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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 10, 2005
Warner Music Group Corp.
(Exact name of Co-Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
|
333-123249 (Commission File Number) |
|
13-4271875 (IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10019 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) |
Co-Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (212) 275-2000
WMG Acquisition Corp.
(Exact name of Co-Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
|
333-121322 (Commission File Number) |
|
68-0576630 (IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10019 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) |
Co-Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (212) 275-2000
Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
- o
- Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
- o
- Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
- o
- Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
- o
- Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 1.01. ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.
Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement
Warner Music Group Corp. (the "Company") and Richard Bressler entered into a Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement on May 19, 2005, dated as of May 10, 2005,
under which Mr. Bressler will be granted 5,000 shares of the Company's common stock, which as of May 19, 2005, represents less than 1% of the common stock of the Company. The restricted stock
agreement provides that the restricted shares vest on the first anniversary of the agreement. Such shares shall be forfeited without consideration by Mr. Bressler at any time prior to vesting upon his
cessation of Board membership, with certain exceptions. Mr. Bressler's restricted stock agreement is attached to this current report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1.
Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement
The Company entered into an amended and restated stockholders agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, with WMG Acquisition Corp. ("Acquisition Corp."), WMG Holdings
Corp. ("Holdings Corp.") and certain other parties named therein. The amended stockholders agreement provides that the Company's board of directors consist of fourteen members, with five directors
appointed by THL, three directors appointed by Bain Capital, one director appointed by Providence Equity, one director appointed by Music Capital (THL, Bain Capital and Providence Equity, the
"Investors" and each a "Principal Investor Group"), one director who will at all times be the Chief Executive Officer, currently Edgar Bronfman, Jr., and three independent directors to be chosen
unanimously by the vote of the Company's Board. The agreement regarding the appointment of directors will remain until the earlier of a change of control or the last date permitted by applicable law,
including any New York Stock Exchange requirements. In addition, within a year of the Company ceasing to be a "controlled company" under the New York Stock Exchange rules, the size and composition of
the Company's Board of directors will be adjusted to comply with the New York Stock Exchange requirements. Two of the independent directors have not currently been appointed. Mr. Bressler was
appointed to serve as one of the independent directors on the date of the Company's initial public offering. Each Investor's director designee(s) may only be removed by the Investor that appointed
such designee(s). The amended stockholders agreement contemplates that the board of directors of the Company will have an
executive committee, an audit committee and a compensation committee and, at its discretion, a governance committee. The amended stockholders agreement prohibits the parties from transferring stock to
any of our competitors without the approval of (a) our entire board of directors and (b) the approval of the largest Principal Investor Group (determined by the Principal Investor Groups' relative
investments in us) and one other Principal Investor Group (the "Requisite Stockholder Majority"). The amended agreement also provides that each party to the stockholders agreement whose sale of shares
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act would be subject to aggregation with another stockholder shall notify all such stockholders (i) when it has commenced a measurement period for purposes of
the group volume limit in connection with a sale of shares under Rule 144 and (ii) what the volume limit for the measurement period, determined as of its commencement, will be.
Each
stockholder that is subject to such aggregation will have the right to sell shares that are subject to the group volume limit under Rule 144 pro rata during the applicable
measurement period based on its percentage ownership of the shares that are held by all of the parties to the amended stockholders agreement at the start of the measurement period. These transfer
restrictions will expire upon a change of control.
The
Requisite Stockholder Majority also has the right to require all other parties to the agreement to sell the same percentage of their stock to a buyer in a change of control
transaction approved by a majority of the entire board as is being sold to such buyer by the membership of the Requisite Stockholder Majority. A member of a Principal Investor Group (or any affiliate
thereof) that is also
2
part
of the Requisite Stockholder Majority exercising the foregoing right will not be able to be a buyer in such a change of control transaction unless the transaction is approved by each of the
Investors.
The
amended stockholders agreement provides that if one of the Company's stockholders that is party to the stockholders agreement offers to sell any of its stock to a prospective buyer
in a private transaction, the other stockholders party to the stockholders agreement will have the right to sell their shares to that prospective buyer, subject to certain cutbacks, including a pro
rata cutback in which the stockholder may only sell a pro rata portion of its shares.
The
amended stockholders agreement gives any member of the Investors the right to require us to register (including by means of a shelf registration statement permitting sales of shares
from time to time over an extended period) the stock held by such stockholders for sale to the public under the Securities Act, subject to certain limitations. In connection with each underwritten
public offering, The Company's stockholders will be required to enter into a lockup agreement covering a period of no greater than 90 days (180 days for an initial public offering). The amended
agreement also provides that if the Company registers shares of its common stock for sale to the public after this initial public offering, parties to the stockholders agreement will have the right to
have their shares included in any such registration statement. Any registration is subject to a potential underwriters' cutback in the number of shares to be registered if the underwriters determine
that marketing factors require a
limitation on the number of shares to be underwritten. A copy of the amended and restated stockholders agreement is attached to this current report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.2.
Second Supplemental Indenture
Acquisition Corp. entered into a supplemental indenture, dated as of May 17, 2005, with NonZero, LLC, The Biz, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as
Trustee. Pursuant to this supplemental indenture, NonZero, LLC and The Biz, LLC, two wholly owned subsidiaries of Acquisition Corp., agreed to jointly and severally and unconditionally guarantee
payment of Acquisition Corp.'s U.S. Dollar denominated 7-3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 and Sterling-denominated 8-1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014. A copy of the second supplemental
indenture is attached to this current report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.4.
ITEM 1.02. TERMINATION OF A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.
Management/Monitoring Agreement
The Company has entered into a termination agreement of the management agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, with Holdings Corp., Acquisition Corp. and the other
parties named therein (the "Investors"). Under the original agreement, in consideration for ongoing consulting and management advisory services, the management agreement required the Company to pay
(or to cause Holdings Corp. or Acquisition Corp. to pay) the Investors an aggregate annual fee of $10 million per year ("Periodic Fees"), which was payable quarterly in advance. In the case of future
services provided in connection with any future acquisition, disposition, or financing transactions involving Acquisition Corp., the Company or Holdings Corp., the management agreement required the
Company to pay (or to cause Holdings Corp. or Acquisition Corp. to pay) the Investors an aggregate fee of one percent of the gross transaction value of each such transaction ("Subsequent Fees"). The
agreement also requires Acquisition Corp., the Company and Holdings Corp. to pay the reasonable expenses of the Investors in connection with, and indemnify them for liabilities arising from, the
management agreement, and certain other transactions, their equity investment in Acquisition Corp., the Company or Holdings Corp., our operations, and the services they provide to Acquisition Corp.,
the Company and Holdings Corp. The management agreement was terminated in connection with the Company's initial public offering, other than with respect to reimbursement and indemnification
provisions, and a fee of approximately $73 million was paid to the Investors. A copy of the termination agreement of the management agreement is attached to this current report on Form 8-K as Exhibit
10.3.
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ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
- (c)
- Exhibits.
The following Exhibits are furnished as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Exhibit No.
|
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Description
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10.1 |
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Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, between Warner Music Group Corp. and Richard J. Bressler. |
10.2 |
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Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, between Warner Music Group Corp., WMG Holdings Corp., WMG Acquisition Corp. and Certain Stockholders of Warner Music Group Corp. |
10.3 |
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Termination Agreement of the Management Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, between Warner Music Group Corp., WMG Holdings Corp., WMG Acquisition Corp., THL Managers V, L.L.C., Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Providence Equity Partners IV Inc. and Music
Capital Partners Management, LLC. |
10.4 |
|
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 17, 2005, to the Indenture dated April 8, 2004 as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 16, 2004 among WMG Acquisition Corp., the subsidiary guarantors parties thereto and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Co-Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.
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WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP. |
Date: May 19, 2005 |
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By: |
/s/ MICHAEL D. FLEISHER Michael D. Fleisher
Chief Financial Officer |
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WMG ACQUISITION CORP. |
Date: May 19, 2005 |
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By: |
/s/ MICHAEL D. FLEISHER Michael D. Fleisher
Chief Financial Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
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Description
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10.1 |
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Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, between Warner Music Group Corp. and Richard J. Bressler. |
10.2 |
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Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, between Warner Music Group Corp., WMG Holdings Corp., WMG Acquisition Corp. and Certain Stockholders of Warner Music Group Corp. |
10.3 |
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Termination Agreement of the Management Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, between Warner Music Group Corp., WMG Holdings Corp., WMG Acquisition Corp., THL Managers V, L.L.C., Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Providence Equity Partners IV Inc. and Music
Capital Partners Management, LLC. |
10.4 |
|
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 17, 2005, to the Indenture dated April 8, 2004 as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 16, 2004 among WMG Acquisition Corp., the subsidiary guarantors parties thereto and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. |
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SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit 10.1
WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.
DIRECTOR RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT
THIS DIRECTOR RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), is made, effective as of the 10th day of May,
2005 (hereinafter the "Date of Grant"), between Warner Music Group Corp., a Delaware corporation, (the
"Company"), and Richard J. Bressler (the "Director").
R E C I T A L S:
WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Warner Music Group Corp. 2005 Omnibus Award Plan (the "Plan"), pursuant to
which awards of restricted shares of the Company's Common Stock may be granted to persons including members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board "); and
WHEREAS,
the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to grant the restricted stock award provided for herein (the
"Restricted Stock Award ") to the Director in connection with the Director's services to the Company, such grant to be subject to the terms set forth
herein.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Incorporation by Reference, Etc. The provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Except as
otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and any capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the
definitions set forth in the Plan. The Board shall have final authority to interpret and construe the Plan and this Agreement and to make any and all determinations under them, and its decision shall
be binding and conclusive upon the Director and his legal representative in respect of any questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement.
2. Grant of Restricted Stock Award. The Company hereby grants on the Date of Grant to the Director a Restricted Stock Award
consisting of 5,000 shares of Common Stock (hereinafter called the "Restricted Shares"), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and as
otherwise provided in the Plan. The Restricted Shares shall vest in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof.
3. Terms and Conditions.
(a) Vesting. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan and this Agreement, and contingent upon the Director's continued
membership on the Board, one hundred percent (100%) of the Restricted Shares shall vest and become non-forfeitable on the first anniversary of the Award Date (such anniversary, the
"Vesting Date").
(b) Taxes. The Director shall pay to the Company promptly upon request, and in any event at the time the Director recognizes
taxable income in respect of the Restricted Stock Award, an amount equal to the taxes, if any, the Company determines it is required to withhold under applicable tax laws with respect to the
Restricted Shares. Such payment shall be made in the form of cash.
(c) Certificates. Certificates evidencing the Restricted Shares shall be issued by the Company and shall be registered in the
Director's name on the stock transfer books of the Company promptly after the date hereof, but shall remain in the physical custody of the Company or its designee at all times prior to, in the case of
any particular Restricted Shares, the applicable Vesting Date. As a condition to the receipt of this Restricted Stock Award, the Director shall deliver to the Company a stock power, duly endorsed in
blank, relating to the Restricted Shares.
(d) Effect of Termination of Services.
(i) Except
as provided in subsection (ii) of this Section 3(d), unvested Restricted Shares shall be forfeited without consideration by the Director at any time
prior to the Vesting Date upon the Director's cessation of Board membership.
(ii) Upon
the Director's cessation of Board membership due to death or Disability, any remaining unvested Restricted Shares shall vest on the date of such termination.
(e) Rights as a Stockholder; Dividends. The Director shall be the record owner of the Restricted Shares unless and until such
shares are forfeited pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof or sold or otherwise disposed of, and as record owner shall be entitled to all rights of a common stockholder of the Company, including,
without limitation, voting rights, if any, with respect to the Restricted Shares; provided that any cash or in-kind dividends paid with
respect to unvested Restricted Shares shall be withheld by the Company and shall be paid to the Director, without interest, only when, and if, such Restricted Shares shall become vested. As soon as
practicable following the vesting of any Restricted Shares, certificates for such vested Restricted Shares and any cash dividends or in-kind dividends credited to the Director's account
with respect to such Restricted Shares shall be delivered to the Director or the Director's beneficiary along with the stock power relating thereto.
(f) Restrictive Legend. All certificates representing Restricted Shares shall have affixed thereto a legend in substantially
the following form, in addition to any other legends that may be required under federal or state securities laws:
TRANSFER
OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY IS RESTRICTED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP. 2005 OMNIBUS AWARD PLAN AND A RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD
AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF MAY 10, 2005, BETWEEN WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP. AND RICHARD J. BRESSLER. A COPY OF SUCH PLAN AND AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE OFFICES OF WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.
(g) Transferability. The Restricted Shares may not at any time prior to the Vesting Date (as to any particular Restricted
Share) be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Director and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or
encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company; provided, that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or
encumbrance.
4. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. Any notice, consent, request or other communication made or given in accordance with this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when actually received or, if mailed, three days after mailing by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or one business day after
mailing by a nationally recognized express mail delivery service with instructions for next-day delivery, to those persons listed below at their following respective addresses or at such
other address or person's attention as each may specify by notice to the others:
To
the Company:
Warner
Music Group Corp.
75 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10019
Attention: General Counsel
2
To
the Director:
The
most recent address for the Director in the records of the Company. The Director hereby agrees to promptly provide the Company with written notice of any change in the Director's address for so
long as this Agreement remains in effect.
(b) Bound by Plan. By signing this Agreement, the Director acknowledges that he has received a copy of the Plan and has had
an opportunity to review the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Plan.
(c) Beneficiary. The Director may file with the Board a written designation of a beneficiary on such form as may be
prescribed by the Board and may, from time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If no designated beneficiary survives the Director, the executor or administrator of the Director's estate shall
be deemed to be the Director's beneficiary.
(d) Successors. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and
assigns, and of the Director and the beneficiaries, executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the Director.
(e) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior communications, representations and negotiations in respect thereto. No change, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement
shall be valid unless the same be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(f) GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE WHOLLY PERFORMED WITHIN THAT STATE. ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE THIS AGREEMENT MUST BE BROUGHT IN A COURT SITUATED IN, AND THE PARTIES HEREBY
CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF, COURTS SITUATED IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES THE RIGHTS TO CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM FOR THE RESOLUTION OF ANY SUCH
ACTION.
(g) JURY TRIAL WAIVER. THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AND KNOWINGLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN THE EVENT ANY ACTION ARISING
UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT IS LITIGATED OR HEARD IN ANY COURT.
(h) Headings. The headings of the Sections hereof are provided for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for
interpretation or construction, and shall not constitute a part, of this Agreement.
(i) Signature in Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the
same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. The parties hereto confirm that any facsimile copy of another party's executed counterpart of this Agreement (or its
signature page thereof) will be deemed to be an executed original thereof.
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement.
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WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP. |
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/S/ DAVID H. JOHNSON By: David H. Johnson
Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
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/s/ RICHARD J. BRESSLER Richard J. Bressler
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STOCK POWER
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto , 5,000 shares of Common Stock of Warner Music Group Corp., a Delaware
corporation, issued pursuant to a Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement between Warner Music Group Corp. and the undersigned, dated May 10, 2005 and standing in the name of the undersigned
on the books of said corporation, represented by Certificate No. , and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Warner Music Group Corp. as the undersigned's true and lawful
attorney, for it and in its name and stead, to sell, assign and transfer the said stock on the books of said corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: |
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Richard J. Bressler |
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WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP. DIRECTOR RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT
R E C I T A L S
STOCK POWER
AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS
AGREEMENT
among
Warner Music Group
Corp.
WMG Holdings Corp.
WMG Acquisition
Corp.
and
Certain Stockholders of Warner Music Group Corp.
As Amended and Restated as of May 10, 2005
AMENDED AND RESTATED
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement made
as of May 10, 2005 (the Agreement) amends and restates the
Stockholders Agreement made as of February 29, 2004 and amended as of July 30,
2004 (the Original Agreement) by and among:
(i) Warner Music Group Corp., a Delaware
corporation formerly known as WMG Parent Corp. (the Company);
(ii) WMG Holdings Corp., a Delaware
corporation (Midco);
(iii) WMG Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the Purchaser);
(iv) each Person executing this Agreement and
listed as an Investor on the signature pages hereto (collectively, so long as
they remain parties to this Agreement, the Investors);
(v) each Person executing this Agreement or
the Original Agreement and listed as a Manager on the signature pages hereto or
thereto, together with each Person joining this Agreement as a Manager pursuant
to Section 10.2(j) (collectively, so long as they remain parties to this
Agreement, the Managers and together with the Investors, the Stockholders);
and
(vi) such other Persons, if any, that from
time to time become party hereto as holders of Other Holder Shares (as defined
below) pursuant to Section 6.5 solely in the capacity of permitted assignees
with respect to certain registration rights hereunder (collectively, the Other
Holders).
