU Assets”) shall be retained by such entities, to the extent such
entities are not NBCU Entities, or will be transferred to an entity that is not
a NBCU Entity prior to Closing, to the extent such entities are NBCU Entities,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:
4
(i) all cash
and cash equivalents on hand or held by any bank or other third Person (other
than (x) cash or cash equivalents of any Subsidiary of NBCU that is not,
directly or indirectly, wholly owned by NBCU and (y) an amount of cash and cash
equivalents equal to the amount, if any, by which the NBCU Dividend was reduced
in accordance with Section 2.06(c));
(ii) the owned
or leased real property listed on Section 2.02(b)(ii) of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter;
(iii) all GE
Intellectual Property (including the GE Name and XX Xxxxx) and GE
Technology;
(iv) all Tax
Returns (other than Tax Returns exclusively of the NBCU Businesses), and all
refunds of or credits relating to any Tax for which GE or its Affiliates are
liable under the Tax Matters Agreement;
(v) the NBCU
Parent Plans and any trusts and other assets related thereto, except as
expressly provided in the NBCU Employee Matters Agreement;
(vi) all
assets expressly excluded pursuant to the NBCU Employee Matters
Agreement;
(vii) other
than the NBCU Transferred Insurance Policies, all Insurance
Arrangements;
(viii) any
assets used or held for use in the NBCU Businesses owned on the date hereof or
acquired after the date hereof that are sold or otherwise disposed of prior to
the Closing;
(ix) all
claims, rights, credits, rights of set-off, causes of action (including
counterclaims) and defenses against third parties, to the extent relating to any
of the other Excluded NBCU Assets or the Excluded NBCU Liabilities, as well as
any books, records and privileged information to the extent relating
thereto;
(x) the
assets listed in Section 2.02(b)(x) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter;
(xi) any
interest of any NBCU Transferors under the Transaction Agreements;
(xii) personnel
and employment records for NBCU Employees with respect to whom the Newco Group
will assume no Liabilities;
5
(xiii) (A) all
corporate minute books (and other similar corporate records) and stock records
of the NBCU Transferors (copies of which will be provided to Newco upon Newco’s
reasonable request), (B) any books and records to the extent relating to the
Excluded NBCU Assets or (C) any books, records or other materials that the NBCU
Transferors (x) are required by Law to retain (copies of which, to the extent
permitted by Law, will be provided to Newco upon Newco’s reasonable request),
(y) reasonably
believe are necessary to enable the NBCU Transferors to prepare and/or file Tax
Returns (copies of which will be provided to Newco upon Newco’s reasonable
request) or (z) are prohibited by Law from delivering to Newco or
NBCU;
(xiv) any
interest of GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) under any
Related Party NBCU Contract;
(xv) the
assets of General Electric Capital Services, Inc. (“GE Capital”) and its Subsidiaries
set forth in Section 2.02(b)(xv) of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter;
(xvi) all
records and reports prepared or received by GE or any of its Affiliates in
connection with the contribution of the NBCU Businesses to Newco and the
transactions contemplated hereby (including all analyses relating to the
Combined Businesses so prepared or received) or any other transaction involving
the potential sale or disposition of all or a substantial part of the NBCU
Businesses;
(xvii) all
confidentiality agreements with prospective purchasers of NBCU or of all or a
substantial part of the NBCU Businesses (except that the Contributed NBCU Assets
shall include, and the NBCU Transferors shall assign to a NBCU Entity at the
Closing, all of their respective rights under such agreements to confidential
treatment of information with respect to the NBCU Businesses and with respect to
solicitation and hiring of NBCU Business Employees) and all bids and expressions
of interest received from third parties with respect to such
transactions;
(xviii) all
assets (other than NBCU Intellectual Property and NBCU Technology) of GE and its
Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) used by such entities to provide
services any NBCU Entity as well as to provide such services to Subsidiaries of
GE (other than any NBCU Entity); and
(xix) all
Patents owned by GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity)
allocated by GE to businesses of GE and its Subsidiaries other than any NBCU
Entity (it being understood that such
6
allocation
shall not have been made in bad faith), other than those set forth on Section
3.12(e)(i) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter; and
(xx) all
materials, documents and records of GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
any NBCU Entity) in the possession of any NBCU Entity (copies of which will be
provided to Newco upon Newco’s reasonable request).
(c) Assumed
NBCU Liabilities. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, NBCU hereby agrees, effective at the time of the Closing, to assume
and thereafter timely to pay, discharge and perform in accordance with their
terms (subject to any bona
fide defense), all Liabilities of GE and its Subsidiaries (other than any
of the NBCU Entities) to the extent arising from or relating to the Contributed
NBCU Assets or the NBCU Businesses, other than the Excluded NBCU Liabilities,
irrespective of whether the same shall arise prior to, on or following the
Closing Date (the “Assumed
NBCU Liabilities”). Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, subject to Section 2.02(d), the following
shall be included among the Assumed NBCU Liabilities:
(i) the NBCU
Financing or Alternative Financing, as applicable, and all Liabilities set forth
on Section 2.02(c)(i) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter;
(ii) all
Liabilities arising under the Assumed NBCU Contracts;
(iii) all Taxes
for which Newco is responsible pursuant to the Tax Matters
Agreement;
(iv) all
Liabilities, whether accruing before, on or after the Closing Date, (A) relating
to the environment or natural resources, human health and safety or Hazardous
Materials and (B) arising from or relating to the Contributed NBCU Assets, the
NBCU Businesses or otherwise to any past, current or future businesses,
operations or properties of the Contributed NBCU Assets or the NBCU Businesses
(including any businesses, operations or properties for which a current or
future owner or operator of the Contributed NBCU Assets or the NBCU Businesses
is responsible as a matter of Law, contract or otherwise); and
(v) all
Liabilities assumed by NBCU pursuant to the NBCU Employee Matters Agreement, and
all other Liabilities arising from or relating to the employment, termination of
employment or employment practices with respect to the NBCU Businesses whether
arising before, on or after the Closing Date.
(d) Excluded
NBCU Liabilities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, NBCU is
not assuming or agreeing to pay or discharge any of
7
the
following Liabilities of the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities (the “Excluded NBCU
Liabilities”):
(i) except
for the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, the GE Note and the Comcast
Note, as applicable, the Repatriation Notes, if any, and any Liability set forth
in Section 2.02(c)(i) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter, any Debt (other than (x)
Debt of any Person that is not, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by NBCU or
GE and (y) capital lease obligations);
(ii) any
Liability set forth in Section 2.02(d)(ii) of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter;
(iii) any
Liability to the extent relating to or arising under any Excluded NBCU
Asset;
(iv) any
Liability incurred in connection with the transfer of Excluded NBCU Assets or
other Excluded NBCU Liabilities from the NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities prior
to the Closing;
(v) any
Liability for Taxes that GE is required to pay pursuant to the Tax Matters
Agreement;
(vi) any
Liability expressly retained by GE pursuant to the NBCU Employee Matters
Agreement;
(vii) subject
to Section 6.06, any Liability of GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any
NBCU Entity) under any Insurance Arrangement other than the NBCU Transferred
Insurance Policies;
(viii) Liabilities
of the NBCU Entities arising under the Factoring Agreements to the extent such
Liabilities are inconsistent with the limitation set forth in Section
6.01(a)(xix);
(ix) any
Liability of any NBCU Transferor under the Transaction Agreements;
and
(x) any
Liability of GE or its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) under any
Related Party NBCU Contract.
Section
2.03. Contribution of the
Contributed Comcast Businesses. (a) On the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, Comcast shall, and shall
cause the other Comcast Transferors to, contribute, convey, assign, transfer and
deliver to Newco or, at the direction of Newco, NBCU and Newco or NBCU, as
applicable, shall acquire and accept from the Comcast Transferors, all right,
title and interest in and to (collectively, the
8
“Contributed Comcast Assets”)
(x) all of the Contributed Comcast Equity Interests and (y) other than the
Excluded Comcast Assets, all of the other assets, properties and rights of the
Comcast Transferors that are used primarily or held for use primarily in the
Contributed Comcast Businesses as of the Closing, wherever situated and of
whatever kind and nature, real or personal, tangible or intangible, whether or
not reflected on the books and records of the Comcast Transferors, and whether
owned as of the date hereof or hereafter acquired, including the following, in
each case, solely to the extent used primarily or held for use primarily in the
Contributed Comcast Businesses:
(i) all
equity interests in any Person that is not a Subsidiary of Comcast (including
the Comcast Minority Interests);
(ii) all
personal property and interests therein, including equipment, furniture,
fixtures, furnishings, office equipment, information technology and
communications equipment, vehicles, and other tangible personal property
(including, rights, if any, in any of the foregoing purchased subject to any
conditional sales or title retention agreement in favor of any other
Person);
(iii) the
Contributed Comcast Owned Property and, subject to Section 2.05, the Contributed
Comcast Leased Property;
(iv) subject
to Section 2.05, all rights under all Assumed Comcast Contracts;
(v) subject
to Section 2.05, all rights under the Assumed Comcast IP Licenses (including
rights to all Comcast Licensed Intellectual Property covered
thereby);
(vi) all
accounts, notes and other receivables arising out of the sale of services, goods
or products, together with each Comcast Transferor’s right (if any) to receive
any unpaid financing charges accrued thereon;
(vii) all
expenses that have been prepaid by any of the Comcast Transferors, including ad
valorem Taxes and lease and rental payments;
(viii) subject
to Section 2.05, all claims, rights, credits, rights of set-off, causes of
action (including counterclaims) and defenses against third
parties;
(ix) all
Contributed Comcast Owned Intellectual Property and Contributed Comcast
Technology, together with the right to xxx for past, present, and future
infringement, misappropriation and other violations and the right to collect and
retain damages therefor;
9
(x) subject
to Section 2.05, and without limiting the contributions under clauses (v) and
(ix) above, the Library;
(xi) subject
to Section 2.05, all licenses, permits or other governmental
authorizations;
(xii) all books
and records, whether in hard copy or electronic or digital format (including
emails, databases, and other file formats), sales and promotional literature,
marketing materials, advertising materials, manuals and data, intellectual
property prosecution files, sales and purchase correspondence, customer files
and documents, lists of suppliers, personnel and employment records, and copies
of any information relating to Taxes imposed on the Comcast Transferors (but
excluding any Tax Returns);
(xiii) all
goodwill;
(xiv) all
assets, rights and properties expressly to be transferred to Newco pursuant to
the Comcast Employee Matters Agreement;
(xv) all
rights under non-disclosure or confidentiality, non- compete, or
non-solicitation agreements between any Comcast Transferor and any third
parties;
(xvi) all
rights under any Relevant Transaction and all equity interests, businesses and
assets acquired pursuant thereto to the extent provided in Section 6.22(c);
and
(xvii) the
Contributed Comcast Insurance Policies.
(b) Excluded
Comcast Assets. The following assets and properties of the Comcast Transferors
and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries (the “Excluded Comcast Assets”)
shall be retained by such entities, to the extent such entities are not
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, or will be transferred to an entity that is
not a Contributed Comcast Subsidiary prior to Closing to the extent such
entities are Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement:
(i) subject
to Comcast’s obligations pursuant to Sections 2.08(g)(ii)(A) and 2.08(g)(iii),
all cash and cash equivalents on hand or held by any bank or other third Person
(other than (x) cash or cash equivalents of any Subsidiary of Comcast that is
not, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by Comcast and (y) cash and cash
equivalents in an amount equal to the Comcast Disposition Transaction
Proceeds);
10
(ii) the owned
or leased real property listed on Section 2.03(b)(ii) of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter;
(iii) all
Excluded Comcast Intellectual Property (including the Comcast Name and Comcast
Marks) and Excluded Comcast Technology;
(iv) all Tax
Returns (other than Tax Returns exclusively of the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries), and all refunds of or credits relating to any Tax for which
Comcast or its Affiliates are liable under the Tax Matters
Agreement;
(v) the
Comcast Parent Plans and any trusts and other assets related thereto, except as
expressly provided in the Comcast Employee Matters Agreement;
(vi) all
assets expressly excluded pursuant to the Comcast Employee Matters
Agreement;
(vii) other
than the Comcast Transferable Insurance Policies, all Insurance
Arrangements;
(viii) any
assets used or held for use in the Contributed Comcast Businesses owned on the
date hereof or acquired after the date hereof that are sold or otherwise
disposed of prior to the Closing;
(ix) all
claims, rights, credits, rights of set-off, causes of action (including
counterclaims) and defenses against third parties, to the extent relating to any
of the other Excluded Comcast Assets or the Excluded Comcast Liabilities, as
well as any books, records and privileged information to the extent relating
thereto;
(x) the
assets listed in Section 2.03(b)(x) of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter;
(xi) any
interest of any Comcast Transferor under the Transaction
Agreements;
(xii) personnel
and employment records for current and former employees of the Contributed
Comcast Businesses who are not Comcast Transferred Employees;
(xiii) (A) all
corporate minute books (and other similar corporate records) and stock records
of the Comcast Transferors (copies of which will be provided to Newco upon
Newco’s reasonable request), (B) any books and records to the extent relating to
the Excluded Comcast Assets or (C) any
books, records or other materials that the Comcast Transferors (x)
11
are
required by Law to retain (copies of which, to the extent permitted by Law, will
be provided to Newco upon Newco’s reasonable request), (y) reasonably believe
are necessary to enable the Comcast Transferors to prepare and/or file Tax
Returns (copies of which will be provided to Newco upon Newco’s reasonable
request) or (z) are prohibited by Law from delivering to Newco;
(xiv) any
interest of Comcast or any of its Affiliates (other than the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries) under any Related Party Comcast Contract;
(xv) all
rights under any transaction described in Section 6.22(b) and all equity
interests, businesses or assets acquired pursuant thereto;
(xvi) all
records and reports prepared or received by Comcast or any of its Affiliates in
connection with the contribution of the Contributed Comcast Businesses and the
transactions contemplated hereby (including all analyses relating to the
Combined Businesses so prepared or received) or any other transaction involving
the potential sale or disposition of all or a substantial part of the
Contributed Comcast Businesses;
(xvii) all
confidentiality agreements with prospective purchasers of the Contributed
Comcast Businesses or of all or a substantial part of the Contributed Comcast
Businesses (except that the Contributed Comcast Assets shall include, and the
Comcast Transferors shall assign to a Contributed Comcast Subsidiary at the
Closing, all of their respective rights under such agreements to confidential
treatment of information with respect to the Contributed Comcast Businesses and
with respect to solicitation and hiring of Comcast Transferred Employees) and
all bids and expressions of interest received from third parties with respect to
such transactions; and
(xviii) all
materials, documents and records of Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary) in the possession of any Comcast
Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary (copies of which will be provided
to Newco upon Newco’s reasonable request).
(c) Assumed
Comcast Liabilities. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement, Newco or, at the direction of Newco, NBCU hereby agrees,
effective at the time of the Closing, to assume and thereafter timely to pay,
discharge and perform in accordance with their terms (subject to any bona fide defense), all
Liabilities of the Comcast Transferors to the extent arising from or relating to
the Contributed Comcast Assets or the Contributed Comcast Businesses, other than
the Excluded Comcast Liabilities,
12
irrespective
of whether the same shall arise prior to, on or following the Closing Date (the
“Assumed Comcast
Liabilities”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, subject
to Section 2.03(d), the following shall be included among the Assumed Comcast
Liabilities:
(i) all
Liabilities set forth on Section 2.03(c)(i) of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter;
(ii) all
Liabilities arising under the Assumed Comcast Contracts;
(iii) all
Liabilities (other than Relevant Transaction Debt) arising under any Relevant
Transaction or any asset, equity interest or business acquired pursuant thereto
to the extent provided in Section 6.22(c);
(iv) all Taxes
for which Newco is responsible pursuant to the Tax Matters
Agreement;
(v) all
Liabilities, whether accruing before, on or after the Closing Date, (A) relating
to the environment or natural resources, human health and safety or Hazardous
Materials and (B) arising from or relating to the Contributed Comcast Assets,
the Contributed Comcast Businesses or otherwise to any past, current or future
businesses, operations or properties of the Contributed Comcast Assets or the
Contributed Comcast Businesses (including any businesses, operations or
properties for which a current or future owner or operator of the Contributed
Comcast Assets or the Contributed Comcast Businesses is responsible as a matter
of Law, contract or otherwise); and
(vi) all
Liabilities assumed by Newco pursuant to the Comcast Employee Matters Agreement,
and all other Liabilities arising from or relating to the employment,
termination of employment or employment practices with respect to the
Contributed Comcast Businesses whether arising before, on or after the Closing
Date.
(d) Excluded
Comcast Liabilities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, NBCU
is not assuming or agreeing to pay or discharge any of the following Liabilities
of the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries (the “Excluded Comcast
Liabilities”):
(i) except
for any Liability set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i) of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter, any Debt (other than (x) Debt of any Person that is not, directly or
indirectly, wholly owned by Comcast and (y) capital lease
obligations);
13
(ii) any
Liability set forth in Section 2.03(d)(ii) of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter;
(iii) any
Liability to the extent relating to or arising under any Excluded Comcast
Asset;
(iv) any
Liability incurred in connection with the transfer of Excluded Comcast Assets or
other Excluded Comcast Liabilities from the Comcast Transferors or Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries prior to the Closing;
(v) any
Liability for Taxes that Comcast is required to pay pursuant to the Tax Matters
Agreement;
(vi) any
Liability expressly retained by Comcast pursuant to the Comcast Employee Matters
Agreement;
(vii) any
Liability of Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary) under any Insurance Arrangement other than the Comcast
Transferable Insurance Policies;
(viii) any
Liability of any Comcast Transferor under the Transaction
Documents;
(ix) any
Liability of Comcast or any of its Affiliates (other than any Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary) under any Related Party Comcast Contract; and
(x) any
Liability of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries set forth in Section
2.03(d)(x) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter to the extent not relating to the
Contributed Comcast Businesses.
Section
2.04. Sale of Newco Membership
Interests. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, at the Closing (but following the completion of the transactions
described in Section 2.02 and 2.03), Navy Holdco 2 shall, and GE shall cause
Navy Holdco 2 to, sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to Comcast, free
and clear of all Liens, and Comcast shall acquire and accept from Navy Holdco 2,
all of Navy Holdco 2’s right, title and interest in and to Newco Membership
Interests representing 25.25% of the outstanding Newco Membership Interests, for
an aggregate purchase price (as it may be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.11, the
“Comcast/NBCU Purchase
Price”) equal to (i)
$7.1065 billion minus (ii) 51% of the NBCU
Interim Free Cash
Flow minus (iii) 49% of
the Comcast Acquisitions Amount.
Section
2.05. Assignment of Certain
Contributed Assets. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement
to the contrary, this Agreement shall not
14
constitute
an agreement to contribute, convey, assign, transfer or deliver to NBCU or Newco
any Contributed NBCU Assets or Contributed Comcast Assets or any claim or right
or any benefit arising thereunder or resulting therefrom if an attempted
contribution, conveyance, assignment, transfer or delivery thereof, or an
agreement to do any of the foregoing, without the consent of a third party
(including any Governmental Authority), would constitute a breach or other
contravention thereof or a violation of Law or would in any way adversely affect
the rights of NBCU or Newco (as assignee or transferee of the applicable
transferor, or otherwise), any other NBCU Entity or any Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary thereto or thereunder. Subject to Section 6.13(c), each of GE and
Comcast shall, and shall cause each of the NBCU Transferors and Comcast
Transferors, respectively, to, use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain
any consent necessary for the contribution, conveyance, assignment, transfer or
delivery of any such Contributed NBCU Asset, Contributed Comcast Asset, claim,
right or benefit to NBCU or Newco, as applicable, (including with respect to a
change of control of a NBCU Entity or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary). If, on
the Closing Date, any such consent is not obtained, or if an attempted
contribution, conveyance, assignment, transfer or delivery thereof would be
ineffective or a violation of Law or would adversely affect the rights of NBCU,
Newco, any other NBCU Entity or any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary thereto or
thereunder so that NBCU or Newco, as applicable, would not in fact receive all
such rights, NBCU, GE and Comcast shall, subject to Section 6.13(c), cooperate
in a mutually agreeable arrangement under which NBCU or Newco, as applicable,
would, in compliance with Law, obtain the benefits (including contractual
rights) and assume the obligations and bear the economic burdens associated with
such Contributed NBCU Assets, Contributed Comcast Assets, claim, right or
benefit in accordance with this Agreement, including subcontracting,
sublicensing or subleasing to NBCU or Newco, as applicable, or under which the
applicable transferors would enforce for the benefit (and at the expense) of
NBCU or Newco, as applicable, any and all of their rights against a third party
(including any Governmental Authority) associated with such Contributed NBCU
Asset, Contributed Comcast Asset, claim, right or benefit (collectively, “Third Party Rights”), and the applicable
transferor would promptly pay to NBCU or Newco, as applicable, when
received all monies received by them under any such Contributed NBCU Asset,
Contributed Comcast Asset, claim, right or benefit. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any such Contributed NBCU Asset or Contributed Comcast Asset shall be
contributed, conveyed, assigned, transferred and delivered to NBCU or Newco, as
applicable, upon receipt of such consent unless such attempted contribution,
conveyance, assignment, transfer or delivery thereof would be ineffective or a
violation of Law or would adversely affect the rights of NBCU or Newco, as
applicable, any other NBCU Entity or any Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary.
Section
2.06. Closing; NBCU Dividend;
Other Distribution. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 9.01 and
Section 9.02, the closing of the transactions
15
contemplated
hereby (the “Closing”)
will take place on the date of the first fiscal month-end under GE’s reporting
system (or the first earlier date during such fiscal month as is reasonably
practicable) following the date on which all of the conditions set forth in
Article 9 have been satisfied or waived, other than those conditions that by
their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction
or waiver of those conditions (provided that such date shall
be at least three (3) Business Days following the date on which the FCC releases
the full text of the FCC Order), or on such other date as the parties hereto may
agree in writing, at the offices of Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, or such other place as the parties hereto may
agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to
in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”). The Closing
shall be deemed to occur at 11:59:59 p.m., New York City time, on the Closing
Date.
(b) At least
five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, (i) NBCU shall deliver to
Comcast a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of NBCU setting
forth (A) NBCU’s good faith estimate of NBCU Interim Free Cash Flow (“Estimated NBCU Interim Free Cash
Flow”) and (B) NBCU’s good faith estimate of Trailing EBITDA of NBCU
(“Estimated NBCU
EBITDA”) and (ii) Comcast
shall deliver to GE a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of
Comcast setting forth (A) Comcast’s good faith estimate of Trailing EBITDA of
the Contributed Comcast Businesses (“Estimated Comcast EBITDA”) and
(B) a true and complete statement of the amount (the “Comcast Acquisitions Amount”) of any consideration
paid (including any Relevant Transaction Debt), other related costs and
reasonable, out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred by Comcast or any of
its Subsidiaries after the date hereof and prior to the Closing in connection
with each Relevant Transaction (it being understood that in no event shall such
consideration (including any Relevant Transaction Debt) and other related costs
with respect to any Relevant Transaction exceed, in any material respect, the
amount set forth in the applicable notice delivered pursuant to Section 6.22 or,
in the case of any Relevant Transaction set forth on Section 6.22 of the Comcast
Disclosure Letter, the amount previously disclosed in writing to GE prior to the
date hereof).
(c) Immediately
following the completion of the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, as
applicable, and prior to the Closing, NBCU shall distribute $9,100,000,000 to
its stockholders in proportion to their respective ownership interests in NBCU
(the “NBCU Dividend”);
provided that if
Estimated Combined EBITDA is less than the Target Combined EBITDA, then (i) the
amount of the NBCU Dividend shall be reduced by an amount equal to 3.5 times the
amount of the lesser of (x) the amount of the shortfall, if such shortfall
exists, of Estimated NBCU EBITDA as compared to Target NBCU EBITDA, or (y) the
amount of the shortfall of Estimated Combined EBITDA as compared to Target
Combined EBITDA and (ii) NBCU shall issue to GE a note in the form of
Exhibit
16
F-1 with
a principal amount equal to the amount that the NBCU Dividend was so reduced
(the “GE
Note”).
Section
2.07. NBCU Conversion.
(a) At the Closing, NBCU shall, immediately following the completion of the
contribution referred to in Section 2.08(a), convert to a Delaware limited
liability company in accordance with Section 266 of Delaware Law (the “NBCU Conversion”) and NBCU
shall file a certificate of conversion with the Delaware Secretary of State and
make all other filings or recordings required by the Delaware Law in connection
with the NBCU Conversion. The NBCU Conversion shall become effective at such
time (the “NBCU Conversion
Effective Time”) as the certificate of conversion is duly filed with the
Delaware Secretary of State (or at such later time as may be specified in the
certificate of conversion with the consent of each of GE and Comcast). From and
after the NBCU Conversion Effective Time, NBCU shall possess all the rights,
powers, privileges and franchises and be subject to all of the obligations,
liabilities, restrictions and disabilities of NBCU prior to the NBCU Conversion
Effective Time, and none of the foregoing shall be deemed transferred as a
consequence of the NBCU Conversion, all as provided under Delaware
Law.
(b) At
the NBCU Conversion Effective Time, (i) each outstanding NBCU Share shall be
converted into one membership interest of NBCU and (ii) each NBCU Share held by
NBCU as treasury stock shall be canceled.
Section
2.08. Closing
Actions. At the Closing:
(a) first,
Navy Holdco 1 shall, and GE shall cause Navy Holdco 1 to, contribute to Navy
Holdco 2 all of the outstanding NBCU Shares, free and clear of all
Liens;
(b) second,
NBCU shall, and GE shall cause NBCU to, complete the NBCU Conversion in
accordance with Section 2.07;
(c) third,
Navy Holdco 2 shall, and GE shall cause Navy Holdco 2 to, contribute to Newco
all of the outstanding NBCU Shares, free and clear of all Liens;
(d) fourth,
GE shall, and shall cause the other NBCU Transferors to, transfer, directly or
indirectly, the Contributed NBCU Assets to NBCU; NBCU shall assume the Assumed
NBCU Liabilities and GE shall, or shall cause a Subsidiary of GE (other than a
NBCU Entity) to, assume all Excluded NBCU Liabilities that are Liabilities of a
NBCU Entity and NBCU shall pay to GE the fair value of the capital stock of the
Subidiary of GE identified on Section 2.08(d) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter (it
being understood that all of such capital stock shall be included in the
Contributed NBCU Assets);
17
(e) fifth,
Comcast shall, and shall cause the other Comcast Transferors to, contribute or
transfer, as applicable, the Contributed Comcast Assets to Newco or, at the
direction of Newco, NBCU and, in consideration therefor, Newco shall issue to
Comcast, free and clear of all Liens, Newco Membership Interests representing
25.75% of the outstanding Newco Membership Interests (determined after giving
effect to such issuance) and, to the extent Contributed Comcast Equity Interests
are certificated, Comcast shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Newco or
NBCU, as applicable, certificates evidencing such Contributed Comcast Equity
Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by powers duly executed in
blank or other duly executed instruments of transfer as required in order to
validly transfer title in and to the Contributed Comcast Equity Interests, and
to the extent such Contributed Comcast Equity Interests are not certificated,
Comcast shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Newco or NBCU, as applicable,
other customary evidence of ownership; and Newco or NBCU, as applicable, shall
assume the Assumed Comcast Liabilities and Comcast shall, or shall cause a
Subsidiary of Comcast (other than a Contributed Comcast Subsidiary), to assume
all Excluded Comcast Liabilities that are Liabilities of a Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary;
(f) sixth,
Navy Holdco 2 shall, and GE shall cause Navy Holdco 2 to, deliver to Comcast,
free and clear of all Liens, 25.25% of the outstanding Newco Membership
Interests in consideration of the payment by Comcast to NBCU of the Comcast/NBCU
Purchase Price;
(g) seventh,
(i) Comcast shall pay the Comcast/NBCU Purchase Price (calculated for this
purpose based on the estimated amounts provided pursuant to Section 2.06(b)) to
Navy Holdco 2, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, into an account
designated by Navy Holdco 2, (ii) if Estimated Combined EBITDA is less than the
Target Combined EBITDA, then (A) Comcast shall, or shall cause an Affiliate to,
contribute to NBCU by wire transfer of immediately available funds, 3.5 times
the lesser of (x) the amount of the shortfall, if such shortfall exists, of
Estimated Comcast EBITDA as compared to Target Comcast EBITDA, or (y) the amount
of the shortfall of Estimated Combined EBITDA as compared to Target Combined
EBITDA and (B) NBCU shall issue to Comcast or such Affiliate of Comcast a note
in the form of Exhibit F-2 with a principal amount equal to the amount that
Comcast contributes or causes to be contributed pursuant to clause (A) (the
“Comcast Note”) and
(iii) Comcast shall, or shall cause an Affiliate to, contribute to NBCU by wire
transfer of immediately available funds, the amount of the 2008 Contributed
Comcast Businesses EBITDA Adjustment, if any;
(h) eighth,
Navy Holdco 2 shall deliver to Comcast a receipt for the Comcast/NBCU Purchase
Price;
18
(i) ninth,
the parties hereto shall, and shall cause their respective applicable
Subsidiaries to, deliver duly executed counterparts to the other Transaction
Agreements referenced in Section 6.12;
(j) tenth,
the parties hereto shall, and shall cause their respective applicable
Subsidiaries to, execute and deliver such deeds, bills of sale, endorsements,
consents, assignments, assumptions and other good and sufficient documents or
instruments as such parties and their respective counsel shall deem reasonably
necessary in connection with the actions referred to in Sections 2.08(a) through
(i); and
(k) finally,
each NBCU Transferor and Comcast Transferor that will convey a “United States
real property interest” (as defined under Section 897 of the Code) shall deliver
to Newco a certificate in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section
1.1445-2(b)(2) to the effect that the applicable transferor is not a “foreign
person”.
Newco
hereby directs Comcast to transfer the Contributed Comcast Assets to NBCU on its
behalf and NBCU to assume the Assumed Comcast Liabilities on its behalf, in each
case, as described in Section 2.08(e) and subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.
Section
2.09. Beneficial
Ownership in Newco by Comcast and GE. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, immediately following the
transactions contemplated by this Article 2 (including Section 2.04), the
beneficial ownership by Comcast of Newco Membership Interests shall represent
51% of the issued and outstanding ownership interests of Newco and the
beneficial ownership by Navy Holdco 2 of Newco Membership Interests shall
represent 49% of the issued and outstanding ownership interests of
Newco.
Section
2.10. Closing
Statement. (a) As promptly as practicable after the Closing Date, but no
later than the later of (x) 30 days after the end of the last complete fiscal
quarter included in Trailing EBITDA of NBCU and (y) 60 days after the Closing
Date, Comcast will cause to be prepared and delivered to GE a statement setting
forth in reasonable detail Comcast’s calculation of NBCU Interim Free Cash Flow,
Trailing EBITDA of NBCU and Trailing EBITDA of the Contributed Comcast
Businesses (the “Closing
Statement”).
(b) If GE
disagrees with Comcast’s calculation of NBCU Interim Free Cash Flow, Trailing
EBITDA of NBCU or Trailing EBITDA of the Contributed Comcast Businesses as set
forth in the Closing Statement, GE may, within 30 days after delivery of the
Closing Statement deliver a notice to Comcast disagreeing with such calculation
and which specifies GE’s calculation of such amount and in reasonable detail
GE’s grounds for such disagreement. Any such
19
notice of
disagreement shall specify those items or amounts as to which GE disagrees
(each, a “Disputed
Item”), and GE shall be deemed to have agreed with all other relevant
amounts contained in the Closing Statement and the calculation of NBCU Interim
Free Cash Flow, Trailing EBITDA of NBCU and Trailing EBITDA of the Contributed
Comcast Businesses set forth therein.
(c) If no
notice of disagreement is timely delivered pursuant to Section 2.10(b), then the
calculation of NBCU Interim Free Cash Flow, Trailing EBITDA of NBCU and Trailing
EBITDA of the Contributed Comcast Businesses set forth in the Closing Statement
shall be final and binding for all purposes. If a notice of disagreement shall
be duly delivered pursuant to Section 2.10(b), Comcast and GE shall, during the
30 days following such delivery, use their good faith efforts to reach agreement
on the Disputed Items. If Comcast and GE are unable to reach such agreement
during such period, they shall, within five (5) days thereafter, engage an
internationally recognized accounting firm mutually agreed by GE and Comcast
(the “Neutral
Accountant”), pursuant to an engagement agreement executed by GE, Comcast
and the Neutral Accountant, to resolve each Disputed Item.
(d) The
Neutral Accountant shall be instructed only to, acting as an expert and not as
an arbitrator, resolve the Disputed Items. GE and Comcast shall instruct the
Neutral Accountant that a final written determination (which determination shall
contain the underlying reasoning) of each Disputed Item shall be completed and
distributed to GE and Comcast as soon as practicable after the engagement of the
Neutral Accountant; provided that GE and Comcast
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Neutral Accountant to
make a final determination within 30 days from the date the Disputed Item was
submitted to the Neutral Accountant. GE and Comcast agree that all known
adjustments shall be made without regard to materiality. During the review by
the Neutral Accountant, GE and Comcast shall make available or cause to be made
available to the Neutral Accountant such individuals and such information, work
papers, books and records as may be reasonably required by the Neutral
Accountant to make its final determination. The Neutral Accountant shall rely
solely on the written submission of GE and Comcast with respect to the matters
at issue and shall not undertake an independent investigation. With respect to
each Disputed Item, such determination shall not be in excess of the higher, nor
less than the lower, of the amounts advocated by either party in such
dispute.
(e) The
resolution by the Neutral Accountant of any Disputed Item shall be conclusive
and binding upon the parties, absent manifest error. The parties hereto agree
that the procedure set forth in this Section 2.10 for resolving any Disputed
Item shall be the sole and exclusive method for resolving any such
disputes.
20
(f) The fees
and expenses of the Neutral Accountant shall be borne 50% by GE and 50% by
Comcast.
(g) Comcast
and GE agree that they will cooperate and assist in the preparation of the
Closing Statement, the calculation of NBCU Interim Free Cash Flow, Trailing
EBITDA of NBCU and Trailing EBITDA of the Contributed Comcast Businesses, and in
the conduct of the reviews referred to in this Section 2.10, including the
making available to the extent necessary of books, records, work papers and
personnel.
Section
2.11. Adjustments.
Within five (5) Business Days following the final resolution of each of NBCU
Interim Free Cash Flow, Trailing EBITDA of NBCU and Trailing EBITDA of the
Contributed Comcast Businesses (with such final resolution being deemed not to
occur until all Disputed Items have been finally resolved), the applicable
parties will make such cash payments, modify or cancel any applicable GE Note or
Comcast Note, and execute or deliver any applicable GE Note or Comcast Note, in
each case as required in order that, as a result of the actions taken pursuant
to this Section 2.11, (i) on a net basis after giving effect to any applicable
payments made or received at Closing and any other payment that would be
required to be made or received pursuant to this Section 2.11, each applicable
party has paid or received the appropriate cash amount that would have been paid
or received by such party if the payments at Closing had been calculated based
on the final amounts of all applicable items (rather than estimated amounts);
provided that any
payments to be made pursuant to this Section 2.11 by or to the stockholders of
NBCU as of the time that the NBCU Dividend was paid shall be made in full by or
to GE, as applicable, and (ii) each of GE and Comcast will hold a GE Note or
Comcast Note, if applicable, with a principal amount equal to the principal
amount of the GE Note or Comcast Note, as applicable, that would have been
issued at Closing if such issuance at Closing had been based on the final
amounts of all applicable items (rather than estimated amounts). Any cash amount
required to be paid pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be paid by wire transfer
of immediately available funds to an account designated by the party entitled to
receive such funds and shall bear interest from and including the Closing Date
to but excluding the date of payment at a rate per annum equal to the 3-month
London Interbank Offered Rate as of 11:00 am London time on the Closing Date.
Such interest shall be payable at the same time as the payment to which it
relates and shall be calculated daily on the basis of a year of 365 days and the
actual number of days elapsed.
ARTICLE
3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NBCU
NBCU
hereby represents and warrants to Newco and Comcast that, except as set forth in
the NBCU Disclosure Letter:
21
Section
3.01. Incorporation,
Qualification and Authority. (a) NBCU is a corporation and, after the
NBCU Conversion, will be a limited liability company duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the Laws of Delaware and has all necessary
power to enter into, consummate the transactions contemplated by, and carry out
its obligations under, the Transaction Agreements to which it is a party. NBCU
is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization to do business,
and, to the extent legally applicable, is in good standing, in each jurisdiction
where the character of its owned, operated or leased properties or the nature of
its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for jurisdictions
where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be
expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a NBCU Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) The
execution, delivery and performance by NBCU of the Transaction Agreements to
which it is party and the consummation by NBCU of the transactions contemplated
by, and the performance by NBCU under, the Transaction Agreements to which it is
party, have been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of NBCU and
the stockholders of NBCU, subject to the approval of the NBCU Board of Directors
(which shall be obtained in accordance with Section 6.05(e)). This Agreement has
been and, upon execution and delivery, the other Transaction Agreements to which
NBCU is a party will be, duly executed and delivered by NBCU, and (subject to
the approval of the NBCU Board of Directors (which shall be obtained in
accordance with Section 6.05(e)) and assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto) this Agreement constitutes
and, upon execution and delivery, the other Transaction Agreements to which NBCU
is party will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of NBCU,
enforceable against NBCU in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect
of any applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or preferential transfers, or similar Laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to
enforceability, to the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
Section
3.02. Incorporation and
Qualification of the NBCU Entities. (a) Except as would not reasonably be
expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a NBCU Material Adverse
Effect, each of the NBCU Entities (other than NBCU) is a corporation or other
organization duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and, to the extent
legally applicable, in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization. Each of the NBCU Entities (other than NBCU) has
the requisite power and authority to operate its business as now conducted, is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization to do business
and, to the extent legally applicable, is in good standing in each jurisdiction
where the character of its owned, operated or leased properties or the nature of
its activities makes such qualification necessary, except
22
for
jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not
reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a NBCU
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The
organizational documents of each NBCU Entity (other than NBCU) are in full force
and effect. No NBCU Entity (other than NBCU) is in violation of any of the
provisions of its organizational documents. NBCU has previously made available
to Comcast complete and correct copies of the organizational documents of each
of the NBCU Entities that as of December 31, 2008 owned assets with an aggregate
value in excess of $10 million or had revenue for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2008 in excess of $10 million, each of which is listed on Section 3.02(b) of
the NBCU Disclosure Letter (the “Material NBCU Entities”), as
amended through the date hereof.
Section
3.03. Capital Structure of
NBCU, the NBCU Entities and Other Equity Interests. (a) Section
3.03(a) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth the ownership percentages
of each class of capital stock or other equity interests outstanding of NBCU and
each of the other Material NBCU Entities held by GE or its Subsidiaries, except
for changes resulting from the consummation of the NBCU Restructuring. All of
the outstanding shares or other equity interests of NBCU and each of the other
NBCU Entities have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid
(solely with respect to any NBCU Entity that is a corporation) and nonassessable
and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights or any Law (including
any federal or state securities Laws). There are no options, warrants or rights
of conversion or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments
obligating NBCU or any of the other NBCU Entities to issue, sell, purchase,
return or redeem any of its shares, other equity interests or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for its shares or other equity interests or any
shares or other equity interests of NBCU or any of the other NBCU Entities. NBCU
owns, directly or indirectly, the equity interests in the other NBCU Entities,
free and clear of all Liens, except any Liens arising out of, under or in
connection with this Agreement. There are no voting trusts, stockholder
agreements, proxies or other agreements in effect with respect to the voting or
transfer of the shares or other equity interests of NBCU or any of the other
NBCU Entities.
