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
August 27, 2020
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-34809 | 98-1304287 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
Three Bala Plaza East, Suite 300 Bala Cynwyd, PA |
19004 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(610) 664-1500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Global Indemnity Limited
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ |
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
||
Class A Common Shares, no par value | GBLI | NASDAQ Global Select Market | ||
7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 | GBLIL | NASDAQ Global Select Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Background
At 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on August 28, 2020 (the “Effective Time”), Global Indemnity Limited, incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability (“GI Cayman”), completed the previously disclosed scheme of arrangement and amalgamation under Sections 86 and 87 of the Cayman Islands Companies Law (2020 Revision) (the “Scheme of Arrangement”) that effected certain transactions (the “Redomestication”) that resulted in the shareholders of GI Cayman becoming the holders of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Global Indemnity Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “GI Delaware”). In accordance with the terms of the Scheme of Arrangement, the following steps occurred effectively simultaneously at the Effective Time:
1. |
GI Cayman merged with and into New CayCo, a newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary of GI Delaware incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability (“New CayCo”), following which, New CayCo survived the merger (the “Amalgamation”); |
2. |
in consideration of the Amalgamation, GI Delaware issued an equal number of its common shares to GI Cayman shareholders as at the record time of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 27, 2020 (the “Scheme Record Time”), on the following basis: for each GI Cayman A ordinary share cancelled, one class A common share of GI Delaware was issued; and for each GI Cayman B ordinary share cancelled, one class B common share of GI Delaware was issued; and |
3. |
pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement and as part of the Amalgamation, GI Cayman was dissolved without being wound up and ceases to exist as a separate legal entity. |
As previously disclosed, the Redomestication was approved by the Company’s shareholders at a special meeting and an extraordinary general meeting held on August 25, 2020, convened by Order of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands dated July 22, 2020. The terms and conditions of the issuance of the securities in connection with the Redomestication were sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands pursuant to an Order granted on August 26, 2020 after a hearing upon the fairness of such terms and conditions at which all holders of GI Cayman ordinary shares had a right to appear and of which adequate notice had been given. A copy of the Order sanctioning the Scheme of Arrangement is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.
Following completion of the Scheme of Arrangement, New CayCo merged with and into GI Delaware, with GI Delaware surviving as the ultimate parent company of the Global Indemnity group of companies. Additionally, as part of the Redomestication transactions, Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (“GI Bermuda”) was merged with and into Penn-Patriot Insurance Company (“Penn-Patriot”), with Penn-Patriot surviving, resulting in the assumption of GI Bermuda’s business by the Global Indemnity group of companies’ existing U.S. insurance company subsidiaries (the “GI Bermuda Transaction” and, together with the Redomestication and the other transactions described in GI Cayman’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 2020 (the “Redomestication Proxy Statement”), the “Transactions”).
Prior to the Redomestication, the GI Cayman A ordinary shares were listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “GBLI” and registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). At the Effective Time, the GI Delaware class A common shares are deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act. The issuance of the class A common shares by GI Delaware in the Redomestication was exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act. The GI Delaware class A common shares will begin trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “GBLI,” the same symbol under which the GI Cayman ordinary shares previously traded, at the commencement of trading on Nasdaq on August 28, 2020.
On August 27, 2020, the Company issued and sold to Wyncote LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“Wyncote”) and an affiliate of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, pursuant to a Preferred Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 27, 2020 (the “Preferred Interest Purchase Agreement”), 4,000 Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Interests (the “Series A Preferred Interests”) at a price of U.S. $1,000 per Series A Preferred Interest, for the aggregate purchase price of U.S. $4,000,000. The issuance of Series A Preferred Interests to Wyncote was made pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The Series A Preferred Interests are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property of the Company.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Series A Preferred Interests for general corporate purposes, including investment in securities or investment in the operations and growth of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ current and future businesses.
Following the Effective Time, all of the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Interests sold to Wyncote remain outstanding as “Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Shares”, unaffected by the Scheme of Arrangement and subject to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated LLC Agreement and that certain Share Designation, effective as of the Effective Time, that sets forth the designation, rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations and obligations of the Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Shares from and after the Effective Time.
Item 1.01. |
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
In connection with the Transactions, GI Delaware, GI Cayman and/or other affiliates of the Global Indemnity group of companies, as the case may be, entered into the following agreements:
Preferred Interest Purchase Agreement
The information under the heading “Issuance of GI Delaware Preferred Shares” in Item 3.02 of this Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this
Item 1.01.
A copy of the Preferred Interest Purchase Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01, and the foregoing information is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 10.1
Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement
On August 28, 2020, GI Delaware and Fox Paine & Company, LLC entered into the Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement effective as of August 28, 2020 (the “Management Agreement”). The Management Agreement amends and restates the Second Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2020, between Fox Paine & Company, LLC and GI Cayman, to reflect the assumption by GI Delaware of the obligations under the Management Agreement and to make related conforming changes and immaterial modifications to the Management Agreement.
A copy of the Management Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01, and the foregoing information is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 10.2.
Item 3.02. |
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
Issuance of GI Delaware Common Shares
As described above under the heading “Background,” on August 28, 2020, pursuant to the Redomestication, each of the following occurred: (i) the Amalgamation, (ii) in consideration for the Amalgamation, GI Delaware issued common shares of GI Delaware to the shareholders of GI Cayman on the following basis: for each A ordinary share of GI Cayman cancelled, one class A common share of GI Delaware was issued; and for each B ordinary share of GI Cayman cancelled, one class B common share of GI Delaware was issued; and (iii) pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement and as part of the Amalgamation, GI Cayman was dissolved without being wound up and ceased to exist as a separate legal entity. This resulted in the issuance of approximately 10,213,782 class A common shares and 4,133,366 class B common shares of GI Delaware.
The terms and conditions of the issuance of the securities in connection with the Redomestication were approved by the Company’s shareholders at a special meeting and an extraordinary general meeting held on August 25, 2020, and sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands pursuant to an Order granted on August 26, 2020 after a hearing upon the fairness of such terms and conditions at which all holders of GI Cayman ordinary shares had a right to appear and of which adequate notice had been given. The issuance was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 3(a)(10) thereof. A copy of the Order sanctioning the Scheme of Arrangement is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02, and the foregoing information is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 99.1.
Issuance of GI Delaware Preferred Shares
As described under the heading “Background,” on August 27, 2020, the Company issued and sold to Wyncote, an affiliate of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, the Series A Preferred Interests at a price of U.S. $1,000 per Series A Preferred Interest, for the aggregate purchase price of U.S. $4,000,000. The issuance of Series A Preferred Interests to Wyncote was made pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The Series A Preferred Interests are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property of the Company.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Series A Preferred Interests for general corporate purposes, including investment in securities or investment in the operations and growth of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ current and future businesses.
Following the Effective Time, all of the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Interests sold to Wyncote remain outstanding as “Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Shares”, unaffected by the Scheme of Arrangement and subject to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated LLC Agreement and that certain Share Designation, effective as of the Effective Time, that sets forth the designation, rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations and obligations of the Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Shares from and after the Effective Time. A copy of the Share Designation is filed herewith as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02, and the foregoing information is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 3.1.
Item 3.03. |
Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
Common Shares
The information above under the heading “Background” is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03. GI Delaware adopted its Second Amended and Restated LLC Agreement on August 28, 2020. The description of the rights of holders of GI Delaware common shares and the comparison thereof to the rights of holders of GI Cayman ordinary shares included under the headings “Description of Global Indemnity Group, LLC Share Capital” and “Comparison of Rights of Shareholders and Powers of the Board of Directors” in the Redomestication Proxy Statement are incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03. A copy of GI Delaware’s Second Amended and Restated LLC Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 3.2 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03, and the foregoing information is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 3.2.
Item 5.01. |
Changes in Control of Registrant. |
The information above under the heading “Background” with respect to GI Cayman is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.
Item 5.02. |
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Directors and Executives
As previously announced in the Redomestication Proxy Statement, as of August 28, 2020, following completion of the Redomestication, the directors and executive officers of GI Cayman immediately prior to the completion of the Redomestication became the directors and executive officers of GI Delaware. GI Delaware’s directors (whose terms run until the 2021 annual general meeting of GI Delaware) are Saul A. Fox, Joseph W. Brown,
Michele A. Colucci, Seth J. Gersch, Jason B. Hurwitz, Bruce R. Lederman, Cynthia Y. Valko and James D. Wehr. In addition, as of August 28, 2020, following completion of the Redomestication, GI Cayman’s Board of Directors replicated the committees of the Board of Directors that previously were in place for GI Cayman, which consist of an Audit Committee; a Compensation & Benefits Committee; an Investment Committee; an Enterprise Risk Committee; a Nominating & Governance Committee; a Technology Committee and an Executive Committee.
Individual Employment Arrangements
In connection with, and effective upon, the completion of the Redomestication, GI Delaware and/or its subsidiaries assumed the existing liabilities, obligations and duties of GI Cayman and/or its subsidiaries under the individual employment arrangements by and between GI Cayman and/or its subsidiaries and each of the following named executive officers: Cynthia Y. Valko, Stephen Green (as extended earlier this year to apply after January 1, 2020) and Thomas M. McGeehan (collectively, the “Employment Agreements”). The Employment Agreements also were amended as appropriate to reflect the completion of the Redomestication.
The Employment Agreement amendment with Cynthia Y. Valko is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. The Employment Agreement with Stephen Green is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.4 and the Employment Agreement amendment with Stephen Green is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.5; each of such two exhibits are incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. The Employment Agreement amendment with Thomas M. McGeehan is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.6 and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. The foregoing summary of the amendments to the Employment Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibits 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6, respectively.
Employee Incentive Plans and Awards
In connection with, and effective upon, the completion of the Redomestication, GI Delaware assumed the existing liabilities, obligations and duties of GI Cayman under the compensation and equity incentive plans maintained by GI Cayman, whereby GI Delaware assumed (a) (i) the sponsorship of the Global Indemnity Limited 2018 Share Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2018 Share Incentive Plan”) and the other share incentive plans maintained by Global Cayman (together with the 2018 Share Incentive Plan, the “Share Incentive Plans”) and (ii) the then-outstanding awards granted under the Share Incentive Plans, including for purposes of granting future awards under the 2018 Share Incentive Plan in accordance with the terms thereof and (b) the sponsorship of the Global Indemnity Limited Annual Incentive Awards Program (the “AIP”) and the then-outstanding awards granted under the AIP, including for purposes of granting future awards thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof.
Additionally, in connection with, and effective upon, the completion of the Redomestication, GI Delaware amended and restated the 2018 Share Incentive Plan and the AIP (together, the “Plans”) to reflect GI Delaware’s assumption of the sponsorship thereof and other changes deemed necessary or appropriate to reflect the completion of the Redomestication.
Furthermore, in connection with, and effective upon, the completion of the Redomestication, the assumed awards described above were adjusted to cover GI Delaware class A common shares, rather than GI Cayman A ordinary shares, on a one-for-one basis.
The amended and restated 2018 Share Incentive Plan is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.7 and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. The amended and restated AIP is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.8 and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. The foregoing summary of the amendments to the Plans is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibits 10.7 and 10.8, respectively.
Item 8.01. |
Other Events. |
Supplemental Indentures
On August 28, 2020, in connection with the merger of GI Cayman with and into New Cayco, each of GI Cayman, as successor to Global Indemnity plc, an Irish public limited company, GBLI Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, as co-obligor (the “Co-Obligor”), New CayCo, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Original Trustee”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as series trustee of the 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 (the “Series Trustee” and, together with the Original Trustee, the “Trustees”) entered into a Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 28, 2020 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), to the base indenture, dated as of August 12, 2015 (as supplemented, the “Indenture”).
Pursuant to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, New CayCo expressly assumed the obligations of GI Cayman under the Indenture, including the obligations of GI Cayman under the outstanding 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 (the “2047 Notes”) issued pursuant to such Indenture.
On August 28, 2020, in connection with the merger of New Cayco with and into GI Delaware, each of New CayCo, the Co-Obligor, GI Delaware and the Trustees entered into a Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 28, 2020 (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”), to the Indenture.
Pursuant to the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, GI Delaware expressly assumed the obligations of New CayCo under the Indenture, including the obligations of New CayCo under the outstanding 2047 Notes issued pursuant to such Indenture.
The foregoing descriptions of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, as applicable, which are filed as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 hereto and are incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
CUSIP
The CUSIP number for the GI Delaware class A common shares issued in place of the GI Cayman A ordinary shares is 37959R 103 and the CUSIP number for the GI Delaware class B common shares issued in place of the GI Cayman B ordinary shares is 37959R 111. The CUSIP number for the subordinated notes for which obligations related to which were assumed by GI Delaware is 37959R 202.
Press Release
On August 28, 2020, GI Delaware issued a press release announcing the completion of the Redomestication. A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.
Background
The information under the heading “Background” in this Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.
Registration Statements
In connection with the effectiveness of the Redomestication, on the date hereof, (i) GI Delaware expects to file with the SEC Post-Effective Amendments to registration statements on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-225758, 333-225695 and 333-223546) (the “S-3 Post-Effective Amendments”) and (ii) GI Delaware expects to file with the SEC Post-Effective Amendments to registration statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-125175-99, 333-122569-99 and 333-115178-99 (the “S-8 Post-Effective Amendments”).
Pursuant to the S-3 Post-Effective Amendments and the S-8 Post-Effective Amendments, among other things, GI Delaware will expressly adopt the relevant registration statements as its own registration statements for all purposes of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
Item 9.01. |
Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith:
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC | ||||||
Date: August 28, 2020 |
By: |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
||||
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan | ||||||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 3.1
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
SHARE DESIGNATION
WITH RESPECT TO THE
SERIES A CUMULATIVE FIXED RATE
PERPETUAL PREFERRED SHARES
This SHARE DESIGNATION (the Share Designation) of GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), is effective as of the Effective Time (as defined below). Capitalized terms used in this Share Designation without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of August 28, 2020, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the LLC Agreement).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Global Indemnity Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (GI Cayman), has consummated a scheme of arrangement and amalgamation, pursuant to which, at the effective time thereof, GI Cayman merged with and into New CayCo, a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability (New CayCo) and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, with New CayCo continuing as the surviving entity of the merger, and, in consideration therefor, the existing shares of GI Cayman were cancelled and the Company issued to the holders of GI Cayman ordinary shares immediately prior to the merger as set forth therein, and pursuant to the scheme of arrangement and amalgamation, GI Cayman was dissolved (collectively, the Scheme of Arrangement), such that, upon the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective, the existing shareholders of GI Cayman became shareholders of the Company;
WHEREAS, prior to consummation of the Scheme of Arrangement, the board of directors of GI Cayman determined that it would be in the best interests of the shareholders of the Company following the effective time of the Scheme of Arrangement (the Scheme Effective Time) for the Company to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes prior to the Scheme Effective Time, and GI Cayman, in its capacity as the sole member of the Company, adopted that certain Interest Designation for the Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Interests (the Series A Preferred Interests and such Interest Designation, the Interest Designation) and the Company entered into that certain Preferred Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of August 27, 2020 by and between the Company and Wyncote LLC, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold 4,000 Series A Preferred Interests (the Preferred Interest Purchase Agreement);
WHEREAS, in connection with, and in anticipation of, the Scheme of Arrangement, GI Cayman, as the sole member of the Company, adopted the LLC Agreement to become effective at the Effective Time to govern the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business from and after the Effective Time; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 3.2(f) of the LLC Agreement, the Board has adopted this Share Designation to amend and restate in its entirety the Interest Designation and set forth the designation, rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations and obligations of the Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Shares from and after the Effective Time, including the Series A Preferred Interests issued pursuant to the Preferred Interest Purchase Agreement prior to the Scheme Effective Time and previously governed by the Interest Designation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the LLC Agreement is hereby amended, supplemented and modified to establish the Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Shares of the Company and to establish and fix and herein state and express the designation, rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations, and obligations of such Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Shares.
Section 1. Designation. The Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Shares (the Series A Preferred Shares) are hereby designated and created as a series of Preferred Shares of the Company. The Series A Preferred Shares shall constitute limited liability company interests in the Company for all purposes of the Act. The number of Shares constituting such Series A Preferred Shares shall be 4,000. The designation, rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations and obligations of the Series A Preferred Shares shall be as set forth herein, and each holder of Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to all of the rights and preferences of the Series A Preferred Shares represented thereby. For the avoidance of doubt, this Share Designation shall govern the terms of the Series A Preferred Interests issued prior to the Scheme Effective Time pursuant to the Preferred Interests Purchase Agreement, it being understood that all such Series A Preferred Interests shall, from and after the Effective Time, constitute Series A Preferred Shares under the LLC Agreement and this Share Designation.
Section 2. Defined Terms. For purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings.
Capital Account has the meaning set forth in Section 4.
Change of Control means the occurrence of one of the following, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, in each case other than the Scheme of Arrangement and the transactions contemplated thereby:
(a) any person or group (as such terms are defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than any person or group that is (or is a member of a group that constitutes) a Class B Majority Shareholder immediately prior to such transaction or transactions, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of a majority of the total voting power represented by the Companys outstanding equity interests, other than as a result of a transaction in which the holders of equity interests that represented 100% of the total voting power represented by the Companys outstanding equity interests immediately prior to such transaction continue to own (in substantially the same proportion relative to each other as immediately prior to such transaction) directly or indirectly at least a majority of the total voting power of the surviving Person or its Parent Entity immediately following such transaction;
2
(b) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company, or any recapitalization, reclassification or other transaction in which all or substantially all of the equity interests of the Company are exchanged for or converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a transaction following which, in each case, holders of equity interests that represented 100% of the total voting power represented by the Companys outstanding equity interests immediately prior to such transaction continue to own (in substantially the same proportion relative to each other as immediately prior to such transaction) directly or indirectly at least a majority of the total voting power of the surviving Person in such transaction or its Parent Entity immediately following such transaction; or
(c) the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Companys assets to any Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company or a Person that is, or an Affiliate of, a Class B Majority Shareholder); provided, however, that (i) a mortgage, pledge, hypothecation or grant of a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in respect of any indebtedness or other obligations of the Company shall not constitute a Change of Control, (ii) for purposes of this clause (c), substantially all means assets having a net book value (after taking into account any liabilities to which such assets are subject) equal to or greater than eighty percent (80%) of the total Shareholders equity of the Company, as set forth on the latest annual or quarterly consolidated balance sheet of the Company filed with the Commission and (iii) any transaction in the ordinary course of the Companys business shall not constitute a Change of Control.
Change of Control Put Notice has meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
Change of Control Redemption Price has meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
Company has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Deficit Distribution Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(c).
Distribution Date means, the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on September 15, 2020; provided that, if any such date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, any distribution contemplated to occur on such date will occur on the first Business Day following such date (without accrual).
Effective Time shall have the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.
Excess Distribution Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(e).
GI Cayman has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Initial Issuance Date means August 27, 2020.
Liquidation Preference means, with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares on any given date, one thousand ($1,000) U.S. dollars per Series A Preferred Share (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, or similar transactions with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares).
3
LLC Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
New CayCo has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Nonpayment Event has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3(a).
Parent Entity means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which such first Person is a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary.
Preferred Interest Purchase Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Preferred Shares Directors has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3(a).
Preferred Shares Shareholder means each holder of Series A Preferred Shares in its capacity as a holder of such Series A Preferred Shares.
Priority Return has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a).
Redeemable Shares means Series A Preferred Shares for which a Redemption Notice has been given pursuant to Section 7.2(a).
Redemption Date has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
Redemption Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
Scheme Effective Time has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Scheme of Arrangement has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Series A Preferred Interests has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Series A Preferred Shares has the meaning set forth in Section 1.
Share Designation has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Share Redemption Price has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
Targeted Priority Return means, with respect to any Series A Preferred Share as of any date, an amount, determined as of such date, equal to eleven percent (11%) per annum of the sum of the Unreturned Liquidation Preference plus any previously accumulated Unpaid Targeted Priority Return (compounded quarterly at eleven percent (11%) per annum).
Unpaid Priority Return means, with respect to any Series A Preferred Share as of any date, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of Priority Return accrued for such Series A Preferred Share from the Initial Issuance Date through such date (treating the Priority Return accrued for any fiscal year as though it accrued ratably across each quarter of such fiscal year) reduced by the aggregate amount of any cash distributions previously made in respect of such Series A Preferred Share pursuant to Section 5.1(b).
4
Unpaid Targeted Priority Return means, with respect to any Series A Preferred Share, an amount equal to the excess, if any of (i) the aggregate Targeted Priority Return measured from the Initial Issuance Date over (ii) the aggregate amount of cash distributions previously made in respect of such Series A Preferred Share pursuant to Section 5.1(b) in respect of such Series A Preferred Share as calculated immediately after each Distribution Date.
Unreturned Liquidation Preference means, with respect to any Series A Preferred Share, such amount equal to the Liquidation Preference in respect of such Series A Preferred Share reduced by any Excess Distribution Amount that remains outstanding.
Section 3. Ranking.
3.1 For all purposes with respect to the payment of dividends, redemption rights and rights upon liquidation or dissolution of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, unless otherwise expressly set forth in this Share Designation, the Series A Preferred Shares shall rank: (a) senior to the Common Shares and any class or series of preferred Shares that by its terms is designated as ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares; (b) pari passu with any other class or series of preferred Shares that by its terms is designated as ranking equal to the Series A Preferred Shares or does not state that it is junior or senior to the Series A Preferred Shares; and (c) junior to any class or series of preferred Shares that is expressly designated as ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Shares (subject to receipt of any requisite consents prior to any such issuance).
3.2 For the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Shares represent limited liability company interests in the Company and all rights of Preferred Share Shareholders shall be subject and subordinated to the obligations of the Company with respect to any existing or future indebtedness of the Company, and may be contractually subordinated in right of payment to all obligations of the Company with respect to any such indebtedness. The Series A Preferred Shares shall not represent any interest in any Subsidiary of the Company and may be structurally subordinated in right of payment to all obligations of such Subsidiaries, including all existing and future policyholder obligations of such Subsidiaries.
Section 4. Capital Accounts. In accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, there shall be established on the books and records of the Company a separate capital account (a Capital Account) for each Preferred Shares Shareholder. Each Preferred Shares Shareholders initial Capital Account shall be equal to the amount set forth opposite such Preferred Shares Shareholders name as set forth in the books and records of the Company and each such Preferred Shares Shareholders Capital Account shall be maintained by the Company.
Section 5. Distributions.
5.1 Notwithstanding Section 4.3 of the LLC Agreement:
(a) Each Series A Preferred Share shall entitle the holder thereof to a priority return (a Priority Return) each fiscal year equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of (A) the aggregate Targeted Priority Return for such Series A Preferred Share measured from the Initial Issuance Date through and including the end of the applicable fiscal year over (B) the aggregate amount of Priority Return measured from the Initial Issuance Date through and including the end of the previous fiscal year and (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing the Net Income of the Company for such fiscal year by the number of Series A Preferred Shares outstanding as of the Distribution Date.
5
(b) On each Distribution Date, the Company shall make a distribution to each holder of Series A Preferred Shares out of, and subject to a determination by the Board that the Company has on the applicable Distribution Date, funds legally available therefor, payable in cash only, in an amount equal to the estimated amount necessary to reduce the Unpaid Priority Return of each Series A Preferred Share immediately after such Distribution Date to zero. All such distributions shall be made pro rata in relation to each such Series A Preferred Shares Unpaid Priority Return.
(c) For purposes of determining Net Income for each fiscal year in connection with the distributions to be paid on each Distribution Date, the Board shall estimate Net Income for the applicable year as of the applicable Distribution Date and (i) if the actual Net Income for any fiscal year determined in accordance with the LLC Agreement is less than the Net Income for such fiscal year as estimated for purposes of any Distribution Date and, as a result, a holder of Series A Preferred Shares received during such fiscal year (on one or more Distribution Dates), a distribution pursuant to Section 5.1(b) in excess of what such holder would have received pursuant to Section 5.1(a) if such Priority Return was based on the actual Net Income for such fiscal year (an Excess Distribution Amount), such Excess Distribution Amount shall be considered for all purposes to have been an advance made to such holder of Series A Preferred Shares and future distributions made to such holder in respect of such Series A Preferred Shares shall be reduced by such Excess Distribution Amount on a dollar per dollar basis until the Excess Distribution Amount is reduced to zero ($0) and (ii) if the estimated Net Income for any fiscal year is more than the actual Net Income for such fiscal year and as a result, a holder of Series A Preferred Shares received during such fiscal year (on one or more Distribution Dates), a Priority Return that was less than what such holder would have received pursuant to Section 5.1(a) if such Priority Return was based on the actual Net Income for such fiscal year (a Deficit Distribution Amount), such Deficit Distribution Amount shall be considered, for all purposes, Unpaid Priority Return, which shall be deemed to have begun to accrue in such fiscal year in which such Deficit Distribution Amount relates.
(d) The Company will calculate Targeted Priority Return on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360)-day year consisting of twelve (30)-day months. U.S. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half (1/2) cent being rounded upward.
(e) So long as there is any Unpaid Targeted Priority Return, no cash distributions with respect to Shares ranking pari passu with or junior to the Series A Preferred Shares may be made, and no repurchases or redemptions of any such pari passu or junior Shares may be made for cash, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66.67% of the aggregate Unreturned Liquidation Preference represented by the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Shares; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.1(e) shall not apply to any distributions made to the Shareholders in connection with the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, which shall be made in accordance with Section 8 and the applicable provisions of the LLC Agreement .
6
(f) With respect to Series A Preferred Shares that are redeemed, distributions on such Series A Preferred Shares shall cease to accrue after the applicable Redemption Date, unless the Company defaults on the payment of the redemption price of any such Series A Preferred Shares called for redemption.
(g) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Share Designation, distributions may be declared and paid on the Common Shares and other Shares ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares from time to time out of funds legally available therefor, and the Preferred Shares Shareholders will not be entitled to participate in any such distributions in respect of the Series A Preferred Shares that such Preferred Share Shareholders hold.
Section 6. Allocations. Net Income (Loss) (including items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit thereof) of the Company for each fiscal year shall be allocated to each Shareholder among the Capital Accounts of the Shareholders in a manner that as closely as possible gives economic effect to the manner in which distributions are made to the Shareholders pursuant to the distribution and liquidation provisions of this Share Designation and the provisions of Section 4.3 and Section 8.3 of the LLC Agreement. Subject to the foregoing, Net Loss of the Company for each fiscal year shall be allocated first to the Capital Accounts of holders of Common Shares and any holders of junior Preferred Shares, in each case, in respect of such Common Shares or junior Preferred Shares held by such holder, in accordance with Section 4.2 of the LLC Agreement until such holders Capital Accounts have been reduced to zero ($0) U.S. dollars solely with respect to such Common Shares and junior Preferred Shares such holder holds, with only then any remaining Net Loss allocated to holders of the Series A Preferred Shares in respect of such holders Series A Preferred Shares.
Section 7. Optional Redemption.
7.1 The Series A Preferred Shares may not be redeemed (in whole or in part) by the Company prior to the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Initial Issuance Date thereof. From and after the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Initial Issuance Date of the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares shall be redeemable for cash at the Companys option in whole (but not in part), from time to time, at a redemption price per Series A Preferred Share, equal to the sum of (x) the Unreturned Liquidation Preference with respect to such Series A Preferred Shares, plus (y) the Unpaid Targeted Priority Return with respect to such Series A Preferred Shares, in each case of subsection (x) and (y), calculated up to, and including, the Redemption Date (the Share Redemption Price). At any time when a majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares are held by a Class B Majority Shareholder (or any member of a group (as defined in the Exchange Act) that constitutes a Class B Majority Shareholder) or any Affiliate of a Class B Majority Shareholder, the Series A Preferred Shares shall not be redeemed by the Company without prior approval of such redemption by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee.
7
7.2 Any redemption of Series A Preferred Shares by the Company permitted under Section 7.1 shall be conducted in accordance with this Section 7.2.
(a) The Company shall, no later than thirty (30) days before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to each Preferred Shares Shareholder at its last address designated on the records of the Company, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier of national reputation (a Redemption Notice). The Redemption Notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed and shall specify the number of Series A Preferred Shares held by such Preferred Shares Shareholder that are subject to such redemption, the date fixed for redemption (the Redemption Date), the Share Redemption Price, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon the redemption of the Redeemable Shares and that on and after the Redemption Date no further allocations or distributions to which such Preferred Shares Shareholder would otherwise be entitled to in respect of the Redeemable Shares will accrue or be made, unless the Company defaults on the payment of the Interest Redemption Price of any such Series A Preferred Shares called for redemption, in which case only such Series A Preferred Shares that were the subject of such payment default shall not be considered redeemed and shall continue to remain outstanding and continue to have the rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations and obligations of Series A Preferred Shares, including to allocations and distributions as provided herein, until such Series A Preferred Shares have been redeemed by the Company pursuant to the terms hereof.
(b) After the Redemption Date, the Redeemable Shares shall no longer constitute a Share in the Company that is reflected as outstanding on the Companys books and records, unless the Company defaults on the payment of the Interest Redemption Price of any such Series A Preferred Shares called for redemption, in which case only such Series A Preferred Shares that were the subject of such payment default shall not be considered redeemed and shall continue to remain outstanding and have the rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations and obligations of Series A Preferred Shares, as provided herein, up until such Series A Preferred Shares have been redeemed by the Company pursuant to the terms hereof.
7.3 Any redemption of the Series A Preferred Shares made by the Company pursuant to this Section 7 shall be effected only out of funds legally available for such purpose.
Section 8. Liquidation Rights.
8.1 Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Company legally available for distribution to the Shareholders, before any distribution is made to holders of Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares, a liquidating distribution in an amount equal to the sum of the Unpaid Priority Return and the Unreturned Liquidation Preference with respect to such Series A Preferred Share. After payment to the holders of Series A Preferred Shares of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which the holders of Series A Preferred Shares are entitled, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall not have any right or claim in respect of the Series A Preferred Shares or to any of the Companys remaining assets.
8
8.2 Distributions to holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall be made only to the extent that the Companys assets are available after satisfaction of all liabilities to creditors and subject to the rights of holders of any securities ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Shares. If, in the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Company is unable to pay in full liquidating distributions to the holders of Series A Preferred Shares in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 8 and to pay all holders of securities ranking pari passu to the Series A Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms thereof, then the Company shall distribute its assets to those holders ratably in proportion to the liquidating distributions which they would otherwise have received.
8.3 For purposes of this Share Designation, subject to Section 9, the Companys merger or consolidation with or into any other entity or by another entity with or into the Company, or the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the Companys assets (for cash, securities or other consideration) shall not be deemed a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. If the Company enters into any merger or consolidation transaction with or into any other entity and the Company is not the surviving entity in such transaction, then the Series A Preferred Shares may be converted into equity interests of the surviving or successor entity or the direct or indirect parent of the surviving or successor entity having terms identical to the terms of the Series A Preferred Shares.
Section 9. Change of Control.
9.1 Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of the Series A Preferred Shares may, at its election and upon written notice to the Company (a Change of Control Put Notice) require the Company to redeem all (but not less than all) of such holders Series A Preferred Shares at a redemption price per Series A Preferred Share equal to the sum of (a) the Unreturned Liquidation Preference in respect of such Series A Preferred Share, plus (b) the Unpaid Priority Return in respect of such Series A Preferred Share, in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b) of this sentence, calculated through the date of the occurrence of such Change of Control (the Change of Control Redemption Price). The Company shall provide each holder of Series A Preferred Shares notice of (i) the occurrence of any Change of Control and (ii) the execution by the Company or its Parent Entity of a definitive agreement providing for any Change of Control, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), as promptly as reasonably practicable, and in any event within two Business Days of such event. To receive the Change of Control Redemption Price, any holder of the Series A Preferred Shares must surrender to the Company or its transfer agent, in accordance with instructions delivered by the Company, the Series A Preferred Shares subject to such Change of Control Put Notice.
9.2 After delivery of a Change of Control Put Notice, the Series A Preferred Shares subject to such Change of Control Put Notice shall no longer constitute a Share in the Company that is reflected as outstanding on the Companys books and records, unless the Company defaults on the payment of the Change of Control Redemption Price of any such Series A Preferred Shares required to be redeemed, in which case only such Series A Preferred Shares that were the subject of such payment default shall not be considered redeemed and shall continue to remain outstanding and have the rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations and obligations of Series A Preferred Shares, as provided herein, up until such Series A Preferred Shares have been redeemed by the Company pursuant to the terms hereof.
9
9.3 Any redemption of the Series A Preferred Shares made by the Company pursuant to this Section 9 shall be effected only out of funds legally available for such purpose. If the Company does not have sufficient funds legally available for such purpose, the Company shall (a) redeem, pro rata among the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, a number of Series A Preferred Shares with an aggregate Change of Control Redemption Price equal to the amount of funds legally available for such purpose and (b) redeem any Series A Preferred Shares not redeemed because of the foregoing limitations at the applicable Change of Control Redemption Price as soon as practicable after the Company is able to make such redemption out of funds legally available for such purpose.
Section 10. Voting Rights; Director Appointment and Other Rights.
10.1 Non-Voting. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Share Designation, Series A Preferred Shares shall not entitle the holder thereof to vote on any matter upon which Shareholders are permitted or have the right to vote under the LLC Agreement or the Act, including with respect to any merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company, any dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company and any amendment to this Agreement or the Certificate of Formation.
10.2 Certain Consents and Approvals. Notwithstanding Section 10.1, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66.67% of the aggregate Unreturned Liquidation Preference represented by the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Shares shall be required for (a) the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Shares (or security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Shares as to distribution rights or rights upon the Companys liquidation, winding up or dissolution and (b) amendments to the LLC Agreement that would materially adversely affect the rights of holders of the Series A Preferred Shares.
10.3 Board Designation Rights.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 10.1, whenever the Unpaid Targeted Priority Return with respect to any Series A Preferred Share shall have exceeded zero (0) immediately following six (6) or more Distribution Dates, whether or not such Distribution Dates occur consecutively (collectively, a Nonpayment Event), the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares shall be, as of such date, entitled to appoint a total of two (2) additional members to the Board (the Preferred Shares Directors) by the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66.67% of the aggregate Unreturned Liquidation Preference represented by the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Shares. The Board shall take, and cause the Companys officers to take, any and all necessary actions to effectuate such appointment(s), including, for the avoidance of doubt, expanding the size of the Board and providing all notices to Shareholders as may be required pursuant to any obligations of the Company under applicable Law. Preferred Shares Directors shall only be removed from office, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66.67% of the aggregate Unreturned Liquidation Preference represented by the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, upon delivery of notice thereof to the Chairman of the Board, if there be one, or to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. No other Shareholder (or any other Person) shall have the power or authority to remove any Preferred Shares Director from office at any time or for any reason. For the
10
avoidance of doubt, the Preferred Shares Directors, shall serve in addition to, and not in replacement of, the Directors who sit on the Board as of such date. Except as otherwise specified in this Share Designation, the Preferred Shares Directors have identical rights and authorities to each other Director on the Board, in such Directors capacity as a board member and, in each case, as are specified in the LLC Agreement or otherwise determined in accordance therewith or by the Act.
