THIS AGREEMENT dated as of June 18, 2008 (this “Agreement”), is by and among each of the entities and individuals listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Crescendo Parties”) and Cott Corporation (the “Company”). NOW THEREFORE in consideration...
Exhibit 99.1
THIS AGREEMENT dated as of
June 18, 2008 (this “Agreement”), is by and among
each of the entities and individuals listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively,
the “Crescendo
Parties”) and Cott Corporation
(the “Company”).
NOW THEREFORE in consideration
of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions
hereinafter set forth and for other consideration (the receipt and sufficiency
of which is acknowledged), intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties
hereby agree as follows:
Section
1.
Board
Composition.
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(a)
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The
Company confirms that each of Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxx
(collectively, the “Resigning Directors”)
has tendered his resignation from the board of directors of the Company
(the “Board”) each
of which resignation is effective upon the execution of this Agreement
and, effective upon the execution of this Agreement, the Board has
appointed the following individuals as directors of the Company to replace
the Resigning Directors: (i) Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx (“Xxxxxxxxx”); (ii) Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx (“Benadiba”); and
(iii) Xxxxx Xxxxxxx (“Xxxxxxx”) (Xxxxxxxxx,
Benadiba and Pilozzi, collectively, the “Replacement
Directors”).
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(b)
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The
Company confirms that, immediately following the execution of this
Agreement, the Board shall appoint Xxxx Xxxxxxx (“Xxxxxxx”) to the Board
as a director, and increase the size of the Board from ten to eleven
directors (Xxxxxxx, together with the Replacement Directors, collectively,
the “New
Directors”).
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(c)
|
For
greater certainty, immediately following the execution of this Agreement
and the appointment of Xxxxxxx to the Board, the Board shall consist of
the following eleven directors: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Rosenfeld, Benadiba, Pilozzi and
Xxxxxxx.
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(d)
|
The
term of each of the New Directors shall expire, in the same manner as any
other director of the Company, when such individual’s successor is duly
elected or appointed, provided that if, at any time, Xxxxx Xxxxxx (“Xxxxxx”) is appointed as
Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Company wishes to appoint
Xxxxxx as a director of the Company, the Crescendo Parties shall cause one
of the New Directors to resign from the Board contemporaneously with
Xxxxxx’x appointment to the Board, and provided further that if another
Person is appointed as Chief Executive Officer and director of the
Company, the Company shall cause a director that is not one of the New
Directors to resign from the Board contemporaneously with such Person’s
appointment to the Board.
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(e)
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Effective
upon the execution of this Agreement, the Board has appointed Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx as the Chairman of the Board. Effective upon the
execution of this Agreement, the Board has appointed Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx as
lead independent director of the Board, with such responsibilities and
compensation as determined by the Board acting consistently with past
practices.
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(f)
|
Each
of the New Directors, upon appointment to the Board, will be governed by
the same protections and obligations regarding confidentiality, conflicts
of interests, fiduciary duties, trading and disclosure policies and other
governance guidelines, copies of which have been provided prior to the
date hereof to the Crescendo Parties (collectively, the “Policies”), and shall
have the same rights and benefits, including (but not limited to) with
respect to insurance, indemnification, compensation and fees, as are
applicable to all directors of the
Company.
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(g)
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, if at any time before the Company’s next
annual meeting of shareowners in 2009 the Crescendo Parties and their
Affiliates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than 4,000,000
of the outstanding Voting Securities, the Crescendo Parties shall
immediately notify the Company and, absent consent of the Company to the
contrary, cause two (2) New Directors to resign from the
Board.
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(h)
|
If
any New Director leaves the Board (whether by resignation or otherwise)
before the Company’s 2009 annual meeting of shareowners, Crescendo will be
entitled to recommend to the Board replacement director(s) (each of whom
will be deemed a New Director for purposes of this Agreement) who will
qualify as independent pursuant to applicable securities laws and relevant
stock exchange rules. The Board will not unreasonably withhold
acceptance of any replacement director(s) recommended by
Crescendo. In the event the Board does not accept a replacement
director(s) recommended by Crescendo, Crescendo will have the right to
recommend additional replacement director(s) for consideration by the
Board. The Board will appoint such replacement director(s) to
the Board no later than five (5) business days after Crescendo’s
recommendation of an acceptable replacement
director(s).