(b)
Section 3.03(b) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth the name and
jurisdiction of each Person that (i) is not GE or a Subsidiary of GE but in
which GE or any of its Subsidiaries holds an equity interest having a value of
$1 million or more as reflected on the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of
NBCU and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2009 and (ii) operates
within the scope of the NBCU Businesses (“NBCU Minority Interests”). All
of the NBCU Minority Interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by a NBCU
Transferor or a NBCU Entity, free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted
Liens, any restrictions under the Securities Act and other applicable
securities
23
Laws or
other Liens provided by the agreements or organizational documents of such
entity). None of the NBCU Transferors or any of the NBCU Entities has any
obligation, contingent or otherwise, to fund or participate in the debts of any
Person in which any NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity holds a NBCU Minority
Interest.
Section
3.04. No Conflict.
Provided that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions
described in Section 3.05 and Section 4.03 have been obtained or taken, the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by NBCU and the other
Transaction Agreements to which NBCU is or will at Closing be a party, and the
consummation by NBCU of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not
and will not (a) violate or conflict with any of the articles of incorporation
or bylaws or similar organizational documents of NBCU or any other NBCU
Entities, (b) conflict with or violate any Law or Governmental Order applicable
to NBCU or any other NBCU Entities or any of their respective properties
(including the NBCU Assets), or (c) result in any breach of, or constitute a
default (or an event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both,
would become a default) under, or give to any Person any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any
Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any of the NBCU Assets pursuant to, or
require a consent or approval under any note, bond, mortgage or indenture,
contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other material
instrument to which NBCU or any of the other NBCU Entities is a party or by
which any of their respective properties (including the NBCU Assets) is bound or
affected; except, in the case of clauses (b) and (c), for any such conflicts,
violations, breaches, defaults, rights or Liens as, individually or in the
aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a NBCU
Material Adverse Effect and would not materially impair or delay the ability of
NBCU to consummate the transactions contemplated by, or perform their
obligations under, the Transaction Agreements.
Section
3.05. Consents and
Approvals. The execution, delivery and performance by NBCU of the
Transaction Agreements to which it is or will at Closing be parties do not, and
the performance by NBCU of, and the consummation by NBCU of the transactions
contemplated by, the Transaction Agreements (including the transactions
contemplated by Section 6.14) will not, require any consent, approval,
authorization or other action by, or any filing with or notification to, any
Governmental Authority, except (a) in connection, or in compliance, with the
notification and waiting period requirements of the HSR Act and applicable
filings or approvals under non-U.S. antitrust and competition Laws, (b) in
connection, or in compliance, with the applicable requirements of the U.S.
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules, regulations, orders and
policies of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission or any successor agency
thereto (the “FCC”)
thereunder (collectively, the “Communications Act”) and applicable filings
or approvals under non-U.S. Laws governing the
24
regulation
of telecommunications and broadcasting, (c) where the failure to obtain such
consent, approval, authorization or action or to make such filing or
notification has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a NBCU Material Adverse Effect and would not
materially impair or delay the ability of NBCU to consummate the transactions
contemplated by, or perform its obligations under, the Transaction Agreements to
which it is a party and (d) as may be required as a result of any facts or
circumstances relating to Comcast or its Affiliates.
Section
3.06. Financial Information;
Accounting Controls; Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. (a)
Section 3.06(a) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth (i) the audited
consolidated balance sheets of NBCU and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of
December 31, 2008 (the “NBCU
Reference Balance Sheet”) and December 31, 2007, (ii) the related audited
consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the
years ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 and (iii) the unaudited
consolidated balance sheet of NBCU and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of June
30, 2009 and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’
equity and cash flows of NBCU and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the six
month period then ended (the balance sheets and statements referred to in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein collectively referred to as the “NBCU Financial Statements”).
The NBCU Financial Statements have been prepared in all material respects in
accordance with U.S. GAAP (except with respect to the unaudited balance sheet
and statements, for the absence of notes and normal recurring year-end
adjustments that, individually or in the aggregate, would not be material) and
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and the results
of operations and cash flows of NBCU and its consolidated Subsidiaries at their
respective dates and for the periods covered by such statements.
(b) The NBCU
Entities have maintained systems of internal accounting controls with respect to
the NBCU Businesses sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
for NBCU. NBCU has implemented disclosure controls and procedures designed to
ensure that material information relating to the NBCU Businesses is made known
to the management of NBCU by others within the NBCU Businesses.
(c) The
information in any databases maintained by any NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity to
track licensing of Library Pictures for television and home video worldwide
relating to the Library of the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities has been
maintained by the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities in the ordinary course
of business, is derived from the books and records and the Exploitation
Agreements of the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities, and is relied on by
the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities in conducting the NBCU
Businesses.
25
(d)
Except (i) as set forth in the NBCU Financial Statements, (ii) Liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since
the date of the NBCU Reference Balance Sheet, (iii) Excluded NBCU Liabilities,
(iv) Liabilities for Taxes, which are exclusively governed by the Tax Matters
Agreement, and (v) Liabilities that would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a NBCU Material Adverse Effect, there are no
Liabilities of the NBCU Transferors, the NBCU Entities or otherwise relating to
the NBCU Businesses required under U.S. GAAP to be reflected in the NBCU
Financial Statements.
Section
3.07. Absence of Certain
Changes or Events. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, (a) since
January 1, 2009, (i) the NBCU Businesses have been conducted in the ordinary
course consistent with past practice and (ii) there has not occurred any event,
change, occurrence or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or would reasonably be expected to have a NBCU Material Adverse Effect and
(b) from January 1, 2009 to the date hereof, none of GE or any of its
Subsidiaries have taken any action that, individually or in the aggregate, would
materially impair or delay the ability of NBCU or the NBCU Transferors to
consummate the transactions contemplated by, or perform their obligations under,
the Transaction Agreements.
Section
3.08. Absence of
Litigation. No Actions are pending or, to the Knowledge of NBCU,
threatened against the NBCU Transferors or any NBCU Entity or any of their
respective properties or assets, and since January 1, 2007, no NBCU Transferor
nor any NBCU Entity has received any subpoena or notice of any claim or
investigation that (a) has had or would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a NBCU Material Adverse Effect or (b) would
reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor is there any Governmental Order
outstanding against, or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, any investigation by any
Governmental Authority, involving any NBCU Transferors or any NBCU Entities or
any of their respective properties or assets, that would reasonably be expected
to prevent or materially impair or delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section
3.09. Compliance with
Laws. Excluding employment and employee benefits matters (which are
covered in Section 3.15) and Taxes (which are covered by the Tax Matters
Agreement), none of the NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities is in violation of any
Laws or Governmental Orders applicable to the conduct of the NBCU Businesses by
it or by which any NBCU Asset is bound or affected, and since January 1, 2008 no
NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity has received any notice from any Governmental
Authority alleging any conflict with, or violation or breach of, any such Law or
Governmental Order, in each case, except for violations the existence of which
has not had, and would not
26
reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a NBCU Material Adverse
Effect.
Section
3.10. Governmental Licenses
and Permits. (a) This Section 3.10 does not address employment and
employee benefits matters (which are covered in Section 3.15) and Taxes (which
are covered by the Tax Matters Agreement). Each of
the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities is in compliance in all material
respects with all Laws applicable to the ownership of their respective assets
and properties and the operation of the NBCU Businesses, and since January 1,
2008, no NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity has received any notice from any
Governmental Authority alleging any material conflict with, material violation
or breach of or material default under any such Law.
(b) Each of
the NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities has all permits, licenses, permissions,
franchises, and amendments thereto, from any Governmental Authority (including
FCC Licenses) necessary for the ownership and operation of the NBCU Businesses
(the “NBCU Licenses”).
Each of the NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities is in compliance in all material
respects with the terms of the NBCU Licenses, and no NBCU Transferors or NBCU
Entities have received any notice from any Governmental Authority alleging any
material conflict with or violation or breach of any NBCU License.
(c) Section
3.10(c) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete list of the material
FCC Licenses held by the NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities (the “NBCU FCC Licenses”) currently
in effect and all applications pending before any Governmental Authority with
respect to the NBCU FCC Licenses or the Stations. The NBCU FCC Licenses are in
full force and effect and are not subject to any restrictions or conditions
other than those generally affecting such type of NBCU FCC License. The NBCU
Transferors and NBCU Entities have filed all reports, notifications and filings
with the FCC necessary to maintain all NBCU FCC Licenses in full force and
effect, have timely paid all FCC regulatory fees with respect thereto and, to
the Knowledge of NBCU, there are no facts, events or conditions based upon which
the FCC might reasonably be expected to revoke, suspend, cancel, rescind,
terminate, require the disposition of, or fail to renew any of the NBCU FCC
Licenses or fail to grant any pending FCC application or petition for a NBCU FCC
License. The NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities maintain public files for the
Stations as required by FCC rules. The NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities are
operating only those facilities of the NBCU Businesses for which an appropriate
FCC authorization has been obtained and such operation is in compliance with
such authorization in all material respects.
(d) Section
3.10(d) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter lists each of the full- power and Class A
television stations owned and operated by the NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities
(the “Stations”) and,
except with respect to the
27
Class A
Stations, provides information concerning carriage (or non-carriage) of each
such station by (i) the cable television systems serving its local television
market (as defined in Section 76.55 of the rules and regulations of the FCC, 47
CFR Section 76.55) and (ii) satellite carriers providing local-into-local
television service (as defined in Section 76.66 of the rules and regulations of
the XXX, 00 XXX Section 76.66). With respect to each Station (other than the
Class A Stations), each of the NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities, during the
period of ownership of such Station by such NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities in
accordance with Section 76.64 of the FCC Rules (47 CFR Section 76.64), has made
the required election between retransmission consent or must carry status with
respect to each multi-channel video programming distributor serving all or any
part of the television market (as defined by the FCC) of such Station. The
Stations, their respective physical facilities, electrical and mechanical
systems and transmitting and studio equipment are being operated in compliance
with the applicable FCC Licenses and the requirements of the Communications Act
in all material respects. The NBCU Transferors, NBCU Entities and Stations are
in compliance, in all material respects, with all requirements of the FCC and
the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to the construction and/or
alteration of the antenna structures owned by any of the NBCU Transferors (to
the extent used or held for use in connection with the NBCU Businesses), NBCU
Entities or Stations, and, to the Knowledge of NBCU, with respect to the
construction and/or alteration of the antenna structures used, but not owned by
any of the NBCU Transferors, NBCU Entities or Stations.
(e) No
application, action or proceeding is pending for the renewal or modification of
any NBCU FCC Licenses and, except for actions or proceedings affecting such type
of NBCU FCC License generally, no application, complaint, action or proceeding
is pending or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, threatened that seeks or is reasonably
likely to result in (i) the denial of an application for renewal of a NBCU FCC
License, (ii) the revocation, adverse modification, non-renewal or suspension of
any of the NBCU FCC Licenses, (iii) the issuance of a material cease-and-desist
order or (iv) the imposition of any material administrative or judicial sanction
with respect to any of the Stations. There is not now issued, outstanding,
pending or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, threatened, by or before the FCC or any
Governmental Authority, any order to show cause, notice of violation, notice of
apparent liability, notice of forfeiture or complaint with respect to any of the
NBCU FCC Licenses or the Stations that has had or would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a NBCU Material Adverse
Effect.
Section
3.11. Sufficiency of the NBCU
Assets; Liens. (a) On the Closing Date (including after giving effect to
the transactions contemplated by Section 6.14) and assuming receipt of all
consents, approvals and authorizations relating to the matters set forth in
Sections 3.04 and 3.05 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter or as contemplated by
Section 3.05), the NBCU Assets will, taking into account
28
all
Ancillary Agreements and Third Party Rights, constitute all of the assets (other
than Intellectual Property) necessary to conduct the NBCU Businesses immediately
following the Closing in all material respects as it is conducted on the date of
this Agreement and on the Closing Date; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 3.11 shall be deemed to constitute a representation or warranty as to
the adequacy of the amounts of cash or working capital (or the availability of
the same); and provided, further, that this Section
3.11(a) shall not be deemed to be breached as a result of any action by NBCU
with respect to which Comcast has provided its specific consent (including
pursuant to Section 6.01(a)).
(b) Except
for Taxes, which are exclusively governed by the Tax Matters Agreement, and
Permitted Liens, the NBCU Assets (other than the NBCU Real Properties, which are
the subject of Section 3.16 and the NBCU Owned Intellectual Property, which is
the subject of Section 3.12) are owned by or otherwise made available to the
NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities, as the case may be, free and clear of all
Liens.
(c) The NBCU
Transferors and the NBCU Entities have maintained the material tangible NBCU
Assets (e.g., theme
park rides and other NBCU Assets of comparable significance) in accordance with
applicable industry standards, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
Section
3.12. Intellectual
Property. (a) (i) The NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities own sole and
exclusive title to the Patents included in the NBCU Owned Intellectual Property.
To the Knowledge of NBCU, the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities own sole
and exclusive title to (x) the Copyrights included in the NBCU Owned
Intellectual Property to the extent of their ownership interest, and (y) all
NBCU Owned Intellectual Property (other than the Patents and Copyrights included
therein).
(ii) The NBCU
Owned Intellectual Property is owned by the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU
Entities, as the case may be, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted
Liens.
(iii) The NBCU
Intellectual Property, the applicable Third Party Rights, together with the
rights to be conveyed pursuant to the GE Intellectual Property Cross License
Agreement and the Intellectual Property rights of Newco contemplated under the
other Ancillary Agreements, constitute all material Intellectual Property in use
by, and necessary for the operation of, the NBCU Businesses as currently
conducted, assuming receipt of the relevant consents, approvals and
authorizations relating to the matters set forth in Section 3.04 of the NBCU
Disclosure Letter; provided,
however, that this Section 3.12(a)(iii) shall not be deemed to be
breached as a result of any action by NBCU
29
with
respect to which Comcast has provided its specific consent (including pursuant
to Section 6.01(a)).
(b) To the
Knowledge of NBCU, the operation and conduct of the NBCU Businesses as currently
conducted do not infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate the valid
and enforceable Intellectual Property, moral rights or neighboring rights of any
third party in any material respect.
(c) No
Actions brought by GE or any of its Subsidiaries (including any NBCU Entity) are
pending against any Person, and no Person has received any subpoena or written
notice of any claim or investigation from GE or any of its Subsidiaries
(including any NBCU Entity), alleging that such Person is infringing upon,
misappropriating or otherwise violating in any material respect the NBCU Owned
Intellectual Property or the NBCU Technology, except for such infringements,
misappropriations or violations that arise from the unauthorized reproduction,
performance or distribution by peer-to-peer file sharing, other online piracy or
illegal hard disk counterfeiting.
(d) No
Actions are pending or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, threatened against any of the
NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities or any of their respective properties or
assets, and no NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity has received any subpoena or
written notice of any claim or investigation, alleging that the operation or
conduct of the NBCU Businesses by any of the NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities
infringes upon, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property
of any third party in any material respect. There are no suits, actions or
proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, threatened against any of the
NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities with respect to the validity, title or
ownership of any material NBCU Owned Intellectual Property.
(e) (i)
Section 3.12(e)(i) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete
list of all NBCU Registered IP (other than any registrations or applications for
registration of Copyrights).
(ii) All
maintenance fees for the NBCU Registered IP have been paid (except with respect
to NBCU Registered IP which the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities have
abandoned or permitted to lapse in the ordinary course of business) and the NBCU
Registered IP remains in full force and effect, in each case to the extent such
NBCU Registered IP is material to the NBCU Businesses.
(iii) The NBCU
Transferors and the NBCU Entities have taken all commercially reasonable steps
to protect and maintain the NBCU Owned Intellectual Property that, in their
reasonable business judgment, they have determined to be necessary or advisable
for such protection or maintenance and, where reasonably necessary as of the
date hereof, each
30
item of
the NBCU Owned Intellectual Property that is material to the NBCU Businesses has
been duly registered with, filed in or issued by, as the case may be, the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office, the applicable domain
name registrar or the corresponding authorities in foreign jurisdictions, to the
extent necessary to ensure full protection under any applicable
Law.
(f) Except
for the GE Name and XX Xxxxx, all GE Intellectual Property and GE Technology
owned by GE and its Subsidiaries that is or has been used, held for use or
Contemplated to be used in the NBCU Businesses has been licensed to Newco
pursuant to the GE Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement. As of the date
hereof, neither the GE Name nor the XX Xxxxx are used in the NBCU Businesses
other than certain de minimis or insignificant uses in stationary, powerpoints,
promotional brochures, and other promotional correspondence.
(g) Each of
the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities has taken security measures
reasonable in the industry in which it operates to protect the secrecy,
confidentiality and value of all Trade Secrets included in the NBCU Intellectual
Property and/or the NBCU Technology.
(h) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement would not
reasonably be expected to: (i) restrict, limit, invalidate, impair, alter,
extinguish, result in the loss of or otherwise adversely affect any right, title
or interest of Newco or any of the NBCU Entities in any NBCU Owned Intellectual
Property or NBCU Technology, or its rights to use any NBCU Licensed Intellectual
Property, in each case in a manner that would reasonably be expected to be
material to the NBCU Businesses taken as a whole; (ii) grant or require Newco or
any of the NBCU Entities to grant to any third party any right with respect to
any NBCU Owned Intellectual Property or NBCU Technology, in each case that would
reasonably be expected to be material to the NBCU Businesses taken as a whole;
(iii) subject Newco or any of the NBCU Entities to an increase in royalties or
other payments, in each case that would reasonably be expected to be material to
the NBCU Businesses taken as a whole, under any NBCU IP License; (iv) diminish
royalties or other payments to which the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities
would otherwise be entitled, in each case that would reasonably be expected to
be material to the NBCU Businesses taken as a whole, under any NBCU IP License;
or (v) result in the breach or, by its terms, termination of any NBCU IP License
that is material to the NBCU Businesses taken as a whole. For the avoidance of
doubt, the representation set forth in this Section 3.12(h) does not contemplate
the manner in which the Business of Newco is to be operated after the
Closing.
Section
3.13. Environmental and Health
and Safety Matters. (a) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in
31
the
aggregate, a NBCU Material Adverse Effect: (i) none of the NBCU Transferors
(with respect to the NBCU Entities, the NBCU Assets or the NBCU Businesses), the
NBCU Entities or the NBCU Assets (except for the NBCU Leased Real Property) is
subject and, to the Knowledge of NBCU, no NBCU Leased Real Property is subject,
to a written notice, notification, demand, citation, summons, request for
information, investigation or order from, or agreement with, any Governmental
Authority, or has been assessed any penalty or fine in the last five (5) years,
in each case, relating to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or
Hazardous Material; (ii) there has been no release, discharge, migration or
disposal of Hazardous Materials on, at, to, under or from (including offsite
disposal or arrangement for the disposal from) the NBCU Real Properties or, to
the Knowledge of NBCU, real properties formerly owned, leased or operated by the
NBCU Entities or otherwise used in the NBCU Businesses; (iii) there are no
Actions pending or threatened against the NBCU Transferors (with respect to the
NBCU Entities, the NBCU Assets or the NBCU Businesses), the NBCU Assets or the
NBCU Entities, in each case, relating to any Environmental Law, Environmental
Permit or Hazardous Material; (iv) the NBCU Transferors (with respect to the
NBCU Assets or the NBCU Businesses), the NBCU Entities, the NBCU Assets and the
NBCU Businesses have operated for the last five (5) years and are operating in
compliance with applicable Environmental Laws including obtaining and
maintaining all Environmental Permits; (v) there are no Liabilities of the NBCU
Transferors (with respect to the NBCU Assets or the NBCU Businesses) or the NBCU
Entities or otherwise relating to the NBCU Businesses, in each case, with
respect to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Material;
and (vi) there are no financial assurance requirements pertaining to the NBCU
Businesses or the NBCU Assets (including, to the Knowledge of NBCU, the NBCU
Leased Real Property) under any Environmental Law or Environmental
Permit.
(b) All
material environmental or health and safety assessments and reports conducted
within the last five (5) years by or on behalf of the NBCU Entities or, with
respect to the NBCU Real Properties or the NBCU Businesses, the NBCU
Transferors, have been furnished or made available to Comcast.
(c) With
respect to the NBCU Entities, the NBCU Assets and the NBCU Businesses, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby requires no filings to be
made or actions to be taken pursuant to the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery
Act or the “Connecticut Property Transfer Law” (Sections 22a-134 through 22-134e
of the Connecticut General Statutes).
The
representations and warranties made by NBCU in Section 3.07 and Section 3.13 are
the only representations and warranties made by NBCU in this Agreement with
respect to any matters arising under, or regulated pursuant to, any
Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.
32
Section
3.14. Significant NBCU
Contracts. (a) Section 3.14(a) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth a
true and complete list of all of the following Contracts to which GE or any of
its Subsidiaries (including any of the NBCU Entities) is a party or by which it
or any of its properties or assets may be bound as of the date of this Agreement
(in each case (x) only with respect to the NBCU Businesses and (y) as amended,
supplemented, waived or otherwise modified through the date of this Agreement,
collectively, the “Significant
NBCU Contracts”):
(i) stock
purchase agreements or asset purchase agreements that (x) would reasonably be
expected to involve aggregate consideration (including any Debt for borrowed
money acquired or assumed thereunder) in excess of $75 million, (y) have not
expired by, and have not been terminated in accordance with, their terms, and
(z) relate to the prospective acquisition or disposition of any NBCU Assets or
the NBCU Businesses;
(ii) Contracts
pursuant to which any NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity currently leases any NBCU
Assets (other than leases for NBCU Leased Real Property and Contracts related to
transactions involving the Library entered into in the ordinary course of
business) and in respect of which the NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities would
reasonably be expected to make, on or after the date hereof, aggregate payments
in excess of $50 million;
(iii) (A) joint
venture, partnership and limited liability company operating agreements pursuant
to which a NBCU Transferor or any of the NBCU Entities would reasonably be
expected to make, on or after the date hereof, aggregate payments in excess of
$75 million, (B) organizational documents of other material joint ventures,
partnerships and limited liability companies included in the NBCU Assets and (C)
organizational documents or other Contracts relating to other joint ventures,
partnerships and limited liability companies included in the NBCU Assets in
which GE and its Subsidiaries own an interest with a value in excess of $25
million, containing rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments obligating
any party thereto to issue, sell, purchase, return, convert or redeem any of the
shares or other equity interests of such joint venture, partnership or limited
liability company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares
or other equity securities;
(iv) Contracts
prohibiting or materially restricting the ability of any NBCU Transferor or any
Material NBCU Entity to (A) engage in any business, (B) sell any products or
services to any other Person, (C) operate in any geographical area or (D)
compete with or obtain products or services from any Person or prohibit or
restrict the ability of any Person to
33
(v) Contracts
relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit that would reasonably
be expected to involve amounts in excess of $50 million to which any NBCU
Transferor or NBCU Entity is a party;
(vi) Exploitation
Agreements (A) pursuant to which the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities
would reasonably be expected to receive annual revenue in excess of $25 million
for fiscal year 2009, and/or (B) in respect of which the NBCU Transferors and
NBCU Entities would reasonably be expected to make payments in excess of (x) $25
million in fiscal year 2010 or 2011 or (y) $100 million in any other fiscal
year, other than, in each case under (A) or (B) above, any Contract of the type
(disregarding any dollar thresholds, materiality or other qualifiers,
restrictions or other limitations applied to such Contract type) described in
clause (ix) of this Section 3.14(a);
(vii) Affiliation
Agreements representing the top ten (ranked by aggregate distribution fees
payable during the nine month period ending on September 30, 2009) programming
service distribution agreements;
(viii) “term
deals” as commonly understood in the motion picture or television industry
pursuant to which the relevant NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities would
reasonably be expected to pay, on or after the date hereof, aggregate
compensation in excess of $10 million;
(ix) each
Contract pursuant to which any NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity licenses any
exhibition rights in Programs to third parties for any period ending on or after
September 30, 2009 on an output basis (i.e., which grants television exhibition
rights to Library Pictures, or films that will become Library Pictures, that
will become available for such exhibition during a specified prospective
multiyear period of time, and under which not all Library Pictures are
specifically identified by title) pursuant to which the relevant NBCU
Transferors and NBCU Entities would reasonably be expected to receive annual
revenue in excess of $25 million for fiscal year 2009;
(x) Contracts
between any NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity, on the one hand, and the owners of
broadcast television stations in the top
34
(xi) material
NBCU IP Licenses, other than any (A) “shrinkwrap”
or “clickwrap” licenses or agreements for commercially available off-the-shelf
Software, (B) confidentiality agreements made in the ordinary course of
business, or (C) any Contract of the type (disregarding any dollar thresholds,
materiality or other qualifiers, restrictions or other limitations applied to
such Contract type) described in clauses (i)-(x) or (xii)-(xiv) of this Section
3.14(a);
(xii) the
Talent Contracts representing, as of the date hereof, the top 10 Talent
Contracts (based on the aggregate amount of payments reasonably expected to be
made by the relevant NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities) and the employment
agreements of the chief executive officer of NBCU and each of his direct reports
(to the extent that such individuals are party to employment
agreements);
(xiii) infomercial
or similar paid programming Contracts granting any Person the right to program
any block of time on the Stations or cable networks included in the NBCU Assets
pursuant to which the relevant NBCU Transferors and NBCU Entities would
reasonably be expected to receive, on or after the date hereof, aggregate
consideration in excess of $10 million;
(xiv) Contracts
for the acquisition, lease or servicing of satellite transponders and other
uplink and downlink and terrestrial transmission (including fiber optic)
arrangements relating to the distribution of the broadcast and cable networks of
the NBCU Businesses and in respect of which the relevant NBCU Transferors and
NBCU Entities would reasonably be expected to make, on or after the date hereof,
aggregate payments in excess of $2.5 million;
(xv) the
Contracts listed on Section 3.14(a)(xv) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter;
and
(xvi) Contracts
not of a type (disregarding any dollar threshold amounts, materiality or other
qualifiers, restrictions or other limitations applied to such Contract type)
described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xv) that would reasonably be
expected to involve payments in excess of $100 million.
(b) Each
Significant NBCU Contract is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
applicable NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity, as the case may
35
(c) None of
the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities has received, within the three (3)
years ending on the date hereof, any written notice of any violation or breach
of any MFN included in any Affiliation Agreement.
(d) Neither
NBCU nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by and the NBCU Assets
do not contain any Contract that, by its terms, would bind Affiliates of Newco
(other than the NBCU Entities) with respect to their business operations after
giving effect to the Closing. NBCU has made available to Comcast accurate and
complete copies of the provisions referenced on Section 3.14(d) of the NBCU
Disclosure Letter.
Section
3.15. Employment and Employee
Benefits Matters. (a) Section 3.15(a) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets
forth a list, as of the date hereof, of all material NBCU Employee Plans and
separately identifies (i) the material NBCU Parent Plans, (ii) the material NBCU
Subsidiary Plans (other than NBCU Multiemployer Plans), (iii) the NBCU
Multiemployer Plans covering 50 or more active NBCU Employees employed in the
United States and the material NBCU
36
Multiemployer
Plans covering NBCU Employees employed outside of the United States, (iv) the
NBCU Employee Plans (other than NBCU Multiemployer Plans) constituting plans
subject to Title IV of ERISA or other defined benefit pension plans covering 50
or more NBCU Employees, (v) each NBCU Employee Plan (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) that provides for post-retirement medical coverage for 50 or
more NBCU Employees (excluding coverage as required to avoid an excise tax under
section 4980B of the Code, coverage through the end of the calendar month in
which retirement occurs, post-employment coverage under a medical expense
reimbursement account and coverage during any severance benefits period), and
(vi) to the Knowledge of NBCU, the principal labor agreements covering the
current material terms and conditions of employment with each union or labor
organization, collective bargaining unit, works council or other employee
representative that applies to NBCU Employees. NBCU has previously made
available to Comcast a true and complete copy of each NBCU Employee Plan (other
than Multiemployer Plans) covering NBCU Employees employed in the United States
and a summary or written description of each material NBCU Employee Plan
applicable to NBCU Employees employed in countries other than the United
States.
(b) To the
Knowledge of NBCU, as of the date hereof, no NBCU Multiemployer Plan is in
critical, endangered, or seriously endangered status as described in Section 305
of ERISA, as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
(c) Each NBCU
Employee Plan (and, as of the date hereof, with respect to any Multiemployer
Plan, solely to the Knowledge of NBCU without any inquiry) that is intended to
be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable
determination letter from the IRS that it is so qualified, and each related
trust that is intended to be exempt from federal income Tax pursuant to Section
501(a) of the Code has received a determination letter from the IRS that it is
so exempt, and no event has occurred since the date of such determination letter
that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect such qualification or
exemption, as the case may be. Each NBCU Employee Plan (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) that is required to be registered in order to obtain
tax-approved, favored or qualified status in the relevant jurisdiction has been
registered or, where applicable, accepted for registration, and has been
maintained in good standing with applicable Governmental Authorities, except as
would not reasonably be expected to have a NBCU Material Adverse
Effect.
(d) With
respect to each NBCU Employee Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) subject
to Title IV of ERISA, there is no liability incurred under Title IV of ERISA
that has not been satisfied in full (other than premiums to the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation which are not past due or amounts reflected in the NBCU
Financial Statements). None of the NBCU Assets is the subject of any Lien
arising under ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. With
37
respect
to each NBCU Employee Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) that is a
registered pension plan, no Person has (i) withdrawn any funds from the plan;
(ii) merged any of the plans with another registered pension plan; (iii)
transferred assets from another registered pension plan to the plan; (iv) taken
a contribution holiday in respect of the plan; or (v) used assets from the plan
to pay administrative expenses of the plan, except, in each such case, (A) in
accordance with terms of the respective plan (and any applicable funding
agreement) and applicable Law; or (B) as to which there is no material
Liability.
(e) Each NBCU
Employee Plan (other than Multiemployer Plans) is now and has been operated in
all material respects in accordance with its terms and the requirements of all
applicable Laws.
(f) There are
no material controversies (other than routine benefit claims for benefits in the
ordinary course) pending or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, threatened in connection
with any NBCU Subsidiary Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) or, except as
would not reasonably be expected to have a NBCU Material Adverse Effect, any
other NBCU Employee Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan).
(g) None of
the NBCU Transferors, the NBCU Entities or their respective Affiliates has
breached or otherwise failed to comply in any material respect with the
provisions of any collective bargaining, works council or similar employee
representative agreement, and as of the date hereof there are no material
grievances or arbitrations outstanding thereunder. There are no formal
organizational campaigns, corporate campaigns, petitions, demands for
recognition via card-check or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, other material
unionization activities seeking recognition of a bargaining unit in the NBCU
Businesses. As of the date hereof, there are no material unfair labor practice
charges, grievances, pending arbitrations, or other complaints or union
representation questions before the National Labor Relations Board or other
labor board or Governmental Authority that could materially affect NBCU
Employees and would reasonably be expected to result in a material Liability to
the Newco Group.
(h) As of the
date hereof, there are no current or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, threatened
material strikes, slowdowns or work stoppages, and no such material strike,
slowdown or work stoppage has occurred within the three years preceding the date
hereof. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a material
Liability to the NBCU Businesses, the NBCU Transferors, the NBCU Entities and
their respective Affiliates have, in all material respects, informed and
consulted with their respective employee representative bodies to the degree
required by applicable Laws and applicable collective bargaining, works council
or similar employee representative agreements, including but not limited to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
38
(i) Each
of the NBCU Transferors, the NBCU Entities and their respective Affiliates (in
the case of the NBCU Transferors and their Affiliates that are not NBCU
Entities, with respect to NBCU Employees only) are in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable Laws relating to the employment of NBCU Employees
(including employment or labor standards, labor relations, human rights,
immigration, workers’ compensation, severance payment, payment of wages, the
WARN Act and any similar state or local law, classification of independent
contractor or other non-employee status and of exempt and non- exempt employees,
pay equity, data protection and Automatic Transfer Legislation) and, except for
amounts reflected in the NBCU Financial Statements or non-compliance which would
not result in a material Liability to NBCU or any of its Affiliates, have timely
paid in full all wages, salaries, benefits, commissions and other compensation,
and all levies, assessments, contributions and payments to third parties
(including social security or social insurance, housing fund, employment
insurance, income tax, employer health tax, workers compensation, Multiemployer
Plan contributions, or payments of its contributions with respect to social
security agencies, family benefits agencies and any retirement and unemployment
related agencies or other payments of tax and social security payments to
Governmental Authorities) due to or on behalf of the NBCU Employees. Except for
accrued amounts that are not past due and non- compliance which would not
reasonably be expected to result in a material Liability to NBCU or any of its
Affiliates, each of the NBCU Transferors, the NBCU Entities and their respective
Affiliates has withheld, and paid to the relevant Governmental Authority, proper
and accurate amounts from salaries and wages due to the NBCU Employees in due
compliance in all material respects with relevant tax withholding provisions. No
material claim with respect to payment of wages, salary or overtime pay has been
asserted, or is now pending or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, threatened before any
Governmental Authority, with respect to NBCU Employees, and there is no charge
or proceeding with respect to a material violation of any occupational safety or
health standards that has been asserted or is now pending or, to the Knowledge
of NBCU, threatened with respect to the NBCU Businesses. No material charge of
discrimination in employment or employment practices for any reason, including
age, gender, race, religion or other legally protected category, has been
asserted or is now pending or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, threatened before the
United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other Governmental
Authority by NBCU Employees. As of the date hereof, none of the NBCU
Transferors, the NBCU Entities or their respective Affiliates (in the case of
the NBCU Transferors and their Affiliates that are not NBCU Entities, with
respect to NBCU Employees only) is subject to any pending investigation from any
labor inspection or similar Governmental Authority which could reasonably be
expected to result in any material payment. There is no other material Action
existing, pending or, to the Knowledge of NBCU, threatened by NBCU Employees
against any NBCU Transferor, any NBCU Entity or any of their respective
Affiliates, and there are
39
no
matters that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such material
Actions.
(j) To the
Knowledge of NBCU, no NBCU Employee has been, is or will be, by performing
services for the Newco Group, in violation of any term of any employment,
invention disclosure or assignment, confidentiality, nondisclosure agreement,
noncompetition agreement or other restrictive covenant or any order, other than
any violation that would not have a material Liability.
(k) In the
event the services of each NBCU Employee who, as of the date hereof, is a party
to a NBCU Employee Agreement set forth in Section 3.14 of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter was terminated on January 1, 2010, the aggregate amount of such NBCU
Employees’ severance or termination pay or claim for damages to the extent
attributable solely to annual base salary is set forth in Section 3.15(k) of the
NBCU Disclosure Letter. Section 3.15(k) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth
a list of all NBCU Employee Plans (other than any Multiemployer Plan) pursuant
to which any amounts or benefits may become vested or payable, funded, increased
or accelerated, as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement (either alone or in combination with any other event or
events), including, as to any such NBCU Employee Plan constituting an employee
pension benefit plan, any employer debt under Section 75 of the Pensions Xxx
0000, any withdrawal or termination penalty, or other similar penalty. There are
no NBCU Employee Plans (other than any Multiemployer Plan) which provide for the
payment of any amount (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property)
as a result of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (either
alone or in combination with any other event or events) that would give rise to
a material payment that is nondeductible by reason of Section 280G.
Section
3.16. NBCU Real
Property. (a) Section 3.16(a) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth a
list, as of the date hereof, of all of the material NBCU Owned Real Properties
and the material NBCU Leased Real Properties.
(b) As of the
date hereof, the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities have good and valid fee
simple title to all material NBCU Owned Real Property and valid leasehold title
to the leasehold estate (as lessee or sublessee) in all material NBCU Leased
Real Property, in each case free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted
Liens.
(c) (i) All
leases and subleases for the material NBCU Leased Real Property under which any
of the NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities is a lessee or sublessee are in full
force and effect and are enforceable, in all material respects, in accordance
with their respective terms, subject to the effect of any applicable Laws
relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance or preferential transfers, or similar Laws relating to
or
40
affecting
creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to the effect of
general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (ii) no written notices of
material default under any such lease or sublease have been sent or received by
any NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities.
(d) None of
the NBCU Transferors or NBCU Entities has received any written notice from any
Governmental Authority asserting any material violation or alleged material
violation of applicable Laws with respect to any NBCU Real Properties that
remains uncured as of the date of this Agreement.
(e) The
plants, buildings, structures and fixtures material to the NBCU Businesses
included in the NBCU Assets are adequate for their present uses.
(f) The
plants, buildings and structures material to the NBCU Businesses included in the
NBCU Assets currently (i) have access to public roads or valid and subsisting
easements, rights of way or private agreements (including, without limitation,
leases) for access over private streets or private property for such ingress to
and egress from all such plants, buildings and structures, and (ii) are serviced
by such utilities as are necessary for the particular operations of NBCU taking
place on the date hereof at each such plant, building or structure.
(g) Subject
to Section 2.05, all real property material to the NBCU Businesses is included
in either the NBCU Owned Real Property or the NBCU Leased Real
Property.
Section
3.17. Insurance. (a)
All material insurance policies maintained by or for the benefit of the NBCU
Businesses, including all existing errors and omission insurance policies, are
in full force and effect. The NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities have
complied in all material respects with the terms and provisions of such
policies. No claim has been made since January 1, 2006 with respect to the
Library Rights under any errors and omissions policy maintained by or for the
benefit of the NBCU Businesses.
(b)
Section 3.17(b) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete
list, as of the date hereof, of (i) all NBCU Related Insurance Policies and (ii)
all NBCU Exclusive Insurance Policies.
Section
3.18. Related Party
Transactions. (a) Section 3.18(a) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets
forth a true and complete description, as of the date hereof, of all Related
Party NBCU Contracts or other arrangements between GE and its Subsidiaries
(other any NBCU Entity) on the one hand, and any NBCU Entity, on the other
hand.
41
(b)
Section 3.18(b) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date hereof,
a true and complete list of all GE LCs and, if applicable, the aggregate
potential Liability under each such GE LC.
Section
3.19. Library Rights.
(a) As between (i) GE and its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) on the
one hand, and (ii) any NBCU Entity on the other hand, any and all rights in and
to the Library (and any databases relating thereto) are held by the NBCU
Entities (rather than by GE or any of its other Subsidiaries).
(b) All
Exploitation Agreements entered into by a NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity
pursuant to which a NBCU Transferor or a NBCU Entity has granted any third party
any right to Exploit any material portions of the Library or its components have
been entered into in the ordinary course of business.
(c) None of
the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities have received (nor does NBCU have any
Knowledge that the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities will receive) from any
registration or filing office of requisite authority in any jurisdiction, any
notice from any third party terminating or purporting to terminate copyright
assignments pursuant to 17 U.S.C § 203 or § 304 or their foreign equivalents and
relating to the Programs.
(d) An
original negative or master of each of the Library Pictures currently being
Exploited has been properly stored, in each case in accordance with standards
customarily applied by major theatrical, television and home video distributors,
as applicable, or the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities has access to
printable elements of such Library Pictures. Such original negatives, masters or
printable elements are, in all material respects, in a commercially reasonable
condition. Section 3.19(d) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the
date hereof, a list, which is true and complete in all material respects, of the
physical locations of such original negatives, masters, or printable elements,
and to the extent such physical locations are owned or controlled by third
parties, the NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities are party to customary
access agreements.
(e) The
Library Tangible Assets for the Programs are stored and maintained in all
material respects in accordance with standard industry practices for the use and
preservation of such materials, and the NBCU Entities have customary access
thereto sufficient to Exploit the Programs.
Section
3.20. Distribution. (a)
To the Knowledge of NBCU as of the date hereof, each distributor that is party
to an Affiliation Agreement with a NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity is meeting its
payment obligations under such Affiliation Agreement in accordance with the
terms of such Affiliation Agreement, other than the nonpayment of amounts that
are subject to a bona
fide
42
dispute,
controversy or claim. No NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity is in material default
or material breach of any such Affiliation Agreement, and there does not exist
any event, condition or omission that would constitute such a material default
or material breach (whether by lapse of time or notice or both) under any such
Affiliation Agreement on the part of any NBCU Transferor or NBCU
Entity.
(b) With
respect to any material Affiliation Agreement containing a delete or
repositioning right, no multichannel video programming distributor has notified
any NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity in writing of its intention to delete or
materially reposition any programming service.
