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GOVERNANCE AND SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

NonSolicitation Agreement

GOVERNANCE AND SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT | Document Parties: CENTRAL EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION CORP | LION/RALLY CAYMAN 7 LP | Stuarts Corporate Services Ltd You are currently viewing:
This NonSolicitation Agreement involves

CENTRAL EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION CORP | LION/RALLY CAYMAN 7 LP | Stuarts Corporate Services Ltd

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Title: GOVERNANCE AND SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
Date: 4/30/2009
Industry: Beverages (Alcoholic)     Law Firm: Weil Gotshal     Sector: Consumer/Non-Cyclical

GOVERNANCE AND SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT, Parties: central european distribution corp , lion/rally cayman 7 lp , stuarts corporate services ltd
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Exhibit 10.4

[•] 2009

GOVERNANCE AND SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

between

LION/RALLY CAYMAN 8

and

LION/RALLY CAYMAN 7 L.P.

and

LION/RALLY CAYMAN 4

and

LION/RALLY CAYMAN 5

and

[LION/RALLY CAYMAN 6]

and

CENTRAL EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION

W EIL , G OTSHAL  & M ANGES

One South Place London EC2M 2WG

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7903 1000 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7903 0990

www.weil.com


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

  

 

  

Page

1

  

DEFINITIONS

  

1

2

  

CONTROL OF THE COMPANY

  

11

3

  

ANTITRUST APPROVAL

  

15

4

  

RESTRICTIONS ON DEALINGS WITH SECURITIES

  

17

5

  

COMPLETION OF TRANSFERS

  

17

6

  

CONDUCT OF THE COMPANY

  

18

7

  

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  

18

8

  

MONITORING FEES

  

20

9

  

NON-SOLICITATION

  

20

10

  

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

  

21

11

  

SELLERS’ PUT OPTION

  

21

12

  

DEED OF ADHERENCE

  

21

13

  

TERMINATION

  

21

14

  

TAX AND VCOC

  

22

15

  

ASSIGNMENT AND SUB-CONTRACTING

  

24

16

  

EXCLUSION OF AGENCY, PARTNERSHIP OR JOINT VENTURE

  

24

17

  

FURTHER ASSURANCE, CONFLICT AND COMPLIANCE WITH ARTICLES, ANTI-CORRUPTION PROVISIONS

  

24

18

  

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

  

25

19

  

VARIATION

  

25

20

  

WAIVER

  

26

21

  

ILLEGALITY AND SEVERANCE

  

26

22

  

RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES AND NO RECOURSE

  

26

23

  

COUNTERPARTS

  

27

24

  

NOTICES

  

27

25

  

JURISDICTION

  

28

26

  

GOVERNING LAW

  

29

SCHEDULE 1 DEED OF ADHERENCE

  

30

SCHEDULE 2 CEDC MINORITY RIGHTS

  

32

SCHEDULE 3 JV PROVISIONS

  

38

SCHEDULE 4 CAYMAN 5 MINORITY PROVISIONS

  

42

SCHEDULE 5 DEFAULT GOVERNANCE PROVISIONS

  

46

SCHEDULE 6 US “CHECK THE BOX” ELECTIONS

  

54

 

i


THIS AGREEMENT is made by Deed on [ ] 2009 between the following parties

 

(1)

LION/RALLY CAYMAN 8 , a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands whose registered office is at c/o Stuarts Corporate Services Ltd, PO Box 2510, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands (the “ General Partner ”);

 

(2)

[LION/RALLY CAYMAN 7 L.P.] , a Cayman Exempted Limited Partnership whose principal place of business is at c/o Stuarts Corporate Services Ltd, PO Box 2510, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands (“ Cayman 7 ”), acting through its general partner, the General Partner;

 

(3)

LION/RALLY CAYMAN 4 , a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands whose registered office is at c/o Stuarts Corporate Services Ltd, PO Box 2510, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands (“ Cayman 4 ”);

 

(4)

LION/RALLY CAYMAN 5 , a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands whose registered office is at c/o Stuarts Corporate Services Ltd, PO Box 2510, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands (“ Cayman 5 ”);

 

(5)

[ LION/RALLY CAYMAN 6 ], a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands whose registered office is at c/o Stuarts Corporate Services Ltd, PO Box 2510, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands (the “ Company ”); and

 

(6)

CENTRAL EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION , a Delaware Corporation, the common stock of which is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CEDC” and the principal executive office of which is located in Warsaw, Poland at ul. Bobrowiecka 6, 02-728 Warszawa (“ CEDC ”).

WHEREAS

 

(A)

The Company was incorporated on [ ] 2009 under the laws of the Cayman Islands as a private limited liability company.

 

(B)

Since its incorporation, the Company has not traded or undertaken any business activities of any sort, has not given any security or incurred any indebtedness, and no Shareholder nor Board resolutions of the Company have been passed, save as required pursuant to the Transaction Documents.

 

(C)

At the date of this Agreement, Cayman 4 and Cayman 7 hold Ordinary Shares, and Cayman 5 holds Preference Shares.

 

(D)

Under the terms of the Option Agreement, Cayman 7 has been granted options to acquire the Ordinary Shares and Preference Shares held by the Lion Holdcos.