RECITALS
1. The
Company was formed for the purpose of acquiring (the Acquisition),
indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, pursuant to a Purchase Agreement,
dated as of November 24, 2003 (the Acquisition Agreement), between
Time Warner Inc. and the Purchaser, the Warner Recorded Music Business and the
Warner Music Publishing Business (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement).
2. As
of the effectiveness of this Agreement pursuant to Section 1.1, the outstanding
Shares (as defined below) were held as set forth on Schedule 1
hereto.
3. The parties believe that it is in the best interests of
the Company, Midco and the Stockholders to set forth their agreements on
certain matters.
AGREEMENT
Therefore, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1.1. Closing.
This Agreement shall become effective on the later of (i) the closing of
the Companys Initial Public Offering or (ii) the date on which this Agreement has
been executed by the Company, Midco, the holders of a Majority in Interest of
the Shares and each of the Investor Groups in accordance with Section 10.2 of
the Original Agreement (it being understood that, for purposes of this
sentence, capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the
Original Agreement), provided that the amendment hereby of Section 3.1.2(b)
shall become effective immediately upon full execution hereof as set forth in
clause (ii) above. The Original
Agreement became effective upon consummation of the closing under the
Acquisition Agreement (the Closing).
1.2. Definitions. Certain terms are used in this Agreement as
specifically defined herein. These
definitions are set forth or referred to in Section 11.2 hereof.
2.1.1. Board Size. Each holder of Company Shares hereby agrees
to cast all votes to which such holder is entitled in respect of the Company
Shares, whether at any annual or special meeting, by written consent or
otherwise, to fix the number of members of the board of directors of the
Company (the Board):
2.1.1.1. At fourteen at all times prior to the first
anniversary of the date on which the Company ceases to be a Controlled Company.
2.1.1.2. At such number (as shall be determined from
time to time by the Investor Groups) at all times on or after the first
anniversary of the date on which the Company ceases to be a Controlled Company.
2.1.2. Designation
of Directors. Each holder of
Company Shares hereby agrees to cast all votes to which such holder is entitled
in respect of the Company Shares, whether at any annual or special meeting, by
written consent or otherwise:
(a) so as to cause the Companys
directors, at all times prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the
Company ceases to be a Controlled Company, to consist of: (i) five THL Directors,
(ii) three Bain Directors, (iii) one Providence Director, (iv) one Lexa
Director, (v) one director who at all times shall be the then current chief
executive officer of the Company (the CEO Director), who shall
initially be Edgar Bronfman, Jr., with Mr. Bronfman also to
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serve as Chairman of the Board during his tenure as
the CEO Director, and (vi) three additional directors (the Independent
Directors);
(b) so as to cause the Companys directors,
at all times on or after the first anniversary of the date on which the Company
ceases to be a Controlled Company, to consist of such directors as shall have
been designated pursuant to such procedures as the Investor Groups shall agree
from time to time, subject to the requirements of applicable law (including the
rules of the Commission and any exchange upon which equity securities of the
Company might be listed); and
(c) so as to elect as the Companys
directors:
(i) the number of THL Directors as
determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this Section
2.1.2, designated as follows: (A) first, one director designated by Thomas H.
Lee Equity Fund V, L.P., if it then holds any Company Shares, (B) then, one
director designated by Thomas H. Lee Parallel Fund V, L.P., if it then holds
any Company Shares, (C) then, one director designated by THL WMG Equity
Investors, L.P., if it then holds any Company Shares and (D) then, such other
directors designated by the Majority THL Investors as the remaining THL
Directors;
(ii) the number of Bain Directors as
determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this Section
2.1.2, designated as follows: (A) first, one director designated by Bain
Capital VII Coinvestment Fund, L.P., if (1) it then holds any Company Shares or
(2) it is then the sole member of Bain Capital VII Coinvestment Fund, LLC and
the latter then holds any Company Shares, it being understood and agreed that
Bain Capital VII Coinvestment Fund, L.P. is intended to be a third party
beneficiary of this Section 2.1.2(c)(ii)(A) and the related provisions of
Section 2.2 and shall be entitled to enforce such provisions of this Agreement
as though it were a party hereto, and (B) then, such other directors designated
by the Majority Bain Investors as the remaining Bain Directors;
(iii) the number of Providence Directors as
determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this Section
2.1.2, designated by Providence Equity Partners IV, L.P., if it then holds any
Company Shares, otherwise by the Majority Providence Investors;
(iv) the number of Lexa Directors as
determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this Section
2.1.2, designated by Music Capital Partners, L.P., if it then holds any Company
Shares, otherwise by the Majority Lexa Investors;
(v) the CEO Director; and
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(vi) the number of Independent Directors as
determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this
Section 2.1.2, each of whom shall be designated unanimously by the members of the
Board elected pursuant to clauses (i) through (v) above.
2.1.3. Investor
Directors. Upon any reduction in
the number of THL Directors, Bain Directors, Providence Directors or Lexa
Directors in accordance with procedures established pursuant to Section 2.1.2,
the applicable Investor Group promptly shall cause one or more of its
designated directors, as the case may be, to resign.
2.1.4. CEO Director. If at any time a person serving as the CEO
Director ceases to be the chief executive officer of the Company, the Company
and the holders of Company Shares agree promptly to act in accordance with the
provisions hereof to cause the removal of such director and, at such time as a
succeeding chief executive officer of the Company is appointed in conformity
with the provisions hereof, the election of such person as the CEO
Director. The CEO Director may not be
removed, with or without cause, so long as such director continues to serve as
the chief executive officer of the Company.
2.1.5. Independent
Directors. An Independent
Director may be removed with, and only with, the consent of each Investor Group
then entitled to designate at least one director pursuant to Section 2.1.
2.1.6. Further
Assurances. Each holder of
Company Shares hereby agrees to take, at any time and from time to time, all
actions necessary to accomplish the provisions of this Section 2.1. The Company, subject to the Boards fiduciary
duties, hereby agrees to take, at any time and from time to time, all actions within
its control necessary to accomplish the provisions of this Section 2.1 (including
(i) causing the nomination of any person designated in accordance with this Section
2.1 in connection with any election in respect of the applicable directorship
and (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable law (including the rules of the
Commission and any exchange upon which equity securities of the Company might
be listed), causing the size of the Board to be adjusted in accordance with any
determination from time to time by the Investor Groups pursuant to Section
2.1.2 as to the size and composition of the Board to be in effect on or after
the first anniversary of the date on which the Company ceases to be a
Controlled Company).
2.2. Removal and Replacement;
Vacancies. Members
of the Board designated by a particular Investor Group (or member thereof) may
be removed by, and only by, the Investor Group (or member thereof) entitled to
designate such member of the Board. The CEO Director and the Independent Directors
may be removed only in accordance with Section 2.1.4 or 2.1.5,
respectively. If, prior to his or her
election to the Board, any designee for Investor Director or Independent
Director is unable or unwilling to serve as a director, then the applicable
designating Person or group, as set forth in Section 2.1.2, shall be entitled
to nominate a replacement. If, following
election to the Board, any Investor Director or Independent Director resigns,
is
-4-
removed, or is unable to serve for any reason prior to
the expiration of his or her term as a director, then the applicable
designating Person or group, determined under or in accordance with procedures
established pursuant to Section 2.1.2, shall designate a replacement. If any designating Person or group fails to
designate a person to fill any directorship, then such directorship shall be
vacant.
2.3. Grant of Proxies. Each holder of Company Shares hereby grants
an irrevocable proxy coupled with an interest to vote, including in any action
by written consent, such holders Company Shares in accordance with such holders
agreements contained in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 to: (a) each Investor Group then
entitled to designate any Investor Directors solely in respect of the election
or removal of such Investor Groups Investor Directors and (b) the Company
otherwise. Each of the foregoing proxies
shall be valid and remain in effect until the provisions of Sections 2.1 and 2.2
expire pursuant to Section 2.10.
2.5. Committees.
The Company shall, and each holder of Company Shares shall use its best
efforts to, cause the Board to maintain the following committees: (i) an
Executive Committee, to be chaired by a THL Director, if any, selected by the
Majority THL Investors, and including a Bain Director and a Providence
Director, if any, selected by the applicable Investor Group, and the CEO
Director (ii) an Audit Committee, (iii) a Compensation Committee and (iv) if
the Board determines in its discretion, a Governance Committee. No committee shall have the power to act for
the Board where such action would otherwise require the vote or consent of a
majority of the entire Board under applicable law, pursuant to the Companys
certificate of incorporation or by-laws or pursuant to this Agreement.
2.6. Significant Transactions. If a vote of holders of Shares is required
under any applicable law or stock exchange regulations in connection with a
Change of Control transaction being implemented pursuant to Section 4.2, each
holder of Shares agrees to cast all votes to which such holder is entitled in
respect of the Shares, whether at any annual or special meeting, by written
consent or otherwise, in such manner as the Requisite Stockholder Majority may
instruct by written notice to approve any sale, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, reorganization or any other transaction or series of
transactions involving the Company or its subsidiaries (or all or any portion
of their respective assets) in connection with, or in furtherance of, the
exercise by the Requisite Stockholder Majority of their rights under
Section 4.2. Each holder of Shares
hereby grants to each member of such Requisite Stockholder Majority an
irrevocable proxy coupled with an interest to vote, including in any action by
written consent, such holders Shares in accordance with such holders
agreements contained in this Section 2.6, which proxy shall be valid and remain
in effect until the provisions of this Section 2.6 expire pursuant to
Section 2.10.
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2.9. The Company. The Company will not to give effect to any
action by any holder of Shares or any other Person which is in contravention of
this Section 2.
2.10. Period.
Each of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2 shall expire on
the earlier of (a) a Change of Control and (b) with respect to any particular
provision, the last date permitted by applicable law (including the rules of
the Commission and any exchange upon which equity securities of the Company
might be listed).
3.1. Transfers Allowed. Until the expiration of the provisions of
this Section 3, no holder of Shares shall Transfer any of such holders Shares
to any other Person except as follows:
3.1.1. Permitted
Transferees. Subject to Section 3.4,
but without regard to any other restrictions on transfer contained elsewhere in
this Agreement, any holder of Shares may Transfer any or all of such Shares to
such holders Permitted Transferees, so long as such Permitted Transferee
agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement in accordance with Section 3.2
(if not already bound hereby).
3.1.2. Distributions and Charitable
Contributions. Any holder of
Shares may Transfer any or all of such Shares (a) in a pro rata Transfer to its
partners, members or stockholders or (b) to a Charitable Organization
(whether directly or indirectly by means of one or more intermediate Transfers
to any one or more direct or indirect partners, members or stockholders),
without regard to any other restrictions on transfer contained elsewhere in
this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 6.3.4, if applicable). Any Shares so Transferred shall conclusively
be deemed thereafter not to be Shares under this Agreement but may be deemed
Other Holder Shares if and to the extent so provided in Section 6.5.
3.1.3. Public
Transfers. Any holder of Shares
may Transfer any or all of such Shares: (a) in a Public Offering or (b)
pursuant to Rule 144 or a block sale to a financial institution in the
ordinary course of its trading business, in each case in compliance with
Section 3.3 and Section 3.4, but without regard to any other restrictions on
transfer contained elsewhere in this Agreement (other than the provisions of
Section 6.3.4, if applicable). Shares
Transferred pursuant to this Section 3.1.3 shall conclusively be deemed
thereafter not to be Shares under this Agreement.
3.1.4. Tag
Along and Drag Along. Any holder
of Shares may Transfer any or all of such Shares pursuant to Section 4.2,
without regard to any other restrictions on transfer contained elsewhere in
this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 6.3.4, if
applicable). A Participating Seller may
Transfer Shares pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.1
without regard to any other restrictions on transfer contained elsewhere in
this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 6.3.4, if
applicable). Shares so Transferred shall
conclusively be deemed thereafter not to be Shares under this Agreement.
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3.1.5. Other
Private Transfers. In addition
to any Transfers made in accordance with Sections 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 and 3.1.4,
any holder of Shares may Transfer any or all of such Shares subject to
compliance with all of the following conditions:
(i) Reserved;
(ii) in compliance with Section 4.1;
(iii) in compliance with Section 3.4; and
(iv) if applicable, in compliance with
Section 6.3.4.
Any Shares so Transferred to a Person other than a
Stockholder or a Permitted Transferee shall conclusively be deemed thereafter
not to be Shares under this Agreement but may be deemed Other Holder Shares if
and to the extent so provided in Section 6.5.
3.2. Permitted Transferees. Any Permitted
Transferee receiving Shares in a Transfer pursuant to Section 3.1.1 or 3.1.5
shall be subject to the terms and conditions of, and be entitled to enforce, this
Agreement to the same extent, and in the same capacity, as the Stockholder that
Transfers the Shares to such Permitted Transferee as if such Permitted
Transferee were such Stockholder. Prior
to the initial Transfer of any Shares to any Permitted Transferee pursuant to
Section 3.1.1 or 3.1.5, and as a condition thereto, each holder of Shares
effecting such Transfer shall (i) cause such Permitted Transferee to deliver to
the Company and each of the Stockholders (other than the transferor or the
Managers) its written agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Company, to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement to
the extent described in the preceding sentence and (ii) remain directly liable
for the performance by the Permitted Transferee of all obligations of such
Permitted Transferee under this Agreement.
To the extent a Permitted Transferee is not an individual, a trust or an
estate, and the transferor or an Affiliate thereof shall cease to control such
Permitted Transferee, (i) such change of control shall be deemed to be a
Transfer of the Shares held by such Permitted Transferee subject to the
Transfer restrictions contained or referenced in this Section 3 and (ii) to the
extent such Permitted Transferee then holds assets in addition to Shares, the
determination of the purchase price deemed to have been paid for the Shares
held by such Permitted Transferee in such deemed Transfer for purposes of the
provisions of Sections 3 and 4 shall be made by the Board in good faith; provided that, Music
Capital Partners, L.P. ceasing to control its Permitted Transferee ALP Music
Capital Partners, L.P. following the transfer referred to in the second
sentence of the definition of Permitted Transferee shall not be a deemed a
Transfer of Shares pursuant to the provisions of the foregoing sentence.
3.3. Restrictions on Public Transfers.
Each Specified Holder promptly shall
notify each Related Stockholder (i) when it has commenced a measurement period
for purposes of the Rule 144 group volume limit in connection with a Sale that
is subject to such limit and (ii) what the volume limit for that measurement
period, determined as of its commencement, will be. Each Related Stockholder shall be entitled to
effect Sales that are subject to the Rule 144 group volume limit pro rata
during the applicable measurement period based on its percentage
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ownership of Shares held by all holders of Shares at
the start of such measurement period. In
the event any Related Stockholder agrees to forego its full pro rata share of
the Rule 144 group volume limit by written notice to the Specified Holder and
all other Related Stockholders, the remainder shall be re-allocated pro rata
among Specified Holder and all other Related Stockholders in like manner
(except that the Shares held by such forfeiting Related Holder at the start of
such measurement period shall be excluded from such calculation). The provisions of this Section 3.3 shall not
apply to any Transfer of Shares (i) in a Public Offering or (ii) not subject to
volume limitation under Rule 144. For
purposes of this Section 3.3, a Specified Holder means a holder of
Shares whose sale of Shares pursuant to Rule 144 would be subject to
aggregation with another Stockholder (such other Stockholder being a Related
Stockholder).
