AGREEMENT
Exhibit
2
EXECUTION
VERSION
This
Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2010, is by and among Alloy, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, an individual resident of
New York (“Xxxxxxx”), and the other individuals and entities signatories hereto
(collectively with Xxxxxxx, the “Xxxxxxx Group”).
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Xxxxxxx Group have determined that the interests of the
Company and its stockholders would be best served by adding Xxxxxxx to the
Company’s Board of Directors on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions hereinafter
set forth, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
1. Representations and
Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants as follows
as of the date hereof:
(a) The
Company has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out
the terms and provisions of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(b) 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,
except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws
affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity
principles.
(c) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company does not
and will not (i) violate or conflict with any law, rule, regulation, order,
judgment or decree applicable to it, or (ii) result in any breach or
violation of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of
time or both could become a default) under or pursuant to, or result in the loss
of a material benefit under, or give any right of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, any organizational document, agreement,
contract, commitment, understanding or arrangement to which the Company is a
party or by which it is bound.
2. Representations and
Warranties of the Xxxxxxx Group. Each of the members of the Xxxxxxx Group
severally, and not jointly, represent and warrant with respect to himself or
itself as follows as of the date hereof:
(a) Such
party 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. Such party, if an entity, has the limited partnership or limited
liability company power and authority, as applicable, to execute, deliver and
carry out the terms and provisions of this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) This
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed, and delivered by such
member of the Xxxxxxx Group, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and
agreement of such party, and is enforceable against such party in accordance
with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or
similar laws affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity
principles.
(c) Such
party is the “beneficial owner” of a number of shares of Common Stock as set
forth on the cover page relating to such member in the Schedule 13D filed
by the members of the Xxxxxxx Group with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) on December 18, 2009, as amended through and including Amendment Xx.
0 xxxxxxx xxxxx Xxxxx 00, 0000 (xxx “Schedule 13D”). Except for those
Affiliates and Associates of such member with respect to whom a cover page is
included in the Schedule 13D, no other Affiliate or Associate of such
member beneficially owns any shares of Common Stock.
(d) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each member of the
Xxxxxxx Group does not and will not (i) violate or conflict with any law,
rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to him or it, or
(ii) result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default (or an
event which with notice or lapse of time or both could become a default) under
or pursuant to, or result in the loss of a material benefit under, or give any
right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any
organizational document, agreement, contract, commitment, understanding or
arrangement to which he or it is a party or by which he or it is
bound.
3. Definitions. For
purposes of this Agreement:
(a) The
terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” have the respective meanings set forth in
Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), provided that neither “Affiliate” nor
“Associate” shall include (i) any person that is a publicly held concern and is
otherwise an Affiliate or Associate by reason of the fact that a principal of
any member of the Xxxxxxx Group serves as a member of the board of directors or
similar governing body of such concern, (ii) such member of the board of
directors or other similar governing body of such concern or (iii) any entity
which is an Associate solely by reason of clause (1) of the definition of
Associate in Rule 12b-2; the terms “beneficial owner” and “beneficial ownership”
shall have the respective meanings as set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated
by the SEC under the Exchange Act; and the terms “person” or “persons” shall
mean any individual,
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corporation
(including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization or other entity
of any kind or nature.
(b) “Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) “Common
Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company, $0.01 par value.
(d) “Compensation
Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
(e) “Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee” means the Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee of the Board.
(f) “Standstill
Period” means the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier
of:
(i) the
date on which the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee notifies Xxxxxxx
pursuant to Section 4(g) below that it has not resolved to nominate Xxxxxxx or
the Additional Director for election to the Board at the 2012 Annual
Meeting;
(ii) the
date of the 2012 Annual Meeting; or
(iii) such
date, if any, as the Company has materially breached any of its commitments or
obligations set forth in Sections 1, 4(a), 4(b), 4(e), 4(f) and 4(g) of this
Agreement (the “Principal Obligations”).
4. Election of Xxxxxxx; Related
Matters.