 

(E)

The General Partner, Cayman 7, Cayman 4, Cayman 5, CEDC, and the Company have agreed to make provision for the management and administration of the affairs of the Company on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows

 

1

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1

In this Agreement (including the recitals), except where the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

 

€ Initial Cash Amount

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

 

1


$ Initial Cash Amount

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Affiliate

  

with respect to any Person, another Person Controlled by such first Person, Controlling such first Person or under the same Control as such first Person, and “ Affiliated ” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing;

Antitrust Approval

  

has the meaning given in Clause 3.1;

Approved Jurisdictions

  

The federal or state courts in the State of New York, the federal or state courts in the State of Delaware, the Cayman Islands and Poland;

Articles

  

the articles of association of the Company in the agreed form, as the same may be amended or replaced by any successor articles of association from time to time;

Board

  

the board of Directors of the Company as constituted from time to time;

Budget

  

the budget and business plan of the Group (including, where relevant, each member of the Group and any sub-set of the Group) for any given financial year which shall include, without limitation:

  

(i)

  

a profit and loss statement;

  

(ii)

  

a balance sheet;

  

(iii)  

  

a cash flow statement; and

  

(iv)   

  

any   material working papers and analyses underlying or supporting any of the above;

Business Day

  

any day other than a Saturday or Sunday on which banks are normally open for general banking business in London, New York, Warsaw, and the Cayman Islands;

Capital Increase

  

any change in the authorised or issued share capital of a Person including the creation, allotment, issue, repayment or redemption or agreement to create, allot, issue, repay or redeem any of its share capital or other securities convertible into shares, or grant or agree to grant any option in respect thereto and shall include shareholder debt when issued in connection with any of the foregoing;

Cayman 2

  

Lion/Rally Cayman 2, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands having its registered office at c/o Stuarts Corporate Services Ltd, PO Box 2510, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands;

Cayman 5 Minority Provisions

  

the provisions set out in Schedule 4;

Cayman 7 Call Option Completion Date

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

 

2


Cayman 7 Pledge

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Cayman 7 Share

  

the proportion of Ordinary Shares held by Cayman 7 as a percentage. of all the Ordinary Shares than in issue, multiplied by the percentage ownership of the Company in Lux 1, in each case on the relevant date;

CEDC Common Stock

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

CEDC Control Effective Date

  

the date falling 30 days after the later of: (i) the date upon which the aggregate amount of (a) all $ Initial Cash Amounts (excluding the effect of any adjustments pursuant to Clause 8.2 of the Option Agreement) and (b) all € Initial Cash Amounts multiplied by the Exchange Rate, in each case paid to the Lion Holdcos by Cayman 7 in cash pursuant to the Option Agreement, is equal to or exceeds $345 million; and (ii) the CEDC Control Notice Date;

CEDC Control Notice

  

written notice from CEDC to Cayman 5 stating that the provisions of Clause 2.1.3 should apply;

CEDC Control Notice Date

  

the date on which Cayman 5 receives or is deemed to have received a validly served CEDC Control Notice;

CEDC Director

  

each of those Persons appointed as a CEDC Director for the purposes of Schedule 3;

CEDC Minority Provisions

  

the provisions set out in Schedule 2;

Commitment Letter

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Companies Law

  

Companies Law (as revised) of the Cayman Islands;

Competition Authority

  

any relevant government, governmental, national, supranational, competition or antitrust body or other authority, in any jurisdiction, which is responsible for applying merger control or other competition or antitrust legislation in such jurisdictions;

Condition Precedent

  

has the meaning given in Clause 2.1.7;

Control

  

(including, with their correlative meanings, “ Controlled by ”, “ Controlling ” and “ under common Control with ”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise) of any other Person, provided that, in any event, any Person who owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the securities having ordinary voting power or otherwise having the power to elect a majority of the directors or other governing body of a corporation or having a majority of the partnership or other ownership interests of any other Person (other than as a limited partner of such other Person) will be deemed to control such corporation or other Person, and for the avoidance of doubt, a limited partnership is Controlled by its general partner;

 

3


Controlling Party

 

the Person designated as such pursuant to the provisions of Clause 2;

Controlling Party Provisions

 

the right of the Controlling Party, subject in all cases to the CEDC Minority Provisions or the Cayman 5 Minority Provisions, as the case may be:

 

(i)

  

to appoint or remove any Director to and from the Board;

 

(ii)

  

to direct the management policies of the Group; and

 

(iii)

  

to direct how the votes cast by Ordinary Shareholders at any meetings of the Company are cast pursuant to Clause 2.7,

 

and notwithstanding the foregoing, where the provisions of Clause 2.1.5 apply, the rights of the Controlling Party at (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall not be subject to the CEDC Minority Provisions, except paragraph 9(a) of Schedule 2 which shall apply at all times;

Deed of Adherence

 

a deed of adherence to this Agreement in the agreed form attached as Schedule 1;

Default Control Date

 

the earlier of (i) an Enforcement Event; and (ii) the Holdco Call Option Exercise Date;

Default Governance Provisions

 

the provisions set out in Schedule 5;

Director

 

any director of the Company from time to time;

Distress Situation

 

any situation in which a member of the Group is reasonably likely to be unable to meet (or would, unless given financial assistance, be reasonably likely to be unable to meet) its financial liabilities or obligations as they fall due, including without limitation, situations in which the Group member stops or suspends payments of its debts, is unable to pay its debts or meet its obligations as they fall due, or proposes or enters into any negotiations for or in connection with the rescheduling, restructuring or readjustment of any Indebtedness by reason of, or with a view to avoiding, financial difficulties;

Encumbrance

 

any mortgage, charge (fixed or floating), pledge, lien, hypothecation, option, right of set off, security trust, assignment by way of security, reservation of title, option, restriction, right of first refusal, right of pre-emption, third party right or interest, or any other encumbrance or security interest whatsoever created or arising or any other agreement or arrangement (including any sale and leaseback transaction) entered into for the purposes of conferring security or having similar effect and any agreement to enter into, create or establish any of the foregoing;

Enforcement Event

 

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

 

4


Event of Default

 

any of the following:

 

(i)

  

a breach of any of the Undertakings, except where Minority Consent was required in order to enable the Controlling Party to comply with such undertaking and having been sought such consent was not given;

 

(ii)

  

the occurrence of a Finance Documents Event of Default; and

 

(iii)

  

taking any action requiring Minority Consent in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 2 or Schedule 4 as the case may be or taking any action in relation to a Board Consent Matter in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3, in any such case, without having obtained the requisite consent.