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Section
2. Search
Committee.
|
(a)
|
Effective
upon the execution of this Agreement, the Board shall reconstitute and
replace the existing committee of the Board in connection with the
identification of a permanent Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the
“Search
Committee”), to be comprised of the following four members: (i)
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, (ii) Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, (iii) Xxxxxxxxx and (iv)
Pilozzi. The Search Committee shall undertake, direct, oversee,
monitor and otherwise facilitate on an expedited basis consistent with
their fiduciary duties the ongoing evaluation and identification to the
Board of potential candidates for appointment as the permanent Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.
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2
Section
3.
Schedule
13D.
The
Crescendo Parties shall promptly file an amendment to the Schedule 13D
originally filed by the Crescendo Parties with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”)
on May 23, 2008 reporting the entry into this Agreement and amending
applicable items to reflect their obligations hereunder and the terms hereof
(the “Amendment”). The
Crescendo Parties shall provide the Company with the reasonable opportunity to
review and comment on drafts of the Amendment, and shall give reasonable
consideration to such comments, acting in good faith.
Section
4.
Representations and
Warranties.
(a)
|
Each
of the Crescendo Parties severally and not jointly represents and warrants
as follows:
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||
(i)
|
Such
Person has the power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the
terms and provisions of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
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||
(ii)
|
This
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by
such Person, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of
each such Person and is enforceable against each such Person in accordance
with its terms.
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||
(iii)
|
Such
Person is the beneficial owner of the number of common shares set forth on
Schedule B hereto and such common shares (together with any other common
shares set forth in Schedule B) constitute all of the Voting Securities
beneficially owned by such Person and his or its
Affiliates.
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||
(b)
|
Each
of Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx severally and not jointly represents and
warrants that, to the best of his knowledge, he qualifies as an
“independent” director pursuant to applicable securities laws and the
rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock
Exchange.
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||
(c)
|
The
Company hereby represents and warrants as follows:
|
||
(i)
|
The
Company has the power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the
terms and provisions of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
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||
(ii)
|
This
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of
the Company and is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms.
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||
(iii)
|
The
Company has disclosed in writing to the Crescendo Parties all of the
Company’s written policies and guidelines applicable to all directors of
the Company relating to confidentiality, conflicts of interest, fiduciary
duties, trading, disclosure and corporate governance, and no material
changes have been made to such guidelines and policies from the copies
disclosed in writing to the Crescendo
Parties.
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3
(iv)
|
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement do not and will not (i) contravene, conflict
with, or result in any violation or breach of any provisions of the
articles or by-laws of the Company, (ii) contravene, conflict with or
result in any violation or breach of any provision of applicable law,
(iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under,
constitute a default under, or cause or permit the termination,
cancellation, acceleration or other change of any right or obligation or
the loss of any benefit to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
entitled under any provision of a contract binding on the Company or of
its subsidiaries, in cases of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) other than
would, individually or in the aggregate, not have a material adverse
effect on the Company.
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Section
5.
Remedies.
Each of
the Crescendo Parties, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand,
acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury to the other party hereto may
occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached and that such
injury may not be adequately compensable in damages. It is
accordingly agreed that each of the Crescendo Parties, on the one hand, and the
Company, on the other hand, shall, in addition to any other remedy to which they
may be entitled at law or in equity, each be entitled to seek specific
enforcement of, and injunctive relief to prevent any violation of, the terms
hereof and the other party hereto will not take any action, directly or
indirectly, in opposition to the party seeking relief on the grounds that any
other remedy or relief is available at law or in equity. The
prevailing party in any such action shall be entitled to recover reasonable
legal fees and expenses from the non-prevailing party.
Section
6.
Press Release and
Other Public Disclosures.