(c) Section
3.20(c) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of September 30, 2009, the
number of subscribers with respect to each network of the NBCU Transferors and
NBCU Entities as most recently reported by the applicable
distributor.
Section
3.21. No Debt as of
Closing. Immediately prior to the Closing, none of the NBCU Entities
shall have any outstanding Debt, other than the NBCU Financing or Alternative
Financing, as applicable, the Repatriation Notes (if any), Debt of any
Subsidiary that is not, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by NBCU and capital
lease obligations.
Section
3.22. Comcast/NBCU
Sale. Subject to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
Section 2.02 and Section 2.03, as of immediately prior to the Closing, Navy
Holdco 2 will be the sole owner of the Newco Membership Interests to be sold to
Comcast pursuant to Section 2.04, free and clear of Liens (other than the
restrictions set forth in the Newco Operating Agreement).
Section
3.23. NBCU Financing.
NBCU has delivered to Comcast a true and complete copy of the Commitment Letter,
dated as of December 3, 2009 (including the exhibits thereto), among NBCU and
the lenders party thereto (the “NBCU Financing Commitment
Letter” and the financing contemplated thereby, the “NBCU Financing”). The NBCU
Financing Commitment Letter is a valid and binding obligation of NBCU and, to
the Knowledge of NBCU, the other parties thereto and, as of the date of this
Agreement, has not been amended or modified in any respect, and, to the
Knowledge of NBCU, the respective commitments contained in the NBCU Financing
Commitment Letter have not been withdrawn, modified or rescinded in any respect
prior to the date of this Agreement. There are no conditions precedent or
contingencies related to the funding of the full amount of the NBCU Financing
(including pursuant to any “flex” provisions), other than as expressly set forth
in the NBCU Financing Commitment Letter. As of the date of this Agreement, no
event has occurred with respect to the NBCU Businesses which, with or without
notice, lapse of time or
43
both,
would constitute a default or event of default on the part of NBCU under any
term or condition of the NBCU Financing Commitment Letter, and as of the date of
this Agreement, NBCU has no reason to believe that it will be unable to satisfy
on a timely basis any term or condition of closing or funding to be satisfied by
it pursuant to the NBCU Financing Commitment Letter. The NBCU Financing, when
funded in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the NBCU
Financing Commitment Letter will provide NBCU with funds sufficient to pay the
NBCU Dividend in full.
Section
3.24. No Other Representations
or Warranties. EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN
THIS ARTICLE 3 (AS MODIFIED BY THE NBCU DISCLOSURE LETTER) AND IN THE OTHER
TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS, NEITHER NBCU NOR ANY OTHER PERSON (EXCEPT FOR THE
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GE CONTAINED IN ARTICLE 4) MAKES ANY OTHER
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT THE NBCU TRANSFERORS,
THE NBCU ASSETS, THE NBCU ENTITIES, THE NBCU BUSINESSES OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE ASSUMED NBCU LIABILITIES AND ANY OTHER
RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS TO BE TRANSFERRED HEREUNDER OR PURSUANT HERETO, AND NBCU
AND GE DISCLAIM ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER MADE BY NBCU,
GE OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR ANY OF THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS,
EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR
IN THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS, NBCU AND GE HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY AND
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, PROJECTION, FORECAST,
STATEMENT, OR INFORMATION MADE, COMMUNICATED, OR FURNISHED (ORALLY OR IN
WRITING) TO COMCAST, NEWCO OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES
(INCLUDING ANY OPINION, INFORMATION, PROJECTION, OR ADVICE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN OR
MAY BE PROVIDED TO COMCAST OR NEWCO BY ANY DIRECTOR, OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, AGENT,
CONSULTANT, OR REPRESENTATIVE OF NBCU OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES). NBCU AND GE
MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING THE PROBABLE SUCCESS OR
PROFITABILITY OF THE NBCU BUSINESSES, THE NBCU ENTITIES OR THE NBCU
ASSETS.
ARTICLE
4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GE
GE hereby
represents and warrants to Newco and Comcast that, except as set forth in the GE
Disclosure Letter:
44
Section
4.01. Incorporation,
Qualification and Authority. (a) Each of GE, Newco, the NBCU Transferors,
Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2 is a corporation or other organization duly
incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all necessary power
to enter into, consummate the transactions contemplated by, and carry out its
obligations under, the Transaction Agreements to which it is a party. Each of
GE, Newco, the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2 is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization to do business, and, to
the extent legally applicable, is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where
the character of its owned, operated or leased properties or the nature of its
activities makes such qualification necessary, except for jurisdictions where
the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be
expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a NBCU Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) The
execution, delivery and performance by GE, Newco, the NBCU Transferors, Navy
Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2 of the Transaction Agreements to which they are
parties and the consummation by GE, the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 and Navy
Holdco 2 of the transactions contemplated by, and the performance by GE, Newco,
the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2 under, the Transaction
Agreements to which they are parties have been (or, in the case of the NBCU
Transferors other than GE, will be, prior to the Closing) duly authorized by all
requisite action on the part of GE, Newco, the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco 1
and Navy Holdco 2. This Agreement has been and, upon execution and delivery, the
other Transaction Agreements to which GE, Newco, any NBCU Transferor, Navy
Holdco 1 or Navy Holdco 2 is a party will be, duly executed and delivered by GE,
Newco, the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2, as applicable, and
(assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto
and thereto) this Agreement constitutes and, upon execution and delivery, the
other Transaction Agreements will constitute, legal, valid and binding
obligations of GE, Newco, the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2,
as applicable, enforceable against GE, Newco, the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco
1 and Navy Holdco 2, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, subject to
the effect of any applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization,
insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or preferential transfers, or
similar Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject,
as to enforceability, to the effect of general principles of equity (regardless
of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(c) GE has
previously made available to Comcast complete and correct copies of the
organizational documents of NBCU and each of the NBCU Transferors that is not
wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by GE, as amended through the date hereof.
The organizational documents of NBCU and each NBCU Transferor are in full force
and effect, and no resolution is pending or has
45
been
adopted providing for the amendment thereof (except as reflected therein) or for
the dissolution or winding up of any such company. Neither NBCU nor any NBCU
Transferor is in violation of any of the provisions of its organizational
documents.
(d) Each of
Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2 is a wholly owned Subsidiary of GE. As of
immediately prior to the Closing, Navy Holdco 2 shall own, directly or
indirectly, all outstanding NBCU Shares free and clear of any Liens (other than
Permitted Liens or any restrictions under the Securities Act or other applicable
securities Laws).
(e) GE has
previously made available to Comcast complete and correct copies of all
Contracts between GE and any of its Subsidiaries (including the NBCU Entities),
on the one hand, and Vivendi and any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand,
that relate to or affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (each
such Contract, a “Vivendi
Agreement”).
Section
4.02. No Conflict.
Provided that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions
described in Section 3.05 and Section 4.03 have been obtained or taken, the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by GE, Newco, the NBCU
Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2 and the other Transaction
Agreements to which GE, the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 or Navy Holdco 2 is
or will at Closing be a party, and the consummation by GE, Newco, the NBCU
Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2 of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any of the
articles of incorporation or bylaws or similar organizational documents of GE or
any of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity), (b) conflict with or
violate any Law or Governmental Order applicable to GE or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) or any of their respective properties
or (c) result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with
the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default) under,
or give to any Person any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted
Lien) on any of the NBCU Assets pursuant to, or require a consent or approval
under any note, bond, mortgage or indenture, contract, agreement, lease,
license, permit, franchise or other material instrument to which GE or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their respective properties is
bound or affected; except, in the case of clauses (b) and (c), for any such
conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, rights or Liens as, individually or
in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a
NBCU Material Adverse Effect and would not materially impair or delay the
ability of any of GE, the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 or Navy Holdco 2 to
consummate the transactions contemplated by, or perform its obligations under,
the Transaction Agreements to which it is a party.
46
Section
4.03. Consents and
Approvals. The execution, delivery and performance by GE, Newco, the NBCU
Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2 of the Transaction Agreements to
which GE, Newco, any NBCU Transferor, Navy Holdco 1 or Navy Holdco 2 is a party
do not, and the performance by GE, the NBCU Transferors, Navy Holdco 1 and Navy
Holdco 2 of, and the consummation by GE, Newco, the NBCU Transferors, Navy
Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2 of the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction
Agreements will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or other
action by, or any filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority,
except (a) in connection, or in compliance, with the notification and waiting
period requirements of the HSR Act and applicable filings or approvals under
non-U.S. antitrust and competition Laws, (b) in connection, or in compliance,
with the applicable requirements of the Communications Act, (c) where the
failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization or action or to make
such filing or notification has not had and would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a NBCU Material Adverse Effect and would
not materially impair or delay the ability of any of GE, Newco, any NBCU
Transferor, Navy Holdco 1 or Navy Holdco 2 to consummate the transactions
contemplated by, or perform its obligations under, the Transaction Agreements to
which it is a party and (d) as may be required as a result of any facts or
circumstances relating to Comcast or its Affiliates.
Section
4.04. Brokers. Except
for fees and expenses of X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co.,
Inc. and Citigroup Global Capital Markets, in connection with their rendering of
investment banking advice to GE and its Affiliates, no broker, finder or
investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or
commission from GE or any of its Affiliates (including NBCU and Newco) in
connection with transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by
or on behalf of GE or any of its Affiliates.
Section
4.05. Securities
Matters. (a) The NBCU Shares are being obtained by Newco for its own
account, and not with a view to, or for the offer or sale in connection with,
any distribution or sale of the NBCU Shares or any interest in them in violation
of the Securities Act (or analogous Laws in any non- U.S. jurisdiction). Newco
acknowledges that the NBCU Shares have not been registered under the Securities
Act or any state securities Laws, and understands and agrees that it may not
sell or dispose of any of the NBCU Shares except pursuant to a registered
offering in compliance with, or in a transaction exempt from, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable state, foreign or
federal securities Laws.
(b)
Except as set forth in Section 2.04, the Newco Membership Interests are being
obtained by Navy Holdco 2 for its own account, and not with a view to, or for
the offer or sale in connection with, any distribution or sale of the Newco
Membership Interests or any interest in them in violation of the Securities Act
(or
47
analogous
Laws in any non-U.S. jurisdiction). Navy Holdco 2 acknowledges that the Newco
Membership Interests have not been registered under the Securities Act or any
state securities Laws, and understands and agrees that it may not sell or
dispose of any of the Newco Membership Interests except pursuant to a registered
offering in compliance with, or in a transaction exempt from, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable state, foreign or
federal securities Laws.
Section
4.06. Newco. (a) Newco
is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of Delaware. Navy Holdco 2 is the sole member of Newco.
Newco was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions
contemplated hereby, has engaged in no other business activities and has
conducted its operations only as contemplated hereby. Except for obligations
expressly incurred under provisions contained in the Transaction Agreements, the
NBCU Financing Commitment Letter and the Alternative Financing Agreements, as
applicable, Newco has no Liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or
otherwise).
(b) The
execution, delivery and performance by Newco of the Transaction Agreements to
which it is party and the consummation by Newco of the transactions contemplated
by, and the performance by Newco under, the Transaction Agreements to which it
is a party, have been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of
Newco and the members of Newco. This Agreement has been and, upon execution and
delivery, the other Transaction Agreements to which Newco is a party will be,
duly executed and delivered by Newco, and (assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto) this Agreement constitutes
and, upon execution and delivery, the other Transaction Agreements will
constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of Newco, enforceable against
Newco in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of any applicable
Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance or preferential transfers, or similar Laws relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to the effect of
general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(c) GE has
previously made available to Comcast a complete and correct copy of the
organizational documents of Newco, as amended through the date hereof. The
organizational documents of Newco are in full force and effect, and no
resolution is pending or has been adopted providing for the amendment thereof
(except as reflected therein) or for the dissolution or winding up of Newco.
Newco is not in violation of any of the provisions of its organizational
documents.
48
ARTICLE
5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMCAST
Comcast
hereby represents and warrants to Newco and GE that, except as set forth in the
Comcast Disclosure Letter:
Section
5.01. Incorporation,
Qualification and Authority. (a) Each of the Comcast Transferors is a
corporation or other organization duly incorporated or organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization and has all necessary power to enter into,
consummate the transactions contemplated by, and carry out its obligations
under, the Transaction Agreements to which it is a party. Each of the Comcast
Transferors is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization to
do business, and, to the extent legally applicable, is in good standing, in each
jurisdiction where the character of its owned, operated or leased properties or
the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for
jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not
reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Comcast
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The
execution, delivery and performance by the Comcast Transferors of the
Transaction Agreements to which they are parties and the consummation by the
Comcast Transferors of the transactions contemplated by, and the performance by
the Comcast Transferors under, the Transaction Agreements to which they are
parties, have been (or, in the case of Comcast Transferors other than Comcast,
will be, prior to the Closing) duly authorized by all requisite action on the
part of the Comcast Transferors. This Agreement has been and, upon execution and
delivery, the other Transaction Agreements to which any Comcast Transferor is a
party will be, duly executed and delivered by the Comcast Transferors party
hereto and thereto, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by
the other parties hereto and thereto) this Agreement constitutes and, upon
execution and delivery, the other Transaction Agreements will constitute, legal,
valid and binding obligations of the Comcast Transferors party hereto and
thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with their terms,
subject to the effect of any applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or preferential
transfers, or similar Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally
and subject, as to enforceability, to the effect of general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law).
(c) Comcast
has previously made available to NBCU complete and correct copies of the
organizational documents of each of the Comcast Transferors that is not wholly
owned, directly or indirectly, by Comcast, as amended through the date hereof.
The organizational documents of each Comcast
49
Transferor
are in full force and effect, and no resolution is pending or has been adopted
providing for the amendment thereof (except as reflected therein) or for the
dissolution or winding up of any such company. No Comcast Transferor is in
violation of any of the provisions of its organizational documents.
Section
5.02. Incorporation and
Qualification of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries. (a)
Except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Comcast Material Adverse Effect, each of the Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries is a corporation or other organization duly incorporated or
organized, validly existing and, to the extent legally applicable, in good
standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization.
Each of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries has the requisite power and
authority to operate its business as now conducted, is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation or other organization to do business and, to the extent
legally applicable, is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character
of its owned, operated or leased properties or the nature of its activities
makes such qualification necessary, except for jurisdictions where the failure
to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Comcast Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) The
organizational documents of each Contributed Comcast Subsidiary are in full
force and effect. No Contributed Comcast Subsidiary is in violation of any of
the provisions of its organizational documents. Comcast has previously made
available to NBCU complete and correct copies of the organizational documents of
each of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, as amended through the date
hereof.
Section
5.03. Capital Structure of the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries and Other Equity Interests.
(a) Section 5.03 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets forth the ownership
percentages of each class of capital stock or other equity interests outstanding
of each Contributed Comcast Subsidiary held by Comcast or its Subsidiaries,
except for changes resulting from the consummation of the Comcast Restructuring.
All of the outstanding shares or other equity interests of each of the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued,
and are fully paid (solely with respect to any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary
that is a corporation) and nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any
preemptive rights or any Law (including any federal or state securities Laws).
There are no options, warrants or rights of conversion or other rights,
agreements, arrangements or commitments obligating any of the Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries to issue, sell, purchase, return or redeem any of its
shares, other equity interests or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for its shares or other equity interests or any shares or other equity interests
of any of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries. Comcast owns, directly or
indirectly, the Contributed Comcast Equity Interests, free and clear of all
Liens, except any Liens arising out of, under or in connection with this
Agreement. There are no
50
voting
trusts, stockholder agreements, proxies or other agreements in effect with
respect to the voting or transfer of the shares or other equity interests of any
of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries.
(b)
Section 5.03(b) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets forth the name and
jurisdiction of each Person that (i) is not a Subsidiary of Comcast but in which
Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries holds an equity interest having a value of
$250,000 or more as reflected on the unaudited balance sheets of the Contributed
Comcast Businesses as of June 30, 2009 and (ii) operates within the scope of the
Contributed Comcast Businesses (“Comcast Minority Interests”).
All of the Comcast Minority Interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by a
Comcast Transferor or a Contributed Comcast Subsidiary free and clear of any
Liens (other than Permitted Liens, any restrictions under the Securities Act and
other applicable securities Laws or other Liens provided by the agreements or
organizational documents of such entity). None of the Comcast Transferors or any
of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries has any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, to fund or participate in the debts of any Person in which any
Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary holds a Comcast Minority
Interest.
Section
5.04. No Conflict.
Provided that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions
described in Section 5.05 have been obtained or taken, the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which
any Comcast Transferor is or will at Closing be a party, and the consummation by
such Comcast Transferors of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do
not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any of the articles of
incorporation or bylaws or similar organizational documents of such Comcast
Transferors or any Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, (b) conflict with or
violate any Law or Governmental Order applicable to such Comcast Transferor or
any Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties
(including the Comcast Assets), or (c) result in any breach of, or constitute a
default (or an event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both,
would become a default) under, or give to any Person any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any
Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any of the Comcast Assets pursuant to, or
require a consent or approval under any note, bond, mortgage or indenture,
contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other material
instrument to which any of the Comcast Transferors or any of the Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their respective properties
(including the Comcast Assets) is bound or affected; except, in the case of
clauses (b) and (c), for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults,
rights or Liens as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Comcast Material Adverse Effect and would not
materially impair or delay the ability of any of the Comcast Transferors to
consummate the transactions contemplated by, or perform its obligations under,
the Transaction Agreements to which it is a party.
51
Section
5.05. Consents and
Approvals. The execution, delivery and performance by the Comcast
Transferors of the Transaction Agreements to which they are or will at Closing
be parties do not, and the performance by the Comcast Transferors of, and the
consummation by the Comcast Transferors of the transactions contemplated by, the
Transaction Agreements (including the transactions contemplated by Section 6.14)
will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or other action by, or
any filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except (a) in
connection, or in compliance, with the notification and waiting period
requirements of the HSR Act and applicable filings or approvals under non-U.S.
antitrust and competition Laws, (b) in connection, or in compliance, with the
applicable requirements of the Communications Act and applicable filings or
approvals under non-U.S. Laws governing the regulation of telecommunications and
broadcasting, (c) where the failure to obtain such consent, approval,
authorization or action or to make such filing or notification has not had and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Comcast Material Adverse Effect and would not materially impair or delay the
ability of the Comcast Transferors to consummate the transactions contemplated
by, or perform their obligations under, the Transaction Agreements and (d) as
may be required as a result of any facts or circumstances relating to GE, NBCU
or their respective Affiliates.
Section
5.06. Financial Information;
Accounting Controls; Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. (a)
Section 5.06(a) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets forth (i) the unaudited
combined balance sheet of the Contributed Comcast Businesses at December 31,
2008 (the “Comcast Reference
Balance Sheet”) and at Xxxxxxxx 00, 0000, (xx) the related unaudited
combined statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, and (iii) the unaudited combined balance sheet of the
Contributed Comcast Businesses as of June 30, 2009 and the related combined
statements of operations of the Contributed Comcast Businesses for the six month
period then ended (the balance sheets and statements referred to in clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) being herein collectively referred to as the “Comcast Financial
Statements”). The Comcast Financial Statements have been prepared in all
material respects in accordance with U.S. GAAP and, taken as a whole, present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of
operations of the Contributed Comcast Businesses at the respective dates and for
the periods covered by such statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, except for
(i) the classification treatment of certain intercompany balances, (ii) the lack
of an allocation of certain Comcast corporate costs and certain integrated
Comcast corporate related accounts and balances, (iii) the lack of a statement
of cash flows and a statement of shareholders equity, and (iv) an incomplete set
of financial statement footnotes.
(b) The
Comcast Transferors and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries have maintained
systems of internal accounting controls with respect to the Contributed Comcast
Businesses sufficient to provide reasonable assurance
52
regarding
the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for the Contributed Comcast Businesses. Comcast has implemented
disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that material information
relating to the Contributed Comcast Businesses is made known to the management
of the Contributed Comcast Businesses by others within the Contributed Comcast
Businesses.
(c) The
information in any databases maintained by any Comcast Transferor or Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary to track licensing of Library Pictures for television and
home video worldwide relating to the Library of the Comcast Transferors and the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries has been maintained by the Comcast Transferors
and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, is
derived from the books and records and the Exploitation Agreements of the
Comcast Transferors and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, and is relied on
by the Comcast Transferors and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries in
conducting the Contributed Comcast Businesses.
(d) Except
(i) as set forth in the Comcast Financial Statements, (ii) Liabilities incurred
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the date
of the Comcast Reference Balance Sheet, (iii) Excluded Comcast Liabilities, (iv)
Liabilities for Taxes, which are exclusively governed by the Tax Matters
Agreement and (v) Liabilities that would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Comcast Material Adverse Effect, there are
no Liabilities of the Comcast Transferors, the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries
or otherwise relating to the Contributed Comcast Businesses required under U.S.
GAAP to be reflected in the Comcast Financial Statements.
Section
5.07. SEC Reports.
Comcast has filed all required registration statements, reports and proxy
statements with the SEC since December 31, 2006 (collectively, the “Comcast SEC Documents”). As of
their respective effective dates (in the case of Comcast SEC Documents that are
registration statements filed pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Act) and as of their respective SEC filing dates (in the case of all other
Comcast SEC Documents), the Comcast SEC Documents complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities
Act, as the case may be, applicable to such Comcast SEC Documents, and none of
the Comcast SEC Documents as of such respective dates (or, if amended prior to
the date of this Agreement, the date of the filing of such amendment, with
respect to the disclosures that are amended) contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
53
Section
5.08. Absence of Certain
Changes or Events. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, (a) since
January 1, 2009, (i) the Contributed Comcast Businesses have been conducted in
the ordinary course consistent with past practice and (ii) there has not
occurred any event, change, occurrence or circumstance that, individually or in
the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Comcast
Material Adverse Effect and (b) from January 1, 2009 to the date hereof, none of
Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries have taken any action that, individually or
in the aggregate, would materially impair or delay the ability of the Comcast
Transferors to consummate the transactions contemplated by, or perform their
obligations under, the Transaction Agreements.
Section
5.09. Absence of
Litigation. No Actions are pending or, to the Knowledge of Comcast,
threatened against the Comcast Transferors or any Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, and since January
1, 2007, no Comcast Transferor nor any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary has
received any subpoena or notice of any claim or investigation that (a) has had
or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Comcast Material Adverse Effect or (b) would reasonably be expected to prevent
or materially impair or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, nor is there any Governmental Order outstanding against, or, to the
Knowledge of Comcast, any investigation by any Governmental Authority, involving
any Comcast Transferors or any Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets, that would reasonably be expected to prevent or
materially impair or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
Section
5.10. Compliance with
Laws. Excluding employment and employee benefits matters (which are
covered in Section 5.16), and Taxes (which are covered by the Tax Matters
Agreement), none of the Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries
is in violation of any Laws or Governmental Orders applicable to the conduct of
the Contributed Comcast Businesses by it or by which any Comcast Asset is bound
or affected, and since January 1, 2008, no Comcast Transferors or Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries have received any notice from any Governmental Authority
alleging any conflict with, or violation or breach of, any such Law or
Governmental Order, in each case, except for violations the existence of which
has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Comcast Material Adverse Effect.
Section
5.11. Governmental Licenses
and Permits. (a) This Section 5.11 does not address employment and
employee benefits matters (which are covered in Section 5.16) and Taxes (which
are covered by the Tax Matters Agreement). Each of
the Comcast Transferors and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries is in
compliance in all material respects with all Laws applicable to the ownership of
their respective assets and properties and the operation of the
Contributed
54
Comcast
Businesses, and since January 1, 2008, no Comcast Transferor or Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary has received any notice from any Governmental Authority
alleging any material conflict with, material violation or breach of or material
default under any such Law.
(b) Each of
the Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries has all permits,
licenses, permissions, franchises, and amendments thereto, from any Governmental
Authority (including FCC Licenses) necessary for the ownership and operation of
the Contributed Comcast Businesses (the “Comcast Licenses”). Each of
the Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries is in compliance in
all material respects with the terms of the Comcast Licenses, and no Comcast
Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries have received any notice from
any Governmental Authority alleging any material conflict with or violation or
breach of any Comcast License.
(c) Section
5.11(c) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete list of the
material FCC Licenses held by the Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries (the “Comcast FCC
Licenses”) currently in effect and all applications pending before any
Governmental Authority with respect to the Comcast FCC Licenses. The Comcast FCC
Licenses are in full force and effect and are not subject to any restrictions or
conditions other than those affecting such type of Comcast FCC License
generally. The Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries have
filed all reports, notifications and filings with the FCC necessary to maintain
all Comcast FCC Licenses in full force and effect, have timely paid all FCC
regulatory fees with respect thereto and, to the Knowledge of Comcast, there are
no facts, events or conditions based upon which the FCC might reasonably be
expected to revoke, suspend, cancel, rescind, terminate, require the disposition
of, or fail to renew any of the Comcast FCC Licenses or fail to grant any
pending Comcast FCC application or petition for a Comcast FCC License. The
Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries are operating only
those facilities for which an appropriate FCC authorization has been obtained
and such operation is in compliance with such authorization in all material
respects.
(d) No
application, action or proceeding is pending for the renewal or modification of
any Comcast FCC Licenses and, except for actions or proceedings affecting such
type of Comcast FCC License generally, no application, complaint, action or
proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of Comcast, threatened that seeks or
is reasonably likely to result in (i) the denial of an application for renewal
of a Comcast FCC License, (ii) the revocation, adverse modification, non-renewal
or suspension of any of the Comcast FCC Licenses or (iii) the issuance of a
material cease-and-desist order. There is not now issued, outstanding, pending
or, to the Knowledge of Comcast, threatened, by or before the FCC or any
Governmental Authority, any order to show cause, notice of violation, notice of
apparent liability, notice of forfeiture or complaint with respect to any of
the
55
Comcast
FCC Licenses that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Comcast Material Adverse Effect.
Section
5.12. Sufficiency of the
Comcast Assets; Liens. (a) On the Closing Date (including after giving
effect to the transactions contemplated by Section 6.14) and assuming receipt of
all consents, approvals and authorizations relating to the matters set forth in
Sections 5.04 and 5.05 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter or as contemplated by
Section 5.05), the Comcast Assets will, taking into account all Ancillary
Agreements and Third Party Rights, constitute all of the assets (other than
Intellectual Property) necessary to conduct the Contributed Comcast Businesses
immediately following the Closing in all material respects as it is conducted on
the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 5.12 shall be deemed to constitute a representation or warranty as to
the adequacy of the amounts of cash or working capital (or the availability of
the same); and provided, further, that this Section
5.12(a) shall not be deemed to be breached as a result of any action by Comcast
with respect to which GE has provided its specific consent (including pursuant
to Section 6.01(b)).
(b) Except
for Taxes, which are exclusively governed the Tax Matters Agreement, and
Permitted Liens, the Comcast Assets (other than the Comcast Real Properties,
which are the subject of Section 5.17 and the Comcast Owned Intellectual
Property, which is the subject of Section 5.13) are owned by or otherwise made
available to the Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, as the
case may be, free and clear of all Liens.
(c) The
Comcast Transferors and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries have maintained the
material tangible Comcast Assets in accordance with applicable industry
standards, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
Section
5.13. Intellectual
Property. (a)(i) The Comcast Transferors and the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries own sole and exclusive title to the Patents included in the Comcast
Owned Intellectual Property. To the Knowledge of Comcast, the Comcast
Transferors and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries own sole and exclusive
title to (x) the Copyrights included in the Comcast Owned Intellectual Property
to the extent of their ownership interest, and (y) all Comcast Owned
Intellectual Property (other than the Patents and Copyrights included
therein).
(ii) The
Comcast Owned Intellectual Property is owned by the Comcast Transferors or the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, as the case may be, free and clear of all
Liens, other than Permitted Liens.
(iii) The
Comcast Intellectual Property, the applicable Third Party Rights, together with
the rights to be conveyed pursuant to the
56
Comcast
Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement and the Intellectual Property
rights of Newco contemplated under the other Ancillary Agreements, constitute
all material Intellectual Property in use by, and necessary for the operation
of, the Contributed Comcast Businesses as currently conducted, assuming receipt
of the relevant consents, approvals and authorizations relating to the matters
set forth in Section 5.05 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter; provided, however, that this Section
5.13(a)(iii) shall not be deemed to be breached as a result of any action by
Comcast with respect to which NBCU has provided its specific consent (including
pursuant to Section 6.01(b)).
(b) To the
Knowledge of Comcast, the operation and conduct of the Contributed Comcast
Businesses as currently conducted do not infringe upon, misappropriate or
otherwise violate the valid and enforceable Intellectual Property, moral rights
or neighboring rights of any third party in any material respect.
(c) No
Actions brought by Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (including any Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary) are pending against any Person, and no Person has received
any subpoena or written notice of any claim or investigation from Comcast or any
of its Subsidiaries (including any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary), alleging
that such Person is infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating in
any material respect the Comcast Owned Intellectual Property or the Comcast
Technology, except for such infringements, misappropriations or violations that
arise from the unauthorized reproduction, performance or distribution by
peer-to-peer file sharing, other online piracy or illegal hard disk
counterfeiting.
(d) No
Actions are pending or, to the Knowledge of Comcast, threatened against any of
the Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets, and no Comcast Transferor or Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary has received any subpoena or written notice of any claim or
investigation, alleging that the operation or conduct of the Contributed Comcast
Businesses by any of the Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries
infringes upon, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property
of any third party in any material respect. There are no suits, actions or
proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Comcast, threatened against any of
the Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries with respect to the
validity, title or ownership of any material Comcast Owned Intellectual
Property.
(e) (i)
Section 5.13(e)(i) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and
complete list of all Comcast Registered IP (other than any registrations or
applications for registration of Copyrights).
57
(ii) All
maintenance fees for the Comcast Registered IP have been paid (except with
respect to Comcast Registered IP which the Comcast Transferors and the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries have abandoned or permitted to lapse in the
ordinary course of business) and the Comcast Registered IP remains in full force
and effect, in each case to the extent such Comcast Registered IP is material to
the Contributed Comcast Businesses.
(iii) The
Comcast Transferors and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries have taken all
commercially reasonable steps to protect and maintain the Comcast Owned
Intellectual Property that, in their reasonable business judgment, they have
determined to be necessary or advisable for such protection or maintenance and,
where reasonably necessary as of the date hereof, each item of the Comcast Owned
Intellectual Property that is material to the Contributed Comcast Businesses has
been duly registered with, filed in or issued by, as the case may be, the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office, the applicable domain
name registrar or the corresponding authorities in foreign jurisdictions, to the
extent necessary to ensure full protection under any applicable
Law.
(f) Except
for the Comcast Name and Comcast Marks, all Excluded Comcast Intellectual
Property and Excluded Comcast Technology owned by Comcast and its Subsidiaries
that is or has been used, held for use or Contemplated to be used in the
Contributed Comcast Businesses has been licensed to Newco pursuant to the
Comcast Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement.
(g) Each of
the Comcast Transferors and the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries has taken
security measures reasonable in the industry in which it operates to protect the
secrecy, confidentiality and value of all Trade Secrets included in the Comcast
Intellectual Property and/or the Comcast Technology.
(h) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement would not
reasonably be expected to: (i) restrict, limit, invalidate, impair, alter,
extinguish, result in the loss of or otherwise adversely affect any right, title
or interest of Newco or any of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries in any
Comcast Owned Intellectual Property or Comcast Technology, or its rights to use
any Comcast Licensed Intellectual Property, in each case in a manner that would
reasonably be expected to be material to the Contributed Comcast Businesses
taken as a whole; (ii) grant or require Newco or any of the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries to grant to any third party any right with respect to any Comcast
Owned Intellectual Property or Comcast Technology, in each case that would
reasonably be expected to be material to the Contributed Comcast Businesses
taken as a whole; (iii) subject Newco or any of the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries to an increase in royalties or other payments, in each
case
58
that
would reasonably be expected to be material to the Contributed Comcast
Businesses taken as a whole, under any Comcast IP License; (iv) diminish
royalties or other payments to which the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries would otherwise be entitled, in each case that would
reasonably be expected to be material to the Contributed Comcast Businesses
taken as a whole, under any Comcast IP License; or (v) result in the breach or,
by its terms, termination of any Comcast IP License that is material to the
Contributed Comcast Businesses taken as a whole. For the avoidance of doubt, the
representation set forth in this Section 5.13(h) does not contemplate the manner
in which the Business of Newco is to be operated after the Closing.
Section
5.14. Environmental and Health
and Safety Matters. (a) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Comcast Material Adverse
Effect: (i) none of the Comcast Transferors (with respect to the Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries, the Comcast Assets or the Contributed Comcast Businesses),
the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or the Comcast Assets (except for the
Comcast Leased Real Property) is subject and, to the Knowledge of Comcast, no
Comcast Leased Real Property is subject, to a written notice, notification,
demand, citation, summons, request for information, investigation or order from,
or agreement with, any Governmental Authority, or has been assessed any penalty
or fine in the last five (5) years, in each case, relating to any Environmental
Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Material; (ii) there has been no release,
discharge, migration or disposal of Hazardous Materials on, at, to, under or
from (including offsite disposal or arrangement for the disposal from) the
Comcast Real Properties or, to the Knowledge of Comcast, real properties
formerly owned, leased or operated by the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or
otherwise used in the Contributed Comcast Businesses; (iii) there are no Actions
pending or threatened against the Comcast Transferors (with respect to the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, the Comcast Assets or the Contributed Comcast
Businesses), the Comcast Assets or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, in each
case, relating to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous
Material; (iv) the Comcast Transferors (with respect to the Comcast Assets or
the Contributed Comcast Businesses), the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, the
Comcast Assets and the Contributed Comcast Businesses have operated for the last
five (5) years and are operating in compliance with applicable Environmental
Laws including obtaining and maintaining all Environmental Permits; (v) there
are no Liabilities of the Comcast Transferors (with respect to the Comcast
Assets or the Contributed Comcast Businesses) or the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries or otherwise relating to the Contributed Comcast Businesses, in
each case, with respect to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or
Hazardous Material; and (vi) there are no financial assurance requirements
pertaining to the Contributed Comcast Businesses or the Comcast Assets
(including, to the Knowledge of Comcast, the Comcast Leased Real Property) under
any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.
59
(b) All
material environmental or health and safety assessments and reports conducted
within the last five (5) years by or on behalf of the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries or, with respect to the Comcast Real Properties or the Contributed
Comcast Businesses, the Comcast Transferors, have been furnished or made
available to GE and NBCU.
(c) With
respect to the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, the Comcast Assets and the
Contributed Comcast Businesses, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby requires no filings to be made or actions to be taken
pursuant to the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act or the “Connecticut
Property Transfer Law” (Sections 22a-134 through 22-134e of the Connecticut
General Statutes).
The
representations and warranties made by Comcast in Section 5.08 and Section 5.14
are the only representations and warranties made by Comcast in this Agreement
with respect to any matters arising under, or regulated pursuant to, any
Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.
Section
5.15. Significant Comcast
Contracts. (a) Section 5.15(a) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets
forth a true and complete list of all of the following Contracts to which
Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (including any of the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries) is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets may
be bound as of the date of this Agreement (in each case (x) only with respect to
the Contributed Comcast Businesses and (y) as amended, supplemented, waived or
otherwise modified through the date of this Agreement, collectively, the “Significant Comcast
Contracts”):
(i) stock
purchase agreements or asset purchase agreements that (x) would reasonably be
expected to involve aggregate consideration (including any Debt for borrowed
money acquired or assumed thereunder) in excess of $18.75 million, (y) have not
expired by, and have not been terminated in accordance with, their terms, and
(z) relate to the prospective acquisition or disposition of any Contributed
Comcast Assets or the Contributed Comcast Businesses;
(ii) Contracts
pursuant to which any Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary
currently leases any Comcast Assets (other than leases for Comcast Leased Real
Property and Contracts related to transactions involving the Library entered
into in the ordinary course of business) and in respect of which the Comcast
Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to
make, on or after the date hereof, aggregate payments in excess of $12.5
million;
(iii) (A) joint
venture, partnership and limited liability company operating agreements pursuant
to which a Comcast Transferor or any of
60
the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to make, on or
after the date hereof, aggregate payments in excess of $18.75 million, (B)
organizational documents of other material joint ventures, partnerships and
limited liability companies included in the Comcast Assets and (C)
organizational documents or other Contracts relating to other joint ventures,
partnerships and limited liability companies included in the Contributed Comcast
Assets in which Comcast and its Subsidiaries own an interest with a value in
excess of $6.25 million, containing rights, agreements, arrangements or
commitments obligating any party thereto to issue, sell, purchase, return,
convert or redeem any of the shares or other equity interests of such joint
venture, partnership or limited liability company or securities convertible into
or exchangeable for such shares or other equity securities;
(iv) Contracts
prohibiting or materially restricting the ability of any Comcast Transferor or
any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary to (A) engage in any business, (B) sell any
products or services to any other Person, (C) operate in any geographical area
or (D) compete with or obtain products or services from any Person or prohibit
or restrict the ability of any Person to provide products or services to any
Comcast Transferor or any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary, in each case, other
than (x) exclusivity and channel distribution restrictions contained in
Exploitation Agreements or Affiliation Agreements and (y) exclusivity
restrictions contained in sourcing agreements that would not reasonably be
expected to involve annual payments in excess of $2.5 million, in each case (x)
and (y), entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(v) Contracts
relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit that would reasonably
be expected to involve amounts in excess of $10 million to which any Comcast
Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary is a party;
(vi) Exploitation
Agreements (A) pursuant to which the Comcast Transferors and the Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to receive annual revenue in
excess of $6.25 million for fiscal year 2009, and/or (B) in respect of which the
Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries would reasonably be
expected to make payments in excess of (x) $6.25 million in fiscal year 2010 or
2011 or (y) $25 million in any other fiscal year, other than, in each case under
(A) or (B) above, any Contract of the type (disregarding any dollar thresholds,
materiality or other qualifiers, restrictions or other limitations applied to
such Contract type) described in clause (ix) of this Section
5.15(a);
61
(vii) Affiliation
Agreements representing the top ten (ranked by aggregate distribution fees
payable during the nine month period ending on September 30, 2009) programming
service distribution agreements;
(viii) “term
deals” as commonly understood in the motion picture or television industry
pursuant to which the relevant Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to pay, on or after the date hereof,
aggregate compensation in excess of $2.5 million;
(ix) each
Contract pursuant to which any Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary licenses any exhibition rights in Programs to third parties for any
period ending on or after September 30, 2009 on an output basis (i.e., which
grants television exhibition rights to Library Pictures, or films that will
become Library Pictures, that will become available for such exhibition during a
specified prospective multiyear period of time, and under which not all Library
Pictures are specifically identified by title) pursuant to which the relevant
Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries would reasonably be
expected to receive annual revenue in excess of $6.25 million for fiscal year
2009;
(x) material
Comcast IP Licenses, other than any (A) “shrinkwrap” or “clickwrap” licenses or
agreements for commercially available off-the-shelf Software, (B)
confidentiality agreements made in the ordinary course of business, or (C) any
Contract of the type (disregarding any dollar thresholds, materiality or other
qualifiers, restrictions or other limitations applied to such Contract type)
described in clauses (i)-(ix) or (xi)-(xiii) of this Section
5.15(a);
(xi) Talent
Contracts representing, as of the date hereof, the top 10 Talent
Contracts (based on the aggregate amount of payments reasonably expected to be
made by the relevant Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries)
and the employment agreements of the president of the Comcast programming
division and each of his direct reports (to the extent that such individuals are
party to employment agreements);
(xii) infomercial
or similar paid programming Contracts granting any Person the right to program
any block of time on the television and cable networks included in the Comcast
Assets (the “Comcast Cable
Networks”) pursuant to which the relevant Comcast Transferors and
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to receive, on or
after the date hereof, aggregate consideration in excess of $2.5
million;
62
(xiii) Contracts
for the acquisition, lease or servicing of satellite transponders and other
uplink and downlink and terrestrial transmission (including fiber optic)
arrangements relating to the distribution of the broadcast and cable networks of
the Contributed Comcast Businesses and in respect of which the relevant Comcast
Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to
make, on or after the date hereof, aggregate payments in excess of $2.5
million;
(xiv) the
Contracts listed on Section 5.15(a)(xiv) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter;
and
(xv) Contracts
not of a type (disregarding any dollar thresholds, materiality or other
qualifiers, restrictions or other limitations applied to such Contract type)
described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xiv) that would reasonably be
expected to involve payments in excess of $25 million.