Exit

 

has the meaning given in Clause 3.4;

Exchange Rate

 

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Fair Market Value

 

the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller at arm’s length in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board;

Final Cayman 7 Call Option Completion Date

 

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Final Discharge Date

 

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Finance Documents

 

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Finance Documents Event of Default

 

an event of default (however described) under any of the Finance Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, any event or circumstance which does not constitute an event of default under the relevant Finance Document until the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of a determination or any combination of the foregoing shall not constitute a Finance Documents Event of Default until the expiry of such grace period, the giving of such notice and/or the making of such determination;

First Earnout Amount

 

has the meaning given in the Original Sale Agreement;

Fourth Cayman 7 Call Option Completion Date

 

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Fourth Cayman 7 Call Option Exercise Date

 

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Governance Provisions

 

the Controlling Party Provisions, the JV Provisions, the CEDC Minority Provisions, the Cayman 5 Minority Provisions and the Default Governance Provisions and any provision of this Agreement designating any Party as the Controlling Party or the Minority Party;

Group

 

the Company and its Subsidiaries from time to time and “ member of the Group ” and “ Group Company ” shall be construed accordingly;

 

5


  

for the avoidance of doubt, no Shareholder nor any of their respective Affiliates (other than the Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company) shall be a member of the Group for the purposes of this Agreement;

Holdco Call Option Exercise Date

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Holdco Pledges

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Holdco Put Option

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Holding Company

  

has the meaning given in the definition of “ Subsidiary ”;

Indebtedness

  

indebtedness for borrowed money or any agreement in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money;

JV Effective Date

  

the date falling 10 days after the later of: (i) the date upon which the aggregate amount of (a) all $ Initial Cash Amounts (excluding the effect of any adjustments pursuant to Clause 8.2 of the Option Agreement) and (b) all € Initial Cash Amounts multiplied by the Exchange Rate, in each case paid to the Lion Holdcos by Cayman 7 in cash pursuant to the Option Agreement, is equal to or exceeds $195 million; and (ii) the JV Notice Date;

JV Notice

  

written notice from CEDC to Cayman 5 stating that the provisions of Clause 2.1.2 should apply;

JV Notice Date

  

the date on which Cayman 5 receives or is deemed to have received a validly served JV Notice;

JV Provisions

  

the provisions set out in Schedule 3;

Letter of Undertaking

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Leverage EBITDA

  

has the meaning given to “Lux 1 Group EBITDA” in the Option Agreement;

Leverage Indebtedness

  

has the meaning given to “Indebtedness” in the Option Agreement;

Leverage Ratio

  

Normalised Leverage Indebtedness divided by Leverage EBITDA for the most recently completed financial year;

Limited Partnership Agreement

  

shall have the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Lion Capital

  

Lion Capital LLP, an English limited liability partnership whose registered office is at 21 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HF;

Lion Capital Management Entity

  

any of Lion Capital, Lion Capital General Partner LLP, Lion Capital General Partner II LLP, Lion Capital Carry LP, Lion Capital Carry II LP, Lion/Latimer GP II (Guernsey) Limited, Lion/Rally Cayman 8 and Lion/Rally Cayman 9;

Lion Director

  

each of those Persons appointed as a Lion Director for the purposes of Schedule 3;

 

6


Lion Holdcos

  

Cayman 4 and Cayman 5;

Lion Party ” or “ Lion Parties

  

the Lion Holdcos and, upon completion of any Transfer by the Lion Holdcos or a Permitted Transferee thereof to a Permitted Transferee thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such Permitted Transferee;

Lux 1

  

Lion/Rally Lux 1, company number B139.056, a société anonyme incorporated in Luxembourg with registered offices at 13-15, avenue de la Liberté, L-M31 Luxembourg;

Lux 3

  

Lion/Rally Lux 3, company number B139.054, a société à responsibilité limitée incorporated in Luxembourg with registered offices at 13-15 Avenue de la Liberté, L-M31 Luxembourg;

Lux 1 Shareholders Agreement

  

the shareholders agreement dated 9 July 2008 between Lion/Rally Cayman 2, the Initial Seller Parties (as defined therein), Lux 1 and Lion Capital (Guernsey) Limited, as may be amended from time to time;

Minority Consent

  

for the purposes of Schedule 2, the consent in writing of CEDC and for the purposes of Schedule 4, the consent in writing of Cayman 5;

Minority Party

  

the Person designated as such pursuant to the provisions of Clause 2;

M&O Fee

  

a fee payable to Lion Capital (or an Affiliate thereof) in relation to monitoring, oversight and management of the interests of the Lion Holdcos in the Group, or to CEDC in respect of the services of its representatives on the Board and/or the Operating Board;

Net Working Capital Facilities

  

the Revolving Facility and any other credit facilities entered into and utilised principally for the purpose of financing the Group’s working capital requirements;

Normalised Leverage Indebtedness

  

