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Exhibit
10.10
Amendment no 1 to Joint
Venture Agreement
by and
among
Loews Cineplex
International Holdings, Inc.
(formerly LTM Spanish
Holdings, Inc)
and
Ricardo Evole
Martil
In Madrid and New York as
of July 7, 2003.
Amendment no 1 to Joint
Venture Agreement
by and
among
Loews Cineplex
International Holdings, Inc. (formerly LTM Spanish Holdings,
Inc)
and Ricardo Evole
Martil
In Madrid and New York as of July 7,
2003.
COME
TOGETHER
ON THE ONE HAND: Mr. Travis Reid,
of age, with professional domicile in New York 711 Fifth Avenue
with passport number 112136914. He appears in the name and in
representation of Loews Cineplex International Holdings, Inc., with
professional domicile in 711 Fifth Avenue, 12 th
Floor, NY, NY
10022.
He makes use of the authorities that
correspond to him as President of Loews Cineplex International
Holdings, Inc.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND: Mr. Ricardo
Evole Martil, of age, with professional domicile in Madrid,
calle Princesa 31, with NIF 2.450.193-A.
He appears in his own name and
behalf.
The parties mutually recognize the
capacity of the other to assume the obligations established herein
and
THEY
STATE
I.- That on April 27,1998 Mr.
Ricardo Evole Martil (hereinafter “RE”) and Loews
Cineplex International Holdings, Inc. (previously LTM Spanish
Holdings, Inc.) (hereinafter “Loews”) entered into a
Joint Venture Agreement (the “Agreement”) to jointly
form and manage a motion picture business in Spain under the
company name Yelmo Cineplex, S.L., whose governance and
administration would correspond to the parties in the form provided
for therein, likewise establishing the undertakings assumed by each
of the parties for the execution of that agreed to, and among other
things, the contribution of capital to the Joint Venture
Company.
A copy of said Agreement excluding all
its annexes, appendices and schedules, except for Appendix A, is
attached hereto as Annex I .
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II.- The Agreement established an
obligation for Loews to make capital contributions to the Joint
Venture Company Yelmo Cineplex, S.L. (the “JV” or the
“Company”) equal to the Contribution Amount.
III.- That in compliance with the
Agreement, on June 10, 1998 the JV and RE entered into a top
management agreement expiring June 9, 2003, by virtue of which the
carrying out of the duties of a General Manager of the JV were
entrusted to RE.
A copy of said top executive contract is
attached hereto as Annex II .
IV.- That at the signature of
this document, the share capital of the JV is 11,970,000,000
pesetas (ELEVEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY MILLION PESETAS),
equivalent to 71,941,148.89 1 Euros (SEVENTY ONE
MILLION NINE HUNDRED AND FORTY ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY
EIGHT EUROS AND EIGHTY NINE CENTS) divided in 23.940 units numbers
1 to 4,000 and 16,001 to 23,940, inclusive, Class A, and 4,001 to
16,000, inclusive, Class B, all with a nominal value of 500,000
pesetas (FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESETAS), equivalent to 3,005.060522
Euros (THREE THOUSAND FIVE EUROS AND ZERO SIX ZERO FIVE TWO TWO
CENTS), as a consequence of the following contributions: the
partner RE has contributed to the JV as an in kind capital
contribution the amount of 6,000,000,000 pesetas (SIX THOUSAND
MILLION PESETAS), having subscribed to, as a consequence, 12,000
(TWELVE THOUSAND) units in the JV, numbers 4,001 to 16,000,
inclusive, of Class B, of 500,000 pesetas (FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
PESETAS) nominal value each, representing 50.12531328% of the total
share capital and the partner Loews has contributed to the JV as a
cash contribution to the share capital 5,970,000,000 pesetas (FIVE
THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY MILLION PESETAS), plus issuance
premium in cash for an amount of 2,574,894,895 pesetas (TWO
THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED AND
NINETY FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE PESETAS) having
subscribed to as a consequence 11,940 (ELEVEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED
AND FORTY) units of the JV, numbers 1 to 4,000 and 16,001 to 23,940
of Class A, inclusive, with a nominal value of 500,000 pesetas
(FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESETAS) and each representing 49.87468671%
of the total share capital.
V.- That on June 30, 2003 a
meeting of the Board of Directors of JV and its Subsidiary was held
to prepare the Annual Accounts of both companies corresponding to
fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 and on this same date a meeting
of JV Members and its Subsidiary were held to approve such Annual
Accounts and agree on the allocation of results obtained during
such fiscal year.
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71,941,148.894739€ before rounding to two
decimals. |
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VI.- That the parties have agreed
to partially modify the Agreement through this amendment (the
“Amendment”) to approve a capital contribution by Loews
which permits it to own 50% of share capital of the Company, to
renew the top executive contact mentioned in Whereas III and to
hold a partners meeting to effectuate certain additional provisions
concerning the ownership, government and administration of the JV,
as set forth in this Amendment, all of this in accordance with the
following,
CLAUSES
FIRST.- DEFINED TERMS
.