(b) If, at any point following a Nonpayment Event the Unpaid Targeted Priority Return with respect to all Series A Preferred Shares shall have been reduced to zero (0) for four (4) consecutive Distribution Dates, then:
(i) the term of office of each Preferred Shares Director so elected shall terminate immediately;
(ii) the holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall no longer be entitled to appoint any Preferred Shares Directors pursuant to Section 10.3(a); and
(iii) such Preferred Shares Directors shall automatically be removed from the Board without replacement;
provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any subsequent Nonpayment Event shall entitle the holders of Series A Preferred Shares to the rights set forth in Section 10.3(a), subject, in each case, to Section 10.3(b).
Section 11. Conversion. The Series A Preferred Shares are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property of the Company.
Section 12. Other Terms Applicable to Shares; No Other Rights. For the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Shares constitute Shares, and the holders of Series A Preferred Shares constitute Shareholders, for all purposes of the LLC Agreement and, to the extent not otherwise set forth in this Share Designation, all rights, restrictions and obligations with respect to Shares and Shareholders set forth in the LLC Agreement shall apply to the Series A Preferred Shares and the holders thereof. The Series A Preferred Shares shall not have any designations, preferences, rights, powers or duties except as set forth in the LLC Agreement or this Share Designation, or as otherwise required by applicable Law.
Section 13. Miscellaneous.
13.1 Tax Treatment. If and to the extent one or more additional Shareholders have been admitted to the Company as Shareholders, pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement in connection with the sale of the Series A Preferred Shares, the Company shall, automatically upon the admittance of one or more additional Shareholders, be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the Shareholders and the Company shall make any and all necessary elections and filings for the Company to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (as well as for any analogous state or local tax purposes).
11
13.2 Amendments; Successors and Assigns.
(a) Any and all amendments to this Share Designation shall require the prior approval of, and may be proposed only by, the Board. Any such amendment that would require the approval of Shareholders pursuant to Article IX of the LLC Agreement shall require the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66.67% of the aggregate Unreturned Liquidation Preference represented by the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board, without the approval of any Preferred Shares Shareholder, may amend any provision of this Share Designation, and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record any documents that may be required in connection therewith, to reflect any matter set forth in Section 9.2 of the LLC Agreement, to the extent that any such matter relates to the Series A Preferred Shares or the terms of this Share Designation.
(b) This Share Designation shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares and their respective successors, assigns, representatives, executors, beneficiaries, administrators, heirs, and agents.
13.3 Inconsistencies. To the extent that any provision of this Share Designation conflicts with or is inconsistent with the LLC Agreement, this Share Designation shall control and this Share Designation shall be deemed, for all purposes, to amend, supplement and modify the LLC Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof.
13.4 Severability. If any provision of this Share Designation is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability; provided, however, that the remaining provisions will continue in full force without being impaired or invalidated in any way unless such invalid or unenforceable provision or clause shall be so significant as to materially affect the expectations of the Shareholders regarding this Share Designation. Otherwise, any invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by the Shareholders with a valid provision which most closely approximates the intent and economic effect of the invalid or unenforceable provision.
13.5 Governing Law; Disputes. This Shares Designation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflict of law principles. All Disputes shall be subject to Section 12.10 of the LLC Agreement.
12
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, has executed this Share Designation as of the date first written above.
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
|
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 3.2
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I |
|
|||||
DEFINITIONS |
|
|||||
Section 1.1 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
Section 1.2 |
Construction | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
|
|||||
ORGANIZATION |
|
|||||
Section 2.1 |
Formation | 9 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Name | 9 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Registered Office; Registered Agent; Other Offices | 9 | ||||
Section 2.4 |
Purposes | 9 | ||||
Section 2.5 |
Powers | 9 | ||||
Section 2.6 |
Certificate of Formation | 9 | ||||
Section 2.7 |
Power of Attorney | 10 | ||||
Section 2.8 |
Term | 11 | ||||
Section 2.9 |
Title to Company Assets | 11 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
|
|||||
SHAREHOLDERS AND SHARES |
|
|||||
Section 3.1 |
Shareholders | 11 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Shares | 12 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Certificates | 14 | ||||
Section 3.4 |
Record Holders | 14 | ||||
Section 3.5 |
Registration and Transfer of Shares | 15 | ||||
Section 3.6 |
Restrictions on Transfer | 15 | ||||
Section 3.7 |
Required Sale of Shares | 16 | ||||
Section 3.8 |
Transmission of Shares. | 16 | ||||
Section 3.9 |
Splits and Combinations | 17 | ||||
Section 3.10 |
Fractional Shares. | 17 | ||||
Section 3.11 |
Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Shares | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE IV |
|
|||||
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS |
|
|||||
Section 4.1 |
Establishment and Maintenance of Capital Accounts | 17 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Allocations | 18 | ||||
Section 4.3 |
Distributions to Record Holders | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE V |
|
|||||
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS |
|
|||||
Section 5.1 |
Power and Authority of Board of Directors | 21 | ||||
Section 5.2 |
Number, Qualification, Term and Election of Directors | 23 | ||||
Section 5.3 |
Appointment of Designated Directors. | 24 |
i
Section 5.4 |
Resignations and Removals of Directors | 24 | ||||
Section 5.5 |
Vacancies | 24 | ||||
Section 5.6 |
Meetings | 25 | ||||
Section 5.7 |
Organization | 25 | ||||
Section 5.8 |
Quorum | 25 | ||||
Section 5.9 |
Nomination of Directors | 26 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Actions of the Board by Consent | 26 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
Meeting by Means of Conference Telephone | 26 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Committees | 26 | ||||
Section 5.13 |
Attorneys; Authorized Signatories | 27 | ||||
Section 5.14 |
Compensation | 27 | ||||
Section 5.15 |
Elimination of Fiduciary Duties; Standard of Conduct | 27 | ||||
Section 5.16 |
Exculpation and Indemnification | 28 | ||||
Section 5.17 |
Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Interested Directors | 30 | ||||
Section 5.18 |
Loans and Contributions Between Group Members | 32 | ||||
Section 5.19 |
Officers | 32 | ||||
Section 5.20 |
Business Opportunities | 32 | ||||
Section 5.21 |
Reliance by Third Parties | 33 | ||||
ARTICLE VI |
|
|||||
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS |
|
|||||
Section 6.1 |
Records and Accounting | 34 | ||||
Section 6.2 |
Fiscal Year | 34 | ||||
Section 6.3 |
Reports; Confidential Information | 34 | ||||
ARTICLE VII |
|
|||||
TAX MATTERS |
|
|||||
Section 7.1 |
Tax Returns and Information | 34 | ||||
Section 7.2 |
Tax Elections | 35 | ||||
Section 7.3 |
Withholding | 35 | ||||
Section 7.4 |
Partnership Representative | 35 | ||||
Section 7.5 |
Relief from Inadvertent Terminations as a Partnership | 35 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII |
|
|||||
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION |
|
|||||
Section 8.1 |
Dissolution | 36 | ||||
Section 8.2 |
Liquidator | 36 | ||||
Section 8.3 |
Liquidation | 36 | ||||
Section 8.4 |
Cancellation of Certificate of Formation | 37 | ||||
Section 8.5 |
No Right to Return of Contributions | 37 | ||||
Section 8.6 |
Waiver of Partition | 37 | ||||
Section 8.7 |
Capital Account Restoration | 37 | ||||
ARTICLE IX |
|
|||||
AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT |
|
|||||
Section 9.1 |
General | 37 | ||||
Section 9.2 |
Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Board of Directors | 38 | ||||
Section 9.3 |
Additional Amendment Requirements | 39 |
ii
ARTICLE X |
|
|||||
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, CONVERSION OR DIVISION; SALE OF ASSETS |
|
|||||
Section 10.1 |
Authority | 39 | ||||
Section 10.2 |
Approval of Merger, Consolidation, Conversion, Division or Sale of All or Substantially All of the Companys Assets | 40 | ||||
Section 10.3 |
Amendment of Agreement | 40 | ||||
ARTICLE XI |
|
|||||
SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS |
|
|||||
Section 11.1 |
Shareholder Meetings | 41 | ||||
Section 11.2 |
Notice of Meetings | 42 | ||||
Section 11.3 |
Adjournments | 42 | ||||
Section 11.4 |
Quorum | 42 | ||||
Section 11.5 |
Voting | 42 | ||||
Section 11.6 |
Proxies | 43 | ||||
Section 11.7 |
List of Shareholders Entitled to Vote | 43 | ||||
Section 11.8 |
Record Date | 43 | ||||
Section 11.9 |
Register | 44 | ||||
Section 11.10 |
Actions of the Shareholders By Consent | 44 | ||||
Section 11.11 |
Conduct of Meetings | 44 | ||||
Section 11.12 |
Inspectors of Election | 44 | ||||
Section 11.13 |
Nature of Business at Meeting of Shareholders | 45 | ||||
Section 11.14 |
Nomination of Directors by Shareholders | 46 | ||||
ARTICLE XII |
|
|||||
GENERAL PROVISIONS |
|
|||||
Section 12.1 |
Notices | 48 | ||||
Section 12.2 |
Entities Acting by Representatives at Meetings | 49 | ||||
Section 12.3 |
Further Action | 49 | ||||
Section 12.4 |
Binding Effect | 49 | ||||
Section 12.5 |
Integration | 49 | ||||
Section 12.6 |
Creditors | 49 | ||||
Section 12.7 |
Waiver | 49 | ||||
Section 12.8 |
Counterparts | 49 | ||||
Section 12.9 |
Applicable Law | 49 | ||||
Section 12.10 |
Arbitration | 50 | ||||
Section 12.11 |
Invalidity of Provisions | 51 | ||||
Section 12.12 |
Consent of Shareholders | 51 | ||||
Section 12.13 |
Headings | 51 | ||||
Section 12.14 |
Confidentiality | 51 |
iii
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), is effective as of the Effective Time, among each Person who is or becomes a Shareholder of the Company from time to time. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in Section 1.1.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2020, the Company was formed in accordance with the Delaware Act by the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Formation of the Company by Global Indemnity Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (GI Cayman), as the Companys initial sole member, and by GI Caymans entry into a written limited liability company agreement, dated as of June 23, 2020, governing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business (the Initial LLC Agreement);
WHEREAS, on June 26, 2020, GI Cayman filed a petition with the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (the Cayman Court), seeking the Cayman Courts sanction of a proposed scheme of arrangement and amalgamation, pursuant to which, at the effective time thereof, GI Cayman will merge with and into New CayCo, a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (New CayCo), with New CayCo continuing as the surviving entity of the merger, and in consideration therefor, the existing shares of GI Cayman will be cancelled and the Company shall issue to the holders of GI Cayman ordinary shares immediately prior to the merger an equal number of Shares on the following basis: for each GI Cayman A ordinary share cancelled, one Class A Common Share of the Company will be issued; and for each GI Cayman B ordinary share cancelled, one Class B Common Share of the Company will be issued, and pursuant to the scheme of arrangement and amalgamation, GI Cayman will be dissolved (collectively, the Scheme of Arrangement), such that, upon the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective, the existing shareholders of GI Cayman shall be the Shareholders of the Company;
WHEREAS, on July 16, 2020, GI Cayman amended and restated the Initial LLC Agreement (the First Amended and Restated LLC Agreement) to provide, among other things, for the management of the Company by a board of directors;
WHEREAS, on August 26, 2020, the Cayman Court sanctioned the Scheme of Arrangement;
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation by the Company and GI Cayman of the transactions contemplated by the Scheme of Arrangement, and pursuant to and in accordance with Section 9.2 of the First Amended and Restated LLC Agreement, GI Cayman desires to amend and restate the First Amended and Restated LLC Agreement in its entirety on the terms set forth herein, effective as of the Effective Time, with this Agreement to govern the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business from and after the Effective Time.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Shareholders agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
1
Adjusted Capital Account means, with respect to any Shareholder, the Capital Account maintained for such Shareholder as of the end of the applicable fiscal year of the Company after giving effect to the following adjustments: (a) credit to such Capital Account any amounts that such Shareholder is obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and (b) debit to such Capital Account such Shareholders share of the items described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6). This definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
Adverse Consequence has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.6(a).
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Person in question. As used herein, the term control means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Agreement means this Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Global Indemnity Group, LLC, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
Agreement and Plan of Merger or Consolidation has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1.
Appraised Value means, with respect to any Common Share(s) as of any specified date, the fair market value of such Common Share(s) as of such date, as determined by an independent, third-party appraisal firm selected by the Board and retained by the Company pursuant to Section 3.7.
Attorney has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.
Attorney-in-Fact has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.7(a).
Authorized Signatory has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.
Board of Directors or Board has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1(a).
Business Day means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Pennsylvania shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
Capital Account has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.1.
Capital Contribution means any cash, cash equivalents or the gross fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of any property or asset that a Shareholder contributes to the Company, with the approval of the Board of Directors, pursuant to this Agreement.
Carrying Value means, with respect to any Company asset, the assets adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Company by a Shareholder shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the Board of Directors, and the Carrying Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Share by any new or existing Shareholders in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Company assets to a Shareholder; (c) the date a Share is relinquished to the Company; or (d) any other date specified in the Treasury Regulations; provided, however, that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors to reflect the relative economic interests of the Shareholders. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of Net Income (Loss) rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.
2
Cayman Court has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
Certificate means a certificate (a) in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (b) in such other form as may be adopted by the Board of Directors, issued by the Company evidencing ownership of one or more Shares; provided, however, that the Shares shall not be certificated unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Certificate of Formation means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 2.6, as such Certificate of Formation may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
Chairman of the Board has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.2(c).
Class A Common Share means a Share in the Company designated as a Class A Common Share.
Class B Common Share means a Share in the Company designated as a Class B Common Share.
Class B Majority Shareholder means any Person or group (as defined in the Exchange Act) that, together with their respective Affiliates (and each of their respective successors), holds, beneficially or of record, (i) a majority of the Outstanding Class B Common Shares and (ii) Shares representing, in the aggregate, at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power represented by the Companys Outstanding Voting Shares.
Class B Majority Shareholder Percentage means, at any time that there shall be a Class B Majority Shareholder, such percentage of the aggregate voting power of the Companys Outstanding Voting Shares as shall be represented by the total number of Shares then held (of record or beneficially) by such Class B Majority Shareholder.
Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor Law.
Commission means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Shares means any Shares that are not Preferred Shares, and for the avoidance of doubt, includes Class A Common Shares and Class B Common Shares.
Company has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble.
Company Group means the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company.
Conflict Matter has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.17(a).
Company Minimum Gain means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
Conflicts Committee means a committee of the Board of Directors composed solely of Disinterested Directors.
3
Conversion Date has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.2(e).
Conversion Holder has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.2(e).
Conversion Ratio means, as of the Effective Time, 1:1, but shall be subject to adjustment following the Effective Time for any share distribution or forward or reverse share splits of Class A Common Shares, or any split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or other similar transaction affecting the number or composition of the Class A Common Shares, in each case, where the Class B Common Shares are not proportionately affected thereby.
Covered Person means each current and former Director (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each Designated Director), Chairman of the Board and Partnership Representative (and, if applicable, any designated individual within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 301.6223-1(b)(3)(ii)), each Class B Majority Shareholder (including any member of a group (as defined in the Exchange Act) constituting a Class B Majority Shareholder), and each of their respective Affiliates and successors, and any director, officer, stockholder, member, manager, partner, employee or representative of any of the foregoing.
Delaware Act means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. Section 18-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
Depositary means, with respect to any Shares issued in global form, DTC and its successors and permitted assigns.
Derivative Securities means any options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights or other securities whose value is derived, directly or indirectly, from Shares.
Designated Director Notice has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.3(a).
Designated Directors has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.3(a).
Director means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company; and Directors shall constitute managers of the Company within the meaning of, and for all purposes of, the Delaware Act.
Disinterested Director means a Director who, as of the date of Special Approval of any matter by the Conflicts Committee pursuant to Section 5.17, has not, and whose Family Members have not, during the three (3) year period immediately preceding the date of such Special Approval, been employed by or accepted any compensation in excess of $120,000 during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months within such three (3) year period from the Director or Shareholder (or their respective Affiliates) who is a party to the transaction or other matter that is the subject of such Special Approval, other than (i) compensation for board or board committee service, (ii) compensation paid to a Family Member who is an employee (other than an executive officer) of such Director or Shareholder (or their Affiliates), and (iii) benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan, or non-discretionary compensation.
Dispute has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.10(a).
Economic Risk of Loss has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
Effective Time means such date and time at which the Companys Shares are issued to the shareholders of GI Cayman upon consummation of the Scheme of Arrangement.
electronic signature means an electronic symbol or process that is attached to, or logically associated with, a document and executed or adopted by a Person with an intent to authenticate or adopt such document.
4
electronic transmission means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Executive Officer means each of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each Executive Vice President.
Fair Value means, with respect to any Shares (or fraction thereof) as of a specified date, (a) if such Shares are not traded on any National Securities Exchange, the fair market value per Share as determined by the Board of Directors or (b) if such Shares are traded on any National Securities Exchange, the last sales price per Share as of the close of trading of such National Securities Exchange or, if there is no such last sales price, the average of the bid and ask price per such Share, in each case, for the eight (8) trading days prior to such date.
Family Member means, with respect to any individual, such individuals spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers- and fathers-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares such individuals home.
First Amended and Restated LLC Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals hereto.
Fraud means, with respect to any Person, an intentional misrepresentation of material facts or an intentional omission or concealment of material facts by such Person, in each case (i) where such misrepresentation, omission or concealment is made by such Person with (x) actual knowledge or belief that such representation was materially false or such omission or concealment was material (i.e., scienter) and (y) the intention to induce another Person to act or refrain from acting, and (ii) where such other Person acted or failed to act in justifiable reliance upon such misrepresentation, omission or concealment, resulting in material damage to such other Person.
GI Cayman has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals hereto.
Governmental Entity means any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof.
Group Member means a member of the Company Group.
Identified Persons has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.20(b).
Indemnified Person means each current and former (i) Director (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each Designated Director) and Executive Officer of the Company (and each current and former director and executive officer of the Companys predecessors (including GI Cayman)), (ii) Chairman of the Board (acting in such capacity), (iii) Class B Majority Shareholder (including any member of a group (as defined in the Exchange Act) constituting a Class B Majority Shareholder) and each of their respective Affiliates and successors, and any director, officer, stockholder, member, manager, partner, employee or representative of any of the foregoing, (iv) Partnership Representative (and, if applicable, any designated individual within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 301.6223-1(b)(3)(ii)) and (v) any other Officer or other Person that may be designated by the Board of Directors from time to time as an Indemnified Person for purposes of this Agreement.
Independent Director means a Director meeting the applicable requirements established by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and the requirements of Rule 5605 (a)(2) of the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules or the rules of such other National Securities Exchange on which the Companys Shares shall be listed for trading.
5
Initial LLC Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals hereto.
IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
JAMS has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.10(a).
Law means any federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other law (including common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule or regulation or other requirement enacted, promulgated, issued, entered or put into effect by a Governmental Entity.
Liquidator means the Board of Directors or such other Person or Persons selected by the Board of Directors to perform the functions described in Section 8.3 in connection with the winding up of the Company.
National Securities Exchange means the Nasdaq National Market, or such other securities exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act on which the Companys Shares shall be listed for trading from time to time.
Net Income (Loss) for any tax year, means the taxable income or loss of the Company for such period as determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments; (i) any income of the Company that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income (Loss) shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (ii) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any depreciation, amortization or gain resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (iii) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; and (iv) any expenditures of the Company not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income (Loss) pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.
New CayCo has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
New York Court has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.10(h).
Non-Employee Directors has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.20(a).
Nonrecourse Deductions means any and all items of loss, deduction, or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
Nonrecourse Liability has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
Officers has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.19(a).
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion of counsel to the Company (who may be regular counsel to the Company or any of its Affiliates) selected by the Board of Directors.
Outstanding means, with respect to any Shares, as of any date, all of such Shares that are issued by the Company and reflected as outstanding in the records of the Transfer Agent (with respect to Class A Common Shares) or the Company (with respect to any other Shares) as of such date.
Partnership Representative has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.4(a).
Person means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership (including a limited partnership), joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, association, organization, custodian, nominee, Governmental Entity or other entity (or series thereof).
6
Plan of Conversion has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1.
Plan of Division has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1.
Preferred Shares means a class or series of Shares that entitles the holders thereof to a preference or priority over the holders of any other class or series of Shares in (a) the right to share in Company distributions, or (b) rights upon dissolution or liquidation of the Company.
Purchase Notice means a notice of a determination of the Board of Directors to either (i) redeem a Shareholders Shares, or (ii) require a Shareholder to sell Shares to the Company or such other Person as the Board of Directors shall determine, in each case, pursuant to Section 3.7, which notice shall specify the date on which any such Shares are to be redeemed or purchased and the price at which such Shares are to be redeemed or purchased.
Record Date means the date established by the Board of Directors for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders of Shares entitled to (i) notice of, attend and vote at any meeting of Shareholders, (ii) act by consent of Shareholders, (iii) receive any distribution of cash or other assets that may be declared by the Board or (iv) participate in any subdivision, combination, split recapitalization or any offer to holders of such Shares or (b) the identity of the Record Holders for any other purpose.
Record Holder or holder means (a) with respect to any Class A Common Share, the Person in whose name such Share is registered on the books of the Company or Transfer Agent, as applicable, as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, and (b) with respect to any Share of any other class or series, the Person in whose name such Share is registered on the books that the Company has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day.
Required Allocations means (a) any limitation imposed on any allocation of Net Loss under Section 4.2(a) and (b) any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Sections 4.2(b)(i), 4.2(b)(ii), 4.2(b)(iii), 4.2(b)(vi) or 4.2(b)(viii).
Required Sale has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(c).
Required Seller has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(b).
Revised Audit Rules means the revised partnership audit rules under the United States Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 and any sections of the Code or Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and with respect thereto, each as amended from time to time, and any similar state and local rules and regulations.
Rules has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.10(a).
Scheme of Arrangement has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Share means a share issued by the Company that evidences a Shareholders rights, powers (including voting power), preferences, limitations, restrictions, qualifications, duties and obligations with respect to the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the Delaware Act. The Shares of the Company shall constitute limited liability company interests of the Company within the meaning of, and for all purposes of, the Delaware Act. Shares may be Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and may be issued in different classes or series.
Share Designation has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.2(f).
Shareholder means each Record Holder of a Share. The Shareholders shall constitute members the Company within the meaning of, and for all purposes of, the Delaware Act.
7
Shareholder Approval means approval of any matter by holders of Class A Common Shares and Class B Common Shares (and any other Voting Shares), voting together as a single class, either (A) at a meeting of Shareholders at which a quorum is present, upon the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the votes cast or (B) by action by consent of the Shareholders, acting pursuant to Section 11.10, upon consent of holders of a majority of the voting power represented by all Outstanding Class A Common Shares and Class B Common Shares (and any other Voting Shares), in each case of clauses (A) and (B), with (i) each Class A Common Share entitling the Record Holder thereof to cast one (1) vote for such Class A Common Share held and (ii) each Class B Common Share entitling the Record Holder thereof to cast ten (10) votes for such Class B Common Share held.
Shareholder Nonrecourse Debt has the meaning of partner nonrecourse debt as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
Shareholder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain has the meaning of partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
Shareholder Nonrecourse Deductions means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Shareholder Nonrecourse Debt
Special Approval means, with respect to any transaction, activity, arrangement, circumstance, or other matter: (a) approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee, or (b) compliance with any rules or guidelines established by the Conflicts Committee with respect to categories of transactions, activities, arrangements, circumstances or other matters that are deemed approved by the Conflicts Committee.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person (i) holds or otherwise controls the voting of, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting equity interests of such Person or (ii) is or has the power, by contract or otherwise, directly or indirectly, to designate the sole general partner, manager, managing member or other governing body of such Person.
Surviving Business Entity has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.3.
transfer means, with respect to a Share, a transaction by which the Record Holder of a Share assigns such Share to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by Law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.
Transfer Agent means, with respect to Class A Common Shares (or any other class or series of Shares issued after the Effective Time that are listed on a National Securities Exchange), such bank, trust company or other Person (including the Company or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the Company to act as registrar and transfer agent for such class or series of Shares; provided that, if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for such class or series of Shares, the Company shall act in such capacity for such class or series.
Treasury Regulations means one or more United States Department of Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, whether such regulations are in proposed, temporary or final form, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
Voting Shares means the Class A Common Shares, the Class B Common Shares and any other class or series of Shares issued after the Effective Time that entitles the Record Holder thereof to vote on any matter submitted for consent or approval of Shareholders under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, in each case, with (i) each Class A Common Share entitling the Record Holder thereof to cast one (1) vote for such Class A Common Share held and (ii) each Class B Common Share entitling the Record Holder thereof to cast ten (10) votes for such Class B Common Share held).
8
Section 1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the term include or includes means includes, without limitation, and including means including, without limitation; (d) the terms herein, hereof and hereunder (and terms of similar import) are references to this Agreement in its entirety, and not to any particular provision; (e) the word may shall be construed as permissive and the word shall shall be construed as imperative; and (f) the terms in writing, written communications, written notice, and words of similar import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of email and other forms of electronic communication or transmission.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation. The Company has been formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The rights, powers (including voting power), limitations, restrictions, duties and obligations of the Shareholders, in their capacity as such (including with respect to their interest in the Company and the Shares), and the governance, management and internal affairs of the Company, shall be governed exclusively by this Agreement, except to the extent required otherwise by mandatory, non-waivable provisions of the Delaware Act. All Shares shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes, and no Shareholder shall have any interest in any Company property.
Section 2.2 Name. The name of the Company shall be Global Indemnity Group, LLC, and the Companys business shall be conducted under such name and any other name or names as may be determined by the Board of Directors from time to time. The Board of Directors may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time, without the approval of Shareholders, by filing an amendment to the Certificate of Formation (and upon such filing, this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended to change the name of the Company) and shall notify the Shareholders of such change by means of a filing with the Commission.
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Other Offices. The registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be located at 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808, and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company, unless and until changed by the Board of Directors by filing an amendment to the Certificate of Formation (and upon such filing, this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended to change the registered office and registered agent of the Company). The Company may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 2.4 Purposes. The purposes of the Company shall be to (a) conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, any business, purpose or activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited liability company formed pursuant to the Delaware Act, and (b) conduct any and all activities related or incidental to the foregoing purposes.
Section 2.5 Powers. The Company shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Company.
Section 2.6 Certificate of Formation. The Certificate of Formation has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act, such filing being hereby confirmed, ratified and approved in all respects. To the extent that the Board of Directors determines that any filing or other action is necessary or appropriate for the Companys continuation, qualification and operation as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Company may elect to do business or own property, the Board of Directors shall direct the appropriate Officers to make such filings or take such other actions that are necessary or appropriate, and any such Officer so directed shall be an authorized person of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Act for purposes of filing any such certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Company shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Formation, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Shareholder.
9
Section 2.7 Power of Attorney.
(a) Each Shareholder hereby constitutes and appoints each of the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary, any Director and, if a Liquidator shall have been appointed pursuant to Section 8.2, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) (each, an Attorney-in-Fact) and each of their authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as such Shareholders true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in such Shareholders name, place and stead, to:
(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices:
(1) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments and restatements hereof or thereof) relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Shareholder pursuant to, or other events described in, this Agreement;
(2) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that such Attorney-in-Fact determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property;
(3) all certificates, documents and other instruments that such Attorney-in-Fact determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Article IX;
(4) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that such Attorney-in-Fact determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution, liquidation and termination of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
(5) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Shares issued pursuant to Section 3.2; and
(6) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger, division, conversion or consolidation) relating to a merger, division, consolidation or conversion of the Company pursuant to Article X; and
(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (1) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Shareholders hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (2) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, that when any provision of this Agreement requires the Shareholders of any class or series to take any action, an Attorney-in-Fact may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.7(a)(ii) to take such action, only after the necessary vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action of the Shareholders or of the Shareholders of such class or series, as applicable.
10
(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Shareholder and the transfer of all or any portion of such Shareholders Shares and shall extend to such Shareholders heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each Shareholder hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by any Attorney-in-Fact, acting pursuant to such power of attorney; and each Shareholder, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of any Attorney-in-Fact, taken under such power of attorney in accordance with this Section 2.7. Each Shareholder shall execute and deliver to an Attorney-in-Fact, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as any such Attorney-in-Fact determines to be necessary or appropriate to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Company.
Section 2.8 Term. The Companys term shall be perpetual, unless and until it is dissolved in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII. The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Formation as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 2.9 Title to Company Assets. Title to Company assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Shareholder, Director or Officer, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in any Company assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Company assets may be held in the name of the Company or one or more nominees, as the Board of Directors may determine. All Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Company assets is held.
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS AND SHARES
Section 3.1 Shareholders.
(a) A Person shall be admitted as a Shareholder and shall automatically become bound by the terms, restrictions, duties, obligations and conditions of this Agreement immediately upon such Persons purchase or other acquisition of any Share in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, without any requirement that such Person execute this Agreement. A Person may become a Shareholder without the consent or approval of any of the Shareholders. A Person may not become a Shareholder without acquiring a Share.
(b) The name and address (including email address) of each Shareholder shall be listed on the books and records of the Company or, with respect to the Class A Common Shares, the Transfer Agent, maintained for such purpose. The Secretary of the Company or the Transfer Agent, as applicable, shall update such books and records from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information contained therein. The Company shall be entitled to obtain such other information about each Shareholder (and each beneficial owner of Shares) as shall be necessary or appropriate in connection with such Shareholders ownership of Shares and in order to permit the Company to carry out its obligations hereunder, including pursuant to Section 7.1.
(c) Except as otherwise required by the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Shareholder shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Shareholder.
(d) Subject to Articles X and XI and Section 3.7, Shareholders may not be expelled from the membership of the Company or removed as Shareholders. Shareholders shall not have any right to resign or withdraw from the Company; provided, that when a Shareholder transfers its Shares, such Shareholder shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares transferred and, upon any transfer by a Shareholder of all of its Shares, such transferring Shareholder shall cease to be a shareholder of the Company and shall have no further rights as a Shareholder or otherwise under this Agreement.
11
(e) Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement (including any Share Designation), (i) no Shareholder shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of any Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon dissolution of the Company may be considered as such by Law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement; (ii) no Shareholder shall have priority over any other Shareholder either as to profits, losses or distributions or upon dissolution of the Company; (iii) no interest shall be paid by the Company on any Capital Contributions; and (iv) no Shareholder, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the conduct, management or control of the Companys business, transact any business in the Companys name or have the power to execute documents for or otherwise bind the Company by reason of being a Shareholder.
(f) Any Shareholder shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Company, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Company Group, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any duty to the Company or any other Shareholder that may be otherwise existing at Law or in equity (including fiduciary duties, which are hereby expressly disclaimed). Neither the Company nor any of the other Shareholders shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any such business interests or activities of any Shareholder.
Section 3.2 Shares.
(a) The Company is authorized to issue, and the Board of Directors shall have the authority to cause the Company to issue, Shares, for any purpose at any time and from time to time, to such Persons and for such consideration (which may be cash, property, services or any other consideration) or for no consideration, and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors shall determine, whether or not greater consideration could be received upon the issue or sale of (i) the same number of Shares of such class or series to another Person or (ii) the same number of Shares of another class or series, all without any requirement for approval of any Shareholders. Each Share shall be governed by the provisions set forth in this Agreement (including any Share Designation). Except to the extent expressly provided in any Share Designation, no Share shall entitle any Shareholder to any preemptive, subscription, preferential or similar rights with respect to the issuance of Shares.
(b) As of the Effective Time, the authorized Shares consist of: Class A Common Shares, Class B Common Shares and Preferred Shares. The authorized number of (i) Class A Common Shares is 600,000,000, (ii) Class B Common Shares is 300,000,000 and (iii) Preferred Shares is 100,000,000.
(c) Except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement (including Section 3.2(d)), the rights, powers and preferences of the holders of Class A Common Shares and holders of Class B Common Shares, and the restrictions, qualifications, limitations, duties and obligations thereof, shall be in all respects identical.
(d) Except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, on all matters voted or consented upon by Shareholders, (i) each Class A Common Share shall entitle the Record Holder thereof to cast one (1) vote for such Class A Common Share held and (ii) each Class B Common Share shall entitle the Record Holder thereof to cast ten (10) votes for such Class B Common Share held, in each case, as of the applicable Record Date.
(e) Each Class B Common Share shall be convertible at any time, at the sole option of the holder thereof, into such number of Class A Common Shares as shall be determined by the Conversion Ratio in effect on the date of such conversion (the Conversion Date). In the event that any holder of Class B Common Shares (in such capacity, a Converting Holder) elects to effect a conversion of all or any portion of its Class B Common Shares pursuant to this Section 3.2(e), then:
(i) such Converting Holder shall deliver notice of such conversion to the Company, and the Conversion Date shall be the date of the Companys receipt of such notice unless a future Conversion Date is set forth in such notice;
(ii) such conversion shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the Conversion Date, and immediately upon such conversion on the Conversion Date, the Converting Holder (i) shall cease to have any rights in, to or with respect to, the Class B Common Shares so converted (including the right to vote or receive distributions payable on such Class B Common Shares) and (ii) shall be treated for all purposes as the Record Holder of the Class A Common Shares issued upon such conversion;
12
(iii) on the Conversion Date, the books and records of the Company and the Transfer Agent shall be updated to reflect such conversion and that all rights with respect to the Class B Common Shares so converted, other than the rights of the holders thereof to receive Class A Common Shares at the then-applicable Conversion Ratio, have terminated; and
(iv) following the conversion, any Certificates issued in respect of any Class B Common Shares so converted shall be cancelled and of no further effect.