Leverage Indebtedness; plus Normalised Working Capital; minus Working Capital, in each case on the relevant date;

Normalised Working Capital

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Note Purchase and Share Subscription Agreement

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Operating Board

  

the board of directors of Russian Alcohol Group or such other Group Company as the Parties (acting reasonably) may agree from time to time;

Option Agreement

  

the Option Agreement dated on or around the date of this Agreement relating to Shares in the Company and made between Cayman 4, Cayman 5, Cayman 7, and CEDC;

Original Sale Agreement

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

 

7


Ordinary Shareholder

 

a holder of Ordinary Shares;

Ordinary Shares

 

the A Ordinary Shares with a nominal value of $1 each in the capital of the Company;

Original Advisory Agreements

 

(i) the monitoring and oversight agreement concerning the Russian Alcohol Group dated 8 July 2008 made between (1) Pasalba Limited and (2) Lion Capital; and (ii) the corporate finance advisory agreement concerning the Russian Alcohol Group dated 8 July 2008 made between (1) Pasalba Limited and (2) Lion Capital;

Parties

 

the parties to this Agreement from time to time including successors in title, permitted assignees and Permitted Transferees, provided that any such Person first executes a Deed of Adherence;

Permitted Transferee

 

(i)

  

in respect of a Lion Party:

 

  

(A)

  

any Lion Capital Management Entity; or

 

  

(B)

  

any Affiliate of any Lion Capital Management Entity;

 

(ii)

  

in respect of any other Shareholder, any Affiliate of such Shareholder;

Person

 

any natural person, corporation, general partnership, simple partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, other business organisation, trust, union, association or governmental authority, whether incorporated or unincorporated; a reference to any Person shall include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns under any agreement, instrument, contract or other document;

Pledges

 

the Cayman 7 Pledge and the Holdco Pledges;

Preference Shares

 

the preference shares with a nominal value of $1 each in the capital of the Company;

Preferred Shareholder

 

a holder of Preference Shares;

Prohibited Person

 

(i)

  

any Person appearing on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the United States Department of the Treasury as set out on the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control at the following URL:

 

  

http:/www.treasury.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/Index.html; or

 

(ii)

  

any other Person with whom a transaction is prohibited by Executive Order 13224, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act or the foreign asset control regulations of the United States Treasury Department, in each case as amended from time to time; or

 

(iii)

  

any other Person whom Cayman 5 from time to time (acting reasonably) considers would create a material reputational risk for the Company or any of its Affiliates or any co-investors in the Company or its respective Affiliates;

 

8


Registration Rights Agreement

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Related Party Transaction

  

any transaction between a member of the Group and the Controlling Party (from time to time) or any Affiliate thereof (other than a member of the Group) which creates an actual or potential liability of the Group in favour of such Controlling Party (or any Affiliate thereof), or vice versa;

Revolving Facility

  

has the meaning given in the Senior Facilities Agreement;

Russian Alcohol Group

  

Joint Stock Company “Russian Alcohol Group”, a company incorporated in Russia;

Second Earnout Amount

  

has the meaning given in the Original Sale Agreement;

Security Impairment Event

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Sellers’ Put Option

  

the Put Option (as defined in the Lux 1 Shareholders Agreement);

Senior Facilities Agreement

  

the agreement between among others Pasalba Limited (as borrower) and Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich AG (as lender), dated 10 July 2008 as amended from time to time;

Senior Management

  

the Chairman; the Chief Executive Officer; the Chief Operating Officer; the Chief Financial Officer; the Commercial/Sales Director; the Marketing Director; and the Human Resources Director, in each case of the group of companies of which Pasalba Limited is the parent company;

Shareholders

  

collectively, Cayman 7 and the Lion Parties, and each other Person to which Shares are Transferred or issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and which becomes a party to this Agreement by executing a Deed of Adherence, and “ Shareholder ” means any of them;

Shares

  

the Ordinary Shares and the Preference Shares and any and all shares and interests into which these shares may be exchanged or converted by change of legal form, merger or otherwise, or which may be issued by capital increase of the Company;

Specified Event

  

(i)

  

an event of default (however described) or a mandatory prepayment obligation under any of the Finance Documents or any event or circumstance which would (with the expiry of a grace period or the giving of notice, the making of a determination or any combination of the foregoing) give rise to an event of default or a mandatory prepayment obligation, in each case to the extent that such Finance Document remains in effect or the borrowings thereunder remain undischarged;

  

(ii)

  

an obligation on Pasalba Limited to make any payment under Sections 2.2.2.12 or 2.2.2.13 of the Original Sale Agreement; or

 

9


  

(iii)

  

the Vendor Loan Notes becoming repayable in accordance with their terms;

Subsidiary

  

  

in relation to any Person (a “ Holding Company ”), any other Person directly or indirectly Controlled by that Holding Company;

Third Cayman 7 Call Option

  

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement;

Transaction Documents

  

  

this Agreement, the Pledges, the Commitment Letter, the Letter of Undertaking, the Warrant Instruments, the Note Purchase Agreement and Share Subscription Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement , the Limited Partnership Agreement and the Option Agreement, and “ Transaction Document ” means any of them;

Transfer

  

  

has the meaning given in Clause 4;

Undertakings

  

  

the undertakings set out in Clause 2.1.8 given by the Controlling Party from time to time;

Vendor Loan Notes

  

  

the loan notes issued pursuant to an instrument dated 9 July 2008 made by Lion/Rally Lux 2 S.à r.l and Lion/Rally Lux 3 S.à r.l constituting $35,500,000 Series A Unsecured Subordinated Loan Notes and Series B Unsecured Subordinated Loan Notes (and including, for the avoidance of doubt, any additional such notes issued pursuant to the terms of that instrument);

Warrant Instruments

  

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement; and

Working Capital

  

  

has the meaning given in the Option Agreement.