Capitalized terms used but otherwise not
defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Agreement. In addition the following terms, when capitalized, shall
have the following meanings:
(a) “ Agreement
” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to
this Amendment.
(b) “ Amended Agreement
” shall mean the Agreement, as amended hereby.
(c) “ Permitted
Transferee ” the definition provided for in the
Agreement shall be substituted for the following:
“ Permitted Transferee
” means any Subsidiary of Loews or any corporation in
which RE and/or his children and/or lawful wife owns at
least 51% of
the outstanding equity, or directly, RE’s lawful wife and
children. To be a Permitted Transferee such transferee must execute
the writing required by Section 8.1 of the Amended Agreement to be
bound by the terms of this Agreement. Furthermore, for the transfer
to be considered as made to a Permitted Transferee RE and his
lawful wife and children shall be jointly and severally obligated
to perform the duties of RE under the Amendment Agreement including
without limitation, the voting obligations in Section 7 of the
Amended Agreement, the transfer restrictions and related provisions
in Section 8 of the Amended Agreement and the covenants regarding
non-competition and corporate opportunities in Section 10 of the
Amended Agreement, and shall be jointly and severally liable for
any breach of any such duty by any of them; and Loews and its
Subsidiary shall be jointly and severally obligated to perform the
duties of Loews under the Amendment Agreement including without
limitation, the voting obligations in Section 7 of the Amended
Agreement, the transfer restrictions and related provisions in
Section 8 of the Amended Agreement and the covenants regarding
non-competition and corporate opportunities in Section 10 of the
Amended Agreement, and shall be jointly and severally liable for
any breach of any such duty by any Subsidiary. In the case of
Subsidiaries of Loews with a net worth of less than US $ 100
Million they must continue to be a Subsidiary of
Loews.”
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(d) Plurals, Gender, Etc. In the Amended
Agreement, unless the context otherwise indicates or
requires:
(i) words in the singular
include the plural and vice versa and words in one gender include
the other gender.
(ii) a reference
to:
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A. |
any party includes its successors and permitted
assigns, |
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B. |
a person includes any individual, firm, body corporate,
association, partnership, government or state, and |
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C. |
parties, unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, shall
mean Loews and RE (and their respective successors and
assigns). |
SECOND.- ANNUAL ACCOUNTS.
ADDITIONAL SHARE CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE JOINT VENTURE
COMPANY YELMO CINEPLEX. S.L .
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A. |
The parties ratify herein the resolutions passed at the Board
of Directors meeting as well as the resolutions passed at the
General Shareholders Meeting that are referred to in Recital V of
this Amendment and which are attached hereto as Annex Second A. The
parties expressly state that they do not have any objection or
claim against the other nor against JV and its Subsidiary or their
respective Directors whatsoever based on such
resolutions. |
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B. |
The parties expressly agree to extend for Loews the term for
the contribution that is referred to in Recital II of this
Amendment and as a consequence they agree to cause the JV to
increase its capital by issuing 60 Class A units, with premium,
which shall be subscribed to entirely by Loews so that upon paying
in the corresponding amount indicated below Loews shall acquire
ownership of units necessary to reach 50% of the share capital of
the JV. The parties agree hereby that the amount to be paid in and
deposited by Loews in the account of the JV for the payment of said
increase of capital is 46,389,000 pesetas (FORTY SIX MILLION THREE
HUNDRED EIGHTY NINE THOUSAND PESETAS), equal to 278,803.51
2 Euros (TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT THOUSAND EIGHT
HUNDRED AND THREE EUROS AND FIFTY ONE CENTS), (the “Last
Contribution Amount”) corresponding to 180,303.63 Euros (ONE
HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND THREE EUROS AND SIXTY
THREE CENTS) equal to 30,000,000 (THIRTY MILLION) pesetas of
nominal value and 98,499.87 Euros (NINETY EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR
HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE EUROS |
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Rounded to two decimals |
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and EIGHTY SEVEN CENTS) equal
to 16,389,000 (SIXTEEN MILLION THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE
THOUSAND) pesetas of premium, equal to 1,641.66 Euros (ONE THOUSAND
SIX HUNDRED AND FORTY ONE EUROS and SIXTY SIX CENTS) or 273,150
(TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THREE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY)
pesetas for each newly created unit. Upon receipt by the JV of the
Last Contribution Amount Loews shall have fully performed its
undertaking to make capital contributions equal to the Contribution
Amount, and as a consequence mutatis mutandi RE and Loews shall
have no claim against the other whatsoever based on the obligation
of Loews to fund according to Section 4.3, or recourse to Section
4.8, of the Agreement.
For all such purposes, both
parties undertake to constitute a Partners Meeting of the JV
immediately after signature of this Amendment with all partners
attending and to vote favourably for the resolution of increasing
the capital by way of cash contribution and issuance and
subscription of the units that is reflected in the minutes attached
hereto as Annex III and cause the JV to notarize and
present for registration said increase at the Mercantile Registry
of Madrid.