(f) Without the consent or approval of any Shareholders, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to create and issue additional Shares, including Preferred Shares or additional classes or series of Common Shares, in one or more classes or series, with such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such distinctive designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties (which may be junior to, equivalent to, or senior or superior to, any existing classes or series of Shares) and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and reflected in a document approved by the Board of Directors in compliance with Section 5.1 (each, a Share Designation). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Share Designation of any class or series of Shares may provide for:
(i) the distinctive designation of such class or series and the number of Shares which shall constitute such class or series;
(ii) the rights to distributions of such Shares and the preferences with respect thereto (if any), the distribution payment dates, the periods in respect of which distribution are payable, whether such distribution shall be cumulative and, if cumulative, the date or dates from which distribution shall accumulate, and whether such distributions may be payable in cash or in kind;
(iii) the voting rights (if any) of such Shares, including the number of votes per Share, the matters upon which such Shares are entitled to vote and any restrictions or limitations upon any voting rights of such Shares;
(iv) the terms, if any, on which Shares of such class or series may be redeemed, including, without limitation, the redemption price or prices for such class or series, which may consist of a redemption price or scale of redemption prices applicable only to redemption in connection with a sinking fund (which term as used herein shall include any fund or requirement for the periodic purchase or redemption of Shares), and the same or a different redemption price or scale of redemption prices applicable to any other redemption;
(v) the terms and amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of Shares of such class or series;
(vi) the amount or amounts which shall be paid to the holders of Shares of such class or series upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company;
(vii) the terms, if any, upon which the holders of Shares of such class or series may convert or exchange such Shares into Shares of any other class or series of Shares or into other securities;
(viii) whether or not the holders of such class or series of Shares, in such capacity, shall have any preemptive or preferential rights to subscribe for or purchase Shares of any class or series of the Company, whether now or hereafter authorized, or any securities convertible into, or warrant or other evidences of optional rights to purchase or subscribe for, Shares of any class or series of the Company, whether now or hereafter authorized; and
13
(ix) whether or not the issuance of additional Shares of such class or series, or of any Shares of any other class or series, shall be subject to restrictions as to issuance, or as to the preferences, rights and qualifications thereof.
A Share Designation (or any resolution of the Board of Directors amending any Share Designation) shall be effective when a duly executed original of the same is delivered to the Secretary of the Company for inclusion among the permanent records of the Company, and shall be annexed to, and constitute part of, this Agreement. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Share Designation, the Board of Directors may at any time increase or decrease the amount of Shares of any class or series, but not below the number of Shares of such class or series then Outstanding. The Board of Directors is authorized to change the voting powers, designations, preferences and other rights, as well as the qualifications, limitations and restrictions, of any class or series of Shares created pursuant to a Share Designation if no Shares authorized and created pursuant to such Share Designation are Outstanding. The rights conferred upon the holders of existing Shares shall be deemed not to be varied, amended or modified by the creation and issuance of any additional class or series of Shares in accordance with this Section 3.2(f).
(g) The Board of Directors shall have the authority, without the consent or approval of any Shareholders, to cause the Company to issue any Derivative Securities at any time and from time to time, to any Person or Persons (including any Shareholder) for such consideration (or no consideration) as the Board shall determine, and any such Derivative Securities shall have such rights, powers, restrictions, qualifications and limitations as shall be determined by the Board, including, without limitation, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Derivative Securities may be exercised, exchanged or converted into Shares of any class or series.
(h) Subject to the requirements of applicable Law, the Company shall have the power to (i) issue Shares on terms that they may be redeemed, or are required to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the holder of such Shares, on such terms and in such manner as the Board of Directors may determine and (ii) purchase Shares of any class or series (including redeemable Shares) from such Persons, and for such consideration, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time, in its discretion, determine, whether or not less consideration could be paid upon the purchase of (1) the same number of Shares of such class or series from another Person or (2) the same number of Shares of another class or series, and as otherwise permitted by Law. Any Share in respect of which notice of redemption has been given shall not be entitled to participate in the profits of the Company, receive distributions or vote or consent upon any matter from and after the date specified as the date of redemption in the notice of redemption.
Section 3.3 Certificates. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, all Shares shall be uncertificated and no Shareholder shall be entitled to a Certificate for any or all of such Persons Shares. In the event that a Share is represented by a Certificate, no such Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by, and registered on the books of, the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors elects to issue Shares in global form, the Certificates representing such Shares shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that such Shares have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Company. Any or all of the signatures required on the Certificate may be by facsimile. The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all rules and regulations concerning the issue, transfer and registration or the replacement of Certificates.
Section 3.4 Record Holders. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the owner of a Share and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Share on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Company shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by Law or any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Shares are listed for trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring or holding Shares, as between the Company, on the one hand, and such other Person, on the other, such representative Person shall be deemed the Record Holder of such Shares.
14
Section 3.5 Registration and Transfer of Shares.
(a) The Officers shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Company a register that will provide for the registration and transfer of Shares; provided, that the Company may from time to time appoint a Transfer Agent for the purpose of registering Class A Common Shares and transfers of such Class A Common Shares as herein provided. In the absence of manifest error, the register kept by or on behalf of the Company shall be conclusive as to the identity of the holders of Shares.
(b) The Company shall not recognize any transfer of Shares, and the transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the Shares being transferred, until the transfer is registered on the books of the Company or the Transfer Agent, as applicable; provided, that in the event that any Shares are represented by Certificates, no distributions shall be paid in respect of any such transferred certificated Shares until the Certificates evidencing such Shares are surrendered to the Transfer Agent. No charge shall be imposed by the Company for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to registration of any transfer, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.
(c) No transfer of a Share shall entitle the transferee to receive distributions or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Shareholder pursuant to this Article III.
Section 3.6 Restrictions on Transfer.
(a) The Board of Directors may decline to recognize, approve or authorize the registration of any transfer of Shares if the Board shall determine that any non-de minimis adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to the Company, any other Group Member, or any other direct or indirect holder of Shares, or their respective Affiliates, would result from such transfer (an Adverse Consequence), including if such transfer would:
(i) violate applicable Law, including U.S. federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other applicable Laws of any Governmental Entity with jurisdiction over the Company Group or such transfer, or have the effect of rendering unavailable any exemption under applicable Laws (including securities Laws) relied upon for a prior transfer of Shares;
(ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Company under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation or any other jurisdiction in which the Company, directly or indirectly, conducts business or owns assets; or
(iii) cause the Company to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be treated as other than a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (other than a publicly traded partnership treated as a corporation), in either case, to the extent the Company is not already so treated).
(b) The Board of Directors (i) may decline to recognize, approve or authorize the registration of any transfer of any Share unless: (x) such transfer has been registered under the Securities Act or (y) an opinion from counsel acceptable to the Board shall have been delivered to the Company to the effect that registration of such transfer under the Securities Act is not required and (ii) shall decline to recognize, approve or authorize the registration of any transfer of any Share if such transfer shall not have been approved by applicable Governmental Entities if such approval is required; provided, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Shares entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Shares are listed for trading.
(c) The Board of Directors may impose additional restrictions on the transfer of Shares other than those set forth in this Agreement if, on the Opinion of Counsel, such restrictions are necessary or advisable to avoid a significant risk of the Company becoming treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be treated as other than a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (other than a publicly traded partnership treated as a corporation). The Board of Directors may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement without the approval of the Shareholders.
15
(d) The Board of Directors shall have the authority to request from any direct or indirect holder of Shares, and such holder shall provide, such information as the Board of Directors may request for the purpose of determining whether to decline to recognize, approve or authorize the registration of any transfer of Shares in accordance with this Section 3.6. If such information is not provided to the Boards satisfaction, the Board of Directors may decline to recognize, approve or authorize the registration of such transfer. Any purported transfer of any Shares in violation of this Agreement shall be null and void ab initio and of no force or effect.
(e) If the Board of Directors refuses to recognize, approve or authorize the registration of any transfer, it shall, within ten (10) Business Days after the date on which the transfer request was lodged with the Company, send to the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
Section 3.7 Required Sale of Shares.
(a) If the Board of Directors determines that any Shareholders ownership of Shares would result in an Adverse Consequence, the Company shall have the option, but not the obligation, to (i) redeem, (ii) repurchase, or (iii) assign to a third party the right to purchase the minimum number of Shares held by such Person that is necessary to eliminate such Adverse Consequence at a price equal to the Fair Value of such Shares.
(b) If the Company determines, pursuant to this Section 3.7, to redeem, repurchase or assign to a third party the right to purchase Shares of any Shareholder (such Shareholder, in such capacity, a Required Seller), the Company shall provide a Purchase Notice to such Required Seller. The Company may revoke the Purchase Notice at any time prior to the closing of such sale or redemption.
(c) The closing of a sale or redemption of Shares pursuant to this Section 3.7 (a Required Sale) shall take place at a location and date selected by the Company and set forth in the Purchase Notice, which shall be delivered at least five (5) Business Days prior to the closing date specified therein; provided, however, that such closing date shall be no earlier than the later of: (i) five (5) Business Days after a Purchase Notice is given with respect to such Required Sale; and (ii) in the event that a Shareholder objects to the Boards determination of Fair Value contained in a Purchase Notice pursuant to Section 3.7(d), five (5) Business Days after the date of determination of Appraised Value. Payment of the purchase price for such Required Sale shall be by wire transfer at such closing.
(d) If the Required Seller objects to the Boards determination of the Fair Value of the Shares to be sold in a Required Sale, the Company shall retain an independent appraisal firm to determine the Appraised Value of such Shares, and the decision of such appraisal firm making such determination of Appraised Value shall be final and binding on the Company and the Required Seller. Such Appraised Value shall be determined as a pro rata portion of the value of the Company taken as a whole, based on the higher of: (a) the value derived from a hypothetical sale of the Company as a going concern by a willing seller to a willing buyer (neither under any compulsion); and (b) the liquidation value of the Company.
Section 3.8 Transmission of Shares.
(a) Any Person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a holder thereof shall, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board of Directors, have the right either to be registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share or, instead of being so registered, to make such transfer of the Share as the deceased or bankrupt Person could have made, subject to Section 3.6 and Section 3.7.
(b) A Person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a holder thereof shall be entitled to the same distributions and other advantages to which such Person would be entitled if it were the registered Shareholder holding such Share, except that such Person shall not, before being registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share, be entitled to exercise any voting rights or other rights conferred by ownership of such Share in relation to meetings of the Company.
16
Section 3.9 Splits and Combinations.
(a) Subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 3.9, the Company may make a pro rata distribution of Shares of any class or series to all Record Holders of such class or series of Shares, or may effect a split, subdivision or combination of Shares of any class or series.
(b) Whenever such a distribution, split, subdivision or combination of Shares is declared, the Board of Directors shall select a Record Date for determining the holders of Shares entitled to receive such distribution or have their Shares be subject to such split, subdivision or combination, and a date as of which the distribution, split, subdivision or combination shall be effective. Notice of a distribution, split, subdivision or combination of Shares shall be given promptly, and in accordance with the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules or the rules of any other National Securities Exchange on which Shares are then listed for trading, to each Record Holder as of such date selected by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Shares to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, split, subdivision or combination. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.
(c) In the case of any distribution, split, subdivision or combination of Class A Common Shares (or Class B Common Shares), the Class B Common Shares (or the Class A Common Shares) shall also be distributed, split, subdivided or combined so that the number of Class A Common Shares and Class B Common Shares Outstanding immediately following such distribution, split, subdivision or combination shall bear the same relationship to each other as did the number of Class A Common Shares and Class B Common Shares Outstanding immediately prior to such distribution, split, subdivision or combination such that each Shareholder shall have the same proportionate interest in the Company as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Share basis or stated as a number of Shares will be proportionately adjusted.
Section 3.10 Fractional Shares. The Board of Directors may issue fractions of a Share and, if so issued, a fraction of a Share shall be subject to, and carry the corresponding fraction of, the rights, powers (including voting power), preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, obligations, duties and other attributes of a whole Share. If more than one fraction of a Share of the same class or series is issued to or acquired by the same holder, such fractions shall be accumulated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Share distribution or forward or reverse Share split would otherwise result in the issuance of fractional Shares, the Board of Directors may decide to (i) round each such fractional Share to the nearest whole Share (and a 0.5 Share shall be rounded to the next higher Share), (ii) pay cash in lieu of such fractional Shares equal to the Fair Value of such fractional Shares or (iii) cause all such fractional shares to be aggregated and sold on a National Securities Exchange and distribute the proceeds thereof pro rata to the Shareholders otherwise entitled to receive such fractional Shares.
Section 3.11 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Shares. All Shares issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article III shall represent validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable limited liability company interests in the Company, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 or 18-804 of the Delaware Act.
ARTICLE IV
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 4.1 Establishment and Maintenance of Capital Accounts. There shall be established for each Shareholder on the books of the Company as of the date such Shareholder becomes a Shareholder, a capital account (each, a Capital Account). Each Capital Contribution by any Shareholder, if any, shall be credited to the Capital Account of such Shareholder on the date such Capital Contribution is made to the Company. In addition, each Shareholders Capital Account shall be (a) credited with (i) such Shareholders allocable share of any Net Income (or items thereof) of the Company, and (ii) the amount of any Company liabilities that are assumed by the Shareholder or secured by any Company property distributed to the Shareholder and (b) debited with (i) the amount
17
of distributions (and deemed distributions) to such Shareholder of cash or the fair market value of other property so distributed, (ii) such Shareholders allocable share of Net Loss (or items thereof) of the Company, and (iii) the amount of any liabilities of the Shareholder assumed by the Company or which are secured by any property contributed by the Shareholder to the Company. Any other item which is required to be reflected in a Shareholders Capital Account under Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or otherwise under this Agreement shall be so reflected. The Board of Directors shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a Shareholders interest in the Company. Interest shall not be payable on Capital Account balances. The Company Capital Accounts shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1 and 1.704-2 and, to the extent not inconsistent with such regulation, the provisions of this Agreement. A transferee of Shares shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor based on the number of Shares so transferred.
Section 4.2 Allocations
(a) Net Income (Loss) (including income, gain, loss, deduction and credit thereof) of the Company for each fiscal year shall be allocated to each Shareholder among the Capital Accounts of the Shareholders in a manner that as closely as possible gives economic effect to the manner in which distributions are made to the Shareholders pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4.3 and 8.3, except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors in order to comply with the Code or applicable regulations thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any allocation of Net Loss would cause any Shareholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account), such allocation of Net Loss shall be reallocated among the other Shareholders pro rata in accordance with the number of Shares held by such Shareholders.
(b) Regulatory Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.2, the following special allocations shall be made for each taxable period:
(i) Company Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.2, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any Company taxable period, each Shareholder shall be allocated items of Company income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of this Section 4.2(b), each Shareholders Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income and gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 4.2(b) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 4.2(b)(iii) and 4.2(b)(vi)). This Section 4.2(b)(i) is intended to comply with the Company Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Chargeback of Shareholder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 4.2 (other than Section 4.2(b)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Shareholder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Company taxable period, any Shareholder with a share of Shareholder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Company income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 4.2(b), each Shareholders Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income and gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 4.2(b), other than Section 4.2(b)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 4.2(b)(v) and 4.2(b)(vi), with respect to such taxable period. This Section 4.2(b)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
18
(iii) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Shareholder unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), or (6), items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Shareholder in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by Treasury Regulation, any deficit in the Adjusted Capital Account as quickly as possible; provided, however, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 4.2(b)(iii) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Shareholder would have a deficit in its Adjusted Capital Account after all other allocations provided for in this Section 4.2 have been tentatively made as if this Section 4.2(b)(iii) were not in this Agreement. This Section 4.2(b)(iii) is intended to comply with the qualified income offset provision in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted and applied consistently therewith.
(iv) Gross Income Allocations. In the event any Shareholder has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any Company taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Shareholder is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Shareholder is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Shareholder shall be specially allocated items of Company gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 4.2(b)(iv) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Shareholder would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 4.2 have been tentatively made as if this Section 4.2(b)(iv) were not in this Agreement.
(v) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Shareholders pro rata in accordance with the number of Shares held by such Shareholders. If the Board of Directors determines that the Companys Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the Board of Directors is authorized, upon notice to the other Shareholders, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(vi) Shareholder Nonrecourse Deductions. Shareholder Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Shareholder that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Shareholder Nonrecourse Debt to which such Shareholder Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Shareholder bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Shareholder Nonrecourse Debt, such Shareholder Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Shareholders in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.
(vii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Company described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3) shall be allocated among the Shareholders in a manner chosen by the Board of Directors and consistent with such Treasury Regulation.
(viii) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Shareholders in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.
(ix) Curative Allocation.
(1) The Required Allocations are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Treasury Regulations. It is the intent of the Shareholders that, to the extent possible, all Required Allocations shall be offset either with other Required Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 4.2(b)(ix). Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV (other than the Required Allocations), the Board of Directors shall make such offsetting special allocations of Company income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it determines appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Shareholders Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Shareholder would have had if the Required Allocations were not part of this Agreement and all Company items were allocated pursuant to the economic agreement among the Shareholders.
19
(2) The Board of Directors shall, with respect to each taxable period, (A) apply the provisions of Section 4.2(b)(ix)(1) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (B) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 4.2(b)(ix)(1) among the Shareholders in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.
(c) For the proper administration of the Company and for the preservation of uniformity of the Shares (or any class or series thereof), the Board of Directors, as it determines in its sole discretion is necessary or appropriate to execute the provisions of this Agreement and to comply with federal, state and local tax law, may (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for U.S. federal income tax purposes of income (including gross income) or deductions; (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Shares (or any class or classes thereof); and (iv) adopt and employ methods for (A) the maintenance of Capital Accounts for book and tax purposes, (B) the determination and allocation of adjustments, if any, under Sections 704(c), 734 and 743 of the Code, (C) the determination and allocation of taxable income, tax loss and items thereof under this Agreement and pursuant to the Code, (D) the determination of the identities and tax classification of Shareholders, (E) the provision of tax information and reports to the Shareholders, (F) the adoption of reasonable conventions and methods for the valuation of assets and the determination of tax basis, (G) the allocation of asset values and tax basis, (H) the adoption and maintenance of accounting methods, (I) the recognition of the transfer of Shares and (J) tax compliance and other tax-related requirements, including the use of computer software, and to use filing and reporting procedures similar to those employed by publicly-traded partnerships and limited liability companies.
(d) The Board of Directors may adopt and employ such conventions and methods as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate for the determination for federal income tax purposes of each item of Company income, gain, loss, and deduction and the allocation of such items among Shareholders and between transferors and transferees under this Agreement and pursuant to the Code (including Section 706 of the Code) and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder. The Board of Directors may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.
(e) The Board of Directors shall determine all matters concerning allocations for tax purposes not expressly provided for herein.
(f) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Shareholder under the provisions of this Section 4.2 shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Shares held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Company in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.3 Distributions to Record Holders.
(a) Subject to the applicable provisions of the Delaware Act and the terms of any Share Designation, distributions of cash or other assets of the Company may be paid to the Shareholders out of the Companys assets legally available therefor only when, as and if determined by the Board of Directors.
(b) With respect to any distributions that may be declared by the Board with respect to Class A Common Shares or Class B Common Shares:
(i) If a distribution of cash or other assets (other than distributions payable in Shares or other voting securities of the Company, or Derivative Securities) is declared or paid on the Class A Common Shares or the Class B Common Shares, then a like distribution of cash or such other assets shall also be concurrently declared or paid, as the case may be, on the Class B Common Shares or the Class A Common Shares, respectively, in an equal amount per Share, and such distribution shall be paid to the holders of Class A Common Shares and Class B Common Shares on a pro rata basis.
20
(ii) If a distribution payable in Class A Common Shares or Derivative Securities with respect to Class A Common Shares is declared or paid on the Class A Common Shares, then a like distribution payable in Class B Common Shares or Derivative Securities with respect to Class B Common Shares, as the case may be, shall also be declared or paid on the Class B Common Shares in an equal amount per Share.
(iii) If a distribution payable in Class B Common Shares or Derivative Securities with respect to Class B Common Shares is declared or paid on the Class B Common Shares, then a like distribution payable in Class A Common Shares or Derivative Securities with respect to Class A Common Shares, as the case may be, shall also be declared or paid on the Class A Common Shares in an equal amount per Share.
(c) Notwithstanding this Section 4.3, in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Company, all distributions shall be made in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 8.3(a).
(d) Pursuant to Section 7.3, the Company is authorized to withhold from payments or other distributions to the Shareholders, and to pay over to any U.S. federal, state or local government or any foreign government, any amounts required to be so withheld pursuant to the Code or any other Law. All amounts withheld with respect to any payment or other distribution by the Company to the Shareholders and paid over to any U.S., federal, state or local government or any non-U.S. taxing authority shall be treated as amounts paid to the Shareholders with respect to which such amounts were withheld pursuant to this Section 4.3(d) or Section 8.3 for all purposes under this Agreement.
(e) No distribution shall bear interest.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each distribution in respect of any Shares shall be made by the Company, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person, only to the Record Holder of such Shares as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Any distribution in accordance with the foregoing shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of any liability that the Company might have in respect of such distribution, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such distribution by reason of an assignment or otherwise.
ARTICLE V
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 5.1 Power and Authority of Board of Directors.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 11.1(e) and for such matters that, pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement, require Shareholder Approval, the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of a board of directors (the Board of Directors or Board), which shall have the power and authority to manage and oversee the conduct of the Companys business and affairs. As provided in Section 5.19(a), the Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to appoint Officers and delegate such power and authority to Officers as shall be determined by the Board. No Shareholder, by virtue of its status as such, shall have any power or authority to conduct or manage the business and affairs of the Company. No resolution passed by the Company at a meeting of Shareholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board of Directors that would have been valid if such resolution had not been passed.
21
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, in addition to the powers that now or hereafter can be granted to managers under the Delaware Act and all other powers granted under any other provision of this Agreement, the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority, without any requirement for approval or consent of any Shareholders, to take all actions, and direct the Officers to take all actions, as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Company, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including, without limitation, the following:
(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into Shares, and the incurring of any other obligations;
(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the Company or its assets;
(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Company;
(iv) the use of the assets of the Company (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the Companys purposes (as set forth in Section 2.4), including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries; the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment of obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and the making of capital contributions to any Shareholder of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(v) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Company under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Company);
(vi) the declaration and payment of distributions of cash or other assets to Shareholders;
(vii) the selection and dismissal of Officers, employees, agents, outside attorneys, accountants, advisors, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or engagement;
(viii) the creation and operation of employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices;
(ix) the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Company Group and the Indemnified Persons;
(x) the formation of, or acquisition or disposition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any limited or general partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company or other entity (or series thereof) or arrangement;
(xi) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Company, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or remediation, and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;
(xii) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by Law;
(xiii) the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Shares from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such National Securities Exchange;
22
(xiv) the issuance, sale or other disposition, and the purchase or other acquisition, of Shares or Derivative Securities;
(xv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Companys interest or participation in any Group Member;
(xvi) the undertaking of any merger, division, consolidation or other similar transaction involving the Company with or into another Person, or the conversion of the Company into a corporation or other entity (except to the extent set forth in Article X); and
(xvii) the execution and delivery of agreements with Affiliates of the Company to render services to a Group Member.
Section 5.2 Number, Qualification, Term and Election of Directors.
(a) The number of Directors comprising the Board of Directors shall be fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time (and if no minimum number of Directors shall have been fixed, the minimum number of Directors shall be one (1)). There shall be no maximum number of Directors.
(b) As of the Effective Time, the size of the Board of Directors shall be fixed at eight (8) Directors. From and after the Effective Time, the following individuals shall be Directors, to serve in accordance with the terms of this Agreement until their successors have been duly elected or appointed, as applicable (or their earlier resignation, death or removal in accordance with the terms of this Agreement): Saul A. Fox, Cynthia Y. Valko, James D. Wehr, Bruce R. Lederman, Jason B. Hurwitz, Michele A. Colucci, Joseph W. Brown and Seth J. Gersch.
(c) The Board of Directors may, from time to time, elect a Director to serve as the chairman of the Board of Directors (such Director, in such capacity, the Chairman of the Board), who shall have such power and authority, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board, as set forth in this Agreement. The Board of Directors may also from time to time delegate to the Chairman of the Board such other power and authority as shall be determined by the Board from time to time. As of the Effective Time, the Chairman of the Board shall be Saul A. Fox.
(d) Each Director shall serve a one (1) year term of office, and each member of the Board of Directors shall be elected or, with respect to Designated Directors, appointed annually at each annual meeting of Shareholders (or any special meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Directors need not be Shareholders.
(e) Except with respect to the Designated Directors (who shall be appointed in accordance with Section 5.3), and subject to such rights as may be provided in any Share Designation with respect to the right of Shareholders of any class or series of Shares to nominate and elect a specified number of Directors in certain circumstances, individuals nominated for election as Directors in accordance with Section 5.9 or Section 11.14, if applicable, shall be elected to serve on the Board of Directors by a plurality of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of Directors at any annual or special meeting of Shareholders.
(f) The Board of Directors (and each committee thereof) shall at all times contain a sufficient number of Independent Directors such that the Board of Directors complies with the requirements of the National Securities Exchange on which the Companys Shares are then listed as well as the requirements of the Exchange Act and any other applicable Law relating to independent directors, in each case, unless an exception or exemption thereto applies to the Company (in which case the Board of Directors shall at all times contain at least that number of independent directors that is required for companies for whom such exception or exemption applies).
23
Section 5.3 Appointment of Designated Directors.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, if, at any time, there shall be a Class B Majority Shareholder, then, in connection with each annual meeting of Shareholders (or special meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors), as applicable, such Class B Majority Shareholder shall be entitled to appoint a number of Directors to serve on the Board of Directors (such Directors, the Designated Directors) as shall be equal to the Class B Majority Shareholder Percentage of the total number of Directors then constituting the Board of Directors, rounded up to the nearest whole number of Directors. Such appointment shall be effected by notice thereof delivered by the Class B Majority Shareholder to the Company specifying the individuals to be appointed to serve as Designated Directors (a Designated Director Notice).
(b) Any such appointment of Designated Directors by the Class B Majority Shareholder shall take effect as of the date of the applicable annual meeting of Shareholders (or special meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors), or such other date as may be set forth in the Designated Director Notice. The Board of Directors shall take, and cause the Officers to take, any and all necessary actions to effectuate such appointment(s), including, for the avoidance of doubt, providing all notices to Shareholders as may be required pursuant to any obligations of the Company under applicable Law.
(c) Where a Designated Director is removed pursuant to Section 5.4(c), the Class B Majority Shareholder may, within such notice or in subsequent notice, and provided that such Class B Majority Shareholder holds, beneficially or of record, in aggregate the necessary percentage of voting power in respect of the then-issued Shares at that time to be permitted to appoint another Designated Director in accordance with this Section 5.3, appoint a new Designated Director to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the removed Designated Directors term, and the Board of Directors shall take, and cause the Company to take, any and all necessary actions to effectuate such appointment, including, for the avoidance of doubt, providing all notices to Shareholders as may be required pursuant to any obligations of the Company under applicable Law.
Section 5.4 Resignations and Removals of Directors.
(a) Any Director may resign from the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) at any time, by delivering notice thereof to the Chairman of the Board, if there be one, or to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Company and, in the case of a Board committee, to the chairman of such committee, if there be one. Such resignation shall take effect at the time therein specified or, if no time is specified, immediately. Unless otherwise specified in such notice of resignation, the acceptance of such resignation by the Board, the Company or otherwise shall not be required to make such resignation effective. Upon the effectiveness of any Directors resignation from the Board of Directors, such Director shall automatically cease to be a member of any and all Board committees.
(b) Except with respect to Designated Directors (who shall be subject to Section 5.4(c), and subject to any rights provided in any Share Designation with respect to the removal of Directors elected by any holders of any class or series of Shares, any Director may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, with Shareholder Approval.
(c) Designated Directors shall only be removed from office, with or without cause, by the Class B Majority Shareholder, upon delivery of notice thereof by the Class B Majority Shareholder to the Chairman of the Board, if there be one, or to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. No other Shareholder (nor any other Person) shall have the power or authority to remove any Designated Director from office at any time or for any reason.
Section 5.5 Vacancies.
(a) Subject to Section 5.3, any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of Directors may be filled by a majority of the Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director, based on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Board (if there be one); provided, however, that if there shall be a Class B Majority Shareholder, then any such vacancy may be filled by the Class B Majority Shareholder if, and to the extent, necessary to ensure that the number of Designated Directors, after giving effect to the filling of such vacancy, shall be equal to the Class B Majority Shareholder Percentage of the total number of Directors then constituting the Board of Directors, rounded up to the nearest whole number of Directors.
24
(b) Any vacancy resulting from the resignation, death or removal of a Director in accordance with the terms hereof shall be filled as follows:
(i) All vacancies resulting from the resignation, death or removal of a Designated Director shall be filled only by the Class B Majority Shareholder to be effected by the Class B Majority Shareholders delivery of a Designated Director Notice to the Company; and
(ii) Subject to such rights as may be provided in any Share Designation with respect to the rights of Shareholders of any class or series of Shares to nominate and elect a specified number of Directors in certain circumstances, any vacancies resulting from the resignation, death or removal of a Director other than a Designated Director shall be filled by a majority of the Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director, based on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Board (if there be one).
(c) Any Director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders, and until such Directors successor is duly elected and qualified, or until such Directors earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 5.6 Meetings. The Board of Directors and any committee thereof may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware, and may adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings and procedures as they shall determine. The act of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, with each Director entitled to one (1) vote on all matters; provided, that in the event of a tie vote, the Chairman of the Board shall be entitled to cast the deciding vote. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be held at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors or such committee, respectively. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if there be one, or by a majority of the Directors. Special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors may be called by the chairman of such committee, if there be one, or a majority of the Directors serving on such committee. Notice of any regular or special meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be considered at such meeting shall be given to each Director (or, in the case of a committee, to each member of such committee) not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the date of the meeting, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate under the circumstances; provided, that such notice requirements shall be waived by any Director who actually attends such meeting.
Section 5.7 Organization. At each meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, the Chairman of the Board or the chairman of such committee, as the case may be, or, in his or her absence or if there be none, a Director chosen by a majority of the Directors present, shall act as chairman of such meeting. Except as provided below, the Secretary of the Company shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board of Directors and of each committee thereof. In case the Secretary shall be absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all the Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any Person to act as secretary of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the members of each committee of the Board of Directors may appoint any Person to act as secretary of any meeting of such committee and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company may, but need not if such committee so elects, serve in such capacity.
Section 5.8 Quorum. Except as otherwise required by applicable Law or any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which Shares are listed for trading, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the Directors in office or a majority of the Directors constituting such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of Directors, if any action taken is approved by a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
25
Section 5.9 Nomination of Directors. Except (i) with respect to Designated Directors, who shall be designated by the Class B Majority Shareholder as set forth in Section 5.3, and (ii) as may be otherwise provided in any Share Designation with respect to the right of Shareholders of any class or series of Shares to nominate and elect a specified number of Directors in certain circumstances, only persons who are nominated for election to the Board of Directors (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (ii) by Shareholders meeting the requirements, and in accordance with the procedures, set forth in Section 11.14, shall be eligible for election as Directors of the Company.
Section 5.10 Actions of the Board by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, as the case may be, may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the Directors then in office, or a majority of the members then serving on such committee, as the case may be, execute and deliver one or more consents thereto, and such consent is recorded with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee. For the avoidance of doubt, any such consent may be executed by a Director by electronic signature, which consent may be delivered to the Company by electronic transmission.
Section 5.11 Meeting by Means of Conference Telephone. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of telephone, video, electronic or similar communication by way of which all Persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other simultaneously, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 5.11 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 5.12 Committees.
(a) The Board of Directors may, by resolution from time to time, designate one (1) or more committees of the Board, with each committee to consist of one (1) or more Directors of the Company. Members of each Board committee shall be selected by the Board of Directors from time to time; provided that, for so long as there shall be a Class B Majority Shareholder, such Class B Majority Shareholder shall have the sole right to designate a number of members of each such Board committee as shall equal the Class B Majority Shareholder Percentage of the total number of Directors comprising such committee, rounded up to the nearest whole number of Directors; provided, that each such committee member designated by the Class B Majority Shareholder shall be an individual then serving as a Designated Director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each member of a committee must be a Director meeting the requirements for membership on such committee, if any, imposed by applicable Law and any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which Shares are listed for trading.
(b) The Board of Directors may designate one (1) or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee; provided that, for so long as there shall be a Class B Majority Shareholder, such Class B Majority Shareholder shall have the sole right to designate any such alternate committee member to replace any Designated Director that is a member of such committee in the event such Designated Director is absent or disqualified at any meeting of such committee. Subject to applicable Law and any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which Shares are listed for trading, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors (or the Class B Majority Shareholder, as applicable), of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another qualified member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member.
(c) No Designated Director serving on a committee of the Board of Directors may be removed from such committee other than by the Class B Majority Shareholder. In the event of such removal, or any resignation, of a Designated Director serving on a committee of the Board of Directors, the resulting vacancy on such committee shall be filled only by the designation by the Class B Majority Shareholder of a Designated Director to fill such vacancy.
26
(d) Any committee, to the extent permitted by applicable Law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Company. Subject to any requirements or procedures set forth in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, matters arising at any meeting of a committee shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the committee members present and voting; provided, that in the event of a tie vote, the chairman of such committee shall be entitled to cast the deciding vote. Each committee may meet and adjourn as it determines, and shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article V, the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing any committee of the Board of Directors or the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in this Agreement and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between this Agreement and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling.
Section 5.13 Attorneys; Authorized Signatories. The Board of Directors may, from time to time and at any time, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any Person or body of Persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board of Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys (each, an Attorney) or authorized signatory or authorized signatories (each, an Authorized Signatory) of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretion (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board of Directors under this Agreement) and for such period and subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors may determine, and any such power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of Persons dealing with any such Attorney or Authorized Signatory as the Directors may determine, and may also authorize any such Attorney or Authorized Signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion vested in such Person.
Section 5.14 Compensation. The Directors may be reimbursed or advanced their expenses incurred in connection with or relating to their services on the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or a stated salary or such other compensation for service as a Director, payable in cash or securities, as may be determined by the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof) at any time and from time to time by resolution, No such payment shall preclude any Director from serving the Company in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Chairpersons or members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for such services.