 

1.2

In this Agreement, save where the context otherwise requires:

 

 

1.2.1

references to a document in the “ agreed form ” are to that document in the form agreed to and initialled for the purposes of identification by or on behalf of the Parties;

 

 

1.2.2

references to a Clause or Schedule are to a Clause or Schedule of this Agreement and references to this Agreement include the Schedules;

 

 

1.2.3

the headings in this Agreement do not affect its construction or interpretation;

 

 

1.2.4

a reference to a document is a reference to that document as amended or modified from time to time in writing by the mutual consent of the parties;

 

 

1.2.5

a reference to a specific Transaction Document is a reference to that document as amended, varied, novated, supplemented or replaced from time to time (otherwise than in breach of the provisions of this Agreement);

 

 

1.2.6

references to “ $ ” or “ USD ” are references to the lawful currency of the time being of the United States of America;

 

10


 

1.2.7

references to “ ” or “ Euro ” are references to the single currency and the legal means of payment in the territory of the European Monetary Union; and

 

 

1.2.8

the singular includes the plural and vice versa and any gender includes any other gender.

 

1.3

Unless expressly provided to the contrary, covenants and undertakings in this Agreement which are given by more than one Party are deemed to have been given severally and not jointly or jointly and severally, provided that covenants and undertakings of the Lion Parties are unless expressly provided to the contrary given on a joint and several basis.

 

1.4

Any English legal term for any action, remedy, method of judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official or any legal concept or thing shall in respect of any jurisdiction other than England be deemed to include what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the English legal term and a reference to any English statute shall be construed so as to include equivalent or analogous laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

1.5

Save where otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, references to any approval or consent to be given, or any action to be taken, by the Lion Parties shall mean the approval or consent given, or action taken, by or on behalf of those Lion Parties holding shares representing more than 50 per cent. of the aggregate voting rights held by all of the Lion Parties.

 

1.6

A procuring obligation, where used in the context of the Shareholders (or any one or more of them) means that each relevant Shareholder undertakes to exercise any and all powers and rights vested in him from time to time in his capacity as a Shareholder and any influence over any Director which was appointed following nomination by that Shareholder, or otherwise in or of the Company or any other member of the Group or other entity (as relevant), to ensure compliance with that obligation so far as he is (legally) able to do so.

 

1.7

Where under this Agreement any provisions are stated to apply in relation to the operation, governance and/or control of the Company (including, without limitation, the Governance Provisions and the provisions of Clause 7), the Company (in so far as it is lawfully able to do so) and the Shareholders shall procure that such provisions apply.

 

2

CONTROL OF THE COMPANY

 

2.1

The parties agree that the Company shall be controlled as follows:

 

 

2.1.1

Lion Control

From the date of this Agreement and subject to Clause 2.7, Cayman 5 shall be the Controlling Party and the Controlling Party Provisions shall apply, CEDC shall be the Minority Party and the CEDC Minority Provisions shall apply, and no other Governance Provisions shall apply.

 

 

2.1.2

JV Control

Subject to the Condition Precedent having been satisfied, from the JV Effective Date, the JV Provisions shall apply, and no other Governance Provisions shall apply.

 

 

2.1.3

CEDC Control

Subject to the Condition Precedent having been satisfied, from the CEDC Control Effective Date, CEDC shall be the Controlling Party and the Controlling Party

 

11


Provisions shall apply, Cayman 5 shall be the Minority Party and the Cayman 5 Minority Provisions shall apply, and no other Governance Provisions shall apply.

 

 

2.1.4

Events of Default

During the period from the date of this Agreement until the Default Control Date, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (and, in the case of items (i) and (iii) of the definition of such term, if capable of remedy which has not been remedied within 45 days of the date of occurrence):

 

 

(a)

if at the time of the Event of Default the Controlling Party is Cayman 5, CEDC shall have the right, subject to the Condition Precedent having been satisfied, to require that the JV Provisions shall apply by serving a JV Notice (in which event no other Governance Provisions shall apply); or

 

 

(b)

if at the time of the Event of Default the JV Provisions apply, Cayman 5 shall immediately become the Controlling Party and the Controlling Party Provisions shall apply, CEDC shall become the Minority Party and the CEDC Minority Provisions shall apply, and neither the Cayman 5 Minority Provisions nor the JV Provisions shall apply, and CEDC shall not be entitled to become the Controlling Party at any time, in any circumstances, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary; or

 

 

(c)

if at the time of the Event of Default the Controlling Party is CEDC, Cayman 5 shall immediately become the Controlling Party and the Controlling Party Provisions shall apply, CEDC shall become the Minority Party and the CEDC Minority Provisions shall apply, and neither the Cayman 5 Minority Provisions nor the JV Provisions shall apply, and CEDC shall not be entitled to become the Controlling Party at any time, in any circumstances, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary.