Immediately following the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Company shall issue the press release substantially in the form
attached hereto as Schedule C (the “Press Release”). None of the
parties hereto shall (a) make any public statements (including in any filing
with the Canadian securities regulators, the SEC or any other regulatory or
governmental agency, including any stock exchange) that are inconsistent with,
or otherwise contrary to, the statements in the Press Release issued pursuant to
this Section
6 or (b) except as
required by law, issue or cause the publication of any press release or other
public announcement with respect to this Agreement, without the prior written
consent of the parties hereto.
Section
7.
Benadiba and Xxxxxx
Termination Agreements.
The
Company hereby waives any claims that it may have against Benadiba or Xxxxxx
relating to any matter arising on or prior to date hereof. Benadiba
and Xxxxxx each acknowledge and agree that they continue to be bound by the
provisions of their termination agreements with the Company dated July 27, 2006
and April 9, 2007, respectively, which agreements, for greater certainty, shall
remain in force, unamended.
4
Section
8.
Expenses.
Within
fifteen (15) days following receipt of reasonably satisfactory documentation in
respect thereof, the Company shall reimburse the Crescendo Parties for their
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, up to a maximum amount of
CDN$200,000 in the aggregate, incurred in connection with (a) their
activities in furtherance of seeking representation on the Board, (b) their
discussions with the Company and the Company’s shareholders concerning the
business, operations and plans of the Company, (c) the negotiation and
execution of this Agreement, and (d) all related activities including, but
not limited to, the preparation of related filings with the SEC and the fees and
disbursements of counsel and other advisors.
Section
9.
Acknowledgement of
Securities and Corporate Laws.
Each of
the Crescendo Parties acknowledges that it is aware of: (i) applicable
securities laws regarding prohibitions against xxxxxxx xxxxxxx, and in
particular that Canadian and United States securities laws prohibit any Person
who has received from an issuer material, non-public information from purchasing
or selling securities of such issuer or from communicating such information to
any other Person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that
such Person is likely to purchase or sell such securities; and (ii) the
corporate laws of fiduciary duty applicable to directors of a
company.
Section
10. Certain
Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement:
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(a)
|
The
term “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, another Person and shall include persons who become
Affiliates of any Person subsequent to the date hereof. For the
purposes of this definition, “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, and the term “controlled” has a correlative
meaning.
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(b)
|
The
term “Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, group,
syndicate, trust, government or agency thereof, or any other association
or entity.
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(c)
|
The
term “Voting Securities” shall mean the common shares and any other
securities of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors,
or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for common
shares or other securities, whether or not subject to the passage of time
or other contingencies.
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Section
11. No
Waiver.
Any
waiver by any party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not
operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision
or of any breach of any other provision of this Agreement. The
failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement
on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party
of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any
other term of this Agreement.
5
Section
12. Successors and
Assigns.
Neither
this Agreement nor any right, interest or obligation hereunder may be assigned
by the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties,
and any attempt to do so will be void. Subject to the preceding
sentence, all the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and shall be enforceable by the successors, assigns and legal
representatives of the parties hereto.
Section
13.
Entire Agreement;
Amendments.
This
Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof. There are no restrictions, agreements,
promises, representations, warranties, covenants or other undertakings other
than those expressly set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement may
be amended only by a written instrument duly executed by the parties or their
respective successors or assigns.
Section
14.
Headings.
The
section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
Section
15.
Notices.
All
notices, demands and other communications to be given or delivered under or by
reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation
of receipt), (b) upon sending if sent by facsimile, with electronic confirmation
of sending, provided, however, that a copy is sent on the same day by registered
mail, return receipt requested, in each case to the appropriate mailing and
facsimile addresses set forth below, (c) one (1) day after being sent by North
American recognized overnight carrier to the addresses set forth below or (d)
when actually delivered if sent by any other method that results in delivery
(with written confirmation of receipt):
If to the
Company:
Cott
Corporation
0000 Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with a
copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Goodmans
LLP
000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: Xxxx
Xxxxxx / Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
6
If to the
Crescendo Parties:
c/o
Crescendo Partners
000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, CEO
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
with a
copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Stikeman
Elliott LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
000 Xxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: Xxxxx
X. Pukier
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
- and
-
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Frome Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
Park
Avenue Tower
00 Xxxx
00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
in each
case, or to such other address as the Person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth
above.