(a) As
soon as reasonably practicable but in any event within five business days from
the date first listed above (the “Appointment Date”):
(i) In
accordance with the Company’s amended certificate of incorporation and amended
and restated bylaws, the Board shall, if required to meet its obligations
pursuant to this Agreement, adopt a resolution increasing the size of the Board
by one director, to a total of nine directors, effective as of the Appointment
Date;
(ii) In
accordance with the Company’s amended certificate of incorporation and amended
and restated bylaws, the Board shall elect Xxxxxxx as a director of the Company,
effective as of the Appointment Date, to serve as a member of the class of
directors scheduled to be next elected at the 2012 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders;
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(iii) The
Board shall adopt a resolution appointing Xxxxxxx to serve as a member of both
the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee, effective as of the Appointment Date, and Xxxxxxx shall continue to
serve on such Committees so long as he continues to be a member of the Board;
and
(iv) The
Board shall revise the powers of the Administration Committee to limit the
Administration Committee’s power to authorize acquisitions to acquisitions which
either individually or combined do not exceed $1 million in purchase price
during any fiscal quarter of the Company.
(b) After
giving effect to Section 4(a) and a readjustment of the class years of certain
directors, as of the Appointment Date, the Board shall consist of the following
members (or their respective successors duly nominated in accordance with the
Company’s amended certificate, amended and restated bylaws and Corporate and
Governance Committee charter and procedures, and duly elected by the Company’s
stockholders):
Class of 2010
|
Class of 2011
|
Class of 2012
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx*
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
*Subject
to separate agreement
|
(c) The
members of the Xxxxxxx Group who filed the Schedule 13D shall promptly file
an amendment to the Schedule 13D reporting the entry into this agreement,
amending applicable items to conform to their respective obligations hereunder
and appending or incorporating by reference this Agreement as an exhibit
thereto. Such amendment shall also reflect the termination of the “group” within
the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act consisting to the Xxxxxxx
Group and Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx and certain affiliated entities. Such
members of the Xxxxxxx Group shall provide to the Company a reasonable
opportunity to review and comment on such amendment in advance of filing, and
shall consider in good faith the reasonable comments of the
Company. The Company and Xxxxxxx shall discuss in good faith whether
or not the Company shall issue a press release with respect to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto and the material provisions
hereof, which press release, if issued, will be subject to the mutual agreement
of the parties; if the Company files a Form 8-K in lieu of a press release, the
Company shall provide to Xxxxxxx a reasonable opportunity to review and comment
on such Form 8-K in advance of its filing, and shall consider in good faith the
reasonable comments of Xxxxxxx.
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(d) So
long as the Company has complied and is complying with the Principal
Obligations, each member of the Xxxxxxx Group shall cause all shares of Common
Stock owned of record and shall instruct the record owner, in case of all shares
of Common Stock beneficially owned but not of record, by it and their respective
Affiliates, as of the record date for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or
the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as the case may be, to be present for
quorum purposes and to be voted, and shall cause all shares of Common Stock held
by their respective Associates to be present for quorum purposes and to be
voted, in favor of all directors nominated by the Board for election at the
Company’s 2010 and 2011 Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(e) Within
the one year period following the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the
Company and the Xxxxxxx Group shall agree on a qualified, independent and
experienced executive with a strong media background (a “Qualified Executive”)
to be elected by the Board as a tenth member of the Board in the Class of 2012
(the “Additional Director”), and in connection therewith and in accordance with
the Company’s amended certificate of incorporation and amended and restated
bylaws, the Board shall adopt a resolution increasing the size of the Board by
one director, to a total of ten directors, effective as of the appointment date
of such Additional Director. If the Additional Director leaves the
Board (whether by resignation or otherwise) before the conclusion of the 2012
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company and the Xxxxxxx Group shall agree on
a replacement Qualified Executive to be elected within 60 days of such
resignation.
(f) The
Company agrees that the Board shall only be increased at any time prior to the
conclusion of the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in connection with the
appointment of Xxxxxxx and the Additional Director.
(g) At
least 15 days prior to the first date upon which a notice to the Secretary of
the Company of nominations of persons for election to the Board or the proposal
of business at the 2012 Annual Meeting would be considered timely under the
bylaws of the Company, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will
notify Xxxxxxx whether it has resolved to recommend Xxxxxxx and the Additional
Director for re-election to the Board at the 2012 Annual Meeting.
(h) BD
Media Investors LP hereby withdraws its letter dated March 17, 2010, to the
Secretary of the Company providing notice of its intention to nominate persons
for election as directors at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and its
demand pursuant to Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law.