(b) Each
Significant Comcast Contract is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
applicable Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary, as the case may
be, and, to the Knowledge of Comcast, each other party to such Comcast Contract
(other than NBCU or its Affiliates), and is enforceable against the applicable
Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary, as the case may be, and,
to the Knowledge of Comcast, each such other party (other than NBCU or its
Affiliates), in accordance with its terms subject, in each case, to the effect
of any applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or preferential transfers, or similar Laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to
enforceability, to the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Assuming the receipt of all consents or approvals required in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to
the Contracts set forth on Section 5.04 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter,
neither the Comcast Transferors nor the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries nor, to
the Knowledge of Comcast, any other party to a Significant Comcast Contract
(other than any NBCU Entity) is in material default or material breach of a
Significant Comcast Contract, and there does not exist any event, condition or
omission that would constitute such a material default or material breach
(whether by lapse of time or notice or both) under any Significant Comcast
Contract on the part of any Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary
or, to the Knowledge of Comcast, any other Person (other than NBCU or its
Affiliates). Comcast has made available to NBCU complete copies of all written
Significant Comcast Contracts, together with any amendments thereto, and
accurate descriptions of all material terms of any oral Significant Comcast
Contracts, in each case, other than the Contracts listed on Section 5.15(b) of
the Comcast Disclosure Letter. Section 5.15(b)(i) of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter
63
sets
forth a list of Significant Comcast Contracts with respect to which NBCU has
made available to Comcast descriptions of certain provisions. All such
descriptions are accurate and complete.
(c) None of
the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries has received,
within the three (3) years ending on the date hereof, any written notice of any
violation or breach of any MFN included in any Affiliation
Agreement.
(d) Neither
Comcast nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by and the
Contributed Comcast Assets do not contain any Contract that, by its terms, would
bind Affiliates of Newco (other than Comcast, its Subsidiaries and the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries) after giving effect to the Closing. Comcast
has made available to NBCU accurate and complete copies of the provisions
referenced on Section 5.15(d) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter.
Section
5.16. Employment and Employee
Benefits Matters. (a) Section 5.16(a) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter
sets forth a list, as of the date hereof, of all material Comcast Employee Plans
and separately identifies (i) the material Comcast Parent Plans, (ii) the
material Comcast Subsidiary Plans (other than Comcast Multiemployer Plans),
(iii) the Comcast Multiemployer Plans covering 50 or more active Comcast
Contributed Business Employees employed in the United States and the material
Comcast Multiemployer Plans covering Comcast Contributed Business Employees
employed outside of the United States, (iv) the Comcast Employee Plans (other
than Comcast Multiemployer Plans) constituting plans subject to Title IV of
ERISA or other defined benefit pension plans covering 50 or more Comcast
Contributed Business Employees, (v) each Comcast Employee Plan (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) that provides for post- retirement medical coverage for 50
or more Comcast Contributed Business Employees (excluding coverage as required
to avoid an excise tax under section 4980B of the Code, coverage through the end
of the calendar month in which retirement occurs, post-employment coverage under
a medical expense reimbursement account and coverage during any severance
benefits period), and (vi) to the Knowledge of Comcast, the principal labor
agreements covering the current material terms and conditions of employment with
each union or labor organization, collective bargaining unit, works council or
other employee representative that applies to Comcast Contributed Business
Employees. Comcast has previously made available to GE a true and complete copy
of each Comcast Employee Plan (other than Multiemployer Plans) covering Comcast
Contributed Business Employees employed in the United States and a summary or
written description of each material Comcast Employee Plan applicable to Comcast
Contributed Business Employees employed in countries other than the United
States.
64
(b) To the
Knowledge of Comcast, as of the date hereof, no Comcast Multiemployer Plan is in
critical, endangered, or seriously endangered status as described in Section 305
of ERISA, as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
(c) Each
Comcast Employee Plan (and, as of the date hereof, with respect to any
Multiemployer Plan, solely to the Knowledge of Comcast without any inquiry) that
is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a
favorable determination letter from the IRS that it is so qualified, and each
related trust that is intended to be exempt from federal income Tax pursuant to
Section 501(a) of the Code has received a determination letter from the IRS that
it is so exempt, and no event has occurred since the date of such determination
letter that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect such qualification
or exemption, as the case may be. Each Comcast Employee Plan (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) that is required to be registered in order to obtain
tax-approved, favored or qualified status in the relevant jurisdiction has been
registered or, where applicable, accepted for registration, and has been
maintained in good standing with applicable Governmental Authorities, except as
would not reasonably be expected to have a Comcast Material Adverse
Effect.
(d) With
respect to each Comcast Employee Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan)
subject to Title IV of ERISA, there is no liability incurred under Title IV of
ERISA that has not been satisfied in full (other than premiums to the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation which are not past due or amounts reflected in the
Comcast Financial Statements). None of the Comcast Assets is the subject of any
Lien arising under ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. With respect to each
Comcast Employee Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) that is a registered
pension plan, no Person has (i) withdrawn any funds from the plan;(ii) merged
any of the plans with another registered pension plan; (iii) transferred assets
from another registered pension plan to the plan; (iv) taken a contribution
holiday in respect of the plan; or (v) used assets from the plan to pay
administrative expenses of the plan, except, in each such case, (A) in
accordance with terms of the respective plan (and any applicable funding
agreement) and applicable Law; or (B) as to which there is no material
Liability.
(e) Each
Comcast Employee Plan (other than Multiemployer Plans) is now and has been
operated in all material respects in accordance with its terms and the
requirements of all applicable Laws.
(f) There are
no material controversies (other than routine benefit claims for benefits in the
ordinary course) pending or, to the Knowledge of Comcast, threatened in
connection with any Comcast Subsidiary Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan)
or, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Comcast Material
Adverse Effect, any other Comcast Employee Plan (other than any Multiemployer
Plan).
65
(g) None of
the Comcast Transferors, the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or their
respective Affiliates has breached or otherwise failed to comply in any material
respect with the provisions of any collective bargaining, works council or
similar employee representative agreement, and as of the date hereof there are
no material grievances or arbitrations outstanding thereunder. There are no
formal organizational campaigns, corporate campaigns, petitions, demands for
recognition via card-check or, to the Knowledge of Comcast, other material
unionization activities seeking recognition of a bargaining unit in the
Contributed Comcast Businesses. As of the date hereof, there are no material
unfair labor practice charges, grievances, pending arbitrations, or other
complaints or union representation questions before the National Labor Relations
Board or other labor board or Governmental Authority that could materially
affect Comcast Contributed Business Employees and would reasonably be expected
to result in a material Liability to the Newco Group.
(h) As of the
date hereof, there are no current or, to the Knowledge of Comcast, threatened
material strikes, slowdowns or work stoppages, and no such material strike,
slowdown or work stoppage has occurred within the three years preceding the date
hereof. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a material
Liability to the Contributed Comcast Businesses, the Comcast Transferors, the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates have, in all
material respects, informed and consulted with their respective employee
representative bodies to the degree required by applicable Laws and applicable
collective bargaining, works council or similar employee representative
agreements, including but not limited to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(i) Each of
the Comcast Transferors, the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries and their
respective Affiliates (in the case of the Comcast Transferors and their
Affiliates that are not Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, with respect to
Comcast Contributed Business Employees only) are in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable Laws relating to the employment of Comcast
Contributed Business Employees (including employment or labor standards, labor
relations, human rights, immigration, workers’ compensation, severance payment,
payment of wages, the WARN Act and any similar state or local law,
classification of independent contractor or other non-employee status and of
exempt and non-exempt employees, pay equity, data protection and Automatic
Transfer Legislation) and, except for amounts reflected in the Comcast Financial
Statements or non-compliance which would not result in a material Liability to
Comcast or any of its Affiliates, have timely paid in full all wages, salaries,
benefits, commissions and other compensation, and all levies, assessments,
contributions and payments to third parties (including social security or social
insurance, housing fund, employment insurance, income tax, employer health tax,
workers compensation, Multiemployer Plan contributions, or payments of its
contributions with respect to social security agencies, family benefits
agencies
66
and any
retirement and unemployment related agencies or other payments of tax and social
security payments to Governmental Authorities) due to or on behalf of the
Comcast Contributed Business Employees. Except for accrued amounts that are not
past due and non-compliance which would not reasonably be expected to result in
a material Liability to Comcast or any of its Affiliates, each of the Comcast
Transferors, the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries and their respective
Affiliates has withheld, and paid to the relevant Governmental Authority, proper
and accurate amounts from salaries and wages due to the Comcast Contributed
Business Employees in due compliance in all material respects with relevant tax
withholding provisions. No material claim with respect to payment of wages,
salary or overtime pay has been asserted, or is now pending or, to the Knowledge
of Comcast, threatened before any Governmental Authority, with respect to
Comcast Contributed Business Employees, and there is no charge or proceeding
with respect to a material violation of any occupational safety or health
standards that has been asserted or is now pending or, to the Knowledge of
Comcast, threatened with respect to the Contributed Comcast Businesses. No
material charge of discrimination in employment or employment practices for any
reason, including age, gender, race, religion or other legally protected
category, has been asserted or is now pending or, to the Knowledge of Comcast,
threatened before the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or
other Governmental Authority by Comcast Contributed Business Employees. As of
the date hereof, none of the Comcast Transferors, the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates (in the case of the Comcast
Transferors and their Affiliates that are not Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries,
with respect to Comcast Contributed Business Employees only) is subject to any
pending investigation from any labor inspection or similar Governmental
Authority which could reasonably be expected to result in any material payment.
There is no other material Action existing, pending or, to the Knowledge of
Comcast, threatened by Comcast Contributed Business Employees against any
Comcast Transferor, any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary or any of their
respective Affiliates, and there are no matters that would reasonably be
expected to give rise to any such material Actions.
(j) To the
Knowledge of Comcast, no Comcast Contributed Business Employee has been, is or
will be, by performing services for the Newco Group, in violation of any term of
any employment, invention disclosure or assignment, confidentiality,
nondisclosure agreement, noncompetition agreement or other restrictive covenant
or any order, other than any violation that would not have a material
Liability.
(k) In the
event the services of each Comcast Contributed Business Employee who, as of the
date hereof, is a party to a Comcast Employee Agreement set forth in Section
5.15(a)(xi) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter was terminated on January 1, 2010,
the aggregate amount of such Comcast Contributed Business Employees’ severance
or termination pay or claim for
67
damages
to the extent attributable solely to annual base salary is set forth in Section
5.16(k) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter. Section 5.16(k) of the Comcast
Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all Comcast Employee Plans (other than
any Multiemployer Plan) pursuant to which any amounts or benefits may become
vested or payable, funded, increased or accelerated, as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (either alone or
in combination with any other event or events), including, as to any such
Comcast Employee Plan constituting an employee pension benefit plan, any
employer debt under Section 75 of the Pensions Xxx 0000, any withdrawal or
termination penalty, or other similar penalty. There are no Comcast Employee
Plans (other than any Multiemployer Plan) which provide for the payment of any
amount (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (either alone or in
combination with any other event or events) that would give rise to a material
payment that is nondeductible by reason of Section 280G.
Section
5.17. Comcast Real
Property. (a) Section 5.17(a) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets forth
a list, as of the date hereof, of all of the material Comcast Owned Real
Properties and the material Comcast Leased Real Properties.
(b) As of the
date hereof, the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries
have good and valid fee simple title to all material Comcast Owned Real Property
and valid leasehold title to the leasehold estate (as lessee or sublessee) in
all material Comcast Leased Real Property, in each case free and clear of all
Liens except for Permitted Liens.
(c) (i) All
leases and subleases for the material Comcast Leased Real Property under which
any of the Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries is a lessee
or sublessee are in full force and effect and are enforceable, in all material
respects, in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the effect of
any applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or preferential transfers, or similar Laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to
enforceability, to the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law),
and (ii) no written notices of material default under any such lease or sublease
have been sent or received by any Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries.
(d) None of
the Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries has received any
written notice from any Governmental Authority asserting any material violation
or alleged material violation of applicable Laws with respect to any Comcast
Real Properties that remains uncured as of the date of this
Agreement.
68
(e) The
plants, buildings, structures and fixtures material to the Comcast Businesses
included in the Comcast Assets are adequate for their present uses.
(f) The
plants, buildings and structures material to the Comcast Businesses included in
the Comcast Assets currently (i) have access to public roads or valid and
subsisting easements, rights of way or private agreements (including leases) for
access over private streets or private property for such ingress to and egress
from all such plants, buildings and structures, and (ii) are serviced by such
utilities as are necessary for the particular operations of Comcast taking place
on the date hereof at each such plant, building or structure.
(g) Subject
to Section 2.05, all real property material to the Contributed Comcast
Businesses is included in either the Comcast Owned Real Property or the Comcast
Leased Real Property.
Section
5.18. Insurance. (a)
All material insurance policies maintained by or for the benefit of the
Contributed Comcast Businesses, including all existing errors and omission
insurance policies, are in full force and effect. The Comcast Transferors and
the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with
the terms and provisions of such policies. No claim has been made since January
1, 2006 with respect to the Library Rights under any errors and omissions policy
maintained by or for the benefit of the Contributed Comcast
Businesses.
(b)
Section 5.18(b) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete
list, as of the date hereof, of (i) all Comcast Available Insurance Policies and
(ii) all Comcast Transferable Insurance Policies.
Section
5.19. Brokers. Except
for fees and expenses of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, Banc of America
Securities LLC and UBS Securities LLC in connection with their rendering of
investment banking advice to Comcast and its Affiliates, no broker, finder or
investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or
commission from Comcast or any of its Affiliates in connection with transactions
contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Comcast or
any of its Affiliates.
Section
5.20. Related Party
Transactions. (a) Section 5.20(a) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets
forth a true and complete list, as of the date hereof, of all Related Party
Comcast Contracts.
(b)
Section 5.20(b) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date
hereof, a true and complete list of the Comcast LCs and, if applicable, the
aggregate potential Liability under each such Comcast LC.
69
Section
5.21. Library Rights.
(a) As between (i) Comcast and its Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary) on the one hand, and (ii) any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary
on the other hand, any and all rights in and to the Library (and any databases
relating thereto) are held by the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries (rather than
by Comcast or any of its other Subsidiaries).
(b) All
Exploitation Agreements entered into by a Comcast Transferor or Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary pursuant to which a Comcast Transferor or a Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary has granted any third party any right to Exploit any material
portions of the Library or its components have been entered into in the ordinary
course of business.
(c) None of
the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries have received
(nor does Comcast have any Knowledge that the Comcast Transferors or the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries will receive) from any registration or filing
office of requisite authority in any jurisdiction, any notice from any third
party terminating or purporting to terminate copyright assignments pursuant to
17 U.S.C § 203 or § 304 or their foreign equivalents and relating to the
Programs.
(d) An
original negative or master of each of the Library Pictures currently being
Exploited has been properly stored, in each case in accordance with standards
customarily applied by major theatrical, television and home video distributors,
as applicable, or the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries has access to printable elements of such Library Pictures. Such
original negatives, masters or printable elements are, in all material respects,
in a commercially reasonable condition. Section 5.21(d) of the Comcast
Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date hereof, a list, which is true and
complete in all material respects, of the physical locations of such original
negatives, masters, or printable elements, and to the extent such physical
locations are owned or controlled by third parties, the Comcast Transferors and
the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries are party to customary access
agreements.
(e) The
Library Tangible Assets for the Programs are stored and maintained in all
material respects in accordance with standard industry practices for the use and
preservation of such materials, and Comcast and its Subsidiaries have customary
access thereto sufficient to Exploit the Programs.
Section
5.22. Distribution. (a)
To the Knowledge of Comcast as of the date hereof, each distributor that is
party to an Affiliation Agreement with a Comcast Transferor or Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary is meeting its payment obligations under such Affiliation
Agreement in accordance with the terms of such Affiliation Agreement, other than
the nonpayment of amounts that are subject to a bona fide dispute,
controversy or claim. No Comcast Transferor or
70
Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary is in material default or material breach of any such
Affiliation Agreement, and there does not exist any event, condition or omission
that would constitute such a material default or material breach (whether by
lapse of time or notice or both) under any such Affiliation Agreement on the
part of any Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary.
(b) With
respect to any material Affiliation Agreement containing a delete or
repositioning right, no multichannel video programming distributor has notified
any Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary in writing of its
intention to delete or materially reposition any programming
service.
(c) Section
5.22(c) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of September 30, 2009,
the number of subscribers with respect to each network of the Comcast
Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries as most recently reported by
the applicable distributor.
Section
5.23. No Debt as of
Closing. Immediately prior to the Closing, none of the Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries shall have any outstanding Debt other than Debt of any
Subsidiary that is not, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by Comcast and
capital lease obligations.
Section
5.24. Securities
Matters. The Newco Membership Interests (including those to be purchased
from NBCU in accordance with Section 2.04) are being obtained by Comcast for its
own account, and not with a view to, or for the offer or sale in connection
with, any distribution or sale of the Newco Membership Interests or any interest
in them in violation of the Securities Act (or analogous Laws in any non-U.S.
jurisdiction). Comcast has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and
business matters to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its
investment in the Newco Membership Interests, and is capable of bearing the
economic risks of such investment, including a complete loss of its investment
in the Newco Membership Interests. Comcast acknowledges that the Newco
Membership Interests have not been registered under the Securities Act or any
state securities Laws, and understands and agrees that it may not sell or
dispose of any of the Newco Membership Interests except pursuant to a registered
offering in compliance with, or in a transaction exempt from, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable state, foreign or
federal securities Laws.
Section
5.25. Availability of Funds;
Ability to Close. On the Closing Date, Comcast will have cash available
or availability under borrowing facilities that together are sufficient to
enable it to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section
5.26. No Other Representations
or Warranties. EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN
THIS
71
ARTICLE 5
(AS MODIFIED BY THE COMCAST DISCLOSURE LETTER) AND IN THE OTHER TRANSACTION
AGREEMENTS, NEITHER COMCAST NOR ANY OTHER PERSON MAKES ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO COMCAST OR THE OTHER COMCAST
TRANSFERORS, THE COMCAST ASSETS, THE CONTRIBUTED COMCAST SUBSIDIARIES, THE
CONTRIBUTED COMCAST BUSINESSES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS
AGREEMENT, THE ASSUMED COMCAST LIABILITIES AND ANY OTHER RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS
TO BE TRANSFERRED HEREUNDER OR PURSUANT HERETO, AND COMCAST DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER MADE BY COMCAST OR ITS AFFILIATES, OR ANY
OF ITS OR THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES.
EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS, COMCAST
HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPRESENTATION,
WARRANTY, PROJECTION, FORECAST, STATEMENT, OR INFORMATION MADE, COMMUNICATED, OR
FURNISHED (ORALLY OR IN WRITING) TO THE PARTIES HERETO, NEWCO OR THEIR
RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES (INCLUDING ANY OPINION, INFORMATION,
PROJECTION, OR ADVICE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN OR MAY BE PROVIDED TO ANY OTHER PARTIES
HERETO BY ANY DIRECTOR, OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, AGENT, CONSULTANT, OR REPRESENTATIVE
OF COMCAST OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES). COMCAST MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR
WARRANTIES REGARDING THE PROBABLE SUCCESS OR PROFITABILITY OF THE CONTRIBUTED
COMCAST BUSINESSES, THE COMCAST ASSETS OR THE CONTRIBUTED COMCAST
SUBSIDIARIES.
ARTICLE
6
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
Section
6.01. Conduct of Business
Prior to the Closing. (a) NBCU. From the date of this Agreement through
the Closing, except as required by applicable Law or any Governmental Authority,
as otherwise expressly contemplated by the Transaction Agreements (including
Section 6.05 and Section 6.14) and for matters identified in Section 6.01(a) of
the NBCU Disclosure Letter, unless Comcast otherwise consents in writing in
advance (which consent, except in the case of Section 6.01(a)(ii), shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), GE will, and will cause the
other NBCU Transferors and the NBCU Entities to, (x) conduct the NBCU Businesses
and operations thereof in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice (including with respect to labor and union matters), (y) use
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact the business organizations of
the NBCU Businesses, keep available the services of their
72
executive
officers and key employees, maintain NBCU Owned Real Property and NBCU Leased
Real Property in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
continue to pursue, consistent with past practices and subject to changes in
facts and circumstances, the Development Agreement and activities related
thereto, including all applications and permits related thereto, as appropriate
in the reasonable good faith judgment of NBCU from time to time, and preserve
their current business relationships with the material customers, authors,
producers, directors, actors, performers, announcers, suppliers, advertisers,
distributors, business partners and others persons having business dealings with
them and (z) with respect to the NBCU Businesses and NBCU Entities, not do any
of the following:
(i) except in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, grant, permit or
create any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any NBCU Assets (whether
tangible or intangible) with a value individually in excess of $10 million or,
in the aggregate, in excess of $50 million;
(ii) (A)
acquire (through GE or any of its Affiliates, including any NBCU Entity) by
merger, consolidation, combination or amalgamation, or (B) acquire any equity
interest in or assets of, any corporation, partnership, association or other
business organization or division thereof, in each case, for consideration
(including any Debt for borrowed money acquired or assumed in such transaction),
in an amount greater than $100 million in any single transaction or $250 million
in the aggregate; provided that such aggregate
cap of $250 million shall not prohibit or restrict any NBCU Entity’s ability to
enter into any Library Underlying Agreement or to acquire any Library Literary
Properties, in each case in the ordinary course of business and for
consideration on a per transaction basis of $20 million or less (excluding
participation and similar variable payments);
(iii) except
for the NBCU Financing or the Alternative Financing Arrangements, the GE Note,
the Comcast Note and the Repatriation Notes (if any), and for Debt assumed or
incurred in a transaction permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(ii), create,
incur, guarantee or assume any Debt, issue any debt securities or assume, grant,
guarantee or endorse, or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for,
the obligations of any Person, or make any loans or advances (in each case,
other than (A) in the ordinary course of business in amounts and on terms
consistent with past practice as permitted under the Contracts set forth on
Section 6.01(a)(iii) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter, (B) pursuant
to intercompany borrowing arrangements (x) that will be repaid in full and
terminated at Closing or (y) solely between or among NBCU Entities and (C)
guarantees of (1) leases entered into by any NBCU
73
Entity
with respect to the NBCU Leased Real Property or (2) other obligations not
exceeding $30 million in the aggregate);
(iv) issue or
sell any additional shares of, or other equity interests in, any of the NBCU
Transferors or NBCU Entities, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
such shares or equity interests (other than, in each case, the issuance or sale
of shares of, or other equity interests in, one NBCU Entity to another NBCU
Entity), or issue or grant any options, warrants, calls, subscription rights,
profit participation rights (other than profit participation rights relating to
films or television programs granted in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice) or other rights of any kind, contingently or
otherwise, to acquire such shares, other equity interests or securities, or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity securities, or amend
the terms of any such shares, equity interests or securities or options,
warrants, calls, subscription rights or other rights outstanding, or effect any
recapitalization, reclassification, stock split or like change in the
capitalization of any NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity;
(v) other
than sales or licensing of products, programming or other goods and services in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (including
pursuant to Exploitation Agreements), license, sell, transfer, lease, sublease,
or otherwise dispose of any NBCU Assets, NBCU Owned Real Property, NBCU Owned
Intellectual Property or NBCU Technology for consideration, individually in
excess of $100 million or, in the aggregate, in excess of $250
million;
(vi) amend or
modify in any material respect, withdraw or terminate the Development Agreement,
or any condominium plan, declaration unit owners agreement, declaration of
covenants and restrictions, reciprocal easement agreement or similar agreement
in existence with respect to the NBCU Leased Real Property located at 00
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, in a manner that negatively impacts
NBCU’s rights thereunder;
(vii) recognize
any new union, works council or other similar employee representative, except as
required by applicable Law;
(viii) without
the prior consent of Comcast (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
enter into any Collective Bargaining Agreement, or renew or enter into a
mid-term modification (excluding resolutions of grievances relating to or
interpretations of a Collective Bargaining Agreement) of any existing Collective
Bargaining Agreement, in each case, that applies to at least 500 NBCU Business
Employees;
74
(ix) without
prior consultation with Comcast (and, if applicable pursuant to Section
6.01(a)(viii), the prior consent of Comcast), enter into any Collective
Bargaining Agreement, or renew or enter into a mid-term modification (excluding
resolutions of grievances relating to or interpretations of a Collective
Bargaining Agreement) of any existing Collective Bargaining Agreement, in each
case, with the Screen Actors Guild; Directors Guild of America; Writers Guild of
America; International Brotherhood of Teamsters; National Association of
Broadcast Employees and Technicians-Communications Workers of America (NABET);
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture
Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and
Canada (IATSE); American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA);
Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA); or American
Federation of Musicians and Actor’s Equity Association;
(x) without
prior consultation with Comcast, effectuate any “mass layoffs” within the
meaning of the WARN Act;
(xi) with
respect to any NBCU Business Employee whose aggregate annual cash compensation
exceeds $750,000, (A) enter into any NBCU Employee Agreement that has a term of
more than three years (or materially amend any such NBCU Employee Agreement) or
(B) extend the term of any NBCU Employee Agreement by more than three years
(other than any extension that maintains the existing terms of such NBCU
Employee Agreement; provided that any increase of
annual salary to the extent permitted by Section 6.01(a)(xii) and any immaterial
amendment of such terms, other than the term of such NBCU Employee Agreement,
shall be deemed such a maintenance), in each case, other than Talent Contracts
(with respect to which clause (xxi) below shall govern);
(xii) increase
the annual salary of any NBCU Business Employee who is within the Senior
Executive or GE Officer Band by more than 15% in the aggregate, without the
prior consent of Comcast (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
except as required by the terms of any existing agreement;
(xiii) except in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, increase the cash
bonus under any non-formula based bonus arrangement of any NBCU Business
Employee who is within the Senior Executive or GE Officer Band without the prior
consent of Comcast (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld);
(xiv) other
than as required by applicable Law or an existing agreement, without prior
consultation with Comcast, adopt or amend any
75
bonus
plan or other variable compensation plan with a performance measurement period
of greater than 12 months (excluding any period principally relating to an
employee’s obligation to be employed on the payment date);
(xv) other
than as required by applicable Law or an existing agreement, without prior
consultation with Comcast, adopt or amend any material NBCU Subsidiary Plan
(other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is an employee pension or welfare
benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) (including any similar plan for employees
located primarily outside of the United States) which would materially increase
the costs thereof, except (A) announced
changes as of the date hereof, (B) in connection with or relating to the
acquisition of a business or the commencement of business in a new town, city,
state or similar location, or (C) the replacement of a similar plan; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 6.01(a)(xv) shall limit the ability of NBCU and its Affiliates to take
actions, or to cause any of NBCU’s Subsidiaries to take actions, with respect to
NBCU Parent Plans to the extent such actions relate generally to the employees
of GE or any of its Affiliates that participate in such plans;
(xvi) make any
material change in any method of accounting or accounting policy used by the
NBCU Businesses in the preparation of its financial statements, other than such
changes as are required by U.S. GAAP or
applicable Law or changes applying generally to GE and its consolidated
Subsidiaries;
(xvii) except
for Taxes, which are governed exclusively by the Tax Matters Agreement, enter
into any settlement or release with respect to any Action relating to the NBCU
Businesses on terms reasonably expected to (x) result in a payment by the NBCU
Transferors or NBCU Entities in excess of the greater of (A) $10 million and (B)
the amount reserved on the NBCU Financial Statements with respect thereto or (y)
impose ongoing limits on the conduct or operation of the NBCU
Businesses;
(xviii) forgive,
cancel, compromise, waive, release, assign, sell, transfer or relinquish any
Debts, rights, or receivables except for Debts, rights and receivables against
Persons (other than GE, Vivendi or their respective Affiliates (in each case,
other than NBCU or its Subsidiaries)) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30
million that are forgiven, cancelled, compromised, waived, released, assigned,
sold, transferred or relinquished in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice;
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(xix) permit
the amount of receivables of the NBCU Businesses that are factored, securitized
or subject to any similar arrangement, whether pursuant to a Factoring Agreement
or otherwise, to exceed $1.85 billion in the aggregate at any time
outstanding;
(xx) subject
to Section 6.20(a), (A) enter into any Related Party NBCU Contract, other than
Related Party NBCU Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, on arm’s length terms, or renew any Related Party
NBCU Contract, other than renewals entered into in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice on terms substantially similar to those
in effect immediately prior to such renewal, or (B) amend, modify or terminate,
or otherwise waive, release or assign any rights, claims or benefits of any NBCU
Transferor or NBCU Entity under, any Related Party NBCU Contract other than
amendments and modifications to reflect changes to the terms thereof to the
extent such changes are generally applicable to the businesses of GE and its
Subsidiaries;
(xxi) enter
into, modify, amend, renew or terminate any Designated NBCU
Contract;
(xxii) (A)
materially modify or amend, terminate (which shall not include expiration),
enter into, renew or extend (other than pursuant to an existing extension
option) the term of any lease listed on Section 3.16(a) of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter or other leases or subleases with respect to real property, other than
(x) leases or subleases with respect to real property in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice for an aggregate rental payment over the
term of such lease or sublease to be made on or after the Closing Date not to
exceed $10 million and (y) Contracts with respect to the rental or lease of real
property for the purpose of television or motion picture production (or
television motion pictures for which production has not concluded), or (B)
accept any payments under any NBCU Leased Real Property more than thirty days in
advance or purchase or exercise any option for the purchase or lease of any real
property other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice; provided,
however that in the
event that Comcast does not respond to NBCU’s written request for consent to any
such item within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of such request, Comcast
shall be deemed to have consented;
(xxiii) adopt a
plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation or
other reorganization;
(xxiv) except in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and as
commercially reasonable in the NBCU Transferors’ or
77
NBCU
Entities’ reasonable business judgment, fail to make all filings, pay all fees,
and take all other similar actions necessary to obtain, maintain, perfect or
renew any of the NBCU Owned Intellectual Property;
(xxv) amend any
provision of their articles of incorporation or bylaws or other equivalent
organizational documents or consent to or approve any amendment to any provision
of the articles of incorporation or bylaws or other equivalent organizational
documents of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of NBCU but in which (A) a NBCU
Entity holds an equity interest with a value in excess of $25 million or (B) a
NBCU Transferor holds an equity interest with a value in excess of $25 million
that constitutes a Contributed NBCU Asset;
(xxvi) (A) enter
into any Contract containing any provision pursuant to which the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements,
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, would
result in any Person having the right to receive any termination fee or
liquidated damages or alter the terms of such Contract, or (B) knowingly take
any action that would result in causing any NBCU Transferor or NBCU Entity to
fail to satisfy a standard (e.g., level of net worth)
that if not satisfied would result in any Person party to such Contract having a
termination or consent right under such Contract (which right such Person did
not have prior to the taking of such action), or would change the basis on which
any such Person is permitted to exercise a termination or consent right under
such Contract, as a result of the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; or
(xxvii) enter
into any legally binding commitment with respect to any of the
foregoing;
provided, that in the event
that Comcast fails to provide its consent to any action that could be
considered a business opportunity within the scope of the NBCU Businesses for
which NBCU has requested Comcast’s consent, Comcast hereby acknowledges and
agrees that it may not seek to take advantage of, or participate in any manner
in, such business opportunity.
Nothing
in Section 6.01(a)(v) or, to the extent not having an adverse effect on Newco or
the NBCU Entities, Section 6.01(a)(xxiii) shall be deemed to limit the transfer
of Excluded NBCU Assets from the NBCU Entities prior to the
Closing.
(b)
Comcast. From the date of this Agreement through the Closing, except as required
by applicable Law or any Governmental Authority, as
78
otherwise
expressly contemplated by the Transaction Agreements (including Section 6.05 and
Section 6.14) and for matters identified in Section 6.01(b) of the Comcast
Disclosure Letter, unless GE otherwise consents in writing in advance (which
consent, except in the case of Section 6.01(b)(ii), shall not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed), Comcast will, and will cause the other
Comcast Transferors and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries to, (x) conduct the
Contributed Comcast Businesses and operations thereof in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice (including paying accounts payable and
collecting accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice), (y) use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact
the business organizations of the Contributed Comcast Businesses, keep available
the services of their executive officers and key Comcast Business Employees who
are in good standing, maintain Comcast Owned Real Property and Comcast Leased
Real Property in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, as
appropriate in the reasonable good faith judgment of Comcast from time to time
and preserve their current business relationships with the material customers,
authors, producers, directors, actors, performers, announcers, suppliers,
advertisers, distributors, business partners and others persons having business
dealings with them and (z) with respect to the Contributed Comcast Businesses
and Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, not do any of the following:
(i) except in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, grant, permit or
create any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any Comcast Assets (whether
tangible or intangible) with a value individually in excess of $10 million or,
in the aggregate, in excess of $25 million;
(ii) (A)
except for the Relevant Transactions, acquire (through Comcast or any of its
Affiliates) by merger, consolidation, combination or amalgamation, or (B)
acquire any equity interest in or assets of, any corporation, partnership,
association or other business organization or division thereof, in each case,
for consideration (including any Debt for borrowed money acquired or assumed in
such transaction), in an amount greater than $100 million in any single
transaction or $250 million in the aggregate (it being understood that each
Relevant Transaction (other than the Relevant Transactions set forth on Section
6.22 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter) shall be applied toward such $250 million
aggregate limitation); provided that such aggregate
cap of $250 million shall not prohibit Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries’
ability to enter into any Library Underlying Agreement or to acquire any Library
Literary Properties, in each case in the ordinary course of business and for
consideration on a per transaction basis of $20 million or less (excluding
participation and similar variable payments);
79
(iii) except
for Debt assumed or incurred in a transaction permitted pursuant to Section
6.01(b)(ii), create, incur, guarantee or assume any Debt, issue any debt
securities or assume, grant, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise as an
accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any Person, or make any
loans or advances (in each case, other than (A) in the ordinary course of
business in amounts and on terms consistent with past practice as permitted
under the Contracts set forth on Section 6.01(b)(iii) of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter, (B) pursuant to intercompany borrowing arrangements (x) that will be
repaid in full and terminated at Closing or (y) solely between or among
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries and (C) guarantees of (1) leases entered into
by Comcast or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Comcast with
respect to the Comcast Leased Real Property or (2) other obligations not
exceeding $15 million in the aggregate);
(iv) issue or
sell any additional shares of, or other equity interests in, any of the Comcast
Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, or securities convertible into
or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests (other than, in each case,
the issuance or sale of shares of, or other equity interests in, one Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary to another Contributed Comcast Subsidiary), or issue or grant
any options, warrants, calls, subscription rights, profit participation rights
(other than profit participation rights relating to television programs granted
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or other
rights of any kind, contingently or otherwise, to acquire such shares, other
equity interests or securities, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for such equity securities, or amend the terms of any such shares,
equity interests or securities or options, warrants, calls, subscription rights
or other rights outstanding, or effect any recapitalization, reclassification,
stock split or like change in the capitalization of any Comcast Transferor or
Contributed Comcast Subsidiary;
(v) license,
sell, transfer, lease, sublease, or otherwise dispose of any Comcast Assets,
Comcast Owned Real Property, Comcast Owned Intellectual Property or Comcast
Technology, other than (i) sales or licensing of products, programming or other
goods and services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice (including pursuant to Exploitation Agreements) and (ii) any other such
transaction for consideration individually in excess of $100 million or, in the
aggregate, in excess of $250 million;
(vi) [intentionally
omitted]
(vii) recognize
any new union, works council or other similar employee representative, except as
required by applicable Law;
80
(viii) without
the prior consent of GE (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
enter into any Collective Bargaining Agreement, or renew or enter into a
mid-term modification (excluding resolutions of grievances relating to or
interpretations of a Collective Bargaining Agreement) of any existing Collective
Bargaining Agreement, in each case, that applies to at least 500 Comcast
Transferred Employees;
(ix) without
prior consultation with GE (and, if applicable pursuant to Section
6.01(b)(viii), the prior consent of GE), enter into any Collective Bargaining
Agreement, or renew or enter into a mid-term modification (excluding resolutions
of grievances relating to or interpretations of a Collective Bargaining
Agreement) of any existing Collective Bargaining Agreement, in each case, with
the Screen Actors Guild; Directors Guild of America; Writers Guild of America;
International Brotherhood of Teamsters; National Association of Broadcast
Employees and Technicians-Communications Workers of America (NABET);
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture
Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and
Canada (IATSE); American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA);
Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA); or American
Federation of Musicians and Actor’s Equity Association;
(x) without
prior consultation with GE, effectuate any “mass layoffs” within the meaning of
the WARN Act;
(xi) with
respect to any Comcast Transferred Employee whose aggregate annual cash
compensation exceeds $750,000, (A) enter into any Comcast Employee Agreement
that has a term of more than three years (or materially amend any such Comcast
Employee Agreement) or (B) extend the term of any Comcast Employee Agreement by
more than three years (other than any extension that maintains the existing
terms of such Comcast Employee Agreement; provided that any increase of
annual salary to the extent permitted by Section 6.01(b)(xii) and any immaterial
amendment of such terms, other than the term of such Comcast Employee Agreement,
shall be deemed such a maintenance), in each case, other than Talent Contracts
(with respect to which clause (xx) below shall govern);
(xii) increase
the annual salary of the president of the Comcast programming division or any of
his direct reports by more than 15% in the aggregate, without the prior consent
of GE (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), except as required by
the terms of any existing agreement;
81
(xiii) except in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, increase the cash
bonus under any non-formula based bonus arrangement of the president of the
Comcast programming division or any of his direct reports without the prior
consent of GE (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld);
(xiv) other
than as required by applicable Law or an existing agreement, without prior
consultation with GE, adopt or amend any bonus plan or other variable
compensation plan with a performance measurement period of greater than 12
months (excluding any period principally relating to an employee’s obligation to
be employed on the payment date);
(xv) other
than as required by applicable Law or an existing agreement, without prior
consultation with GE, adopt or amend any material Comcast Subsidiary Plan (other
than a Multiemployer Plan) which is an employee pension or welfare benefit plan
(as defined in ERISA) (including any similar plan for employees located
primarily outside of the United States) which would materially increase the
costs thereof, except (A) announced changes as of the date hereof, (B) in
connection with or relating to the acquisition of a business or the commencement
of business in a new town, city, state or similar location, or (C) the
replacement of a similar plan; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 6.01(b)(xv) shall limit the ability of Comcast and its Affiliates to
take actions, or to cause any of Comcast’s Subsidiaries to take actions, with
respect to Comcast Parent Plans to the extent such actions relate generally to
the employees of Comcast or any of its Affiliates that participate in such
plans;
(xvi) make any
material change in any method of accounting or accounting policy used by the
Contributed Comcast Businesses in the preparation of its financial statements,
other than such changes as are required by U.S. GAAP or applicable Law or
changes applying generally to Comcast and its consolidated
Subsidiaries;
(xvii) except
for Taxes, which are governed exclusively by the Tax Matters Agreement, enter
into any settlement or release with respect to any Action relating to the
Contributed Comcast Businesses on terms reasonably expected to (x) result in a
payment by the Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries in excess
of the greater of (A) $5 million and (B) the amount reserved on the Comcast
Financial Statements with respect thereto or (y) impose ongoing limits on the
conduct or operation of the Contributed Comcast Businesses;
(xviii) forgive,
cancel, compromise, waive, release, assign, sell, transfer or relinquish any
Debts, rights, or receivables except for Debts,
82
rights
and receivables against Persons (other than Comcast or its Affiliates) in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $15 million that are forgiven, cancelled,
compromised, waived, released, assigned, sold, transferred or relinquished in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xix) (A) enter
into any Related Party Comcast Contract, other than Related Party Comcast
Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, or renew any Related Party Comcast Contract, other than in the
ordinary course consistent with past practice on terms substantially similar to
those in effect immediately prior to such renewal or (B) amend, modify or
terminate, or otherwise waive, release or assign any rights, claims or benefits
of any Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary under, any Related
Party Comcast Contract other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice other than amendments and modifications to reflect changes to
the terms thereof to the extent such changes are generally applicable to the
businesses of Comcast and its Subsidiaries;
(xx) enter
into, modify, amend, renew or terminate any Designated Comcast
Contract;
(xxi) (A)
materially modify or amend, terminate (which shall not include expiration),
enter into, renew or extend (other than pursuant to an existing extension
option) the term of any lease listed on Section 5.17(a) of the Comcast
Disclosure Letter or other leases or subleases or other Contracts with respect
to real property, other than (x) leases or subleases with respect to real
property in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice for an
aggregate rental payment over the term of such lease or sublease to be made on
or after the Closing Date not to exceed $10 million and (y) Contracts with
respect to the rental or lease of real property for the purpose of television
production (or television programming for which production has not concluded),
or (B) accept any payments under any Comcast Leased Real Property more than
thirty days in advance or purchase or exercise any option for the purchase or
lease of any real property other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; provided, however, that in the event
that GE does not respond to Comcast’s written request for consent to any such
item within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of such request, GE shall be
deemed to have consented;
(xxii) adopt a
plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation or
other reorganization;
83
(xxiii) except in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and as
commercially reasonable in the Comcast Transferors’ or Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries reasonable business judgment, fail to make all filings, pay all
fees, and take all other similar actions necessary to obtain, maintain, perfect
or renew any of the Comcast Owned Intellectual Property;
(xxiv) amend any
provision of their articles of incorporation or bylaws or other equivalent
organizational documents or consent to or approve any amendment to any provision
of the articles of incorporation or bylaws or other equivalent organizational
documents of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of Comcast but in which (A) a
Contributed Comcast Subsidiary holds an equity interest with a value in excess
of $25 million or (B) a Comcast
Transferor holds an equity interest with a value in excess of $25 million that
constitutes a Contributed Comcast Asset;
(xxv) (A) enter
into any Contract containing any provision to which the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements, or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, would result in
any Person having the right to receive any termination fee or liquidated damages
or alter the terms of such Contract, or (B) knowingly take any action that would
result in causing any Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast Subsidiary to
fail to satisfy a standard (e.g., level of net worth)
that if not satisfied would result in any Person party to such Contract having a
termination or consent right under such Contract (which right such Person did
not have prior to the taking of such action), or would change the basis on which
any such Person is permitted to exercise a termination or consent right under
such Contract, as a result of the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; or
(xxvi) enter
into any legally binding commitment with respect to any of the
foregoing;
provided, that in the event
that NBCU fails to provide its consent to any action that could be
considered a business opportunity within the scope of the Contributed Comcast
Businesses for which Comcast has requested NBCU’s consent, NBCU hereby
acknowledges and agrees that it may not seek to take advantage of, or
participate in any manner in, such business opportunity.