3.4. Restrictions on Transfers to
Strategic Investors. In addition
to any other provision of this Agreement, no holder of Shares shall Transfer
any Shares pursuant to Sections 3.1.1, 3.1.3 or 3.1.5 of this Agreement to a
Strategic Investor without the approval of a majority of the entire Board and
the approval of the Requisite Stockholder Majority. If any Prospective Selling Stockholder
proposes to Transfer any Shares pursuant to Sections 3.1.1, 3.1.3 or 3.1.5 to
any Prospective Buyer, the Prospective Selling Stockholder shall furnish a
written notice (which notice may be the same notice as the Tag Along Notice, if
any, delivered pursuant to Section 4.1, so long as such notice includes all of
the information required by the next sentence) to the Company and each other
holder of Shares at least ten business days prior to such proposed
Transfer. Such notice shall set forth
the principal terms of the proposed Transfer, including (i) the number and
class of the Shares to be Transferred, (ii) the per share purchase price or the
formula by which such price is to be determined and (iii) the name and
address of the Prospective Buyer. If the
Prospective Buyer (or an Affiliate thereof) has previously been determined by a
majority of the entire Board and the Requisite Stockholder Majority to be a
Strategic Investor, or is presumed to be a Strategic Investor pursuant to the
definition thereof, and such determination or presumption has not been reversed
by written notice to all holders of Shares, the Prospective Selling Stockholder
shall not Transfer any Shares to such Prospective Buyer without the written
approval of a majority of the entire Board and of the Requisite Stockholder
Majority. If the Prospective Buyer (or
an Affiliate thereof) has not previously been determined by a majority of the
entire Board and the Requisite Stockholder Majority to be a Strategic Investor,
or is not presumed to be a Strategic Investor pursuant to the definition
thereof, the Prospective Selling Stockholder may Transfer Shares to such
Prospective Buyer unless, within eight business days after the date of delivery
of the notice required by the second preceding sentence, the majority of the
entire Board and the Requisite Stockholder Majority deliver written notice to
the Prospective Selling Stockholder and all other Stockholders that such
Prospective Buyer has been designated a Strategic Investor. If, within such time period, a notice
designating such Prospective Buyer a Strategic Investor is delivered, than the
Prospective Selling Stockholder shall not Transfer any Shares to such
Prospective Buyer. In the event any
proposed Transfer to a Strategic Investor is approved in accordance with the
foregoing, such approval shall also apply to Transfers made to such Prospective
Buyer by any Tag Along Sellers.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the restrictions
in this Section 3.4 shall not apply to any Transfers (i) to the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, (ii) to any Stockholder, (iii) to any Affiliated Fund of
any Stockholder, (iv) pursuant to Rule 144 effected as brokers transactions
(as defined in Rule 144); or (v) pursuant to an underwritten Public
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Offering or pursuant to Rule 144 directly to a market
maker (as defined in Rule 144) or pursuant to a block sale to a financial
institution in the ordinary course of its trading business, in each case of
this clause (vi) in which, to the knowledge of the Prospective Selling
Stockholder (after reasonable due inquiry), the underwriter(s), market maker(s)
or block sale purchaser(s) do not intend to resell such Shares to any Person
that, after giving effect to such resale, would own, directly or indirectly,
more than five percent (5%) of then outstanding shares of the applicable class
of Shares.
3.5. Impermissible Transfer. Any attempted Transfer of Shares not
permitted under the terms of this Section 3 shall be null and void, and the
Company shall not in any way give effect to any such impermissible Transfer.
3.6. Notice of Transfer. To the extent any Stockholder or Permitted
Transferee shall Transfer any Shares, such Stockholder or Permitted Transferee
shall, within three business days following consummation of such Transfer,
deliver notice thereof to the Company and each other Stockholder (other than
the Managers).
3.7. Period.
Each of the foregoing provisions of this Section 3 shall expire
upon a Change of Control.
4. TAG
ALONG AND DRAG ALONG RIGHTS.
4.1. Tag Along.
If any Prospective Selling Stockholder proposes to Sell any Shares to
any Prospective Buyer(s) in a Transfer pursuant to Section 3.1.5, other than a
Transfer by a holder pursuant to the exercise of such holders rights under this
Section 4.1:
4.1.1. Notice. The Prospective Selling Stockholder shall,
prior to any such proposed Transfer, furnish a written notice (the Tag
Along Notice) to each of the other holders of Shares (each, a Tag
Along Holder). The Tag Along Notice
shall include:
(a) the principal terms and conditions of
the proposed Sale, including (i) the number and class of the Shares to be
purchased from the Prospective Selling Stockholder, (ii) the fraction(s)
expressed as a percentage, determined by dividing the number of Shares of each
class to be purchased from the Prospective Selling Stockholder by the total
number of Shares of each such class held by the Prospective Selling Stockholder
(the Tag Along Sale Percentage), (iii) the per share purchase
price or the formula by which such price is to be determined and the payment
terms, including a description of any non-cash consideration sufficiently
detailed to permit valuation thereof, (iv) the name and address of each
Prospective Buyer and (v) the proposed Transfer date; and
(b) an invitation to each Tag Along
Holder to make an offer to include in the proposed Sale to the applicable
Prospective Buyer(s) Shares of the same class(es) being sold by the Prospective
Selling Stockholder held by such Tag Along Holder (not in any event to exceed
the Tag Along Sale Percentage of the
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total number of Shares of the applicable class held by
such Tag Along Holder), on the same terms and conditions (subject to Section 4.3.4
in the case of Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities), with respect to
each Share Sold, as the Prospective Selling Stockholder shall Sell each of its
Shares.
4.1.2. Exercise. Within ten business days after the date of
delivery of the Tag Along Notice (such date the Tag-Along Deadline),
each Tag Along Holder desiring to make an offer to include Shares in the
proposed Sale (each a Participating Seller and, together with the
Prospective Selling Stockholder, collectively, the Tag Along Sellers)
shall furnish a written notice (the Tag Along Offer) to the
Prospective Selling Stockholder indicating the number of Shares which such
Participating Seller desires to have included in the proposed Sale (subject to
the limitation set forth in Section 4.1.1(b)).
Each Tag Along Holder who does not make a Tag Along Offer in compliance
with the above requirements, including the time period, shall be deemed to have
waived all of such holders rights with respect to such Sale, and the Tag Along
Sellers shall thereafter be free to Sell to the Prospective Buyer, at a per
share price no greater than the per share price set forth in the Tag Along
Notice and on other principal terms and conditions which are not materially
more favorable to the Tag Along Sellers than those set forth in the Tag Along
Notice, without any further obligation to such non-accepting Tag Along Holder
pursuant to this Section 4.1.
4.1.4. Irrevocable
Offer. The offer of each
Participating Seller contained in such holders Tag Along Offer shall be
irrevocable, and, to the extent such offer is accepted, such Participating
Seller shall be bound and obligated to Sell in the proposed Sale on the same
terms and conditions, with respect to each Share Sold (subject to Section 4.3.4
in the case of Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities), as the
Prospective Selling Stockholder, up to such number of Shares as such
Participating Seller shall have specified in such holders Tag Along Offer; provided,
however, that if the principal terms of the proposed Sale change with
the result that the per share price shall be less than the per share price set
forth in the Tag Along Notice or the other principal terms and conditions shall
be materially less favorable to the Tag Along Sellers than those set forth in
the Tag Along Notice, each Participating Seller shall be permitted to withdraw
the offer contained in such holders Tag Along Offer by written notice to the
Prospective Selling Stockholder and upon such withdrawal shall be released from
such holders obligations thereunder.
4.1.5. Reduction
of Shares Sold. The Prospective
Selling Stockholder shall attempt to obtain the inclusion in the proposed Sale
of the entire number of Shares which each of the Tag Along Sellers requested to
have included in the Sale (as evidenced in the case of the Prospective Selling
Stockholder by the Tag Along Notice and in the case of each Participating
Seller by such Participating Sellers Tag Along Offer). In the event the Prospective Selling
Stockholder shall be unable to obtain the inclusion of such entire number of
Shares in the proposed Sale, the number of Shares
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to be sold in the
proposed Sale shall be allocated among the Tag Along Sellers in proportion, as
nearly as practicable, as follows:
(i) there shall be first allocated to
each Tag Along Seller a number of Shares equal to the lesser of (A) the number
of Shares offered (or proposed, in the case of the Prospective Selling
Stockholder) to be included by such Tag Along Seller in the proposed Sale
pursuant to this Section 4.1, and (B) a number of Shares equal to such Tag
Along Sellers Pro Rata Portion; and
(ii) the balance, if any, not allocated
pursuant to clause (i) above shall be allocated to the Prospective Selling
Stockholder, or in such other manner as the Prospective Selling Stockholder may
otherwise agree.
4.1.6. Additional
Compliance. If prior to
consummation, the terms of the proposed Sale shall change with the result that
the per share price to be paid in such proposed Sale shall be greater than the
per share price set forth in the Tag Along Notice or the other principal terms
of such proposed Sale shall be materially more favorable to the Tag Along
Sellers than those set forth in the Tag Along Notice, the Tag Along Notice
shall be null and void, and it shall be necessary for a separate Tag Along
Notice to be furnished, and the terms and provisions of this Section 4.1
separately complied with, in order to consummate such proposed Sale pursuant to
this Section 4.1; provided, however, that in the case of
such a separate Tag Along Notice, the applicable period to which reference is
made in Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 shall be three business days and two business
days, respectively. In addition,
if the Prospective Selling Stockholders have not completed the proposed
Sale by the end of the 180th day
after the date of delivery of the Tag Along Notice, each Participating Seller
shall be released from such holders obligations under such holders Tag Along
Offer, the Tag Along Notice shall be null and void, and it shall be necessary
for a separate Tag Along Notice to be furnished, and the terms and provisions
of this Section 4.1 separately complied with, in order to consummate such
proposed Sale pursuant to this Section 4.1, unless the failure to complete
such proposed Sale resulted from any failure by any Participating Seller to
comply with the terms of this Section 4.
4.2. Drag Along.
Each holder of Shares hereby agrees, if requested by the Requisite
Stockholder Majority, to Sell the same percentage (the Drag Along Sale
Percentage) of each class of such Shares that is proposed to be sold by the
Prospective Selling Stockholders to a Prospective Buyer in a Change of
Control transaction approved by a majority of the entire Board, in the manner
and on the terms set forth in this Section 4.2; provided, however,
that no such Prospective Buyer shall be a member of a Principal Investor Group
forming part of the acting Requisite Stockholder Majority, any Affiliate of any
such member or any Person more than five percent (5%) of the economic interests
in or voting power of which are directly or indirectly beneficially owned by
any such member, unless such proposed Sale is approved by vote or written
consent of each of the Investor Groups, each voting separately.
4.2.1. Exercise. The Prospective Selling Stockholders shall
furnish a written notice (the Drag Along Notice) to each other holder
of Shares at least ten
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business days prior to
the consummation of the Change of Control transaction. The Drag Along Notice shall set forth the
principal terms and conditions of the proposed Sale, including (i) the
number and class of Shares to be acquired from the Prospective Selling
Stockholders, (ii) the Drag Along Sale Percentage for each class, (iii)
the per share consideration to be received in the proposed Sale for each class,
(iv) the name and address of the Prospective Buyer and (v) if known, the
proposed Transfer date. If the
Prospective Selling Stockholders consummate the proposed Sale to which
reference is made in the Drag Along Notice, each other holder of Shares (each a
Participating Seller, and, together with the Prospective Selling
Stockholders, collectively, the Drag Along Sellers) shall: (i) be
bound and obligated to Sell the Drag Along Sale Percentage of such holders
Shares of each class in the proposed Sale on the same terms and conditions,
with respect to each Share Sold (subject to Section 4.3.4 in the case of
Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities) as the Prospective Selling
Stockholders shall Sell each Share in the Sale (subject to Section 4.3.4 in the
case of Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities); and (ii) except as
provided in Section 4.3.1, shall receive the same form and amount of
consideration per Share to be received by the Prospective Selling Stockholders
for the corresponding class of Shares (on an as converted basis, if
applicable). Except as provided in
Section 4.3.1, if any holders of Shares of any class are given an option as to
the form and amount of consideration to be received, all holders of Shares of
such class will be given the same option.
Unless otherwise agreed by the Drag Along Sellers, any non-cash
consideration shall be allocated among the Drag Along Sellers pro rata based
upon the aggregate amount of consideration to be received by such Drag Along
Sellers. If at the end of the 180th day after the
date of delivery of the Drag Along Notice the Prospective Selling Stockholders
have not completed the proposed Sale, the Drag Along Notice shall be null and
void, each Participating Seller shall be released from such holders obligation
under the Drag Along Notice and it shall be necessary for a separate Drag Along
Notice to be furnished and the terms and provisions of this Section 4.2
separately complied with, in order to consummate such proposed Sale pursuant to
this Section 4.2.
4.3. Miscellaneous. The following provisions shall be applied to
any proposed Sale to which Sections 4.1 or 4.2 applies:
4.3.1. Certain
Legal Requirements. In the event
the consideration to be paid in exchange for Shares in a proposed Sale pursuant
to Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 includes any securities, and the
receipt thereof by a Participating Seller would require under applicable law
(a) the registration or qualification of such securities or of any Person as a
broker or dealer or agent with respect to such securities where such
registration or qualification is not otherwise required for the Sale by the
Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) or (b) the provision to any Tag Along Seller
or Drag Along Seller of any specified information regarding the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, such securities or the issuer thereof that is not
otherwise required to be provided for the Sale by the Prospective Selling
Stockholder(s), then such Participating Seller shall not have the right to Sell
Shares in such proposed Sale. In such
event, the Prospective
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Selling Stockholder(s)
shall (i) in the case of a Sale pursuant to Section 4.1, have the right, but
not the obligation, and (ii) in the case of a Sale pursuant to Section 4.2,
have the obligation to cause to be paid to such Participating Seller in lieu
thereof, against surrender of the Shares (in accordance with Section 4.3.6
hereof) which would have otherwise been Sold by such Participating Seller to
the Prospective Buyer in the proposed Sale, an amount in cash equal to the Fair
Market Value of such Shares as of the date such securities would have been
issued in exchange for such Shares.
4.3.2. Further
Assurances. Each Participating
Seller, whether in such holders capacity as a Participating Seller,
stockholder, officer or director of the Company (subject to such officers or
directors fiduciary duty), or otherwise, shall take or cause to be taken all
such actions as may be necessary or reasonably desirable in order expeditiously
to consummate each Sale pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 and
any related transactions, including executing, acknowledging and delivering
consents, assignments, waivers and other documents or instruments; furnishing
information and copies of documents; filing applications, reports, returns,
filings and other documents or instruments with governmental authorities; and
otherwise cooperating with the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) and the
Prospective Buyer; provided, however, that Participating Sellers
shall be obligated to become liable in respect of any representations,
warranties, covenants, indemnities or otherwise to the Prospective Buyer solely
to the extent provided in the immediately following sentence. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, each Participating Seller agrees to execute and deliver such
agreements as may be reasonably specified by the Prospective Selling
Stockholder(s) to which such Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) will also be
party, including agreements to (a) (i) make individual
representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements as to the
unencumbered title to its Shares and the power, authority and legal right to
Transfer such Shares and the absence of any Adverse Claim with respect to such
Shares and (ii) be liable as to such representations, warranties,
covenants and other agreements, in each case to the same extent (on a pro rata
basis) as the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s), and (b) in the case of a
Sale pursuant to Sections 4.1 or 4.2, be liable (whether by purchase price
adjustment, indemnity payments or otherwise) in respect of representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements in respect of the Company and its
subsidiaries; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of
liability described in this clause (b) in connection with any Sale of
Shares shall not exceed the lesser of (i) such Participating Sellers pro rata
portion of any such liability, to be determined in accordance with such
Participating Sellers portion of the aggregate proceeds to all Participating
Sellers and Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) in connection with such Sale or
(ii) the proceeds to such Participating Seller in connection with such
Sale.
4.3.3. Sale Process. The Requisite Stockholder Majority, in the
case of a proposed Sale pursuant to Section 4.2, or the Prospective Selling
Stockholder, in the case of a proposed Sale pursuant to Section 4.1, shall, in
their sole discretion, decide whether or not to pursue, consummate, postpone or
abandon any proposed Sale and the terms and conditions thereof. No holder of Shares nor any Affiliate of any
such holder
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shall have any liability
to any other holder of Shares or
the Company arising from, relating to or in connection with the pursuit,
consummation, postponement, abandonment or terms and conditions of any proposed
Sale except to the extent such holder shall have failed to comply with the
provisions of this Section 4.
4.3.4. Treatment
of Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities. Each Participating Seller agrees that to the
extent such Participating Seller desires to include Options, Warrants or
Convertible Securities in any Sale of Shares pursuant to Section 4, such
Participating Seller shall be deemed to have exercised, converted or exchanged
such Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities immediately prior to the
closing of such Sale to the extent necessary to Sell Stock to the Prospective
Buyer, except to the extent permitted under the terms of any such Option,
Warrant or Convertible Security and agreed by the Prospective Buyer. If any Participating Seller shall Sell
Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities in any Sale pursuant to Section 4,
such Participating Seller shall receive in exchange for such Options, Warrants
or Convertible Securities consideration in the amount (if greater than zero)
equal to the purchase price received by the Prospective Selling
Stockholder(s) in such Sale for the number of shares of each class of Stock
that would be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange of such Options,
Warrants or Convertible Securities less the exercise price, if any, of such
Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities (to the extent exercisable,
convertible or exchangeable at the time of such Sale), subject to reduction for
any tax or other amounts required to be withheld under applicable law.
