Exhibit 10.3
SHAREHOLDER
AGREEMENT
by and between
WATSCO, INC.
and
THE SHAREHOLDER IDENTIFIED ON THE
SIGNATURE PAGE HERETO dated as of July 1, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
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Section 1.1
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Certain
Definitions
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1
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ARTICLE II
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VOTING AGREEMENT
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Section 2.1
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Agreement to
Vote the Subject Shares
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8
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Section 2.2
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Fall-Away of
Voting Rights and Standstill
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9
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ARTICLE III
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS
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Section 3.1
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Required
Registrations
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9
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Section 3.2
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Piggyback
Registrations
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13
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Section 3.3
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Registration
Procedures
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14
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Section 3.4
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Registration
Expenses
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17
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Section 3.5
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Participation
in Underwritten Registrations
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18
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Section 3.6
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Rule 144;
Legended Securities; etc.
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18
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Section 3.7
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Holdback
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19
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Section 3.8
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Indemnification
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19
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Section 3.9
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No Inconsistent
Agreements
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21
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ARTICLE IV
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STANDSTILL AND
RESTRICTIONS
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Section 4.1
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Standstill
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22
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Section 4.2
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Anti-Takeover
Provisions
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23
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Section 4.3
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Restrictive
Legend
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23
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Section 4.4
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Rights of First
Refusal on Transfer
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24
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Section 4.5
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Conversion of
Class B Common Stock
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24
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Section 4.6
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Sections
607.0901 and 607.0902 of the Florida Business Corporation
Act
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24
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ARTICLE V
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
SHAREHOLDER
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Section 5.1
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Due
Organization, etc.
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25
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Section 5.2
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No
Conflicts
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25
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Section 5.3
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No Control
Intent
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25
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ARTICLE VI
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
COMPANY
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Section 6.1
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Due
Organization, etc.
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26
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Section 6.2
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No
Conflicts
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26
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ARTICLE VII
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TERMINATION
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Section 7.1
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Termination
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26
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ARTICLE VIII
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MISCELLANEOUS
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Section 8.1
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Further
Actions
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27
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Section 8.2
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Notices
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27
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Section 8.3
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Assignment;
Binding Effect
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28
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Section 8.4
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Third Party
Beneficiaries
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28
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Section 8.5
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Amendments
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28
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Section 8.6
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Entire
Agreement
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28
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Section 8.7
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Mediation;
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
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28
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Section 8.8
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Fee and
Expenses
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29
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Section 8.9
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Headings
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29
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Section 8.10
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Interpretation
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29
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Section 8.11
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Waivers
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29
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Section 8.12
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Severability
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30
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Section 8.13
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Enforcement of
this Agreement
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30
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Section 8.14
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Counterparts
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30
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ii
SHAREHOLDER
AGREEMENT
This Shareholder Agreement (this
“ Agreement ”) is entered into as of this 1st
day of July, 2009, by and between Watsco, Inc., a Florida
corporation (the “ Company ”), and the
Shareholder identified on the signature page hereto.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS , the Company has entered into that certain
Purchase and Contribution Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2009
(as amended, the “ Purchase and Contribution Agreement
”);
WHEREAS , the Company and Shareholder are entering into
this Agreement in consideration, in part, for the Company and
Shareholder entering into, and consummating the transactions
contemplated by, the Purchase and Contribution
Agreement;
WHEREAS , as of the date of this Agreement and as a
result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Purchase and Contribution Agreement, Shareholder owns of record as
of the date hereof, that number of shares of Capital Stock set
forth opposite the name of Shareholder on Annex I attached
hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and
WHEREAS , each of the Company and Shareholder are
desirous of entering into this Agreement, upon the terms and
conditions contained hereinafter.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the foregoing
and the mutual premises, representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements contained herein, and for good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
agreed to and acknowledged by the parties hereto, the parties
hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Certain
Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “ Affiliate ”
shall mean, with respect to a specified Person, any Person that
directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the
specified Person. As used in this definition, and elsewhere herein
in relation to control of Affiliates, the term “
control ” means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to substantially direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through ownership of voting securities, as director or manager, as
trustee or executor, by contract or credit arrangement or
otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed an Affiliate of a Shareholder
Group Member for any purpose hereunder, and no Shareholder Group
Member shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries for any purpose hereunder.
1
(b) “ Agreement ”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the caption to this
Agreement.
(c) “ AMEX ”
shall mean the American Stock Exchange.
(d) “ Ancillary
Agreements ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
in the Purchase and Contribution Agreement.