5. Standstill.
Each of
the members of the Xxxxxxx Group agrees that, during the Standstill Period and
provided that Company has complied and is complying with the Principal
Obligations, he or
5
it will
not, and he or it will cause each of such person’s Affiliates or agents or other
persons acting on his or its behalf not to, and will cause his or its respective
Associates not to:
(a) submit
any stockholder proposal (pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated by the SEC
under the Exchange Act or otherwise) or any notice of nomination or other
business for consideration, or nominate any candidate for election to the Board,
other than as expressly permitted by this Agreement ;
(b) form,
join in or in any other way participate in a “partnership, limited partnership,
syndicate or other group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act with respect to the Common Stock or deposit any shares of Common
Stock in a voting trust or similar arrangement or subject any shares of Common
Stock to any voting agreement or pooling arrangement, other than solely with
other members of the Xxxxxxx Group or one or more Affiliates of a member of the
Xxxxxxx Group with respect to the Common Stock currently owned as set forth in
Section 2(c) of this Agreement or to the extent such a group may be deemed
to result with the Company or any of its Affiliates as a result of this
Agreement;
(c) solicit
proxies or written consents of stockholders, or otherwise conduct any nonbinding
referendum with respect to Common Stock, or make, or in any way participate in,
any “solicitation” of any “proxy” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1
promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act to vote, or advise, encourage or
influence any person with respect to voting, any shares of Common Stock with
respect to any matter, or become a “participant” in any contested “solicitation”
for the election of directors with respect to the Company (as such terms are
defined or used under the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated by the SEC
thereunder), other than a “solicitation” or acting as a “participant” in support
of all of the nominees of the Board at the 2010 and 2011 Annual Meetings of
Stockholders;
(d) seek,
in any capacity other than as a member of the Board, to call, or to request the
call of, a special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or seek to make,
or make, a stockholder proposal at any meeting of the stockholders of the
Company or make a request for a list of the Company’s stockholders (or otherwise
induce, encourage or assist any other person to initiate or pursue such a
proposal or request) or otherwise acting alone, or in concert with others, seek
to control or influence the governance or policies of the Company, except as
expressly permitted by this Agreement;
(e) effect
or seek to effect, in any capacity other than as a member of the Board
(including, without limitation, by entering into any discussions, negotiations,
agreements or understandings with any third person), offer or propose (whether
publicly or otherwise) to effect, or cause or participate in, or in any way
assist or facilitate any other person to effect or seek, offer or propose
(whether publicly or otherwise) to effect or cause or participate in
(i) any acquisition of any material assets or businesses of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any tender offer
6
or
exchange offer, merger, acquisition or other business combination involving the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (iii) any recapitalization,
restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction with
respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(f) publicly
disclose, or cause or facilitate the public disclosure (including without
limitation the filing of any document or report with the SEC or any other
governmental agency or any disclosure to any journalist, member of the media or
securities analyst) of, any intent, purpose, plan or proposal to obtain any
waiver, or consent under, or any amendment of, any of the provisions of Section
4(d) or this Section 5, or otherwise seek (in any manner that would require
public disclosure by any of the members of the Xxxxxxx Group or their Affiliates
or Associates) to obtain any waiver, consent under, or amendment of, any
provision of this Agreement;
(g) publicly
disparage any member of the Board or management of the Company;
(h) enter
into any arrangements, understandings or agreements (whether written or oral)
with, or advise, finance, assist or encourage, any other person that engages, or
offers or proposes to engage, in any of the foregoing; or
(i) take
or cause or induce or assist others to take any action inconsistent with any of
the foregoing.
It is
understood and agreed that this Agreement shall not be deemed to prohibit
Xxxxxxx from engaging in any lawful act in his capacity as a director of the
Company.
6. Codes of Business Conduct
and Ethics and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Policy. Xxxxxxx has reviewed the Company’s
Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Policy and agrees to
abide by the provisions thereof during his service as a director of the Company.
The members of the Xxxxxxx Group acknowledge that they are aware that the
United States securities laws prohibit any person who has material
non-public information about a company from purchasing or selling such
securities of such company, 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.
7. Questionnaires.
Xxxxxxx has accurately completed the form of questionnaire provided by the
Company for its use in connection with the preparation of the Company’s proxy
statement.
8. Compensation. Xxxxxxx
shall be compensated for his service as a director and shall be reimbursed for
his expenses on the same basis as all other non-employee directors of the
Company are compensated and shall be eligible to be granted equity-based
compensation on the same basis as all other non-employee directors of the
Company.