4.3.5. Expenses. All reasonable costs and expenses incurred by
the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) or the Company in connection with any
proposed Sale pursuant to Section 4.2 (whether or not consummated), and
all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Prospective Selling
Stockholder(s) or the Company in order to comply with the requirements of this
Section 4 in connection with any proposed Sale pursuant to Section 4.1 (whether
or not consummated), including all attorneys fees and charges, all accounting
fees and charges and all finders, brokerage or investment banking fees, charges
or commissions, shall be paid by the Company.
The reasonable fees and expenses of a single legal counsel representing
any or all of the Participating Sellers in connection with any proposed Sale
pursuant to this Section 4 (whether or not consummated) shall be paid by
the Company. Any other costs and
expenses incurred by or on behalf of any or all of the Participating Sellers in
connection with any proposed Sale pursuant to this Section 4 (whether or
not consummated) shall be borne by such Participating Seller(s).
4.3.6. Closing. The closing of a Sale to which Section 4.1
or 4.2 applies shall take place (i) on the proposed Transfer date, if any, specified
in the Tag Along Notice or Drag Along Notice, as applicable (provided
that consummation of any Transfer may be extended beyond such date to the
extent necessary to obtain any applicable governmental approval or other
required approval or to satisfy other conditions), (ii) if no proposed Transfer
date was required to be specified in the Drag Along Notice, at such time as the
Prospective Selling
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Stockholders shall
specify by notice to each Participating Seller and (iii) at such place as the
Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) shall specify by notice to each
Participating Seller. At the closing of
such Sale, each Participating Seller shall deliver the certificates evidencing
the Shares to be Sold by such Participating Seller, duly endorsed, or with
stock (or equivalent) powers duly endorsed, for transfer with signature
guaranteed, free and clear of any liens or encumbrances, with any stock (or
equivalent) transfer tax stamps affixed, against delivery of the applicable
consideration.
4.5. Period.
The provisions of this Section 4 above shall expire on a Change of
Control.
4.6. Post-Termination Tag Along. In connection with a Change of Control in
which any Investor Group immediately prior to such Change of Control continues
to hold Shares or receives securities of another Person or Persons in
consideration thereof, which Shares or securities are of a class that is not
publicly traded, if any such Investor Group or member thereof receives tag
along rights in respect of its Shares or such securities in connection with
such Change of Control (whether such tag along rights are in respect of
another Investor Group or any other holder of Shares or such securities), each
other holder of Acquisition Shares shall receive pari passu tag along rights
on a pro rata basis.
5. RESERVED.
6. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The Company will perform and comply, and
cause each of its subsidiaries to perform and comply, with such of the
following provisions as are applicable to it.
Each Holder will perform and comply with such of the following
provisions as are applicable to such Holder.
6.1.1. General. One or more members of an Investor Group (the
Initiating Investors), by notice to the Company specifying the
intended method or methods of disposition, may request that the Company effect
the registration under the Securities Act for a Public Offering of all or a
specified part of the Registrable Securities held by such Initiating Investors;
provided, however, that the value of Registrable Securities that
the Initiating Investors propose to sell in such Public Offering is at least
twenty million dollars ($20,000,000); and provided, further, that
the Initial Public Offering may not be initiated pursuant to this Section 6.1
without the approval of a majority of the entire Board and the approval of the
Requisite Stockholder Majority. The
Company will then use its best efforts to (i) effect the registration under the
Securities Act (including by means of a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415
under the Securities Act if so requested and if the Company is then eligible to
use such registration) of the Registrable Securities which the Company has been
requested to register by such Initiating Investors together with all other
Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register
pursuant to Section 6.2 by other Holders, all to the extent requisite to
permit the disposition (in
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accordance with the
intended methods thereof as aforesaid and as otherwise specified by the
Principal Participating Holders) of the Registrable Securities which the
Company has been so requested to register, and (ii) if requested by the
Principal Participating Holders, obtain acceleration of the effective date of
the registration statement relating to such registration; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any such
registration pursuant to this Section 6.1.1:
(a) during the effectiveness of any
Principal Lock-Up Agreement entered into in connection with any registration
statement pertaining to an underwritten public offering of securities of the
Company for its own account (other than a Rule 145 Transaction, or a
registration relating solely to employee benefit plans); or
(b) upon the request of any member of an
Investor Group on any form other than Form S-3 (or any successor form) if
the Company has previously effected a number of registrations of Registrable
Securities under this Section 6.1.1 upon the request of the members of
such Investor Group on any form other than Form S-3 (or any successor form)
equaling or exceeding five (5), two (2), one (1) and one (1) with respect to
the THL Investors, the Bain Investors, the Providence Investors and the Lexa
Investors, respectively; provided, however, that any registration
of Registrable Securities (i) which does not become and remain effective for at
least 270 days
in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6 or (ii) pursuant to
which the Initiating Investors and all other holders of Registrable Securities
joining therein are not able to include at least 90% of the Registrable
Securities which they desired to include, shall not be included in the
calculation of the numbers of registrations contemplated by this clause (b).
6.1.2. Form. Except as otherwise provided above, each
registration requested pursuant to Section 6.1.1 shall be effected by the
filing of a registration statement on Form S-1 (or any other form which
includes substantially the same information as would be required to be included
in a registration statement on such form as currently constituted), unless the
use of a different form has been agreed to in writing by the Principal
Participating Holders; provided that if any registration requested
pursuant to this Section 6.1 is proposed to be effected on Form S-3 (or any
successor or similar short-form registration statement) and is in connection
with an underwritten offering, and if the managing underwriter shall advise the
Company in writing that, in its opinion, it is of material importance to the
success of such proposed offering to include in such registration statement
information not required to be included pursuant to such form, then the Company
will supplement such registration statement as reasonably requested by such
managing underwriter.
6.1.3. Payment
of Expenses. The Company shall
pay all Registration Expenses in connection with registrations of Registrable
Securities pursuant to this Section 6.1, including all reasonable expenses
(other than fees and disbursements of counsel that do not constitute
Registration Expenses) that any Holder incurs in
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connection with each
registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 6.1.
6.1.4. Additional
Procedures. In the case of a
registration pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, whenever the Principal
Participating Holders shall request that such registration shall be effected
pursuant to an underwritten offering, the Company shall include such
information in the written notices to Holders referred to in Section 6.2. In such event, the right of any Holder to
have securities owned by such Holder included in such registration pursuant to
Section 6.1 shall be conditioned upon such Holders participation in such
underwriting and the inclusion of such Holders Registrable Securities in the
underwriting (unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Principal
Participating Holders and such Holder).
If requested by the Principal Participating Holders, the Company
together with the Holders proposing to distribute their securities through the
underwriting will enter into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters
for such offering containing such representations and warranties by the Company
and such Holders and such other terms and provisions as are customarily
contained in underwriting agreements with respect to secondary distributions,
including customary indemnity and contribution provisions (subject, in each
case, to the limitations on such liabilities set forth in this Agreement).
6.1.5. Suspension
of Registration. If the filing,
initial effectiveness or continued use of a registration statement, including a
shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, in
respect of a registration pursuant to this Section 6.1 at any time would
require the Company to make a public disclosure of material non-public
information, which disclosure in the good faith judgment of the Board (after
consultation with external legal counsel) (i) would be required to be made in
any registration statement so that such registration statement would not be
materially misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time but
for the filing, effectiveness or continued use of such registration statement
and (iii) would have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business
or on the Companys ability to effect a material proposed acquisition,
disposition, financing, reorganization, recapitalization or similar
transaction, then the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such
action to the Holders participating in such registration, delay the filing or
initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such registration statement; provided,
that the Company shall not be permitted to do so (i) more than two times during
any 12 month period, (ii) for a period exceeding 30 days on any one occasion or
(iii) for a period exceeding 60 days in any 12 month period. In the event the Company exercises its rights
under the preceding sentence, such Holders agree to suspend, promptly upon
their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of any prospectus
relating to such registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell
Registrable Securities. The Company
shall promptly notify such Holders of the expiration of any period during which
it exercised its rights under this Section 6.1.5. The Company agrees that, in the event it
exercises its rights under this Section 6.1.5, it shall, within 30 days
following such Holders receipt of the notice of suspension, update the
suspended registration statement as may be necessary to permit the Holders to
resume
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use thereof in connection
with the offer and sale of their Registrable Securities in accordance with
applicable law.
6.2.1.1. General. Each time the Company proposes to register
any shares of Common Stock under the Securities Act on a form which would
permit registration of Registrable Securities for sale to the public, for its
own account and/or for the account of any other Person (pursuant to Section 6.1
or otherwise) for sale in a Public Offering, the Company will give notice to
all Holders of its intention to do so.
Any Holder may, by written response delivered to the Company within 20
days after the date of delivery of such notice, request that all or a specified
part of such Holders Registrable Securities be included in such
registration. The Company thereupon will
use its reasonable efforts to cause to be included in such registration under
the Securities Act all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so
requested to register by such Holders, to the extent required to permit the
disposition (in accordance with the methods to be used by the Company or other
Holders in such Public Offering) of the Registrable Securities to be so
registered; provided that (i) if, at any time after giving written
notice of its intention to register any securities, the Company shall determine
for any reason not to proceed with the proposed registration of the securities
to be sold by it, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such
determination to each Holder and, thereupon, shall be relieved of its
obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such
registration (but not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in
connection therewith), and (ii) if such registration involves an underwritten
offering, all Holders requesting to be included in the Companys registration
must sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected by the
Company on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Company, with such
differences as may be customary or appropriate in combined primary and
secondary offerings. No registration of
Registrable Securities effected under this Section 6.2 shall relieve the
Company of any of its obligations to effect registrations of Registrable
Securities pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof.
6.2.1.2. Excluded Transactions. The Company shall not be obligated to effect
any registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 6.2
incidental to the registration of any of its securities in connection with:
(a) Any Public Offering relating to
employee benefit plans or dividend reinvestment plans;
(b) Any Public Offering relating to the
acquisition or merger after the date hereof by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
of or with any other businesses; or
-18-
(c) The Initial Public Offering, unless
such offering shall have been initiated pursuant to Section 6.1.1.
6.2.2. Payment
of Expenses. The Company will pay
all Registration Expenses in connection with registrations of Registrable
Securities pursuant to this Section 6.2
6.2.3. Additional
Procedures. Holders
participating in any Public Offering pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall
take all such actions and execute all such documents and instruments that are
reasonably requested by the Company to effect the sale of their Registrable
Securities in such Public Offering, including being parties to the underwriting
agreement entered into by the Company and any other selling shareholders in
connection therewith and being liable in respect of the representations and
warranties and the other agreements (including customary selling stockholder
representations, warranties, indemnifications and lock-up agreements) for the
benefit of the underwriters contained therein; provided, however,
that (a) with respect to individual representations, warranties, indemnities
and agreements of sellers of Registrable Securities in such Public Offering,
the aggregate amount of such liability shall not exceed such holders net
proceeds from such offering and (b) to the extent selling stockholders give
further representations, warranties and indemnities, then with respect to all
other representations, warranties and indemnities of sellers of shares in such
Public Offering, the aggregate amount of such liability shall not exceed the
lesser of (i) such holders pro rata portion of any such liability, in
accordance with such holders portion of the total number of Registrable
Securities included in the offering, and (ii) such holders net proceeds from
such offering.
6.2.4. Registration
Statement Form. The Company
shall select the registration statement form for any registration pursuant to
this Section 6.2 (other than a registration that is also pursuant to Section 6.1);
provided that if any registration requested pursuant to this Section 6.2
is proposed to be effected on Form S-3 (or any successor form) and is in
connection with an underwritten offering, and if the managing underwriter shall
advise the Company in writing that, in its opinion, it is of material
importance to the success of such proposed offering to include in such
registration statement information not required to be included pursuant to such
form, then the Company will supplement such registration statement as
reasonably requested by such managing underwriter.
6.3.1. Underwriters
Cutback. In connection with any
registration of shares, the underwriter may determine that marketing factors
(including an adverse effect on the per share offering price) require a
limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of
this Section 6 and subject to the terms of this Section 6.3.1, the
underwriter may limit the number of shares which would otherwise be included in
such registration by excluding any or all Registrable Securities from such
registration (it being understood that, if the registration in
-19-
question involves a
registration for sale of securities for the Companys own account, then the
number of shares which the Company seeks to have registered in such
registration shall not be subject to exclusion, in whole or in part, under this
Section 6.3.1). Upon receipt of
notice from the underwriter of the need to reduce the number of shares to be
included in the registration, the Company shall advise all holders of the
Companys securities that would otherwise be registered and underwritten
pursuant hereto, and the number of shares of such securities, including
Registrable Securities, that may be included in the registration shall be
allocated in the following manner, unless the underwriter shall determine that
marketing factors require a different allocation: shares, other than
Registrable Securities, requested to be included in such registration by other
shareholders shall be excluded unless the Company, with the consent of the
parties required to approve any amendment or waiver of this Agreement pursuant
to Section 10.2, has granted registration rights which are to be treated on an
equal basis with Registrable Securities for the purpose of the exercise of the
underwriter cutback (such shares afforded such equal treatment being Parity
Shares); and, if a limitation on the number of shares is still required,
the number of Registrable Securities, Parity Shares and other shares of Common
Stock that may be included in such registration shall be allocated among the
holders thereof in proportion, as nearly as practicable, as follows:
(i) there shall be first allocated to
each such holder requesting that its Registrable Securities or Parity Shares be
registered in such registration a number of such shares to be included in such
registration equal to the lesser of (A) the number of such shares requested to
be registered by such holder, and (B) a number of such shares equal to such
holders Pro Rata Portion;
(ii) the balance, if any, not allocated
pursuant to clause (i) above shall be allocated to those holders requesting that
their Registrable Securities or Parity Shares be registered in such
registration which requested to register a number of such shares in excess of
such holders Pro Rata Portion pro rata to each such holder based upon the
number of Registrable Securities and Parity Shares held by such holder, or in
such other manner as the holders requesting that their Registrable Securities
or Parity Shares be registered in such registration may otherwise agree; and
(iii) the balance, if any, not allocated
pursuant to clause (ii) above shall be allocated to shares, other than
Registrable Securities and Parity Shares, requested to be included in such
registration by other stockholders.
For purposes of any underwriter cutback, all
Registrable Securities held by any Holder shall also include any Registrable
Securities held by the partners, retired partners, shareholders or Affiliates
of such Holder, or the estates and family members of any such Holder or such
partners and retired partners, any trusts for the benefit of any of the
foregoing Persons and, at the election of such Holder or such partners, retired
partners, trusts or Affiliates, any Charitable Organization to which any of the
foregoing shall have contributed Common Stock prior to the execution of the
underwriting agreement in
-20-
connection with such underwritten offering, and such
Holder and other Persons shall be deemed to be a single selling Holder, and any
pro rata reduction with respect to such selling Holder shall be based upon the
aggregate amount of Common Stock owned by all entities and individuals included
in such selling Holder, as defined in this sentence. No securities excluded from the underwriting
by reason of the underwriters marketing limitation shall be included in such
registration. Upon delivery of a written
request that Registrable Securities be included in the underwriting pursuant to
Section 6.1.1 or 6.2.1.1, the Holder thereof may not thereafter elect to
withdraw therefrom without the written consent of the Principal Participating
Holders; provided that, if the managing underwriter of any underwritten offering
shall advise the Holders participating in a registration pursuant to Section 6.1
that the Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement cannot be
sold in such offering within a price range acceptable to the Principal
Participating Investors, then the Principal Participating Investors shall have
the right to notify the Company that they have determined that the registration
statement be abandoned or withdrawn, in which event the Company shall abandon
or withdraw such registration statement.