Should the Mercantile
Registry of Madrid fail to register the increase in capital
referred to in this Clause Second for any reason the parties agree
to take the necessary steps as partners in the JV, and therefore
cause the directors of the JV and the JV to take the necessary
steps, so that the JV registers an increase in capital permitting
Loews to obtain 50% of the share capital of the JV.
THIRD.- GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
OF THE JOINT VENTURE COMPANY YELMO CINEPLEX, S.L. AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES.
3.1.- The parties agree that, as
long as the share of the parties and their respective Permitted
Transferees in the JV is 50/50 the undertakings agreed to in
Article VII of the Agreement as amended hereto regarding government
and administration of the JV and its Subsidiaries shall be applied.
In the event that any of the parties and/or their Permitted
Transferees ceases to hold a 50% interest in the JV, directors of
JV and its Subsidiaries shall be appointed by majority and
provisions of the Agreement related to the quorum and approval of
resolutions within the Board shall no longer apply.
For such purposes, the parties undertake
to favourably vote at the partners meeting referred to in the
Second Clause of this Amendment regarding the resolution concerning
the cessation, designation and appointment of directors included in
the minutes attached as Annex III .
3.2.-
(a).- The parties likewise expressly
ratify their intent that RE continue as managing director of the JV
and its Subsidiaries.
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(b).- With express derogation of
what is established in Section 7.4 (a) of the Agreement regarding
the limits to the authorities of the managing director the parties
agree expressly that the managing director shall be invested with
the broadest authorities, except for the realization of the
following operations and/or acts, whose valid execution shall
require the prior express approval of the Board of Directors. As a
consequence Section 7.4 (a) of the Agreement shall be replaced by
the following:
“Section 7.4. Approval of
Certain Matters. (a) The Managing Director shall not and shall not
permit the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to take or
agree to take any of the following actions or engage in any of the
following transactions without the prior approval of the Board of
Directors in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement:
(i) expenditure of any sum of
Euros 1,250,000 (ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND) or
more in the aggregate per annum that is not included in an Approved
Budget, it being understood and agreed that expenditures on film
rental, to the extent such expenditures are determined by reference
to box-office sales, and any other variable costs that must be
increased for the ordinary running of the JV and its Subsidiaries
shall not be restricted by this clause (i);
(ii) sale, transfer or
disposal of assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
purchase or other acquisition of assets or businesses, in each case
in any single or series of related transactions for a consideration
in excess of Euros 1,250,000 (ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY
THOUSAND) in the aggregate per annum that is not included in an
Approved Budget;
(iii) engaging by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries in any business other than as provided
in its corporate purpose;
(iv) varying the
Company’s accounting policies and practices in any material
respect, other than to comply with GAAP;
(v) establishing any place of
business outside Spain;
(vi) entering into any joint
venture, partnership agreement or similar arrangement;
(vii) approving and adopting
the annual budget or the Business Plan or any change
thereto;
(viii) incurring any debt for
borrowed money in excess of Euros 1,250,000 (ONE MILLION TWO
HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND) that is not included in an Approved
Budget;
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(ix) commencing or settling
litigation where the amount involved exceeds Euros 1,250,000 (ONE
MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND);
(x) entering into, amending
or waiving the provision of any agreements or transactions with any
Member or any Affiliate of any Member after the Closing Date except
(1) as expressly provided for in this Agreement, (2) relating to
the exhibition and settlement of motion pictures, or (3) in the
ordinary course of business under terms no less favorable to the
Company than those that could be obtained by the Company in an arms
length transaction, provided that prior to the Company entering
into such agreement or transaction it is disclosed to the
Board;
(xi) entering into employment
agreements or consulting agreements with any Person involving the
payment in any such agreement of an amount in excess of Euros
150,000 (ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND) or authorizing any Person
to enter into any such employment agreements or consulting
agreements; or
(xii) giving JV’s
approval to the Transfer of any Membership Interest pursuant to
Section 8.1 of the Amended Agreement.”
The amounts referred to in 7.a (i),
(ii), (viii), (ix) and (xi) shall be increased annually based on
the General Consumer Price Index for Spain taking as a base the
previous year’s amount beginning in January 1,
2005.
3.3.- The parties hereby agree
that:
(a) As long as RE and any of his
Permitted Transferees own all Class B units, the owners of said
Class B units shall be entitled acting together as a group to
propose the Managing Director and President of the Board of
Directors of the JV and its Subsidiaries.
(b) As long as Loews and any of its
Permitted Transferees own all Class A units, the owners of said
Class A units shall be entitled acting together as a group to
propose the Secretary and Vice-Secretary of the Board of Directors
of the JV and its Subsidiaries, a senior executive of the JV and
its Subsidiaries, and the auditor of the JV and its Subsidiaries,
the latter in the terms set forth in clause FIFTH of this
Amendment.
(c) The party not proposing the
positions mentioned in (a) and (b) shall vote in favour of the
proposing party’s appointment.