Nothing
in Section 6.01(b)(v) or, to the extent not having an adverse effect on Newco or
the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, Section 6.01(b)(xxii) shall be deemed to
limit the transfer of Excluded Comcast Assets from the Comcast Transferors or
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries prior to the Closing.
84
Section
6.02. Access to
Information. From the date hereof until the Closing, each of NBCU and
Comcast (the “Delivering
Party”) shall, and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries to, give the
other party (the “Requesting
Party”) and its Representatives reasonable access during normal business
hours to the properties, books and records of the Delivering Party’s Contributed
Businesses, furnish them with such information and documents in its possession
relating to such Contributed Business as the Requesting Party may from time to
time reasonably request in connection with the Delivering Party’s Contributed
Businesses and instruct its Representatives to cooperate with the Requesting
Party in its investigation (including workpapers, books and records and other
documents relevant to the calculation of NBCU Interim Free Cash Flow, Trailing
EBITDA of NBCU and Trailing EBITDA of the Contributed Comcast Businesses); provided that (i) the
Requesting Party shall not unreasonably interfere with the conduct of business
of the Delivering Party or any of its Affiliates; (ii) the furnishing of such
documents or information shall not violate confidentiality obligations to a
client or other third party or jeopardize the attorney-client privilege of the
Delivering Party or any of its Affiliates (in which case the parties hereto will
use their reasonable best efforts to institute appropriate substitute disclosure
arrangements, to the extent practical in the circumstances); (iii) no party
hereto shall be required to disclose information that is, in its reasonable
judgment, competitively sensitive; and (iv) the auditors and accountants of the
Delivering Party (and its Affiliates) shall not be obliged to make any work
papers available to any Person except in accordance with such auditors’ and
accountants’ normal disclosure procedures and then only after such Person has
signed a customary agreement relating to such access to work papers in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to such auditors or accountants. If so requested
by the Delivering Party and to the extent applicable, the Requesting Party shall
enter into a customary joint defense agreement with the Delivering Party and its
Affiliates with respect to any information to be provided to the Requesting
Party pursuant to this Section 6.02. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, prior to the Closing, without the prior written consent of the
applicable other parties hereto, which may be withheld for any reason, no party
hereto or any of its Representatives shall contact any joint venture of the
other party (or any third party partner or member of any such joint ventures),
any suppliers to, distributors to, or customers of such party or such party’s
Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Agreements. All information and other documents obtained or provided pursuant to
this Section 6.02 shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement. No
information or knowledge obtained in any investigation pursuant to this Section
6.02 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made by
any party hereunder.
Section
6.03. Retention of Books and
Records. The NBCU Transferors, the Comcast Transferors, and their
respective Affiliates shall have the right to retain copies of all books and
records of the NBCU Businesses and Contributed
85
Comcast
Businesses, respectively, relating to periods ending on or prior to the Closing
Date.
Section
6.04. Confidentiality.
The terms of the Confidentiality and Non- Disclosure Agreement dated April 1,
2009 (the “Confidentiality
Agreement”) between GE and Comcast are incorporated in, and made a part
of, this Agreement as if set forth in full herein and shall continue in full
force and effect (and the confidentiality obligations thereunder shall be
binding upon GE, Comcast and their respective Affiliates and Representatives as
if parties thereto) until the Closing, at which time the confidentiality
obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that such
confidentiality obligations shall terminate only in respect of that portion of
the confidential information exclusively relating to the Combined Businesses.
If, for any reason, the Closing does not occur, the Confidentiality Agreement
shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its
terms.
Section
6.05. Reasonable Best Efforts;
Regulatory and Other Authorizations; Consents. (a)
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the
parties hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or
desirable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including using its reasonable best efforts to (i) prepare and file as promptly
as practicable with any Governmental Authority or other third party all
documentation to effect all necessary filings, notices, petitions, statements,
registrations, submissions of information, applications and other documents,
(ii) resolve such objections, if any, as may be asserted by any Governmental
Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under
the HSR Act and any other Law in any relevant jurisdiction and (iii) avoid the
entry of, or effect the dissolution of, any decree, order, judgment, injunction,
temporary restraining order or other order in any suit or proceeding, that would
otherwise have the effect of preventing or materially impairing or delaying the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, by
defending any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or
administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby). For the purposes of this Section 6.05,
“reasonable best efforts” shall include taking any and all actions necessary to
obtain the required Governmental Approvals (including substantial conditions,
undertakings or divestitures that would have a serious and significant adverse
impact on the current or future business or operations of any of Newco, Comcast
or GE, each taken as a whole); provided that no party hereto
shall be obligated to take any action that would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Impact on the current or future
business or operations of Newco, Comcast or GE. For purposes of this Section
6.05, “Material Impact”
means a significant and ongoing adverse financial or operational impact that is
of sufficient magnitude that, if known at the time hereof, a
reasonable
86
businessperson
would not have proceeded with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
after weighing the anticipated benefits of such transactions against the adverse
consequences of the proposed condition or actions. The party asserting that a
Material Impact has occurred shall bear the burden of proof.
(b) GE and
Comcast each agrees to make or cause to be made an appropriate filing of a
notification and report form pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable after the
date of this Agreement and to supply as promptly as practicable any additional
information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR
Act. In addition, each of GE and Comcast agrees to make promptly any filing that
may be required with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
under any other antitrust or competition Law or by any other antitrust or
competition authority. The filing fees associated with the HSR Act filings and
any other similar filings required in any other jurisdictions shall be shared
equally by GE and Comcast.
(c) The
parties hereto each agrees to promptly notify the other parties of any oral or
written communication it receives from any Governmental Authority relating to
the matters that are the subject of this Agreement, permit the other parties to
review in advance any communication proposed to be made by such party to any
Governmental Authority and provide the other parties with copies of all
correspondence, filings or other communications between them or any of their
Representatives, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority or members of
its staff, on the other hand, subject to Section 6.02. No party to this
Agreement shall agree to participate in any significant meeting or discussion
with any Governmental Authority in respect of any such filings, investigation or
other inquiry unless it consults with the other parties in advance and, to the
extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, gives the other parties the
opportunity to attend and participate at such meeting. Subject to the
Confidentiality Agreement and to Section 6.02, each party hereto will coordinate
and cooperate fully with the other parties hereto in exchanging such information
and providing such assistance as the other parties may reasonably request in
connection with the foregoing and in seeking early termination of any applicable
waiting periods under the HSR Act (and any similar Law in any other relevant
non-U.S. jurisdiction). Nothing in this Section 6.05(c) shall be applicable to
Tax matters.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary:
(i) Comcast
acknowledges on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and its and their directors,
officers, employees, Affiliates, agents, representatives, successors and assigns
that the operation of the NBCU Businesses shall remain in the dominion and
control of NBCU until the Closing and that none of the foregoing Persons will
provide, directly or indirectly, any directions, orders or advice to any
director, officer or
87
employee
of any of the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities, except as specifically
contemplated or permitted by this Article 6 or as otherwise consented to in
advance by an executive officer of NBCU; and
(ii) NBCU
acknowledges on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and its and their directors,
officers, employees, Affiliates, agents, representatives, successors and assigns
that the operation of the Contributed Comcast Businesses shall remain in the
dominion and control of Comcast until the Closing and that none of the foregoing
Persons will provide, directly or indirectly, any directions, orders or advice
to any director, officer or employee of any of the Comcast Transferors or the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, except as specifically contemplated or
permitted by this Article 6 or as otherwise consented to in advance by an
executive officer of Comcast.
(e) GE
shall within ten (10) Business Days of the date of this Agreement take any and
all actions necessary to cause the NBCU Board of Directors to duly authorize the
execution, delivery and performance by NBCU of the Transaction Agreements to
which it is a party and the consummation by NBCU of the transactions
contemplated by, and the performance by NBCU under, the Transaction Agreements
to which it is a party.
Section
6.06. Insurance. (a)
From and after the Closing Date, the NBCU Assets and the NBCU Entities shall
cease to be insured by, have access or availability to, be entitled to make
claims on, be entitled to claim benefits from or seek coverage under any
Insurance Arrangement of any GE Entity, other than (x) with respect to any NBCU
Transferred Insurance Policy and (y) subject to the terms and conditions of the
applicable NBCU Related Insurance Policy, with respect to any claim, act,
omission, event, circumstance, occurrence or loss that occurred or existed on or
prior to the Closing Date (and then only to the extent that such claim, act,
omission, event, circumstance, occurrence or loss occurred or existed on or
prior to the Closing Date) that would be covered by such NBCU Related Insurance
Policy, provided
that:
(i) such
claim, act, omission, event, circumstance, occurrence or loss was or is reported
in accordance with the terms of such NBCU Related Insurance Policy to the
applicable insurer or third party claims administrator (x) with respect to any
claims-made or occurrence-reported NBCU Related Insurance Policy, prior to the
Closing Date, (y) with respect to the GE GL Insurance Program, no later than the
first anniversary of the Closing Date or (z) with respect to the GE WC Insurance
Program or the GE Auto Liability Insurance Program, at any time after the
Closing Date;
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(ii) Newco or
any NBCU Entity shall promptly notify GE’s corporate insurance department of
such claim and/or efforts to seek benefits or coverage with respect to such
claim and shall reasonably cooperate with GE in pursuing such claims; provided that Newco shall be
solely responsible for notifying the applicable insurance companies of and
complying with all policy conditions for such claim;
(iii) GE shall
have the right but not the duty to monitor and/or participate in (with respect
to claims under the GE WC Insurance Program) or control (with respect to claims
under any other NBCU Related Insurance Policy) any coverage claim or request for
benefits asserted by Newco or any NBCU Entity under the applicable NBCU Related
Insurance Policy;
(iv) (A) Newco
and the NBCU Entities shall exclusively bear (and no GE Entity shall have any
obligation to repay or reimburse Newco or any NBCU Entity) the amount of, any
and all deductibles, retentions and/or self insurance associated with any claim
under any NBCU Related Insurance Policy, whether such claim is made by Newco,
any NBCU Entity, a NBCU Business Employee, a Former NBCU Business Employee or a
third party, and shall be liable for all uninsured, uncovered, unavailable or
uncollectible amounts of such claim, and (B) Newco shall, or shall cause one or
more of the NBCU Entities to, promptly reimburse the GE Entities for all third
party claims administration fees and other reasonable out-of-pocket costs,
including taxes, surcharges, state assessments and reinsurance costs, relating
to such claim, whether such claim is made by Newco, any NBCU Entity, a NBCU
Business Employee, a Former NBCU Business Employee or a third party, in each
case in clause (B), solely to the extent no GE Entity is otherwise reimbursed by
a third party for such amounts;
(v) With
respect to any claim payments made under the GE WC Insurance Program, including
those relating to a NBCU Business Employee or Former NBCU Business Employee,
whether such claims are made by Newco, any NBCU Entity, a NBCU Business
Employee, a Former NBCU Business Employee or a third party, Newco shall, or
shall cause one or more of the NBCU Entities to, promptly reimburse the GE
Entities for (1) all such claim payments and (2) without duplication of any
amounts reimbursable to the GE Entities pursuant to clause (B) of paragraph (iv)
above, the pro rata portion of any catastrophic coverage charges, overhead,
claim handling and administrative costs, taxes, surcharges, state assessments,
reinsurance costs, and other related reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by
the GE WC Insurance Program allocable to such claims in accordance with the GE
WC Insurance Program and consistent with the past practices of GE and its
Subsidiaries
89
prior to
the date hereof (it being understood that none of Newco or any of the NBCU
Entities shall be responsible for reimbursing any claim payments under any GE
Auto Liability Insurance Program or GE GL Insurance Program);
(vi) With
respect to any NBCU Related Insurance Policy, neither Newco nor any NBCU Entity
shall, without the written consent of GE, (A) erode, exhaust, settle, release,
commute, buy-back or otherwise resolve disputes with respect to such NBCU
Related Insurance Policy, or amend, modify or waive any rights under any such
NBCU Related Insurance Policy, or (B) seek to assign such NBCU Related Insurance
Policy or its rights or claims under such NBCU Related Insurance Policy;
and
(vii) For
avoidance of doubt, neither Newco nor any NBCU Entity shall be permitted or have
any right to be insured by, have access or availability to, make claims on, be
entitled to benefits from, or seek coverage under any NBCU Related Insurance
Policy other than as permitted by and in accordance with this Section 6.06(a),
including the provisions regarding periods for bringing claims set forth in
Section 6.06(a)(i).
(b) The GE
Entities shall retain the exclusive right to control all of their respective
Insurance Arrangements, including the NBCU Related Insurance Policies, and the
benefits payable thereunder, including the right to exhaust, settle, release,
commute, buy-back or otherwise resolve disputes with respect to any of its
Insurance Arrangements and programs and to amend, modify or waive any rights
under any such Insurance Arrangements, notwithstanding whether any such
Insurance Arrangements apply to any Liabilities and/or claims Newco or any NBCU
Entity has made or could make in the future; provided that (i) on and
after the Closing Date, only Newco and its Subsidiaries shall have the right to
control, settle, release, commute, buy-back or otherwise resolve claims made
under any NBCU Transferred Insurance Policy and (ii) from the date hereof until
the Closing Date, GE and NBCU and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates
shall, except as would not adversely affect the rights of any NBCU Entity
(relative to other GE Entities) under any NBCU Exclusive Insurance Policy or
NBCU Related Insurance Policy, maintain the NBCU Exclusive Insurance Policies
and NBCU Related Insurance Policies in the ordinary course consistent with past
practice (including with respect to renewing such policies). Each of Newco and
GE hereby gives consent for the other party to inform any affected insurer of
the provisions set forth in this Section 6.06. In addition, Newco and the NBCU
Entities shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate
any Loss for which they seek coverage under any NBCU Related Insurance Policy.
The order of priority of any recoveries from such efforts shall inure first to
the GE Entities to reimburse any and all costs actually incurred by
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the GE
Entities directly or indirectly as a result of such Loss, solely to the extent
no GE Entity is otherwise reimbursed by Newco, any of Newco’s Subsidiaries or a
third party for such amounts.
(c) Any
payments, costs and adjustments required to be made by Newco or the NBCU
Entities pursuant to any provision of this Section 6.06 shall be billed
quarterly and payable within 30 days from receipt of invoice.
(d) This
Agreement shall not be considered as an attempted assignment of any policy of
insurance or as a contract of insurance, and shall not be construed in any
manner to waive any right or remedy of any GE Entity in respect of any Insurance
Program. Between the date hereof and Closing, GE shall, and shall cause its
Subsidiaries to, use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to
transfer any NBCU Exclusive Insurance Policy that is not directly and
exclusively in the name of any NBCU Entity directly and exclusively to the name
of a NBCU Entity in accordance with the provisions of such NBCU Exclusive
Insurance Policy.
(e) Following
the Closing Date, Newco will cause the NBCU Entities to comply with the
obligations of the NBCU Entities under this Section 6.06.
(f) No GE
Entity shall have any obligation to secure extended reporting under any NBCU
Related Insurance Policy for any claims under any claims-made or
occurrence-reported insurance policies of any GE Entity for any events, acts or
omissions incurred prior to the Effective Time.
(g) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it is agreed and understood that the
NBCU Excluded Policies will be terminated effective as of the Closing Date.
Coverage under such NBCU Excluded Policies shall remain available in accordance
with (and subject to the terms of) this Section 6.06 with respect to any claim,
act, omission, event, circumstance, occurrence or loss that was or is reported
in accordance with the terms of such NBCU Related Insurance Policy to the
applicable insurer or third party claims administrator prior to the Closing
Date.
Section
6.07. Letters of Credit; Other
Obligations. (a) At or prior to the Closing, NBCU shall (a) arrange for
substitute letters of credit, NBCU guarantees and other obligations to replace
(i) any letters of credit, guarantees, surety bonds, performance bonds and other
contractual obligations entered into by or on behalf of GE or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than solely by the NBCU Entities) in connection with the
NBCU Businesses (together, the “GE LCs”) outstanding as of the
date of this Agreement that are not Excluded NBCU Liabilities and (ii) any GE
LCs entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing or (b)
assume all obligations under each GE LC, obtaining from the creditor or
other
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counterparty
a full release (in a form reasonably satisfactory to GE) of all parties liable,
directly or indirectly, for reimbursement to the creditor or fulfillment of
other obligations to a counterparty in connection with amounts drawn under the
GE LCs. NBCU further agrees that to the extent the beneficiary or counterparty
under any GE LC does not accept any such substitute letter of credit, NBCU
guarantee or other obligation proffered by NBCU, NBCU shall indemnify, defend
and hold harmless GE against, and reimburse GE for, any and all amounts paid,
including costs or expenses in connection with such GE LCs, including GE’s
expenses in maintaining such GE LCs, whether or not any such GE LC is drawn upon
or required to be performed, and shall in any event promptly reimburse GE to the
extent any GE LC is called upon and GE or its Subsidiaries make any payment or
are obligated to reimburse the party issuing the GE LC. At the request of GE,
NBCU shall provide GE with letters of credit in an amount equal to GE’s and its
Subsidiaries’ entire potential liability pursuant to the immediately preceding
sentence.
(b) At or
prior to the Closing, NBCU shall (a) arrange for substitute letters of credit,
NBCU guarantees and other obligations to replace (i) any letters of credit,
guarantees, surety bonds, performance bonds and other contractual obligations
entered into by or on behalf of Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
solely by the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries) in connection with the
Contributed Comcast Businesses (together, the “Comcast LCs”) outstanding as
of the date of this Agreement that are not Excluded Comcast Liabilities and (ii)
any Comcast LCs entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with past practice on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Closing or (b) assume all obligations under each Comcast LC, obtaining from the
creditor or other counterparty a full release (in a form reasonably satisfactory
to Comcast) of all parties liable, directly or indirectly, for reimbursement to
the creditor or fulfillment of other obligations to a counterparty in connection
with amounts drawn under the Comcast LCs. NBCU further agrees that to the extent
the beneficiary or counterparty under any Comcast LC does not accept any such
substitute letter of credit, NBCU guarantee or other obligation proffered by
NBCU, NBCU shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Comcast against, and
reimburse Comcast for, any and all amounts paid, including costs or expenses in
connection with such Comcast LCs, including Comcast’s expenses in maintaining
such Comcast LCs, whether or not any such Comcast LC is drawn upon or required
to be performed, and shall in any event promptly reimburse Comcast to the extent
any Comcast LC is called upon and Comcast or its Subsidiaries make any payment
or are obligated to reimburse the party issuing the Comcast LC. At the request
of Comcast, NBCU shall provide Comcast with letters of credit in an amount equal
to Comcast’s and its Subsidiaries’ entire potential liability pursuant to the
immediately preceding sentence.
Section
6.08. Rights to GE Name and XX
Xxxxx. Subject to, and without limiting the representation set forth in,
the second sentence of Section 3.12(f):
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(a) As of the
Closing Date, Newco and its Subsidiaries (including the NBCU Entities) shall
cease and discontinue all uses of the GE Name and XX Xxxxx, except for any such
use which would not otherwise infringe, dilute or otherwise violate the
Intellectual Property rights of GE or any of its Subsidiaries in and to such GE
Name and XX Xxxxx. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
Newco and its Subsidiaries may continue to use the GE Name and XX Xxxxx as
embedded in stationery, powerpoints, promotional brochures, and other
promotional correspondence to the extent they are existing as of the Closing
Date for a period of forty-five (45) days following the Closing Date (the “Trademark Transition
Period”).
(b) Newco,
for itself and its Subsidiaries, agrees that, after the Closing Date, Newco and
its Subsidiaries will not expressly, or by implication, do business as or
represent themselves as GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU
Entity).
(c) Each of
Comcast and Newco, for itself and its Subsidiaries, acknowledges and agrees that
neither Newco nor any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) have any ownership interest
in or, except as set forth in Section 6.08, any license to any of the GE Name
and XX Xxxxx, (ii) for a period ten (10) years following the Closing Date,
contest the ownership or validity of any rights of GE or any of its Subsidiaries
in or to any of the Core XX Xxxxx, and/or (iii) during the Trademark Transition
Period, contest the ownership or validity of any rights of GE or any of its
Subsidiaries in or to any of the GE Name and XX Xxxxx (other than the Core XX
Xxxxx).
(d) Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 6.08 to the contrary, nothing in this Section 6.08
shall prevent Newco or any of its Subsidiaries from using any descriptive
elements of the GE Name and XX Xxxxx or making any fair use of the GE Name and
XX Xxxxx.
Section
6.09. Rights to NBCU
Trademarks. (a) As of the Closing Date, GE and its Subsidiaries (other
than any NBCU Entity) shall cease and discontinue all uses of any and all
Trademarks included in the NBCU Owned Intellectual Property, except for any such
use which would not otherwise infringe, dilute or otherwise violate the
Intellectual Property rights of Newco or any of its Subsidiaries in and to such
Trademarks, and GE, for itself and its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU
Entity), agrees that its and its Subsidiaries’ rights to any such Trademarks
pursuant to the terms of any trademark agreements between GE and its
Subsidiaries on the one hand, and any NBCU Entity on the other hand, shall
terminate on the Closing Date.
(b) GE,
for itself and its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity), agrees that, after
the Closing Date, GE and its Subsidiaries will not expressly, or
93
by
implication, do business as or represent themselves as Newco or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(c) GE, for
itself and its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity), acknowledges and
agrees that neither GE nor any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) have any ownership
interest in or any license to any Trademarks included in the NBCU Owned
Intellectual Property and/or (ii) for a period of ten (10) years following the
Closing Date, contest the ownership or validity of any rights of Newco or any of
its Subsidiaries in or to any such Trademarks.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 6.09 to the contrary, nothing in this Section 6.09
shall prevent GE or any of its Subsidiaries from using any descriptive elements
of the Trademarks included in the NBCU Owned Intellectual Property or making any
fair use of such Trademarks.
Section
6.10. Rights to Comcast Name
and Comcast Marks. (a) Except as otherwise provided in that certain
Amended and Restated Trademark License Agreement between Comcast and certain of
the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries dated as of November 18, 2009 (the “Comcast Trademark License”),
as of the Closing Date, Newco and its Subsidiaries (including the Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries) shall cease and discontinue all uses of the Comcast Name
and Comcast Marks, except for any such use which would not otherwise infringe,
dilute or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property rights of Comcast or any
of its Subsidiaries in and to the Comcast Name and Comcast Marks.
(b) Each of
GE and Newco, for itself and its Subsidiaries, acknowledges and agrees that
neither Newco nor any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) have any
ownership interest in or, except as set forth Section 6.10, any license to any
of the Comcast Name and Comcast Marks, (ii) for a period ten (10) years
following the Closing Date, contest the ownership or validity of any rights of
Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Newco or any of its Subsidiaries)
in or to any of the Core Comcast Marks, and/or (iii) during the term of the
Comcast Trademark License, contest the ownership or validity of any rights of
Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Newco or any of its Subsidiaries)
in or to any of the Comcast Name and Comcast Marks (other than the Core Comcast
Marks).
(c) Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 6.10 to the contrary, nothing in this Section 6.10
shall prevent Newco or any of its Subsidiaries, from using any descriptive
elements of the Comcast Name and Comcast Marks or making any fair use of the
Comcast Name and Comcast Marks.
(d) Comcast,
for itself and its Subsidiaries (other than Newco or any of its Subsidiaries),
acknowledges and agrees that neither Comcast nor any of its Subsidiaries shall,
for a period of ten (10) years following the Closing Date, contest the ownership
or validity of any rights of Newco or any of its Subsidiaries
94
in or to
any of the Trademarks included in the Comcast Owned Intellectual
Property.
Section
6.11. Further Action Regarding
Intellectual Property and Technology. (a) If, after the
Closing Date, GE, NBCU, Comcast or Newco identifies any item of
NBCU Intellectual Property, NBCU Technology, Comcast Intellectual Property or
Comcast Technology, that was not previously assigned or otherwise transferred by
the NBCU Transferors or Comcast Transferors, to Newco, then, to the extent that
it has the right to do so without paying material additional compensation to a
third party, the NBCU Transferors or Comcast Transferors, as applicable, shall
promptly assign and transfer the applicable Intellectual Property or Technology
to Newco for no additional consideration, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement (including Section 2.05) and the license of (i) any such Comcast
Intellectual Property or Comcast Technology to Comcast and its Affiliates on the
terms and conditions set forth in the Comcast Intellectual Property Cross
License Agreement or (ii) any such NBCU Intellectual Property or NBCU Technology
to GE and its Affiliates on the terms and conditions set forth in the GE
Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement.
(b) If, after
the Closing Date, GE or Newco identifies any item of GE Intellectual Property or
GE Technology that was transferred to Newco or one of its Subsidiaries on or
prior to the Closing Date, Newco shall (and Comcast shall cause Newco to), or
shall cause its applicable Subsidiary to, promptly assign and transfer such GE
Intellectual Property or GE Technology to GE or its designated Affiliate for no
additional consideration, subject to the license of such GE Intellectual
Property or GE Technology to Newco and its Subsidiaries on the terms and
conditions set forth in the GE Intellectual Property Cross License
Agreement.
(c) If, after
the Closing Date, Comcast or Newco identifies any item of Excluded Comcast
Intellectual Property or Excluded Comcast Technology that was transferred by the
Comcast Transferors to Newco or one of its Subsidiaries on or prior to the
Closing Date, Newco shall, or shall cause its applicable Subsidiary to, promptly
assign and transfer such Excluded Comcast Intellectual Property or Excluded
Comcast Technology to Comcast or its designated Affiliate for no additional
consideration, subject to the license of such Excluded Comcast Intellectual
Property or Excluded Comcast Technology to Newco and its Subsidiaries on the
terms and conditions set forth in the Comcast Intellectual Property Cross
License Agreement.
Section
6.12. Ancillary
Agreements. At or prior to the Closing, the applicable parties hereto
shall or shall cause their applicable respective Affiliates to execute and
deliver:
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(a) the GE
Transition Services Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-1 (the
“GE Transition Services
Agreement”);
(b) the
Comcast Services Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-2 (the
“Comcast Services
Agreement”;
(c) the GE
Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C-1 (the “GE
Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement”);
(d) the
Comcast Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement, in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit C-2 (the “Comcast Intellectual Property
Cross License
Agreement”); and
(e) the Newco
Operating Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Newco Operating
Agreement”).
Section
6.13. Further Action.
(a) Each of the parties hereto shall (i) execute and deliver, or shall cause to
be executed and delivered, such documents and other papers and shall take, or
shall cause to be taken, such further actions as may be reasonably required to
carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements
and give effect to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including,
(A) the acquisition or transfer of any NBCU Licenses or Comcast Licenses
(including Environmental Permits and FCC Licenses) related to the NBCU
Businesses or the NBCU Assets, the Comcast Businesses or the Comcast Assets, (B)
subject to Section 6.16, with respect to actions of GE, NBCU, Comcast and their
respective Affiliates, such actions as are necessary to obtain the NBCU
Financing or Alternative Financing, as applicable, (C) with respect to actions
of Comcast, such actions as are necessary to assure that Comcast has available
cash and/or borrowing facilities sufficient to enable it to consummate such
transactions and (D) Intellectual Property assignment agreements with respect to
the NBCU Registered IP or the Comcast Registered IP, as applicable, in a form
reasonably acceptable to Comcast (with respect to the NBCU Registered IP) or GE
(with respect to the Comcast Registered IP), (ii) shall refrain from taking any
action that would reasonably be expected to have the effect of delaying,
impairing or impeding the Closing; provided that the foregoing
shall not prohibit GE, Comcast or any of their respective Subsidiaries from
engaging in (A) ordinary course regulatory or commercial negotiations or other
actions (it being understood that, GE and Comcast shall (1) to the extent
reasonably practicable, consult with one another with respect to any such
regulatory action and (2) consider the pendency of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement in connection with the taking of any such action) or (B) any
action set forth in Section 6.14 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter or Comcast
Disclosure Letter, as applicable, or any action to which the other party
specifically consents and (iii) subject to the foregoing and Section 6.05(a),
shall use its
96
commercially
reasonable efforts to cause all of the conditions to the obligations of the
other party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be
met on or prior to the End Date.
(b) Each of
the parties hereto shall keep the other parties reasonably apprised of the
status of the matters relating to the completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby. From time to time following the Closing, the parties hereto
shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, execute, acknowledge and
deliver all reasonable further conveyances, notices, assumptions, releases,
acquittances and instruments, and shall take such reasonable actions as may be
necessary or appropriate to make effective the transactions contemplated hereby
as may be reasonably requested by any other party (including transferring back
to or assuming back from the applicable party or its designated Affiliate any
asset or liability not contemplated by this Agreement to be a Contributed NBCU
Asset, an Assumed NBCU Liability, a Contributed Comcast Asset or an Assumed
Comcast Liability, respectively, which asset or liability was transferred or
delegated by such party or its Affiliate to Newco at the Closing).
(c) Each of
the parties hereto will cooperate to obtain any authorizations, consents,
waivers, orders and approvals that may be required in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements. Except as set forth in
Section 6.05, no party hereto shall be required to (and none of NBCU, Newco or
any of their respective Subsidiaries shall, without the mutual written consent
of Comcast and GE) compensate any third party, commence or participate in
litigation or offer or grant any accommodation (financial or otherwise) to any
third party to obtain any consent or approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
NBCU shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consents and
approvals necessary or advisable under the agreements set forth on Section
6.13(c) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Agreements (including, to the extent necessary
and subject to the prior consent of Comcast (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld), incurring reasonable costs and expenses and making reasonable
payments to the applicable counterparties); provided that all such
reasonable, out-of-pocket costs, expenses and payments shall, to the extent paid
prior to the Closing, be initially paid by GE with Comcast causing an Affiliate
of Comcast to reimburse GE for 50% of the amount of such reasonable out-of-
pocket costs, expenses and payments promptly, and in any event within five (5)
Business Days, following receipt of a written request for such reimbursement
from GE (which request shall include reasonable supporting documentation) and
NBCU shall at or promptly following the Closing reimburse each of GE and such
Affiliate of Comcast for all such reasonable, out-of-pocket costs, expenses and
payments that it has so paid or reimbursed. All reasonable, out-of-pocket costs,
expenses and payments incurred by Comcast or any of its Affiliates with the
prior consent of GE to obtain the consents and approvals necessary or advisable
under the agreements set forth on Section 5.04 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter
shall (i)
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to the
extent such costs, expenses and payments are paid prior to the Closing,
initially be paid by Comcast or an Affiliate of Comcast with GE reimbursing
Comcast or its applicable Affiliate for 50% of the amount of such costs,
expenses and payments promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days,
following receipt of a written request for such reimbursement from Comcast
(which request shall include reasonable supporting documentation) and NBCU shall
at or promptly following the Closing reimburse each of Comcast or its applicable
Affiliate and GE for all such costs, expenses and payments that it has so paid
or reimbursed and (ii) to the extent such costs, expenses and payments are paid
at or following the Closing, be reimbursed by NBCU promptly following receipt of
demand therefor from Comcast.
Section
6.14. Pre-Closing
Restructurings. Prior to the Closing, NBCU and Comcast shall complete the
NBCU Restructuring and Comcast Restructuring, respectively, in accordance with
Section 6.14 of NBCU Disclosure Letter and Section 6.14 of the Comcast
Disclosure Letter. Following the date hereof, neither GE nor Comcast shall be
permitted to amend or modify Section 6.14 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter or the
NBCU Restructuring or Section 6.14 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter or the
Comcast Restructuring, respectively, without the consent of the other party
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that GE or Comcast,
as applicable, shall be deemed to have consented if, within
ten calendar days of receiving notice from GE or Comcast, as applicable, of a
proposed amendment or modification, such party fails to notify the other party
that it is withholding the requested consent.
Section
6.15. Accounts
Receivable. Upon Closing, each of the NBCU Transferors and Comcast
Transferors shall, by letter prepared by Newco and in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Transferors, irrevocably authorize,
instruct and direct that the obligors of all account receivables included in the
applicable Contributed Businesses (such parties, the “Transferor Account Parties”)
make and deliver all payments relating thereto after the Closing Date to such
location, bank and account (the “Lockbox Account”) as Newco shall
specify. If, notwithstanding such letter, any of the Transferor Account
Parties remits any such payments on or after the Closing Date directly or
indirectly to any NBCU Transferor or Comcast Transferor instead of to the
Lockbox Account, GE or Comcast, as applicable, shall cause such NBCU Transferor
or Comcast Transferor to promptly deliver all such payments that it receives to
Newco.
Section
6.16. Financing. (a)
NBCU may, subject to the consent of Comcast, enter into financing arrangements
as an alternative to the NBCU Financing that, when funded in accordance with,
and subject to the terms and conditions of, such alternative financing
arrangements will provide NBCU with funds sufficient to pay the NBCU Dividend in
full (any such alternative financing arrangements, the “Alternative Financing” and the
agreements relating to the
98
Alternative
Financing, the “Alternative
Financing Agreements”). NBCU shall, and GE shall cause NBCU to, use its
commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the NBCU Financing or Alternative
Financing, as applicable, on the terms of the NBCU Financing Commitment Letter
or Alternative Financing Agreements, as applicable, at or prior to the time that
all of the conditions set forth in Article 9 have been satisfied or waived
(other than the conditions set forth in Section 9.01(f), and those conditions
that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing), including drawing down
on the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, as applicable, and using its
commercially reasonable efforts to (i) negotiate definitive agreements with
respect to the NBCU Financing (on the terms and conditions contained in the NBCU
Financing Commitment Letter) (the “NBCU Financing Agreements”) or
Alternative Financing, as applicable, and (ii) satisfy all conditions to closing
or funding of the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, as applicable, to the
extent that satisfaction of such conditions is within the control of NBCU; provided, however, that the
use of such commercially reasonable efforts shall not require GE or NBCU to,
directly or indirectly, except as specifically provided in the NBCU Financing
Commitment Letter, (A) provide any guarantees, credit support or credit
enhancements of any kind, (B) maintain or support any working capital, equity
capital, financial statement condition, credit rating or debt rating or (C)
consent to any amendment, waiver, modification or other change to this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby. Comcast shall (x) deliver any financial
statements with respect to the Contributed Comcast Business required by the NBCU
Financing Agreements or the Alternative Financing Agreements as and when
required therein and (y) comply with any covenants contained in the NBCU
Financing Commitment Letter, the NBCU Financing Agreements or the Alternative
Financing Agreements that would be applicable to the Contributed Comcast
Business were the Contribution Comcast Businesses subject to such covenants. To
the extent reasonably requested by Comcast, GE and NBCU will keep Comcast
informed on a current basis in reasonable detail of the status of its efforts to
consummate the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, as applicable, on the
terms of the NBCU Financing Commitment Letter or Alternative Financing
Agreements, as applicable. GE and NBCU will provide Comcast with prompt notice
of any material breach by any party of the NBCU Financing Commitment Letter or
any Alternative Financing Agreement or any termination of the NBCU Financing
Commitment Letter or any Alternative Financing Agreement. NBCU shall not, and GE
shall cause NBCU not to, enter into any definitive agreement with respect to the
NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing or terminate or agree to any amendment
or modification to, or grant, seek, obtain or rely upon any waiver under, the
NBCU Financing Commitment Letter or any Alternative Financing Agreement, in each
case, without first receiving Comcast’s written consent thereto. If any portion
of the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, as applicable, becomes
unavailable on the terms and conditions contemplated in the NBCU Financing
Commitment Letter or the Alternative Financing Agreements, as applicable, (i)
NBCU shall, and GE shall cause NBCU to, seek in
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good
faith to arrange (subject to the consent of Comcast) to obtain such portion from
alternative sources on terms and conditions that are equivalent or more
favorable to NBCU as promptly as practicable and (ii) if such portion is not
obtained from alternative sources contemplated above, NBCU, GE and Comcast shall
work together in good faith to attempt to agree upon and implement appropriate
changes in financing arrangements or the transactions contemplated hereby in
order to permit the transactions contemplated hereby to be consummated (it being
understood that any such changes shall require the consents of GE and
Comcast).
(b) In
order to assist with obtaining the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, as
applicable, and any financings to be obtained by Comcast in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (it being
understood that the consummation of any such financing to be obtained by Comcast
shall not be a condition to the obligation of Comcast to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement), each of NBCU, Comcast and GE
shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, and shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives to, provide such
assistance and cooperation as NBCU or Comcast may reasonably request, including
(i) assisting with the preparation of any customary prospectus, offering
memorandum or similar document or marketing material, and cooperating with
initial purchasers or placement agents, (ii) making their respective senior
management, and the senior management of their Subsidiaries, reasonably
available for customary “roadshow” or syndication, presentations, lender or
proposed financing source meetings and rating agencies presentations, (iii)
cooperating with prospective lenders, underwriters, placement agents or initial
purchasers and their respective advisors in performing their due diligence, (iv)
providing all financial statements and financial and other information
reasonably requested by the financing sources for the NBCU Financing or
Alternative Financing, as applicable, or that would be required in an offering
of securities on a Form S-1 under the rules and regulations under the Securities
Act, including three full years of financial statements audited by a “big four”
auditing firm, any interim period financial statements that would be required by
the Securities Exchange Commission (reviewed in accordance with Statement of
Accounting Standards (“SAS”) 100), any unaudited
selected financial data that would be required pursuant to Item 301 of
Regulation S-K of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any pro forma
financial statements that would be required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission in the Form S-1, (v) causing their respective accountants, and the
accountants of their respective Subsidiaries, to provide comfort letters to any
underwriters or initial purchasers consistent with SAS 72, including standard
negative assurance on any interim period of pro forma financial statements, (vi)
entering into customary agreements with lenders, underwriters, initial
purchasers and placement agents and their respective advisors, (vii) helping
procure other definitive financing documents or other reasonably requested
certificates or documents, including pledge and
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security
documents, customary certificates (including a certificate of their respective
chief financial officers with respect to solvency matters), legal opinions and
real estate title documentation and (viii) preparing and furnishing to the
financing sources under the NBCU Financing or the Alternative Financing (x)
prior to the Closing Date, the information required by Exhibit D to the NBCU
Financing Commitment Letter and (y) such financial statements and other
information as and when required by the definitive agreements with respect to
the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing, as applicable.