6.3.2. Registration
Procedures. If and in each case
when the Company is required to effect a registration of any Registrable
Securities as provided in this Section 6, the Company shall promptly:
(i) prepare and, in any event within
sixty days (forty-five days in the case of a Form S-3 registration) after the
end of the period under Section 6.2.1.1 within which a piggyback request for
registration may be given to the Company, file with the Commission a
registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its
best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective within
ninety days of the initial filing;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the
prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such
registration statement effective for a period not in excess of 270 days (or
such shorter period which will terminate when all Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement have been sold) and to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during
such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the
seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement; provided
that before filing a registration statement or prospectus, or any amendments or
supplements thereto in accordance with Sections 6.1 or 6.2, the Company will
furnish to counsel selected pursuant to Section 6.3.3 hereof copies of all
documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review
of such counsel;
(iii) furnish to each seller of such
Registrable Securities such number of copies of such registration statement and
of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits
filed therewith), such number of copies
-21-
of the prospectus included in such registration
statement (including each preliminary prospectus and summary prospectus), in
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents
as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of
the Registrable Securities by such seller;
(iv) use its best efforts to register or
qualify such Registrable Securities covered by such registration in such
jurisdictions as each seller shall reasonably request, and do any and all other
acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such
seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable
Securities owned by such seller, except that the Company shall not for any such
purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction where, but for the requirements of this clause
(iv), it would not be obligated to be so qualified or to consent to general
service of process in any such jurisdiction;
(v) notify each seller of any such
Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, at any time when
a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act, of the Companys becoming aware that the prospectus included in such
registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the
circumstances then existing, and at the request of any such seller, prepare and
furnish to such seller a reasonable number of copies of an amended or
supplemental prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to
the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing;
(vi) otherwise use its best efforts to
comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make
available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable (but not
more than 18 months) after the effective date of the registration statement, an
earnings statement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act;
(vii) (i) if such Registrable Securities are
Common Stock (including Common Stock issuable upon conversion, exchange or
exercise of another security), use its best efforts to list such Registrable
Securities on any securities exchange or authorize for quotation on each other
market (including, if applicable, the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the NASD) Automated Quotation System) on which the
Common Stock is then listed or authorized for quotation if such Registrable
Securities are not already so listed or authorized for quotation; and (ii) use
its best efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for such Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective
date of such registration statement;
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(viii) enter into such customary agreements
(including an underwriting agreement in customary form), which may include
indemnification provisions in favor of underwriters and other Persons in
addition to the provisions of Section 6.4 hereof, and take such other actions
as the Principal Participating Holders or the underwriters, if any, reasonably
requested in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such
Registrable Securities;
(ix) obtain a cold comfort letter or
letters from the Companys independent public accountants in customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as
the Principal Participating Holders shall reasonably request;
(x) make available for inspection by any
seller of such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement,
by any managing underwriter or underwriters participating in any disposition to
be effected pursuant to such registration statement and by any attorney,
accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or any such managing
underwriter(s), all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company, and cause all of the Companys
officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in
connection with such registration statement (subject to each party referred to
in this clause (x) entering into customary confidentiality agreements in a form
reasonably acceptable to the Company);
(xi) notify counsel (selected pursuant to
Section 6.3.3 hereof) for the Holders of Registrable Securities included in
such registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, immediately,
and confirm the notice in writing (a) when the registration statement, or any
post-effective amendment to the registration statement, shall have become
effective, or any supplement to the prospectus or any amendment to the
prospectus shall have been filed, (b) of the receipt of any comments from the
Commission, (c) of any request of the Commission to amend the registration
statement or amend or supplement the prospectus or for additional information,
and (d) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the registration statement or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the
qualification of the registration statement for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or of the institution or threatening of any proceedings for any
of such purposes;
(xii) make every commercially reasonable
effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the registration statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use
of any preliminary prospectus and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal of any such order as soon as practicable;
-23-
(xiii) if requested by the managing
underwriter or agent or any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the
registration statement, incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter or agent
or such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein, including, with
respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold by such Holder to
such underwriter or agent, the purchase price being paid therefor by such
underwriter or agent and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten
offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; and make
all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after being notified of the matters incorporated in such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(xiv) cooperate with the Holders of
Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and the managing
underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities
to be sold under the registration statement, and enable such securities to be
in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter
or agent, if any, or such Holders may request;
(xv) obtain for delivery to the Holders of
Registrable Securities being registered and to the underwriter or agent an
opinion or opinions from counsel for the Company in customary form and in form,
substance and scope reasonably satisfactory to such Holders, underwriters or
agents and their counsel;
(xvi) cooperate with each seller of Registrable
Securities and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of
such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any
filings required to be made with the NASD; and
(xvii) use its commercially reasonable best efforts
to make available the executive officers of the Company to participate with the
Holders of Registrable Securities and any underwriters in any road shows that
may be reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with distribution of
the Registrable Securities.
6.3.3. Selection of Underwriters
and Counsel. The underwriters
and legal counsel to be retained by the Company in connection with any Public
Offering shall be selected by the Board; provided that, in the case of
an offering following a request therefor under Section 6.1.1, such
underwriters and counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Principal
Participating Holders. In connection
with any registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Sections 6.1 and
6.2 hereof, the Principal Participating Holders may select one counsel to
represent all Holders of Registrable Securities covered by such registration; provided,
however, that in the event that the counsel selected as provided above
is also acting as counsel to the Company in
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connection with such
registration, the remaining Holders shall be entitled to select one additional
counsel to represent, at such Holders expense, all such remaining Holders.
6.3.4. Holder
Lock-Up. In connection with each
underwritten Public Offering each Holder agrees to become bound by and to
execute and deliver such lock-up agreement with the underwriter(s) of such
Public Offering restricting such Holders right to (a) Transfer, directly
or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for such Common Stock or (b) enter into any swap or
other arrangement that transfers to another any of the economic consequences of
ownership of Common Stock, as is entered into by the Principal Participating
Holders with
the underwriter(s) of such Public Offering (the Principal Lock-Up Agreement);
provided, however, that no Holder shall be required to enter into
a lock-up agreement covering a period of greater than 90 days (180 days in the
case of the Initial Public Offering) following the effectiveness of the related
registration statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, such lock-up agreement shall not apply to (i) transactions
relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market
transactions after the completion of the Initial Public Offering, (ii)
Transfers to Permitted Transferees of such Holder in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, (iii) conversions of shares of Stock into other classes
of Stock without change of holder and (iv) during the period preceding the
execution of the underwriting agreement, Transfers to a Charitable Organization
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
6.3.5. Company
Lock-Up. If any registration
pursuant to Section 6.1 of this Agreement shall be in connection with an
underwritten public offering, the Company agrees not to effect any public sale
or distribution of any Common Stock of the Company (or securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock) (in each case, other than
as part of such underwritten public offering and other than pursuant to a
registration on Form S-4 or S-8) for its own account, within 90 days (or such
shorter period as the managing underwriters may require) after, the effective
date of such registration (except as part of such registration).
6.3.6. Other
Agreements. The Company
covenants and agrees that, so long as any Person holds any Registrable
Securities in respect of which any registration rights provided for in Section 6.1
of this Agreement remain in effect, the Company will not, directly or
indirectly, grant to any Person or agree to or otherwise become obligated in
respect of (i) rights of registration in the nature or substantially in the
nature of those set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement that would have
priority over the Registrable Securities with respect to the inclusion of such
securities in any registration or (ii) demand registration rights exercisable
prior to such time as the Investors can first exercise their rights under
Section 6.1.
6.4.1. Indemnities
of the Company. In the event of
any registration of any Registrable Securities or other debt or equity securities
of the Company or any of
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its subsidiaries under
the Securities Act pursuant to this Section 6 or otherwise, and in
connection with any registration statement or any other disclosure document
produced by or on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries including
reports required and other documents filed under the Exchange Act, and other
documents pursuant to which any debt or equity securities of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries are sold (whether or not for the account of the Company or
its subsidiaries), the Company will, and hereby does, and will cause each of
its subsidiaries, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each
holder of Registrable Securities, any Person who is or might be deemed to be a
controlling Person of the Company or any of its subsidiaries within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act,
their respective direct and indirect partners, advisory board members,
directors, officers, trustees, members and shareholders, and each other Person,
if any, who controls any such holder or any such controlling Person within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act (each such Person being referred to herein as a Covered Person),
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings
in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Covered Person may be or
become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other securities
or other law of any jurisdiction, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained or incorporated by reference in
any registration statement under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus
or final prospectus included therein, or any related summary prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference
therein, or any other such disclosure document (including reports and other
documents filed under the Exchange Act and any document incorporated by
reference therein) or other document or report, (ii) any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation
or alleged violation by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any federal,
state, foreign or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries and relating to action or inaction in connection with
any such registration, disclosure document or other document or report, and
will reimburse such Covered Person for any legal or any other expenses incurred
by it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided, however, that
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall be liable to any Covered
Person in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, action or proceeding arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
such registration statement, any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus,
summary prospectus, amendment or supplement, incorporated document or other
such disclosure document or other document or report, in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company or to any of its
subsidiaries through an instrument duly executed by such Covered Person
specifically stating that it is for use in the preparation thereof. The indemnities of the Company and of its
subsidiaries contained in this Section 6.4.1 shall remain in full force
and effect regardless of any
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investigation made by or
on behalf of such Covered Person and shall survive any transfer of securities
or any termination of this Agreement.
6.4.2. Indemnities
to the Company. Subject to
Section 6.4.4, the Company and any of its subsidiaries may require, as a
condition to including any securities in any registration statement filed
pursuant to this Section 6, that the Company and any of its subsidiaries shall
have received an undertaking satisfactory to it from the prospective seller of
such securities, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and any of its subsidiaries, each director of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, each officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries who shall
sign such registration statement and each other Person (other than such
seller), if any, who controls the Company and any of its subsidiaries within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act and each other prospective seller of such securities with respect
to any statement in or omission from such registration statement, any
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus included therein,
or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any other disclosure document
(including reports and other documents filed under the Exchange Act or any
document incorporated therein) or other document or report, if such statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company or any of its subsidiaries through an
instrument executed by such seller specifically stating that it is for use in
the preparation of such registration statement, preliminary prospectus, final
prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or supplement, incorporated document
or other document or report. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any such
director, officer or controlling Person and shall survive any transfer of
securities or any termination of this Agreement.
6.4.3. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in
Sections 6.4.1 or 6.4.2 hereof is unavailable to a party that would
have been entitled to indemnification pursuant to the foregoing provisions of
this Section 6.4 (an Indemnitee) in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred
to therein, then each party that would have been an indemnifying party
thereunder shall, subject to Section 6.4.4 and in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnitee, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnitee as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative fault of such indemnifying party on the one hand and such
Indemnitee on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof). The
relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
such indemnifying party or such Indemnitee and the parties relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The
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parties agree that it
would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6.4.3
were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the
preceding sentence. The amount paid or
payable by a contributing party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in
this Section 6.4.3 shall include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim. No Person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
6.4.4. Limitation on Liability of
Holders of Registrable Securities.
The liability of each holder of Registrable Securities in respect of any
indemnification or contribution obligation of such holder arising under this
Section 6.4 shall not in any event exceed an amount equal to the net
proceeds to such holder (after deduction of all underwriters discounts and commissions)
from the disposition of the Registrable Securities disposed of by such holder
pursuant to such registration.
6.4.5. Indemnification
Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an Indemnitee of written notice of the commencement of any action or
proceeding with respect to which a claim for indemnification may be made
pursuant to this Section 6.4, such Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to the
latter of the commencement of such action or proceeding; provided that
the failure of the Indemnitee to give notice as provided herein shall not
relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under this Section 6.4,
except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by
such failure to give notice. In case any
such action or proceeding is brought against an Indemnitee, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense thereof (at
its expense), jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified to
the extent that it may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnitee, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such Indemnitee of
its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not
be liable to such Indemnitee for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by the latter in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation and shall have no liability for any
settlement made by the Indemnitee without the consent of the indemnifying
party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if in such
Indemnitees reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such Indemnitee
and the indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such action or proceeding
or the indemnifying party does not assume the defense of any such action or
proceeding within a reasonable time after notice of commencement, the
Indemnitee shall have the right to assume or continue its own defense and the
indemnifying party shall be liable for any reasonable expenses therefor, but in
no event will bear the expenses for more than one firm of counsel for all
Indemnitees in each jurisdiction who shall be approved by the Principal
Participating Holders in the registration in respect of which such
indemnification is sought. No
indemnifying party
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will settle any action or
proceeding or consent to the entry of any judgment without the prior written
consent of the Indemnitee, unless such settlement or judgment (i) includes as
an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff of a
release to such Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such action or
proceeding and (ii) does not involve the imposition of equitable remedies or
the imposition of any obligations on such Indemnitee and does not otherwise
adversely affect such Indemnitee, other than as a result of the imposition of
financial obligations for which such Indemnitee will be indemnified hereunder.
6.5.1. Piggyback
Registration Rights. The rights
of a holder of Registrable Securities to cause the Company to register its
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 6.2 may be assigned (but only with
all related obligations as set forth below) in a Transfer effected in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to: (a) an Affiliate of such
holder, (b) a Charitable Organization or (c) any other transferee that in the
case of this clause (c) acquires shares of Registrable Securities either (i)
for consideration of at least $10,000,000 or (ii) having a then fair market
value (determined in good faith by the Board) of at least $10,000,000 (the
transferees in clauses (a) through (c) each a Permitted Piggyback Assignee). Without prejudice to any other or similar
conditions imposed hereunder with respect to any such Transfer, no assignment
permitted under the terms of this Section 6.5.1 shall be effective unless the
Permitted Piggyback Assignee, if not a Stockholder, has delivered to the
Company a written acknowledgment and agreement in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Company that such Registrable Securities in respect of
which such assignment is made shall be deemed Other Holder Shares and shall be
subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement relating to Other Holder
Shares and that such Permitted Piggyback Assignee shall be bound by, and shall
be an Other Holder party to, this Agreement and the holder of Other Holder
Shares hereunder. A transferee to whom rights are transferred pursuant
to this Section 6.5.1 may not again
transfer such rights to any Person, other than as provided in this
Section 6.5.1.
7.2. Confidentiality. Each holder of Shares agrees that it will
keep confidential and will not disclose, divulge or use for any purpose, other
than to monitor its investment in the Company and its subsidiaries, any
confidential information obtained from the Company pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, unless such confidential information (i) is known or becomes
known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of this
Section 7.2 by such holder or its Affiliates), (ii) is or has been
independently developed or conceived by such holder without use of the Companys
confidential information or (iii) is or has been made known or disclosed to
such holder by a third party (other than an Affiliate of such holder) without a
breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to the
Company that is known to such holder; provided, however, that a
holder may disclose confidential information (a) to its
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attorneys, accountants, consultants, and other
professionals to the extent necessary to obtain their services in connection
with monitoring its investment in the Company, (b) to any prospective
purchaser of any Shares from such holder as long as such prospective purchaser
agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.2, (c) to any Affiliate,
partner or member of such holder in the ordinary course of business, or (d) as
may otherwise be required by law, provided that such holder takes reasonable
steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure; and provided,
further, however, that the acts and omissions of any Person to
whom such holder may disclose confidential information pursuant to clauses (a)
through (c) of the preceding proviso shall be attributable to such holder for
purposes of determining such holders compliance with this Section 7.2. Each of the parties hereto acknowledge that
the holders of Shares may review the business plans and related proprietary
information of many enterprises, including enterprises which may have products
or services which compete directly or indirectly with those of the
Company. Nothing in this Section 7.2
shall preclude or in any way restrict the holders of Shares or their Affiliates
from investing or participating in any particular enterprise, or trading in the
securities thereof, whether or not such enterprise has products or services
that compete with those of the Company.
7.3. Directors and Officers
Insurance. The Company shall
purchase, within a reasonable period following the Closing, and maintain for
such periods as the Board shall in good faith determine, at its expense,
insurance in an amount determined in good faith by the Board to be appropriate,
on behalf of any person who after the Closing is or was a director or officer
of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, including any direct or indirect subsidiary
of the Company, against any expense, liability or loss asserted against such
Person and incurred by such Person in any such capacity, or arising out of such
Persons status as such, subject to customary exclusions. The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall
survive any termination of this Agreement.
8.1. Generally.
The parties shall have all remedies available at law, in equity or
otherwise in the event of any breach or violation of this Agreement or any
default hereunder. The parties
acknowledge and agree that in the event of any breach of this Agreement, in
addition to any other remedies which may be available, each of the parties
hereto shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations of the
other parties hereto and, in addition, to such other equitable remedies
(including preliminary or temporary relief) as may be appropriate in the
circumstances.