Section
16.
Governing
Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable
therein. The parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally consent to and submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the
Province of Ontario, Canada for any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the matters contemplated hereby (and agree not to
commence any such action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in such
courts) and further agree that service of any process, summons, notice or
document in accordance with Section 15 shall be effective
service of process for any action, suit or proceeding brought in such court. The
parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any
objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out
of this Agreement or the matters contemplated hereby in the courts of the
Province of Ontario, Canada and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally
waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action,
suit or proceeding so brought has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Section
17.
Counterparts and
Facsimile.
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts (by original or facsimile signature),
each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
7
Section
18.
Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or
circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of
such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has
been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the
economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not
affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such
determination, the parties shall negotiate in an effort to agree upon a suitable
and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent of the
parties.
Section
19. Further
Assurances.
Each
party agrees to take or cause to be taken such further actions, and to execute,
deliver and file or cause to be executed, delivered and filed such further
documents and instruments, and to obtain such consents, as may be reasonably
required or requested by the other party in order to effectuate fully the
purposes, terms and conditions of this Agreement.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
8
COTT
CORPORATION
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Per:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Director
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Per:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title:
Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary
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CRESCENDO
PARTNERS II, L.P., SERIES I
By:
Crescendo Investments II, LLC
General
Partner
|
||||
Per:
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/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing
Member
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CRESCENDO
INVESTMENTS II, LLC
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||||
Per:
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/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing
Member
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CRESCENDO
PARTNERS III, L.P.
By:
Crescendo Investments III, LLC
General Partner
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||||
Per:
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/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing
Member
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CRESCENDO
INVESTMENTS III, LLC
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||||
Per:
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/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing
Member
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9
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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||
Witness
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
||
Witness
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
||
Witness
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||
Witness
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
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||
Witness
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
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10
SCHEDULE
A
Crescendo
Parties
1.
|
Crescendo
Partners II, L.P., Series I
|
2.
|
Crescendo
Investments II, LLC
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3.
|
Crescendo
Partners III, L.P.
|
4.
|
Crescendo
Investments III, LLC (together with Crescendo Partners II, L.P., Series I,
Crescendo Investments II, LLC and Crescendo Investments III, L.P.,
collectively, “Crescendo”)
|
5.
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
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6.
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
7.
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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8.
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
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9.
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Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
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11
SCHEDULE
B
Beneficial
Ownership of Common Shares
of
Cott Corporation
|
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Name
|
Number of
Shares
|
Crescendo
Partners II, L.P., Series I
|
5,419,055
|
Crescendo
Investments II, LLC1
|
5,419,055
|
Crescendo
Partners III, L.P.
|
528,545
|
Crescendo
Investments III, LLC2
|
528,545
|
Xxxx
Rosenfeld3
|
5,947,600
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
100,000
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
0
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
176,966
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
0
|
1
Crescendo Investments II, LLC is the general partner of Crescendo Partners II,
L.P., Series I and may be deemed to beneficially own the 5,419,055 Common Shares
owned by Crescendo Partners II, L.P., Series I.
2
Crescendo Investments III, LLC is the general partner of Crescendo Partners III,
L.P. and may be deemed to beneficially own the 528,545 Common Shares owned by
Crescendo Partners III, L.P..
3 As the
managing member of Crescendo Investments II, LLC which in turn is the general
partner of Crescendo Partners II, L.P., Series I, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx may be deemed
to beneficially own the 5,419,055 Common Shares owned by Crescendo Partners II,
L.P., Series I, and as the managing member of Crescendo Investments III, LLC,
the general partner of Crescendo Partners III, L.P., Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx may be
deemed to beneficially own the 528,545 Common Shares owned by
Crescendo Partners III, LLC.
12
SCHEDULE
C
Press
Release as Issued by Cott Corporation on June 19, 2008
13