(e) “ beneficially own
” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3
(as in effect as of the date hereof) promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act ”) (including, but not limited to the
entitlement to dispose of (or to direct the disposition of) and to
vote (or to direct the voting of), and the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of within sixty (60) days). For purposes
of this Agreement, the terms “beneficially owns” and
“beneficially owned” shall have correlative
meanings.
(f) “ Board ”
shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(g) “ Capital Stock
” shall mean shares of the Company’s common stock, par
value $.50 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and
shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $.50
per share (the “ Class B Common Stock
”).
(h) “ Carrier ”
shall mean Carrier Corporation.
(i) “ Carrier
Enterprises ” shall mean Carrier Enterprises, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company.
(j) “ Chosen Courts
” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 8.7(b) of this Agreement.
(k) “ Class B Common
Stock ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
the definition of “Capital Stock” set forth
above.
(l) “ Closing Date
” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Purchase and Contribution Agreement.
(m) “ Commission
” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
other federal agency administering the Securities Act.
(n) “ Common Stock
” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
definition of “Capital Stock” set forth
above.
(o) “ Company ”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the caption to this
Agreement.
(p) “ Company Change of
Control ” shall mean a transaction or series of
transactions (or the entry by the Company, its stockholders, or any
of its Subsidiaries into an agreement to effect such a transaction
or series of transactions) with the Company, its stockholders, or
any of its Subsidiaries, on one hand, and any Person or group
(within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or
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Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or
any successor provision), including any group acting for the
purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) on the
other hand, with respect to (i) a merger, reorganization,
share exchange, consolidation, business combination,
recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or similar transaction
involving the Company or its Subsidiaries in which the shareholders
of the Company immediately prior to such transaction shall own less
than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all
shares of voting securities of the surviving entity (or its
ultimate parent) outstanding immediately after such transaction,
(ii) any purchase of an equity interest (including by means of
a tender or exchange offer) resulting in any Person or group
(within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or
Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor
provision), including any group acting for the purpose of
acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) beneficially owning
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any
successor provision) greater than a fifty percent (50%) of the
total voting power in the Company, other than, in each case,
Mr. Albert Nahmad and any Related Affiliate or (iii) any
purchase of assets, securities or ownership interests resulting in
any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or
Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor
provision), including any group acting for the purpose of
acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) owning greater than
fifty percent (50%) of the consolidated assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (including stock of the
Company’s Subsidiaries). A Company Change of Control shall
also be deemed to have occurred if the Continuing Directors cease
for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board.
(q) “ Company Equity
Securities ” shall mean the equity securities of the
Company, including shares of Capital Stock or other equity
securities of the Company issuable upon exercise, conversion,
exchange or redemption of any warrants, options, rights or other
securities issued by the Company.
(r) “ Continuing
Director ” shall mean (i) any member of the Board as
of the date of this Agreement, or (ii) any member of the Board
who becomes such a member subsequent to the date of this Agreement
whose nomination for election or election to the Board was
recommended or approved by a majority of the individuals described
in clause (i) or this clause (ii) then on the
Board.
(s) “ Control
Solicitation ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement.
(t) “ Covered Person
” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.8(a) of this Agreement.
(u) “ Demand
Registration ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section 3.1(b)(i) of this Agreement.
(v) “ Dispute ”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 8.7(a) of this Agreement.
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(w) “ Exchange Act
” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
definition of “beneficially own.”
(x) “ Family Member
” shall mean, with respect to Albert Nahmad, any spouse,
child (including any child by adoption and any child as to whom
Albert Nahmad or his spouse has legal custody), and grandchild
(including by adoption) and/or their respective spouses.
(y) “ Governmental
Authority ” shall mean any nation or country (including
but not limited to the United States) and any commonwealth,
territory or possession thereof and any political subdivision of
any of the foregoing, including but not limited to courts,
departments, commissions, boards, bureaus, agencies, ministries or
other instrumentalities.
(z) “ Holdback Period
” shall mean with respect to any registered offering covered
by this Agreement, (i) one hundred twenty (120) days
after and during the ten (10) days before, the effective date
of the related Registration Statement or, in the case of a takedown
from a Shelf Registration Statement, ninety (90) days after
the date of the prospectus supplement filed with the Commission in
connection with such takedown and during such prior period (not to
exceed ten (10) days) as the Company has given reasonable
written notice to Shareholder or (ii) such shorter period as
Shareholder, the Company and the underwriter of such offering, if
any, shall agree.
(aa) “ Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus ” shall mean an issuer free writing
prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act,
relating to an offer of the Registrable Securities.