(d) If RE or any of his Permitted
Transferees sells any or all of its Class B Units prior to July 7,
2008 to any person other than a Permitted Transferee (i) the rights
described in (a) above shall cease to exist and operate from the
date of such sale, (ii) the rights described under (b) above shall
remain in full force and effect indefinitely, (iii) the holders of
the Class B units
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shall be obliged to perform the
obligations set forth in (c) above from and after such date and
(iv) the holders of Class A Units shall not be obliged to perform
the obligations set forth in (c) above from and after such
date.
(e) If Loews or any of its Permitted
Transferees sells any or all of its units prior to July 7, 2008 to
any person other than a Permitted Transferee, then (i) the rights
described under (b) above shall cease to exist and operate from the
date of such sale, (ii) the rights described in (a) above shall be
remain in full force and effect indefinitely, (iii) the holders of
the Class A Units shall be obliged to continue to perform the
obligations set forth in (c) above and (iv) the holders of Class B
Units shall not be obliged to perform the obligations set forth in
(c) above from and after such date.
(f) Subject to the foregoing, if either
party sells all or part of its Units on or after July 7, 2008 to
any person other than a Permitted Transferee, then the rights
described in (a), (b) and (c) above shall cease to exist and
operate from the date of such sale and the positions within the
Board of Directors of JV and its Subsidiaries shall be agreed by
the members of the Board.
3.4.- The parties likewise ratify
their intent and undertaking that RE shall continue to manage the
JV and its Subsidiaries according to the terms included in
Annex IV (“RE’s Employment
Contract”). Once RE’s Employment Contract terminates,
the Board of Directors of the JV and its Subsidiaries shall agree
on the appointment, as necessary, of the JV’s and
Subsidiaries’ General Manager.
FOURTH.- DIVIDEND POLICY OF THE JOINT
VENTURE COMPANY YELMO CINEPLEX, S.L.
The parties expressly agree to add a new
Article XIV to the Agreement establishing a dividend policy for the
JV. Article XIV shall have the following text:
“ARTICLE
XIV”
DIVIDEND
POLICY
Section 14.1. The
distribution of dividends of the partners shall be made in
proportion to their share capital.
Section 14.2.
Dividends may only be distributed once all applicable contractual
and other legal requirements are met.
Section 14.3. Once the
legal requirements are met, if there are profits that may be
distributed with respect to any fiscal year of the JV, and as long
as the participation of the parties and their respective Permitted
Transferees in the JV is 50/50, either of the parties acting as a
group with its Permitted Transferees may require that the JV
proceed to distribute dividends among the partners up to a maximum
equal to 5% of the Equity of the JV provided
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that the JV has distributable cash at
the date of the proposed dividend distribution, which means that no
borrowed money can be used to pay dividends.
For such purposes the party
making the request shall notify the other party of its request in
such a way as to prove the date of sending and the contents of the
same to the other party, detailing the amount that it wishes to
have distributed as dividends, attaching to the communication the
audited Annual Accounts of the JV for such fiscal year and written
confirmation by the Company’s independent auditors that the
closing balance sheet in such Annual Accounts complies with the
requirements of article 213 of the Ley de Sociedades
Anónimas.
Section 14.4. The
party that is requested to do so undertakes to favourably vote for
the resolution for distribution of dividends proposed by the
requesting party at the Partners Meeting that must be held to
approve the Annual Accounts and application of results, as long as
said resolution complies with the conditions established in the
above sections.”
FIFTH.- AUDITORS OF THE JOINT VENTURE
COMPANY YELMO CINEPLEX, S.L.
The parties expressly agree to add a new
Section 7.5 to the Agreement with the following text:
“Section 7.5.
Auditors. Both parties agree that, as long as the
participation of the parties and their respective Permitted
Transferees in the JV is 50/50, the auditors of the JV and its
Subsidiaries shall be appointed by the General Partners Meeting at
the proposal of the partner Loews from among auditing firms of
internationally recognized prestige with offices in Madrid. As a
consequence RE and/or any Permitted Transferees shall vote in
favour of the proposal of auditors made by Loews at the General
Partners Meeting when Loews requests such point to be included in
the agenda of the meeting, it being understood that, unless there
is a justified cause, such as a change in control of Loews, a legal
requirement or conflict of interest, Loews will not propose a
change of the auditors so designated unless a minimum period of
three years has passed since its original appointment of such
auditors.”
SIXTH.- DEADLOCK OF THE JOINT VENTURE
COMPANY YELMO CINEPLEX, S.L.
The parties expressly agree to add a new
Article XV to the Agreement establishing a procedure to divide the
assets of the JV into two equal blocks if the parties fail to reach
a negotiated agreement under certain conditions. Article XV shall
have the following text:
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“ARTICLE
XV
DEADLOCK
PROCEDURE
Section 15.1 If while
the Agreement is in force a serious and repeated disagreement
arises between Loews and its Permitted Transferees acting together
as a group representing 50% of the share capital of the JV on the
one hand, and RE arid his Permitted Transferee acting together as a
group representing 50% of the share capital of the JV on the other
hand resulting in a failure to reach a majority resolution
regarding a matter that is submitted to either a Partners Meeting
or the Board of Directors within the sphere of their respective
competence which is essential for the normal running of the
business or that prevents the normal development of the projects
and activities of the JV or its Subsidiaries (a
“Disagreement”), the parties agree to apply the
following rules:
(a) Once aware of the
existence of a Disagreement between the parties, both undertake to
negotiate in good faith, a solution to the Disagreement that
results in a resolution of the Board of Directors or the Partners
Meeting, or that in any other manner satisfies both parties and is
reflected in a written agreement, for a period of 60 (sixty)
calendar days (the “Negotiating Period”) from the
receipt of written notification regarding the Disagreement by
either of the parties from the other party, unless the parties
otherwise agree.