Section
6.17. Future
Transactions. Each of GE and Comcast acknowledges and agrees that in the
event that Comcast or Newco acquires any shares of capital stock of Navy Holdco
2 after the date hereof from Navy Holdco 1, then each of GE and Comcast shall
enter into the Navy Holdco 2 Agreement, substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit E (the “Navy
Holdco 2 Agreement”).
Section
6.18. Indemnification and
Insurance. (a) Following the Closing, Newco agrees that all rights to
exculpation, advancement of expenses, and indemnification with respect to acts
or omissions occurring at or prior to Closing (including any matters arising in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby), whether asserted or
claimed prior to, at or after the Closing, existing in favor of the current or
former directors and officers of NBCU or the other NBCU Entities (collectively,
the “D&O
Indemnitees”) by virtue of any provision of the articles of
incorporation, by-laws or comparable organizational documents of NBCU, the other
NBCU Entities or any indemnification or other agreement shall survive the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and shall continue in full
force and effect following the Closing. Following the Closing, Newco shall (a)
maintain in effect (A) the current provisions regarding exculpation, advancement
of expenses, and indemnification of officers and directors contained in the
articles of incorporation, by-laws or other comparable organizational documents
of the NBCU Entities and (B) any indemnification agreements of the NBCU Entities
with any of their respective directors, officers and employees existing as of
the date hereof, and (b) indemnify the D&O Indemnitees with respect to acts
or omissions occurring at or prior to Closing (including any matters arising in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby), whether asserted or
charmed prior to, at or after the Closing, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable Law.
(b) For a
period of three (3) years from and after the Closing Date, Newco shall maintain
a Side A Only Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Policy with a coverage limit of
$125 million in the aggregate covering acts or omissions occurring prior to the
Closing Date to the extent relating to the NBCU Businesses.
(c) The
D&O Indemnitees to whom this Section 6.18 applies shall be third party
beneficiaries of this Section 6.18. The provisions of this Section
6.18
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are
intended to be for the benefit of each D&O Indemnitee and his or her heirs.
Following the Closing, the obligations of Comcast and Newco under this Section
6.18 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect
any D&O Indemnitee to whom this Section 6.18 applies without the consent of
each such affected D&O Indemnitee.
(d) If
Newco or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into
any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or
entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or
substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each
such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of
Newco, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations set forth in this
Section 6.18.
Section
6.19. Real Property.
(a) GE shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Newco, prior
to Closing to the extent in the possession of NBCU, copies of all licenses,
certificates of occupancy, plans, specifications and permits and other documents
pertaining to such NBCU Owned Real Property or any NBCU Leased Real Property
listed on Section 3.16(a) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter.
(b) Comcast
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Newco, prior to
Closing, to the extent in the possession of Comcast, copies of all licenses,
certificates of occupancy, plans, specifications and permits and other documents
pertaining to such Comcast Owned Real Property or any Comcast Leased Real
Property listed on Section 5.17(a) of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter.
(c) NBCU
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Newco, prior to
Closing, an estoppel certificate, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Comcast,
from each landlord or joint venture partner, as applicable, with respect to each
NBCU Leased Property listed on Section 6.19(c) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter,
dated the Closing Date, confirming that each such lease or sublease is in full
force and effect and enforceable, in all material respects, in accordance with
its respective terms, and that to the knowledge of each such landlord or joint
venture partner, as applicable, no default under each such lease or sublease has
occurred or is continuing. For the purposes of this Section 6.19(c),
“commercially reasonable efforts” shall not include, and NBCU shall not be
required to make, any payment to any such landlord or joint venturer, or any
designee or representative of the same, in order to obtain any such
estoppels.
(d) Comcast
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Newco, prior to
Closing, an estoppel certificate, in a form reasonably satisfactory to NBCU,
from each landlord or joint venture partner, as applicable, with respect to each
Comcast Leased Property listed on Section 6.19(d) of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter, dated the Closing Date, confirming that each such lease or
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sublease
is in full force and effect and enforceable, in all material respects, in
accordance with its respective terms, and that to the knowledge of each such
landlord or joint venture partner, as applicable, no default under each such
lease or sublease has occurred or is continuing. For the purposes of this
Section 6.19(d), “commercially reasonable efforts” shall not include, and
Comcast shall not be required to make, any payment to any such landlord or joint
venturer, or any designee or representative of the same, in order to obtain any
such estoppels.
(e) On or
before closing, GE and NBCU will amend the lease with respect to the NBCU Leased
Real Property located at 900 and 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx
such that NBCU’s options to acquire fee ownership of such property pursuant to
the terms of the lease, and NBCU’s right to renew such lease, will not be
dependent on Vivendi’s continued ownership of any portion of NBCU.
(f) GE and
Comcast shall use their good faith efforts to negotiate a lease to be entered
into by the relevant parties at or as soon as reasonably practicable prior to
Closing on the terms and conditions set forth in the term sheet attached hereto
as Exhibit H (the “00 Xxxx Term
Sheet”) and other arm’s length terms that are reasonably considered
“market” for a lease of comparable space for comparable buildings in New York
City (the “00 Xxxx
Lease”). If GE and Comcast are not able to agree on a form of lease prior
to the Closing, then from and after the Closing, the 00 Xxxx Term Sheet shall be
binding upon the parties identified therein in accordance with its terms. The 00
Xxxx Lease (or binding 00 Xxxx Term Sheet, if applicable) shall amend and
restate in its entirety, the existing agreements between NBC Trust No. 1996A and
NBC under which NBCU occupies approximately 1,300,000 square feet of space
within the 30 Rockefeller Center Condominium, as in effect on the date of this
Agreement (the “Existing
Lease”). The 00 Xxxx Lease (or binding 00 Xxxx Term Sheet, if applicable)
shall be made effective following the Transaction Closing (as defined in the
Vivendi SPA) but prior to Comcast’s acquisition of any portion of Newco. Under
no circumstances shall any term or provision of the Existing Lease be effective
or enforceable by any party from and after Closing.
Section
6.20. Related Party
Transactions. (a) For so long as any Related Party NBCU Contract set
forth on Section 6.20(a) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter (each such agreement,
together with any similar agreement entered into prior to the Closing, a “Factoring Agreement”) is in
effect, Comcast shall have the option, exercisable by written notice delivered
to GE, to terminate the continued factoring of receivables under any portion or
all of any Factoring Agreement effective not earlier than immediately following
the Closing. Any notice of such termination must be delivered at least two
Business Days prior to the specified date of termination. If Comcast exercises
such option with respect to any Factoring Agreement, then from and following the
effectiveness of such termination, no further receivables will be factored
pursuant to such Factoring
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Agreement,
and all existing receivables and applicable amounts will be settled on the terms
and in accordance with the procedures therefor set forth in the applicable
Factoring Agreement (it being understood that there are not and will not be any
penalties or termination fees payable in connection with any such termination).
Any receivable of any NBCU Entity from GE in respect of any Factoring Agreement
that exists as of the time immediately prior to Closing shall be automatically
extinguished in its entirety (with no payment being made in respect thereof)
effective upon the Closing; provided that such
extinguishment shall not affect any rights or obligations under any Factoring
Agreement (including with respect to holdback payments or similar payments (and
receivables with respect thereto), all of which shall be made in accordance with
the terms of the applicable Factoring Agreement). None of GE or any of its
Subsidiaries shall (i) exercise any right of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation under any Factoring Agreement resulting from the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the other Transaction
Agreements or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or (ii) between the date hereof and the Closing, enter into, renew,
amend or modify, or otherwise waive, release or assign any rights, claims or
benefits of any NBCU Entity under, any Factoring Agreement without the prior
written consent of Comcast; provided that such consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed with respect to any modification
or renewal of any Factoring Agreement that will only be in effect for periods
prior to the Closing if (and only if) the economic terms of such Factoring
Agreement as so modified shall be (A) substantially the same as the terms that
were in effect prior to such modification or renewal (subject to such changes as
reflect overall changes in market conditions) and (B) not less favorable to the
Navy Businesses than could be obtained by the Navy Businesses from an unrelated
third party.
(b) Prior to
the Closing, except as otherwise provided in the Comcast Services Agreement,
Comcast shall, and shall to the extent necessary cause its Subsidiaries to,
cause all obligations arising under the Related Party Comcast Contracts (other
than those set forth on Section 6.20(b) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter, which
shall continue in accordance with their respective terms) to be repaid or
cancelled in a manner that does not give rise to any Liability that would be an
Assumed Comcast Liability or a Liability of a Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary.
(c) Prior to
the Closing, except as otherwise provided in the GE Transition Services
Agreement, GE and NBCU shall, and shall to the extent necessary cause their
respective Subsidiaries to, cause all obligations under the Related Party NBCU
Contracts (other than those set forth on Section 6.20(c) of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter, which shall continue in accordance with their respective terms, the
Factoring Agreements, which shall be governed by Section 6.20(a), and the TPS
Program, which shall be governed by Section 6.20(d)) to be
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repaid or
cancelled in a manner that does not give rise to any Liability that would be an
Assumed NBCU Liability or a Liability of a NBCU Entity.
(d) GE
and NBCU shall, and shall to the extent necessary cause their respective
Subsidiaries to, terminate the participation of the NBCU Entities under GE’s TPS
Program (the “TPS
Program”) effective as of the Closing; provided that such
termination shall not affect any rights or obligations of the parties under the
TPS Program with respect to any amounts payable thereunder, all of which shall
be made in a manner consistent with past practice.
Section
6.21. Post-Closing
Services. As soon as practicable following the date hereof, GE, NBCU and
Comcast will work together in good faith to complete the schedules to the GE
Transition Services Agreement and the Comcast Services Agreement setting forth
the applicable services to be provided under each such agreement (it being
understood that such schedules shall be completed prior to the Closing). In
furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, GE shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to provide to Comcast its initial draft of such
schedules to the GE Transition Services Agreement no later than March 31, 2010
and the parties shall promptly thereafter make available and cause the necessary
personnel to work together in good faith. In order to complete such schedules
with respect to services to be provided to Newco, the parties will determine the
services that have been provided to the NBCU Businesses and the Contributed
Comcast Businesses prior to the Closing, it being understood that, except as
provided below and subject to the selection process described below, (a) GE will
make available to Newco the full range of services provided by GE to the NBCU
Businesses as of the Closing for a period of four years from the Closing Date
(but subject to the termination provisions set forth in the GE Transition
Services Agreement) (the “Transition Services Term”),
and (b) Comcast will make available to Newco the full range of services provided
by Comcast to the Contributed Comcast Businesses as of the Closing for an
indefinite period (but subject to the termination provisions set forth in the
Comcast Services Agreement); provided that neither GE nor
(except with respect to clause (i) or (iii) below) Comcast shall be obligated to
provide services (i) that historically have not been generally provided under
transition services agreements to former businesses that were divested by GE,
(ii) that are not appropriate to be provided, in the reasonable judgment of the
party that would be the provider, due to constraints under Law, (iii) that, in
accordance with internal policies, procedures or practices of GE in effect prior
to the date hereof, GE does not provide to an entity in which GE holds a
minority equity interest, or (iv) that are provided through a third party
provider and the relevant Contract with the third party does not permit such
service to be provided to Newco. Section 6.21 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter sets
forth an illustrative list of services that GE is not obligated to provide to
Newco after the Closing by virtue of the limitations set forth in clauses
(i)-(iii). GE shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to limit, to the
extent practicable, adding services which it will not provide Newco by virtue of
such limitations, to
105
those
already identified in Section 6.21 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter, and, with
respect to each such additional service (if any), GE shall consider in good
faith any proposals made by Comcast pursuant to which GE would provide such
additional service on a temporary basis to the extent necessary to avoid
significant disruption to Newco’s businesses. Comcast shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to limit, to the extent practicable, the services which it
will not provide Newco by virtue of the limitations set forth in clause (ii),
and, with respect to each such service, Comcast shall consider in good faith any
proposals made by GE pursuant to which Comcast would provide such service on a
temporary basis to the extent necessary to avoid significant disruption to
Newco’s businesses. The parties will determine in good faith which Person (which
may be Newco itself, GE, Comcast or an unrelated third party) will be able to
provide Newco with each applicable service most efficiently (taking into account
cost, service levels and other relevant factors) following the Closing; provided that if the parties
are unable to agree as to any particular service, such determination will be
made in the good faith judgment of Comcast.
Section
6.22. Relevant
Transactions. (a) If after the date hereof and prior to Closing, Comcast
desires to, or desires to cause any of its Subsidiaries to, acquire or invest in
a business, whether by merger, consolidation, combination or amalgamation,
acquisition of equity interest or assets or otherwise, in each case, that if
acquired would be primarily related to the Contributed Comcast Businesses,
Comcast shall deliver a notice to GE containing the material terms of such
transaction, including reasonable detail as to the financial and operational
implications of the transaction for Newco, the equity interest, business or
assets to be acquired, and the consideration proposed to be paid (including any
Relevant Transaction Debt) in connection with such transaction. GE may, within
fifteen (15) Business Days after receipt of such notice, object to such
acquisition by delivering a notice of objection.
(b) If a
notice of objection with respect to any such transaction is delivered pursuant
to Section 6.22(a) within such fifteen (15) Business Day period, Comcast or one
or more of its Subsidiaries shall be permitted, subject to receipt of any
consent required pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(ii), to enter into and consummate
such transaction on the terms set forth in the notice delivered by Comcast
pursuant to Section 6.22(a); provided that the equity
interest, business or assets acquired pursuant to such transaction shall be
deemed Comcast Excluded Assets and the Liabilities relating thereto shall be
deemed Excluded Comcast Liabilities.
(c) If a
notice of objection with respect to any such transaction is not delivered
pursuant to Section 6.22(a) within such fifteen (15) Business Day period, (i)
Comcast or more of its Subsidiaries shall be permitted to enter into and
consummate such transaction (a “Relevant Transaction”) on
terms that are equivalent in all material respects to those which are set forth
in the notice
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delivered
by Comcast pursuant to Section 6.22(a) and (ii) the equity interest, business or
assets acquired pursuant to such transaction shall be deemed Comcast Assets or
Excluded Comcast Assets and the Liabilities relating thereto shall be deemed
Assumed Comcast Liabilities or Excluded Comcast Liabilities to the extent
provided in Section 2.03 (as if such equity interest, business or assets were
owned by Comcast and such Liabilities were Liabilities of Comcast). Each
transaction set forth on Section 6.22 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter shall be
a Relevant Transaction if it is consummated on terms that are equivalent in all
material respects to those which are set forth in the summaries previously
provided to GE in writing prior to the date hereof with respect to such
transaction.
Section
6.23. Organizational
Documents. Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, GE, NBCU and
Comcast shall negotiate in good faith mutually agreeable forms of an amended and
restated certificate of incorporation of Navy Holdco 2, amended and restated
bylaws of Navy Holdco 2 and a limited liability company agreement of NBCU (the
“Organizational
Documents”). The Organizational Documents shall be in form and substance
customary for organizational documents of wholly-owned Subsidiaries and, in the
case of NBCU, shall be consistent with Section 6.18. GE shall cause the
Organizational Documents of NBCU to be in full force and effect as of the
Closing and the Organizational Documents of Navy Holdco 2 to be in full force
and effect as of the effective date of the Navy Holdco 2 Agreement.
Section
6.24. Advertising.
During the five (5) calendar years commencing at the beginning of the first
calendar year following Closing, GE shall, directly or indirectly through one or
more of its Subsidiaries, purchase advertising from Newco or one or more of its
Subsidiaries such that, in each such year, GE will purchase no less than $59
million of gross advertising, in the aggregate, from Newco and its Subsidiaries,
and GE will purchase an additional $50 million of gross advertising in
connection with the 2012 Olympic Games. During the remainder of the calendar
year in which the Closing occurs, GE shall, directly or indirectly through one
or more of its Subsidiaries, purchase advertising from Newco or one or more of
its Subsidiaries in an amount and in a manner consistent with its advertising
plan for such calendar year or, in the absence of such a plan, in the ordinary
course of business in an amount and in a manner consistent with such period in
the prior calendar year. Purchases of advertising by GE and its Subsidiaries
pursuant to this Section 6.24 shall be effected on arms- length terms; provided that GE and its
Subsidiaries shall be entitled to preferential client treatment, including
access to marketing execution and placements, comparable to the top tier or
highest spender category of advertising or past practice, whichever is more
favorable to GE.
Section
6.25. Contributed Comcast
Business 2008 EBITDA. Prior to the Closing Date, Comcast shall cause
Deloitte & Touche LLP to (a) conduct an audit of the 2008 Comcast Financial
Statements and (b) perform certain agreed upon
107
procedures,
as agreed to by Comcast and Deloitte & Touche LLP after reasonable
consultation with GE (it being understood that GE shall have the right to
consult with Comcast in the development of such procedures), relating to a
schedule derived from such audit that sets forth the operating cash flow of the
Contributed Comcast Businesses for the twelve month period ended December 31,
2008 (the “2008 Contributed
Comcast Businesses EBITDA”), calculated on the same basis as the 2008
operating cash flow of the Contributed Comcast Businesses that was included in
the long range forecast for the Contributed Comcast Businesses provided by
Comcast to GE in writing prior to the date hereof (including adjustments for (i)
allocations of corporate and other non-recurring costs (including stay bonuses
associated with Fandango) and (ii) the exclusion of The Comcast Network).
Comcast shall deliver a copy of such audit report together with an unqualified
opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP thereon and agreed upon procedures report
to GE promptly following the completion of such reports. GE and its advisors
will have thirty (30) days to review the calculation of 2008 Contributed Comcast
Businesses EBITDA, during which 30-day period Comcast shall provide adequate
access to management and Comcast internal workpapers to assess the basis for the
calculation. To the extent there is any dispute, GE will document and provide to
Comcast the nature of such dispute. GE and Comcast will have fifteen (15) days
from the date of delivery of the dispute notice to negotiate and resolve such
differences. If no resolution is reached, senior executives of GE and Comcast
will discuss a resolution of such dispute in good faith. If they are not able to
reach a resolution, Deloitte & Touche LLP’s determination shall
control.
Section
6.26. Certain Other
Agreements. Comcast and GE hereby agree to the covenants set forth in (a)
Section 6.26(a) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter, (b) Section 6.26(b) of the
NBCU Disclosure Letter and (c) Section 6.26(c) of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter.
Section
6.27. Newco. (a)
Comcast and GE shall agree prior to the Closing on the initial chief executive
officer of Newco.
(b)
Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, GE and Comcast shall cooperate in
good faith to further develop the initial post-Closing strategic plan for Newco
attached as Exhibit B to the Form of Newco Operating Agreement attached hereto
as Exhibit I (the “Preliminary
Initial Strategic Plan”). If the parties are
unable to mutually agree on such further developed strategic plan (it being
the mutual intention of GE and Comcast to work towards such further development
within a reasonable time period prior to the anticipated Closing Date), each of
Comcast and GE shall cause their respective chief executive officers to use
their respective good faith efforts to resolve such disagreement for a period of
five Business Days after GE or Comcast advises the other in writing that an
impasse has been reached with respect to such further developed plan; provided, however, that, if
the parties have not mutually agreed
108
upon such
strategic plan by the Closing Date, the initial post-Closing strategic plan for
Newco (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be the Preliminary Initial
Strategic Plan) shall be as determined by Comcast. To the extent (i) GE and
Comcast agree on a further developed initial post-closing strategic plan or (ii)
Comcast designates an initial post-closing strategic plan that is different from
the Preliminary Initial Strategic Plan, Exhibit B to the Form of Newco Operating
Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit I shall be deemed replaced with the initial
post-closing strategic plan so agreed upon or designated, as the case may
be.
Section
6.28. Certain
Investments. To the extent that investment securities of any Person that
are subject to a stockholders, investment, operating or other similar agreement
pursuant to which rights and obligations arising thereunder are jointly held or
exercisable or are derived from common ownership are included in both the NBCU
Assets and the Excluded NBCU Assets (including the investment securities of the
Persons listed on Section 6.28 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter), the parties
hereto shall (a) determine an equitable allocation of the non-economic rights
and obligations arising under such agreements as between Newco and its
Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and GE and its Subsidiaries, on the other hand
(which allocation shall take into account the relative ownership of such
investment securities and the relationship of Newco and its Subsidiaries with
such Person after giving effect to the Closing) and (b) use their commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such allocation to be implemented as of the Closing
or as soon thereafter as possible (including executing any necessary assignment
and assumption documents and obtaining any necessary consent of any third
party).
Section
6.29. Certain
Obligations. GE shall cause each of Navy Holdco 1 and Navy Holdco 2, and
through the Closing, Newco, to take all actions required to be taken, and to
refrain from taking any actions not permitted to be taken, by them pursuant to
this Agreement.
Section
6.30. Vivendi
Agreements. GE shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
(including the NBCU Entities) to, without the prior written consent of Comcast,
(i) enter into any Vivendi Agreement or (ii) enter into any amendments or
modifications to, or grant or rely upon any waivers under, any Vivendi Agreement
(regardless of whether such Vivendi Agreement was entered into prior to, on or
after the date of this Agreement) that would reasonably be expected to have the
effect of delaying, impairing or impeding the Closing. In addition, GE shall,
and shall cause each of its applicable Subsidiaries (including NBCU Entities)
to, comply with its obligations under each Vivendi Agreement and use its
reasonable best efforts to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
Vivendi SPA in accordance with the terms thereof.
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ARTICLE
7
EMPLOYEE MATTERS
Section
7.01. Employee Matters.
With respect to employee matters, the parties have made the representations,
warranties and agreements and covenants set forth in Exhibit B-1 (the “NBCU Employee Matters
Agreement”) and Exhibit B-2 (the “Comcast Employee Matters
Agreement”), each of which is hereby incorporated in, and made a part of,
this Agreement as if set forth in full herein.
Section
7.02. Newco Executive
Incentive Compensation Summary of Principles. The parties
acknowledge the Newco Executive Incentive Compensation Summary of
Principles, attached hereto as Exhibit J.
ARTICLE
8
TAX MATTERS
Section
8.01. Tax Matters
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
all indemnifications, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
among the parties with respect to Tax matters are covered exclusively by the Tax
Matters Agreement and the Newco Operating Agreement and nothing contained herein
shall give rise to any claim in respect of Taxes. In the event of any conflict
with respect to Tax matters between the provisions of this Agreement, on the one
hand, and the provisions of the Tax Matters Agreement or the Newco Operating
Agreement, on the other hand, the provisions of the Tax Matters Agreement or the
Newco Operating Agreement shall control.
ARTICLE
9
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
Section
9.01. Conditions to
Obligations of GE and NBCU. The obligations of GE and NBCU to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the
fulfillment, or waiver by GE in its sole discretion, at or prior to the Closing,
of each of the following conditions:
(a)
Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Comcast
set forth in this Agreement or the Tax Matters Agreement shall be true and
correct, without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or
“Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualification set forth therein (other than
in the phrase “materially impair or delay” or in the Designated
Comcast
110
Representations)
in each case as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except
to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly speaks as of an
earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and
correct as of such earlier date); provided that notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the condition set forth in this
Section 9.01(a) shall be deemed to have been satisfied even if any
representations or warranties of Comcast (other than those contained in Section
5.01(b) and Section 5.03, which must be true and correct in all material
respects) are not so true and correct unless the failure of such representations
and warranties of Comcast to be so true and correct, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Comcast Material
Adverse Effect, or a Material Adverse Effect on Newco, or a material adverse
effect on the ability of Comcast or Newco to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Agreements. GE and NBCU shall have received a
certificate signed by an executive officer of Comcast to the effect that the
condition set forth in this Section 9.01(a) has been satisfied.
(b) Covenants.
Comcast shall, and shall have caused its Subsidiaries to, have performed and
complied in all material respects with the obligations and covenants applicable
to Comcast or its Subsidiaries, in each case, to be performed and complied with
by Comcast or its Subsidiaries at or prior to the Closing in accordance with
this Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement, and GE and NBCU shall have
received a certificate signed by an executive officer of Comcast to such
effect.
(c) No
Governmental Orders. At the Closing Date, there shall be no Governmental Orders
in effect, and there shall be no action, investigation, proceeding or litigation
instituted, commenced, pending or threatened by or before any Governmental
Authority in which a Governmental Authority is a party, (i) that restrains or
prohibits or renders illegal the Closing, (ii) that restrains or prohibits or
renders illegal the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Agreements, other than the failure of which to be so consummated
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Impact on the current or future business operations of GE or Newco or
(iii) that would otherwise reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Impact on the current or future business operations of
GE or Newco.
(d) Governmental
Approvals. The FCC Order and all other Governmental Approvals required by
applicable Law to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including those set forth in Section 9.01(d) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter to
the extent required by applicable Law to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been obtained and shall be in full
force and effect without any condition or requirement that would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
111
Material
Impact on the current or future business operations of GE or Newco, and any
applicable waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired or been
terminated.
(e) Ancillary
Agreements. The Ancillary Agreements shall have been duly executed and delivered
by each of the parties thereto.
(f) NBCU
Financing and NBCU Dividend. All conditions to the obligations of the lenders
thereunder to fund the NBCU Financing or Alternative Financing shall have been
fulfilled or waived and the lenders thereunder shall be prepared to fund the
NBCU Dividend in full.
(g) Comcast
Restructuring. The actions contemplated by Section 6.14 of the Comcast
Disclosure Letter shall have been completed, in all material respects, on the
terms and conditions set forth therein.
(h) Vivendi
Agreements. The Transaction Closing (as defined in the Vivendi SPA) shall have
been consummated pursuant to the Vivendi SPA.
Section
9.02. Conditions to
Obligations of Comcast. The obligation of Comcast to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment,
or waiver by Comcast in its sole discretion, at or prior to the Closing, of each
of the following conditions:
(a)
Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of GE and
NBCU set forth in this Agreement or the Tax Matters Agreement shall be true and
correct, without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or
“Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualification set forth therein (other than
in the phrase “materially impair or delay” or in the Designated NBCU
Representations) in each case as of the Closing Date as though made on the
Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty
expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or
warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); provided, however, that notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the condition set forth in this
Section 9.02(a) shall be deemed to have been satisfied even if any
representations or warranties of GE and NBCU (other than those contained in
Section 3.01(b), Section 3.03, Section 4.01(b), Section 4.01(d) and Section
4.01(e)) are not so true and correct unless the failure of such representations
and warranties of GE and NBCU to be so true and correct, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a NBCU Material
Adverse Effect, a Material Adverse Effect on Newco or a material adverse effect
on the ability of GE, NBCU or Newco to consummate the transactions contemplated
by the Transaction Agreements. Comcast shall have received certificates signed
by an executive officer of each of GE and NBCU to the effect
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that the
condition set forth in this Section 9.02(a) has been satisfied with respect to
each of GE, NBCU and Newco.
(b) Covenants.
GE and NBCU shall, and shall have caused their respective Subsidiaries to, have
performed and complied in all material respects with the other obligations and
covenants applicable to GE and the NBCU Entities to be performed and complied
with by GE and the NBCU Entities at or prior to the Closing in accordance with
this Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement, and Comcast shall have received
certificates signed by an executive officer of each of GE and NBCU to such
effect.
(c) No
Governmental Orders. At the Closing Date, there shall be no Governmental Order
in effect, and there shall be no action, investigation, proceeding or litigation
instituted, commenced, pending or threatened by or before any Governmental
Authority in which a Governmental Authority is a party, (i) that restrains or
prohibits or renders illegal the Closing, (ii) that restrains or prohibits or
renders illegal the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Agreements, other than the failure of which to be so consummated
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Impact on the current or future business operations of Comcast or Newco
or (iii) that would otherwise reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Impact on the current or future business operations of
Comcast or Newco.
(d) Governmental
Approvals. The FCC Order and all other Governmental Approvals required by
applicable Law to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including those set forth in Section 9.02(d) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter to
the extent required by applicable Law to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been obtained and shall be in full
force and effect without any condition or requirement that would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Impact on the
current or future business operations of Comcast or Newco, and any applicable
waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired or been
terminated.
(e) Ancillary
Agreements. The Ancillary Agreements shall have been duly executed and delivered
by each of the parties thereto.
(f) NBCU
Restructuring. The actions contemplated by Section 6.14 of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter shall have been completed, in all material respects, on the terms and
conditions set forth therein.
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ARTICLE
10
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section
10.01. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing:
(a) by the
mutual written consent of GE and Comcast;
(b) by GE, if
Comcast shall have breached any representation or warranty or failed to comply
with any covenant or agreement applicable to Comcast that would cause either of
the conditions set forth in Section 9.01(a) or Section 9.01(b) not to be
satisfied, and such condition would be incapable of being satisfied, by the End
Date; provided, however, that neither GE nor
NBCU is then in material breach of this Agreement;
(c) by
Comcast, if GE or NBCU shall have breached any representation or warranty or
failed to comply with any covenant or agreement applicable to GE or NBCU that
would cause either of the conditions set forth in Section 9.02(a) or Section
9.02(b) not to be satisfied, and such condition would be incapable of being
satisfied, by the End Date; provided, however, that Comcast is not
then in material breach of this Agreement;
(d) by either
GE or Comcast if the Closing shall not have occurred by December 3, 2010 (the
“End Date”) which term
shall include the date of any extension under this Section 10.01(d); provided, however, that if on the End
Date the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 9.01(c), Section 9.01(d),
Section 9.02(c) or Section 9.02(d) shall not have been fulfilled but all other
conditions to Closing shall have been fulfilled (other than those conditions
that by their terms are to be satisfied at Closing, which conditions (other than
the condition set forth in Section 9.01(f)) shall be capable of being fulfilled
if Closing were to occur on such date), then either GE or Comcast may elect by
written notice to the other parties to extend the End Date for up to two (2)
successive 90-day periods (it being understood that in no event may the End Date
be extended beyond June 3, 2011 without the mutual written consent of GE and
Comcast); and provided
further that the right
to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.01(d) shall not be available to any
party whose failure to take any action required to fulfill any obligation under
this Agreement shall have been the cause of, or shall have resulted in, the
failure of the Closing to occur prior to such date;
(e) by GE or
Comcast, in the event of the issuance of a final, nonappealable Governmental
Order restraining or prohibiting the Closing;
(f) by GE, on
or after the 30th day after notice to Comcast that the conditions set forth in
Section 9.01 and Section 9.02 have been satisfied (other than those conditions
that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing) and the Closing should
have occurred in accordance with Section 2.06, if the Closing
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shall not
have occurred because Comcast shall have failed to comply with its obligations
to consummate the Closing; or
(g) by
Comcast, on or after the 30th day after notice to GE that the conditions set
forth in Section 9.01 and Section 9.02 have been satisfied (other than those
conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing) and the
Closing should have occurred in accordance with Section 2.06, if the Closing
shall not have occurred because GE or NBCU shall have failed to comply with its
obligations to consummate the Closing;
provided, that the party
asserting that a condition set forth in Section 9.01 or Section 9.02 has failed
to be satisfied shall bear the burden of proof of such failure.
Section
10.02. Notice of
Termination. Any party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 10.01 shall give written notice of such termination to the other party
or parties, as the case may be, to this Agreement.
Section
10.03. Effect of
Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement as
provided in Section 10.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there
shall be no liability on the part of any party to this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this
Agreement shall relieve the parties hereto from liability for (a) failure to
perform the obligations set forth in Section 6.04, (b) any knowing and
intentional breach of this Agreement or knowing and intentional failure to
perform its obligations under this Agreement and (c) amounts payable pursuant to
Section 6.13(c) or 12.02.
Section
10.04. Extension;
Waiver. At any time prior to the Closing, either GE may, with respect to
Comcast, or Comcast may, with respect to GE or NBCU, (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Person, (b)
waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the Tax
Matters Agreement, or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained in this Agreement or the Tax Matters Agreement (provided that such waiver of
compliance with such agreements or conditions shall not operate as a waiver of,
or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure). Any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed by the party granting such extension or waiver. Neither the waiver by any
of the parties hereto of a breach of or a default under any of the provisions of
this Agreement or the Tax Matters Agreement, nor the failure by any of the
parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this
Agreement or the Tax Matters Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege
hereunder, shall be construed as a waiver of any other breach or default of a
similar nature, or as a waiver of any of such provisions, rights or privileges
hereunder or thereunder.
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ARTICLE
11
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
11.01. Indemnification by
GE. (a) From and after the Closing, and subject to Section 11.04, Section
11.08, Section 11.09, Section 11.10 and Section 12.01, GE shall indemnify,
defend and hold harmless Newco, its Subsidiaries, their respective successors
and assigns and their respective directors, officers and employees
(collectively, the “Newco
Indemnified Parties”) and Comcast, its Affiliates, their respective
successors and assigns and their respective directors, officers and employees
(collectively, the “Comcast
Indemnified Parties”) against, and
reimburse any Newco Indemnified Party or Comcast Indemnified Party for,
all Losses that such Newco Indemnified Party or Comcast Indemnified Party may
suffer or incur, or become subject to, as a result of:
(i) the
failure of any representations or warranties made by GE or NBCU in this
Agreement to be true and correct on and as of the date hereof or on and as of
the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (or with respect to
representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date, the failure
of such representations and warranties to be true and correct as of such date),
determined without regard to any qualification or exception contained therein
relating to “materiality”, including the words “material” and “Material Adverse
Effect” (other than in the phrase “materially impair or delay” or in any such
qualification or exception contained in the Designated NBCU
Representations);
(ii) any
breach or failure by GE or, at or prior to the Closing, NBCU to perform any of
its covenants or obligations contained in this Agreement; or
(iii) any
Excluded NBCU Liability.
For the
avoidance of doubt, it is understood that the foregoing indemnification with
respect to the Comcast Indemnified Parties is intended to indemnify the Comcast
Indemnified Parties only for Losses suffered or incurred by them directly and is
not intended to indemnify the Comcast Indemnified Parties with respect to Losses
suffered by Newco or that they may suffer or incur solely by virtue of their
direct or indirect equity ownership in a Newco Indemnified Party.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, (i) GE shall not be
required to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any Newco Indemnified Party or
Comcast Indemnified Party against, or reimburse any Newco Indemnified Party or
Comcast Indemnified Party for, any Losses pursuant to Section 11.01(a)(i), (A)
with respect to any claim (except for a claim of the failure of the
representation and warranty set forth in Section 3.21) unless such claim
involves
116
Losses in
excess of $2,000,000 (nor shall such item be applied to or considered for
purposes of calculating the aggregate amount of the Newco Indemnified Parties’
or Comcast Indemnified Parties’ Losses) and (B) until the aggregate amount of
the Newco Indemnified Parties’ and Comcast Indemnified Parties’ Losses exceeds
$600,000,000 (the “NBCU
Deductible Amount”), after which GE shall only be obligated for such
aggregate Losses (each of which must satisfy the above subclause (A) to be
applied toward the NBCU Deductible Amount) of the Newco Indemnified Parties and
the Comcast Indemnified Parties in excess of the NBCU Deductible Amount; and
(ii) the cumulative indemnification obligation of GE under Section 11.01(a)(i)
shall in no event exceed $3,000,000,000. Solely for purposes of the
representations in the first sentence of Section 3.15(g) and the first sentence
of Section 3.15(i) insofar as such representations relate to contributions to
Multiemployer Plans with respect to NBCU Employees, the amount paid, if any, to
a Multiemployer Plan in respect of or in settlement of each audit of
contributions to such Multiemployer Plan with respect to NBCU Employees shall be
treated as a separate “claim” for purposes of this Section
11.01(b).
Section
11.02. Indemnification by
Comcast. (a) From and after the Closing, and subject to Section 11.04,
Section 11.08, Section 11.09, Section 11.10 and Section 12.01, Comcast shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless GE and its Affiliates, their respective
successors and assigns and their respective directors, officers and employees
(collectively, the “GE
Indemnified Parties”) and the Newco Indemnified Parties against, and
reimburse any GE Indemnified Party or Newco Indemnified Party for, all Losses
that such GE Indemnified Party or Newco Indemnified Party may suffer or incur,
or become subject to, as a result of:
(i) the
failure of any representations or warranties made by Comcast in this Agreement
to be true and correct on and as of the date hereof or on and as of the Closing
Date as though made on the Closing Date (or with respect to representations and
warranties that are made as of a specific date, the failure of such
representations and warranties to be true and correct as of such date),
determined without regard to any qualification or exception contained therein
relating to “materiality”, including the words “material” and “Material Adverse
Effect” (other than in the phrase “materially impair or delay” or in any such
qualification or exception contained in the Designated Comcast
Representations);
(ii) any
breach or failure by Comcast to perform any of its covenants or obligations
contained in this Agreement; or
(iii) any
Excluded Comcast Liability.
For the
avoidance of doubt, it is understood that the foregoing indemnification with
respect to the GE Indemnified Parties is intended to
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indemnify
the GE Indemnified Parties only for Losses suffered or incurred by them directly
and is not intended to indemnify the GE Indemnified Parties with respect to
Losses suffered by Newco or that they may suffer or incur solely by virtue of
their direct or indirect equity ownership in a Newco Indemnified
Party.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, (i) Comcast shall not be
required to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any Newco Indemnified Party or GE
Indemnified Party against, or reimburse any Newco Indemnified Party or GE
Indemnified Party for, any Losses pursuant to Section 11.02(a)(i), (A) with
respect to any claim (except for a claim of the failure of the representation
and warranty set forth in Section 5.23) unless such claim involves Losses in
excess of $500,000 (nor shall such item be applied to or considered for purposes
of calculating the aggregate amount of the Newco Indemnified Parties’ or Comcast
Indemnified Parties’ Losses) and (B) until the aggregate amount of the Newco
Indemnified Parties’ Losses exceeds $145,000,000 (the “Comcast Deductible Amount”), after
which Comcast shall only be obligated for such aggregate Losses (each
of which must satisfy the above subclause (A) to be applied toward the Comcast
Deductible Amount) of the Newco Indemnified Parties and the Comcast Indemnified
Parties in excess of the Comcast Deductible Amount; and (ii) the cumulative
indemnification obligation of Comcast under Section 11.02(a)(i)) shall in no
event exceed $725,000,000. Solely for purposes of the representations in the
first sentence of Section 5.16(g) and the first sentence of Section 5.16(i)
insofar as such representations relate to contributions to Multiemployer Plans
with respect to Comcast Contributed Business Employees, the amount paid, if any,
to a Multiemployer Plan in respect of or in settlement of each audit of
contributions to such Multiemployer Plan with respect to Comcast Contributed
Business Employees shall be treated as a separate “claim” for purposes of this
Section 11.02(b).