Section 5.15 Elimination of Fiduciary Duties; Standard of Conduct.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Act, no Covered Person shall have any duties, at Law or in equity, including any fiduciary duties, to the Company, any Shareholder or any other Person, arising out of, relating to, or in connection with the Company, the conduct of the Companys business and affairs, or any action or omission taken or omitted to be taken, or consent or approval given or withheld, in each case, in such Persons capacity as a Covered Person, whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, other than those duties (if any) expressly set forth in this Agreement. Each Shareholder shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Section 5.15(a) and to the elimination of duties set forth herein, and renounces any and all rights such Shareholder may have to challenge any action (or inaction) by any Covered Person on the basis of any duty eliminated pursuant to this Section 5.15(a).
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any applicable provision of Law or in equity, whenever the Board of Directors or any Covered Person takes any action (or omits to take any action), or is permitted or required to make any decision or determination with respect to the Company or its business and affairs, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, then, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Board of Directors and each Covered Person shall be entitled to take such action (or omit to take such action), or to make such decision or determination, in its sole and absolute discretion, and shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or
27
obligation (fiduciary or otherwise) to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company, any of the Shareholders, any of their respective Affiliates or any other Person, and shall not be subject to any other or different standards that may otherwise apply under applicable Law or in equity. For all purposes of this Agreement, each Covered Person (acting in its capacity as such) and the Board of Directors, acting on behalf of the Company or in connection with the Companys business and affairs, shall be conclusively presumed to be acting in good faith if such Person (or, in the case of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Directors participating in the decision) subjectively believe(s) that the action taken (or omitted to be taken), the consent or approval given or withheld, or the decision or determination made or not made, is in or is not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
(c) The Board of Directors shall have the right to exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through the duly authorized Officers, consultants, advisors and agents of the Company, and the Board of Directors shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence on the part of any such Officer, consultant, advisor, or agent.
Section 5.16 Exculpation and Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Act, no Covered Person, shall be liable to the Company, any Shareholder or any other Person (including any Person who holds any Derivative Securities) for monetary damages for breach of duties (including fiduciary duties, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not apply, as provided in Section 5.15), except if and to the extent that there has been a final, non-appealable determination, in a proceeding brought in accordance with Section 12.10, that, in connection with the matter in question, such Covered Person engaged in Fraud.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Act, each Indemnified Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts incurred in connection with, or arising out of, any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, without limitation, an action by or in the right of the Company), and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which such Indemnified Person is, was or may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party, a witness or otherwise, by reason of such Persons status as an Indemnified Person, whether arising from any act or omission, any consent or approval given or withheld, or otherwise relating to the Company or its business and affairs; provided, however, that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified or held harmless if and to the extent that there has been a final, non-appealable determination, in a proceeding brought in accordance with Section 12.10, that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnified Person is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 5.16, the Indemnified Person engaged in Fraud. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in Section 5.16(d), the Company shall not be required to indemnify an Indemnified Person in connection with any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding commenced (i) by such Person, unless the commencement of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding by such Person was authorized by the Board of Directors or (ii) by the Company against such Person upon the prior approval of the Board of Directors, in each case, except if and to the extent that such Indemnified Person is successful on the merits a final, non-appealable determination, in a proceeding brought in accordance with Section 12.10.
(c) Expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnified Person in connection with any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding that may be subject to indemnification pursuant to Section 5.16(b) shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company within thirty (30) days after a written request therefor, prior to a final and non-appealable determination that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified, upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.16.
(d) If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Section 5.16 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by an Indemnified Person has been received by the Company, such Indemnified Person may file a claim, in a proceeding brought in accordance with Section 12.10, to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim, including reasonable attorneys fees.
28
(e) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Section 5.16 shall not be deemed exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any other rights to which any Indemnified Person may be entitled under this Agreement, or any other agreement, vote of Shareholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise, and such indemnification and advancement of expenses shall continue as to an Indemnified Person who has ceased to serve in such capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by applicable Law, the Company may enter into one or more agreements with any Person that provide for indemnification greater than or different than that provided pursuant to this Section 5.16.
(f) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Indemnified Person or any other Officer or other Person against any liability asserted against such Person and incurred by such Person in any capacity in connection with the Company or its business and affairs, or arising out of an Indemnified Persons status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 5.16.
(g) This Section 5.16 shall not limit the right of the Company, to the fullest extent and in the manner permitted by applicable Law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, Persons other than Indemnified Persons (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Officer, employee or agent of the Company or any director, manager, officer, partner, employee, consultant or agent of any Group Member).
(h) Each Covered Person and Officer shall, in the performance of his or her duties, or in taking any action (or omitting to take any action) or in connection with any consent or approval given or withheld, or otherwise relating to the Company or its business and affairs, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by any of the Officers or employees of the Company, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other Person (including legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisors) as to matters that the Covered Person or Officer reasonably believes are within such Persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company. Any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion or advice (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons shall be conclusively presumed to have been taken or omitted in good faith. Each Covered Person and Officer may rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document presented to the Board of Directors or such other Covered Person or Officer and believed by such Director or other Covered Person or Officer to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the appropriate party or parties.
(i) An Indemnified Person shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 5.16 because the Indemnified Person had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was not otherwise prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.
(j) The provisions of this Section 5.16 are for the benefit of the Indemnified Persons and their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(k) Any liabilities which an Indemnified Person incurs as a result of acting on behalf of the Company (whether as a fiduciary or otherwise) in connection with the operation, administration or maintenance of an employee benefit plan, any related trust or funding mechanism (whether such liabilities are in the form of excise taxes assessed by the IRS, penalties assessed by the United States Department of Labor, restitutions to such plan, trust or other funding mechanism or to a participant or beneficiary of such plan, trust or other funding mechanism, or otherwise) shall be treated as liabilities indemnifiable under this Section 5.16, to the maximum extent permitted by Law.
(l) Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 5.16 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company. In no event shall any of the Shareholders or any other Covered Person be subject to personal liability by reason of any claim for indemnification by any Person, whether pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement or otherwise.
29
(m) The provisions of this Section 5.16 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Company and each Indemnified Person for so long as this Section 5.16 and the relevant provisions of applicable Law remain in effect, and no amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 5.16 or any other provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnified Person to receive indemnification and advancement of expenses from the Company, nor the obligations of the Company to indemnify, or advance the expenses of, any such Indemnified Person under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.16 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted, and provided such Person became an Indemnified Person hereunder prior to such amendment, modification or repeal. In the event that the Company or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and is not the continuing or surviving company or entity of such consolidation or merger, (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or (iii) is dissolved, then, in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company shall assume all of the obligations of the Company set forth in this Section 5.16.
(n) If this Section 5.16 or any portion of this Section 5.16 shall be invalidated on any ground by a final, non-appealable determination, in a proceeding brought in accordance with Section 12.10, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify each Indemnified Person, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 5.16 that shall not have been invalidated.
Section 5.17 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Interested Directors.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, whenever an actual or potential conflict of interest exists or arises in connection with any transaction, activity, arrangement, circumstance or other matter between one or more Shareholders or Directors, or any of their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company or any Group Member, on the other hand (each, a Conflict Matter), any resolution or course of action determined or approved by the Board of Directors, or a committee of the Board of Directors, in respect of such Conflict Matter shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Shareholders, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by Law or equity, including any fiduciary duty (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not apply, as provided in Section 5.15), if the resolution or course of action in respect of such Conflict Matter is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of holders of Outstanding Voting Shares representing a majority of the total votes that may be cast by all Outstanding Voting Shares that are held by Persons that do not have an interest in such Conflict Matter, (iii) on terms that, when taken together in their entirety, are no less favorable to the Company or any Group Member, as applicable, than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Company, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Company or Group Member, as applicable). The Board of Directors shall be authorized, but not required, in connection with its resolution of any Conflict Matter to seek Special Approval of such resolution pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence or the approval of the disinterested holders of Outstanding Voting Shares pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, and the Board of Directors may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or the approval of the disinterested holders of Outstanding Voting Shares. Failure to seek Special Approval or the approval of the disinterested holders of Outstanding Voting Shares shall not be deemed to indicate that a conflict of interest exists or that Special Approval or the approval of the disinterested holders of Outstanding Voting Shares could not have been obtained. If approval pursuant to clause (i) above is obtained, or if the Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a Conflict Matter satisfies either of the standards set forth in clause (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its determination, the Conflicts Committee or Board of Directors, as applicable, acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Shareholder or by or on behalf of such Shareholder or any other Shareholder or the Company challenging such determination, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption and shall be required to prove that the Conflicts Committee or Board of Directors, as applicable, in making such determination, did not subjectively believe that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to such Conflict Matter was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
30
(b) In furtherance of, and without limiting the generality of, Section 5.17(a):
(i) Shareholders and Directors, and any of their respective Affiliates, may, but shall be under no obligation to, lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Shareholders or Directors, or any of their respective Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the Board of Directors may determine, in each case, on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Company; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 5.17(b)(i) shall be deemed conclusively satisfied and not a breach of any duty hereunder or existing at Law, in equity or otherwise as to any transaction approved in accordance with Section 5.17(a);
(ii) Affiliates of the Shareholders and Affiliates of the Directors may render services to a Group Member or to the Board of Directors in the discharge of its duties as manager of the Company, and any services rendered to a Group Member by an Affiliate of the Shareholders or an Affiliate of the Directors shall be on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Company; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 5.17(b)(ii) shall be deemed conclusively satisfied and not a breach of any duty hereunder or existing at Law, in equity or otherwise as to any transaction approved in accordance with Section 5.17(a); and
(iii) Shareholders and Directors, and any of their respective Affiliates, may transfer any property to, or purchase any property from, the Company, directly or indirectly, pursuant to transactions that are fair and reasonable to the Company; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 5.17(b)(iii) shall be deemed conclusively satisfied and not a breach of any duty hereunder or existing at Law, in equity or otherwise as to any transaction approved in accordance with Section 5.17(a), and with respect to any contribution of assets to the Company in exchange for Shares or Derivative Securities, the Conflicts Committee (if utilized), in determining whether the appropriate number of Shares or Derivative Securities are being issued, may take into account, among other things, the fair market value of the assets, the liquidated and contingent liabilities assumed, the tax basis in the assets, the extent to which tax-only allocations to the transferor will protect the Shareholders against a low tax basis, and such other factors as the Conflicts Committee deems relevant under the circumstances.
(c) The Shareholders hereby authorize the Board of Directors or the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors, on behalf of the Company, in its capacity as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions with respect to such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 5.17.
(d) For the avoidance of doubt, no Conflict Matter in which one or more of the Companys Directors or Officers are directors or officers or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely by reason thereof, or solely because such Director or Officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or the Conflicts Committee which authorizes the Conflict Matter, or solely because any such Directors or Officers vote is counted for such purpose. Interested Directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of the Conflicts Committee which authorizes such Conflict Matter. For the avoidance of doubt, a Director may vote in respect of any Conflict Matter notwithstanding that such Director may be interested therein, and if such Directors does so, his or her vote shall be counted in respect thereof.
(e) A Director may hold any other office of the Company or any other Group Member in conjunction with his or her office of Director, for such period and on such terms (as to compensation and otherwise) as the Board of Directors may determine, and no Director or proposed Director shall be disqualified due to his or her holding of such office from contracting with, or being interested, directly or indirectly, in any Conflict Matter with, the Company or any other Group Member, either with regard to his or her tenure of any such office or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such Conflict Matter entered into by or on behalf of the Company or any other Group Member in which any Director is in any way interested be liable to be voided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profits or advantages realized by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that office. A Director, notwithstanding his or her interest, may be counted in the quorum present at any meeting of the Board of Directors whereat he or she or any other Director is appointed to hold any such office under the Company or any Group Member or whereat the terms of any such appointment are arranged, and he or she may vote on any such appointment or arrangement.
31
Section 5.18 Loans and Contributions Between Group Members. Any Group Member may lend or contribute funds to any other Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow funds from any other Group Member, in each case, on terms and conditions determined by the Board of Directors. The foregoing authority shall be exercised by the Board of Directors and shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any Group Member or any other Person.
Section 5.19 Officers.
(a) The Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof shall have the power and authority to appoint from time to time any Person, whether or not a Director, to hold such office in the Company as the Board of Directors or such committee deems necessary for the administration of the Company, including a Chief Executive Officer and any number of Executive Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents as the Board of Directors or such committee shall determine. The Board of Directors, or any such duly authorized committee, may from time to time delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the power and authority to appoint Officers other than Executive Officers, and to prescribe their respective powers, authorities and duties. Such Persons so appointed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof (or by the Chief Executive Officer, as applicable) shall be referred to as Officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same Person, unless otherwise prohibited by the Delaware Act or this Agreement. The Officers need not be Shareholders nor, except in the case of the Chairman of the Board, do such Officers need to be Directors of the Company.
(b) Each Officer shall have such title, power, authority and duties as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (other than with respect to Executive Officers) by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman of the Board, if there be one, shall preside at all meetings of Shareholders and meetings of the Board of Directors.
(c) The Officers shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof). Each Officer shall hold office until such Officers successor is elected and qualified, or until such Officers earlier death, resignation or removal. Any Officer may resign at any time upon delivery of notice to the Company. Any Officer, agent or employee of the Company may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Board of Directors (or duly authorized committee thereof) or (other than with respect to Executive Officers) by the Chief Executive Officer. The appointment of any Director to the office of Chairman of the Board shall ipso facto terminate if such Chairman of the Board ceases for any reason to be a Director. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company shall be filled by the Board of Directors (or duly authorized committee thereof) or (other than with respect to Executive Officers) by the Chief Executive Officer. The compensation (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits, any combination of the foregoing or otherwise) of all Officers shall be fixed (i) by the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof) or (ii) other than with respect to Executive Officers, by the Chief Executive Officer or any other Officer(s) of the Company to whom such authority has been delegated by the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof) or the Chief Executive Officer.
(d) Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Company may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Company by any Officer authorized to do so by the Board of Directors, and any such Officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, take all such action as any such Officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of securityholders of any corporation or other entity in which the Company may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Company might have exercised and possessed if present. Each of the foregoing instruments may be executed by electronic signature and may be delivered by electronic transmission. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time, confer like powers upon any other Person or Persons.
Section 5.20 Business Opportunities.
(a) The Company and each Shareholder recognizes and anticipates that Shareholders and Directors who are not Officers or employees of the Company or any other Group Member (Non-Employee Directors) and the Affiliates of such Shareholders and Non-Employee Directors may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company or any other Group Member, directly or indirectly, may engage or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company or any other Group Member, directly or indirectly, may engage, except to the extent otherwise set forth in a binding agreement entered into between a Shareholder or Non-Employee Director, on one hand, and the Company or any other Group Member, on the other hand.
32
(b) None of the Shareholders or Non-Employee Directors, nor any of their respective Affiliates (collectively, the Identified Persons and, individually, an Identified Person), shall have any obligation or duty to refrain from, directly or indirectly, (i) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Company or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (ii) otherwise competing with the Company or any of its Affiliates, except to the extent otherwise set forth in a binding agreement entered into between an Identified Person, on one hand, and the Company or any other Group Member, on the other hand. The Company and each Shareholder hereby renounce any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be available to an Identified Person and the Company or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 5.20(c). Subject to Section 5.20(c), in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be available to it, her or him and the Company or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.20, the Company and the Shareholders do not renounce any interest in any business opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director if such opportunity is expressly offered to such Person solely in his or her capacity as a Director, and the provisions of Section 5.20(b) shall not apply to any such business opportunity.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 5.20(c) and except to the extent otherwise set forth in a binding agreement entered into between a Shareholder or Non-Employee Director, on one hand, and the Company or any other Group Member, on the other hand, (i) each Identified Person shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by the Company or any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of the Company or any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at Law, in equity or otherwise to the Company, any Group Member or any Shareholder; (ii) the Identified Persons shall have no obligation under this Agreement or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at Law, in equity or otherwise to present business opportunities to the Company or any Group Member; and (iii) neither the doctrine of corporate opportunity nor any analogous doctrine shall apply to any Identified Person.
(e) Each Shareholder shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Section 5.20.
Section 5.21 Reliance by Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Company shall be entitled to assume that the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof, acting within the scope of its authority granted pursuant to Section 5.12) and any Officer authorized in accordance with this Agreement to act on behalf of and in the name of the Company, has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Company and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Company, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the Board of Directors (or such committee) or any Officer as if the Board of Directors (or such committee) or the Officer were the Companys sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Shareholder hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against any Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof, acting within the scope of its authority granted pursuant to Section 5.12) or any Officer in connection with any dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof, acting within the scope of its authority granted pursuant to Section 5.12) or any Officer be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expediency of any act or action of the Board of Directors (or such committee) or any Officer. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Company by the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof, acting within the scope of its authority granted pursuant to Section 5.12) or any Officer, each of which may be so
33
executed by electronic signature and delivered by electronic transmission, shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Company and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Company.
ARTICLE VI
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 6.1 Records and Accounting. The Board of Directors shall cause to be kept appropriate books and records with respect to the Companys business and affairs. Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Company in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Shareholders, books of account and records of Company proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device.
Section 6.2 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year for tax and financial reporting purposes of the Company shall be a calendar year ending December 31, unless otherwise required by the Code or determined by the Board of Directors, as permitted by Law.
Section 6.3 Reports; Confidential Information.
(a) The Shareholders rights to information shall be limited to such information as shall be included in reports and other documents filed by the Company with the Commission from time to time, and such tax information (if any) required to be provided by the Company to its Shareholders, and no Shareholder shall have any right to obtain or access any other information, including any books and records, of the Company or the other Group Members. Each Shareholder is deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the restrictions set forth in this Section 6.3 and pursuant to Section 18-305(g) of the Delaware Act, the rights to information granted in this Section 6.3 shall replace, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any rights to information provided for in Section 18-305(a) of the Delaware Act or otherwise provided under applicable Law.
(b) The Company may keep confidential from the Shareholders, for such period of time as the Company determines, (i) any information that the Company reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the Company believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Company Group, (B) could damage the Company Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by Law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential.
ARTICLE VII
TAX MATTERS
Section 7.1 Tax Returns and Information. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to timely file all returns of the Company that are required for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes. The Officers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to all Shareholders necessary tax information as promptly as possible after the end of the fiscal year of the Company; provided, however, that delivery of such tax information may be subject to delay as a result of the late receipt of any necessary tax information from an entity in which the Company directly or indirectly holds an interest. Each Shareholder hereby agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, none of the Company, the Directors, the Officers, or the Indemnified Persons shall have any liability to any Shareholder for any errors, omissions, inaccuracies, mis-statements, delays, failures, or any other faults with respect to any tax information with respect to the Company delivered, or failed to be delivered, to any Shareholder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any IRS Schedule K-1). Each Shareholder agrees to file all U.S. federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed by it in a manner consistent with the information provided to it by the Company. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes.
34
Section 7.2 Tax Elections. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board of Directors shall determine whether the Company should make or refrain from making any elections permitted by the Code, including whether to make or refrain from making the election provided for in Section 754 of the Code and whether the Company is to be classified as a partnership or an association for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and any and all other elections permitted by the tax laws of the United States, the several states and other relevant jurisdictions. Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the Board of Directors shall be authorized to adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate for determining the price paid by a transferee of a Share without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.
Section 7.3 Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Board of Directors is authorized to take any action that may be required, necessary or appropriate to cause the Company to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. Law, including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1444, 1446 and 3406 of the Code. To the extent that the Company is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution to any Shareholder (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the Board of Directors may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Sections 4.3 or 8.3 in the amount of such withholding from or with respect to such Shareholder or the amounts paid over as an expense of the Company to be borne by Shareholders generally.
Section 7.4 Partnership Representative.
(a) For each taxable year of the Company, the Board of Directors shall cause the Company to appoint a partnership representative of the Company within the meaning of Section 6223 of the Code (the Partnership Representative). The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to take any actions necessary under the Revised Audit Rules or other guidance to designate the Partnership Representative with respect to each taxable year of the Company (and the Partnership Representative is authorized to take any actions specified under the Revised Audit Rules or any applicable state or local law), and the Company shall comply with any requirements necessary to effect such designation.
(b) The Partnership Representative is authorized to take any actions specified under the Revised Audit Rules or any applicable state or local law, and the Company shall comply with any requirements necessary to effect such designation. The Partnership Representatives representation of the Company shall be at the Companys expense, and the Partnership Representative is authorized to expend Company funds for professional services and costs associated therewith.
(c) The Partnership Representative shall employ experienced tax counsel to represent the Company in connection with any audit or investigation of the Company by the IRS or any other tax authority and in connection with all subsequent administrative and judicial proceedings arising out of such audit. Each Shareholder agrees to cooperate with the Partnership Representative and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Partnership Representative to conduct such proceedings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors and of each Shareholder, at their expense, to employ tax counsel to represent their respective separate interests.
Section 7.5 Relief from Inadvertent Terminations as a Partnership. In the event that the Board of Directors determines that the Company should seek relief pursuant to Section 7704(e) of the Code to preserve the status of the Company as a partnership for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes, then the Company and each Shareholder shall agree to any adjustments required by the tax authorities, and the Company shall pay any such amounts as may be required by the applicable tax authorities, to preserve the status of the Company as a partnership for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes.
35
ARTICLE VIII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 8.1 Dissolution.
(a) The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of substitute or additional Shareholders. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, only:
(i) upon the approval of the Board of Directors; or
(ii) at any time when there are no remaining Shareholders of the Company, unless the business of the Company is continued in accordance with the Delaware Act.
(b) Each Shareholder is hereby deemed to have waived any and all right to seek judicial dissolution of the Company pursuant to Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act or otherwise.
Section 8.2 Liquidator. Upon dissolution of the Company, the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) shall select one or more Persons (which may be the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) or a Shareholder (or any Affiliate of a Shareholder)) to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the Board of Directors or any committee thereof) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by Shareholder Approval. The Liquidator (if other than the Board of Directors or any committee thereof) shall be permitted to resign at any time, but only after providing the Company with twenty (20) Business Days prior written notice thereof, and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors. Upon the dissolution, death, incapacity, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall thereafter be appointed by the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof). The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article VIII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the Board of Directors under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Company as provided for herein.
Section 8.3 Liquidation. The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Company, discharge its liabilities and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 18-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:
(a) Subject to Section 8.3(c), the assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Shareholders on such terms as the Liquidator and such Shareholder or Shareholders may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Shareholder receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 8.3(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value as determined by the Board of Directors or the Liquidator, in its sole discretion, and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Shareholders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Shareholders understand and acknowledge that a Shareholder may be compelled to accept a distribution of any asset in kind from the Company despite the fact that the percentage of the asset distributed to such Shareholder exceeds the percentage of that asset which is equal to the percentage in which such Shareholder shares in distributions from the Company. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Companys assets for a reasonable period of time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Companys assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Shareholders. The Liquidator may distribute the Companys assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Shareholders; provided, that no Shareholder shall be compelled to accept any assets whereon there is any liability.
(b) Liabilities of the Company include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 8.2) and amounts owed to Shareholders other than in respect of their distribution rights under Article IV. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it deems appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be applied to other liabilities or distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.
36
(c) Subject to the terms of any Share Designation, all property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 8.3(b) shall be distributed ratably to the Record Holders of Common Shares, allocated among them in proportion to the number of Shares held by them.
(d) If the assets of the Company distributable among the holders of any one or more classes or series of Preferred Shares that (i) are entitled to a preference over the holders of the Common Shares upon the dissolution of the Company and (ii) rank equally in connection with any such distribution, are insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount to which such holders of Preferred Shares are entitled, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among the holders of such applicable classes or series of Preferred Shares ratably in accordance with the amounts that would otherwise have been payable upon such distribution if all sums payable were discharged in full.
Section 8.4 Cancellation of Certificate of Formation. Upon the completion of the distribution of the Companys cash and property as provided in Section 8.3 in connection with the liquidation of the Company, the Certificate of Formation and all qualifications of the Company as a foreign limited liability company in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be cancelled and such other actions as may be necessary to dissolve the Company shall be taken.
Section 8.5 No Right to Return of Contributions. Neither any Director nor any Officer (nor any of their respective Affiliates) shall be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate, the return of any Capital Contributions of the Shareholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets.
Section 8.6 Waiver of Partition. To the maximum extent permitted by Law, each Shareholder hereby waives any right to partition of the Company property.
Section 8.7 Capital Account Restoration. No Shareholder shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT
Section 9.1 General.
(a) Any and all amendments to this Agreement, including any amendments in connection with any merger or division, by operation of law or otherwise, shall require the prior approval of, and may be proposed only by, the Board of Directors (except to the extent provided otherwise in any Share Designation); provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall have no duty or obligation whatsoever, at any time, to propose any amendment to this Agreement. If any Shareholder or other Person shall request the Board to propose any amendment to this Agreement, the Board may decline to do so, free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Company or any Shareholder or other Person and, in declining to propose any amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, shall not be required to act pursuant to any standard other than that set forth in Section 5.15(b).
(b) If the Board of Directors desires to amend any provision of this Agreement, including any amendments in connection with any merger or division, by operation of law or otherwise, the Board shall (i) adopt a resolution setting forth the amendment proposed and declaring its advisability, and (ii) unless approval of or consent to such amendment by the Shareholders is not required pursuant to Section 9.2, submit such proposed amendment to the Shareholders for their approval or disapproval by either (x) calling a special meeting of the Shareholders entitled to vote in respect thereof for the consideration of such proposed amendment, (y) directing that the proposed amendment be considered at the next annual meeting of the Shareholders or (z) seeking the consent of the Shareholders to such proposed amendment. Any such special or annual meeting shall be called and held upon notice in accordance with Article XI of this Agreement, which notice shall set forth the text of such amendment in full and a summary of the changes to be effected thereby. A proposed amendment, whether by merger, operation of law or otherwise, that requires approval or consent of the Shareholders shall be effective upon Shareholder Approval thereof, unless a different standard for obtaining the approval or consent of Shareholders (or any class or series of Shareholders) is required under Section 9.3 or pursuant to any Share Designation.
37
Section 9.2 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding Section 9.1, each Shareholder agrees that the Board of Directors, without the approval of any Shareholder or any other Person, may amend any provision of this Agreement, and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record any documents that may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Company, the registered agent of the Company or the registered office of the Company;
(b) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Shareholders in accordance with this Agreement;
(c) a change that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Company is formed or any jurisdiction in which the Company conducts business or owns or operates assets;
(d) a change that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation;
(e) a restriction on the transfer of Shares pursuant to Section 3.6(c);
(f) a change that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate for the proper administration of the Company as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to preserve or achieve uniformity of a class of Shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes or to facilitate the preparation and delivery to Shareholders of the tax information pursuant to Section 7.1;
(g) a change that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate following any change in the classification of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-1, et seq. or Section 7704 of the Code;
(h) a change that the Board of Directors determines (i) does not materially and adversely affect the Shareholders (or the holders of any particular class or series of Shares), (ii) to be necessary to address changes in any applicable Laws, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of the Shares or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which Shares are or will be listed for trading, (iv) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3.9 or (v) is required to effect the intent expressed in this Agreement;
(i) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Company and any other changes that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Company;
(j) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines, based on the advice of counsel, to be necessary or appropriate to prevent the Company or its Directors, Officers, representatives or agents from having a material risk of, in any manner, being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or plan asset regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(k) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of Shares, or Derivative Securities, pursuant to Section 3.2;
38
(l) an amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the Board of Directors, acting alone;
(m) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by an Agreement and Plan of Merger or Consolidation adopted in accordance with Section 10.2;
(n) a merger, division, conversion or conveyance pursuant to Section 10.2(b), including any amendment permitted pursuant to Section 10.3; or
(o) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
Section 9.3 Additional Amendment Requirements.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2, no provision of this Agreement that provides Shareholders with the right to approve or consent to any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded, whether by merger, operation of law or otherwise, in any respect that would have the effect of eliminating or reducing such approval or consent right unless such amendment is approved by the consent or the affirmative vote of the Shareholders whose aggregate Outstanding Voting Shares constitute not less than the consent or voting requirements necessary to approve such action.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2, no amendment to this Agreement, including any amendments in connection with any merger or division, by operation of law or otherwise, may impose personal liability or a Capital Contribution obligation on any Shareholder without such Shareholders consent.
(c) In addition to any other vote required by this Agreement or by applicable Law, if any amendment to this Agreement, including any amendments in connection with any merger or division, by operation of law or otherwise, would materially and adversely alter or change the rights, powers (including voting power) preferences, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the Shares of any class or series in a manner that is disproportionate to the effect of such amendment on other classes or series of Shares, then such amendment shall not take effect unless approved by the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Shares of such adversely affected class or series of Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, the issuance by the Company of Shares having rights superior to those of any class or series of Outstanding Shares, or the issuance of Shares having a dilutive effect on any class or series of Outstanding Shares, shall not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of, and shall not require the approval of, any such class or series of Shares.
(d) For the avoidance of doubt, no provision of this Article IX shall be amended, including any amendments in connection with any merger or division, by operation of law or otherwise, without approval of the Board of Directors and Shareholder Approval.
ARTICLE X
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, CONVERSION OR DIVISION; SALE OF ASSETS
Section 10.1 Authority. The Company may merge or consolidate with one or more limited liability companies or other business entities as defined in Section 18-209 of the Delaware Act, convert into any such other business entity, whether such entity is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction, or divide into two (2) or more Delaware limited liability companies (or to the extent permitted by applicable Law, any other business entities), pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger or consolidation (an Agreement and Plan of Merger or Consolidation), a plan of conversion (a Plan of Conversion), or a plan of division (a Plan of Division), respectively, in accordance with the Delaware Act and this Article X.
39
Section 10.2 Approval of Merger, Consolidation, Conversion, Division or Sale of All or Substantially All of the Companys Assets.
(a) Except as provided in Section 10.2(b), the Agreement and Plan of Merger or Consolidation, Plan of Conversion or Plan of Division, and the merger, consolidation, conversion or division contemplated thereby, shall require approval of the Board of Directors and Shareholder Approval, subject to the terms of any Share Designation that shall require approval of any class or series of Shares.
(b) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article X or in this Agreement, the Board of Directors is hereby authorized, upon approval by the Board of Directors and without Shareholder Approval (or approval of any other Person), to (i) convert the Company into a different limited liability entity (which may include a limited liability partnership, a corporation or any other limited liability entity), (ii) merge the Company into, or convey all of the Companys assets to, another limited liability entity (which may include a limited liability partnership, a corporation or any other limited liability entity), if (A) such entity, in the case of a merger or conveyance under clause (ii), shall be newly formed and shall have no material assets, liabilities or operations immediately prior to the effective time of such merger or conveyance, and (B) the primary purpose of such conversion, merger, or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Company into another limited liability entity (which may include a limited liability partnership, a corporation or any other limited liability entity) and/or a change in the jurisdiction of formation of the Company or (iii) divide the Company into two (2) or more limited liability entities in accordance with the Delaware Act, in which all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in each resulting limited liability entity shall be issued to the Shareholders on a pro rata basis in accordance with their ownership of Outstanding Shares; provided, however, that, in each case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) that such conversion, merger, conveyance or division, as the case may be, shall not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Shareholder.
(c) In no event shall Shareholders be entitled to any appraisal rights, dissenters rights or similar rights, whether in connection with any merger, consolidation, conversion, division, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the Companys Subsidiaries, or in connection with any other transaction or event.
(d) The Company shall not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to any Person (other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company), without first obtaining Shareholder Approval; provided, however, that the foregoing will not limit the ability of the Board of Directors to authorize, without the approval of any Shareholders, the Company to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in respect of any indebtedness or other obligations of the Company. For purposes of this Section 10.2, substantially all means assets having a net book value (after taking into account any liabilities to which such assets are subject) equal to or greater than eighty percent (80%) of the total Shareholders equity of the Company, as set forth on the latest annual or quarterly consolidated balance sheet of the Company filed with the Commission.
Section 10.3 Amendment of Agreement.
(a) Pursuant to Section 18-209(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding Article IX hereof, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article X, including a merger or consolidation approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 10.2(b), may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new limited liability company agreement for a limited liability company if it is the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the Surviving Business Entity), in each case, only upon Shareholder Approval. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 10.3(a) shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
(b) Pursuant to Section 18-217(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding Article IX hereof, a plan of division approved in accordance with this Article X, including a division approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 10.2(b), may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement if it is a surviving company in the division or (b) effect the adoption of a new limited liability company agreement for the Company if it is a surviving company in the division, in each case, only upon Shareholder Approval. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 10.3(b) shall be effective at the effective time or date of the division.
40
ARTICLE XI
SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS
Section 11.1 Shareholder Meetings.
(a) All acts of Shareholders to be taken at a meeting of Shareholders shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XI. Meetings of the Shareholders for the election of Directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
(b) An annual meeting of Shareholders for the election of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors shall specify. If and to the extent authorized by the Board of Directors in connection with any annual meeting, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, Shareholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of Shareholders may, by means of remote communication, participate in such meeting and be deemed present in person and vote at such meeting, and any meeting of Shareholders may be held solely by means of remote communication; provided, that the Company shall implement reasonable measures to (i) verify that each Person deemed present and permitted to vote at any such meeting by means of remote communication is a Shareholder or proxyholder, (ii) provide such Shareholders or proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and (iii) record the votes or other action made by such Shareholders or proxyholders.
(c) A failure to hold the annual meeting of Shareholders at the designated time or to elect a sufficient number of Directors to conduct the business of the Company shall not affect otherwise valid acts of the Company or cause a forfeiture or dissolution of the Company. If the annual meeting for election of Directors is not held on the date designated therefor, the Directors shall cause the meeting to be held as soon as is convenient.
(d) The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the Officer presiding at a meeting of Shareholders, in such Officers discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballots.
(e) Unless otherwise required by Law, special meetings of Shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by either the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors, and shall be called by any Officer at the request of Shareholders holding at least sixty six and two-thirds percent (66.67%) of the voting power represented by the Outstanding Voting Shares, taken together as a single class. Such request shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Company and the Board, and shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. At a special meeting of Shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto authorized by the Board). Upon the receipt by the Company of a request to call a special meeting of Shareholders, the Board of Directors shall determine the Record Date for such meeting and the date on which such meeting will be held, which meeting date shall be held as promptly as practicable after the date of receipt of such request, taking into account the requirement to prepare and deliver to the Shareholders any proxy materials and other information required in connection therewith.