(b) If the Negotiating Period
has transpired without the parties having been able to reach a
satisfactory solution to the Disagreement they shall proceed, as
provided for in Section 15.2 below, to a spin-off of the assets of
the JV and its Subsidiaries (the
“Spin-off’).
Section 15.2 (a)
Either of the parties may initiate the Spin-off procedure
immediately after the expiry of the Negotiating Period by giving
notice (the “Spin-off Notice”) to the other party if no
solution, as provided for in Section 15.1 (b), has been reached.
The purpose of the Spin-off shall be the division by the
Independent Expert appointed in accordance with the procedure
established in Section 15.2 (b), of all the assets and liabilities
of the JV and its Subsidiaries (including the personnel) into two
separate blocks, each of them with equivalent value and content and
each capable of operating separately, and each of the blocks shall
be transferred by the JV in accordance with the Plan to newly
incorporated limited liability companies (the “Beneficiary
Companies”), in accordance with the spin-off process
established in articles 94 and related articles of the Law on
Limited Liability Companies, (the “LSRL”). The units of
said Beneficiary Companies shall be allocated to the partners of
the JV as compensation for the liquidation of the JV. Both parties
agree hereby, as required by article 252 of the Law on Stock
Companies (the “LSA”), to which the LSRL refers to,
that all the units of one of the Beneficiary Companies of the
Spin-off shall be allocated to the partners holding Class A Units,
and that all the units of the other Beneficiary Company of the
Spin-off shall be allocated to the other partners holding Class B
Units.
Section 15.2.(b)
Appointment of Independent Expert
(i) The parties shall by
agreement in writing appoint the Independent Expert from among the
internationally recognized auditing firms located in Madrid that do
not audit the
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JV or its Affiliates or either partner
or its Affiliates. The party sending the Spin-off Notice, (the
“Requesting Partner”) will indicate to the other party
the name of the Independent Expert that is proposed by him. Should
the parties agree on the Independent Expert, the Requesting Partner
shall send a communication to the Independent Expert in the form
attached as Annex 15.2(b)(i) . The Independent Expert so
notified will have 7 days to notify the Requesting Partner of its
acceptance in writing of its appointment. If the Independent Expert
fails to duly accept its appointment, then the parties shall upon
the expiry of the referred to 7 day period repeat the process
established in this paragraph.
(ii) If the parties do not
reach an agreement regarding the identity of the Independent Expert
within seven (7) days of the date of the Spin-off Notice, either of
the Partners, (the “Notifying Partner”), may send a
communication, in the form attached as Annex 15.2(b)(ii) ,
to the Dean of the Bar of Madrid (the “Dean”)
requesting him to appoint the Independent Expert from among the
internationally recognized auditing firms that do not audit the JV
or its Affiliates or either party or its Affiliates, located in
Madrid (the “Request ”). The Notifying Partner shall
simultaneously with the sending of the Request to the Dean notify
via notary the other party of the existence of the Request by
sending a copy of the Request.
(iii) The appointment of the
Independent Expert, which shall at the same time, be communicated
to both parties, shall be made by the Dean within 10 working days
of receipt of the Request made by the Notifying Partner. The
appointment by the Dean will indicate the tasks of the Independent
Expert as provided for in Annex 15.2(b)(iii) [a
transcription of this Article XV]. The Independent Expert shall
confirm acceptance of the appointment to both parties and the Dean
within 7 days of receipt of the appointment by the Dean.
(iv) Any other communications
related to the appointment of the Independent Expert shall be sent
by the Requesting or Notifying Partner, as applicable, to the other
party immediately upon sending or receiving any
communication.