Section
11.03. Indemnification by
Newco. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the Closing, and subject to Section 11.04, Section 11.08 and Section
11.09, Newco shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless:
(a) the
GE Indemnified Parties against any Losses that any GE Indemnified Party may
suffer, incur, or become subject to as result of (i) any claim or cause of
action by any Person arising before, on or after the Closing Date against any GE
Indemnified Party with respect to the NBCU Entities, the ownership, operation or
use of the NBCU Assets or the operations of the NBCU Businesses (including all
actions of the NBCU Entities and Newco’s actions with respect to the NBCU
Entities or the ownership, operation or use of the NBCU Assets subsequent to the
Closing), other than any such claim or cause of action which would constitute an
Excluded NBCU Liability for which GE would otherwise be required to indemnify
Newco Indemnified Parties or Comcast
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Indemnified
Parties pursuant to Section 11.01(a) (after giving effect to the provisions of
Section 11.01(b)); or (ii) any Assumed NBCU Liability; and
(b) the
Comcast Indemnified Parties against any Losses that any Comcast Indemnified
Party may suffer, incur, or become subject to as result of (i) any claim or
cause of action by any Person arising before, on or after the Closing Date
against any Comcast Indemnified Party with respect to the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries, the ownership, operation or use of the Comcast Assets or the
operations of the Contributed Comcast Businesses (including all actions of the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries and Newco’s actions with respect to the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or the ownership, operation or use of the
Comcast Assets subsequent to the Closing), other than any such claim or cause of
action which would constitute an Excluded Comcast Liability or for which Comcast
would otherwise be required to indemnify Newco Indemnified Parties or GE
Indemnified Parties pursuant to Section 11.02(a) (after giving effect to the
provisions of Section 11.02(b)); or (ii) any Assumed Comcast
Liability.
Section
11.04. Notification of
Claims. (a) Except as otherwise provided in any Ancillary Agreement, a
Person that may be entitled to be indemnified under any of the Transaction
Agreements, other than the Tax Matters Agreement (the “Indemnified Party”), shall
promptly notify the party or parties liable for such indemnification (the “Indemnifying Party”) in
writing of any assertion of any pending or threatened claim, demand or
proceeding that the Indemnified Party has determined has given or would
reasonably be expected to give rise to a right of indemnification under this
Agreement (including a pending or threatened claim, demand or proceeding
asserted by a third party against the Indemnified Party, such claim being a
“Third Party Claim”),
describing in reasonable detail the relevant facts and circumstances; provided, however, that the failure to
provide timely notice shall not release the Indemnifying Party from any of its
obligations under this Article 11 except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is
actually prejudiced by such failure, it being understood that notices for claims
in respect of a breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or agreement must
be delivered prior to the expiration of any applicable survival period specified
in Section 12.01 for such representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement.
(b) Upon
receipt of a notice of a claim for indemnity from an Indemnified Party pursuant
to Section 11.04(a) with respect to any Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying
Party may assume the defense and control of such Third Party Claim. In the event
that the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense of such claim, it shall
allow the Indemnified Party a reasonable opportunity to participate in the
defense of such Third Party Claim with its own counsel and at its own expense;
provided, that (i) if
the Indemnified Party reasonably concludes that the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party have a conflict of interest or different defenses available
with respect to such Third Party Claim or (ii) the Indemnifying Party has not in
fact employed counsel to assume control of such
119
defense,
the reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel (in addition to local counsel)
to the Indemnified Parties shall be considered “Losses” for purposes of this
Agreement. The party that shall control the defense of any such Third Party
Claim (the “Controlling
Party”) shall select counsel, contractors and consultants of recognized
standing and competence. GE and Comcast, as the case may be, shall, and shall
cause each of their respective Affiliates and Representatives to, cooperate
fully with the Controlling Party in the defense of any Third Party Claim,
including with respect to the assertion of any claim or defense that was a
Contributed NBCU Asset or Contributed Comcast Asset, as applicable. If the
Indemnifying Party does not so assume control of such defense, the Indemnified
Party shall be entitled to control such defense. The Controlling Party shall
keep the other party advised of the status of such Third Party Claim and the
defense thereof. If the Indemnifying Party shall assume the control of the
defense of any Third Party Claim in accordance with this Section 11.04(b), the
Indemnifying Party shall obtain the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Party before entering into any settlement of, or consenting to the entry of any
judgment arising from, such Third Party Claims unless (x) the Indemnifying Party
shall (i) pay or cause to be paid all amounts arising out of such settlement or
judgment concurrently with the effectiveness of such settlement (subject to
Section 11.01(b) and Section 11.02(b)), if applicable), (ii) not encumber any of
the assets of any Indemnified Party or agree to any restriction or condition
that would apply to or materially adversely affect any Indemnified Party or the
conduct of any Indemnified Party’s business and (iii) obtain, as a condition of
any settlement or other resolution, a complete release of any Indemnified Party
potentially affected by such Third Party Claim and (y) such settlement or
consent shall not include an admission of wrongdoing on the part of any
Indemnified Party.
Section
11.05. Exclusive
Remedies. Except with respect to the matters covered by Section 2.10 and
other than with respect to any injunctive remedies or in the case of intentional
fraud, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, following the Closing, the
indemnification provisions of Section 6.07, Section 11.01, Section 11.02, and
Section 11.03 shall be the sole and exclusive remedies of any Indemnified
Parties, respectively, for any Losses (including any Losses from claims for
breach of contract, warranty, tortious conduct (including negligence) or
otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute, strict liability, or
otherwise) that it may at any time suffer or incur, or become subject to, as a
result of, or in connection with, any breach of any representation or warranty
in this Agreement by GE, NBCU or Comcast, respectively, or any failure by GE,
NBCU or Comcast, respectively, to perform or comply with any covenant or
agreement set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waive any right of rescission they may
otherwise have or to which they may become entitled.
Section
11.06. Additional
Indemnification Provisions. (a) With respect to each indemnification
obligation contained in any Transaction Agreement or any
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other
document executed in connection with the Closing (i) all Losses shall be net of
any third-party insurance proceeds that have been actually recovered by the
Indemnified Party in connection with the facts giving rise to the right of
indemnification, (ii) GE shall have no liability to indemnify any Comcast
Indemnified Party or Newco Indemnified Party with respect to any Losses caused
by or resulting from any pre-Closing action that GE or NBCU takes, pursuant to
Section 6.01(a), with the specific consent of Comcast, and (iii) Comcast shall
have no liability to indemnify any Newco Indemnified Party with respect to any
Losses caused by or resulting from any pre-Closing action that Comcast takes,
pursuant to Section 6.01(b), with the specific consent of GE.
(b) If an
Indemnifying Party makes any payment for any Losses suffered or incurred by an
Indemnified Party pursuant to the provisions of this Article 11, such
Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated, to the extent of such payment, to all
rights and remedies of the Indemnified Party to any insurance benefits or other
claims of the Indemnified Party with respect to such Losses and with respect to
the claim giving rise to such Losses.
(c) For the
avoidance of doubt, Losses covered by Section 11.01, Section 11.02 or Section
11.03 may include Losses incurred in connection with a Third Party Claim or
otherwise and Losses that arise as a result of the negligence, strict liability
or any other liability under any theory of law or equity of, or violation of any
Law by, the Person indemnified thereunder.
Section
11.07. Newco Claims. If
GE becomes aware of any Losses for which Newco may be entitled to seek
indemnification from Comcast under this Agreement, (a) GE shall notify Newco and
(b) if Newco does not promptly seek such indemnification, GE shall be entitled
to seek such indemnification on behalf of Newco and may exercise or cause to be
exercised all of the rights of Newco with respect to such Losses as if GE were
the Indemnified Party with respect to such Losses; provided that any amounts
recovered from Comcast with respect to such Losses shall be paid to Newco. If
Comcast becomes aware of any Losses for which Newco may be entitled to seek
indemnification from GE under this Agreement, (a) Comcast shall notify Newco and
(b) if Newco does not promptly seek such indemnification, Comcast shall be
entitled to seek such indemnification on behalf of Newco and may exercise or
cause to be exercised all of the rights of Newco with respect to such Losses as
if Comcast were the Indemnified Party with respect to such Losses; provided that any amounts
recovered from GE with respect to such Losses shall be paid to
Newco.
Section
11.08. Mitigation. Each
Indemnified Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate any
Loss for which such Indemnified Party seeks indemnification under this
Agreement.
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Section
11.09. Third Party
Remedies. If any Indemnified Party (or any of their respective
Affiliates) is at any time entitled (whether by reason of a contractual right, a
right to take or bring a legal action, availability of insurance, or a right to
require a payment discount or otherwise) to recover from another Person any
amount in respect of any matter giving rise to a Loss (whether before or after
the Indemnifying Party has made a payment to an Indemnified Party hereunder and
in respect thereof), the Indemnified Party shall, and shall cause its applicable
Affiliate (including, in the case of Comcast, Newco and any Contributed Business
Subsidiary) to use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to, (a)
promptly notify the Indemnifying Party and provide such information as the
Indemnifying Party may require relating to such right of recovery and the steps
taken or to be taken by the Indemnified Party in connection therewith and (b)
keep the Indemnifying Party reasonably informed of the progress of any action
taken in respect thereof; provided that for the
avoidance of doubt, the actions required pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) shall
not be preconditions to recovery by any Indemnified Party from an Indemnifying
Party pursuant to this Agreement. Thereafter, any claim against such
Indemnifying Party shall be limited (in addition to the limitations on the
liability of the Indemnifying Party referred to in this Agreement) to the amount
by which the Losses suffered by the Indemnified Party exceed the amounts so
recovered by the Indemnified Party or any such Contributed Business Subsidiary
or Affiliate (or, in the case of Comcast, Newco or any such Contributed Business
Subsidiary). If the Indemnified Parties recover any amounts in respect of Losses
from any third party with respect to a matter as to which the Indemnified
Parties have recovered all of their Losses (whether pursuant to this Article 11,
from third parties or a combination of the foregoing) at any time after the
Indemnifying Party has paid all or a portion of such Losses to the Indemnified
Party pursuant to this provisions of this Article 11, Comcast or GE, as
applicable, shall, or shall cause such Indemnified Parties to promptly (and in
any event within ten (10) Business Days of receipt) pay over to the Indemnifying
Party the amount so received (to the extent previously paid by the Indemnifying
Party).
Section
11.10. Limitation on
Liability. In no event shall any party have any liability to the other
(including under this Article 11) for any consequential, special, incidental,
indirect or punitive damages or similar items (or to the extent the same would
constitute consequential or like damages, lost profits) other than any such
damages actually awarded to a third party in connection with a Third Party
Claim; provided that
such limitations shall not limit the right of (a) Comcast, on the one hand, or
(b) GE or NBCU, on the other hand, to recover contract damages in connection
with the failure of GE or NBCU (with respect to Comcast’s right) or Comcast
(with respect to GE’s or NBCU’s right), to close in violation of this
Agreement.
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ARTICLE
12
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section
12.01. Survival. The
representations and warranties of GE, NBCU and Comcast contained in or made
pursuant to this Agreement or in any certificate furnished pursuant to this
Agreement shall survive in full force and effect until the date that is eighteen
(18) months after the Closing Date, at which time they shall terminate (and no
claims shall be made for indemnification in respect of breaches of such
representations and warranties under Section 11.01(a)(i) or Section 11.02(b)(i)
unless notice of such claim is given to the Indemnifying Party prior to the
termination of the applicable survival period); provided, however, that (a) the
representations and warranties made in Section 5.07 shall not survive
the Closing, (b) the representations and warranties made in Section 3.13 and
Section 5.14 shall survive the Closing until the date that is three (3) years
after the Closing Date at which time they shall terminate, (c) the
representations and warranties made in Section 3.15 and Section 5.16 shall
survive until the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to the
matters covered thereby at which time they shall terminate and (d) the
representations and warranties made in Section 3.01, Section 3.03, Section
3.11(b), Section 4.01(a), Section 4.01(b), Section 5.01(a), Section 5.01(b),
Section 5.03 and Section 5.12(b) shall survive the Closing indefinitely. The
covenants and agreements of the parties hereto contained in or made pursuant to
this Agreement shall survive the Closing indefinitely until the expiration of
the applicable statute of limitations or for the shorter period explicitly
specified therein, except that breaches of any such covenants or agreements
shall survive indefinitely or until the latest date permitted by
law.
Section
12.02. Expenses. (a)
Except as may be otherwise specified in the Transaction Agreements, all costs
and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors
and accountants, incurred in connection with the Transaction Agreements and the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements shall be borne by the
party incurring such costs and expenses; provided that, except as otherwise
provided in Section 12.02(b), none of NBCU, Newco or any of their respective
Subsidiaries shall bear any costs or expenses in connection with the Transaction
Agreements, the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements, any
alternative transaction considered prior to the date hereof involving the
prospective sale of NBCU or of all or a substantial part of the NBCU Businesses
or any potential initial public offering of NBCU (and all such costs and
expenses shall be borne by GE).
(b) All
(i) reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred (including such costs
and expenses incurred by NBCU, Newco and their respective Subsidiaries) in
connection with the NBCU Financing, the Alternative Financing or any other
financing contemplated by Section 6.16(a) (including any and all commitment
fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees and arrangement fees,
123
indemnification
obligations) (collectively, “Financing Costs”) and (ii)
reasonable, out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred by the NBCU Entities
in connection with preparation for a potential initial public offering of NBCU
(collectively, “IPO
Costs”) will be paid by GE; provided that (A) Comcast
shall cause an Affiliate of Comcast to reimburse GE for 50% of the amount of all
Financing Costs (provided that Comcast shall
have no reimbursement obligation with respect to indemnification obligations)
and IPO Costs paid by GE promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business
Days, following receipt of a written request for such reimbursement from GE, (B)
if the Closing occurs, (1) NBCU shall at or promptly following the Closing
reimburse each of GE and such Affiliate of Comcast for all Financing Costs that
it has so borne and all IPO Costs that it has so borne to the extent that such
IPO Costs were incurred on or after July 1, 2009 and not exceeding $7.5 million
in the aggregate (i.e.,
the maximum reimbursement that each of GE and Comcast is entitled to receive
from NBCU pursuant to this clause (1) is $3.75 million) and (2) GE shall at or
promptly following the Closing reimburse such Affiliate of Comcast for all IPO
Costs, if any, that it has so borne and with respect to which it is not entitled
to receive reimbursement from NBCU pursuant to the preceding clause (1), and (C)
if this Agreement is terminated, GE shall reimburse such Affiliate of Comcast
promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days, following such
termination for all IPO Costs that such Affiliate has so borne and that were not
also attributable to the NBCU Financing, the Alternative Financing or any other
financing contemplated by Section 6.16(a). If GE or NBCU receives a refund for
any Financing Costs, it shall promptly reimburse the applicable Affiliate of
Comcast for the portion of such refunded Financing Costs previously borne by
such Affiliate. Each of GE, Comcast and NBCU shall, to the extent requested,
provide the other with reasonable supporting documentation in connection with
the allocation of Financing Costs and IPO Costs pursuant to this Section
12.02(b).
Section
12.03. Notices. All
notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under the
Transaction Agreements shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall
be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person,
by overnight courier service, by facsimile with receipt confirmed (followed by
delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by registered or
certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section
12.03):
(i) if
to Comcast:
124
Comcast
Corporation
Xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
|
General
Counsel
|
Facsimile:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
with a
copy to:
Xxxxx
Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
Facsimile:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
(ii) if to
GE:
General
Electric Company
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, X0X00
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
|
Senior
Counsel for Transactions
|
Facsimile:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
with a
copy to:
Weil,
Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxxx
|
Facsimile:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
(iii) if to
NBCU or Newco: NBC Universal, Inc.
00
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Phone:
|
(000) 000-0000 |
Attention:
|
Chief
Financial Officer and General Counsel
|
Facsimile:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
and prior
to Closing:
125
Navy,
LLC
c/o
General Electric Company
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, X0X00
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
|
Senior
Counsel for Transactions
|
Facsimile:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
Section
12.04. Severability. If
any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable
of being enforced under any Law or as a matter of public policy, all other
conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full
force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse
to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is
invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties to this Agreement
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 transactions contemplated by this Agreement be
consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent
possible.
Section
12.05. Entire
Agreement. The Transaction Agreements constitute the entire agreement
between the parties hereto and thereto with respect to the subject matter of the
Transaction Agreements and supersede all prior agreements, undertakings and
understandings, both written and oral, other than the Confidentiality Agreement
to the extent not in conflict with this Agreement, between or on behalf of the
parties hereto and thereto, with respect to the subject matter of the
Transaction Agreements. The parties hereto have voluntarily agreed to define
their rights, liabilities and obligations respecting the subject matter of this
Agreement exclusively in contract pursuant to the express terms and provisions
of this Agreement; and the parties hereto expressly disclaim that they are owed
any duties not expressly set forth in this Agreement. Furthermore, the parties
hereto each hereby acknowledge that this Agreement embodies the justifiable
expectations of sophisticated parties derived from arm’s length negotiations;
all parties to this Agreement specifically acknowledge that no party has any
special relationship with another party that would justify any expectation
beyond that of ordinary parties in an arm’s length transaction. The sole and
exclusive remedies for any breach of the terms and provisions of this Agreement
(including any representations and warranties set forth herein) shall be those
remedies provided for in this Agreement or available at Law or in equity for
breach of contract only (as such contractual remedies may be further limited or
excluded pursuant to the express terms of this Agreement); and the parties
hereto hereby waive and release any and all tort claims and causes of action
that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the
negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any tort
claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any
representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an
inducement to enter into this
126
Agreement).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a
waiver or release, or limit any party’s right to pursue any claim or remedy,
with respect to intentional fraud of another party.
Section
12.06. Assignment. This
Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise by any party
hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, except
that GE, NBCU or Comcast may assign any or all of their respective rights and
obligations under this Agreement to any of their respective Affiliates; provided that no such
assignment shall release the applicable assignor from any liability or
obligation under this Agreement. Any attempted assignment in violation of this
Section 12.06 shall be void. This Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure
to the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their
permitted successors and assigns.
Section
12.07. No Third-Party
Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.18 with respect to the
D&O Indemnitees or in Article 11 with respect to the Indemnified Parties,
this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties to this Agreement and
their permitted successors and assigns and nothing in this Agreement or any
other Transaction Agreements, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer
upon any other Person, including any union or any employee or former employee of
GE or the Combined Businesses, or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit
or remedy of any nature whatsoever, including any rights of employment for any
specified period, under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section
12.08. Amendment. No
provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement, including any
Exhibits or Schedules thereto, may be amended, supplemented or modified except
by a written instrument making specific reference hereto or thereto signed by
all the parties to such agreement. No consent from any Indemnified Party under
Article 11 (other than the parties hereto) shall be required in order to amend
this Agreement.
Section
12.09. Disclosure
Letter. Any disclosure with respect to a Section of this Agreement,
including any Section of the Disclosure Letters, shall be deemed to be disclosed
for other Sections of this Agreement, including any Section of the Disclosure
Letters, to the extent that such disclosure is reasonably sufficient so that the
relevance of such disclosure would be reasonably apparent to a reader of such
disclosure. Matters reflected in any Section of this Agreement, including any
Section of the Disclosure Letters, are not necessarily limited to matters
required by this Agreement to be so reflected. Such additional matters are set
forth for informational purposes and do not necessarily include other matters of
a similar nature. No reference to or disclosure of any item or other matter in
any Section of this Agreement, including any Section of the Disclosure Letters,
shall be construed as an admission or indication that such item or other matter
is material or that such item or other matter is required to be referred to or
disclosed in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, no such reference
to or
127
disclosure
of a possible breach or violation of any contract, Law or Governmental Order
shall be construed as an admission or indication that breach or violation exists
or has actually occurred.
Section
12.10. Dispute
Resolution. (a) Except as set forth in the Ancillary Agreements, and
except with respect to any request for equitable relief (including interim
relief) by any of the parties hereto on or prior to the Closing Date, any
dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, or the validity, interpretation, breach or
termination of any such agreement, including claims seeking redress or asserting
rights under any Law (a “Dispute”), shall be resolved
in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12.10, Section 12.11
and Section 12.16. Until completion of the procedures set forth in Section
12.10(b), no party may take any action to force a resolution of a Dispute by any
judicial or similar process, except to the limited extent necessary to (i) avoid
expiration of a claim that might eventually be permitted by this Agreement or
(ii) obtain interim relief, including injunctive relief, to preserve the status
quo or prevent irreparable harm.
(b) Any party
seeking resolution of a Dispute shall first submit the Dispute to the relevant
other parties. Each party agrees to confer and discuss in good faith potential
mutually agreeable resolutions to such Dispute, including by designating an
appropriate member of senior management to serve as its representative in such
discussions. Discussions will continue for at least 10 days following submission
of the Dispute.
(c) All
offers of compromise or settlement among the parties or their Representatives in
connection with the attempted resolution of any Dispute shall be deemed to have
been delivered in furtherance of a Dispute settlement and shall be exempt from
discovery and production and shall not be admissible in evidence (whether as an
admission or otherwise) in any proceeding for the resolution of the
Dispute.
Section
12.11. Governing Law;
Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. (a) Except as set forth in the
Ancillary Agreements, this Agreement and each other Transaction Agreement (and
any claims, causes of action or disputes that may be based upon, arise out of or
relate hereto or thereto, to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
to the negotiation, execution or performance hereof or thereof, or to the
inducement of any party to enter herein and therein, whether for breach of
contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law,
statute or otherwise) shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, including all matters of
construction, validity and performance, in each case without reference to any
conflict of Law rules that might lead to the application of the Laws of any
other jurisdiction.
128
(b) Each
of the parties hereto agrees that if any Dispute is not resolved by discussions
undertaken pursuant to Section 12.10, such Dispute shall be resolved only in the
Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (or if unavailable, any federal court
sitting in the State of Delaware or, if unavailable, the Delaware Superior
Court) and the appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts.
In that context, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of
the parties hereto by this Agreement irrevocably and
unconditionally:
(i) submits
for itself and its property in any Action relating to the Transaction
Agreements, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect
thereof, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of
Delaware (or if unavailable, any federal court sitting in the State of Delaware
or, if unavailable, the Delaware Superior Court), and appellate courts having
jurisdiction of appeals from any of the foregoing, and agrees that all claims in
respect of any such Action shall be heard and determined in such Delaware court
or, to the extent permitted by Law, in such federal court;
(ii) consents
that any such Action may and shall be brought in such courts and waives any
objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue or jurisdiction of any
such Action in any such court or that such Action was brought in an inconvenient
court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;
(iii) agrees
that service of process in any such Action may be effected by mailing a copy of
such process by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form
of mail), postage prepaid, to such party at its address as provided in Section
12.03; and
(iv) agrees
that nothing in the Transaction Agreements shall affect the right to effect
service of process in any other manner permitted by the Laws of the State of
Delaware.
Section
12.12. Bulk Sales Laws.
The parties hereto hereby waive compliance by the Transferors with the
provisions of the “bulk sales”, “bulk transfer” or similar Laws of any state or
any jurisdiction outside the United States, including Article 6 of the New York
Commercial Code, that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the sale of
any of the Contributed Assets.
Section
12.13. Specific
Performance. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that the breach of
this Agreement would cause irreparable damage to the other parties hereto and
that no party hereto will have an adequate remedy at law. Therefore, the
obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement shall be enforceable by a
decree of specific performance issued by any court of competent jurisdiction,
and appropriate injunctive relief may be applied for and
129
granted
in connection therewith. Such remedies shall, however, be cumulative and not
exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies which any party may
have under this Agreement or otherwise.
Section
12.14. Rules of
Construction. Interpretation of the Transaction Agreements shall be
governed by the following rules of construction: (a) words in the singular shall
be held to include the plural and vice versa, and words of one gender shall be
held to include the other gender as the context requires; (b) references to the
terms Article, Section, paragraph and Exhibit are references to the Articles,
Sections, paragraphs and Exhibits to this Agreement unless otherwise specified;
(c) the terms “hereof”, “herein”, “hereby”, “hereto”, and derivative or similar
words refer to this entire Agreement, including the Disclosure Letters and
Exhibits hereto; (d) references to “$” shall mean U.S. dollars; (e) the word
“including” and words of similar import when used in the Transaction Agreements
shall mean “including without limitation,” unless otherwise specified; (f) the
word “or” shall not be exclusive; (g) references to “written” or “in writing”
include in electronic form; (h) the headings contained in the Transaction
Agreements are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of the Transaction Agreements; (i) the parties hereto
have each participated in the negotiation and drafting of the Transaction
Agreements and if an ambiguity or question of interpretation should arise, the
Transaction Agreements shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties
thereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or burdening
any party hereto by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions in any of
the Transaction Agreements; (j) a reference to any Person includes such Person’s
successors and permitted assigns; (k) any reference to “days” means calendar
days unless Business Days are expressly specified; (l) when calculating the
period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be
done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference
date in calculating such period shall be excluded and, if the last day of such
period is not a Business Day, the period shall end on the next succeeding
Business Day; and (m) an item arising with respect to a specific representation
or warranty shall be deemed to be “reflected on” or “set forth in” a balance
sheet or financial statements, to the extent (i) there is a reserve, accrual or
other similar item underlying a number on such balance sheet or financial
statement that is related to the subject matter of such representation, (ii)
such item is otherwise specifically set forth on the balance sheet or financial
statement or (iii) such item is reflected on the balance sheet or financial
statement and is specifically referred to in the notes thereto.
Section
12.15. Counterparts.
Each of the Transaction Agreements may be executed in one or more counterparts,
and by the different parties to each such agreement in separate counterparts,
each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an
executed counterpart of a signature page to any
130
Transaction
Agreement by facsimile or portable document format (.pdf) shall be as effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of any such
Agreement.
Section
12.16. Waiver of Jury
Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY
LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT
OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT
SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE
FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE
BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS
BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION
12.16.
Section
12.17. Non-Recourse.
Except as provided in Section 11.01, no past, present or future director,
officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent,
attorney or representative of any party hereto, or their respective Affiliates,
shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties
hereto, as applicable, under this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements
of or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.
Section
12.18. Public
Announcements. No party to this Agreement or any Affiliate or
Representative of such party shall issue or cause the publication of any press
release or public announcement in respect of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other
parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except as
may be required by Law or stock exchange rules, in which the case the party
required to publish such press release or public announcement shall allow the
other parties a reasonable opportunity to comment on such press release or
public announcement in advance of such publication, to the extent
practicable.
[THE
REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
131
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed on
the date first written above by their respective duly authorized
officers.
GENERAL
ELECTRIC COMPANY
|
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
132
NBC
UNIVERSAL, INC.
|
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | President & CEO |
133
NAVY,
LLC
|
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Title: |
President
of Navy Holdings, Inc.,
the Sole
Member
|
135
EXHIBIT
A
DEFINITIONS
“2008 Comcast Financial
Statements” means the combined balance sheet of the Contributed Comcast
Businesses at December 31, 2008 and the related combined statements of
operations for the year ended December 31, 2008.
“2008 Contributed Comcast Businesses
EBITDA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.25.
“2008 Contributed Comcast Businesses
EBITDA Adjustment Amount” means (i) if the 2008
Contributed Comcast Businesses EBITDA is equal to or greater than
90% of the amount set forth on Section 6.25 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter,
$0; and (ii) if the 2008 Contributed Comcast Businesses EBITDA is less than 90%
of the amount set forth on Section 6.25 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter, an
amount equal to the product of (A) the amount set forth on Section 6.25 of the
Comcast Disclosure Letter minus the 2008 Contributed
Comcast Business EBITDA, times (B) 13.0.
“00 Xxxx Lease” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.19(f).
“00 Xxxx Term Sheet” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 6.19(f).
“Action” means any claim,
action, suit, arbitration, or any proceeding or investigation by or before any
Governmental Authority.
“Affiliate” means, with respect
to any specified Person, any other Person that, at the time of determination,
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is
Controlled by or is under common Control with such specified Person; provided, however, that for the
purposes of this Agreement, (i) prior to the Closing, neither the Comcast
Transferors nor the NBCU Transferors shall be deemed Affiliates of Newco and
(ii) after the Closing, none of the NBCU Transferors shall be deemed Affiliates
of Newco, the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or the NBCU
Entities.
“Affiliation Agreements” means
affiliation, distribution or similar Contracts for the distribution of video
programming services with a multichannel video programming distributor for the
distribution of programming services, including cable systems, SMATV, open video
systems and MMDS, MDS and DBS systems, wireless and broadband, and any
correspondence or writings amending the foregoing.
A-1
“Agreement” means this Master
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among GE, NBCU, Comcast and
Newco, including the Disclosure Letters, the NBCU Employee Matters Agreement and
the Comcast Employee Matters Agreement and all amendments hereto and thereto
made in accordance with Section 12.08.
“Alternative Financing” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.16(a).
“Alternative Financing
Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.16(a).
“Ancillary Agreements” means
the Tax Matters Agreement, the GE Transition Services Agreement, the Comcast
Services Agreement, the GE Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement, the
Comcast Intellectual Property Cross License Agreement, the Newco Operating
Agreement, the Navy Holdco 2 Agreement, the GE Note, the Comcast Note and the
Organizational Documents.
“Assumed Comcast Contracts”
means all Contracts, other than any Employee Plans or Intellectual Property
Contracts, to which Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (except for any
Contributed Comcast Subsidiary) is a party that are primarily related to the
Contributed Comcast Businesses.
“Assumed Comcast IP Licenses”
means all Intellectual Property Contracts (other than any of the Ancillary
Agreements) to which Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any
Contributed Comcast Subsidiary) is a party that are primarily related to the
Contributed Comcast Businesses.
“Assumed Comcast Liabilities”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).
“Assumed NBCU Contracts” means
all Contracts, other than any Employer Plans, Intellectual Property Contracts or
Insurance Arrangements, to which GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any
NBCU Entity) is a party that are primarily related to the NBCU
Businesses.
“Assumed NBCU IP Licenses”
means all Intellectual Property Contracts (other than any of the Ancillary
Agreements) to which GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity)
is a party that are primarily related to the NBCU Businesses.
“Assumed NBCU Liabilities”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(c).
“Automatic Transfer
Legislation” means the Acquired Rights Directive 2001/23/EC or any other
applicable automatic transfer of employment legislation.
“Broadcast TV Agreements” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3.14(a)(x).
“Business” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Newco Operating Agreement.
“Business Day” means any day
that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the
City of New York, New York are required or authorized by Law to be
closed.
“Closing” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.06.
“Closing Date” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.06.
“Closing Statement” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).
“Code” means the United States
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collective Bargaining
Agreements” mean any and all agreements, memorandums of understanding,
contracts, letters, side letters and contractual obligations of any kind, nature
and description, oral or written, that have been entered into between or that
involve or apply to any employer and any labor organization, union, employee
association, agency or employee committee or plan.
“Combined Businesses” means the
NBCU Businesses and the Contributed Comcast Businesses,
collectively.
“Comcast” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Comcast Acquisitions Amount”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(b).
“Comcast Assets” means the
Contributed Comcast Assets and the assets of the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries.
“Comcast Available Insurance
Policy” means any insurance policy maintained by Comcast or any of its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates for the benefit of the Contributed Comcast Business
or any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary or otherwise covering any Contributed
Comcast Asset, Assumed Comcast Liability or Comcast Transferred Employee,
Inactive Comcast Business Employee or Former Contributed Business Employee, in
each case, that is not a Comcast Transferable Insurance Policy.
A-3
“Comcast Cable Networks” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a)(xii).
“Comcast Contributed Business
Employees” means, collectively, any current or former officer or employee
of any of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries and any other current or former
employee of any Affiliate of any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary substantially
employed in the Contributed Comcast Businesses or providing services primarily
in support of the Contributed Comcast Businesses, but in each case in respect of
or solely to the extent relating to employment in the Contributed Comcast
Business.
“Comcast Deductible Amount”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.02(b).
“Comcast Disclosure Letter”
means the disclosure letter dated as of the date hereof delivered by Comcast to
Newco and which forms a part of this Agreement.
“Comcast Disposition
Transaction” means any sale or other disposition by Comcast or any of its
Subsidiaries of any business or investment that would otherwise be within the
Contributed Comcast Businesses (whether effected by sale of assets or securities
or otherwise) pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(v)(ii).
“Comcast Disposition Transaction
Proceeds” means the aggregate after- Tax proceeds net of reasonable,
out-of-pocket third party fees, expenses and costs (including severance and
termination costs) received by Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries with respect
to Comcast Disposition Transactions entered into after the date of this
Agreement.
“Comcast Employee Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Comcast Employee Matters
Agreement.
“Comcast Employee
Beneficiaries” shall have the meaning set forth in the Comcast Employee
Matters Agreement.
“Comcast Employee Matters
Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.
“Comcast Employee Plans” means
the Employee Plans with respect to which any of the Comcast Transferors or
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates currently has
any Liabilities with respect to any Comcast Contributed Business
Employee.
“Comcast FCC Licenses” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(c).
A-4
“Comcast Financial Statements”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(a).
“Comcast Indemnified Parties”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
“Comcast Intellectual Property”
means the Comcast Owned Intellectual Property and the Comcast Licensed
Intellectual Property.
“Comcast Intellectual Property Cross
License Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.12(d).
“Comcast IP Licenses” means all
Intellectual Property Contracts (other than any of the Ancillary Agreements) (i)
which are Assumed Comcast IP Licenses, or (ii) to which any Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary is a party.
“Comcast LCs” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.07(b).
“Comcast Leased Real Property”
means the Contributed Comcast Leased Property as well as any real property that
is leased by a Contributed Comcast Subsidiary.
“Comcast Licensed Intellectual
Property” means all Intellectual Property owned by a third party and
licensed or sublicensed to any of the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed
Comcast Subsidiaries or for which any of the Comcast Transferors or the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries has obtained a covenant not to be sued, in each
case, under any Comcast IP License.
“Comcast Licenses” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(b).
“Comcast Material Adverse
Effect” means a Material Adverse Effect on the Contributed Comcast
Businesses.
“Comcast Minority Interests”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(b).
“Comcast Multiemployer Plans”
means Multiemployer Plans as to which the Comcast Contributed Subsidiaries have
any Liabilities by reason of contributions made with respect to Comcast
Contributed Business Employees in the Comcast Contributed Businesses, but in the
case of any such plan for which contributions were made with respect to
employees of the Comcast Transferors or their Affiliates (other than the Comcast
Subsidiaries) only to the extent of the Liabilities attributable to the Comcast
Contributed Business Employees and their Comcast Employee Beneficiaries or
activities of the Comcast Contributed Business.
A-5
“Comcast Name and Comcast
Marks” means any and all trade names, trademarks, service marks, service
names, trade dress, and logos (other than any Trademarks set forth, or required
to be set forth, on Schedule 5.13(e)(i) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter) that
are owned by Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary) as of the Closing Date or any derivations thereof, in each
case whether alone or in combination with other words, and including all marks,
trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source identifiers
embodying any of the foregoing; provided, however, that, for purposes
of this Agreement, the foregoing trade names, trademarks, service marks, service
names, trade dress, logos, derivations, combinations and embodiments shall be
defined to include only the Trademark rights of Comcast or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary) to the extent, as
of the Closing Date that, (i) registrations or applications for registration in
the name of Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary) have issued or been filed or (ii) Comcast or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary) has common law
rights therein under applicable Trademark Laws. For the avoidance of doubt,
“Comcast Name and Comcast Marks” includes the Core Comcast Marks.
“Comcast Note” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.08(g).
“Comcast/NBCU Purchase Price”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.
“Comcast Owned Intellectual
Property” means all Intellectual Property that is (i) Contributed Comcast
Owned Intellectual Property or (ii) owned by any of the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries.
“Comcast Owned Real Property”
means the Contributed Comcast Owned Property as well as any real property owned
by a Contributed Comcast Subsidiary.
“Comcast Parent Plans” means
the Comcast Employee Plans which are sponsored or maintained by Comcast
Transferors or their Affiliates (other than the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries) and which do not solely cover Comcast Contributed Business
Employees.
“Comcast Personal Data” shall
have the meaning set forth in the Comcast Employee Matters
Agreement.
“Comcast Real Properties”
means, collectively, the Comcast Owned Real Property and the Comcast Leased Real
Property.
“Comcast Reference Balance
Sheet” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(a).
A-6
“Comcast Registered IP” means
all Registered IP included in the Comcast Owned Intellectual
Property.
“Comcast Restructuring” means
the actions set forth on Section 6.14 of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter.
“Comcast Retention Agreements”
means retention agreements with Comcast Contributed Business Employees that are
entered into by any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary or one of its Affiliates
after the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date with the prior written
consent of NBCU.
“Comcast SEC Documents” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.
“Comcast Services Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(b).
“Comcast Subsidiary Plans”
means (i) the Comcast Employee Plans which are sponsored or maintained solely by
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, (ii) the
Comcast Employee Plans which solely cover Comcast Contributed Business Employees
(including such plans established pursuant to the Comcast Employee Matters
Agreement) and their Comcast Employee Beneficiaries and (iii) Comcast
Multiemployer Plans.
“Comcast Technology” means all
Technology that is (i) Contributed Comcast Technology or (ii) owned by any of
the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries.
“Comcast Trademark License”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.10(a).
“Comcast Transferable Insurance
Policies” means all insurance policies or self-insurance programs
acquired directly by and in the name of Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries or
entered into by Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates exclusively for
the benefit of the Comcast Businesses or any Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary.
“Comcast Transferors” means,
collectively, Comcast and the Subsidiaries of Comcast (other than the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries) that, on or after the date hereof, hold any
asset, property or right that is used primarily or held for use primarily in the
Contributed Comcast Businesses or have any liability arising out of or relating
to the Contributed Comcast Assets or the Contributed Comcast
Businesses.
“Comcast Transferred Employee”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Comcast Employee Matters
Agreement.
A-7
“Communications Act” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 3.05.
“Confidentiality Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.04.
“Contemplated to be used” means
that there are contemporaneous books or records, whether in hard copy or
electronic or digital format (including emails, data bases, and other file
formats) evidencing a specific, good faith intention of future use.
“Contracts” means all written
or oral contracts, subcontracts, agreements, leases, licenses, commitments,
sales and purchase orders, and other instruments, arrangements or understandings
of any kind.
“Contributed Assets” means the
Contributed Comcast Assets and Contributed NBCU Assets, or either of them, as
the context requires.
“Contributed Businesses” means
the Contributed Comcast Businesses and NBCU Businesses, or either of them, as
the context requires.
“Contributed Comcast Assets”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).
“Contributed Comcast
Businesses” means the businesses of Comcast and its Subsidiaries to the
extent within the Scope of Business (as defined in the Newco Operating
Agreement), other than the Comcast Permitted Businesses (as defined in the Newco
Operating Agreement), as conducted prior to the date hereof, as of the date
hereof, and as of the Closing.
“Contributed Comcast Equity
Interests” means the limited liability company interests, stock or other
equity interests of the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries held directly by any
Comcast Transferor.
“Contributed Comcast Insurance
Policies” means the Comcast Transferable Insurance Policies that are not
in the name of a Contributed Comcast Subsidiary.
“Contributed Comcast Leased
Property” means all right, title and interest of Comcast or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary) in and to leased
real property and other interests in real property, including under any real
property lease pursuant to which any of them lease, sublease (as sub-landlord or
sub-tenant), or otherwise occupy, any such leased real property, together with
any leasehold improvements, fixtures and appurtenances thereto, in each case,
that is used primarily or held for use primarily in the Contributed Comcast
Businesses.
A-8
“Contributed Comcast Owned
Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned by
Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary) and that is used, held for use or Contemplated to be used, in each
case, primarily in the Contributed Comcast Businesses.
“Contributed Comcast Owned
Property” means all real property, together with all improvements,
fixtures and appurtenances thereto and rights in respect thereof, owned by
Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary) that is used primarily or held for use primarily in the Contributed
Comcast Businesses.
“Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries” means the direct or indirect Subsidiaries of Comcast listed
in Section 1.01 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter.
“Contributed Comcast
Technology” means all Technology that is owned by Comcast or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary) and that is used,
held for use or Contemplated to be used, in each case, primarily in the
Contributed Comcast Businesses.
“Contributed NBCU Assets” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).
“Contributed NBCU Leased
Property” means all right, title and interest of GE or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) in and to leased real property and
other interests in real property, including under any real property lease
pursuant to which any of them lease, sublease (as sub-landlord or sub-tenant),
or otherwise occupy, any such leased real property, together with any leasehold
improvements, fixtures and appurtenances thereto, in each case, that is used
primarily or held for use primarily in the NBCU Businesses.