(f) The Board of Directors may cancel, postpone or adjourn any declared meeting of Shareholders (provided, that the Board of Directors shall not be permitted to cancel any special meeting of Shareholders requested by Shareholders pursuant to Section 11.1(e)), for any reason or for no reason, at any time prior to the time for holding such meeting or the time for holding such adjourned meeting. The Board of Directors shall notify Shareholders (which may be effected by way of a filing with the Commission) before the time of such meeting of any such cancellation or postponement thereof. A postponement may be for a stated period of any length or indefinitely as the Board of Directors may determine.
(g) Directors shall be entitled, notwithstanding that they are not Shareholders, to attend and speak at any meeting of Shareholders and at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of series of Shares of the Company.
41
Section 11.2 Notice of Meetings. Whenever Shareholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting (which shall be given in accordance with Section 12.1) shall be given, which shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by Law, notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each Shareholder entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting.
Section 11.3 Adjournments. Any meeting of Shareholders may be adjourned from time to time by the chairman of the meeting to reconvene at the same or some other place. No business shall be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.
Section 11.4 Quorum. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the Outstanding Voting Shares at a meeting of Shareholders, taken together as a single class, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of Shareholders for the transaction of business. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of Shareholders, the chairman of the meeting shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 11.3, until a quorum shall be present or represented. No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business.
Section 11.5 Voting.
(a) All matters submitted to the Shareholders at a meeting of Shareholders for approval shall be determined by Shareholder Approval, at a meeting at which a quorum is present, unless a greater percentage is required with respect to such matter under any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which Shares are listed for trading, or under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the approval of Shareholders holding Outstanding Voting Shares that in the aggregate represent at least such greater percentage shall be required. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in Section 11.6. The Board of Directors, or the Chairman of the Board or other Officer of the Company presiding at a meeting of Shareholders, in such Officers discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
(b) In the case of a tie, the chairman of the meeting shall be entitled, but not required, to cast the deciding vote.
(c) Except as otherwise expressly required by Law or provided in this Agreement, and subject to any voting rights provided in any Share Designation, the holders of any Outstanding Class A Common Shares and the holders of any Outstanding Class B Common Shares shall vote together as a single class on all matters with respect to which Shareholders are entitled to vote under applicable Law, this Agreement or upon which a vote of Shareholders is otherwise duly called for by the Company.
(d) At each annual or special meeting of Shareholders, (i) each Record Holder of Class A Common Shares on the relevant Record Date shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote in person or by proxy for each Class A Common Share standing in such holders name on the register of the Company and (ii) each Record Holder of Class B Common Shares on the relevant Record Date shall be entitled to cast ten (10) votes in person or by proxy for each Class B Common Share standing in such holders name on the register of the Company. Each Record Holder of any other class or series of Shares shall be entitled to cast that number of votes, if any, in person or by proxy with respect to such Shares as may be set forth in the Share Designation authorizing the creation and issuance of such Shares.
(e) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Agreement, no Shareholder shall have a right to vote on or approve a conversion, merger or conveyance approved by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 10.2(b), unless the Board of Directors elects to submit the matter to the Shareholders for their approval.
42
Section 11.6 Proxies.
(a) Each Shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of Shareholders may authorize another Person or Persons to act for such Shareholder as proxy, including to attend, speak and vote on such Shareholders behalf at any meeting of Shareholders, but no such proxy shall be voted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless such proxy expressly provides for a longer period. A proxy need not be a Shareholder of the Company. The appointment of a proxy shall be in any form and manner which the Board of Directors may approve, and, if required by the Company, shall be signed by or on behalf of the appointer. Without limiting the manner in which a Shareholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such Shareholder as a proxy, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a Shareholder may grant such authority:
(i) A Shareholder may execute a document authorizing another Person or Persons to act for such Shareholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by electronic signature by the Shareholder or such Shareholders authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such document or causing such persons signature to be affixed to such document by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
(ii) A Shareholder may appoint a proxy by means of a telephonic, electronic or internet communication; provided, that the Board of Directors may prescribe the method of determining the time at which any such telephonic, electronic or internet communication is to be treated as received by the Company and procedures that are reasonably designed to verify that such instructions have been authorized by such Shareholder. The Board of Directors may treat any such telephonic, electronic or internet communication which purports to be or is expressed to be sent on behalf of a Shareholder as sufficient evidence of the authority of the Person sending that instruction to send it on behalf of such Shareholder.
(b) Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the document or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a Shareholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original document or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original document or transmission could be used; provided, however, that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original document or transmission.
(c) The instrument appointing a proxy shall, if applicable, be deposited with the Company or with such other Person as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting no later than the time for holding the meeting or, if the meeting is adjourned, the time for holding such adjourned meeting.
Section 11.7 List of Shareholders Entitled to Vote. The Officer who has charge of the register of the Company shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of Shareholders, a complete list of Shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order for each class or series of Shares and showing the address of each such Shareholder and the number of Outstanding Voting Shares registered in the name of such Shareholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any Shareholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days before the meeting (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Company. In the event that the Company determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Company may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to Shareholders. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any Shareholder who is present.
Section 11.8 Record Date.
(a) In order that the Company may determine the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of or to attend or vote at any meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a Record Date, which Record Date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which Record Date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no Record Date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the Record Date for determining Shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholder shall be at the close of business
43
on the day immediately preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of Record Holders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new Record Date for the adjourned meeting.
(b) Only those Record Holders of Outstanding Voting Shares on the Record Date fixed pursuant to this Section 11.8 shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at a meeting of Shareholders or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Voting Shares have the right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Voting Shares shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Voting Shares on such Record Date.
Section 11.9 Register. The register shall be the only evidence as to who are the Shareholders entitled to examine the list required by Section 11.7, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the Shareholders.
Section 11.10 Actions of the Shareholders By Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if the holders of the required number of Voting Shares necessary to approve such action execute and deliver one or more consents thereto, and such consent is recorded with the minutes of proceedings of the Shareholders. For the avoidance of doubt, any such consent may be executed by the Shareholders by electronic signature, and may be delivered to the Company by electronic transmission.
Section 11.11 Conduct of Meetings.
(a) The Board of Directors may adopt, by resolution from time to time, such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of Shareholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of Shareholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (iii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iv) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to Record Holders, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (v) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (vi) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.
(b) If the Board of Directors so provides in its rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of Shareholders, a Shareholder may participate in a meeting of Shareholders by means of a telephone, video, electronic or similar communication equipment by way of which all Persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 11.11(b) shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
(c) At each meeting of Shareholders, the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence or if there be none, such other Officer or Person that the Board of Directors shall designate, shall preside as chairman at such meeting. If at any meeting of Shareholders the Chairman of the Board (or other Person designated by the Board of Directors as the chairman of such meeting) is not present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman of such meeting, any other Director or Person nominated by the Board of Directors shall preside as chairman at such meeting, failing which the Shareholders present in person or by proxy shall choose any Person present to be chairman of such meeting.
Section 11.12 Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of Shareholders, the Board of Directors, by resolution, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other Persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of
44
Shareholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, inspectors may be Officers, employees or agents of the Company. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by Law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by applicable Law.
Section 11.13 Nature of Business at Meeting of Shareholders.
(a) Only such business (other than nominations for election to the Board of Directors, which must comply with the provisions of Section 11.14) may be transacted at an annual meeting of Shareholders as is either (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any Shareholder (A) who (x) has been, for the entirety of the two (2) year period immediately preceding the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 11.13, and (y) is, on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 11.13 and on the Record Date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such annual meeting, a Record Holder of Common Shares representing at least one percent (1%) of the voting power represented by the Outstanding Voting Shares and (B) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11.13.
(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Shareholder, such Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary.
(c) To be timely, a Shareholders notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal offices of the Company not less than one hundred and twenty (120) days nor more than one hundred and fifty (150) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of Shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty five (25) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the Shareholder in order to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Shareholders notice as described above.
(d) To be in proper written form, a Shareholders notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information: (i) as to each matter such Shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the proposed text of any proposal regarding such business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if such business includes a proposal to amend this Agreement, the text of the proposed amendment), and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and (ii) as to the Shareholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, (A) the name and address of such Person; (B) (I) the class or series and number of all Shares which are owned beneficially or of record by such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, (II) the name of each nominee holder of Shares owned beneficially but not of record by such Person or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, and the number of such Shares held by each such nominee holder, (III) whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, with respect to Shares and (IV) whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of Shares) has been made by or on behalf of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of Share price changes for, such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, with respect to Shares; (C) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between or among such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, and any other Person or Persons (including their names) in connection with
45
or relating to (I) the Company or (II) the proposal, including any material interest in, or anticipated benefit from the proposal to such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person; (D) a representation that the Shareholder giving notice intends to appear in Person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting; and (E) any other information relating to such Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies by such Person with respect to the proposed business to be brought by such Person before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act.
(e) A Shareholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 11.13 shall be true and correct as of the Record Date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal offices of the Company not later than five (5) Business Days after the Record Date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting.
(f) No business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of Shareholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11.13; provided, however, that, once business has been properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this Section 11.13 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any Shareholder of any such business. If the chairman of an annual meeting determines that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting and such business shall not be transacted.
(g) Nothing contained in this Section 11.13 shall be deemed to affect any rights of Shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Companys proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision of Law).
Section 11.14 Nomination of Directors by Shareholders.
(a) Nominations of Persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at any annual meeting of Shareholders, or at any special meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors, by any Shareholder (A) who (x) has been, for the entirety of the two (2) year period immediately preceding the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 11.14, and (y) is, on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 11.14 and on the Record Date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such annual meeting or special meeting of Shareholders, a Record Holder of Common Shares representing at least one percent (1%) of the voting power represented by the Outstanding Voting Shares and (B) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11.14; provided, that the requirements set forth in this Section 11.14 shall not apply to any Class B Majority Shareholder, who may nominate Persons for election to the Board of Directors by giving notice thereof to the Secretary.
(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a Shareholder, such Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary.
(c) To be timely, a Shareholders notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal offices of the Company (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not less than one hundred and twenty (120) days nor more than one hundred and fifty (150) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of Shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty five (25) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the Shareholder in order to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or a special meeting called for the purpose of electing Directors, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Shareholders notice as described above.
46
(d) To be in proper written form, a Shareholders notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information: (i) as to each Person whom the Shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a Director (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such Person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of such Person, (C) (I) the class or series and number of all Shares which are owned beneficially or of record by such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, (II) the name of each nominee holder of Shares owned beneficially but not of record by such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, and the number of such Shares held by each such nominee holder, (III) whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, with respect to Shares and (IV) whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of Shares) has been made by or on behalf of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of Share price changes for, such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, with respect to Shares, (D) such Persons written representation and agreement that such Person (I) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any Person or entity as to how such Person, if elected as a Director, will act or vote on any issue or question, (II) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any Person or entity other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a Director that has not been disclosed to the Company in such representation and agreement and (III) in such Persons individual capacity, would be in compliance, if elected as a Director, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed confidentiality, corporate governance, conflict of interest, Regulation FD, code of conduct and ethics, and Share ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company and (E) any other information relating to such Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of Directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act; and (ii) as to the Shareholder giving the notice, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (A) the name and record address of the Shareholder giving the notice and the name and principal place of business of such beneficial owner; (B) (I) the class or series and number of all Shares which are owned beneficially or of record by such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, (II) the name of each nominee holder of Shares owned beneficially but not of record by such Person or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, and the number of Shares held by each such nominee holder, (III) whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, with respect to Shares and (IV) whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of Shares) has been made by or on behalf of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of Share price changes for, such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, with respect to Shares; (C) a description of (I) all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, and any proposed nominee for election as a Director, or any Affiliates or associates of such proposed nominee, (II) all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, and any other Person or Persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are being made by such Person, or otherwise relating to the Company or their ownership of Shares, and (III) any material interest of such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person, in such nomination, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such Person, or any Affiliates or associates of such Person; (D) a representation that the Shareholder giving notice intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting or special meeting to nominate the Persons named in its notice; and (E) any other information relating to such Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election of Directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act. Such notice must be accompanied by a consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a Director if elected.
47
(e) A Shareholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at an annual meeting or special meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 11.14 shall be true and correct as of the Record Date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting or special meeting, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal offices of the Company not later than five (5) Business Days after the Record Date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of such annual meeting or special meeting.
(f) No Person shall be eligible for election as a Director unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11.14. If the chairman of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded. For the avoidance of doubt, the requirements set forth in this Section 11.14 shall not in any manner be deemed to limit, restrict or otherwise modify the right, power and authority of a Class B Majority Shareholder to appoint Designated Directors pursuant to Section 5.3.
ARTICLE XII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 12.1 Notices. Any notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to any Shareholder or Director (including any member of a committee of the Board) under this Agreement, the Delaware Act, the rules of any National Securities Exchange or otherwise may be set forth in a written document or in an electronic transmission delivered by mail or by electronic transmission (including by email), addressed to such Shareholder or Director (including any member of a committee of the Board) to such Persons address (including email address) as it appears on the records of the Transfer Agent or as shown on the records of the Company (with postage thereon prepaid, if given or made by mail), and shall be deemed to be given or made at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail or at the time electronically transmitted, respectively. Any notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document to be given or made to a Shareholder hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give or make such notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon the sending thereof to the Record Holder of such Shares at the address (including email address) of such Record Holder as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Company, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Shares by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of the making or giving of any notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.1 executed by the Company, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization, which may be so executed by electronic signature and delivered by electronic transmission, shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document. If any notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document addressed to a Record Holder at the address (including email address) of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Company is returned marked to indicate that such notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document was unable to be delivered, then such notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document, and any subsequent notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until a reasonable period after such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Company of a change in his, her or its address) if they are available for the Shareholder at the principal office of the Company for a period of one (1) year from the date of the giving or making thereof to the other Shareholders. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to Shareholders, if the rules of the Commission shall permit any notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report, proxy materials, information statement or other document shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery. Notice given by electronic transmission, as described above, shall, if given by a posting on an electronic network, together with separate notice to the Shareholder of such specific posting, be deemed given upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice. Notice to Directors (including any member of a committee of the Board) or the Company may be given personally or by telegram, telex,
48
cable or by means of electronic transmission. Any notice to the Company shall be deemed given if received by the Secretary (or other designated Officer) at the principal office of the Company. The Board of Directors and any Officer may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Shareholder or other Person if believed by the Board of Directors or such Officer to be genuine. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Company may give notice of any meeting of Shareholders in accordance with the procedures embodied in Rule 14a-16 of the Exchange Act. Any Shareholder present, either personally or by proxy, at any meeting of Shareholders, shall for all purposes be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where required, due notice of the purposes for which such meeting was convened.
Section 12.2 Entities Acting by Representatives at Meetings. For the avoidance of doubt, any Shareholder that is not an individual may, by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorize such Person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of Shareholders, including any meeting of the holders of a specific class or series of Shares, and the Person so authorized shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of such Shareholder which he or she represents as that Person could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder.
Section 12.3 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take (or omit to take) any action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 12.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, the Shareholders and their respective estates, heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted transferees and assigns, and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, that the Indemnified Persons and Covered Persons, and their respective estates, heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and legal representatives, shall be entitled to receive the benefits upon such Persons pursuant to Section 5.16 of this Agreement.
Section 12.5 Integration. This Agreement, including any exhibits, annexes and schedules hereto, constitutes the limited liability company agreement (as such term is defined in the Delaware Act) of the Company and supersedes all prior written, oral or implied statements, agreements and understandings as to the Companys affairs and the conduct of its business, including the Initial LLC Agreement and the First Amended and Restated LLC Agreement.
Section 12.6 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditor of the Company or by any creditor of any of the Shareholders.
Section 12.7 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition. The waiver by any Shareholder or Director of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach hereunder.
Section 12.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed, including by electronic signature, in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto. Any Person who acquires a Share shall be bound by this Agreement without execution hereof.
Section 12.9 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
49
Section 12.10 Arbitration.
(a) Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement (and any subsequent amendments hereof), or any breach, termination, or the validity thereof, the Companys internal affairs, the ownership, transfer or rights or obligations of or with respect to, any Shares, or any action or inaction arising out of or relating to any of the foregoing, and any question of the arbitrators jurisdiction or the existence, scope or validity of this Section 12.10 (each a Dispute), shall be submitted, upon notice delivered by any party to such claim, to confidential, final and binding arbitration administered by Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS) in accordance with its Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time (the Rules), except to the extent such procedures are modified herein.
(b) The seat of arbitration shall be New York, New York, and the arbitration shall be conducted in the English language.
(c) There shall be one arbitrator who shall be agreed upon by the parties to such Dispute within twenty (20) days of delivery by any party to such Dispute of a copy of the demand for arbitration. If the parties do not agree upon an arbitrator within this time limit, such arbitrator shall be appointed by the JAMS in accordance with the Rules.
(d) This Section 12.10 and the arbitration of Disputes shall be subject to and governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).
(e) After the conclusion of all testimony, at a time designated by the arbitrator, each party shall simultaneously submit to the arbitrator and exchange with the other party its final proposed award. In rendering the final award, the arbitrator shall be limited to choosing an award proposed by a party without modification; provided, however, that in no event shall the arbitrator award any damages prohibited by this Agreement or make any award that is otherwise inconsistent with this Agreement or applicable Law.
(f) In addition to monetary damages, the arbitrator shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including, but not limited to, an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this Agreement.
(g) By agreeing to arbitration, the parties do not intend to deprive any court of its jurisdiction to issue a pre-arbitral injunction, pre-arbitral attachment or other order in aid of arbitration proceedings. Without prejudice to such provisional remedies that may be granted by a court, the arbitrator shall have full authority to grant provisional remedies, to order a party to request that a court modify or vacate any temporary or preliminary relief issued by such court, and to award damages for the failure of any party to respect the arbitrators orders to that effect.
(h) The parties consent and submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal court located in the State of New York or, where such court does not have jurisdiction, any New York state court, in either case located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York (New York Court) for the enforcement of any arbitral award rendered hereunder and to compel arbitration or for interim or provisional remedies in aid of arbitration. In any such action: (i) each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, any objection, including any objection to the laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens or any right of objection to jurisdiction on account of its place of incorporation or domicile, which it may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or proceeding in any New York Court; (ii) each party irrevocably consents to service of process sent by a national courier service (with confirmation of receipt) to its address pursuant to Section 12.1 or in any other manner permitted by applicable Law; and (iii) each party waives any right to trial by jury in any court.
(i) The arbitration provisions in this Section 12.10 will not apply with respect to any federal securities laws claims brought under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, for which the United States District Court for the District of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum, unless the Company otherwise consents. For the avoidance of doubt, any claims other than such federal securities laws claims, including any claims accompanying any such federal securities laws claims will continue to be subject to mandatory arbitration pursuant to this Section 12.10.
50
(j) The award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties thereto, shall not be subject to appeal, and shall be the sole and exclusive remedy between the parties regarding any Disputes presented to the arbitrator. Judgment upon any award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction over any party or any of its assets.
(k) Any arbitration hereunder shall be confidential, and the parties and their agents agree not to disclose to any third party (i) the existence or status of the arbitration, (ii) all information made known and documents produced in the arbitration not otherwise in the public domain, and (iii) all awards arising from the arbitration, except and to the extent that disclosure is required by applicable Law or is required to protect or pursue a legal right.
(l) The arbitrator shall award the prevailing party its attorneys fees and costs reasonably incurred in the arbitration, including the prevailing partys share of the arbitrator fees and JAMS administrative costs.
Section 12.11 Invalidity of Provisions. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. If any provision of this Agreement is adjudicated by an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction, in each case, in accordance with Section 12.10, to be or otherwise becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, in whole or in part, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision (or portion thereof) could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be deemed to be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating any of the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 12.12 Consent of Shareholders. Whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken by the Board of Directors or upon the affirmative vote of less than all of the Shareholders, such action may be so taken by the Board of Directors or upon the concurrence of less than all of the Shareholders, and each Shareholder shall be bound by the results of such action and deemed to consent to such action.
Section 12.13 Headings. The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
Section 12.14 Confidentiality. Each Shareholder that is not a Class B Majority Shareholder expressly agrees, whether or not at the time a Shareholder of the Company or providing services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to maintain the confidentiality of, and not disclose to any person other than the Company, its officers or any financial, legal or other advisor to the Company, any non-public information provided by or on behalf of the Company relating to the business, clients, affairs or financial structure, position or results of the Company or its affiliates (including any Affiliate) or any dispute that shall not be generally known to the public or the securities industry; provided that such Shareholder may disclose any such information (a) to the extent required by any applicable law, rule or regulation in the Opinion of Counsel or by the order of any National Securities Exchange, banking supervisory authority or other governmental or self- regulatory organization of competent jurisdiction (provided, that such Shareholder notifies the Company of such requirement prior to making such disclosure and cooperates with the Company in seeking to prevent or minimize such disclosure), (b) to his, her or its legal counsel and financial advisers (who shall agree to abide by the terms of this Section 12.14), or (c) with the prior consent of the Company.
Remainder of page intentionally left blank.
51
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date first written above.
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC |
By: |
/s/ Stephen W. Ries |
|
Name: | Stephen W. Ries | |
Title: | Secretary |
Exhibit 4.1
FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
THIS FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Fourth Supplemental Indenture), dated as of August 28, 2020, is entered into by and among NEW CAYCO (as successor to Global Indemnity Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company, as successor to Global Indemnity plc, an Irish public limited company (GI Ireland)), a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Successor Company), GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED (as successor to GI Ireland), a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Predecessor Company), GBLI HOLDINGS, LLC (formerly known as Global Indemnity Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation), a Delaware limited liability company (GBLI Holdings), WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the Original Trustee), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as series trustee for the 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 (the Notes Trustee and, together with the Original Trustee, the Trustees and each, a Trustee).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Predecessor Company and GBLI Holdings are co-obligors of 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047, in the original aggregate principal amount of $130,000,000 (the Notes), which were issued under that certain indenture, dated as of August 12, 2015 (the Base Indenture), by and between the Predecessor Company and the Original Trustee, as amended by the Officers Certificate, dated as of August 12, 2015 (the Officers Certificate), the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 7, 2016 (the First Supplemental Indenture), by and among the Predecessor Company and the Original Trustee, the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 23, 2017 (the Second Supplemental Indenture), by and among the Predecessor Company and the Trustees, and the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 25, 2018 (the Third Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Officers Certificate, the First Supplemental Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture), by and among the Predecessor Company, GBLI Holdings, as co-obligor, and the Trustees;
WHEREAS, on August 28, 2020, the Predecessor Company will merge with the Successor Company in accordance with the Companies Law (2020 Revision) of the Cayman Islands (the Companies Law) with the Successor Company surviving, pursuant to which the Predecessor Companys assets and liabilities will be assumed by the Successor Company in accordance with the Companies Law (the New CayCo Merger);
WHEREAS, Section 8.01 of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that the Predecessor Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other person or convey, transfer, sell or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person unless (i) such person is an entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda or any country that is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or the European Union and (ii) such person expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Predecessor Company under the Indenture by supplemental indenture;
WHEREAS, the New CayCo Merger will constitute a merger of the Predecessor Company into another person under Section 8.01 of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Predecessor Company has requested that the Trustees enter into this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, and in accordance with Sections 1.02 and 9.03 of the Base Indenture, has delivered an Officers Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the Trustees;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 8.01(b), 9.01(3) and 9.03 of the Base Indenture, the Trustees are authorized to execute and deliver this Fourth Supplemental Indenture;
WHEREAS, each of the Predecessor Company, GBLI Holdings and the Successor Company has been authorized by resolutions of their respective Board of Directors or Board of Managers, as applicable, to enter into this Fourth Supplemental Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture will not result in a material modification of the Notes for the purposes of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto mutually covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions.
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. The term Officers Certificate is hereby amended and restated as follows:
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by any two of the following: the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, any director, the treasurer, an assistant treasurer, the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company.
ARTICLE TWO
ASSUMPTION BY SUCCESSOR COMPANY
Section 2.01 Representations and Warranties of Successor Company.
The Successor Company represents and warrants to the Trustees as follows:
(a) The Successor Company is an exempted company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture have been authorized and approved by all necessary corporate action on its part.
2
Section 2.02 Assumption of Rights and Obligations.
In accordance with Section 8.01 of the Base Indenture, the Successor Company hereby expressly assumes the performance of the obligations of the Predecessor Company under the Indenture and the Notes. Pursuant to Section 8.01(b) of the Base Indenture, the Successor Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Predecessor Company under the Indenture, the Securities (as defined in the Base Indenture) and the Notes with the same effect as if the Successor Company had been named as the Company in the Indenture, the Securities and the Notes; and thereafter the Predecessor Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture, the Securities and the Notes.
ARTICLE THREE
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01 Notices.
Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail or sent by facsimile (with a hard copy delivered in person or by mail promptly thereafter) and addressed as follows:
if to the Successor Company:
New CayCo
Walkers Corporate Limited
Cayman Corporate Centre
27 Hospital Road
George Town
Grand Cayman KY1-9008
Cayman Islands
Attention: Directors
Facsimile: (345) 949-7886
if to GBLI Holdings:
GBLI Holdings, LLC
Three Bala Plaza East, Suite 300
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: (610) 660-8887
if to the Original Trustee:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
333 South Grand Avenue, 5th Floor Suite 5A
Los Angeles, California 90071
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Facsimile: (213) 253-7598
3
if to the Notes Trustee:
U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107
Attention: Global Corporate Trustee Services-Global Indemnity Administrator
Facsimile: (651) 466-7430
The Successor Company, GBLI Holdings or the Trustees by notice to the other parties hereto may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Section 3.02 Effectiveness.
This Fourth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to have become effective, and the provisions provided for in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to have become operative, immediately upon the consummation of the New CayCo Merger.
Section 3.03 Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver.
THIS FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 3.04 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders.
None of the Successor Companys or GBLI Holdings directors, officers, employees, incorporators or stockholders, as such, shall have any liability for any of the Successor Companys or GBLI Holdings obligations under the Notes, the Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes hereby waives and releases all such liability.
Section 3.05 Multiple Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Fourth Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
4
Section 3.06 Headings.
The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 3.07 Trustees Not Responsible for Recitals.
The recitals contained herein shall be taken as statements of the Predecessor Company, the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings, and the Trustees assumes no responsibility or liability for their correctness. The Trustees makes no representations as to and shall not be responsible or liable for the validity or sufficiency of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture or the obligations of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings hereunder. The Notes Trustee and the Original Trustee shall not constitute co-trustees of the same trust, and each of the Notes Trustee and the Original Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts under the Indenture separate and apart from any trust or trusts under the Indenture administered by the other trustee. The Notes Trustee shall have no liability for any acts or omissions of the Original Trustee and the Original Trustee shall have no liability for any acts or omissions of the Notes Trustee, and under no circumstances shall anything in this Supplemental Indenture be construed to constitute the Original Trustee as Trustee under the Indenture with respect to the Notes.
Section 3.08 Severability.
If any provision of this Fourth 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.
Section 3.09 Adoption, Ratification and Confirmation.
This Fourth Supplemental Indenture is hereby executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Indenture and, as provided in the Indenture, this Fourth Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof. The Indenture, as amended by this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects hereby adopted, ratified and confirmed. For the avoidance of doubt, this Fourth Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustees subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, including the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities of the Trustees, with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustees with respect hereto.
Section 3.10 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any Federal or State court located in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, New York in any suit, action or proceeding based on or arising out of or relating to this Indenture or any Notes and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be determined in any such court.
5
Each of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings, as the case may be, and may be enforced in any courts to the jurisdiction of which the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings, as the case may be, is subject by a suit upon such judgment, provided, that service of process is effected upon the Issuer in the manner specified herein or as otherwise permitted by law. To the extent the Successor Company or GBLI Holdings has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, executor or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, each of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Indenture to the extent permitted by law.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fourth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
NEW CAYCO | ||||
By: |
/s/ Stephen W. Ries |
|||
Name: | Stephen W. Ries | |||
Title: | Director and Secretary | |||
GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED | ||||
By: |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
|||
Name: | Thomas M. McGeehan | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
GBLI HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
|||
Name: | Thomas M. McGeehan | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
as Original Trustee | ||
By: |
/s/ Maddy Hughes |
|
Name: Maddy Hughes | ||
Title: Vice President |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
as Notes Trustee | ||
By: |
/s/ Richard Prokosch |
|
Name: Richard Prokosch | ||
Title: Vice President |
Exhibit 4.2
FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
THIS FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Fifth Supplemental Indenture), dated as of August 28, 2020, is entered into by and among NEW CAYCO (as successor to Global Indemnity Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (GIL), as successor to Global Indemnity plc, an Irish public limited company (GI Ireland)), a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Predecessor Company), GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC (as successor to the Predecessor Company, as successor to GIL, as successor to GI Ireland), a Delaware limited liability company (the Successor Company), GBLI HOLDINGS, LLC (formerly known as Global Indemnity Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation), a Delaware limited liability company (GBLI Holdings), WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the Original Trustee), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as series trustee for the 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 (the Notes Trustee and, together with the Original Trustee, the Trustees and each, a Trustee).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Predecessor Company and GBLI Holdings are co-obligors of 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047, in the original aggregate principal amount of $130,000,000 (the Notes), which were issued under that certain indenture, dated as of August 12, 2015 (the Base Indenture), by and between the Predecessor Company and the Original Trustee, as amended by the Officers Certificate, dated as of August 12, 2015 (the Officers Certificate), the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 7, 2016 (the First Supplemental Indenture), by and among the Predecessor Company and the Original Trustee, the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 23, 2017 (the Second Supplemental Indenture), by and among the Predecessor Company and the Trustees, the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 25, 2018 (the Third Supplemental Indenture), by and among the Predecessor Company, GBLI Holdings, as co-obligor, and the Trustees, and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 28, 2020 (the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Officers Certificate, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture and the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture), by and among the Predecessor Company, GIL, GBLI Holdings and the Trustees;
WHEREAS, on August 28, 2020, the Predecessor Company will merge with the Successor Company through a parent-subsidiary merger in accordance with the Companies Law (2020 Revision) of the Cayman Islands (the Companies Law) with the Successor Company surviving, pursuant to which the Predecessor Companys assets and liabilities will be assumed by the Successor Company in accordance with the Companies Law and the applicable merger statute of the State of Delaware (the GI Delaware Merger);
WHEREAS, Section 8.01 of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that the Predecessor Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other person or convey, transfer, sell or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person unless (i) such person is an entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda or any country that is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or the European Union and (ii) such person expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Predecessor Company under the Indenture by supplemental indenture;
WHEREAS, the GI Delaware Merger will constitute a merger of the Predecessor Company into another person under Section 8.01 of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Predecessor Company has requested that the Trustees enter into this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, and in accordance with Sections 1.02 and 9.03 of the Base Indenture, has delivered an Officers Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the Trustees;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 8.01(b), 9.01(3) and 9.03 of the Base Indenture, the Trustees is authorized to execute and deliver this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;
WHEREAS, each of the Predecessor Company, GBLI Holdings and the Successor Company has been authorized by resolutions of their respective Board of Directors or Board of Managers, as applicable, to enter into this Fifth Supplemental Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture will not result in a material modification of the Notes for the purposes of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto mutually covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions.
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by any two of the following: the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, any director, the treasurer, an assistant treasurer, the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company.
ARTICLE TWO
ASSUMPTION BY SUCCESSOR COMPANY
Section 2.01 Representations and Warranties of Successor Company.
The Successor Company represents and warrants to the Trustees as follows:
(a) The Successor Company is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture have been authorized and approved by all necessary corporate action on its part.
2
Section 2.02 Assumption of Rights and Obligations.
In accordance with Section 8.01 of the Base Indenture, the Successor Company hereby expressly assumes the performance of the obligations of the Predecessor Company under the Indenture and the Notes. Pursuant to Section 8.01(b) of the Base Indenture, the Successor Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Predecessor Company under the Indenture, the Securities (as defined in the Base Indenture) and the Notes with the same effect as if the Successor Company had been named as the Company in the Indenture, the Securities and the Notes; and thereafter the Predecessor Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture, the Securities and the Notes.
ARTICLE THREE
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01 Notices.
Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail or sent by facsimile (with a hard copy delivered in person or by mail promptly thereafter) and addressed as follows:
if to the Successor Company:
Global Indemnity Group, LLC
Three Bala Plaza East, Suite 300
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: (610) 660-8887
if to GBLI Holdings:
GBLI Holdings, LLC
Three Bala Plaza East, Suite 300
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: (610) 660-8887
if to the Original Trustee:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
333 South Grand Avenue, 5th Floor Suite 5A
Los Angeles, California 90071
Attention: Corporate Trust Services-Global Indemnity Administrator
Facsimile: (213) 253-7598
3
if to the Notes Trustee:
U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107
Attention: Global Corporate Trustee Services
Facsimile: (651) 466-7430
The Successor Company, GBLI Holdings or the Trustees by notice to the other parties hereto may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Section 3.02 Effectiveness.
This Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to have become effective, and the provisions provided for in this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to have become operative, immediately upon the consummation of the GI Delaware Merger.
Section 3.03 Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver.
THIS FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 3.04 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders.
None of the Successor Companys or GBLI Holdings directors, officers, employees, incorporators or stockholders, as such, shall have any liability for any of the Successor Companys or GBLI Holdings obligations under the Notes, the Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes hereby waives and releases all such liability.
Section 3.05 Multiple Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Fifth Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
4
Section 3.06 Headings.
The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 3.07 Trustees Not Responsible for Recitals.
The recitals contained herein shall be taken as statements of the Predecessor Company, the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings, and the Trustees assumes no responsibility or liability for their correctness. The Trustees makes no representations as to and shall not be responsible or liable for the validity or sufficiency of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture or the obligations of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings hereunder. The Notes Trustee and the Original Trustee shall not constitute co-trustees of the same trust, and each of the Notes Trustee and the Original Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts under the Indenture separate and apart from any trust or trusts under the Indenture administered by the other trustee. The Notes Trustee shall have no liability for any acts or omissions of the Original Trustee and the Original Trustee shall have no liability for any acts or omissions of the Notes Trustee, and under no circumstances shall anything in this Supplemental Indenture be construed to constitute the Original Trustee as Trustee under the Indenture with respect to the Notes.
Section 3.08 Severability.
If any provision of this Fifth 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.
Section 3.09 Adoption, Ratification and Confirmation.
This Fifth Supplemental Indenture is hereby executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Indenture and, as provided in the Indenture, this Fifth Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof. The Indenture, as amended by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects hereby adopted, ratified and confirmed. For the avoidance of doubt, this Fifth Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustees subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, including the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities of the Trustees, with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustees with respect hereto.