8.2. Deposit.
Without limiting the generality of Section 8.1, if any holder of
Shares fails to deliver to the purchaser thereof the certificate or
certificates evidencing Shares to be Sold pursuant to Section 4, such
purchaser may, at its option, in addition to all other remedies it may have,
deposit the purchase price for such Shares with any national bank or trust
company having combined capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of One
Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000) (the Escrow Agent) and the
Company shall cancel on its books the
certificate or certificates representing such Shares and thereupon all of such
holders rights in and to such Shares shall terminate. Thereafter, upon delivery to such purchaser
by such holder of the
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certificate or certificates evidencing such Shares
(duly endorsed, or with stock powers duly endorsed, for transfer, with
signature guaranteed, free and clear of any liens or encumbrances, and with any
transfer tax stamps affixed), such purchaser shall instruct the Escrow Agent to
deliver the purchase price (without any interest from the date of the closing
to the date of such delivery, any such interest to accrue to such purchaser) to
such holder.
9.1. Restrictive Legend. Each certificate representing Shares shall
have the following legend endorsed conspicuously thereupon:
THE VOTING OF THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS
CERTIFICATE, AND THE SALE, ENCUMBRANCE OR OTHER DISPOSITION THEREOF, ARE
SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF A STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT TO WHICH THE ISSUER AND
CERTAIN OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS ARE PARTY, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE
PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE ISSUER OR OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUER WITHOUT CHARGE.
Any Person who acquires
Shares which are not subject to all or part of the terms of this Agreement
shall have the right to have such legend (or the applicable portion thereof)
removed from certificates representing such Shares.
9.2. 1933 Act Legends. Each certificate representing Shares shall
have the following legend endorsed conspicuously thereupon:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE
ISSUED IN A PRIVATE PLACEMENT, WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE ACT), AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT
COVERING THE TRANSFER OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER,
THAT REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT IS NOT REQUIRED.
9.3. Stop Transfer Instruction. The Company will instruct any transfer agent
not to register the Transfer of any Shares until the conditions specified in
the foregoing legends and this Agreement are satisfied.
9.4. Termination of 1933 Act Legend. The requirement imposed by Section 9.2 hereof
shall cease and terminate as to any particular Shares (a) when, in the opinion
of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company, such legend is no longer
required in order to assure compliance by the Company with the Securities Act
or (b) when such Shares have been effectively registered under the Securities
Act or transferred pursuant to Rule 144.
Wherever (x) such requirement shall cease and terminate as to any Shares
or (y) such Shares shall be transferable under paragraph (k) of Rule 144, the
holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from
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the Company, without expense, new certificates not
bearing the legend set forth in Section 9.2 hereof.
10. AMENDMENT,
TERMINATION, ETC.
10.1. Oral Modifications. This Agreement may not be orally amended,
modified, extended or terminated, nor shall any oral waiver of any of its terms
be effective.
10.2. Written Modifications. This Agreement may be amended, modified,
extended or terminated, and the provisions hereof may be waived, only by an
agreement in writing signed by the Company and holders of a Majority in
Interest of the Shares; provided, however, that:
(a) the consent of each of the Investor
Groups shall be required for any amendment, modification, extension,
termination or waiver (an Amendment) of the provisions of Section 2, Section
10.3, Section 12.8 or this clause (a) of Section 10.2; provided, however,
that such consent shall not be required for any Amendment of the provisions of
Section 2 adopted with the consent of a majority of the entire Board and the
Requisite Stockholder Majority (i) in connection with the consummation of, or
at any time following, an Initial Public Offering, other than an Amendment of
the provisions of Section 2.1.1, Section 2.1.2 (excluding Amendments to the
extent relating to the Independent Directors), Section 2.1.3, Section 2.1.4 or
Section 2.10, or any related provisions of Section 2.2 or Section 2.3, or (ii) in
connection with any transaction described in Section 2.4.5 or 2.4.6 of the
Original Agreement that has been approved by a majority of the entire Board and
the Requisite Stockholder Majority, to the extent such Amendment does no more
than increase the number of directors of the Company and/or extend Board
designation rights to any Person related to such transaction other than a
member of an Investor Group or its Affiliates;
(b) the consent of each of the Investor
Groups shall be required for any Amendment of the provisions of Section 4.1, Section
4.6, any related provisions of Section 3.1.5 or Section 4.3 or this clause (b)
of Section 10.2;
(c) Reserved;
(d) the consent of any Investor Group
shall be required for any Amendment that discriminates against such Investor
Group as such under this Agreement;
(e) the consent of the Requisite
Stockholder Majority shall be required for any Amendment that discriminates
against the Principal Investor Groups as such under this Agreement;
(f) Reserved;
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(g) the consent of the holders of a
Majority in Interest of the Management Shares shall be required for any
Amendment that discriminates against the holders of Management Shares as such
under this Agreement;
(h) the consent of the holders of a
Majority in Interest of the Other Holder Shares shall be required for any
Amendment that discriminates against the holders of Other Holder Shares as such
under this Agreement;
(i) the consent of any party shall be
required for any Amendment that discriminates against such party; and
(j) the Board may in its discretion from
time to time permit or require any employee of the Company or its subsidiaries
to join this Agreement as a Manager, and no consent of any Stockholder or other
party hereto shall be required to effect such an Amendment.
Each
such Amendment shall be binding upon each party hereto and each holder of Shares
or Other Holder Shares subject hereto.
In addition, each party hereto and each holder of Shares or Other Holder
Shares subject hereto may waive any right hereunder by an instrument in writing
signed by such party or holder. To the
extent the Amendment of any Section of this Agreement would require a specific
consent pursuant this Section 10.2, any Amendment to the definitions used in
such Section shall also require the specified consent.
10.3. Withdrawal from Agreement. Any holder of Shares or Other Holder Shares
(other than a holder of Management Shares) that, together with its Affiliates,
holds less than five percent (5%) of the then outstanding shares of Common
Stock may elect (on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (collectively, the Withdrawing
Holders)), by written notice to the other parties hereto, to withdraw from
this Agreement and thereby terminate this Agreement as to the Withdrawing
Holders. From the date of delivery of
such withdrawal notice, the Withdrawing Holders shall cease to be parties to
this Agreement and shall no longer be subject to the obligations of this
Agreement or have rights under this Agreement, and the Shares or Other Holder
Shares held by the Withdrawing Holders shall conclusively be deemed thereafter
not to be Shares or Other Holder Shares, as the case may be, under this
Agreement; provided, however, that such Withdrawing Holders, if
they constitute an Investor Group, shall cause the resignation of any Investor
Directors designated by such Investor Group; provided, further,
that the Withdrawing Holders shall nonetheless be obligated under Section 6.3.4
with respect to any Pending Underwritten Offering to the same extent that they
would have been obligated if they had not withdrawn; and provided, further,
that the rights and obligations of such Withdrawing Holders under Section 6.4
shall survive such withdrawal.
10.4. Effect of Termination. No termination under this Agreement shall
relieve any Person of liability for breach prior to termination.
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11. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement:
11.1. Certain Matters of Construction. In addition to the definitions referred to or
set forth below in this Section 11:
(i) The words hereof, herein, hereunder
and words of similar import shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to
any particular Section or provision of this Agreement, and reference to a
particular Section of this Agreement shall include all subsections thereof;
(ii) The word including shall mean
including, without limitation;
(iii) Definitions shall be equally
applicable to both nouns and verbs and the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined; and
(iv) The masculine, feminine and neuter
genders shall each include the other.
11.2. Definitions. The following terms shall have the following
meanings:
Acquisition shall have the meaning set forth
in the Recitals.
Acquisition Agreement shall have the meaning
set forth in the Recitals.
Acquisition Shares shall mean: (a) for
purposes of Section 4.6, all shares of Stock held by (i) the members of any
Investor Group or (ii) their respective Permitted Transferees; and (b) for all
other purposes, all Shares held by (i) the members of any Investor Group or
(ii) their respective Permitted Transferees.
Adverse Claim shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 8-102 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code.
Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any
specified Person, (a) any other Person which directly or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified Person (for the purposes of this definition, control
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by
and under common control with), as used with respect to any Person, means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction
of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by agreement or otherwise); provided, however,
that neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall be deemed an
Affiliate of any of the Stockholders (and vice versa), (b) if such specified Person is an investment fund,
any other investment fund the primary investment advisor to which is the
primary investment advisor to such specified Person and (c) if such specified
Person is a natural Person, any Family Member of such natural Person. Music Capital Partners, L.P and ALP Music
Partners, L.P. shall be deemed to be Affiliates of each other for purposes of
Section 12.8.
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Affiliated Fund shall mean, with respect to
any specified Person, an investment fund that is an Affiliate of such Person.
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in
the Preamble.
Amendment shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 10.2.
Bain Director shall mean a member of the
Board of Directors designated by one or more Bain Investors.
Bain Investors shall mean, as of any date,
Bain Capital Integral Investors, LLC, Bain Capital VII Coinvestment Fund, LLC
and BCIP TCV, LLC, and their respective Permitted Transferees, in each case
only if such Person is then a Stockholder and holds any Shares.
Board shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1.1.
business day shall mean any day that is not a
Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by
law to be closed in the City of New York.
CEO Director
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.
Change of Control shall mean the occurrence
of (a) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other
corporation or other Person, or any other corporate reorganization or
transaction (including the acquisition of capital stock of the Company),
whether or not the Company is a party thereto, in which the stockholders of the
Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, reorganization or
transaction, own capital stock either (i) representing directly, or indirectly
through one or more entities, less than 50% of the economic interests in or
voting power of the Company or other surviving entity immediately after such
consolidation, merger, reorganization or transaction or (ii) that does not directly,
or indirectly through one or more entities, have the power to elect a majority
of the entire board of directors of the Company or other surviving entity
immediately after such consolidation, merger, reorganization or transaction,
(b) any transaction or series of related transactions, whether or not the
Company is a party thereto, after giving effect to which in excess of fifty
percent (50%) of the Companys voting power is owned by any Person and its affiliates
or associates (as such terms are defined in the rules adopted by the
Commission under the Exchange Act), excluding (except with respect to a
transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which the drag
along right under Section 4.2 is being exercised) the Investor Groups; or (c)
a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company; provided that (x) any consolidation or merger effected
exclusively to change the domicile of the Corporation or to form a holding
company in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such
consolidation or merger own capital stock representing economic interests and
voting power with respect to such redomiciled entity or holding company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of capital stock of the
Company shall be excluded from clauses (a) and (b) above and (y) any bona fide
primary or secondary public offering shall be excluded from clause (b) above.
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Charitable Organization shall mean a
charitable organization as described by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect from time to time.
Closing shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 1.1.
Commission shall
mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Stock
shall mean the common stock, $.001 par value per share, of the Company.
Company shall
have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Company Shares
shall mean Shares in respect of capital stock of the Company.
Controlled Company
shall mean a controlled company as defined from time to time under the New
York Stock Exchanges corporate governance listing standards.
Convertible
Securities shall mean any evidence of indebtedness, shares of stock (other
than Stock) or other securities (other than Options and Warrants) which are
directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
shares of Stock.
Covered Person
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.1.
Drag Along Notice
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.1.
Drag Along Sale
Percentage shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
Drag Along Sellers
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.1.
Equivalent Shares
shall mean, at any date of determination, (a) as to any outstanding shares
of Stock, such number of shares of Stock and (b) as to any outstanding
Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities which constitute Shares, the
maximum number of shares of Stock for which or into which such Options,
Warrants or Convertible Securities may at the time be exercised, converted or
exchanged (or which will become exercisable, convertible or exchangeable on or
prior to, or by reason of, the transaction or circumstance in connection with
which the number of Equivalent Shares is to be determined).
Escrow Agent
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.
Exchange Act
shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect from time to time.
Fair Market Value
shall mean, as of any date, as to any Share, the Boards good faith
determination of the fair value of such Share as of the applicable reference
date.
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Family Member
shall mean, with respect to any natural Person, (i) any lineal descendant or
ancestor or sibling (by birth or adoption) of such natural Person, (ii) any
spouse or former spouse of any of the foregoing, (iii) any legal representative
or estate of any of the foregoing, (iv) any trust maintained for the benefit of
the foregoing and (v) any corporation, private charitable foundation or other
organization controlled by the foregoing.
Holders shall
mean the holders of Registrable Securities under this Agreement.
Indemnitee shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.3.
Independent Directors
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.
Initial Public
Offering shall mean the initial Public Offering registered on Form S-1
(or any successor form under the Securities Act).
Initiating Investors
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.1.
Investor Directors
shall mean the THL Directors, the Bain Directors, the Providence Directors and
the Lexa Directors.
Investor Group
shall mean any one of (a) the THL Investors, collectively, (b) the Bain
Investors, collectively, (c) the Providence Investors, collectively and (d) the
Lexa Investors, collectively. Where this
Agreement provides for the vote, consent or approval of any Investor Group,
such vote, consent or approval shall be determined by the Majority THL
Investors, the Majority Bain Investors, the Majority Providence Investors or
the Majority Lexa Investors, as the case may be, except as otherwise
specifically set forth herein.
Investors shall
have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Lexa Director
shall mean a member of the Board of Directors designated in accordance with
Section 2.1.2(iv).
Lexa Investors
shall mean, as of any date, Music Capital Partners, L.P and, from and after a
Lexa Triggering Event, ALP Music Partners, L.P. and their respective Permitted
Transferees, in each case only if such Person is then a Stockholder and holds
any Shares.
Lexa Triggering Event
shall mean the earlier to occur of Edgar Bronfman, Jr. (a) ceasing to serve as
the chief executive officer of the Company and the senior executive officer of
the Companys Recorded Music Business and Music Publishing Business (as such
terms are defined in the Acquisition Agreement) or (b) ceasing to control (as
such term is used in the definition of Affiliate) the general partner of
Music Capital Partners, L.P.
Majority Bain Investors shall mean,
as of any date, the holders of a Majority in Interest of the Shares held by the
Bain Investors.
Majority in Interest
shall mean, (a) with respect to a set of Shares and/or Other Holder Shares of a
single class, a majority of such Shares and/or Other Holder Shares and (b) with
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respect to a set
of Shares and/or Other Holder Shares of more than one class, a majority in
aggregate Fair Market Value of such Shares and/or Other Holder Shares.
Majority Lexa
Investors shall mean, as of any date, the holders of a Majority in
Interest of the Shares held by the Lexa Investors.
Majority Providence
Investors shall mean, as of any date, the holders of a Majority in
Interest of the Shares held by the Providence Investors.
Majority THL
Investors shall mean, as of any date, the holders of a Majority in
Interest of the Shares held by the THL Investors.
Management Shares
shall mean (a) all shares of Stock held by a Manager, whenever issued,
including all shares of Stock issued upon the exercise, conversion or exchange
of any Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities and (b) all Options, Warrants
and Convertible Securities held by a Manager, treating such Options, Warrants
and Convertible Securities as a number of Management Shares equal to the
maximum number of shares of Stock for which or into which such Options,
Warrants or Convertible Securities may at the time be exercised, converted or
exchanged (or which will become exercisable, convertible or exchangeable on or
prior to, or by reason of, the transaction or circumstance in connection with
which the number of Management Shares is to be determined); provided, however,
in connection with a Transfer to a Manager of any Shares that are not then
Management Shares, such Shares shall not become Management Shares as a result
of such Transfer if such Manager is then a Permitted Transferee of the holder
of such Shares. Any Management Shares
that are Transferred by the holder thereof to such holders Permitted
Transferees shall remain Management Shares in the hands of such Permitted
Transferee. For the avoidance of doubt,
any Shares held by any Lexa Investor (other than Shares Transferred to such
Lexa Investor under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence)
shall not be deemed Management Shares.
Managers shall
have the meaning set forth in the Preamble and shall include any Permitted Transferee
of any Manager that, at any time, holds Shares or Other Shares.
Midco shall have
the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
NASD shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.2(vii).
Options shall
mean any options to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise directly acquire
Stock, other than any such option held by the Company or Midco or any right to
purchase shares pursuant to this Agreement.
Other Holder Shares
shall mean (a) all shares of Stock held by an Other Holder, whenever issued,
including all shares of Stock issued upon the exercise, conversion or exchange
of any Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities and (b) all Options,
Warrants and Convertible Securities held by an Other Holder, treating such
Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities as a number of Other Holder Shares
equal to the maximum number of shares of Stock for which or into which such
Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities may at the time be exercised,
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converted or
exchanged (or which will become exercisable, convertible or exchangeable on or
prior to, or by reason of, the transaction or circumstance in connection with
which the number of Other Holder Shares is to be determined).
Other Holders
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Parity Shares
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.1.