“Contributed NBCU Owned Intellectual
Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned by GE or any of
its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) and that is used, held for use or
Contemplated to be used, in each case, primarily in the NBCU
Businesses.
“Contributed NBCU Owned
Property” means all real property, together with all improvements,
fixtures and appurtenances thereto and rights in respect thereof, owned by GE or
any of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) that is used primarily or
held for use primarily in the NBCU Businesses.
“Contributed NBCU Technology”
means all Technology that is owned by GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
any NBCU Entity) and that is used, held for use or Contemplated to be used, in
each case, primarily in the NBCU Businesses.
“Control” means, as to any
Person, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise. The terms “Controlled by”, “Controlled”, “under common
Control with” and “Controlling” shall have correlative meanings.
“Controlling Party” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 11.04(b).
“Core Comcast Marks” means the
following trade names, trademarks, service marks, service names and logos:
“Comcast” (in block letters or otherwise), the “Comcast & Design”
(concentric C) xxxx, “Comcast Sportsnet” and “CSN”, or any derivations of any of
the foregoing, in each case whether alone or in combination with other words,
and including all marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other
source identifiers embodying any of the foregoing.
“Core XX Xxxxx” means the
following trade names, trademarks, service marks, service names and logos:
“General Electric” (in block letters or otherwise), the GE monogram, “GE
Company” and “GE”, or any derivations of any of the foregoing, in each case
whether alone or in combination with other words, and including all marks, trade
dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source identifiers embodying any
of the foregoing.
“D&O Indemnitees” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.18(a).
“Debt” of any Person means (i)
all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase
price of property or services (other than trade payables and other similar
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business), (ii) all obligations
of such Person which are evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar
instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person that have been, or should be,
in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (iv) all obligations of
such Person that have been, or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as a
sale-leaseback transaction or leveraged lease, (v) all obligations of such
Person in respect of letters of credit or acceptances issued or created for the
account of such Person, (vi) all liabilities secured by any lien granted on
assets or properties of such Person, whether or not the obligations secured
thereby have been assumed, and (vii) all direct or indirect guarantees
(including “keep well” arrangements, support agreements and similar agreements)
with respect to Indebtedness of any other Person referred to in clauses (i)
through (vi); provided
that Debt shall not include (A) trade and other ordinary course payables and
accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) deferred
compensation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and (C) take
or pay obligations arising in the ordinary course of business.
A-10
“Delaware Law” means any law of
the State of Delaware, including the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, any other statutory, common or other law of the State of Delaware, and
any judicial or administrative interpretations thereof.
“Delivering Party” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.
“Designated Comcast Contract”
means (i) any Contract of the type referred to in (A) Section 5.15(a)(ii)
(except that for this purpose the reference to $12.5 million therein shall be
deemed to be $25 million), (B) Section 5.15(a)(iii)(A) (except that for this
purpose the reference to $18.75 million therein shall be deemed to be $75
million), (C) Section 5.15(a)(iv) (except that for this purpose the reference to
$2.5 million therein shall be deemed to be $10 million), (D) Section
5.15(a)(xii) (except that for this purpose the reference to $2.5 million therein
shall be deemed to be $10 million), (E) Section 5.15(a)(xiii) (except that for
this purpose the reference to $2.5 million therein shall be deemed to be $20
million) or (F) Section 5.15(a)(xv) (except that for this purpose the reference
to $25 million therein shall be deemed to be $50 million), (ii) any “term deal”
as commonly understood in the motion picture or television industry that would
reasonably be expected to involve payments in excess of $20 million in any
twelve (12)-month period or $100 million in the aggregate, (iii) any Comcast IP
License not entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, other than a Comcast IP License of the type referred to in clause (A),
(B) or (C) of Section 5.15(a)(x), (iv) any Talent Contract (A) reasonably
expected to involve payments in excess of $15 million (excluding participations
or other similar variable payments) in any twelve (12)-month period and having a
term of five (5) years or more or (B) reasonably expected to involved payments
in excess of $20 million (excluding participations or other similar variable
payments) in any twelve (12)-month period and (v) any Contract between the
Contributed Comcast Businesses and any third party to produce or Exploit
Programs or any other audio, visual or audiovisual works that would reasonably
be expected to involve payments by the Contributed Comcast Businesses in excess
of $250 million (excluding participations or other similar variable
payments).
“Designated Comcast
Representations” means the representations and warranties of Comcast set
forth in Section 5.06, Section 5.08(a)(ii), the first sentence of Section
5.11(b), Section 5.12(c), Section 5.13(h), Section 5.14(b), Section
5.15(a)(iii)(B), Section 5.15(a)(x), the first sentence of Section 5.16(a),
Section 5.17(a) and Section 5.21(b).
“Designated NBCU Contract”
means (i) any Contract of the type referred to in (A) Section 3.14(a)(ii), (B)
Section 3.14(a)(iii)(A), (C) Section 3.14(a)(iv), (D) Section 3.14(a)(xiii), (E)
Section 3.14(a)(xiv) (except that for this purpose the reference to $2.5 million
therein shall be deemed to be $20 million) or (F) Section 3.14(a)(xvi), (ii) any
“term deal” as commonly understood in the
A-11
motion
picture or television industry that would reasonably be expected to involve
payments in excess of $20 million in any twelve (12)-month period or $100
million in the aggregate, (iii) any NBCU IP License not entered into in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, other than a NBCU IP
License of the type referred to in clause (A), (B) or (C) of Section
3.14(a)(xi), (iv) any Talent Contract (A) reasonably expected to involve
payments in excess of $15 million (excluding participations or other similar
variable payments) in any twelve (12)-month period and having a term of five (5)
years or more or (B) reasonably expected to involved payments in excess of $20
million (excluding participations or other similar variable payments) in an
twelve (12)-month period and (v) any Contract between the NBCU Businesses and
any third party to produce or Exploit Programs or any other audio, visual or
audiovisual works that would reasonably be expected to involve payments by the
NBCU Businesses in excess of $500 million (excluding participations or other
similar variable payments).
“Designated NBCU
Representations” means the representations and warranties of NBCU set
forth in Section 3.06, Section 3.07(a)(ii), the first sentence of Section
3.10(c), Section 3.11(c), Section 3.12(h), Section 3.13(b), Section
3.14(a)(iii)(B), Section 3.14(a)(xi), the first sentence of Section 3.15(a),
Section 3.16(a) and Section 3.19(b).
“Development Agreement” shall
mean that certain Development Services Agreement with Xxxxxx Properties Group
regarding the NBCU Owned Real Property located in Universal City,
California.
“Disclosure Letters” means the
GE Disclosure Letter, NBCU Disclosure Letter and Comcast Disclosure
Letter.
“Dispute” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 12.10.
“Disputed Item” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b)
“EBITDA” shall have the meaning
set forth on Section 1.01 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter.
“Employee Plans” means (i) all
employee benefit plans (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA), (ii) all
retirement, welfare benefit, stock option, stock purchase, stock award or other
equity-based compensation, bonus, incentive compensation, change in control,
deferred compensation, life insurance, termination, severance, retention, salary
continuation, section 125 flexible benefit, educational assistance, service
award, employee tax gross up, vacation and other employee benefit plans,
programs or agreements and (iii) all employment and similar agreements, in each
case other than governmental plans and arrangements.
A-12
“End Date” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 10.01(d).
“Environmental Law” means any
Law in effect on or prior to the Closing Date relating to human health and
safety, pollution or protection of the environment, including the use,
generation, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or
discharge of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Material.
“Environmental Permit” means
any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization
required under any applicable Environmental Law in effect on or prior to the
Closing Date and necessary for or used in connection with the operation of the
applicable Contributed Businesses.
“ERISA” means the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the
applicable regulations promulgated thereunder then in effect.
“Estimated Combined EBITDA”
means the sum of the Estimated NBCU EBITDA and the Estimated Comcast
EBITDA.
“Estimated Comcast EBITDA”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(b).
“Estimated NBCU EBITDA” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(b).
“Estimated NBCU Interim Free Cash
Flow” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(b).
“Exchange Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Comcast Assets” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b).
“Excluded Comcast Intellectual
Property” means (i) all Intellectual Property that is (A) owned by, or
licensed by a third party to, Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any
Contributed Comcast Subsidiary), (B) used, held for use or Contemplated to be
used by Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary), and (C) not used, held for use or Contemplated to be used, in each
case, primarily in the Contributed Comcast Businesses, and (ii) the Intellectual
Property set forth in Section 1.01 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter. For the
avoidance of doubt, “Excluded Comcast Intellectual Property” (x) includes the
Comcast Name and the Comcast Marks and (y) does not include any and all
Intellectual Property set forth, or required to be set forth, on Section
5.13(e)(i) of the Comcast Disclosure Letter.
A-13
“Excluded Comcast Liabilities”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).
“Excluded Comcast Technology”
means (i) all Technology that is (A) owned by, or licensed by a third party to,
Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary), (B) used, held for use or Contemplated to be used by Comcast or any
of its Subsidiaries (other than any Contributed Comcast Subsidiary) and (C) not
used, held for use or Contemplated to be used, in each case, primarily in the
Contributed Comcast Businesses, and (ii) the Technology set forth in Section
1.01 of the Comcast Disclosure Letter.
“Excluded NBCU Assets” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b).
“Excluded NBCU Liabilities”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(d).
“Existing Lease” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.19(f).
“Exploit” means to cause
Exploitation.
“Exploitation” means the
release, exhibition, performance, projection, broadcast, telecast, transmission,
promotion, publicizing, advertisement, rental, lease, licensing, sublicensing,
sale, transfer, disposing of, distribution, subdistribution, commercializing,
merchandising, production, marketing, use, exercise, trading in, turning to
account, dealing with and in and otherwise exploiting any asset or portions
thereof, or any rights therein or relating thereto, including the right to
develop, produce and distribute subsequent productions based
thereon.
“Exploitation Agreements” means
Contracts pursuant to which any Person has acquired, established, developed or
granted any rights to Exploit any portion of the applicable Library or any of
such Library’s components.
“Factoring Agreement” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.20(a).
“FCC” shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.05.
“FCC Licenses” means permits,
licenses, permissions, franchises, and amendments thereto, issued by a
Governmental Authority pursuant to the Communications Act.
“FCC Order” means an order
adopted, and the full text thereof released, by the FCC granting its consent to
the transfer of control or assignment of the
A-14
NBCU
Licenses and the Comcast Licenses, pursuant to appropriate applications filed by
the parties hereto with the FCC as contemplated by this Agreement.
“Financing Costs” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 12.02.
“Former Contributed Business
Employees” shall have the meaning set forth in the Comcast Employee
Matters Agreement.
“Former NBCU Business
Employees” shall have the meaning set forth in the NBCU Employee Matters
Agreement.
“GE” shall have the meaning set
forth in the Preamble.
“GE Auto Liability Insurance
Program” means the compulsory auto liability insurance program of the GE
Entities, as the same may be amended, modified, terminated, renewed, waived or
otherwise altered from time to time, subject in each case to the restrictions
set forth in Section 6.06(b)(ii).
“GE Disclosure Letter” means
the disclosure letter dated as of the date hereof delivered by GE to Newco and
which forms a part of this Agreement.
“GE Entity” shall mean GE or
any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries (in each case, excluding for this purpose
Newco and Subsidiaries of Newco).
“GE GL Insurance Program” means
the general liability insurance program of the GE Entities, as the same may be
amended, modified, terminated, renewed, waived or otherwise altered from time to
time, subject in each case to the restrictions set forth in Section
6.06(b)(ii).
“GE Indemnified Parties” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 11.02(a).
“GE Intellectual Property”
means (i) all Intellectual Property that is (A) owned by, or licensed by a third
party to, GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity), (B) used,
held for use or Contemplated to be used by GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than any NBCU Entity), and (C) not used, held for use or Contemplated to be
used, in each case, primarily in the NBCU Businesses, and (ii) the Intellectual
Property set forth in Section 1.01 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter. For the
avoidance of doubt, “GE Intellectual Property” (x) includes the GE Name and the
XX Xxxxx and (y) does not include any and all Intellectual Property set forth,
or required to be set forth, on Section 3.12(e)(i) of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter.
“GE Intellectual Property Cross
License Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.12(c).
“GE LCs” shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 6.07(a).
“GE Name and XX Xxxxx” means
any and all trade names, trademarks, service marks, service names, trade dress,
and logos (other than any Trademarks set forth, or required to be set forth, on
Schedule 3.12(e)(i) of the NBCU Disclosure Letter) that are owned by GE or any
of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) as of the Closing Date or any
derivations thereof, in each case whether alone or in combination with other
words, and including all marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and
other source identifiers embodying any of the foregoing; provided, however, that, for purposes
of this Agreement, the foregoing trade names, trademarks, service marks, service
names, trade dress, logos, derivations, combinations and embodiments shall be
defined to include only the Trademark rights of GE or any of its Subsidiaries
(other than any NBCU Entity) to the extent, as of the Closing Date that, (i)
registrations or applications for registration in the name of GE or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU) have issued or been filed or (ii) GE or any
of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) has common law rights therein
under applicable Trademark Laws. For the avoidance of doubt, “GE Name and XX
Xxxxx” includes the Core XX Xxxxx.
“GE Note” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.06(c).
“GE Technology” means (i) all
Technology that is (A) owned by, or licensed by a third party to, GE or any of
its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity), (B) used, held for use or
Contemplated to be used by GE or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU
Entity), and (C) not used, held for use or Contemplated to be used, in each
case, primarily in the NBCU Businesses, and (ii) the Technology set forth in
Section 1.01 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter.
“GE Transition Services
Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.12(a).
“GE WC Insurance Program” means
the workers’ compensation, domestic or international employers’ liability
insurance policies and/or comparable workers’ compensation self-insurance, state
or country programs of the GE Entities, in each case, as the same may be
amended, modified, terminated, renewed, waived or otherwise altered from time to
time, subject in each case to the restrictions set forth in Section
6.06(b)(ii).
“Governmental Approval” means
the FCC Order and any other authorizations, consents, waivers, orders
constituting approvals and other approvals of any Governmental Authority
including the expiration of any applicable waiting periods associated
therewith.
A-16
“Governmental Authority” means
any transnational, domestic or foreign federal, state or local government,
political subdivision, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority,
instrumentality, agency, body or commission, self- regulatory organization or
any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.
“Governmental Order” means any
order (other than an order constituting an approval), writ, judgment,
injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any
Governmental Authority.
“Hazardous Materials” means (i)
petroleum, petroleum products, by- products or breakdown products, radioactive
materials, asbestos containing materials or polychlorinated biphenyls, (ii) any
pollutant or contaminant or (iii) any chemical or any toxic, radioactive,
ignitable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise hazardous waste, material or
substance, in each case, that is regulated under any Law promulgated by any
applicable Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the
environment.
“HSR Act” means the
Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules
and regulations under such Act.
“Inactive Comcast Business
Employees” shall have the meaning set forth in the Comcast Employee
Matters Agreement.
“Indemnified Party” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 11.04(a).
“Indemnifying Party” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 11.04(a).
“Insurance Arrangements” means
all policies of or agreements for insurance and interests in insurance pools and
programs.
“Intellectual Property” means
all intellectual property rights arising under the Laws of the United States or
of any other jurisdiction, including: (i) patents, patent applications
(including patents issued thereon) and statutory invention registrations,
including reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, extensions
and reexaminations thereof, and all rights therein provided by international
treaties or conventions (collectively, “Patents”), (ii) trademarks,
service marks, trade names, service names, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain
names, domain name locators, and other identifiers of source, including all
goodwill associated therewith, and any and all common law rights, and
registrations and applications for registration thereof, all rights therein
provided by international treaties or conventions, and all reissues, extensions
and renewals of any of the foregoing (collectively, “Trademarks”), (iii) all rights
in any original works of authorship and/or any part thereof that are within the
scope of any applicable copyright Law, including all rights of authorship, use,
publication,
reproduction,
distribution, performance, moral rights, and rights of ownership of
copyrightable works, and all rights to register and to obtain renewals,
extensions, revivals and resuscitations of any such copyright registrations
(collectively, “Copyrights”), (iv) trade
secret and confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets,
confidential processes, compositions, formulas, customer information,
operational data, processing quality control procedures, research and
development studies, engineering information, invention reports, laboratory
notebooks, technical reports, research and development archives, pricing
information and know-how (collectively, “Trade Secrets”), (v) database
and design rights, and (vi) intellectual property rights arising from or in
respect of Technology.
“Intellectual Property
Contracts” means any and all Contracts relating to Intellectual Property
pursuant to which rights in Intellectual Property are in any manner transferred,
conveyed, granted, licensed, restricted or waived, including Exploitation
Agreements.
“IPO Costs” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 12.02.
“IRS” means the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service.
“Knowledge of Comcast” means
the actual knowledge of the Persons listed on Section 1.01 of the Comcast
Disclosure Letter after reasonable inquiry.
“Knowledge of NBCU” means the
actual knowledge of the Persons listed on Section 1.01 of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter after reasonable inquiry.
“Law” means any transnational,
domestic or foreign federal, state, local statute, law, ordinance, regulation,
rule, code, order or other requirement or rule of law, including the common
law.
“Liabilities” means any Debt,
liability, claim, demand, expense, commitment or obligation (whether direct or
indirect, absolute or contingent, known or unknown, determined or determinable,
accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due) of
every kind and description and including all costs and expenses related
thereto.
“Library” means, collectively,
all Library Rights and all Library Tangible Assets owned by or licensed to (i)
the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities or (ii) Comcast Transferors or the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, as applicable.
“Library Literary Properties”
means all literary, dramatic or other works, screenplays, stories, adaptations,
scripts, treatments, formats, bibles, manuscripts, outlines, scenarios,
characters, concepts, titles, and any and all other literary or dramatic
materials of any kind with respect to the Programs and any
A-18
rights
therein in all media now or hereafter devised, including any remake, reissue,
sequel, prequel, series, character, legitimate stage, merchandising and other
derivative, compilation and ancillary rights of every kind, whether now known or
hereafter recognized.
“Library Pictures” means any
and all completed audio, visual and/or audiovisual works to which any (i) NBCU
Transferor or any NBCU Entity or (ii) any Comcast Transferor or any Contributed
Comcast Subsidiary, as applicable, has rights, including any motion pictures,
films, movies-of-the-week, television programs, series, mini-series, pilots,
specials, documentaries, cartoons, compilations, promotional films, trailers and
shorts and any other programs or audio-visual works, whether animated, live
action or both, produced for Exploitation in any form or any medium, whether now
known or hereafter developed (including theatrical, videocassette, videodisc and
other home video, network, free, cable, pay, satellite, syndication, and/or any
other television medium, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, near-video-on-demand,
subscription on-demand, subscription video-on-demand, Internet and other new
media), either within or outside the U.S., in each case whether recorded on
film, videotape, cassette, cartridge, disc or on or by any other means, method,
process or device, whether now known or hereafter developed. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, “Library Pictures” shall only include those works for which the
Intellectual Property contained therein would otherwise constitute NBCU
Intellectual Property or Comcast Intellectual Property, as
applicable.
“Library Rights” means,
collectively, all Programs, Music Rights, Library Literary Properties and
Library Underlying Agreements, including all rights of Copyright contained
therein or derived therefrom, of (i) the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities,
or (ii) the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, as
applicable, and as the context requires.
“Library Tangible Assets” means
all physical properties of, or relating to, any Program, including prints,
negatives, duplicating negatives, fine grains, music and sound effects tracks,
master tapes and other duplicating materials of any kind, all various language
dubbed and titled versions, prints and negatives of stills, trailers and
television spots, all promotions and other advertising, marketing and publicity
materials, stock footage, trims, tabs, outtakes, cells, drawings, storyboards,
models, sculptures, puppets, sketches, and continuities, including any of the
foregoing in the possession, custody or control of (i) the NBCU Transferors, or
the NBCU Entities (as to Programs of the NBCU Transferors, or the NBCU Entities)
or (ii) the Comcast Transferors, or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries (as to
Programs of the Comcast Transferors, or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries),
or in the possession of their respective assigns or any film laboratories,
storage facilities or other Persons.
A-19
“Library Underlying Agreements”
means all Contracts with writers, directors, producers, performers, actors,
artists, musicians, animators, voice talent, cinematographers, camera persons or
any other parties relating to the development, preparation or production of any
of the Programs, Library Literary Properties or Music Rights, pursuant to which
(i) the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities or (ii) the Comcast Transferors,
or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, as applicable, has or acquires any
rights in or obligations relating to the Library or any element
thereof.
“Lien” means any mortgage, deed
of trust, pledge, hypothecation, security interest, encumbrance, claim, lien or
charge of any kind.
“Lockbox Account” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 6.15.
“Losses” means all losses,
damages, costs, expenses, liabilities, obligations and claims of any kind
(including any Action brought by any Governmental Authority or other Person and
including reasonable costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees).
“Material Adverse Effect” means
(x) with respect to a Person, a material adverse effect on the business, assets,
financial condition or operations of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, or (y) with respect to a Contributed Business, a material adverse
effect on such Contributed Business or the business, assets, financial condition
or operations of such Contributed Business, taken as a whole; provided, however, that, in the case of
clause (x) or (y), any adverse effect to the extent arising out of, resulting
from or attributable to (a) an event or series of events or circumstances
affecting (i) the United States or global economy generally or capital or
financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates,
(ii) political conditions generally of the United States or any other country or
jurisdiction in which the Contributed Business operates or (iii) any of the
industries generally in which the Contributed Business operates (including labor
strikes, work stoppages or walkouts or other labor disputes, declines in ratings
or declines in costs-per-thousand), (b) the announcement or pendency of
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements, (c) any changes in
applicable Law or U.S. GAAP or the enforcement or interpretation thereof, (d)
actions taken with the specific consent of the other parties hereto after the
date of this Agreement, (e) any acts of God, (f) any hostilities, acts of war,
sabotage, terrorism or military actions, or any escalation or worsening of any
such hostilities, act of war, sabotage, terrorism or military actions (except,
with respect to the foregoing clauses (a), (c), (e) and (f), to the extent such
event or series of events, circumstances, changes, acts or occurrences have a
materially disproportionate effect on the applicable Contributed Business
relative to other industry participants), or (g) any failure to meet internal or
published projections, estimates or forecasts of revenues, earnings, or other
measures of financial or operating performance for any period (provided that the underlying
causes of such
A-20
failures
(subject to the other provisions of this definition) shall not be excluded),
shall not constitute or be deemed to contribute to a Material Adverse Effect,
and otherwise shall not be taken into account in determining whether a Material
Adverse Effect has occurred or would be reasonably likely to occur.
“Material Impact” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 6.05(a).
“Material NBCU Entities” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(b).
“MFN” means a provision of an
Affiliation Agreement or an Exploitation Agreement (the “Subject Agreement”) which
provides that if one or more Persons not a party to the Subject Agreement are
party to an Affiliation Agreement or an Exploitation Agreement, respectively,
under which such Person or Persons have any other more favorable terms than are
contained in such Subject Agreement, then one or more terms of such Subject
Agreement will be replaced or modified or other consideration will be provided
to reflect the more favorable terms in such Affiliation Agreement or
Exploitation Agreement.
“Multiemployer Plan” means (i)
with respect to employees in the United States, an employee benefit plan
described in Section 3(37), 3(40) or 4063 of ERISA, (ii) with respect to
employees in Canada, a defined benefit pension plan to which more than one
unrelated employer participates and as defined under the provisions of
applicable Canadian, federal or provincial pension standards legislation; or
(iii) with respect to employees not in the United States or Canada, a defined
benefit pension plan to which at least two employers which are not under common
control (as determined consistent with Section 414(b) and (c) of the Code) and
are not Affiliates are required to contribute with respect to its employees, in
each case other than any governmental plan or arrangement.
“Music Rights” means music
synchronization, performance, master, mechanical, publication, videogram and
other music rights to which (i) the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities or
(ii) the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, as
applicable has rights and which are contained in any Program.
“Navy Holdco 1” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Navy Holdco 2” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Navy Holdco 2 Agreement” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.17.
“NBCU” shall have the meaning
set forth in the Preamble.
A-21
“NBCU Assets” means the
Contributed NBCU Assets and the assets of the NBCU Entities.
“NBCU Business Employee” shall
have the meaning set forth in the NBCU Employee Matters Agreement.
“NBCU Businesses” means the
businesses of the NBCU Entities as conducted prior to the date hereof, as of the
date hereof, and as of the Closing.
“NBCU Conversion” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(a).
“NBCU Conversion Effective
Time” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(a).
“NBCU Deductible Amount” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b).
“NBCU Disclosure Letter” means
the disclosure letter dated as of the date hereof delivered by NBCU to Newco and
which forms a part of this Agreement.
“NBCU Dividend” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.06(c).
“NBCU Employee Agreement” shall
have the meaning set forth in the NBCU Employee Matters Agreement.
“NBCU Employee Beneficiaries”
shall have the meaning set forth in the NBCU Employee Matters
Agreement.
“NBCU Employee Matters
Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.
“NBCU Employee Plans” means the
Employee Plans with respect to which any of the NBCU Transferors, the NBCU
Entities or their respective Affiliates currently has any obligation or
liability, contingent or otherwise, with respect to any NBCU
Employee.
“NBCU Employees” means,
collectively, (i) any current or former officer or employee of any of the NBCU
Entities and (ii) any current or former employee of any Affiliate of any of the
NBCU Entities substantially employed in the NBCU Businesses or providing
services primarily in support of the NBCU Businesses, but in each case in
respect of or solely to the extent relating to employment in the NBCU
Businesses.
“NBCU Entities” means NBCU and
all of the direct or indirect Subsidiaries of NBCU.
“NBCU Excluded Insurance
Policies” means those insurance policies or self-insurance programs
listed on Section 1.01 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter.
“NBCU Exclusive Insurance
Policies” means all insurance policies or self-insurance programs
acquired directly and exclusively by and in the name of the NBCU Entities or
entered into by any GE Entity exclusively for the benefit of the NBCU Businesses
or any NBCU Entity, other than a NBCU Excluded Insurance Policy.
“NBCU FCC Licenses” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(c).
“NBCU Financial Statements”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“NBCU Financing” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.23.
“NBCU Financing Agreements”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.16(a).
“NBCU Financing Commitment
Letter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.23.
“NBCU Intellectual Property”
means the NBCU Owned Intellectual Property and the NBCU Licensed Intellectual
Property. For the avoidance of doubt, “NBCU Intellectual Property” shall not
include any Intellectual Property of GE and its Subsidiaries (other than any
NBCU Entity) used, held for use or Contemplated to be used by the NBCU Entities
solely as part of services provided by GE and its Subsidiaries (other than any
NBCU Entity) to (i) the NBCU Entities as well as (ii) other Subsidiaries of GE
(other than any NBCU Entity) and/or third parties.
“NBCU Interim Free Cash Flow”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01 of the NBCU Disclosure
Letter.
“NBCU IP Licenses” means all
Intellectual Property Contracts (other than any of the Ancillary Agreements) (i)
which are Assumed NBCU IP Licenses, or (ii) to which any NBCU Entity is a
party.
“NBCU Leased Real Property”
means the Contributed NBCU Leased Property as well as any real property that is
leased by a NBCU Entity.
“NBCU Licensed Intellectual
Property” means all Intellectual Property owned by a third party and
licensed or sublicensed to any of the NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities or
for which any of the NBCU Transferors or
A-23
the NBCU
Entities has obtained a covenant not to be sued, in each case, under any NBCU IP
License.
“NBCU Licenses” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.10(b).
“NBCU Material Adverse Effect”
means a Material Adverse Effect on the NBCU Businesses.
“NBCU Minority Interests” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b).
“NBCU Multiemployer Plans”
means any Multiemployer Plans as to which the NBCU Contributed Subsidiaries have
any Liabilities by reason of contributions made with respect to NBCU Employees
but in the case of any such plan for which contributions were made with respect
to employees of the NBCU Transferors or their Affiliates (other than the NBCU
Entities) only to the extent of the Liabilities attributable to the NBCU
Employees and their NBCU Employee Beneficiaries or activities of the NBCU
Businesses.
“NBCU Owned Intellectual
Property” means all Intellectual Property that is (i) Contributed NBCU
Owned Intellectual Property or (ii) owned by any of the NBCU
Entities.
“NBCU Owned Real Property”
means the Contributed NBCU Owned Property as well as any real property owned by
a NBCU Entity.
“NBCU Parent Plans” means the
NBCU Employee Plans which are sponsored or maintained by the NBCU Transferors or
their Affiliates (other than the NBCU Entities) and which do not solely cover
NBCU Employees.
“NBCU Real Properties” means,
collectively, the NBCU Owned Real Property and the NBCU Leased Real
Property.
“NBCU Reference Balance Sheet”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“NBCU Registered IP” means all
Registered IP included in the NBCU Owned Intellectual Property.
“NBCU Related Insurance
Policies” means all insurance policies maintained by any GE Entity for
the benefit of any the NBCU Businesses or any NBCU Entity or otherwise covering
any Contributed NBCU Asset, Assumed NBCU Liability, NBCU Business Employee or
Former NBCU Business Employee, in each case, that is not a NBCU Transferred
Insurance Policy.
A-24
“NBCU Restructuring” means the
actions set forth on Section 6.14 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter.
“NBCU Retention Agreements”
means retention agreements with NBCU Employees that are entered into by any NBCU
Entity or one of its Affiliates after the date hereof and prior to the Closing
Date with the prior written consent of Comcast.
“NBCU Shares” means, prior to
the NBCU Conversion, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of NBCU and,
following the NBCU Conversion, all of the outstanding membership interests in
NBCU.
“NBCU Subsidiary Plans” means
(i) the NBCU Employee Plans which are sponsored or maintained solely by NBCU
Entities, (ii) the NBCU Employee Plans which solely cover NBCU Employees and
their NBCU Employee Beneficiaries, and (iii) NBCU Multiemployer
Plans.
“NBCU Technology” means all
Technology that is (i) Contributed NBCU Technology or (ii) owned by any of the
NBCU Entities. For the avoidance of doubt, “NBCU Technology” shall not include
any Technology of GE and its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) used,
held for use or Contemplated to be used by the NBCU Entities solely as part of
services provided by GE and its Subsidiaries (other than any NBCU Entity) to (i)
the NBCU Entities as well as (ii) other Subsidiaries of GE (other than any NBCU
Entity) and/or third parties.
“NBCU Transferred Insurance
Policy” means (i) any NBCU Exclusive Insurance Policy acquired and held
directly and exclusively by and in the name of any NBCU Entity and (ii) any NBCU
Exclusive Insurance Policy that is transferred prior to the Closing Date
directly and exclusively to and in the name of any NBCU Entity pursuant to
Section 6.06(d).
“NBCU Transferors” means,
collectively, GE and the Subsidiaries of GE (other than the NBCU Entities) that,
on or after the date hereof, hold any asset, property or right that is used
primarily or held for use primarily in the NBCU Businesses or have any Liability
arising out of or relating to the Contributed NBCU Assets or the NBCU
Business.
“Neutral Accountant” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c).
“Newco” shall have the meaning
set forth in the Preamble.
“Newco Group” shall have the
meaning set forth in the NBCU Employee Matters Agreement.
“Newco Indemnified Parties”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
A-25
“Newco Membership Interests”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Newco Operating Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(e).
“Organizational Documents”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.23.
“Permitted Liens” means the
following Liens: (i) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges
or levies that are not yet due or payable or that are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings or that may thereafter be paid without penalty;
(ii) statutory Liens of landlords; (iii) Liens of carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics, materialmen, workmen, repairmen incurred in the ordinary course of
business and on a basis consistent with past practice that are not yet due and
payable; (iv) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business
and on a basis consistent with past practice in connection with workers’
compensation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security; (v)
defects or imperfections of title, easements, covenants, rights-of-way,
restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances, provided, in each case,
that such Liens do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of
business or the use of the property they encumber or materially detract from the
value of the property they encumber; (vi) Liens not created by GE, NBCU or
Comcast or the NBCU Entities or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries that encumber
the underlying fee interest of any NBCU Leased Real Property or Comcast Leased
Real Property or encumber real property for which any of the NBCU Transferors,
NBCU Entities, Comcast Transferors or Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries has
easement rights, subordination or similar agreements relating thereto; (vii)
zoning, building and other generally applicable land use restrictions; (viii)
Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business and on a basis consistent with
past practice securing obligations or liabilities that are not material to the
NBCU Assets or Comcast Assets, respectively; (ix) in the case of Intellectual
Property and Technology, (A) non-exclusive licenses, options to license or
covenants not to assert claims of infringement, misappropriation or other
violation, and (B) exclusive licenses, options to license or covenants not to
assert that are (x) not material or (y) entered into after the date of this
Agreement (but only to the extent that entering into such exclusive arrangement
would not be in violation of Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b), as applicable,
excluding Section 6.01(a)(i) or Section 6.01(b)(i), as applicable), in each case
granted by the NBCU Transferors, NBCU Entities, Comcast Transferors or
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries or any of their respective Subsidiaries to
third parties; (x) in the case of the Library, Exploitation Agreements entered
into in the ordinary course of business, and (xi) Liens arising under or in
connection with the NBCU Financing or Alternate Financing, as
applicable.
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“Person” means any natural
person, joint venture, general or limited partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, limited liability partnership, firm, association or
organization or other legal entity.
“Preliminary Initial Strategic
Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.27(b).
“Program” or “Programs” means any and all
Library Pictures, Works in Progress and Unproduced Properties of (i) the NBCU
Transferors and the NBCU Entities or (ii) the Comcast Transferors and the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, as applicable, and as the context
requires.
“Registered IP” means patents,
patent applications, registered trademarks, registered service marks, domain
name registrations, copyright registrations, applications for the registration
of trademarks, and applications for the registration of copyrights.
“Related Party Comcast
Contract” means any Contract relating to the Contributed Comcast
Businesses with respect to which (i) any Comcast Transferor or any Affiliate of
a Comcast Transferor, other than the Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, on the
one hand, and (ii) any other Comcast Transferor or Contributed Comcast
Subsidiary, on the other hand, are party or otherwise bound.
“Related Party NBCU Contract”
means any Contract relating to the NBCU Businesses with respect to which (i) any
NBCU Transferor, Vivendi or any of their respective Affiliates, other than the
NBCU Entities, on the one hand, and (ii) any other NBCU Transferor or NBCU
Entity, on the other hand, are party or otherwise bound, excluding any Contracts
to which Vivendi or any of its Affiliates is a party and which are on arm’s
length terms.
“Relevant Transaction” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.22(c).
“Relevant Transaction Debt”
means any Debt (other than capital lease obligations) of an acquired business
that is acquired or assumed by Comcast or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
any Subsidiary of Comcast that is not, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by
Comcast) in an acquisition that is a Relevant Transaction, but excludes any Debt
incurred to finance such Relevant Transaction.
“Repatriation Notes” means the
Repatriation Notes as defined in Section 6.14 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter and
issued in accordance therewith.
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“Representative” of a Person
means the directors, officers, employees, advisors, agents, consultants,
attorneys, accountants, investment bankers or other representatives of such
Person.
“Requesting Party” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.
“SAS” shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 6.16(b).
“Securities Act” means the U.
S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“Significant Comcast Contracts”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a).
“Significant NBCU Contracts”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.14(a).
“Software” means any and all
(i) computer programs, including any and all software implementation of
algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human
readable form or other form, (ii) databases and compilations, including any and
all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, (iii)
descriptions, flow charts and other work products used to design, plan, organize
and develop any of the foregoing, screens, user interfaces, report formats,
firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and icons, and (iv) all
documentation including user manuals and other training documentation relating
to any of the foregoing.
“Stations” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.10(d).
“Subsidiary” of any specified
Person means (x) any other Person of which such first Person owns (either
directly or through one or more other Subsidiaries) a majority of the
outstanding Equity Securities or securities carrying a majority of the voting
power in the election of the board of directors or other governing body of such
Person and with respect to which entity such first Person is not otherwise
prohibited contractually or by other legally binding authority from exercising
Control or (y) any other Person with respect to which such first Person acts as
the sole general partner, manager, managing member or trustee (or Persons
performing similar functions).
“Talent Contracts” means
employment, consulting or other similar Contracts with writers, producers,
directors, creators, show runners, actors or other talent.
“Target Combined EBITDA” means
the sum of the Target Comcast EBITDA and the Target NBCU EBITDA.
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“Target Comcast EBITDA” means
the amount specified in Section 2.10 of the Comcast Disclosure
Letter.
“Target NBCU EBITDA” means the
amount specified in Section 2.10 of the NBCU Disclosure Letter.
“Tax” or “Taxes” shall have the meaning
set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.
“Tax Matters Agreement” means
the Tax Matters Agreement, dated the date hereof, made by and among GE, NBCU,
Navy Holdco 2, Comcast and Newco.
“Tax Returns” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.
“Technology” means,
collectively, all technology, designs, formulae, algorithms, procedures,
methods, discoveries, processes, techniques, ideas, know- how, research and
development, technical data, tools, materials, specifications, processes,
inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to
practice) apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship in any media,
confidential, proprietary or non-public information, and other similar
materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, reports, analyses and other
writings, and other tangible embodiments of the foregoing in any form whether or
not listed herein, and all related technology, including Software.
“Third Party Claim” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 11.04(a).
“Third Party Rights” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.05.
“TPS Program” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.20(d).
“Trademark Transition Period”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.08(a).
“Trailing EBITDA of the Contributed
Comcast Businesses” means the aggregate EBITDA of the Contributed Comcast
Businesses for the twelve months ending on the last day of the last full fiscal
month of the Contributed Comcast Businesses ending prior to the Closing
Date.
“Trailing EBITDA of NBCU” means
the aggregate EBITDA of the NBCU Entities for the four full fiscal quarters
ending (i) if the Closing Date occurs not more than 45 days after the end of the
last fiscal quarter of NBCU ending prior to the Closing Date, on the last day of
the last full fiscal quarter of NBCU ending immediately prior to the Closing
Date or (ii) if the Closing Date
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occurs
more than 45 days after the end of the last fiscal quarter of NBCU ending prior
to the Closing Date, on the last day of the fiscal quarter of NBCU in which the
Closing Date occurs. In the case of clause (ii) above, the aggregate EBITDA of
the NBCU Entities for the post-Closing portion of the fiscal quarter in which
the Closing occurs will be determined to the extent practicable on the same
basis as if the NBCU Entities continued to operate on a stand-alone basis
throughout such period.
“Transaction Agreements” means
this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements.
“Transferor Account Parties”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.15.
“U.S. GAAP” means the generally
accepted accounting principles used in the United States.
“Unproduced Properties” means
those literary, dramatic, or other materials in which (i) the NBCU Transferors
or the NBCU Entities or (ii) the Comcast Transferors or the Contributed Comcast
Subsidiaries, as applicable, has rights and for which development has not been
abandoned as of the date hereof (A) upon which principal photography has not yet
commenced on or prior to the date hereof and (B) which if produced and completed
would otherwise constitute Library Pictures. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
“Unproduced Properties” shall only include those materials for which the
Intellectual Property contained therein would otherwise constitute NBCU
Intellectual Property or Comcast Intellectual Property, as
applicable.
“U.S.” or “United States” means the
United States of America.
“Vivendi” means Vivendi S.A., a
société anonyme
organized under the laws of France.
“Vivendi Agreement” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(e).
“Vivendi SPA” means the Stock
Purchase Agreement dated as of December 3, 2009 by and between GE and
Vivendi.
“WARN Act” means the Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as the same may be amended
from time to time.
“Works in Progress” means all
audio, visual and/or audiovisual works of any kind or character in which (i) the
NBCU Transferors or the NBCU Entities or (ii) the Comcast Transferors or the
Contributed Comcast Subsidiaries, has rights, (A) for which principal
photography has commenced on or prior to the date hereof, (B) which are in
current production or post-production and have not been
abandoned,
and (C) which are not complete and which, if completed, would otherwise
constitute Library Pictures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Works in Progress”
shall only include those works for which the Intellectual Property contained
therein would otherwise constitute NBCU Intellectual Property or Comcast
Intellectual Property, as applicable.
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