(bb) “ Law ” when
described as being applicable to any Person, shall mean any and all
laws (statutory, judicial or otherwise), ordinances, regulations,
judgments, orders, directives, injunctions, writs, decrees or
awards of any Governmental Authority, in each case as and to the
extent applicable to such Person or such Person’s business,
operations or properties.
(cc) “ Market Value
” of a share of Common Stock or a share of Class B Common
Stock, as the case may be, on any trading day means the last
reported sale price, regular way, of a share of Common Stock or
Class B Common Stock, as applicable, on such trading day or, in
case there is no last reported sale price on such trading day, the
average of the reported closing bid and ask prices, regular way, of
a share of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable, on
such trading day, in either case on the principal stock exchange on
which shares of Common Stock are traded, in the case of a share of
Common Stock, and the principal stock exchange on which shares of
Class B Common Stock are traded, in the Case of a share of Class B
Common Stock. The Market Value of a share of Common Stock or Class
B Common Stock on any day which is not a trading day on the
applicable stock exchange shall be deemed to be the Market Value of
a share of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable, on
the immediately preceding trading day. The “ Market
Value ” of any other security shall have a correlative
meaning.
(dd) “ Mediation
Termination ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section 8.7(a) of this Agreement.
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(ee) “ Notices ”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 8.2 of this Agreement.
(ff) “ NYSE ”
shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.
(gg) “ Ownership Limit
” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4.1(a) of this Agreement.
(hh) “ Percentage
Interest ” as to a Person means the number of shares of
Capital Stock that are owned by such Person, expressed as a
percentage of the total number of shares of Capital Stock actually
outstanding.
(ii) “ Person ”
shall mean any natural person, corporation, general partnership,
limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
union, trust, association, court, agency, government, tribunal,
instrumentality, commission, arbitrator, board, bureau or other
entity or authority.
(jj) “ Piggyback
Registration ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section 3.2(a) of this Agreement.
(kk) “ Prospectus
” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including a prospectus that discloses information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A or Rule 430B
promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented
by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
related thereto, and all other amendments and supplements to such
prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such prospectus.
(ll) “ Purchase and
Contribution Agreement ” shall have the meaning ascribed
to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
(mm) “ Registration
Expenses ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
in Section 3.4(a) of this Agreement.
(nn) “ Registration
Request ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.1(b)(i) of this Agreement.
(oo) “ Registrable
Securities ” shall mean all shares of Capital Stock
issued to Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase and Contribution
Agreement and all shares of Common Stock issued to any Shareholder
Group Member pursuant to the conversion of any shares of Class B
Common Stock issued to Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase and
Contribution Agreement; provided, that such shares will cease to be
Registrable Securities when (i) they have been effectively
registered or qualified for sale by a Prospectus filed under the
Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the applicable
Registration Statement, (ii) they have been sold to the public
pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 145 or other exemption from
registration under the Securities Act, (iii) they have been
sold (other than to another Shareholder Group Member) in a private
transaction or other exemption from registration under the
Securities Act or
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(iv) they have been acquired by the
Company. In the event of a stock dividend or distribution, or any
change in the Capital Stock by reason of any stock dividend or
distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of
shares or the like, the term “Registrable Securities”
shall be deemed to refer to and include the Registrable Securities
as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any
securities into which or for which any or all of the Registrable
Securities may be changed or exchanged or which are received in
such transaction.
(pp) “ Registration
Statement ” shall mean the Prospectus and other documents
filed with the Commission to effect a registration under the
Securities Act.
(qq) “ Related
Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to Albert Nahmad,
(a) a foundation or similar entity established by Albert
Nahmad or any Family Member for the principal purpose of serving
charitable goals, controlled by Albert Nahmad or any Family Member;
(b) any trust and/or estate (so long as such trust and/or
estate, and the voting and/or disposition of assets, including
securities, held by such trust and/or estate, is controlled by
Albert Nahmad or any Family Member), the beneficiaries of which
principally include Albert Nahmad, Family Members or the Persons
named in clause (a); and (c) any corporation, limited
liability company or partnership, the stockholders, members or
general or limited partners of which include only Albert Nahmad,
Family Members or the Persons named in clauses (a) or
(b).
(rr) “ Restricted
Transfer ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
in Section 4.4(a) of this Agreement.
(ss) “ Rule 144 ”
shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as in effect from
time to time.
(tt) “ Rule 144A
” shall mean Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as in effect
from time to time.
(uu) “ Rule 145 ”
shall mean Rule 145 under the Securities Act, as in effect from
time to time.
(vv) “ Rule 415 ”
shall mean Rule 415 under the Securities Act, as in effect from
time to time.