Section 3.10 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any Federal or State court located in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, New York in any suit, action or proceeding based on or arising out of or relating to this Indenture or any Notes and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be determined in any such court. Each of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings, as the
5
case may be, and may be enforced in any courts to the jurisdiction of which the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings, as the case may be, is subject by a suit upon such judgment, provided, that service of process is effected upon the Issuer in the manner specified herein or as otherwise permitted by law. To the extent the Successor Company or GBLI Holdings has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, executor or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, each of the Successor Company and GBLI Holdings hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Indenture to the extent permitted by law.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fifth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
|
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan | ||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
NEW CAYCO | ||
By: |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
|
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan | ||
Title: Director | ||
GBLI HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
|
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan | ||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
as Original Trustee | ||
By: |
/s/ Maddy Hughes |
|
Name: Maddy Hughes | ||
Title: Vice President |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
as Notes Trustee | ||
By: |
/s/ Richard Prokosch |
|
Name: Richard Prokosch | ||
Title: Vice President |
Exhibit 10.1
PREFERRED INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT
PREFERRED INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of August 27, 2020 (the Purchase Agreement Effective Time), by and between GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), and WYNCOTE LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (the Purchaser and, together with the Company, each, a Party and collectively the Parties).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on June 26, 2020, Global Indemnity Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (GI Cayman), filed a petition with the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (the Cayman Court), seeking the Cayman Courts sanction of a proposed scheme of arrangement and amalgamation, pursuant to which, at the effective time thereof, GI Cayman will merge with and into New CayCo, a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability (New CayCo) and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, with New CayCo continuing as the surviving entity of the merger, and, in consideration therefor, the existing shares of GI Cayman will be cancelled and the Company will issue common shares of the Company to the holders of GI Cayman ordinary shares immediately prior to the merger as set forth therein, and pursuant to the scheme of arrangement and amalgamation, GI Cayman will be dissolved (collectively, the Scheme of Arrangement), such that, upon the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective, the existing shareholders of GI Cayman will become shareholders of the Company;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, GI Cayman is the sole member of the Company and GI Cayman, as sole member of the Company, is party to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of July 16, 2020 (the First A&R LLC Agreement);
WHEREAS, each of the Board of Directors of GI Cayman (the Board) and the Audit Committee of the Board has determined that it would be in the best interests of the shareholders of the Company following the effective time of the Scheme of Arrangement (the Scheme Effective Time) for the Company to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes prior to the Scheme Effective Time, and GI Cayman, in its capacity as the sole member of the Company, has adopted that certain Interest Designation in connection therewith (the Interest Designation), pursuant to which the Company authorized the issuance, prior to the Scheme Effective Time, for fair value of approximately one percent (1%) of the value of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of the Company (calculated assuming the effectiveness of the Scheme of Arrangement and the transactions contemplated thereby) as Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Interests;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement, at the Scheme Effective Time (i) the First A&R LLC Agreement shall be amended and restated in the form of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company to govern the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business from and after the Scheme Effective Time (the Second A&R LLC Agreement), and (ii) the Interest Designation shall be amended and restated in the form of that certain Share Designation that sets forth the designation, rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations and obligations of the Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Interests from and after the Scheme Effective Time (the Share Designation);
WHEREAS, following the Scheme Effective Time, all of the issued and outstanding Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Interests shall remain outstanding, unaffected by the Scheme of Arrangement, except as set forth in the Second A&R LLC Agreement and the Share Designation; and
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to subscribe for and acquire from the Company, and the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchaser, 4,000 Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Interests, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in order to implement the foregoing, and in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Subscription for and Purchase of the Series A Preferred Interests.
1.1 Purchase of the Series A Preferred Interests. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby subscribes for and purchases from the Company, and the Company hereby issues and sells to the Purchaser, 4,000 Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Perpetual Preferred Interests (the Series A Preferred Interests), at a price of U.S. $1,000.00 per Series A Preferred Interest, for the aggregate amount of U.S. $4,000,000 (the Purchase Price), effective as of the Purchase Agreement Effective Time.
1.2 Payment of Purchase Price. The entire Purchase Price shall be paid by the Purchaser to the Company on the date hereof in cash in immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company.
1.3 Terms of the Series A Preferred Interests. The Series A Preferred Interests are limited liability company interests of the Company pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (together with any successor statute, and as amended from time to time, the Act), and are subject, as of the Purchase Agreement Effective Time, to the terms and conditions set forth in the Interest Designation and the First A&R LLC Agreement and, from and after the Scheme Effective Time, the Share Designation and the Second A&R LLC Agreement. The Purchaser hereby acknowledges receipt of (i) the First A&R LLC Agreement, (ii) the Interest Designation, (iii) the Scheme of Arrangement, (iv) the form of Second A&R LLC Agreement and (v) the form of Share Designation, and in the case of the form of Second A&R LLC Agreement and the form of
2
Share Designation, the Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that each is contemplated to take effect at the effective time as set forth therein. The Purchaser agrees to be bound by (i) the First A&R LLC Agreement (including, without limitation, all of the terms, restrictions, requirements and limitations set forth therein) as a Member thereunder and the Interest Designation as a holder of Series A Preferred Interests and, (ii) if and to the extent effective, the Second A&R LLC Agreement (including, without limitation, all of the terms restrictions, requirements and limitations set forth therein) as a Shareholder thereunder and the Share Designation as a holder of Series A Preferred Shares (as defined therein). The Purchaser hereby consents to the adoption of the Second A&R LLC Agreement and the Share Designation for all purposes of the Act, the First A&R LLC Agreement and the Interest Designation.
1.4 Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the proceeds from the sale of the Series A Preferred Interests pursuant to this Agreement for general corporate purposes, including investment in securities or investment in the operations and growth of the Companys and its subsidiaries current and future businesses.
1.5 Registration Rights. The Series A Preferred Interests will not initially be registered or listed securities. If the Series A Preferred Interests have not been redeemed pursuant to the terms of the Share Designation on the date that is five years after the date hereof and the Company is then subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, then the Company and the holders of the Series A Preferred Interests will negotiate in good faith and enter into a registration rights agreement that includes customary demand and piggyback rights in respect of the Series A Preferred Interests.
2. Investment Representations and Warranties.
2.1 The Purchaser is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada.
2.2 The Purchaser has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the purchase of the Series A Preferred Interests from the Company in accordance with the terms hereof. The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement, and the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the purchase of the Series A Preferred Interests from the Company in accordance with the terms hereof have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on behalf of the Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, or by general equitable principles.
3
2.3 Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) (i) conflict with or breach any provision of the Purchasers organizational documents, (ii) violate, in any material respect, any law, rule or regulation by which the Purchaser or any of its assets may be bound or affected or (iii) conflict with, in any material respect, or result in a material default under any contract or other agreement to which the Purchaser is a party or by which it or any of its assets may be bound or affected.
2.4 The Purchaser is acquiring the Series A Preferred Interests pursuant to this Agreement for its own account, for investment and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof.
2.5 The Purchaser understands that the Series A Preferred Interests have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), by reason of its issuance in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and that they must be held indefinitely unless a subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the Securities Act or is exempt from registration thereunder.
2.6 The Purchaser understands that the exemption from registration afforded by Rule 144 (the provisions of which are known to the Purchaser) promulgated under the Securities Act depends on the satisfaction of various conditions and may not ever be available, and that, if applicable, Rule 144 may afford a basis for sales only under certain circumstances and only in limited amounts.
2.7 The Purchaser is an accredited investor as such term is defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act.
2.8 The Purchaser and its counsel have had a reasonable time prior to the date hereof to review the Scheme of Arrangement, the First A&R LLC Agreement, the Interest Designation, the Second A&R LLC Agreement, the Share Designation, that certain Definitive Proxy Statement of GI Cayman filed on July 23, 2020 pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the Special Scheme Meeting and the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Holders of GI Cayman A Ordinary Shares and B Ordinary Shares to be held on August 25, 2020 (the Proxy Statement) and other relevant information provided by the Company, to ask questions and receive answers concerning the terms and conditions of the issuance, purchase and sale of the Series A Preferred Interests pursuant to this Agreement, to discuss the terms and conditions under which its investment in the Company is made, and to obtain any additional information that the Company possessed or could acquire without unreasonable effort or expense. The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in business and financial matters and with respect to investments in securities as to enable the Purchaser to understand and evaluate the risks of such investment and form an investment decision with respect thereto. The Purchaser has relied only on its own tax advisor, and not the Company or any of its advisors, with respect to the federal, state, local, foreign and other tax consequences arising from the Purchasers purchase, ownership and disposition of the Series A Preferred Interests.
4
2.9 The Purchaser (a) has been advised and understands that no public market now exists for the Series A Preferred Interests and that a public market may never exist for the Series A Preferred Interests, (b) has no need for liquidity in its investment in the Company, (c) is able to bear the economic risk of such investment for an indefinite period and to afford a complete loss thereof, and (d) understands all of the risks associated with the acquisition of Series A Preferred Interests.
2.10 The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Series A Preferred Interests purchased by it pursuant to this Agreement are subject to restrictions on transfer under the provisions of the First A&R LLC Agreement (as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, including by the Interest Designation, the Second A&R LLC Agreement and the Share Designation), the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and may not be resold in violation thereof. The Company shall make a notation regarding the restrictions on transfer of the Series A Preferred Interests pursuant to this Agreement in its books, and such Series A Preferred Interests shall be transferred on the books of the Company only pursuant to and in compliance with the provisions of the First A&R LLC Agreement (as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, including by the Interest Designation, the Second A&R LLC Agreement and the Share Designation), the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
3. Company Representations and Warranties.
3.1 The Company is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
3.2 The Company has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Series A Preferred Interests to the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, and the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the sale of the Series A Preferred Interests to the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on behalf of the Company. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, or by general equitable principles.
5
3.3 Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) (i) conflict with or breach any provision of the Companys organizational documents, (ii) violate, in any material respect, any law, rule or regulation by which the Company or any of its assets may be bound or affected or (iii) conflict with, in any material respect, or result in a material default under any contract or other agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it or any of its assets may be bound or affected.
3.4 The Series A Preferred Interests, when issued and delivered to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement, (i) will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable and (ii) will not have been issued in violation of any preemptive or other similar rights of any person. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 2 of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Series A Preferred Interests to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement is exempt from registration requirements under the Securities Act.
4. Non-Reliance; Independent Investigation. Each of the Purchaser and the Company hereby acknowledges and agrees, and represents and warrants to the other Party, that it is a sophisticated Purchaser or, with respect to the Company, issuer and seller, as applicable, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and has such information as it deems appropriate under the circumstances concerning the business and financial condition of the Company, GI Cayman, New CayCo, the Scheme of Arrangement, the other transactions contemplated by the Proxy Statement, and the Series A Preferred Interests to make an informed decision regarding the issuance and sale or purchase, as applicable, of the Series A Preferred Interests. Each of the Purchaser and the Company further hereby agrees that it has independently made its own analysis and decision to enter into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on such information as it has deemed appropriate under the circumstances and without reliance on the other Party, except as expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Purchaser and the Company acknowledge and agree that the other Party makes no representations or warranties as to the Company, the Series A Preferred Interests or the transactions contemplated hereby, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement, and that such Party is not relying on any representation or warranty other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 Binding Effect. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
5.2 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the Company and the Purchaser.
5.3 Applicable Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity and performance of the terms of this Agreement, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of law.
6
5.4 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Parties hereto hereby waives, and agrees to cause its Affiliates to waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to trial by jury of any claim, demand, action or cause of action (i) arising under this Agreement or (ii) in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the Parties hereto in respect of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise. Each of the Parties hereto hereby agrees and consents that any such claim, demand, action or cause of action shall be decided by court trial without a jury and that the Parties hereto may file an original counterpart of a copy of this Agreement with any court as written evidence of the consent of the Parties hereto to the waiver of their right to trial by jury.
5.5 Integration. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto that form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect to its subject matter.
5.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.
5.7 Specific Performance. Each Party hereto acknowledges that money damages would be both incalculable and an insufficient remedy for any breach of this Agreement by such Party and that any such breach would cause the other Party hereto irreparable harm. Accordingly, each Party hereto also agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Agreement by such Party, the other Party hereto shall be entitled to equitable relief without the requirement of posting a bond or other security, including in the form of injunctions and orders for specific performance, in addition to all other remedies available to such other Parties at law or in equity.
5.8 Further Assurances. Each Party hereto agrees to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other action as may be reasonably necessary or convenient to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.9 Descriptive Headings; Definitions. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of terms contained herein. As used in this Agreement, (a) $ means the lawful currency of the United States of America and (b) the term Affiliate shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE COMPANY: | ||
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
|
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
THE PURCHASER: | ||
WYNCOTE LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Saul Fox |
|
Name: Saul Fox | ||
Title: President |
Exhibit 10.2
FOX PAINE & COMPANY, LLC
2105 Woodside Rd., Suite D
Woodside, California 94062
August 28, 2020
Global Indemnity Group, LLC
Three Bala Plaza East
Suite 300
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Re: |
Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement |
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We refer to (i) the Management Agreement, dated September 5, 2003, by and among United America Indemnity, Ltd., formerly Vigilant International, Ltd., an exempted company formed with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Island (UAIL), Fox Paine & Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Fox Paine) and Wind River Holding, L.P., formerly The AMC Group, L.P., a Pennsylvania limited partnership (Wind River), whereby UAIL contracted for certain services from each of Fox Paine and Wind River (the Original Agreement), (ii) the Second Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2020 (the Second Amended and Restated Management Agreement), by and between Fox Paine and Global Indemnity Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (GI Cayman), which replaced and superseded in its entirety the Original Agreement (as previously amended prior to the date thereof), whereby GI Cayman contracted for certain services from Fox Paine, and (iii) the indemnification letter, dated as of September 5, 2003 (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the Indemnification Letter), by and among Fox Paine & Company, LLC, The AMC Group, L.P., and Vigilant International, Ltd. For the avoidance of doubt, all references in this Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement to an entity include the successor(s) to such entity.
By way of a scheme of arrangement and amalgamation under Cayman Islands law (the Scheme of Arrangement), on the date hereof, (i) GI Cayman merged with and into a newly formed exempted company incorporated under Cayman Islands law (New CayCo), with New CayCo surviving, and (ii) following such initial merger, New CayCo merged with and into Global Indemnity Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), with the Company surviving as the ultimate parent company of the Global Indemnity group of companies. By operation of the Scheme of Arrangement, the Company assumed all rights and obligations of GI Cayman under the Second Amended and Restated Management Agreement and the Indemnification Letter.
Simultaneously with the effectiveness of the merger of New CayCo with and into the Company pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement, the Company and Fox Paine hereby amend and restate in its entirety the Second Amended and Restated Management Agreement. This Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement, together with the Indemnification Letter, reflects the entire agreement of the parties and replaces and supersedes the Second Amended and Restated Management Agreement in its entirety.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC
August 28, 2020
Page 2
In connection with the ongoing operations of the Company and its affiliates, the Company agrees to pay, or to cause one of its affiliates to pay, an annual service fee equal to $2,634,707 for the twelve-month period beginning on September 5, 2019 and ending September 4, 2020 and for each subsequent twelve-month period, as compensation for Fox Paines ongoing provision of certain financial and strategic consulting, advisory and other services to the Company and its affiliates (collectively, the Services); provided that such annual service fee shall be increased in each subsequent twelve-month period to reflect the aggregate increase in the Consumer Price Index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (the CPI-U) during the twelve-month period ended August 31 immediately prior to the commencement of such subsequent twelve-month period (the annual service fee as so increased annually, the Annual Service Fee). In addition, should the Company and Fox Paine agree that the Annual Service Fee will be deferred, the Annual Service Fee will be subject to an adjustment amount (the Adjustment Amount) equal to, on each September 5 (the Annual Accrual Date), the percentage rate of return the Company earned on its investment portfolio over the same twelve month period multiplied by the aggregate Annual Service Fees and Adjustment Amounts accumulated and unpaid through such date.
For the avoidance of doubt, as an example of how the Annual Service Fee will be adjusted annually, if the CPI-U increases 2% from August 31, 2019 to August 31, 2020, then the Annual Service Fee for the twelve-month period beginning on September 5, 2020 and ending on September 4, 2021 will be increased by 2% from $2,634,707 to $2,687,401.
Should the Company and Fox Paine agree that the Annual Service Fee will be deferred, an example of how the Annual Service Fee will be adjusted is as follows: if the CPI-U increases by 2% from August 31, 2020 to August 31, 2021 and the Company earns 3% on its investment portfolio over the same period, then the Annual Service Fee for September 5, 2021 will be increased from $2,687,401 to $2,741,149, and the Adjustment Amount for September 5, 2021 will be $80,622 which is 3% of the Annual Service Fee of $2,687,401 accrued on September 5, 2020. The Company shall provide quarterly statements of account to Fox Paine indicating as of the last day of each such calendar quarter, the aggregate Annual Service Fees and Adjustment Amounts accrued and unpaid as of such date as well as the amount of any outstanding unpaid expense reimbursements invoiced by Fox Paine as of such date.
The Annual Service Fee with respect to each twelve-month period beginning on September 5 of each year will be billed to the Company by Fox Paine and paid by the Company or one of its affiliates to Fox Paine on or before November 1 of such twelve month period (the Payment Date), unless the Company and Fox Paine agree that the Annual Service Fee will be deferred. The parties hereto acknowledge that, as of the date hereof, the Company has previously paid to Fox Paine the Annual Service Fee for the twelve-month period beginning on September 5, 2019 and ending on September 4, 2020.
The parties hereto acknowledge that the Services contemplated hereby, and the Annual Service Fee payable therefor, shall not include investment banking or other similar services that may be provided to the Company and its affiliates from time to time by Fox Paine and its affiliates, or any transaction fees that may be payable in connection with any such services.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC
August 28, 2020
Page 3
Subject to the following sentence, the Annual Service Fees and Adjustment Amounts shall continue as obligations of the Company and be payable in accordance with the terms hereof until the earlier of (1) such time as Fox Paine, Fox Paine Capital Fund II International L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, and their respective affiliates (collectively, the Fox Paine Entities) no longer hold or beneficially own a direct or indirect equity investment in the Company or any successor thereto and (2) such time as Fox Paine and the Company agree in writing to modify or terminate the arrangements contemplated hereby. In addition, upon the consummation of a Change of Control (as defined herein), the Company will immediately pay Fox Paine a lump sum payment in an amount to be agreed between the Company and Fox Paine (the Termination Fee), and, upon receipt of the Termination Fee, the Transaction Fee (as defined herein) and all other amounts payable or reimbursable pursuant to this Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement incurred at or prior to the consummation of such Change of Control, the Company and Fox Paine agree that Fox Paines obligation to provide the Services and the Advisory Services and the Companys obligation to pay the Annual Service Fee, Adjustment Amount and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement shall thereupon immediately terminate; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or otherwise, in the event that Fox Paine and the Company fail to agree on the amount of the Termination Fee and the Transaction Fee, the Companys obligation to pay the Annual Service Fee and Adjustment Amount shall not terminate and Fox Paines right to perform all consulting, financing, investment banking and similar services for the Company and its affiliates shall continue regardless of whether any Fox Paine Entities continue to hold a direct or indirect equity investment in the Company or any successor thereto without prejudice to Fox Paines entitlement to the Termination Fee and the Transaction Fee.
As used herein, the term Change of Control shall mean, whether effected directly or indirectly or in one or a series of transactions: (i) the sale or exchange of all or substantially all the operating assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the sale or exchange of (A) at least the majority of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company and representing at least a majority of the voting power of the Company or (B) all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company that are not held directly or indirectly by a Fox Paine Entity (exclusive, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B), of any shares of capital stock of the Company owned by officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that a buyer requires be retained), including, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), without limitation, by means of a merger, amalgamation, scheme of arrangement, consolidation or other business combination, a tender or exchange offer, a leveraged buy-out, reinsurance transaction, lease or license, the formation of a partnership, joint or collaborative venture or similar arrangement; provided, however, that a direct or indirect sale or exchange of only capital stock owned by Fox Paine Entities shall not constitute a Change of Control. For purposes of interpreting the definition of Change of Control, the phrase series of transactions shall mean and refer to a plan of disposition adopted and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or the applicable company.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC
August 28, 2020
Page 4
In addition, the Company and Fox Paine agree that Fox Paine will provide to the Company and its affiliates financial advice and assistance in the event of a possible Change of Control transaction, including, as appropriate, advice and assistance with respect to arranging the transaction or acting as a finder, defining objectives, performing valuation analyses and structuring, planning and negotiating any such transaction (together with any other consulting, financing, investment banking and similar services provided by Fox Paine to the Company and its affiliates, the Advisory Services). The Company understands that Fox Paine would not be providing (nor would the Company and its affiliates be relying on it for) tax, regulatory, legal or accounting advice in connection with a Change of Control and that Fox Paine is not rendering any formal opinions to the Company with respect to the Advisory Services. If a Change of Control is consummated, the Company agrees to pay, or to cause one of its affiliates to pay, to Fox Paine, upon the consummation of the Change of Control, an amount in cash to be agreed between the Company and Fox Paine (the Transaction Fee). The Company also agrees to engage Fox Paine to perform any consulting, financing, investment banking and similar services for the Company and its affiliates in connection with any transaction that does not constitute a Change of Control, and agrees to pay, or to cause one of its affiliates to pay, to Fox Paine a mutually agreed advisory or arrangement/finders fee in connection with the provision of such Advisory Services.
In addition, the Company agrees, as and when such are invoiced to the Company by Fox Paine, to promptly reimburse the Fox Paine Entities for all direct and indirect expenses paid or incurred in connection with the Services and/or Advisory Services, including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with efforts to arrange or consummate a Change of Control as well as for reasonable, estimated foreseeable post-closing expenses, which shall be invoiced (including a description of the basis thereof) to the Company prior to the consummation of the Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not reimburse the Fox Paine Entities for travel expenses (airfare, hotel, transportation, meals and other miscellaneous travel costs including telephone, travel insurance, fax and print charges and executive risk bond) incurred in the ordinary course relating to attendance at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors (or any committee of the Board of Directors) of the Company or its subsidiaries (the Excluded Expenses). For the avoidance of doubt, Excluded Expenses do not include any other expenses of the Fox Paine Entities that may be incurred in connection with the provision of the Services or Advisory Services, and the Company shall continue to reimburse the Fox Paine Entities for all direct or indirect expenses (other than Excluded Expenses) paid or incurred in connection with the Services and/or Advisory Services.
Fox Paine may assign its rights and delegate its obligations hereunder, in whole or in part, to any of its present or future affiliates, and shall provide written notice to the Company of any such assignment.
Fox Paine and the Company agree that the Indemnification Letter, shall continue to survive this amendment and restatement of the Second Amended and Restated Management Agreement and shall survive any termination, expiration or assignment of this Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement. The Indemnification Letter applies to both Services and Advisory Services.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC
August 28, 2020
Page 5
Except as may be required by applicable law or regulation or in connection with any proceeding, inquiry or request by or before, or a filing with or submission to, a court, governmental or judicial authority, regulatory or administrative body or securities exchange, neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries will disclose to any third party, or publicly refer to, any written or oral advice provided by Fox Paine pursuant to this Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement, without the prior written consent of Fox Paine. The Advisory Services provided by Fox Paine hereunder are intended solely for the benefit and use of the senior management and the Board of Directors of the Company and its subsidiaries, are not on behalf of, and are not intended to confer rights or remedies upon, any shareholder of the Company, any employee or creditor of the Company, or any of their respective subsidiaries or any other person, and may not be used or relied upon for any other purpose.
All amounts payable to Fox Paine hereunder shall be paid free and clear of all deductions or withholdings unless the deduction or withholding is required by applicable law, in which event the Company shall pay such additional amounts as shall be necessary to ensure that the net amount received by Fox Paine will equal the full amount that would otherwise have been received by Fox Paine had no such deduction or withholding been made. Payments made by the Company pursuant to this Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as Fox Paine shall designate to the Company in writing from time to time.
This Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to choice of law or conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in any federal court located in the State of New York or any New York state court, and each of the parties hereto hereby (1) consents and submits itself and its property to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding, (2) consents to and submits itself and its property to the personal jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding, and (3) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. We and you (on your behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of your stockholders and creditors) waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) related to or arising out of or in connection with this letter agreement or our engagement.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding and agreement with Fox Paine by signing a copy of this Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement in the space provided below.
Very truly yours, | ||
FOX PAINE & COMPANY, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Saul Fox |
|
Name: Saul Fox | ||
Title: Chief Executive |
ACCEPTED AND AGREED AS OF THE DATE FIRST ABOVE WRITTEN: | ||
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
|
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan | ||
Title: CFO |
Exhibit 10.3
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT
This Amendment, dated and effective as of August 28, 2020 (the Effective Date), to the Chief Executive Agreement (the Agreement), effective as of January 1, 2018 by and between Global Indemnity Limited (Global Cayman) and Cynthia Valko (the Executive):
WHEREAS, Global Cayman entered into a Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation (the Scheme) with New CayCo (New CayCo) and certain shareholders, which was consummated on the Effective Date and which, together with the subsequent merger (together with the Scheme, the Reorganization) of New CayCo with and into Global Indemnity Group, LLC (Global Delaware), resulted in the exchange of Global Cayman ordinary shares for Global Delaware common shares on a one-for-one basis, the replacement of Global Cayman by Global Delaware as the ultimate parent holding company of the Global Indemnity group of companies and the assumption by Global Delaware of the obligations of Global Cayman; and
WHEREAS, the Executive, Global Cayman and Global Delaware (the Parties) wish to amend the Agreement to reflect such changes that are deemed necessary or appropriate to reflect the consummation of the Reorganization;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein and in the Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is mutually acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Effective as of the Effective Date, all references to Global Indemnity Ltd. in the Agreement shall instead be references to Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
2. All other terms and conditions of the Agreement, as so amended, shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.
3. This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile or electronic copies of this Amendment shall be of the same force and effect as the original.
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment No. 1 to Chief Executive Agreement as of the Effective Date.
EXECUTIVE |
/s/ Cynthia Y. Valko |
Cynthia Y. Valko |
GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan |
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan |
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
2
Exhibit 10.4
Effective: January 1, 2020
Stephen Green (Executive)
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT SHEET
POSITION, TITLE, & REPORTING:
Executive shall serve as President reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Indemnity PLC (including affiliates, GBLI). Executive will be employed by Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company, Ltd (Employer).
ANNUAL BASE SALARYAND OTHER COMPENSATION:
|
$300,000 per annum; may be adjusted once a year at the discretion of the Board of Directors. |
|
Employer will pay 100% of the Bermuda Government Social Insurance contribution and the Government Payroll Tax. |
|
Legal terms of the Employment Act 2000 apply. |
ANNUAL BONUS OPPORTUNITY & COMPONENTS:
All bonus awards shall be in accordance with the Global Indemnity Limited Incentive Compensation Plan as determined by GBLIs Board of Directors (Board) in its sole discretion. The bonus will be composed of cash and restricted units (which restrictions shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion). The CEO of GBLI is afforded the discretion to adjust the actual bonus upwards or downwards, or to eliminate the Executives bonus in its entirety. Cash awards will be based on Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company, Ltd. results. Restricted Units awards will be based upon Global Indemnity Ltd. results.
|
Cash Component: Target at 50% of Annual Base Salary |
|
Restricted Units Component: Target at 50% of Annual Base Salary |
|
50% of each Restricted Units award will vest ratably over a three-year period. These Restricted Units will vest: |
|
16.5% on the first anniversary of the last day of a Bonus Year; |
|
16.5% on the second anniversary of the last day of a Bonus Year; and |
|
17.0% on the third anniversary of the last day of a Bonus Year. |
1
|
The remaining 50% of the Restricted Units award is subject to re-measurement of the GAAP Accident Year Combined Ratio, excluding corporate expenses by an independent actuary. To qualify for the award, the GAAP Accident Year Combined Ratio excluding corporate expenses cannot be greater than that was originally presented to and approved by the Board on or before March 1 of the original year. If the award is granted, it will vest on a date specified by the Board but no later than March 15th. |
|
For purposes hereof, in the event Executive: resigns for any reason; is terminated for any reason, except for a Change in Control as defined herein; has informed GBLI that Executive intends to resign; or has been informed that GBLI intends to terminate Executives employment, except due to a Change in Control, all unvested Restricted Units shall be automatically extinguished for all purposes (as if such Units had never been provisionally issued or granted) and shall no longer be eligible for vesting. Upon a Change in Control of GBLI, as defined herein, all unvested Restricted Units ultimately vests. Change of Control means: (A) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of GBLI by a person (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of such Act) or a group of persons which is not an affiliate of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, the members thereof, or Fox Paine Capital Fund II, L.P. (an Unaffiliated Person), (B) a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving GBLI after which the resulting entity is controlled by an Unaffiliated Person, or (C) the acquisition by an Unaffiliated Person of sufficient voting shares of GBLI to cause the election of a majority of the Companys Board members. |
|
The bonus is subject to Board discretion and approval. Adjustments to the Plan and Actual results are subject to Board discretion; those plans are based on Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company Ltd.s plans solely. |
DISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE:
Grievances and disciplinary issues shall be presented to the board of directors of the Employer as necessary by the employee. Any resolution to such matters will be at the discretion of the board.
TERMINATION:
If the Executive is terminated from his job without cause, he shall receive one month severance for each year worked with the Company up to a maximum of twelve months severance, unless he fails to provide Global Indemnity with a general release of claims in a form satisfactory to the Company. For the sake of clarity, he shall not be entitled to severance if he resigns from his job with the Company for any reason, or he dies or he becomes disabled and cannot continue to perform the functions of his job or if the Company terminates his employment because of a Cause Event.
The Employer or Executive shall give two (2) months notice. The Employer reserves the right not to require the Executive to work his notice or to otherwise require the Executive to take garden leave or otherwise absent himself from the Employers office during the notice period.
2
AGREEMENT:
This Term Sheet shall constitute a fully integrated, legally binding agreement superseding all prior agreements, representations, and promises among Executive and GBLI if and only if it is manually signed (and initialed on each page) by CEO and Executive. This Term Sheet and agreement may only be amended or modified and provisions hereof and rights and obligations hereunder may only be waived by a written document manually executed by CEO and Executive, which document states that the document was intended to amend or modify this Term Sheet and agreement or waive rights or obligations hereunder.
The foregoing is agreed to by CEO and Executive as of March 25, 2020.
GLOBAL INDEMNITY Ltd. | ||||
/s/ Cynthia Valko |
/s/ Stephen Green |
|||
By: Cynthia Valko | Stephen Green | |||
Its: Chief Executive Officer | (Executive) |
3
Exhibit 10.5
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT SHEET
This Amendment, dated and effective as of August 28, 2020 (the Effective Date), to the Executive Employment Sheet (the Agreement), dated effective as of January 1, 2020, by and between Global Indemnity Limited (Global Cayman) and Stephen Green (the Executive):
WHEREAS, Global Cayman entered into a Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation (the Scheme) with New CayCo (New CayCo) and certain shareholders, which was consummated on the Effective Date and which, together with the subsequent merger (together with the Scheme, the Reorganization) of New CayCo with and into Global Indemnity Group, LLC (Global Delaware), resulted in the exchange of Global Cayman ordinary shares for Global Delaware common shares on a one-for-one basis, the replacement of Global Cayman by Global Delaware as the ultimate parent holding company of the Global Indemnity group of companies and the assumption by Global Delaware of the obligations of Global Cayman; and
WHEREAS, the Executive, Global Cayman and Global Delaware (the Parties) wish to amend the Agreement to reflect such changes that are deemed necessary or appropriate to reflect the consummation of the Reorganization;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein and in the Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is mutually acknowledged, effective as of the Effective Date, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. The reference to Global Indemnity PLC in the section of the Agreement entitled POSITION, TITLE & REPORTING shall instead be a reference to Global Indemnity Group, LLC, and the reference to Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company, Ltd. in the same section shall instead be a reference to Global Indemnity Services (Bermuda) Limited.
2. The reference to Global Indemnity Limited in the first sentence of the section of the Agreement entitled ANNUAL BONUS OPPORTUNITY & COMPONENTS and the reference to Global Indemnity Ltd. in the last sentence of the same section shall instead be references to Global Indemnity Group, LLC, and the reference to Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company, Ltd. in the penultimate sentence of the first paragraph of the same section and the last bullet of the same section shall instead be a reference to GBLI reinsurance operations.
3. All other terms and conditions of the Agreement, as so amended, shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.
4. This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile or electronic copies of this Amendment shall be of the same force and effect as the original.
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment No. 1 to Executive Employment Sheet as of the Effective Date.
EXECUTIVE |
/s/ Stephen Green |
Stephen Green |
GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan |
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
Name: Thomas M. McGeehan |
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
2
Exhibit 10.6
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Amendment, dated and effective as of August 28, 2020 (the Effective Date), to the Executive Employment Agreement (the Agreement), dated as of January 1, 2015, and as amended on November 7, 2016, by and between United America Indemnity, Ltd., and subsequently Global Indemnity Limited as successor (Global Cayman), and Thomas M. McGeehan (the Executive):
WHEREAS, Global Cayman entered into a Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation (the Scheme) with New CayCo (New CayCo) and certain shareholders, which was consummated on the Effective Date and which, together with the subsequent merger (together with the Scheme, the Reorganization) of New CayCo with and into Global Indemnity Group, LLC (Global Delaware), resulted in the exchange of Global Cayman ordinary shares for Global Delaware common shares on a one-for-one basis, the replacement of Global Cayman by Global Delaware as the ultimate parent holding company of the Global Indemnity group of companies and the assumption by Global Delaware of the obligations of Global Cayman; and
WHEREAS, the Executive, Global Cayman and Global Delaware (the Parties) wish to amend the Agreement to reflect such changes that are deemed necessary or appropriate to reflect the consummation of the Reorganization;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein and in the Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is mutually acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Effective as of the Effective Date, all references to Global Indemnity Limited in the Agreement, as previously amended, shall instead be references to Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
2. All other terms and conditions of the Agreement, as so amended, shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.
3. This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile or electronic copies of this Amendment shall be of the same force and effect as the original.
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment No. 2 to Executive Employment Agreement as of the Effective Date.