Section 15.2.(c) The
task of the Independent Expert shall be to issue a report, (the
“Report”) containing a draft of the Spin-off plan and
directors’ report that shall be approved afterwards by the
Board of the JV, and as applicable the Subsidiaries, as the
Spin-off plan of the JV (the “Plan”) and
directors’ report (the “Directors’
Report”), required by article 94 of the LSRL. The Report
shall include, as a consequence, all that required by article 94 of
the LSRL and the related articles of the LSA, and particularly the
following:
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(i) |
a description and valuation of the assets and liabilities of
the JV and its Subsidiaries; |
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(ii) |
a division of
the assets and liabilities of the JV and its Subsidiaries in two
blocks of equivalent value and content, each capable of being
operated as a going concern, specifying the elements of assets and
liabilities making up each one of the blocks (including the
personnel that may be
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attributed to each block,
including those that are not working in cinemas) taking into
account that RE’s Employment Contract shall terminate
immediately upon assignment of the JV’s assets and
liabilities to the Beneficiary Companies;
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(iii) |
the valuation of each block; |
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(iv) |
the corporate procedure for creating the two blocks taking into
account (1) the nature of the business and operations of the JV,
(2) its corporate structure, (i.e. holding company owning one
hundred percent of one Subsidiary which owns the operating assets)
and (3) the purpose of the Spin-off; |
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(v) |
satisfaction of obligations to third parties; |
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(vi) |
payment by the JV of all costs and expenses related to the
intervention of the Dean, the Independent Expert and the
implementation of the Plan; |
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(vii) |
a draft of the Plan; |
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(viii) |
a draft of the Directors’ Report; and |
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(ix) |
any other information required by law. |
Apart from the above, the parties
expressly agree that all the industrial property rights contributed
to the JV by either of the parties or their Affiliates, and
including those associated with the name “Yelmo” and
“Regaliz” on the one hand and the name
“Cineplex” and the Spotlight Logo on the other, will be
allocated to the Beneficiary Companies of RE and Loews
respectively, since both have an equivalent value and nature. The
licence contract effective June 30, 1999 concerning the use of the
spotlight logo, Spanish graphic trademark number M2192245, and
Community number 000965053 both in Class 41 and the word Cineplex,
all licensed by Loews Theatre Management Corp. to the JV shall be
terminated without cost to either party, and any registered right
derived from such license shall prior to the Spin-off be assigned
to Loews.
The Report shall be prepared and
delivered simultaneously to the Board of Directors of the JV, Loews
and RE by the Independent Expert within 60 (sixty) calendar days of
its acceptance of its appointment.
Section 15.2.(d) Once
the Report of the Independent Expert is received, the parties will
have a maximum period of 7 (seven) calendar days from the day after
its receipt to agree to the allocation of the two blocks proposed
by it. If they cannot agree, either party may notify the
Independent Expert of their failure to agree and request that the
allocation of
12
said blocks shall be done according to a
random drawing before the Independent Expert. The drawing shall
take place within 5 (five) days of the sending of the notice
referred to in this paragraph on the date and at the place that the
Independent Expert communicates to the partners. The Independent
Expert shall establish the procedure for the drawing. The procedure
shall be transparent and communicated to the parties prior to the
drawing.
Section 15.2.(e) As a
result of the creation of the blocks, their allocation to the
Beneficiary Companies, and the allocation of the Beneficiary
Companies to the Partners according to 15.2(d) the parties as
partners to the JV shall take all steps necessary under Spanish law
to cause the JV and its Subsidiaries to effect the Spin-off in the
terms and conditions set forth in the Report of the Independent
Expert. Both parties hereby undertake to favourably vote for said
Spin-off resolution, cause the corresponding deed of spin-off to be
granted and cause the directors they have appointed to sign and
approve the Plan and the Directors’ Report required by the
LSRL based on the Report prepared by the Independent Expert,
deposit the Plan, have prepared the information for the partners,
publish the announcements, and register the Spin-off deeds, all as
required by law.
The call of the corresponding Board of
Directors and General Partners Meeting that shall approve,
respectively, the Plan, the Director’s Report, and the
Spin-off balance sheet if necessary, and the spin-off resolution
shall be made as provided for in the By-laws, immediately after
receiving the Report of the Independent Expert and the allocation
of the Beneficiary Companies to the Partners according to
15.2(d).
Section 15.2.(f) The
breach by one of the parties (the “Breaching Partner”)
of its obligation to appear at the Partners Meeting, vote in favor
of the Spin-off resolution on the terms herein agreed, of its
obligation to grant the corresponding deeds or, in general, to take
any other legally required action to carry out the Spin-off, shall
give the other party (the “Performing Partner”) the
right to seek in arbitration, according to the procedure provided
for in Article XIII of the Amended Agreement, the specific
performance of the Spin-off and what it implies, in the form and
according to the division of assets and liabilities made by the
Independent Expert according to what is established in the
preceding sections. The parties hereby expressly undertake to
comply with the arbitration award issued by the arbitrators hearing
any such dispute.
The fees incurred from the arbitration
proceeding mentioned in the above paragraph shall be paid by the
Breaching Partner, unless, taking into the account the
circumstances of the case, the arbitration tribunal decides
otherwise.
Section 15.2.(g) If,
once the arbitration award is issued, its execution is impossible
due to causes attributable to one of the parties, even by virtue of
the substitution of will foreseen in articles 705 and related of
the Civil Procedure Act, the party that had made impossible the
execution of the arbitration award shall give to the other party as
equivalent compliance, 1% of the units that it holds in the
JV.
13
Section 15.3
Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality; Ordinary Course. The parties
agree hereby that, once the spin-off proceeding set-forth in the
preceding sections of this Clause is initiated, if applicable, each
party will refrain from proposing and/or promoting in any manner,
directly or indirectly, offers to hire the employees assigned to
the Beneficiary Company allocated to the other party, for a period
of three years from the date of the acceptance of appointment by
the Independent Expert pursuant to Section 15.2 (b) iii. Likewise
both parties undertake to keep confidentially for the same three
year period the knowledge that each party and the employees of the
Beneficiary Companies have of the other Beneficiary
Company.
