Amendment of the Master Joint Venture Agreement
EXHIBIT 10.1
Amendment of the Master Joint Venture Agreement
Q-Cells AG, registered in the companies’ register of the local court of Stendal under HRB
16621, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 00, 00000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx (hereinafter “Q-Cells”), Evergreen Solar, Inc.,
registered in the register of the State of Delaware (USA) under no.: 2426798, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, XXX) hereinafter “Evergreen”), Renewable Energy Corporation ASA,
registered in the Bronnoysundregisterene (norwegian companies’ register) under the organisational
number 97725861, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00, 0000 Xxxxx, Xxxxxx (hereinafter “REC”, and Q-Cells, Evergreen and
REC are hereinafter referred to as “the Shareholders” as well as altogether “the Parties”.), and
EverQ GmbH, registered in the companies’ register of the local court of Stendal under HRB 4769,
Xxxxxxxxxxx 00-00, 00000 Xxxxxxxxxx-Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, (hereinafter “EverQ”) entered into this
Amendment to the Master Joint Venture Agreement on October 23, 2007.
I.
Preamble
Preamble
The Shareholders entered into a Master Joint Venture Agreement (register of deeds no. 287/2005 of
the notary public Xx. xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, Berlin) on November 21, 2005. On September 29, 2006 the
Shareholders and EverQ entered into a Master Joint Venture Agreement and ancillary agreements
(register of deeds no. 267/2006 of the aforementioned notary public) by which the Master Joint
Venture Agreement of November 21, 2005 was amended. We refer to the aforesaid deeds.
EverQ normally has got more than 500 employees and therefore the provisions of the German Act of
One-Third-Participation (Drittelbeteiligungsgesetz — hereinafter “DrittelbG”) apply pursuant to §
1 subsection 1 no. 1 DrittelbG. The employees of EverQ have got the right of co determination
within the supervisory board of EverQ. Pursuant to § 4 subsection 1 DrittelbG one third of the
supervisory board of the company have to be employee representatives. To comply with the
requirements of the German Act of One-Third-Participation the Shareholders intend to amend the
provisions of the Articles of Association concerning the supervisory board of the company.
Therefore the provisions of the Master Joint Venture Agreement concerning the Supervisory Board
shall be amended as well.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein and with the
intention of being legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:
II.
Supervisory Board
Supervisory Board
1. The definition “Annual Plan” in Article I, Section 1.2 (Sections and Articles refer to the
corresponding Section / Articles in the Master Joint Venture Agreement) shall be reworded as
follows:
““Annual Plan” shall mean an annual business and operations plan as prepared by the Management
Board.”
2. Article III, Section 3.3 (a) shall be reworded as follows:
“(a) Annual Plan. The Parties shall cause the Management Board of EverQ to prepare, and the
shareholders’ meeting to consider and approve, an Annual Plan with respect to each fiscal year of
EverQ no later than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of each fiscal year.”
3. Article III, Section 3.5 (b) shall be reworded as follows:
“(b) A majority of the shareholders’ meeting shall have the ability to approve a Capacity
Expansion following a determination by such majority of the shareholders’ meeting that the Capacity
Expansion is in the best interest of EverQ.”
4. Article III, Section 3.6 shall be reworded as follows:
“3.6 Directors
(a) Pursuant to § 1 subsection 1 no. 3 DrittelbG EverQ shall have nine (9) Directors. Six Directors
shall be elected by the Shareholders’ Meeting according to the provisions of the Articles of
Association and the applicable statutory provisions. Three Directors shall be elected by the
employees of EverQ according to the provisions of the German Act of One-Third-Participation.
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(b) Each Shareholder shall have the right to nominate two Directors and two substitute Directors.
The Shareholders undertake to elect these nominated Directors and substitute Directors.
(c) Each Party shall cause conveniently and as far as legally admissible each Director nominated by
it to perform his duties as a Director fully in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the
Articles of Association. None of the Parties shall be excused from the performance of this
Agreement on the account of the failure to control such Director nominated by it and appointed by
the Shareholders.
(d) In case that the Supervisory Board has to resolve on any transaction of the Management Board
according to Article 10.1 a) — c) and h) of the Articles of Association each Shareholder shall
cause conveniently and as far as legally admissible, however respecting the independence of the
Directors, the following: (i) The Directors appointed by the Shareholders’ Meeting shall vote in a
pre-voting outside the Supervisory Board on such transaction and (ii) in case that at least one
Director appointed by a Shareholder holding at least 15% in the share capital of EverQ votes
against such transaction in the pre-voting the Directors appointed by the Shareholders’ Meeting
shall vote against such transaction in the respective voting of the Supervisory Board. However, the
affirmative vote of any Director nominated by a Shareholder who is either a party of such
contractual transaction requiring the consent of the Supervisory Board or a controlling shareholder
in the party of such contractual transaction is not required.
(e) In case that the Supervisory Board has to resolve on any transaction of the Management Board
according to Article 10.1 d) — e) of the Articles of Association each Shareholder shall cause
conveniently and as far as legally admissible, however respecting the independence of the
Directors, the following: (i) The Directors appointed by the Shareholders’ Meeting shall vote in a
pre-voting outside the Supervisory Board on such transaction and (ii) in case that at least one
Director votes against such transaction in the pre-voting the Directors appointed by the
Shareholders’ Meeting shall vote against such transaction in the respective voting of the
Supervisory Board. However, the affirmative vote of any Director nominated by a Shareholder who is
either a party of such contractual transaction requiring the consent of the Supervisory Board or a
controlling shareholder in the party of such contractual transaction is not required.”
5. Article VI., Closing Conditions, is cancelled completely.
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6. Article IX Section 9.1 (b) shall be reworded as follows:
“(b) If EverQ determines to market, distribute or sell Cells, Wafers or Modules, as the case may
be, via intermediaries, distribution partners, sales agents or the like, it shall invite third
parties to declare their interest to participate in such marketing activities. In such a procedure,
the Parties shall be entitled to declare their interest as well. EverQ shall negotiate with all the
interested parties in good faith for not less than ninety (90) days, and upon mutual agreement, the
negotiation period may be continued as long as necessary or productive. The final decision shall be
subject to approval by the shareholders’ meeting.”
Evergreen Solar, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Renewable Energy Corporation ASA
By: /s/ Saskia Au
By: /s/ Saskia Au
Q-Cells AG
By: /s/ Kathrin von Pohhammer
By: /s/ Kathrin von Pohhammer
EverQ GmbH
By: /s/ Xx. Xxxxxxxx Petersoen
By: /s/ Xx. Xxxxxxxx Petersoen
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