Participating Seller
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.2 and 4.2.1.
Pending Underwritten
Offering means, with respect to any Withdrawing Holder withdrawing from
this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.3, any underwritten Public Offering for
which a registration statement relating thereto is or has been filed with the
Commission either prior to, or not later than the sixtieth day after, the effectiveness
of such Withdrawing Holders withdrawal from this Agreement.
Permitted Piggyback
Assignee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.1.
Permitted Transferee
shall mean, in respect of any Stockholder or Permitted Transferee, any Affiliate
of such Stockholder or Permitted Transferee to the extent such Person agrees to
be bound by the terms of this Agreement in accordance with Section 3.2. In addition, upon the occurrence of a Lexa
Triggering Event and until the earlier to occur of: (i) the completion of a
period of sixty (60) days thereafter and (ii) the completion of the Transfer
described in the following, ALP Music Partners, L.P. shall be deemed a
Permitted Transferee of Music Capital Partners, L.P. for purposes of a single
Transfer by Music Capital Partners, L.P. to ALP Music Partners, L.P., as one of
its limited partners, of a number of Shares equal to such limited partners
proportionate interest in all of the Shares then held by Music Capital
Partners, L.P., to the extent such limited partner agrees to be bound by the
terms of this Agreement in accordance with Section 3.2. In addition, any Stockholder shall be a
Permitted Transferee of the Permitted Transferees of itself; provided, however,
that the foregoing shall not apply as between Music Capital Partners, L.P. and
ALP Music Partners, L.P.
Person shall
mean any individual, partnership, corporation, company, association, trust,
joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, entity
or division, or any government, governmental department or agency or political
subdivision thereof.
Principal Investor
Group shall mean any one of (a) the THL Investors, collectively, (b) the
Bain Investors, collectively and (c) the Providence Investors, collectively; provided,
however, that any such Investor Group shall cease to be a Principal
Investor Group at such time after the Closing, and at all times thereafter, as such
Investor Group ceases to hold the greater of (i) at least 3,871,617 shares (as
such threshold may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the following
sentence) of adjusted Common Stock (appropriately adjusted for any stock split,
stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or the like involving the Common
Stock) or (ii) at least 1,935,809 shares of Common Stock (appropriately
adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or
the like involving the Common Stock). The
threshold amount for adjusted Common Stock set forth above shall automatically
be proportionately reduced
-39-
effective
immediately prior to any Proportionate Reduction Event; provided that no
adjustment pursuant to the foregoing shall cause any former Principal Investor
Group to again become a Principal Investor Group
Principal Lock-Up
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.4.
Principal
Participating Holders shall mean, with respect to any Public Offering, (i)
the two holders (determined in accordance with Section 6.3.1) including the
greatest number of Registrable Securities in such Public Offering, (ii) if
there are more than two such holders including the greatest number of
Registrable Securities in such Public Offering, all of such holders and (iii)
if there is only one such holder including any Registrable Securities in such
Public Offering, such holder. Where this
Agreement provides for the vote, consent or approval of the Principal
Participating Holders, such vote, consent or approval shall be required of each
such holder as identified in the preceding sentence.
Pro Rata Portion
shall mean:
(i) for purposes of Section 4.1.5, with
respect to each Tag Along Seller, a number of Shares equal to the aggregate
number of Shares that the Prospective Buyer is willing to purchase in the
proposed Sale, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
aggregate number of Shares held by such Tag Along Seller and the denominator of
which is the aggregate number of Shares held by all Tag Along Sellers; and
(ii) for purposes of Section 6.3, with
respect to each holder of Registrable Securities or Parity Shares requesting
that such shares be registered in such registration statement, a number of such
shares equal to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to be registered
in such registration (excluding any shares to be registered for the account of
the Company) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate
number of Registrable Securities and Parity Shares held by such holder, and the
denominator of which is the aggregate number of Registrable Securities and
Parity Shares held by all holders requesting that their Registrable Securities
or Parity Shares be registered in such registration.
Proportionate
Reduction Event shall mean, at any time that immediately prior thereto
there are at least two Investor Groups each of which is then entitled to
designate at least one director pursuant to Section 2.1, the consummation of
any transaction or series of related transactions (including any dividend,
distribution, redemption, stock repurchase or comparable transaction), whether
or not the Company is a party thereto, that effects a reduction in the number
of Shares of Common Stock held by each such Investor Group that, in the good
faith determination of a majority of the entire Board, is substantially
proportionate with respect to each such Investor Group.
Prospective Buyer shall mean any
Person proposing to purchase shares from a Prospective Selling Stockholder.
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Prospective Selling
Stockholder shall mean:
(i) for purposes of Section 3.4, any Stockholder that proposes to
Transfer any Shares to any Prospective Buyer;
(ii) for purposes of Section 4.1, any Stockholder that proposes to
Transfer any Shares to any Prospective Buyer; and
(iii) for purposes of Section 4.2, any
Stockholder forming part of the acting Requisite Stockholder Majority that has
elected to exercise the drag along right provided by such Section.
Providence Director
shall mean a member of the Board of Directors designated by one or more
Providence Investors.
Providence Investors
shall mean, as of any date, Providence Equity Partners IV, L.P. and Providence
Equity Operating Partners IV, L.P., and their respective Permitted Transferees,
in each case only if such Person is then a Stockholder and holds any Shares.
Public Offering
shall mean a public offering and sale of Common Stock for cash pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
Purchaser shall have the meaning set
forth in the Preamble.
Registrable
Securities shall mean (a) all shares of Common Stock, (b) all shares
of Common Stock issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any Option,
Warrant or Convertible Security and (c) all shares of Common Stock directly or
indirectly issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in
clauses (a) or (b) above by way of stock dividend or stock split or in
connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation or other reorganization, in each case constituting Shares or
Other Holder Shares. As to any
particular Registrable Securities, such shares shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when (i) such securities shall have ceased to be Shares or Other
Holder Shares hereunder, (ii) a registration statement with respect to the
sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act
and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such
registration statement, (iii) such securities shall have been Transferred
pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 145, (iv) disposition of such securities may be
made under Rule 144 or 145 and the holder of such securities holds no more than
one percent of the shares of the applicable class outstanding as shown by the
most recent report or statement published by the Company, (v) subject to the
provisions of Section 8.2 hereof, such securities shall have been otherwise
transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further
transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent disposition of
them shall not require registration of them under the Securities Act and such
securities may be distributed without volume limitation or other restrictions
on transfer under Rule 144 or Rule 145 (including without application of
paragraphs (c), (e) (f) and (h) of Rule 144), (vi) such securities shall
have ceased to be outstanding or (vii) the holder thereof shall have withdrawn
from this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.3.
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Registration Expenses
means any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance with
Section 6 of this Agreement (other than underwriting discounts and commissions
paid to underwriters and transfer taxes, if any), including (a) all Commission
and securities exchange or NASD registration and filing fees, (b) all fees and
expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue
sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities), (c) all printing, messenger
and delivery expenses, (d) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or NASD
pursuant to Section 6.3.2(vii) and all rating agency fees, (e) the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and of its independent public
accountants, including the expenses of any special audits and/or cold comfort
letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, (f) the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders selected
pursuant to the terms of Section 6, (g) any fees and disbursements customarily
paid by the issuers of securities, and (h) expenses incurred in connection with
any road show (including the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders).
Regulation D
shall mean Regulation D under the Securities Act.
Requisite Stockholder
Majority shall mean at any time the approval of (a) (i) any Principal Investor Group then holding
a number of shares of Common Stock constituting Shares that is no less than
that held by any other Principal Investor Group and (ii) if only one Principal
Investor Group is described in clause (a)(i), any other Principal Investor
Group, if any and (b) if there are no Principal Investor Groups, the holders of
a majority of the outstanding Common Stock constituting Shares.
Rule 144 shall
mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor Rule).
Rule 145 shall
mean Rule 145 under the Securities Act (or any successor Rule).
Rule 145 Transaction
shall mean a registration on Form S-4 (or any successor Form) pursuant to
Rule 145.
Sale shall mean
a Transfer for value and the terms Sell and Sold shall have correlative
meanings.
Securities Act
shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as in effect from time to time.
Shares shall
mean (a) all shares of Stock held by a Stockholder, whenever issued, including
all shares of Stock issued upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of any
Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities and (b) all Options, Warrants and
Convertible Securities held by a Stockholder (treating such Options, Warrants
and Convertible Securities as a number of Shares equal to the number of
Equivalent Shares represented by such Options, Warrants and Convertible
Securities for all purposes of this Agreement except as otherwise specifically
set forth herein). Shares shall include
Management Shares for all purposes of this Agreement except with respect to
Section 7.
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Stock shall mean
the Common Stock.
Stockholders
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Strategic Investor
shall mean, with respect to any proposed Transfer, any (a) Person that is
determined by (i) a majority of the entire Board and (ii) the Requisite
Stockholder Majority to be a competitor of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or a potential strategic investor in the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and (b) any Affiliate of any such Person. For purposes hereof, without limiting the
foregoing, any Person with substantial operations in the Recorded Music
Business (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) or the Music Publishing
Business (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) shall be presumed to be a
Strategic Investor unless (i) a majority of the entire Board and (ii) the
Requisite Stockholder Majority otherwise determine.
Tag Along Deadline
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.2..
Tag Along Holder
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.1.
Tag Along Notice
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.1.
Tag Along Offer
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.2.
Tag Along Sale
Percentage shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.1.
Tag Along Sellers
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.2.
THL Director
shall mean a member of the Board of Directors designated by one or more THL
Investors.
THL Investors
shall mean, as of any date, Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund V, L.P.,
Thomas H. Lee Parallel Fund V, L.P., Thomas H. Lee Equity (Cayman) Fund
V, L.P., Putnam Investment Holdings, LLC, Putnam Investments Employees
Securities Company I LLC, Putnam Investments Employees Securities Company II
LLC, 1997 Thomas H. Lee Nominee Trust, Thomas H. Lee Investors
Limited Partnership and THL WMG Equity Investors, L.P., and their respective
Permitted Transferees, in each case only if such Person is then a Stockholder
and holds any Shares.
Transfer shall mean any sale, pledge,
assignment, encumbrance or other transfer or disposition of any Shares or Other
Holder Shares to any other Person, whether directly, indirectly, voluntarily,
involuntarily, by operation of law, pursuant to judicial process or otherwise.
Warrants shall
mean any warrants to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise directly acquire
Stock.
Withdrawing Holders
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.3.
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12.1. Authority; Effect. Each party hereto represents and warrants to
and agrees with each other party that the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized on behalf of such party and do not violate any agreement
or other instrument applicable to such party or by which its assets are
bound. This Agreement does not, and
shall not be construed to, give rise to the creation of a partnership among any
of the parties hereto, or to constitute any of such parties members of a joint
venture or other association. The
Company and Midco shall be jointly and severally liable for all obligations of
each such party pursuant to this Agreement.
12.2. Notices.
Any notices and other communications required or permitted in this
Agreement shall be effective if in writing and (a) delivered personally, (b)
sent by facsimile, or (c) sent by overnight courier, in each case, addressed as
follows:
If to the Company, the Purchaser or Midco, to it at:
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Warner Music
Group Corp.
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75 Rockefeller
Plaza
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New York, New
York 10019
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Facsimile: (212)
956-0529
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Attention: Trent Tappe, Esq.
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with copies to:
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Thomas H. Lee
Partners, L.P.
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75 State Street
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Boston,
Massachusetts 02109
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Facsimile: (617)
227-3514
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Attention: Scott Sperling
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and
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Simpson Thacher
& Bartlett LLP
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425 Lexington
Avenue
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New York, New
York 10017
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Facsimile: (212)
455-2502
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Attention:
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John Finley, Esq.
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Brian Stadler, Esq.
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and
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Ropes & Gray
LLP
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One
International Place
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Boston,
Massachusetts 02210
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Facsimile: (617)
951-7050
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Attention: Alfred Rose, Esq.
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If to a Stockholder or an
Other Holder, to it at the address set forth in the records of the Company.
Notice to the holder of
record of any shares of capital stock shall be deemed to be notice to the
holder of such shares for all purposes hereof.
Unless otherwise
specified herein, such notices or other communications shall be deemed
effective (a) on the date received, if personally delivered, (b) on the date
received if delivered by facsimile on a business day, or if not delivered on a
business day, on the first business day thereafter and (b) two business days
after being sent by overnight courier.
Each of the parties hereto shall be entitled to specify a different
address by giving notice as aforesaid to each of the other parties hereto.
12.3. Binding Effect, Etc. Except for restrictions on the Transfer of
Shares set forth in other agreements, plans or other documents, this Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to its subject
matter, supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements or
discussions with respect to such subject matter, and shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
representatives, successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, no Holder party hereto may assign any of its respective rights or
delegate any of its respective obligations under this Agreement without the
prior written consent of the other parties hereto, and any attempted assignment
or delegation in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void.
12.4. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of this Agreement
are for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof
and shall not be construed to define or limit any of the terms or provisions
hereof.
12.5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken
together shall constitute one instrument.
12.6. Severability. In the event that any provision hereof would,
under applicable law, be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such
provision shall be construed by modifying or limiting it so as to be valid and
enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with, and possible under,
applicable law. The provisions hereof
are severable, and in the event any provision hereof should be held invalid or
unenforceable in any respect, it shall not invalidate, render unenforceable or
otherwise affect any other provision hereof.
12.7. No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be
expressed or implied in this Agreement, the Company and each Stockholder
covenant, agree and acknowledge that no recourse under this Agreement or any
documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be
had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or
limited partner or member of any Stockholder or of any Affiliate or assignee
thereof, as such,
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whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any
legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other
applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal
liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by
any current or future officer, agent or employee of any Stockholder or any
current or future member of any Stockholder or any current or future director,
officer, employee, partner or member of any Stockholder or of any Affiliate or
assignee thereof, as such, for any obligation of any Stockholder under this
Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this
Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such
obligations or their creation.
12.8. Aggregation of Shares. All Shares held by a Stockholder and its
Affiliates shall be aggregated together for purposes of determining the
availability of any rights under Sections 3.3, 4 and 6. Within any Investor Group, the Stockholders
may allocate the ability to exercise any rights under this Agreement in any
manner that such Investor Group (by a Majority in Interest of the Shares held
by such Investor Group) sees fit.
13.1. Governing Law. This Agreement and all claims arising out of
or based upon this Agreement or relating to the subject matter hereof shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic substantive laws of
the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws
provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive
laws of any other jurisdiction.
13.2. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party to this Agreement, by its
execution hereof, (a) hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware
for the purpose of any action, claim, cause of action or suit (in contract, tort
or otherwise), inquiry, proceeding or investigation arising out of or based
upon this Agreement or relating to the subject matter hereof, (b) hereby waives
to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, and agrees not to assert, and
agrees not to allow any of its subsidiaries to assert, by way of motion, as a
defense or otherwise, in any such action, any claim that it is not subject
personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is
exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that any such proceeding brought
in one of the above-named courts is improper, or that this Agreement or the
subject matter hereof or thereof may not be enforced in or by such court and
(c) hereby agrees not to commence or maintain any action, claim, cause of
action or suit (in contract, tort or otherwise), inquiry, proceeding or
investigation arising out of or based upon this Agreement or relating to the
subject matter hereof or thereof other than before one of the above-named
courts nor to make any motion or take any other action seeking or intending to
cause the transfer or removal of any such action, claim, cause of action or
suit (in contract, tort or otherwise), inquiry, proceeding or investigation to
any court other than one of the above-named courts whether on the grounds of
inconvenient forum or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any party hereto is or
becomes a party in any litigation in connection with which it may assert
indemnification rights set forth in this agreement, the court in which such
litigation is being heard shall be deemed to be included in clause (a)
above. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any party to this Agreement may commence and maintain an action to enforce a
judgment of any of the above-named courts in any court of
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competent jurisdiction. Each party hereto hereby consents to service
of process in any such proceeding in any manner permitted by Delaware law, and
agrees that service of process by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section 12.2 hereof is
reasonably calculated to give actual notice.
13.3. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE
LAW WHICH CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES AND COVENANTS THAT
IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE OR ACTION, CLAIM, CAUSE OF
ACTION OR SUIT (IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE), INQUIRY, PROCEEDING OR
INVESTIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER
HEREOF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR
HEREAFTER ARISING. EACH PARTY HERETO
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INFORMED BY THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO THAT THIS
SECTION 13.3 CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT UPON WHICH THEY ARE RELYING AND
WILL RELY IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT.