(ww) “ Rule 424 ”
shall mean Rule 424 under the Securities Act, as in effect from
time to time.
(xx) “ Securities Act
” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(yy) “ Selling Expenses
” shall mean all underwriting discounts, selling commissions
and transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities
hereunder and any other Registration Expenses applicable to the
sale of Registrable Securities hereunder required by Law to be paid
by a selling shareholder.
(zz) “ Shareholder
” means Carrier.
6
(aaa) “ Shareholder Group
Member ” means United Technologies Corporation, a
Delaware corporation, and each of its Subsidiaries, including
Shareholder.
(bbb) “ Shareholder’s
Counsel ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.4(b) of this Agreement.
(ccc) “ Shelf Demand
Notice ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.1(a)(ii) of this Agreement.
(ddd) “ Shelf Demand
Offering ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
in Section 3.1(a)(ii) of this Agreement.
(eee) “ Shelf Period
” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.1(a)(i) of this Agreement.
(fff) “ Shelf
Registration ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section 3.1(a)(i) of this Agreement.
(ggg) “ Shelf Registration
Statement ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
in Section 3.1(a)(i) of this Agreement.
(hhh) “ Subject Shares
” shall mean, with respect to any particular Person, the
shares of Capital Stock beneficially owned by such Person
(including, without limitation, any shares of Capital Stock set
forth opposite the name of such Person in Annex I hereto),
together with any other shares of Capital Stock (including the
voting power with respect thereto) which are directly or indirectly
acquired by such Person at any one or more times prior to the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof. In the
event of a stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the
Capital Stock by reason of any stock dividend or distribution,
split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the
like, the term “ Subject Shares ” shall be
deemed to refer to and include the Subject Shares as well as all
such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into
which or for which any or all of the Subject Shares may be changed
or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.
(iii) “ Subsidiary
” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) any
corporation fifty percent (50%) or more of whose stock of any
class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power
to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation is at the
time owned by such Person, directly or indirectly through one or
more Subsidiaries, and (ii) any other Person, including but
not limited to a joint venture, a general or limited partnership or
a limited liability company, in which such Person, directly or
indirectly through one or more Subsidiaries, at the time owns at
least fifty percent (50%) or more of the ownership interests
entitled to vote in the election of managing partners, managers or
trustees thereof (or other Persons performing such functions) or
acts as the general partner, managing member, trustee (or Persons
performing similar functions) of such other Person.
(jjj) “ Suspension
Period ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.1(c) of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE II
VOTING AGREEMENT
Section 2.1 Agreement to
Vote the Subject Shares .
(a) The parties hereto hereby agree
that from and after the date hereof, for as long as the Percentage
Interest of Shareholder exceeds five percent (5%), at any meeting
of the Company’s shareholders (or any adjournment or
postponement thereof), however called, or in connection with any
action by written consent or other action of the Company’s
shareholders, Shareholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) all of
the Subject Shares beneficially owned by it and by Shareholder
Group Members in the same proportion of votes cast for, against or
abstain by all other holders of Capital Stock, except that at any
meeting of the Company’s shareholders (or any adjournment or
postponement thereof), however called, or in connection with any
action by written consent or other action of the Company’s
shareholders, pursuant to which holders of any class of Capital
Stock are entitled to vote as a separate class, Shareholder shall
vote (or cause to be voted) all of the shares of such class of
Capital Stock beneficially owned by it and by Shareholder Group
Members in the same proportion of votes cast for, against or
abstain by all other holders of such class of Capital Stock. Any
such vote shall be cast or consent shall be given in accordance
with such procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is
duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present
and for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent.
Shareholder agrees not to enter into any agreement or commitment
with any Person the effect of which would violate or be
inconsistent with the provisions and agreements set forth in this
Article II . In order to enable Shareholder to comply with
its obligations under this Section 2.1(a) , the Company
shall (prior to the first vote of the Company’s shareholders
subject to this Section 2.1(a) ) develop, together with
its proxy solicitor and/or transfer agent, a form of proxy, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to Shareholder, to be used by
Shareholder (and/or any other Shareholder Group Member, as
applicable) to enable it to vote the Subject Shares in the manner
required by this Section 2.1(a) at any meeting of the
Company’s shareholders (or any adjournment or postponement
thereof), however called, or in connection with any action by
written consent or other action of the Company’s
shareholders. For the avoidance of doubt, any vote of Shareholder
(or any other Shareholder Group Member) pursuant to the proper use
of such form of proxy shall be deemed to have been made in
compliance with this Section 2.1(a) .