EXECUTIVE |
/s/ Thomas M. McGeehan |
Thomas M. McGeehan |
GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED |
/s/ Stephen W. Ries |
Name: Stephen W. Ries |
Title: Secretary |
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC |
/s/ Stephen W. Ries |
Name: Stephen W. Ries |
Title: Secretary |
2
Exhibit 10.7
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
2018 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN
(as Amended and Restated Effective as of August 28, 2020)
Section 1. Purpose; Definitions
The purpose of the Plan is to give Global Indemnity Group, LLC, a Delaware company (the Company), and its Affiliates (as defined below) a competitive advantage in attracting, retaining and motivating officers, employees, consultants and non-employee directors, and to provide the Company and its Affiliates with a share plan providing incentives linked to the financial results of the Companys businesses and increases in shareholder value.
Effective August 28, 2020, the transactions contemplated by that certain Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation (the Scheme) between Global Indemnity Limited (GI Limited), New CayCo (New CayCo) and certain shareholders, were consummated, which, together with the subsequent merger (together with the Scheme, the Reorganization) of New CayCo with and into the Company, resulted in, among other things, the holders of GI Limited Class A and Class B ordinary shares outstanding immediately before the effective time of the Scheme receiving one Class A common share of the Company and one Class B common share of the Company for each GI Limited Class A ordinary share and each GI Limited Class B ordinary share, respectively.
Prior to the Effective Time, the Plan was sponsored by GI Limited. In connection with and upon the consummation of the Reorganization, the Company assumed the sponsorship of the Plan and GI Limiteds existing obligations with respect to Awards granted and outstanding under the Plan.
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms are defined as set forth below:
Affiliate of a Person means a Person, directly or indirectly, controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person and with respect to the Company, includes without limitation its Subsidiaries and its Parent.
Applicable Laws means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards, including but not limited to the related issuance of Common Shares, including without limitation, under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Shares are listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
Award means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of any Stock Option, Restricted Share, or Other Share-Based Award.
Award Agreement means a Restricted Share Agreement, Option Agreement or Other Share-Based Award Agreement. An Award Agreement may include provisions included in an employment or consulting agreement of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Cause means, unless otherwise provided in the Participants employment or consulting agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates, that (i) the Participant is charged with or has committed a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or conduct adverse to the interests of the Company or its Affiliates, (ii) the Participant commits fraud, embezzlement or other conduct adverse to the interests of the Company or its Affiliates, (iii) the Participant substantially fails to perform his duties or obligations to the Company or its Affiliates, provided that he has been given notice and an opportunity to cure not to exceed thirty (30) days under circumstances in which the Board determines, in its sole discretion, that such failure to perform is in fact curable, or (iv) the Participant violates Company policies or policies of its Affiliates or materially breaches any representation made to the Company or its Affiliates.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
Committee means (a) the Compensation Committee of the Board; or (b) a committee (or subcommittee) of the Board that the Board may designate to administer or make decisions required to be made under the Plan, whose membership shall be composed of not less than two directors who are intended to qualify as Non-Employee Directors, each of whom shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board; or (c) if at any time no such committee of the Board under (a) or (b) is so designated by the Board, the Board. For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board in its sole discretion may reserve to itself on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis any authority with respect to the Plan that is provided to any of the committees under clauses (a) or (b) of the immediately preceding sentence.
Common Shares means the Class A common shares, no par value per share, of the Company having the rights, preferences and privileges set out in the Companys Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, as amended from time to time (the Limited Liability Company Agreement).
Company has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto and any successors by operation of law.
Disability means permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. A Disability shall only be deemed to occur at the time of the determination by the Committee of the Disability.
Employment means, unless otherwise defined in an applicable Award Agreement or employment or consulting agreement, employment with, or service as a director or officer of, or as a consultant to, the Company or any of its Affiliates.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
Exchange Program means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Committee, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is increased or reduced. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.
Exercise Price has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
2
Fair Market Value of the Common Shares means (unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement), as of any given date, the closing price on the applicable date of the Common Shares on the Nasdaq National Market or, if not listed on such market, on any other national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or, if not so listed, on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and, if not so quoted, the average of the closing bid and ask prices for the Common Shares in the over-the-counter market on which the Common Shares are actively traded. If such sales prices are not so available or the Common Shares are not actively traded, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares shall mean the fair value as determined by the Committee in light of all circumstances, including comparable recent bona fide sales of applicable or similar securities. In the absence of any established market for the Common Shares, the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares shall be determined in good faith by the Committee. For purposes of the grant of any Stock Option, the applicable date shall be the date on which the Stock Option is granted.
Family Member means, solely to the extent provided for in Rule 701 under the Securities Act or, following the filing of a Securities Act Form S-8 with respect to the Plan, solely to the extent provided for in Securities Act Form S-8, any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the employees household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the employee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the employee) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests or as otherwise defined in Rule 701 under the Securities Act or Securities Act Form S-8, as applicable.
FPC means Fox Paine & Company, LLC, its subsidiaries and related entities (including without limitation Fox Paine Capital, LLC, Fox Paine Capital Fund, L.P., Fox Paine Capital Fund H GP, LLC, Fox Paine Capital Fund II L.P., Fox Paine Capital Fund II International, L.P., Fox Paine Capital Fund II Co-Investors International, LP), and all Persons that are partners or shareholders or members in any such related entities) and all partners, members, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of any of the foregoing.
Incentive Stock Option means a Stock Option that qualifies as and is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
Non-Employee Director means a member of the Board who qualifies as a Non-Employee Director (as defined in Rule 16b-3).
Nonstatutory Stock Option means a Stock Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. Option Agreement means an agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of a Stock Option Award. Other Share-Based Award means any Award granted under Section 7.
Officer means a Person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
Parent means any parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.
Participant has the meaning set forth in Section 4.
3
Performance Goal means the objective performance goals established by the Committee that may be based on one or more of the following performance criteria: (i) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified percentage increase in, revenues, income before taxes and extraordinary items, net income, operating income, earnings before income tax, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or a combination of any or all of the foregoing; (ii) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a percentage increase in, after-tax or pre-tax profits including, without limitation, that attributable to continuing and/or other operations; (iii) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified increase in, operational cash flow; (iv) the achievement of a certain level of, reduction of, or other specified objectives with regard to limiting the level of increase in, all or a portion of, the Companys bank debt or other long-term or short-term public or private debt or other similar financial obligations of the Company, which may be calculated net of such cash balances and/or other offsets and adjustments as may be established by the Committee; (v) earnings per share or the attainment of a specified percentage increase in earnings per share or earnings per share from continuing operations; (vi) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified increase in return on capital employed or return on invested capital; (vii) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a percentage increase in, after-tax or pre-tax return on shareholders equity; (viii) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified increase in, economic value added targets based on a cash flow return on investment formula; (ix) the attainment of certain target levels in the fair market value of the shares of the Companys Common Shares; (x) the growth in the value of an investment in the Companys Common Shares assuming the reinvestment of dividends; (xi) the attainment of a certain level of, reduction of, or other specified objectives with regard to limiting the level in or increase in, all or a portion of controllable expenses or costs or other expenses or costs or a reduction of the loss ratio, expense ratio, or combined ratio; (xii) achievement of certain targets with respect to the Companys book value, assets or liabilities; and/or (xiii) such other criteria that the Committee determines, in its sole discretion. For purposes of item (i) above, extraordinary items shall mean all items of gain, loss or expense for the fiscal year determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to a corporate transaction (including, without limitation, a disposition or acquisition) or related to a change in accounting principle, all as determined in accordance with standards established by Opinion No. 30 of the Accounting Principles Board. In addition, such Performance Goal may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of Company (or subsidiary, division or other operational unit of the Company) performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other corporations. Furthermore, such Performance Goal may be supplemented by reference to per share determinations.
Performance Period means three consecutive fiscal years of the Company, or such shorter period as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government (or any department or agency thereof) or other entity.
Plan means the Global Indemnity Group, LLC 2018 Share Incentive Plan, as set forth herein and as hereinafter amended from time to time.
Plan Shares has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a).
Restricted Shares means an Award of Common Shares granted under Section 6.
Restricted Share Purchase Agreement means an agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award of Restricted Shares.
Retirement means, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participants Termination of Employment without Cause at or after age fifty-five (55).
4
Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.
Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code, including any valid regulation or other official guidance promulgated thereunder.
Section 457A means Section 457A of the Code, including any valid regulation or other official guidance promulgated thereunder.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
Share Award means an Award consisting of either shares of Common Shares or a right to receive Common Shares in the future, each pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.
Stock Option means any Nonstatutory Stock Option or Incentive Stock Option.
Subsidiary means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.
Termination of Employment means (i) a termination of service (for reasons other than a military or personal leave of absence granted by the Company) of a Participant from the Company or an Affiliate, unless the Participant thereupon becomes employed by the Company or another affiliate. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, any such leave may not exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then six (6) months following the first (1st) day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option. In addition, certain other terms used herein have definitions otherwise ascribed to them herein.
Section 2. Administration
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.
Among other things, the Committee shall have the authority, subject to the terms of the Plan, to:
(a) select the Participants to whom Awards may from time to time be granted and designate the Affiliates of the Company for purposes of the Plan;
(b) determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted hereunder,
(c) determine the number of shares of Common Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(d) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the Exercise Price (subject to Section 5(a)), any vesting conditions, restrictions or limitations (which may be related to the performance of the Participant, the Company or any of its Affiliates)) and any acceleration of vesting or waiver or cancellation regarding any Award and the Common Shares relating thereto, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine;
5
(e) subject to Section 8 hereof, modify, amend or adjust the terms and conditions of any Award, at any time or from time to time, including, but not limited to, the authority to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program.
(f) determine to what extent and under what circumstances Common Shares and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred;
(g) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Committee;
(h) adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable;
(i) interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any agreement, including, but not limited to, an Award Agreement relating thereto);
(j) adopt any sub plans applicable to residents of any specified jurisdiction as it deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with or take advantage of any tax laws or other laws applicable to the Company, its Affiliates, or to Participants or to otherwise facilitate the administration of the Plan, which sub plans may include additional restrictions or conditions applicable to Awards or Plan Shares acquired upon exercise of Awards; and
(k) make all determinations necessary or advisable for administering the Plan and otherwise supervise and administer the Plan.
The Committee may act only by a majority of its members then serving thereon, except that, if permissible under Applicable Law, the Committee may designate or allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of their number or any officer of the Company. Any such designation or allocation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.
Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of, or in any way relate to, the interpretation, construction or application of the Plan or an Award (or related Award Agreement) granted hereunder shall be determined and resolved by the Committee. Any determination or resolution made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan with respect to the Plan, any Award or Award Agreement shall be made in the sole discretion of the Committee and, with respect to an Award, at the time of the grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan or the Award Agreement, at any time thereafter. Except as otherwise set forth herein or in any Award Agreement, all decisions made by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Plan or the Award Agreements shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company, its Affiliates and the Participants, and will be given the maximum deference permitted by Applicable Laws.
To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company and to the extent not covered by insurance directly insuring such person, each officer and member or former member of the Committee or the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or expense (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Committee) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee), and advanced amounts necessary to pay the foregoing at the earliest time and to the fullest extent permitted, arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the
6
administration of the Plan, except to the extent arising out of such officers, members or former members own fraud or bad faith. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any rights of indemnification the employees, officers, directors or members or former officers, directors or members may have under Applicable Law or under the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company or any Affiliate. Notwithstanding anything else herein, this indemnification will not apply to the actions or determinations made by an individual with regard to Awards granted to him or her under the Plan.
Section 3. Shares
The total number of Common Shares reserved and available for grant under the Plan shall be 2,500,000 (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to this Section 3). Shares subject to an Award under the Plan may be authorized and unissued Common Shares or Common Shares held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company or both.
If any Restricted Shares or Other Share-Based Awards are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest or if any Stock Option expires or terminates without being exercised, the shares subject to such Awards shall again be available for distribution in connection with Awards under the Plan. In addition, in determining the number of Common Shares available for Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, if Common Shares have been delivered or exchanged by a Participant as full or partial payment to the Company for payment of the exercise price, or for payment of withholding taxes, or if the number of Common Shares otherwise deliverable has been reduced for payment of the exercise price or for payment of withholding taxes, or if Awards are surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program, the number of Common Shares exchanged or reduced as payment in connection with the exercise or for withholding and the Common Shares subject to such Award surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program shall again be available for purposes of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.
The total number of Common Shares subject to any Stock Option which may be granted under the Plan to any Participant shall not exceed 300,000 shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to this Section 3) during each fiscal year of the Company. The individual Participant limitations set forth in this Section 3 shall be cumulative; that is, to the extent that Common Shares for which Options are permitted to be granted to a Participant pursuant to this Section during a fiscal year of the Company are not covered by a grant of a Stock Option in the Companys fiscal year, such Common Shares available for grants to such Participant automatically increase in the subsequent fiscal years during the term of the Plan until used.
No individual may be granted in any fiscal year of the Company Other Share-Based Awards that are contingent upon the attainment of Performance Goals covering more than 50,000 Shares.
In the event any merger, reorganization, consolidation, combination, recapitalization, spin-off, stock dividend, share split, reverse share split, extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Shares, other securities, or other property) with respect to the Common Shares, repurchase or exchange of Common Shares or other securities of the Company, any sale or transfer of all or part of the Companys assets or business or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common Shares occurs or is proposed (such an event, an Equity Restructuring), the Committee or the Board shall, effective as of the time of the Equity Restructuring, make such substitution or adjustment in the aggregate number and kind of shares or other property reserved for issuance under the Plan or any limitations under the Plan, in the number, kind and Exercise Price (as defined herein) of shares or other property subject to outstanding Stock Options, in the number and kind of shares or other property subject to Restricted Share Awards or other Awards, and/or such other substitution or adjustments, in each case as the Committee or the Board shall determine in its discretion to be appropriate in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the
7
benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, provided that, in no case shall such determination adversely affect in any material respect the rights of a Participant hereunder or under any Award Agreement. In connection with any event described in this paragraph, the Committee may provide, in its sole discretion, for the cancellation of any outstanding Stock Option and payment in cash or other property in exchange therefor in an amount equal to the excess at such time, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Shares over the per share exercise price for such Stock Options.
In the event of a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity or in the event of any transaction that results in the acquisition of substantially all of the Companys outstanding Common Shares by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert, or in the event of the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the Companys assets (all of the foregoing being referred to as Acquisition Events), then the Committee may, in its sole discretion, treat each outstanding Award as the Committee determines (subject to the provision of the following paragraph) without a Participants consent, including without limitation that: (i) Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, that the Participants Awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of the Acquisition Event, by delivering notice of termination to each Participant a reasonable period of time (as determined in the Committee) prior to the date of consummation of the Acquisition Event, in which case during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Acquisition Event, each such Participant shall have the right to exercise in full all of his or her Stock Options that are then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Stock Option agreements); (iii) outstanding Awards will vest and become exercisable, realizable, or payable, or restrictions applicable to an Award will lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of the Acquisition Event, and, to the extent the Committee determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such Acquisition Event; (iv) (A) the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participants rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participants rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment), or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion; or (v) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this paragraph, the Committee will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly.
In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof), the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise such outstanding Option, including shares as to which such Award would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on other Awards will lapse, and, with respect to such Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, in all cases, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates, as applicable. In addition, if an Option is not assumed or substituted in the event of an Acquisition Event, the Committee will provide for the notice and exercisability period set forth in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding paragraph.
8
For the purposes of this Section, an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Acquisition Event, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Common Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Acquisition Event, the consideration (whether shares, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Acquisition Event by holders of Common Shares for each Common Share held on the effective date of the Acquisition Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Acquisition Event is not solely common stock or ordinary shares of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of a Stock Option or upon the payout of other Awards, for each Common Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock or ordinary shares of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Shares in the Acquisition Event.
In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Committee will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
Section 4. Participants
The following persons shall be Participants eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan: (i) Persons who are officers, directors, employee or consultants of the Company and/or any of its Affiliates; (ii) Persons who at the time of grant may be performing (or subject to being required t perform) services for the Company or any of its Affiliates (including, without limitation, officers, directors, employees, Affiliates and consultants of FPC); and (iii) Non-Employee Directors of the Company and its Affiliates who are responsible for or contribute to the management, growth and profitability of the business of the Company and its Affiliates. However, Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Parent.
Section 5. Stock Options
The Board or the Committee as its duly authorized delegate shall have the authority to grant to Participants Stock Options. Stock Options shall be evidenced by Option Agreements, which shall include such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine from time to time, including whether such Stock Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option or Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), such Stock Options will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Common Shares for purposes of the foregoing in this paragraph will be determined as of the time the Stock Option with respect to such Common Shares is granted.
The grant of a Stock Option shall occur on the date the Committee by resolution selects an individual to receive a grant of a Stock Option, determines the number of Common Shares to be subject to such Stock Option to be granted to such individual and specifies the terms and provisions of the Stock Option, or on such other date as the Committee may determine. The Company shall notify a Participant of any grant of a Stock Option, and a written Option Agreement shall be duly executed and delivered by the Company to the Participant. Such Option Agreement shall become effective upon execution and delivery by the Participant to the Company.
9
Stock Options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions, and shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem desirable:
(a) Exercise Price. The price per Common Share purchasable under a Stock Option shall be such price as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Option Agreement (the Exercise Price); provided that the Exercise Price shall not be less than the grant date Fair Market Value of the Common Shares, and:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
(A) granted to an employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Parent who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option, owns shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all share classes of the Company or its Subsidiaries or its Parent (a Ten Percent Shareholder), the per share Exercise Price shall be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; and
(B) granted to any employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Parent other than a Ten Percent Shareholder, the per share Exercise Price shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant.
(ii) in the case of any other Stock Option granted, including Nonstatutory Stock Options, the per share Exercise Price as determined by the Committee
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Stock Options may be granted with a per share Exercise Price of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code.
(b) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee provided, however, that no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such Stock Option is granted. Absent any such term being fixed by the Committee, pursuant to an Option Agreement or otherwise, such term shall be ten (10) years; provided, however, that the term of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder shall not exceed five (5) years.
(c) Exercisability. Except as otherwise provided herein, Stock Options shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee If the Committee provides that any Stock Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee may at any time waive such installment exercise provisions, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Committee may determine. In addition, the Committee may at any time accelerate the exercisability of any Stock Option.
(d) Method of Exercise. Subject to the provisions of this Section 5, Stock Options that have become exercisable in accordance with its terms may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time during the option term by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of Common Shares subject to the Stock Option to be purchased.
Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the Exercise Price per share by certified or bank check or such other instrument or method of payment as the Committee may accept. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee at the time of grant and set forth in the Option Agreement, payment, in full or in part, may also be made in the form of a promissory note to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, or fully vested Common Shares (other than Restricted Shares) already owned by the Participant (for at least six months or such other period, as determined by the Committee, that is necessary to avoid a charge, for accounting purposes, against the Companys earnings as reported in the Companys financial statements if acquired upon exercise of a Stock Option or received upon the lapse of restrictions on an Award of Restricted Shares) of the same class as the Common Shares subject to the
10
Stock Option (based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares on the date the Stock Option is exercised) or, if the Common Shares are traded on a national securities exchange, including The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or quoted on a national quotation system sponsored by the National Association of Securities Dealers, and the Committee authorizes, to the extent permitted by law, through a procedure whereby the Participant delivers irrevocable instructions to a broker reasonably acceptable to the Committee to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the purchase price or through net settlement in Common Shares, or other cashless exercise program (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan, or such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws or any combination of the methods of payment set forth in this Section.
No Common Shares shall be issued until full payment therefor (including without limitation any applicable tax withholding obligations) has been made. A Stock Option may not be exercised for a fraction of an Common Share. Common Shares issued upon exercise of a Stock Option will be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Until the Common Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder will exist with respect to the Common Shares subject to a Stock Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Stock Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Common Shares promptly after the Stock Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Common Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 3.
(e) Nontransferability of Stock Options. No Stock Option shall be transferable by the Participant other than (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) as otherwise expressly permitted under the applicable Option Agreement. All Stock Options granted to an individual shall be exercisable, subject to the terms of the Plan, during the Participants lifetime, only by the Participant or any Person to whom such Stock Option is transferred pursuant to the preceding sentence, including such Participants guardian, legal representative and other transferee. The term Participant includes the estate of the Participant or the Legal representative of the Participant named in the Option Agreement and any Person to whom an Option is otherwise transferred in accordance with this Section 5(e), by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that references herein to Employment of a Participant or termination of Employment of a Participant shall continue to refer to the Employment or termination of Employment of the applicable grantee of an Award hereunder.
(f) Termination of Employment.
(i) Termination for Any Reason (other than Cause). Except as otherwise determined by the Committee and expressly provided in the applicable Option Agreement or applicable employment or consulting agreement, upon the termination of the Participants Employment for any reason (other than Cause), including death or Disability, (A) vesting ceases, (B) the term of unvested stock options lapses and vested and unvested options will become unexercisable, and (C) such Participant shall have ninety (90) days to exercise the portion of the Participants Stock Option that is vested on the date of the Participants termination of Employment. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Participant shall not be permitted to exercise any Stock Option at a time beyond the initial option term.
(ii) Termination for Cause. All outstanding and unexercised Stock Options, whether vested or unvested, as of the time the Participant is notified that his or her Employment is terminated for Cause or at the time the Participant voluntarily terminates employment within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of an event that would be grounds for a termination for Cause, will be cancelled immediately.
11
Section 6. Restricted Shares
The Committee shall determine the Participants to whom and the time or times at which grants of Restricted Shares will be awarded, the number of shares to be awarded to any Participant, the purchase price, the conditions for vesting, the time or times within which such Awards may be subject to cancellation, repurchase and restrictions on transfer and any other terms and conditions of the Awards (including provisions (i) relating to placing legends on certificates representing Restricted Shares, (ii) permitting the Company to require that Restricted Shares be held in custody by the Company with a share transfer certificate from the owner thereof until restrictions lapse and (iii) relating to any rights to repurchase Restricted Shares on the part of the Company). Each Participant receiving Restricted Shares shall be issued a share certificate in respect of such Restricted Shares, unless the Committee elects to use another system, such as book entries by the transfer agent, as evidencing ownership of shares of Restricted Shares. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the Company as escrow agent will hold Restricted Shares until the restrictions on such Restricted Shares have lapsed. Unless otherwise specified in the Restricted Share Agreement, upon a Participants termination for any reason during the relevant restriction period, all unvested Restricted Shares will be forfeited to the Company, without compensation.
Furthermore, in addition to the foregoing restrictions, Restricted Shares held by an officer, employee director or consultant of the Company or one of its Affiliate may be subject to additional or greater restrictions and any restrictions set forth in the Limited Liability Company Agreement. The terms and conditions of Restricted Share Awards shall be set forth in a Restricted Share Agreement, which shall include such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine from time to time, and which shall be duly executed and delivered by the Company to the Participant and become effective upon execution and delivery by the Participant to the Company. Except as provided in this Section 6, the Restricted Share Agreement, and any other relevant agreements, the Participant shall have, with respect to the Restricted Shares, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company holding the class or series of Common Shares that is the subject of the Restricted Share Award, including, if applicable, the right to vote the shares and, subject to the following sentence, the right to receive any cash dividends or distributions (but, subject to Section 3, not the right to receive non-cash dividends or distributions). If so determined by the Committee in the applicable Restricted Share Agreement, cash dividends and distributions on the class or series of Common Shares that is the subject of the Restricted Share Award shall be automatically deferred and reinvested in additional Restricted Shares, held subject to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Shares, or held subject to meeting conditions applicable only to dividends and distributions.
Section 7. Other Share-Based Awards
The Committee is authorized to grant to Participants Other Share-Based Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to Common Shares, including but not limited to, Common Shares awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to any restrictions or conditions, Common Shares in payment of the amounts due under an incentive or performance plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary, share appreciation rights (either separately or in tandem with Options), share equivalent units, and Awards valued by reference to book value of Common Shares.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of Common Shares to be awarded pursuant to or referenced by such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. Grants of Other Share-Based Awards may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee may determine which may include, but are not limited to, continuous service with the Company or an Affiliate and/or the achievement of Performance Goals. The criteria that may be used by the Committee in granting Other Share-Based Awards contingent on Performance Goals shall consist of the attainment of one or more of the Performance Goals. The Committee may select one or more Performance Goals for measuring performance and the measuring may be stated in absolute terms or relative to comparable companies.
12
Other Share-Based Awards made pursuant to this Section 7 are subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Dividends. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of Award, subject to the provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, the recipient of an Award under this Section 7 shall be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to the number of Common Shares covered by the Award, as determined at the time of the Award by the Committee, in its sole discretion.
(b) Vesting. Any Award under this Section 7 and any Common Shares covered by any such Award shall vest or be forfeited to the extent so provided in the Award Agreement, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.
(c) Waiver of Limitation. In the event of the Participants Retirement, Disability or death, or in cases of special circumstances, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive in whole or in part any or all of the limitations imposed hereunder (if any) with respect to any or all of an Award
under this Article.
(d) Purchase Price. Common Shares issued on a bonus basis under this Section 7 may be issued for no cash consideration; Common Shares purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded under this Section 7 shall be priced as determined by the Committee.
(e) Committee Certification. At the expiration of the Performance Period (if any), the Committee shall determine and certify in writing the extent to which the Performance Goals (if any) have been achieved.
Section 8. Term, Amendment and Termination
The Plan will be effective as of March 4, 2018, and expire on March 4, 2023, unless terminated earlier by the Board or the Committee in accordance with this Section. Awards outstanding as of such date shall not be affected or impaired by the expiration of the Plan and shall be
subject to the terms of the Plan.
The Board or the Committee may at any time amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the Plan, prospectively or retroactively (as permitted by Applicable Law); provided, however, that, unless otherwise required by Applicable Law or specifically provided herein, no amendment, alteration, suspension or termination shall be made that is materially adverse to the rights of a Participant under an Award theretofore granted without mutual agreement between the Participant and the Committee, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company; provided, further, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company in accordance with Applicable Law, to the extent required by the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or the rules of any exchange or system on which the Common Shares are listed or traded, or, with regard to Incentive Stock Options, Section 422 of the Code, no amendment may be made which would (i) increase the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan or the maximum individual Participant limitations under Section 3; (ii) change the classification of Participants eligible to receive Awards under the Plan; (iii) extend the maximum Stock Option period or (iv) require shareholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3, or, with regard to Incentive Stock Options, Section 422 of the Code. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Committees ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
13
The Committee may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively (to the extent permitted by Applicable Law), but no such amendment shall be made that is adverse to the rights of the Participant thereunder without the Participants consent.
The Plan will be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such shareholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.
Section 9. Unfunded Status of Plan
It is presently intended that the Plan constitute an unfunded plan for incentive and deferred compensation. The Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Common Shares or make payments; provided, however, that unless the Committee otherwise determines, the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.
Section 10. Forfeiture Events
The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participants rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award will be subject to the reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary under the Plan, an Award shall be subject to the Companys clawback policy as may be established and/or amended from time to time (the Clawback Policy). The Committee may require a Participant to forfeit, return or reimburse the Company all or a portion of the Award and any amounts paid thereunder pursuant to the terms of the Clawback Policy or as necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws.
Section 11. General Provisions
(a) Awards and Certificates. Shares of Restricted Shares and Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Stock Option or pursuant to Other Share-Based Awards (together, Plan Shares) shall be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including book entry registration or issuance of one or more share certificates. Any certificate issued in respect of Plan Shares shall be registered in the name of such Participant and shall bear appropriate legends referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award. Such Plan Shares may bear other legends to the extent the Committee or the Board determines it to be necessary or appropriate. If and when all restrictions expire without a prior cancellation of the Plan Shares theretofore subject to such restrictions, upon surrender of legended certificates representing such shares new certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant without the second legend listed above. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Committee makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Committee. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The Committee may require each Person purchasing or receiving Plan Shares to (i) represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such Person is acquiring the shares without a view to the distribution thereof and (ii) make any other representations and warranties that the Committee deems appropriate.
14
(c) Additional Compensation. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any of its Affiliates from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements for its employees.
(d) No Right of Employment. Adoption of the Plan or grant of any Award shall not confer upon any employee or any other individual any right to continued Employment, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates to terminate the Employment of any eligible Participant at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
(e) Withholding Taxes. No later than the date as of which an amount first becomes includible in the gross income of a Participant for income tax purposes or subject to Federal Insurance Contributions Act withholdings with respect to any Award, including, without limitation, upon exercise of any Stock Option, under the Plan, such Participant shall pay to the Company or, if appropriate, one of its Affiliates, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding the payment of, any United States federal, state or local or non-U.S. taxes of any kind required by Applicable Law to be withheld with respect to such amount. If approved by the Committee, minimum required statutory withholding obligations, or such greater amount of withholding as the Committee may determine may be settled with Common Shares (provided the delivery of such Common Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Committee determines in its sole discretion), including Common Shares that are part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company and its Affiliates shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to the Participant. The Committee may establish such procedures as it deems appropriate, including making irrevocable elections, for the settlement of withholding obligations with Common Shares, having the Participant deliver to the Company already-owned Common Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Committee may determine provided the delivery of such Common Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Committee determines in its sole discretion, or selling a sufficient number of Common Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld, or any combination of the payment methods described in this Section 11(e). The fair market value of the Common Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.
(f) Beneficiaries. The Committee shall establish such procedures as it deems appropriate for a Participant to designate a beneficiary to whom any amounts payable in the event of the Participants death are to be paid or by whom any rights of the Participant, after the Participants death, may be exercised.
(g) Governing Law. The Plan and all Awards made and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
(h) Compliance with Laws. Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any registration or other qualification of the Common Shares under any state, federal or foreign law or under the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock exchange on which Common Shares of the same class are then listed, or any other governmental or regulatory body, which authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance is deemed by the Companys counsel to be necessary or advisable for the issuance and sale of any Common Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Common Shares as to which such requisite authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance will not have been obtained.
15
(i) Nontransferability. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee or as otherwise set forth in the Plan, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Committee makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate.
(j) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issued under the Plan and no cash settlements shall be made with respect to fractional shares eliminated by rounding.
(k) Shareholders Agreement and Other Requirements. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as a condition to the receipt of Plan Shares, to the extent required by the Committee, the Participant shall execute and deliver a shareholders agreement or such other documentation which shall set forth certain restrictions on transferability of the Plan Shares, a right of first refusal of the Company with respect to Plan Shares, the right of the Company to purchase Plan Shares and such other terms as the Board or Committee shall from time to time establish. Such shareholders agreement shall apply to all Plan Shares acquired under the Plan. The Company may require, as a condition of grant or exercise of any Award, the Participant to become a party to any other existing shareholders agreement. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Common Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.
(l) Sections 409A and 457A. Notwithstanding other provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreements thereunder, no Award shall be granted, deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under the Plan in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Sections 409A or 457A upon a Participant. Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A and Section 457A such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A or Section 457A, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. The Plan and each Award agreement under the Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A and Section 457A and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent, including with respect to any ambiguities or ambiguous terms, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Committee that, as a result of Section 409A or Section 457A, payments or deliveries of shares in respect of any Award under the Plan may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the relevant Award Agreement, as the case may be, without causing the Participant holding such Award to be subject to taxation under Section 409A or Section 457A, the Company will make such payment or delivery of shares on the first day that would not result in the Participant incurring any tax liability under Section 409A or Section 457A. In the case of a Participant who is a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code), payments and/or deliveries of shares in respect of any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code that are linked to the date of the Participants separation from service shall not be made prior to the date which is six (6) months after the date of such Participants separation from service from the Company and its affiliates, determined in accordance with Section 409A. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of this Section 11(l) in good faith; provided that neither the Company, the Committee nor any of the Companys employees, directors or representatives shall have any liability to Participants with respect to this Section 11(l). In no event will the Company or any Affiliates have any liability or obligation to reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless any Participant for any taxes, interest, or penalties imposed, or other costs incurred, as a result of Section 409A or Section 457A.
16
Exhibit 10.8
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS PROGRAM
(As Amended and Restated Effective as of August 28, 2020)
I. Background.
Effective August 28, 2020, the transactions contemplated by that certain Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation (the Scheme) between Global Indemnity Limited (GI Limited), New CayCo (New CayCo) and certain shareholders were consummated which together with the subsequent merger (together with the Scheme, the Reorganization) of New CayCo with and into Global Indemnity Group, LLC, a Delaware company (the Company or GI Delaware), resulted in, among other things, the Company becoming the ultimate parent holding company of the Global Indemnity group of companies.
Prior to the Effective Time, the Program was sponsored by GI Limited. In connection with and upon the consummation of the Reorganization, the Company assumed the sponsorship of the Program and GI Limiteds existing obligations with respect to Awards granted and outstanding under the Program.
II. Purpose: The purposes of this Annual Incentive Awards Program (the Program) are:
A. |
To encourage increased efficiency and profitability of the Company; and |
B. |
To reward Participants contributions to corporate success. |
III. Compensation Philosophy.
GI Delaware wishes to provide a comprehensive, competitive compensation program for its officers and certain other employees. The Program is intended to be an integral part of the total compensation opportunity offered by the organization to such employees. This incentive program is an adjunct to other forms of compensation provided by GI Delaware and its subsidiaries.
IV. Definition of Terms.
For purposes of the Program, terms have meanings as follows:
A. |
Award means the amount earned by a Participant pursuant to the provisions of the Program. |
B. |
Base Salary means a Participants W-2 wages for a calendar year excluding any extraordinary compensation such as bonuses, stock options, deferred compensation or benefits which are taxable for federal income tax purposes. For purposes of the Program, Base Salary shall also include, however, any salary deferrals which represent the employees portion of contributions to a qualified benefit plan or deferred compensation plan offered by GI Delaware and subsidiaries. |
C. |
Beneficiary or Beneficiaries means the person or persons designated by the Participant to receive any payments due from the Program in the event of the Participants death. Such a designation may, without notice to the Beneficiary, be changed or revoked by the Participant at any time and from time to time. The designation of the Beneficiary, and any change or revocation thereof, shall be made in writing and shall not be effective unless and until filed with and acknowledged by the Committee. |
If a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary, or if no designated Beneficiary survives the Participant, the amount payable from the Program shall be paid to the Participants estate.
If a person designated as a Beneficiary shall be a minor or a person who has been judged legally incompetent, GI Delaware shall make payment on behalf of such Beneficiary to the Beneficiarys guardian or conservator, but only if such guardian or conservator has provided to the Committee documentary evidence satisfactory to it as to the legal, valid and continuing authority of such guardian or conservator to act on behalf of such Beneficiary. Upon payment to such guardian or conservator, neither the Companys Board of Directors (the Board), GI Delaware, the Committee or any other agent, employee or officer of any of them shall have any further liability for such payment.