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9. Indemnification and
Insurance. Xxxxxxx shall be entitled to the same rights of
indemnification as the other directors of the Company as such rights may exist
from time to time. The Company shall, promptly after their election, take such
action, if any, as may be necessary to add Xxxxxxx to the Company’s directors
and officers’ liability insurance policy as an Insured Person.
10. Non-Disparagement.
During the Standstill Period and for a period of one year thereafter the Company
shall not publicly disparage any member of the Xxxxxxx Group or any member of
the management of the Xxxxxxx Group.
11. Specific Performance.
Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees, on behalf of itself and its
Affiliates, that irreparable harm would occur in the event any of the provisions
of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or
were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties will be
entitled to specific relief hereunder, including, without limitation, an
injunction or injunctions to prevent and enjoin breaches of the provisions of
this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in
any state or federal court in the State of Delaware, in addition to any other
remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity. Any requirements for
the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby
waived.
12. Jurisdiction. Each
party hereto agrees, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, that any actions,
suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby will be brought solely and exclusively in any
state or federal court in the State of Delaware (and the parties agree on behalf
of themselves and their respective Affiliates not to commence any action, suit
or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts), and further agrees that
service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to
the respective addresses set forth in Section 16 of this Agreement will be
effective service of process for any such action, suit or proceeding brought
against any party in any such court. Each party, on behalf of itself and its
Affiliates, irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying
of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, in the state or federal courts in the State of
Delaware, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees
not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding
brought in any such court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient
forum.
13. Applicable Law. This
Agreement shall be governed in all respects, including validity, interpretation
and effect, by the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts
executed and to be performed wholly within such state, without giving effect to
the choice of law principles of such state.
14. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts which together shall
constitute a single agreement.
15. Entire Agreement; Amendment
and Waiver; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement contains the entire
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to, and
8
supersedes
all prior agreements relating to, its subject matter. There are no restrictions,
agreements, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings
between the parties other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement
may be amended only by a written instrument duly executed by the parties hereto
or their respective successors or assigns. No failure on the part of any party
to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. All remedies
hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other remedies provided by
law. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to
the benefit of, and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
successors, heirs, executors, legal representatives, and assigns.
16. Notices. All notices,
consents, requests, instructions, approvals and other communications provided
for herein and all legal process in regard hereto shall be in writing and shall
be deemed validly given, made or served, (a) if given by telecopy, when
such telecopy is transmitted to the telecopy number set forth below, or to such
other telecopy number as is provided by a party to this Agreement to the other
parties pursuant to notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section, and the appropriate confirmation is received, or (b) if given by
any other means, when actually received during normal business hours at the
address specified in this Section, or at such other address as is provided by a
party to this Agreement to the other parties pursuant to notice given in
accordance with the provisions of this Section:
if to the
Company:
Alloy,
Inc.
000 Xxxx
00xx
Xxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX
00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Chief Executive Officer
with a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx
xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX
00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
if to the
Xxxxxxx Group or any member thereof:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxx
0xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX
00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx & Flexner LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX
00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
17. No Third-Party
Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer on any
person other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns,
and their respective Affiliates to the extent provided herein, any rights,
remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this
Agreement.
[Signature page
follows.]
- -
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly
authorized signatories of the parties as of the date first written
above.
ALLOY,
INC.
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
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Chief
Executive Officer
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By:
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BC
Advisors, LLC, its general partner
|
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
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Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
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Title:
Co-managing Member
|
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BD
MEDIA INVESTORS LP
|
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By:
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SRB
Management, L.P., its general partner
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By:
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BC
Advisors, LLC, its general partner
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||||
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|||||
Title:
Co-managing Member
|
|||||
SRB
GREENWAY OPPORTUNITY FUND, (QP), L.P.
|
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By:
|
SRB
Management, L.P., its general partner
|
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By:
|
BC
Advisors, LLC, its general partner
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||||
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|||||
Title:
Co-managing Member
|
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|||||
SRB
GREENWAY OPPORTUNITY FUND, L.P.
|
|||||
|
|||||
By:
|
SRB
Management, L.P., its general partner
|
||||
By:
|
BC
Advisors, LLC, its general partner
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||||
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|||||
Title:
Co-managing Member
|
|||||
BC
ADVISORS, LLC
|
|||||
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||||
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|||||
Title:
Co-managing Member
|
|||||
XXXXXX
X. XXXXXX
|
|||||
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|||||
XXXXXXX
X. XXXXXXX
|
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/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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