Section 15.4
Indemnity. If a claim is made against a party or its
Affiliates, including a Beneficiary Company (the “First
Party”), for failure of the other party’s Beneficiary
Company or its Affiliates (the “Second Party”) to
perform an obligation assumed as a result of the Spin-off, the
parties agree that the Second Party and its Affiliates, successors
and assigns shall defend, hold harmless and indemnify the First
Party and its Affiliates, for any liability arising from such a
claim.
Section 15.5 Liabilities
of the JV . When a liability of the JV has not been
attributed to either of the Beneficiary Companies in the Plan and
the Plan cannot be clearly interpreted as establishing to which
Beneficiary Company the liability should be assigned, the
Beneficiary Companies shall be jointly and severally liable for
this liability.
SEVENTH.- BY-LAWS.
The parties agree where provided for
herein to adapt the current By-laws of the JV and its Subsidiaries
to that agreed to in this Amendment. Notwithstanding, if the
Mercantile Registry does not accept the registration of the By-laws
that result from said adaptation, the parties agree that, in the
case of conflict between the By-laws and this Amendment, the latter
shall prevail over the former concerning the relation between the
parties.
EIGHTH.-NOTICES
The parties hereby substitute the
addresses and persons designated in Section 13.2 of the Agreement
for those listed below:
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TO THE JOINT VENTURE
COMPANY
YELMO CINEPLEX,
S.L.
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TO
LOEWS CINEPLEX INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, Inc. |
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Princesa 31
28008 Madrid
Attn. Managing
Director
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711 Fifth Avenue, 12 th
Floor
New York, NY 10022
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Fax: 91 548 29 40
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Attn.
President and Chief Executive Officer. |
14
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With a copy to:
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Fax: 00 1
646 521 63 75 |
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BUFETE RAMON HERMOSILLA
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With a
copy at the same address to: |
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Claudio Coeilo 32
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Madrid
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Attn.
Chief Financial Officer |
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Attn. Mr. Ramón
Hermosilla
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Fax: 34-91-435-63-66
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Fax: 00 1
646 521 65 12 |
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TO MR. RICARDO EVOLE
MARTTL
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With a
copy at the same address to: |
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Yelmo Cineplex, S.L.
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Princesa 31
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Attn.
Corporate Counsel |
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28008 Madrid
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Fax: 91 548 29 40
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Fax: 00 1
646 521 62 67 |
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With a copy to:
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BUFETE RAMON
HERMOSILLA
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Claudio Coeilo 32
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Madrid
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Attn. Mr. Ramón
Hermosilla
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Fax: 34-91-435-63-66
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15
NINETH.- SCOPE OF THE
NOVATION
The parties agree that except for the
amendments introduced in this Amendment, the Agreement shall
continue in force regarding all that has not been altered
hereby.
And in proof of agreement they sign this
document in Madrid and New York as of July 7, 2003.
|
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| /s/ T RAVIS R
EID |
| Mr. Travis Reid in the name and on behalf
of |
| LOEWS
CINEPLEX INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. |
|
| /s/ R ICARDO E
VOLE M
ARTIL |
| Mr. RICARDO EVOLE MARTIL |
16
JOINT VENTURE
AGREEMENT
by and
among
LTM SPANISH HOLDINGS,
INC.
and
RICARDO EVOLE
MARTIL
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
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1 |
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Section 1.1.
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Definitions
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1 |
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ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION OF THE
COMPANY
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2 |
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Section 2.1.
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Organizational Documents: Member
Resolutions
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2 |
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Section 2.2.
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Purpose
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2 |
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ARTICLE III INITIAL CAPITAL OF THE
COMPANY
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2 |
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Section 3.1.
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Membership Interests
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2 |
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ARTICLE IV CLOSING AND RELATED
PROVISIONS
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3 |
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Section 4.1.
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Pre-Closing Matters
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3 |
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Section 4.2.
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Closing
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3 |
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Section 4.3.
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Subsequent LTM to Funding
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3 |
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Section 4.4.
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Closing Date Contribution Amount
Adjustment
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4 |
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Section 4.5.
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Post-Closing Contribution Amount
Adjustment
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4 |
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Section 4.6.
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Independent Auditors
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5 |
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Section 4.7.
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Repayment of Overfunding
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5 |
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Section 4.8.
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Failure of LTM to Fund
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6 |
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Section 4.9.
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Failure of RE to Purchase
Minorities
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7 |
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ARTICLE V EXCLUDED ASSETS
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8 |
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Section 5.1.
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Excluded Assets
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8 |
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ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
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8 |
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ARTICLE VII CORPORATE GOVERNANCE;
CERTAIN CORPORATE ACTIONS
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8 |
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Section 7.1.
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Voting of Membership
Interests
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8 |
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Section 7.2.