 

 

2.1.5

CEDC insolvency

If, at any time:

 

 

(a)

CEDC is unable or admits inability to pay its material debts as they fall due or declared to be unable to pay its debts under applicable law;

 

 

(b)

a moratorium is declared in respect of any material Indebtedness of CEDC; or

 

 

(c)

any legal proceedings are taken in relation to:

 

 

(i)

the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any Indebtedness, winding up, dissolution, or administration (by way of insolvent scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of CEDC;

 

 

(ii)

a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of CEDC;

 

 

(iii)

the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of CEDC or any of its assets; or

 

 

(iv)

the enforcement of security over any material assets of CEDC, or any analogous procedure or step to any of the above is taken in any jurisdiction,

 

12


and in relation only to paragraph (c) above, any such corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is not stayed or dismissed within 30 Business Days of commencement or, if earlier, the date on which it is advertised, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, at all times following and during that time Cayman 5 shall be the Controlling Party and the Controlling Party Provisions shall apply and none of the other Governance Provisions shall apply, except for paragraph 9(a) of the CEDC Minority Provisions.

 

 

2.1.6

Default Control

On the Default Control Date, Cayman 5 shall immediately become the Controlling Party (if it is not already the Controlling Party) and the Controlling Party Provisions and the Default Governance Provisions shall apply. After the Default Control Date, none of the CEDC Minority Provisions, the Cayman 5 Minority Provisions or the JV Provisions shall apply, and CEDC shall not be entitled to become the Controlling Party at any time, in any circumstances, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary.

 

 

2.1.7

Condition Precedent

For the purposes of this Clause 2, the “ Condition Precedent ” is:

Antitrust Approvals for the possession by CEDC of its rights under the relevant provision(s) of this Clause 2 and the Schedules having been obtained in accordance with the provisions of Clause 3, if required.

 

 

2.1.8

Undertakings

 

 

(a)

At all times prior to the Default Control Date, the Controlling Party (and at such times that there is no Controlling Party, the Company) from time to time undertakes to the Minority Party (and at such times that there is no Minority Party, the Parties) from time to time to use its reasonable endeavours to procure that each member of the Group (as applicable):

 

 

(i)

operates in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and in the ordinary course of business in a manner substantially consistent with that carried on in the 12 months prior to the date of this Agreement;

 

 

(ii)

completes and files, in a timely fashion, all necessary tax returns and pays all applicable taxes unless the relevant member of the Group reasonably believes that the non-payment of such taxes is in the best interests of the Group;

 

 

(iii)

maintains and protects material intellectual property owned or used by the Group in any market which, is, or is reasonably likely to become, material to the operations of the Group;

 

 

(iv)

maintains appropriate insurance cover for the Group’s operations in line with market practice;

 

 

(v)

operates in such a manner as to maintain the tax residency of each member of the Group as at the date of this Agreement;

 

13


 

(vi)

adheres to the material terms of all material contracts;

 

 

(vii)

maintains the reasonable upkeep of, and control over, all material fixed assets of the Group;

 

 

2.1.9

At all times prior to the Default Control Date, CEDC undertakes, for so long as it is the Controlling Party, that neither it nor any of its Affiliates shall take any action which is taken with the intention of being materially prejudicial to (i) the ability of the Lion Parties to enforce any security right or interest granted to them pursuant to or in connection with the Transaction Documents; or (ii) the value of the assets pledged to the Lion Holdcos pursuant to the Cayman 7 Pledge; and

 

 

2.1.10

At all times prior to the Default Control Date, Cayman 5 undertakes, for so long as it is the Controlling Party, that neither it nor any of its Affiliates shall take any action which is taken with the intention of being materially prejudicial to (i) the ability of Cayman 7 to enforce any security right or interest granted to it pursuant to or in connection with the Transaction Documents; or (ii) the value of the assets pledged to Cayman 7 pursuant to the Holdco Pledge.

 

2.2

The Company undertakes to each of the Lion Parties (for themselves and as trustee for each of their Affiliates) to indemnify the Lion Parties and each of their Affiliates against any damages, costs, fines, penalties or other losses suffered or incurred by any of them as a result of any provision of this Agreement or the exercise by any of the Parties of any right pursuant to this Agreement resulting in any breach of any applicable law or regulation relating to competition or anti-trust.

 

2.3

The Company undertakes to CEDC (for itself and as trustee for each of their Affiliates) to indemnify CEDC and each of its Affiliates against any damages, costs, fines, penalties or other losses suffered or incurred by any of them as a result of the breach of any applicable law or regulation relating to competition or anti-trust where such breach arises as a result of the operation of Clauses 2.1.4(b), 2.1.4(c), 2.4 or 2.5, and where such breach arises as a result of the operation of Clauses 2.4 and 2.5 such indemnification by the Company will be limited in all cases to a maximum aggregate amount of $15 million.

 

2.4

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no particular element of any Governance Provision shall apply at any time when a Specified Event would be reasonably likely to occur as a consequence of the application of that element; provided that nothing in this Clause 2.4 shall limit any of CEDC’s rights pursuant to paragraph 9(a) of Schedule 2, paragraph 1.8 of Schedule 3, paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 or paragraph 5.2 of Schedule 5. For these purposes, where a Specified Event would be reasonably likely to occur as a consequence of the application of two or more elements of a Governance Provision, none of such elements shall apply.

 

2.5

Subject to any applicable legal or regulatory requirements, CEDC shall immediately notify the Lion Holdcos upon it becoming aware of the occurrence of any event which makes it reasonably apparent that the provisions of Clause 2.4 will apply at any time within the following 60 days. Immediately upon such notification, the provisions of Clause 2.4 shall apply in relation to the relevant element(s) of the relevant Governance Provision(s) until such time as a Specified Event would not be reasonably likely to occur as a consequence of the application of the relevant elements of the relevant Governance Provision(s).