ANY PARTY HERETO MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS
SECTION 13.3 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH SUCH
PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
13.4. Exercise of Rights and Remedies. No delay of or omission in the exercise of
any right, power or remedy accruing to any party as a result of any breach or
default by any other party under this Agreement shall impair any such right,
power or remedy, nor shall it be construed as a waiver of or acquiescence in
any such breach or default, or of any similar breach or default occurring
later; nor shall any such delay, omission nor waiver of any single breach or
default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default occurring before or
after that waiver.
[Signature pages follow]
-47-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has duly
executed this Agreement (or caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf
by its officer or representative thereunto duly authorized) under seal as of
the date first above written.
THE COMPANY:
|
WARNER
MUSIC GROUP CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Name: Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Title: SVP & Deputy
General Counsel
|
|
|
|
|
|
MIDCO:
|
WMG
HOLDINGS CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Name: Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Title: SVP & Deputy
General Counsel
|
|
|
|
|
|
PURCHASER:
|
WMG
ACQUISITION CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Name: Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Title: SVP & Deputy
General Counsel
|
-48-
THE INVESTORS:
|
THOMAS H. LEE EQUITY FUND V, L.P.
|
|
By: THL Equity Advisors V, LLC, its general partner
|
|
By: Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., its sole member
|
|
By: Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC, its general partner
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
*
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
THOMAS H. LEE PARALLEL FUND V, L.P.
|
|
By: THL Equity Advisors V, LLC, its general partner
|
|
By: Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., its sole member
|
|
By: Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC, its general partner
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
*
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
THOMAS H. LEE EQUITY (CAYMAN) FUND
V, L.P.
|
|
By: THL Equity Advisors V, LLC, its general partner
|
|
By: Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., its sole member
|
|
By: Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC, its general partner
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
*
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
THL WMG EQUITY INVESTORS, L.P.
|
|
By: THL Equity Advisors V, LLC, its general partner
|
|
By: Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., its sole member
|
|
By: Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC, its general partner
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
*
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
* The signature appearing
immediately below shall serve as a signature at each place indicated with an *
on this page above:
|
/s/ Thomas H. Lee
|
|
|
Name:
|
Thomas H. Lee
|
|
Title:
|
Principal Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
-49-
|
1997
THOMAS H. LEE NOMINEE TRUST
|
|
|
By:
|
State Street Bank and Trust Company, not personally,
but solely as Trustee under the 1997 Thomas H. Lee Nominee Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Paul D. Allen
|
|
Name: Paul D. Allen
|
|
Title: Vice
President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THOMAS H. LEE INVESTORS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
|
|
By:
|
THL Investment Management Corp., its general partner
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Thomas H. Lee
|
|
Name: Thomas H. Lee
|
|
Title: Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
-50-
|
|
|
|
PUTNAM INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
|
|
By:
|
Putnam Investments, LLC, its managing member
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Francis J. McNamara, III
|
|
Name: Francis
J. McNamara, III
|
|
|
Title: Senior
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PUTNAM INVESTMENTS EMPLOYEES SECURITIES
COMPANY I LLC
|
|
By:
|
Putnam Investment Holdings, LLC, its managing member
|
|
By:
|
Putnam Investments, LLC, its managing member
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Francis J. McNamara, III
|
|
Name: Francis
J. McNamara, III
|
|
|
Title: Senior
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PUTNAM INVESTMENTS EMPLOYEES
SECURITIES COMPANY II LLC
|
|
By:
|
Putnam Investment Holdings, LLC, its managing member
|
|
By:
|
Putnam Investments, LLC, its managing member
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Francis J. McNamara, III
|
|
Name: Francis J. McNamara, III
|
|
Title: Senior Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
-51-
|
BAIN CAPITAL INTEGRAL
INVESTORS, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
*
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
Authorized Person
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BAIN CAPITAL VII COINVESTMENT
FUND, LLC
|
|
By:
|
Bain Capital VII Coinvestment Fund, L.P.,
|
|
|
it sole member
|
|
By:
|
Bain Capital Partners VII, L.P.,
|
|
|
its general partner
|
|
By:
|
Bain Capital Investors, LLC,
|
|
|
its general partner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
*
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
BCIP
TCV, LLC
|
|
By:
|
Bain Capital Investors, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
*
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
* The signature appearing
immediately below shall serve as a signature at each place indicated with an *
on this page above:
|
/s/ Mark Nunnelly
|
|
|
Name:
Mark Nunnelly
|
-52-
|
PROVIDENCE EQUITY PARTNERS IV, L.P.
|
|
By:
|
Providence Equity Partners GP IV L.P.,
|
|
|
its general partner
|
|
By:
|
Providence Equity Partners IV LLC,
|
|
|
its general partner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
*
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROVIDENCE EQUITY OPERATING
PARTNERS IV, L.P.
|
|
By:
|
Providence Equity Partners GP IV L.P.,
|
|
|
its general partner
|
|
By:
|
Providence Equity Partners IV LLC,
|
|
|
its general partner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
*
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* The signature appearing immediately below
shall serve as a signature at each place indicated with an * on this page
above:
|
/s/ Jonathan M. Nelson
|
|
|
Name:
Jonathan M. Nelson
|
-53-
|
MUSIC CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
|
|
By:
|
MUSIC PARTNERS CAPITAL LIMITED
|
|
|
its general partner
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Gary Fuhrman
|
|
|
Name: Gary
Fuhrman
|
|
|
Title: Vice
President
|
-54-
THE MANAGERS:
|
|
|
Edgar Bronfman, Jr.
|
|
Lyor Cohen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julie Greenwald
|
|
Kevin Liles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Rene Albertini
|
|
Nick Phillips
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alex Zubillaga
|
|
Michael Fleisher
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dave Johnson
|
|
Richard Blackstone
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason Flom
|
|
Craig Kallman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gerolamo Caccia
|
|
Lachie Rutherford
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tom Whalley
|
|
Michael Ward
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Foster
|
|
|
-55-
Schedule 1
Holdings of Outstanding Shares
Holder
|
|
Warner Music Group
Corp.
Common Stock
|
|
Thomas H. Lee
Equity Fund V, L.P.
|
|
34,798,629.6175554
|
|
Thomas H. Lee
Parallel Fund V, L.P.
|
|
9,028,849.45729036
|
|
Thomas H. Lee
Equity (Cayman) Fund V, L.P.
|
|
479,476.902569326
|
|
Putnam
Investment Holdings, LLC
|
|
271,952.971001777
|
|
Putnam
Investments Employees Securities Company I LLC
|
|
233,747.772727411
|
|
Putnam
Investments Employees Securities Company II LLC
|
|
208,703.305877516
|
|
1997 Thomas H.
Lee Nominee Trust
|
|
83,820.1708435044
|
|
Thomas H. Lee
Investors Limited Partnership
|
|
63,687.1578682619
|
|
THL WMG Equity
Investors, L.P.
|
|
11,184,671.9074397
|
|
Bain Capital
Integral Investors, LLC
|
|
17,039,127.0098676
|
|
BCIP TCV, LLC
|
|
101,382.714673327
|
|
Bain Capital VII
Coinvestment Fund, LLC
|
|
6,949,552.88036641
|
|
Providence
Equity Partners IV L.P.
|
|
12,863,899.8512535
|
|
Providence
Equity Operating Partners IV L.P.
|
|
41,490.8348270458
|
|
Music Capital
Partners, L.P.
|
|
14,195,929.7501338
|
|
Edgar Bronfman,
Jr.
|
|
3,283,944.4282204
|
|
Lyor Cohen
|
|
2,390,102.2286290
|
|
Julie Greenwald
|
|
298,735.8964601
|
|
Kevin Liles
|
|
597,471.7906427
|
|
Paul Rene
Albertini
|
|
241,456.9369031
|
|
Nick Phillips
|
|
119,494.3581285
|
|
Alex Zubillaga
|
|
119,494.3563066
|
|
Michael Fleisher
|
|
896,207.6438317
|
|
Dave Johnson
|
|
119,494.3581285
|
|
Richard
Blackstone
|
|
238,988.7162571
|
|
-56-
Exhibit
10.3
TERMINATION AGREEMENT
This Termination
Agreement (this Agreement) is
entered into as of the 10th day of May, 2005 by and between Warner
Music Group Corp., a Delaware corporation formerly known as WMG Parent Corp. (Parent), WMG Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent,(Holdings), WMG
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of
Holdings (the Company), THL Managers V,
L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (THL),
Bain Capital Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Bain), Providence Equity Partners IV Inc., a Delaware
corporation (Providence) and Music Partners
Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Music
and, together with THL, Bain and Providence, the Managers).
WHEREAS, Parent,
Holdings, the Company and the Managers are party to a Management Agreement
dated February 29, 2004 (the Management
Agreement);
WHEREAS, Parent,
Holdings, the Company and the Managers desire to discontinue the provision of
services by the Managers to Parent, Holdings and the Company and the payment of
fees to the Managers for such services, each as described in the Management
Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree
as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the
definitions set forth in the Management Agreement.
2. Termination.
Parent, Holdings, the Company and the Managers hereby agree that:
(a) effective upon the date hereof, the
Management Agreement is hereby terminated; provided, however,
that the provisions of Sections 4, 5 and 7 through 12 of the Management
Agreement shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect,
including without limitation in the case of Sections 4 and 5 with respect to
services, if any, provided by a Manager or any of its affiliates to the
Company, Holdings, Parent or any of their affiliates after the termination of
the Management Agreement; provided further, however, that
such termination is subject to reversal as set forth below;
(b) in consideration of services rendered
under, and the termination of, the Management Agreement, Parent, Holdings and
the Company, jointly and
severally, shall pay
the Managers, by wire transfer of immediately available federal funds to the
accounts specified by the Managers, the sum (the Termination
Fee) of seventy-three million two hundred forty-seven thousand four
hundred thirty-eight dollars ($73,247,438) on or prior to the date that is
ninety (90) days after the date hereof (the Payment
Deadline Date), such Termination Fee to be allocated among the
Managers in the manner set forth in Section 2(b) of the Management
Agreement based on holdings of Investor Shares as of the date hereof, such
right of the Managers to payment of the Termination Fee being non-transferable
and non-assignable; and
(c) if the Termination Fee has not been fully
paid on or prior to the Payment Deadline Date (the period from the date hereof
through the Payment Deadline Date being the Termination
Period), then: (i) the Management Agreement shall again be in full
force and effect and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect at
all times from and after the date hereof as if never terminated (provided
that none of the Managers shall be deemed in breach of the Management Agreement
on account of non-performance of any services during the Termination Period;
and provided that none of Parent, Holdings or the Company shall be
deemed in breach of the Management Agreement on account of non-payment of any
Periodic Fees that would have been due and payable during the Termination
Period, so long as any such Periodic Fees are paid promptly, and in any event
within five (5) business days, after the end of the Termination Period); (ii)
the obligation to pay the Termination Fee hereunder shall be defeased and none
of Parent, Holdings or the Company shall be deemed in breach of this Agreement
on account of non-payment of the Termination Fee; and (iii) to the extent that
any payments in respect of the Termination Fee were made during the Termination
Period, such payments will be offset against any Periodic Fees payable to the
Managers.
3. Governing Law.
This Agreement and all matters arising under or related to this
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic
substantive laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice
or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the
domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
4. Amendments and
Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any term, provision
or condition of this Agreement shall be effective as against any party, unless
in writing and executed by such party.
5. Miscellaneous. Except as expressly provided herein, the
rights and obligations of the parties to the Agreement and, to the extent
surviving termination, the Management Agreement, shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts
and by each of the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when
so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf as
of the date first above written by its officer or representative thereunto duly
authorized.
PARENT:
|
WARNER MUSIC GROUP
CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ PAUL ROBINSON
|
|
|
Name: Paul Robinson
|
|
Title: SVP & Deputy General Counsel
|
HOLDINGS:
|
WMG HOLDINGS CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ PAUL ROBINSON
|
|
|
Name: Paul Robinson
|
|
Title: SVP & Deputy General Counsel
|
THE COMPANY:
|
WMG ACQUISITION CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ PAUL ROBINSON
|
|
|
Name: Paul Robinson
|
|
Title: SVP & Deputy General Counsel
|
THL:
|
THL MANAGERS V, L.L.C.
|
|
By:
|
Thomas H. Lee
Partners L.P.,
|
|
|
|
its Managing
Member
|
|
|
By:
|
Thomas H. Lee
Advisors L.L.C.
|
|
|
|
General
Partner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ THOMAS H. LEE
|
|
|
Name: Thomas
H. Lee
|
|
Title:
|
BAIN:
|
BAIN CAPITAL PARTNERS,
LLC
|
|
By:
|
Bain Capital
LLC, its sole member
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ MARK NUNNELLY
|
|
|
Name: Mark Nunnelly
|
|
Title:
|
PROVIDENCE:
|
PROVIDENCE EQUITY
PARTNERS IV INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ JONATHAN M. NELSON
|
|
|
Name: Jonathan M. Nelson
|
|
Title:
|
MUSIC:
|
MUSIC PARTNERS
MANAGEMENT, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ GARY FUHRMAN
|
|
|
Name: Gary Fuhrman
|
|
Title:
|
Exhibit 10.4
WMG ACQUISITION CORP.
Issuer
THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
PARTIES HERETO
And
WELLS FARGO BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee
SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURE
Dated as of May 17 ,
2005
TO
INDENTURE
Dated as of April 8, 2004
as
amended by the
First
Supplemental Indenture
Dated
as of November 16, 2004
U.S.
Dollar-denominated 7 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014
Sterling-denominated 8 1/8%
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014
This SECOND
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE is dated as of this 17th day of May, 2005 (the Second
Supplemental Indenture), among WMG ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation
(the Company), the Subsidiary Guarantors parties hereto (as listed below) and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as indenture trustee (the Trustee).
WHEREAS, the Company,
the guarantors parties thereto and the Trustee entered into an Indenture dated
as of April 8, 2004, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of
November 16, 2004 among the Company, the Trustee, WEA Urban LLC and WEA Rock
LLC (collectively, the "Indenture"), for the benefit of each other
and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the U.S.
Dollar-denominated 7 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 and the
Sterling-denominated 8 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 (the Notes).
Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings ascribed to
such terms in the Indenture.
WHEREAS, Section
4.16 of the Indenture requires the Company to cause certain Restricted
Subsidiaries to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to the Indenture
providing for issuance by such Restricted Subsidiary of a Subsidiary Guarantee
of payment of the Notes.
WHEREAS, the
foregoing amendment is permitted under Section 9.01(6) of the Indenture.
WHEREAS, the Company
and the Subsidiary Guarantors desire and have requested the Trustee to join
with it in the execution and delivery of this Second Supplemental Indenture,
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the addition of the Subsidiary Guarantor named below as
Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder, the Company and the Guarantor named below
covenant and agree with the Trustee as follows:
1. The following
Subsidiary Guarantors shall become Subsidiary Guarantors as of the date of this
Second Supplemental Indenture by execution and delivery of this Second
Supplemental Indenture
NonZero, LLC
The Biz, LLC
2. The Indenture, as supplemented and amended by
this Second Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed,
and the Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken
and construed as one and the same instrument.
3. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or
conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in
this Second Supplemental Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.
4. All covenants and agreements in this Second
Supplemental Indenture by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall bind
their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
5. In case any provision in this Second
Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.
6. Nothing in this Second Supplemental
Indenture, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the
parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the Holders any benefit or
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Second Supplemental
Indenture.
7. THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE
SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
2
8. All terms used in this Second Supplemental
Indenture not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Indenture shall
have the meanings set forth therein.
9. This Second Supplemental Indenture may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but
such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
10. The recitals contained herein shall be taken
as statements of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, and the Trustee
assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of the Indenture, this Second Supplemental
Indenture or of the Notes and shall not be accountable for the use or application
by the Company of the Notes or the proceeds thereof.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY
BLANK]
3
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Second Supplemental Indenture as of the
date first written above.
|
WMG ACQUISITION CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Name: Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Title: SVP & Deputy General Counsel
|
|
|
|
|
NONZERO LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Name: Paul Robinson
|
|
|
Title: SVP & Deputy General Counsel
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THE BIZ LLC
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By:
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/s/ Paul Robinson
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Name: Paul Robinson
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Title: SVP & Deputy General Counsel
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4
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WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Indenture Trustee
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By:
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/s/ Jeffery Rose
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Name: Jeffery Rose
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Title: Vice President
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5