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Composition of the Board of
Directors
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8 |
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Section 7.3.
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Managing Director and Other
Executives
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9 |
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Section 7.4.
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Approval of Certain Matters
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10 |
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ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER AND
SALE
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11 |
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Section 8.1.
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Transfer Restrictions
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11 |
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Section 8.2.
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Consent
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12 |
- -
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Section 8.3.
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First Refusal
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12 |
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ARTICLE IX COVENANTS OF RE
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14 |
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Section 9.1.
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Cooperation by RE
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14 |
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Section 9.2.
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Conduct of Business
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14 |
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Section 9.3.
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Access
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15 |
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Section 9.4.
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Required Notices
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16 |
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Section 9.5.
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Certain Tax Months
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16 |
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Section 9.6.
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Use of Certain Names
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16 |
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ARTICLE X CERTAIN AGREEMENTS
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16 |
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Section 10.1.
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Non-Competition
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16 |
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Section 10.2.
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Access to Company
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17 |
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Section 10.3.
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Financial Reporting
Obligations
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17 |
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Section 10.4.
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Conduct of Business
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18 |
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ARTICLE XI CONDITIONS TO CLOSING AND
TERMINATION
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18 |
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Section 11.1.
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Conditions to Obligations of LTM and the
Company
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18 |
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Section 11.2.
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Conditions to Obligations of
RE
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19 |
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Section 11.3.
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Termination
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20 |
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ARTICLE XII INDEMNIFICATION
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20 |
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Section 12.1.
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Survival
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20 |
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Section 12.2.
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Losses
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21 |
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Section 12.3.
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Indemnification by RE
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21 |
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Section 12.4.
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Indemnification by LTM
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21 |
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Section 12.5.
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Indemnification by the
Company
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22 |
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Section 12.6.
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Claims
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22 |
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ARTICLE XIII GENERAL
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23 |
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Section 13.1.
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Arbitration
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23 |
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Section 13.2.
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Notices
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24 |
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Section 13.3.
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Assignment: Binding Effect;
Benefit
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25 |
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Section 13.4.
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Confidentiality
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26 |
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Section 13.5.
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Entire Agreement
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26 |
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Section 13.6.
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Amendment
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26 |
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Section 13.7.
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Counterparts
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26 |
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Section 13.8.
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Headings
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27 |
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Section 13.9.
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Interpretation
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27 |
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Section 13.10.
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Incorporation of Exhibits and
Schedules
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27 |
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Section 13.11.
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Severability
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27 |
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Section 13.12.
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Enforcement of Agreement
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27 |
- -
JOINT VENTURE
AGREEMENT
JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT,
dated as of April 27, 1998 (this “ Agreement ”),
by and among LTM Spanish Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“ LTM ”) and Ricardo Evole Martil (“
RE ”) DNI n° 2.450.193-A.
BACKGROUND
(1) LTM and RE desire to
operate a motion picture exhibition business in Spain through LTM
Spain S.L., a company in formation (the “ Company
”), by owning and operating the Yelmo Group Companies and
constructing new state-of-the-art multiplex theaters of high
quality in key locations.
(2) LTM and RE intend to
acquire Membership Interests in the Company so that immediately
after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement to occur at the Closing and subject to the terms of this
Agreement, each of LTM and RE shall own Membership Interests in the
Company which entitle each of LTM and RE to 50% of the vote and to
receive 50% of the profits and losses of the Company.
(3) The parties intend that
the Company will own Yelmo Films S.A. and all of its Subsidiaries,
the names of which are set forth in Schedule X hereto
.
Accordingly, for good and
valuable consideration the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1.
Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein are defined in
Appendix A .
-1
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION OF THE
COMPANY
Section 2.1.
Organizational Documents: Member Resolutions . (a) The
parties hereto agree that the Company’s initial Estatutos
shall be as set forth in Exhibit 2.1 attached to this
Agreement. In the event that the Mercantile Registry where the
Company is registered considers that any portion of the Estatutos
should be changed from the form contained in Exhibit 2.1 ,
the parties will amend the Estatutos so as to as closely as
possible reflect the agreements set forth herein. Notwithstanding
anything herein or in the Estatutos to the contrary, to the extent
that any provision of the Estatutos conflicts with, or otherwise is
inconsistent with, any provision of this Agreement with respect to
any matter, or this Agreement covers any matter that is not covered
in the Estatutos, the provisions of this Agreement with respect to
such matter shall control and shall be binding upon each of the
parties hereto
(b) The Members shall call
such Members’ meetings and shall cause the Company to call
such directors and Members’ meetings as are reasonably
required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement to occur at Closing.
Section 2.2. Purpose .
The purpose of the Company will be to develop and operate, either
itself or through its Subsidiaries, a motion picture exhibition
business (which business includes the concessions business
associated with motion picture exhibition) in Spain in accordance
with the Business Plan and otherwise as determined by the
Members.
ARTICLE III
INITIAL CAPITAL OF THE
COMPANY
Section 3.1. Membership
Interests . Membership Interests in the Company shall be
divided into Class A Unit
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