 

2.6

The Lion Parties shall, at the request of CEDC, use their reasonable endeavours to procure a waiver of any relevant provisions contained in any of the Finance Documents to the extent that such waiver will prevent the application of any of the Governance Provisions giving rise to a Specified Event, provided that members of the Group shall not be obliged to pay any

 

14


 

costs or fees in aggregate exceeding $500,000 in relation to obtaining any such waiver save to the extent that CEDC shall, through the subscription of additional partnership interests in Cayman 7, have funded such fees by the subscription of shares in the Company.

 

2.7

Subject always to the provisions of Schedule 2 and Schedule 4 (as applicable), each of the Ordinary Shareholders hereby undertakes to vote its Ordinary Shares in accordance with the directions of the Controlling Party.

 

3

ANTITRUST APPROVAL

 

3.1

If the approval or clearance of, or notification to, one or more Competition Authorities (each an “ Antitrust Approval ”) is in the reasonable opinion of any of the Parties required to give effect (from time to time) to the exercise by CEDC of its rights under the JV Provisions, or to enable CEDC to become the Controlling Party, or the Parties otherwise agree to seek Antitrust Approval, the Parties undertake (subject always to Clause 3.3) to each other to use their best efforts to obtain each such Antitrust Approval as soon as reasonably practicable following (i) in relation to the JV Provisions, the JV Notice Date or (ii) in relation to CEDC becoming the Controlling Party, the earlier of:

 

 

3.1.1

the later of:

 

 

(a)

the date falling eight months prior to the date falling 95 days after the Fourth Cayman 7 Call Option Exercise Date; and

 

 

(b)

the earliest date on which the relevant Antitrust Approval could be sought and reasonably be expected to remain valid on the Fourth Cayman 7 Call Option Completion Date; and

 

 

3.1.2

the CEDC Control Notice Date.

The JV Effective Date or the CEDC Control Effective Date (as the case may be) shall not occur until at least five days after such Antitrust Approval has been obtained (or, where more than one Antitrust Approval is required, until at least five days after the last of such Antitrust Approvals is obtained). Each Party shall inform the other on the next Business Day after having received the relevant Antitrust Approval or of being informed that the relevant Antitrust Approval has been denied.

 

3.2

The Lion Parties shall provide CEDC, CEDC shall provide the Lion Parties and the Company shall provide CEDC and the Lion Parties with all information relating to obtaining each Antitrust Approval as the Lion Parties or CEDC (as applicable), acting reasonably, may request.

 

3.3

Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 3.1, if an Antitrust Approval will only be granted subject to, or following the application of, certain commitments, conditions, obligations, measures, undertakings and/or modifications (each, a “ Commitment ”), CEDC and the Lion Parties undertake to each other to comply with those Commitments necessary to obtain such Antitrust Approval and hereby agree that, to the extent that such Commitments require the disposal of any asset, or if it appears to the Parties, acting reasonably, that such Antitrust Approval shall be given if the disposal of an asset is offered or made, the Parties shall, to the extent possible, and to the extent that each is able to do so, manage the disposal of assets in accordance with the following order of priority:

 

 

3.3.1

first, the Company shall procure that members of the Group shall dispose of such assets as are necessary to obtain such Antitrust Approval provided always that in no circumstances shall it be required to procure the disposal of the assets comprising the “Green Mark” and/or “Zhuravli” brands of vodka;

 

15


 

3.3.2

second, and subject always to the provisions of Clause 3.5, if and to the extent that, following the date of this Agreement, the Lion Parties have acquired any or all of the assets that have been described in a letter from the Lion Holdcos to CEDC dated 24 April 2009 and any other assets acquired with such assets or in related transactions (together the “ Potential Assets ”), the Lion Parties shall dispose of such of the Potential Assets as are necessary to obtain such Antitrust Approval;

 

 

3.3.3

third, if and to the extent that, following the date of this Agreement, CEDC or any Affiliate of CEDC has acquired any assets, CEDC shall dispose of (or shall procure the disposal of) such of those assets as are necessary to obtain such Antitrust Approval; and

 

 

3.3.4

fourth, and subject always to the provisions of Clause 3.5, the Lion Parties shall dispose of (or shall procure the disposal of) such assets as are necessary to obtain such Antitrust Approval,

provided always that in each case, any such disposal shall be limited to the minimum amount required to obtain such Antitrust Approval. Any such disposal required to be made shall be made within 180 days of the date upon which it is finally determined that such disposal is required. Clause 3.1 shall not require the disposal of assets by any Person save as set out in this Clause 3.3.

 

3.4

If, following the disposal, or offer to dispose of, all of the assets referred to in Clause 3.3, the relevant Antitrust Approval is not granted, the Parties agree that CEDC and the Lion Parties shall use their best endeavours to agree upon and to implement a structure to realise their investment in the Company either by way of sale or initial public offering (an “ Exit ”). If Cayman 5 is the Controlling Party at such time, it shall, to the extent permitted by law, consult with, and take into account all reasonable requests of, CEDC in connection with effecting an Exit.

 

3.5

In circumstances where Clause 3.3.2 or Clause 3.3.4 apply, the Lion Parties shall have the right (but not the obligation) to surrender any of their governance rights hereunder if it becomes apparent to the Lion Parties, acting reasonably, that the relevant Antitrust Approval would be, or would be reasonably likely to be, obtained as a result of such surrender and if and to the extent that such Antitrust Approval is so obtained, the Lion Parties shall not be required to comply with Clauses 3.3.2 or Clause 3.3.4, but provided always that such surrender shall not constitute or trigger a Specified Event.