D. |
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. |
E. |
Committee means the Compensation & Benefits Committee of GI Delaware, as designated from time to time by the Board, or its designee. |
F. |
Disability means (i) disability as defined by long-term disability plan maintained by GI Delaware or by the subsidiary or division thereof by which the Participant is employed and under which the Participant is covered or (ii) as determined by the Committee in its reasonable judgment. |
G. |
Participant means any employee of GI Delaware or subsidiary who has been designated by the Committee as eligible to participate in the Program. |
H. |
Performance Goals means the objective performance goals established by the Committee. |
I. |
Program Year means a twelve-month consecutive period commencing on each January 1 and ending on each December 31. |
J. |
Retirement means the Participants voluntary resignation in circumstances acceptable to the Committee. |
V. Designation of Participants.
A. |
The Participants shall be those employees (or class of employees) of GI Delaware and subsidiaries who are designated by the Committee as being eligible to participate in the Program. The Committee shall create different sets of Award opportunities (Tiers) and shall assign Participants to such Tiers. With respect to some or all Participants, the Committee may designate, should it so choose, certain employees who would determine eligibility, Award opportunities and/or Award amounts from a bonus pool designated by the Committee for such Participants (or Tiers thereof). |
B. |
In order to be eligible to be a Participant for any Program Year, an individual must meet the criteria set forth in the Program both at the beginning and the end of the Program Year, except in those cases where a Participants employment with GI Delaware and its subsidiaries has terminated due to Retirement, death or Disability, as provided in Section VII. Any deviation from this clause requires the prior written approval of the Committee. |
2
VI. Awards for Participants:
A. |
Basis for Earning Awards: Unless otherwise provided herein, Participants shall earn an Award on the basis of achievement of the Performance Goals, as such goals are selected and determined by the Committee. If the Committee so elects, certain Participants may be eligible for discretionary bonuses based on their individual performance. |
B. |
Award Opportunities: |
A Participants Award opportunity shall be determined by the Committee, or its designee, as provided in Section V, and may provide for different levels of Awards depending on varying achievement of the Performance Goals.
Award opportunities under the Program may be expressed as a percentage of the Base Salary, and may range from 5% to 200%, or may be expressed as specific dollar amounts; provided that in no event shall an Award under the Program exceed $1,000,000.
C. |
Determination of Awards Earned: |
The Committee shall establish the specific Performance Goals which must be attained in order to receive Awards hereunder.
Upon receipt of the audited financials for the Company, the Committee (or with respect to Committee-designated Participants, such Participants supervisors) shall determine whether and to what extent the Performance Goals for the Program Year were achieved. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, disregard (or adjust for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay a Participant an amount that is less than or more than what the Participants Award would otherwise be hereunder.
VII. Payment of Awards.
A Participant shall be entitled to receive payment in an amount equal to his/her Award no later than March 15 of the year following the Program Year to which payment relates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to be eligible for payment of an Award for any Program Year, a Participant must be continuously employed by GI Delaware or its subsidiaries through the close of the Program Year, except in the case of a Participant whose employment terminates on account of Retirement, death, or Disability. In the case of a Participant whose employment has terminated during the Program Year due to Retirement, death or Disability, that Participant or his/her Beneficiary shall qualify for a pro-rated portion of the Participants Award, based on (i) the number of complete calendar months of service which the Participant completed during that Program Year and (ii) the actual achievement of the Performance Goals for such Program Year, to be paid on or about the same time Awards are paid to active Participants under the Program. Any deviation from this clause requires the prior authorization of the Committee.
Any payments due to Beneficiaries under the Program shall be paid at the time payment would otherwise have been made to the Participant, provided the identity and validity of such Beneficiary has been legally established.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, (A) if an individuals employment with GI Delaware and subsidiaries is terminated on account of conduct detrimental to GI Delawares best interests, then the Committee, in its sole discretion (and not subject to challenge by the Participant in any way), may cancel payment of any Award that has been earned under the Program but has not yet been paid and (B) if a Participant resigns for any reason prior to the payment of an Award, the Participant shall not be entitled to any payment under the Program.
3
VIII. Program Administration.
The Program shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have the authority to (i) interpret the Program in its sole and absolute discretion based upon the Programs provisions, (ii) certify attainment of Performance Goals, and (iii) make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the Programs administration; and such decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties.
The designation of an individual as a Participant for a particular Program Year shall not confer upon such individual the right to be designated as a Participant in a subsequent Program Year.
An individual who has been designated by the Committee as a Participant for a Program Year shall be notified in writing no later than April 30 of the Program Year of such designation.
GI Delaware shall deduct from any distributions made to Participants or Beneficiaries under the Program any applicable federal, state or local taxes which GI Delaware may be required to deduct under the law and all amounts distributed under the Program are stated herein before any such deductions.
No Participant or other person shall have an interest in any fund or any specific assets of GI Delaware and subsidiaries by reason of being a Participant in the Program or any right to receive any distribution under the Program except and to the extent expressly provided in the Program.
The designation of an individual as a Participant under the Program shall not be construed as conferring upon such individual any right to remain in the employ of GI Delaware and subsidiaries. With respect to any Participant, GI Delaware and subsidiaries right to discipline, promote, demote, reassign or terminate for any reason they deem fit shall not be affected in any manner by reason of such individuals designation as a Participant in the Program.
All questions or controversies arising in any manner between the parties or persons in connection with the Program or its operation, whether as to any claim for benefits, or as to the construction of language or meaning of the Program, or rules and regulations adopted by the Committee, or as to any writing, decision, instrument or account in connection with the operation of the Program or otherwise, shall be submitted to the Committee for decision.
IX. No Assignment or Alienation.
Except as otherwise required by law, no right or interest (which right shall simply be a contractual right) of any Participant hereunder shall be assigned, transferred or pledged voluntarily or involuntarily and any attempt to do so shall be void, nor shall such rights or interests be subject to attachment or other claims of creditors.
X. General.
All actions taken or determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding and all concerned and nothing in the Program shall be deemed to give any Participant, Beneficiary, legal representatives or assigns any right to participate in the Program except as determined by the Committee pursuant to the provisions in the Program.
4
XI. Program Amendment and Termination.
The Company reserves the right in the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) to amend, suspend or terminate the Program or to adopt a new plan in place of the Program at any time; provided, that no amendment, suspension or termination shall, without the consent of the Participant, alter or impair a Participants right to receive payment of an Award for a Program Year otherwise payable hereunder.
XII. Governing Law.
The Program and any amendments thereto shall be construed, administered, and governing in all respects in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflict of laws).
5
Exhibit 99.1
IN THE GRAND COURT OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS FINANCIAL SERVICES DIVISION CAUSE NO: FSD 143 OF 2020 (MRHJ) IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 86 AND 87 OF THE COMPANIES LAW (2020 REVISION) AND IN THE MATTER OF GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED ORDER UPON THE PETITION dated 26 June 2020 of Global Indemnity Limited (the Company) seeking the sanction of a proposed scheme of arrangement pursuant to Sections 86 and 87 of the Companies Law (2020 Revision) (the Companies Law) between the Company, New CayCo (an exempted company incorporated with limited liability and registered under the laws of the Cayman Islands) (New CayCo) and the Scheme Shareholders (as defined in the Scheme, as defined below) AND UPON reading the First Affidavit of Cynthia Yvonne Valko sworn on 16 July 2020 (Valko 1) and Exhibit CV-1 thereto; the First Affidavit of Stephen W. Ries sworn on 16 July 2020 (Ries 1) and Exhibit SR-1 thereto; the Second Affidavit of Cynthia Yvonne Valko sworn on 25 August 2020 (Valko 2) and Exhibit CV-2 thereto and the First Affidavit of Rolf Lindsay sworn on 25 August 2020 (Lindsay 1) and Exhibit RL-1 thereto AND UPON hearing Counsel for the Company IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND DIRECTED THAT: 1. The scheme of arrangement in respect of the Company scheduled hereto (the Scheme) (as was approved at the meeting of the shareholders of the Company on 25 August 2020 and convened pursuant to the Order of this Honourable Court dated 22 July 2020) be and is hereby sanctioned pursuant to Section 86(2) and Section 87 of the Companies Law. 2. The Company shall deliver a sealed copy of this Order to the Registrar of Companies for registration pursuant to Section 86(3) and Section 87(3) of the Companies Law.
3. The whole of the undertaking and all of the property, assets and rights of the Company as then existing shall be transferred to and vest in and become the undertaking, property, assets and rights of New CayCo. 4. All the liabilities and obligations of the Company as then existing shall be transferred to and become the liabilities and obligations of and enforceable against New CayCo. 5. All proceedings (if any) as then pending by or against the Company shall be continued by or against New CayCo. 6. The Company shall be deemed to be dissolved without winding up and the Registrar of Companies shall place all documents registered with him and relating to the Company on the file kept by him in relation to New CayCo and the file relating to the Company shall be consolidated with the file relating to New CayCo accordingly. 7. There be liberty to apply generally. 8. There be no order as to costs. . ®. DATED this day of August 2020 FILED this day of August 2020 THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE RAMSAY-HALE JUDGE OF THE GRAND COURT This ORDER was filed by Walkers, Attorneys-at-Law for the Company, whose address for seNice is that of their said Attorneys, 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-9001, Cayman Islands.
SCHEDULE SCHEMEOFARRANGEMENT
IN THE GRAND COURT OF THECAYMAN ISLANDS FlNANCIAL SERVICES DIVISION CAUSE NO: FSD 143 OF 2020 (MRH-J) IN THE MAITER OF GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED AND IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 86 AND 87 OF THE COMPANJES LAW (2020 REVISION) SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT AND AMALGAMATION (under SecLions 86 and 87 ofthe Cayman islands Companies Law (2020 Revision)) BETWEEN GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED (an e.xempted company incorporated with limited liability and registered under the laws ofthe Cayman Islands with registration number 308501) AND NEWCAYCO (an exempted company incorporated with limited liability and registered under the lm.vs ofthe Cayman Islands with registration number 363680) AND THE SCHEME SHAREHOLDERS (as hereinafter defined)
PART 1: PRELIMlNARY 1. DEFINITIONS 1.1 In this Scheme, unless inconsistent with the subject or context, the following expressions shall bear the meanings respectively set out opposite them: $,US$ or USD the lawful currency ofthe United States of America; Appointed Date the day on which the Effective Time occurs; Cayman Companies Law the Companies Law (2020 Revision) ofthe Cayman Islands, as amended, modified or re-enacted from time to time; Cayman Court the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and any court capable of hearing appeals therefrom; Cayman Islands Registrar of the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands; Companies Conditions the following conditions: (a) the Scheme of Arrangement is approved by the requisite majorities of the holders of GT Cayman Shares at the Voting Record Time at the Scheme Meeting (being a majority in number representing 75% in value of the GI Cayman ordinary shares voted in person or by proxy at the Scheme Meeting); (b) the Scheme EGM Resolutions at the Scheme EGM are approved by the requisite voting thresholds of the GI Cayman ordinary shares voted at the Scheme EGM; (c) the Cayman Court grants the Sanction Order; (d) no statute, rule or regulation is enacted or promulgated by any governmental entity of competent j urisdiction that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Scheme; (e) no order or inj unction of a court of competent jurisdiction is in effect that prevents consummation ofthe Scheme; (f) permission having been granted by the Nasdaq Global Select Market to admit the Gl Delaware class A common shares for trading; and (g) any regulatory approval or consent that may be required in connection with the Scheme; Effective Time the time at which this Scheme becomes effective in accordance with
Clause 12 (Effective Time), which is expected to be at or around 12.01 a.m. (Eastern Time in the United States) on August 28, 2020; GI Bermuda Globa l Indemnity Reinsurance Company, Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company and who lly-owned subsidiary of GI Cayman with registration number 38830, whose registered office is at C/0 Compass Adm inistration Services LTD., Crawford House, 50 Cedar Avenue, Hamilton HMll , Bermuda; Gl Cayman Global Indemnity Limited, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability with registration number 308501, whose registered office is at Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman KY 1-9008, Cayman Islands; GJ Delawar·e Global Inde mnity Group, LLC, a limited liability company formed in the State of Delaware, whose registered office is at 25 I Little Falls Drive, Wi lmington, Delaware 19808, US; Longstop Date September 30, 2020 (or such later date as the Cayman Court may allow); New CayCo New CayCo, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability with registration number 363680, whose registered office is at Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman KY 1-9008, Cayman Islands; Register of Members the register of members of GJ Cayman kept in accordance with Section 40 ofthe Cayman Companies Law; Sanction Hearing the hearing by the Cayman Court of the petition seeking the sanction of the Scheme under Sections 86 and 87 of the Cayman Companies Law; Sanction Order the order of the Cayman Court sanctioning this Scheme under Sections 86 and 87 of the Cayman Companies Law; Sche1ne this scheme of arrangement and amalgamation in respect of GI Cayman, New CayCo and the Scheme Shareholders proposed to be made under Section 86 of the Cayman Companies Law (2020 Revision) in its present form or with or subject to any modifications, additions or conditions which the Cayman Court may think fit to approve or impose and agreed to by GI Cayman; Scheme Consideration o ne GI Delaware c lass A common share shall be issued and allotted by Gl Delaware in exchange for each GI Cayman A ordinary share held by a Scheme Shareho lder at the Scheme Record Time and one GI Delaware class B common share shall be issued and allotted by GJ Delaware in exchange fo r each Gl Cayman B ordinary share held by a Scheme Shareholder at the Scheme Record T ime; Scheme EGM the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the GJ Cayman ordinruy shares at the Voting Record Time to be held to approve the Scheme EGM Resolutions (or any adjournment thereof);
Scheme EGM Resolutions the following resolutions: (a) to approve this Scheme and to authorise the directors of GI Cayman to take such action as they consider necessary or appropriate for carrying this Scheme into effect, so that the Scheme is approved by and on behalf ofGl Cayman; (b) to authorise GI Cayman, as the sole shareholder of Gl Bermuda, to approve a resolution of Gl Bermuda to effect a business combination transaction (which may include an inter-company merger, transfer of assets and liabilities, an1algamation or otherwise), approved by the board of directors and relevant regulatory authorities, with Penn-Patriot Insmance Company, an indirect wholly-owned insurance subsidiary of Gl Cayman, or another of the Global Indemnity group of companies existing U.S. insurance company subsidiaries, resulting in the assumption of GT Bermudas business by the Global fndemnity group of companies existing U.S. insmance company subsidiaries. Such transaction may include, without limitation, the merger of GI Bermuda with and into Penn-Patriot, with Penn-Patriot surviving, and the approval of the merger agreement that would be entered into in connection therewith; and (c) to authorise the chairman of the Scheme EGM to adjourn the Scheme EGM to such date and time as necessary or appropriate Scheme Meeting the meeting of the shareholders of GI Cayman as at the Voting Record Time that was held in person via live webcast at 9.00 a.m., (Cayman Islands Time), on August 25, 2020, convened pursuant to an Order of the Cayman Court dated July 22, 2020 for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, approvin g the Scheme (with or without amendment); Scheme Record Time 5.00 p.m. (Eastern Time in the United States), on August 27, 2020; Scheme Shareholders holders of Scheme Shares appearing on the Register of Members at the Scheme Record Time; Scheme Shares all ord inary shares of GI Cayman in issue; Stated Assets all ofGI Cayman s rights, titles, interests, permits, authorities, sanctions, concessions, privileges, benefits, facilities, licences and properties of kinds and description and by whatever title held and whether moveable or immoveable, tangible or intangible, leasehold or freehold or wherever situated including, but not limited to stock-in-trade, stock-in-transit, inventories, raw materials, ingredients, office supp lies, spares, consumable stores, works-in-progress, fini shed goods, actionable claims, cash and bank balances, investments, receivables, book debts, advances and deposits, prepayments, books of account, registers, records, plants, machinery, equipment, spare parts, tools, equipment, motor vehicles, furniture, fixtures and fittings, offices and storehouses/warehouses, connections and facilities of telecommunicatio ns including telephone, mobile phones, telexes and facsimiles, connections, meters and other
installations for the supply of electricity, water and gas, all rights, titles and interests in any intellectual property including trademarks, service marks, designs, patents, copyrights, all rights, titles and interests in technical data and know-how, industrial and technical information, trade secrets, secret processes, confidential information, drawings, formulations, technical reports, operating and testing procedures, instruction manuals, raw material or product specifications, results or research and development work (whether in hard copy or in electronic form) and existing computer software and all rights, titles and interests in historical and current documents, customer lists, product and supplier lists, catalogues, literature, employee records, documents of title, sale targets, sales statistics, marketing surveys and reports, marketing research and any advertising or other promotional materials and accounting (including management records) and other financial data (whether in hard copy or in electronic form); Stated Liabilities all of GI Caymans borrowings, debts, credits, related party loans and all sums of money payable including duties and obligations of every description (whether present or future, actual or contingent, current or deferred); US or United States the United States, its territories and possessions, including any State of the United States; US Securities Act United States Securities Act of 1933, as an1ended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; Voting Record Time 5.00 p.m. (Eastern Time in the United States) on July 21,2020, the record date for the Scheme Meeting and the Scheme EGM. 2. INTERPRETATION 2. 1 In this Scheme, unless the context otherwise requires or otherwise expressly provides: (a) references to Parts, Clauses and Sub-Clauses are references to parts, clauses and sub-clauses respectively of this Scheme; (b) references to a person include references to an individual, firm, partnership, company, corporation, unincorporated body of persons or any state or state agency; (c) references to a statute, statutory provision, enactment or subordinate legislation include the same as subsequently modified, amended or re-enacted from time to time; (d) references to an agreement, deed or document shall be deemed also to refer to such agreement, deed or document as amended, supplemented, restated, verified, replaced and/or novated (in whole or in part) from time to time and to any agreement, deed or document executed pursuant thereto; (e) the singular includes the plura l and vice-versa and words importing one gender shall include all genders; (f) headings to, Parts, Clauses and Sub-Clauses are for ease of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Scheme; and (g) all references to time are references to Cayman Islands Time unless otherwise stated.
3. GI CAYMAN 3. 1 GI Cayman is a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability with registration number 30850 I , whose registered office is at Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman KY 1-9008, Cayman Islands. 3.2 The authorised share capital of Gl Cayman is US$ 100,000 divided into: (i) 600,000,000 A ordinary shares of US$ 0.000 I each, (ii) 300,000,000 B ordinary shares of US$ 0.000 I each and (iii) I 00,000,000 Preferred Shares of US$0.000 l each. As at July 9, 2020, being the latest practicable date prior to the date of this document, I 0,2 13,941 GI Cayman A ordinary shares and 4, 133,366 GJ Cayman B ordinary shares were issued and remain outstanding. All of the preferred shares remain unissued. 4. NEWCAYCO 4.1 New CayCo is a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability with registration number 363680, whose registered office is at Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman KY 1-9008, Cayman Islands. 4.2 The authorised share capital of New CayCo is US$ 100,000 divided into I,000,000,000 ordinary shares with a par value of US$ 0.000 I each, of which one ordinary share has been issued to GI Delaware and fully paid or credited as fully paid up with the remainder of the ordinary shares remaining unissued. New CayCo is a direct and a wholly owned subsidiary of Gl Delaware. 5. GI DELAWARE 5.1 Gl Delaware was formed in June, 2020 in the State of Delaware as a limited liability company, whose registered office is at 25 1 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, United States. Prior to the Effective Time, GI Delaware will not engage in any business or other activities other than in connection with the Scheme and its organisational activities. 5.2 GI Delaware has undertaken to the Cayman Court to be bound by the Scheme, and will execute and do and procure to be executed and done all such documents, acts and things as may be necessary or desirable to be executed or done by it for the purpose of giving effect to this Scheme. 6. PURPOSE OF SCHEME 6.1 The purpose of the Scheme is to facilitate the change in jw·isdiction of the ultimate parent company of the Global Indemnity group of companies from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware, which is anticipated to result in long-term cost savings and other significant benefits for the Global Indemnity group of companies. This will be achieved through the amalgamation of the undertaking of GI Cayman with that of New CayCo (which is directly held and wholly owned by GI Delaware) with New CayCo surviving and the ultimate parent company of the Global Indemnity group of companies becoming GJ Delaware. Following completion of the Scheme, it is proposed that New CayCo will merge with and into GJ Delaware, with GI Delaware surviving. In consideration for the amalgamation, the Scheme Shareholders will be granted the Scheme Consideration. Upon implementation of the Scheme, Gl Cayman will dissolve without being wound up and will cease to exist as a separate legal entity. The Scheme will enable the Global Indemnity group of companies to obtain ce1iain cost savings and other significant benefits which will in turn benefit the Scheme Shareholders. 6.2 The issuance of GI Delaware common shares to the Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the Scheme will not be registered under the US Securities Act in reliance upon Section 3(a)(10) of the US Securities Act. Section 3(a)( l0) of the US Securities Act exempts secw-ities issued in exchange for one or more outstanding securities from the general requirement of registration where the terms and conditions of the issuance and exchange of such securities have been approved by any court of competent jurisdiction, after a hearing upon the fairness of the terms and conditions of the issuance and exchange at which all persons to whom such securities will be issued have a right to appear and to whom adequate notice of the hearing has been given. The pa1ties intend to rely on the Section 3(a)( I 0) exemption under the US Securities Act in entering into this
Scheme and consummating the transactions contemplated hereby and the parties shall so advise the Cayman Court.
PART 2: THE SCHEME 7. APPLICATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS SCHEME 7.1 The compromise and arrangement effected by this Scheme shall apply to all Scheme Shares and shall be binding on all Scheme Shareholders. 8. AMALGAMATION OF GI CAYMAN WITH AND INTO NEW CAYCO 8. 1 At the Effective Time, New CayCo shall acquire and amalgamate with its own undertaking the undertaking and all the property, assets and rights, real and personal (including, but not limited to the Stated Assets) and the liabilities and obligations of every description (including but not limited to the Stated Liabilities) of GI Cayman, and by virtue of this Scheme and orders of the Cayman Court made pw-suant to Section 87 of the Cayman Companies Law the following will occur simultaneously: (a) the undertaking and all the property, assets and rights of Gl Cayman as aforesaid shall vest in and become the undertaking, property, assets and rights of New CayCo and the undertaking and all the property, assets and rights of GI Cayman as aforesaid subsisting on or after the Appointed Date and prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to have become the undertaking, property, assets and rights of New CayCo fi·om the Appointed Date; (b) the liabilities and obligations of GI Cayman as aforesaid shall become liabilities and obligations of and enforceable against New CayCo and the liabilities and obligations of GI Cayman as aforesaid subsisting on or after the Appointed Date and prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to have become liabilities and obligations of and enforceable against New CayCo from the Appointed Date; (c) notwithstanding any transaction, business, operations or activities done or pursued in GI Caymans own name on or after the Appointed Date and prior to the Effective Time, it shall be deemed to have so carried on for and on behalf of and on the account and risk of New CayCo; (d) all profits, gains or income accruing or arising to GI Cayman on or after the Appointed Date and prior to the Effective Time and all expenditure or losses incurred by GI Cayman in respect of its business and activities on or after the Appointed Date and prior to the Effective Time, shall be treated and deemed to be the profits, gains, income, expenditw-e or losses of New CayCo as the case may be; (e) proceedings by or against G1 Cayman shall be continued by or against New CayCo; and (1) GI Cayman will be dissolved without winding up and its separate legal existence shall cease for all purposes. 9. CONSIDERATION FOR THE UNDERTAKING OF Gl CAYMAN 9. 1 In consideration for the undertaking of GI Cayman and the amalgamation pursuant to Clause 8 above (Amalgamation of GJ Cayman with and into New CayCo), Gl Cayman and New CayCo shall procure that GI Delaware at the Effective Time shall issue the Scheme Consideration to the Scheme Shareholders. In the case of joint holders of Scheme Shares in issue immediately prior to the Effective Time, such Scheme Consideration shall be issued and allotted to all such holders of Scheme Shares jointly. 9.2 At the Effective Time and subject to the provisions of Clauses I 0 (Allotment and issue of Gl Delaware Common Shares) and l l (Mandated Payments and other Instructions), Gl Delaware shall : (a) cancel all the Scheme Shares (that is, all the ordinary shares of GI Cayman in issue immediately prior to the Effective Time); and
(b) issue fully paid and non-assessable GI Delaware common shares to the Scheme Shareholders, on the following one-to-one basis: (i) for each GI Cayman Aordinaty share cancelled, one GT Delaware class A common share shall be issued; and (ii) for each GT Cayman B ordinary share cancelled, one Gl Delaware class B common share shall be issued. 10. ALLOTMENT AND ISSUE OF GI DELAWARE COMMON SHARES 10. 1 The GI Delaware common shares to be issued pursuant to Clause 9 (Consideration for the undertaking of Gi Cayman) above shall rank equally for all dividends or distributions made, paid or declared in respect of GI Delaware after the Effective Time. 10.2 The provisions of Clause 9 (Consideration for the undertaking of Gl Cayman) shall be subject to any prohibition or condition imposed by law. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, if, in respect of any shareholder of GI Cayman who is a citizen, resident or national of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands or the United States, GI Delaware is advised that the allotment and issue of Gl Delaware shares pursuant to Clause 9 (Consideration for the undertaking of GJ Cayman) would infringe the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands or the United States or would require GI Delaware to observe any governmental or other consent or effect any registration, filing or other formality with which, in the opinion of GI Delaware, it would be unable to comply or which it regards as unduly onerous, then GI Delaware may in its sole discretion either: (a) determine that such GI Delaware common shares shall be sold, in which case the GJ Delaware common shares shall be issued to such shareholder of GI Cayman and GT Delaware shall appoint a person to act pursuant to this Clause 10.2(a) as an authorised person on behalf ofsuch shareholder of GI Cayman to procme that any such GJ Delaware common shares in respect of which GI Delaware has made such determination shall, as soon as practicable following the Scheme Record Time, be sold at the best price which can reasonably be obtained at the time of sale. The net proceeds of such sale (after the deduction of all expenses and commissions, including any amount in respect of any tax payable thereon) shall be paid to such shareholder of GI Cayman by cheque or such other form of payment as determined by the authorised person in its sole discretion. To give effect to any such sale, the authorised person shall be authorised on behalf of such shareholder of GI Cayman to execute and deliver a form of transfer and to give such instructions and do all such things which such authorised person may consider necessary or expedient in connection with such sale. None of GI Cayman, New CayCo, GI Delaware or the authorised person shall have any liability for any loss or damage arising as a result of the timing or terms of any such sale; or (b) determine that no such GI Delaware common shares shall be issued to such shareholder of GI Cayman under Clause 9 (Consideration for the undertaking of Gl Cayman), but instead the applicable GI Delaware common shares shall be issued to a nominee appointed by GI Delaware as trustee for such shareholder of GI Cayman, on terms that such Gl Delaware common shares shall, as soon as practicable following the Scheme Record Time, be sold on behalf ofsuch shareholder ofGl Cayman at the best price which can reasonably be obtained at the time of sale. The net proceeds of such sale (after the deduction of all expenses and commissions, including any amount in respect of any tax payable thereon) shall be paid to such shareholder of GI Cayman by cheque or such other form of payment as determined by the nominee in its sole discretion. None of GI Cayman, New CayCo, Gl Delaware or the nominee shall have any liability for any loss arising as a result ofthe timing or terms of any such sale. 11. MANDATED PAYMENTS AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONS 11. 1 Each mandate in force at the Scheme Record Time relating to the payment ofdividends on GJ Cayman ordinary shares and each instruction then in force as to notices and other commun ications from GI Cayman shall, unless
and until varied or revoked, be deemed as from the Effective Time to be a valid and effective mandate or instruction to Gl Delaware in relation to the corresponding Gl Delaware common shares to be allotted and issued pursuant to this Scheme. 12. EFFECTIVE TIME 12.1 Subject to the Conditions having been first satisfied or, to the extent permitted by law, waived by GI Cayman, this Scheme shall become effective as soon as the Sanction Order (sanctioning the Scheme under Section 86 of the Cayman Companies Law and making such facilitating orders as are appropriate pursuant to Section 87 of the Cayman Companies Law) shall have been duly delivered to the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies for registration pursuant to Section 86(3) of the Cayman Companies Law at which time this Scheme shall become effective in accordance with its terms. 12.2 Gl Delaware shall give notification of this Scheme having become effective by providing notice to all Scheme Shareholders and creditors of GI Cayman that exist immediately prior to the Effective Time. Such notice shall enclose a copy of the Sanction Order. 12.3 Unless this Scheme shall have become effective on or before the Long stop Date (or such later date, if any, as the Cayman Court may allow), it shall lapse. 13. MODIFlCATION AND SEVERABILITY 13.1 GJ Cayman may consent for and on behalf of all persons concemed to any modification of or addition to this Scheme or to any condition which the Cayman Court may think fit to approve or impose. 13.2 When under any provision of this Scheme a matter is to be determined by GJ Cayman, New CayCo and/or GJ Delaware then they or it will have discretion to interpret such matter under this Scheme in a manner that they or it considers fair and reasonable, and their/its decisions will be binding on a ll concerned. 13.3 If any provision (or any part of any provision) of this Scheme is found by the Cayman Court to be illegal or unenforceable, it shall be severed from this Scheme and, to the extent practicable, the remaining provisions of this Scheme shall continue in force. 14. COSTS 14.1 GJ Cayman is authorised and permitted to pay all the costs and expenses relating to the negotiation, preparation and implementation of the Scheme. 15. GOVERNING LAW 15. I The operative terms of this Scheme shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands and the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any proceeding and to settle any dispute which arises out of or in connection with the terms of this Scheme or its implementation or out of any action taken or omitted to be taken under this Scheme or in connection with the administration of this Scheme and for such purposes, the patties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jw·isdiction ofthe courts ofthe Cayman Islands, provided, however, that nothing in this Clause shall affect the validity ofother provisions determinin g governing law and jurisdiction between the parties whether contained in any contract or otherwise. 15.2 The tetms of this Scheme and the obligations imposed on GI Cayman, New CayCo and GI Delaware hereunder shall take effect subj ect to any prohibition or condition imposed by any applicable law. Dated: [ ] 2020
Exhibit 99.2
PRESS RELEASE
For release: | August 28, 2020 | |
Contact: | Media | |
Stephen W. Ries | ||
Senior Corporate Counsel & Secretary | ||
(610) 668-3270 | ||
sries@global-indemnity.com |
Global Indemnity Completes Redomestication to the United States
BALA CYNWYD, Pennsylvania, August 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Indemnity Group, LLC (NASDAQ:GBLI) (the Company) announced today the completion of the redomestication of Global Indemnity Limited and its Bermuda subsidiary, Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (GI Bermuda), to the United States. The Company, a Delaware limited liability company classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, replaced Global Indemnity Limited, a Cayman Islands corporation, as the publicly listed parent company of Global Indemnity, effective as of today. The former shareholders of Global Indemnity Limited are now the shareholders of the Company, and the Class A Common Shares of the Company will continue to trade under the stock ticker symbol GBLI.
Additionally, on August 26, 2020, GI Bermuda merged with and into Penn-Patriot Insurance Company (Penn-Patriot), a Virginia-domiciled subsidiary of the Company, with Penn-Patriot surviving. This merger resulted in the assumption of GI Bermudas business by Global Indemnitys existing U.S. insurance company subsidiaries.
The redomestication and related transactions simplify and streamline Global Indemnitys organizational, statutory and regulatory structure and are expected to result in inter-company efficiencies and long-term administrative cost savings. Four subsidiaries previously part of Global Indemnitys organizational structure were eliminated, and substantially all foreign subsidiaries were eliminated. The transactions also reduced the number of nations governing Global Indemnity from 4 to 1 and reduced the number of nations in which Global Indemnity is subject to material taxation from 3 to 1. The United States is now Global Indemnitys only governing, regulating and taxing nation.
In connection with the redomestication, Global Indemnity eliminated approximately $1 billion of inter-company indebtedness, eliminated $174 million (57%) of external indebtedness (reducing the Companys debt-to-capitalization ratio from 29% to 15%), and provided parent Company with approximately $250 million of cash and investments that may be utilized by the Company for general corporate purposes.
The redomestication was completed without any material transaction-related taxes to Global Indemnity. Further, the expected future expense savings and operating efficiencies are expected to largely offset the anticipated increase in prospective tax liabilities resulting from the transactions. Apart from incidental transaction related fees and expenses, completion of the redomestication had no impact on the Companys book value or book value per share, which were $735 million and $51.24, respectively, at June 30, 2020.
The redomestication was approved by shareholders at a special meeting held on August 25, 2020. Shareholders representing 87% of shares outstanding voted at the special meeting, and 92% of shares voted at the special meeting were voted in favor of the redomestication. In addition, 92% of the individual shareholders that were present or represented by proxy and voting at the special meeting voted in favor of the redomestication.
In advance of the shareholders special meeting, Global Indemnity received the necessary approvals for the redomestication and related transactions from the Arizona Department of Insurance, Indiana Department of Insurance, Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Virginia Bureau of Insurance and Bermuda Monetary Authority. On August 26, 2020 the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands sanctioned the scheme of arrangement and amalgamation pursuant to which the redomestication was effected. A copy of the Sanction Order can be found at www.global-indemnity.com.
Global Indemnity Group, LLCs Class A Common Shares are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Global Indemnity Group, LLC is subject to SEC reporting requirements applicable to domestic registrants. Global Indemnity Group, LLCs Class A Common Shares begin trading today on NASDAQ.
Fox Paine & Company, LLC advised Global Indemnity in regard to the conceptualization, design, structuring and execution of the redomestication and related transactions.
About Global Indemnity Group, LLC and its subsidiaries
Global Indemnity Group, LLC (NASDAQ:GBLI), through its several direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiary insurance companies, provides both admitted and non-admitted specialty property and casualty insurance coverages and individual policyholder coverages in the United States, as well as reinsurance worldwide. Global Indemnity Group, LLCs four primary segments are:
|
Commercial Specialty |
|
Specialty Property |
|
Farm, Ranch, & Stable |
|
Reinsurance |
For more information, visit the Companys website at www.global-indemnity.com.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release[1] do not address a number of risks and uncertainties, including COVID-19 and risks and uncertainties related to the redomestication. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to the statements regarding our expectations regarding the redomestication, and future results or expectations of the Company. These statements are based on current expectations as of the time of this press release and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned that it is not possible for the Company to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on its business or to the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. Please see the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could impact the company and for a more detailed explication regarding forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.
[1] |
Disseminated pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Security Exchange Act of 1934. |