 

3.6

CEDC agrees that it shall not be entitled to exercise its rights under paragraph 5 and 6 of Schedule 2 until such time as:

 

 

3.6.1

the European Commission has made a decision that: (i) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents do not fall within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 (the “ EC Merger Regulation ”) under Article 6(1)(a) of the EC Merger Regulation; (ii) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are compatible with the Common Market pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of the EC Merger Regulation (or being deemed to have done so pursuant to Article 10(6) of the EC Merger Regulation);

 

 

3.6.2

approval from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has been duly obtained in relation to the exercise of the rights under paragraphs 5 and 6 of Schedule 2; or

 

16


 

3.6.3

in so far as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are required to be notified to the Competition Authority of any other jurisdictions such that, without such notification or clearance, the exercise of the rights under paragraphs 5 and 6 of Schedule 2 would be unlawful or otherwise prohibited, all relevant consents and approvals have been received, and

CEDC undertakes to the others Parties to use its best endeavours to obtain such Antitrust Approvals as required under Clauses 3.6.1 to 3.6.3 as soon as practicable.

 

4

RESTRICTIONS ON DEALINGS WITH SECURITIES

 

4.1

Save as provided for under the Default Governance Provisions or as otherwise required or expressly permitted pursuant to the provisions of the Transaction Documents, from the date of this Agreement, no Shareholder may, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, offer, grant a participation in, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, create a security interest in or lien upon, encumber, donate, contribute, place in trust, enter into any voting agreement in respect of, or otherwise dispose of or create or allow to be created an Encumbrance over (collectively, “ Transfer ”) any of its Shares or the legal or beneficial interest therein without the consent of all Parties.

 

4.2

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Transfer of any Shares may be made by any Shareholder to a Prohibited Person.

 

4.3

In the event of any Transfer in accordance with this Clause 4, each relevant Party undertakes to take such actions and do such things as may be necessary to complete such Transfer in accordance with applicable legal requirements. To the extent that any Transfer contemplated or permitted in this Clause 4 requires the approval of any of the Parties pursuant to any law, or any provisions of the Articles or other constitutional documents, each of the relevant Parties shall, forthwith upon request, and to the extent that it is able to do so, provide, or procure the provision of, the necessary consent and shall sign or vote (or procure such signature or vote) in favour of any shareholder resolutions in connection therewith.

 

5

COMPLETION OF TRANSFERS

 

5.1

General

In connection with the completion of any Transfer of Shares under this Agreement, the transferee (unless an existing Party to this Agreement) shall deliver to the Company and the Shareholders notice of such Transfer, including fully executed copies of all documentation and agreements relating to the Transfer and any agreements or other documents required by this Agreement, including a duly executed Deed of Adherence if required pursuant to Clause 12.

 

5.2

Encumbrances

Where this Clause 5 applies to the Transfer of any Share, each shall be transferred free of Encumbrances and with all rights attaching thereto (other than any restrictions on Transfer arising under the Transaction Documents).

 

5.3

Power of Attorney

 

 

5.3.1

Each of the Parties (other than the Lion Parties) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (and by way of security for the performance of its obligations under this Agreement) appoints, with effect from the Default Control Date, any

 

17


 

Director nominated for that purpose by the Lion Parties as its attorney to execute and do in its name or otherwise and on its behalf all documents, acts and things which the attorney shall in its absolute discretion consider necessary or desirable in order to implement the obligations of that Party (if not satisfied) under Clause 4, to the extent that the Party is in default of its obligations under such Clause.

 

 

5.3.2

Each Shareholder undertakes to ratify whatever any Director as its attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done in accordance with the power of attorney set out in Clause 5.3.1 and to indemnify and keep indemnified such attorney from all claims, costs, expenses, damages and losses which the attorney may suffer as a result of the lawful exercise by him of the powers conferred on him under such power of attorney.

 

 

5.3.3

If a Transfer of Shares is executed on behalf of a Shareholder under the power of attorney set out in Clause 5.3.1:

 

 

(a)

the Company may receive the purchase money in trust for that Shareholder and the receipt of the Company for the purchase money shall be a good discharge for the purchaser, who shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money;

 

 

(b)

the Company shall cause the purchaser to be registered as a holder of the relevant Shares; and

 

 

(c)

once registration has taken place in purported exercise of the power of attorney set out in Clause 5.3.1, the validity of the proceedings shall not be questioned by any Person; and the relevant Shareholder shall be bound to deliver up any documentation required by the Company in connection with the Transfer and on its delivery shall be entitled to receive the purchase money in respect thereof.

 

5.4

Effect of Void Transfers

In the event of any purported Transfer in violation of the provisions of this Agreement, such purported Transfer shall be void and of no effect, the purported transferee shall have no rights or privileges in or with respect to such Shares or this Agreement, and no effect will be given to any such purported Transfer or entry related thereto made in the records of the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

6

CONDUCT OF THE COMPANY

The Company undertakes, and the Parties shall procure that the Company undertakes: (i) to act only as a holding company; (ii) not to undertake any trading activity; (iii) not to incur any Indebtedness; (iv) to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the Cayman Islands, to distribute to Shareholders any material assets whether cash or non-cash (but excluding the assets of Russian Alcohol Group or the shares or other participations in vehicles through which those assets are held), received by the Company, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within ten days of receipt of the same.

 

7

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

7.1

The Company or a member of the Group shall reimburse and pay to each Director any travelling, hotel or other out-of-pocket expenses which the Director may reasonably incur in the performance of his duties), which shall be payable in arrears periodically upon demand, but no more than once per calendar month.

 

18


7.2

The Company or a member of the Group shall take out and maintain in f


 
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