(b) Notwithstanding anything
contained in Section 2.1(a) , Shareholder Group Members
shall not be required to vote (or cause to be voted) any or all of
the Subject Shares beneficially owned by the relevant Shareholder
Group Members as provided in Section 2.1(a) with
respect to:
(i) any merger, consolidation,
combination, acquisition or sale of assets, reorganization or
recapitalization, which, if consummated, would result in a Company
Change of Control (except when the Company’s proposal is to
merge with its wholly-owned Subsidiary);
(ii) dissolution, liquidation or
winding up involving the Company; and
8
(iii) any matter which involves an
alteration of any right of any class of Company Equity
Securities.
However, for the avoidance of doubt
nothing in this Section 2.1(b) requires the Company to
obtain the approval of the Company’s shareholders in
circumstances where it is not otherwise being proposed to
shareholders for approval.
Section 2.2 Fall-Away of
Voting Rights and Standstill . The provisions of
Section 2.1(a) , Section 2.1(b) ,
Section 4.1 and Section 4.2 shall terminate
and be of no further effect in the event:
(a) of a Company Change of
Control,
(b) that any Person or group (as
defined, as of the date hereof, under Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act) announces publicly an offer with respect to any
transaction, or commences a proxy solicitation, involving the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their securities or
assets, the consummation, or success, of which would result in a
Company Change of Control (any such offer or proxy solicitation, a
“ Control Solicitation ”), but only if and after
the Board either (i) accepts or recommends in favor of such
Control Solicitation or (ii) fails to recommend that its
stockholders reject such Control Solicitation within ten
(10) business days from the date of commencement of such
Control Solicitation; provided , that, if the relevant
Person or group announces publicly the withdrawal or
discontinuation of such Control Solicitation prior to a Company
Change of Control, the provisions of Section 2.1(a),
Section 2.1(b), Section 4.1 and
Section 4.2 shall be reinstated and shall again bind
Shareholder and the Company from the date of such announcement;
provided , however, that if, before the relevant Person or
group announces publicly the withdrawal or discontinuation of such
Control Solicitation, a Shareholder Group Member has publicly
announced a Control Solicitation, Section 2.1(a),
Section 2.1(b) and Section 4.1 shall not
bind Shareholder in relation to any action in connection with the
conduct of such Control Solicitation unless and until the
Shareholder Group Member has publicly withdrawn or discontinued
such Control Solicitation, or
(c) that the Board resolves to
engage in a formal process that is intended to result in a
transaction that if consummated would constitute a Company Change
of Control, provided , that if the Board subsequently
resolves to terminate the process prior to a Company Change of
Control, the provisions of Section 2.1(a) ,
Section 2.1(b) , Section 4.1 and
Section 4.2 shall be reinstated and shall again bind
Shareholder and the Company from such date as the Board notifies
Shareholder that the process has terminated.
ARTICLE III
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS
Section 3.1 Required
Registrations .
(a) Shelf Registration
.
(i) Shelf Registration
Statement . As soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but
in no event more than one hundred eighty (180) days following
the Closing Date, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to
prepare and file with the
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Commission a Registration Statement
covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities (the
“ Shelf Registration ”) that are not then
registered on an effective Registration Statement for an offering
to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 (such
Registration Statement, together with any post-effective amendment
thereto and any new Registration Statement filed pursuant to this
Section 3.1(a) , are collectively referred to herein as
the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”). The Shelf
Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be on Form S-3 or any
successor form (except if the Company is not then eligible to
register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in
which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form
in accordance herewith). Subject to the terms of this Agreement,
the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Shelf Registration Statement filed hereunder to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after
the filing thereof, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to
keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective
(including by filing any necessary post-effective amendments to
such Shelf Registration Statement or a new Shelf Registration
Statement) under the Securities Act until all Registrable
Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement or another
Registration Statement filed under the Securities Act or otherwise
cease to be Registrable Securities (such period of effectiveness,
the “ Shelf Period ”). The Company will pay all
Registration Expenses in connection with the Shelf Registration,
whether or not any registration or Prospectus becomes effective or
final.
(ii) Shelf Demand Notice . At
any time that a Shelf Registration Statement covering Registrable
Securities pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(i) is effective,
if a Shareholder Group Member desires to sell all or any portion of
the Registrable Securities under such Shelf Registration Statement
in an underwritten offering (“ Shelf Demand Offering
”), Shareholder shall notify (such notice being the “
Shelf Demand Notice ”) the Company of such intent at
least fifteen (15) days prior to such proposed sale (or, in
the case of a Shelf Demand Offering that does not involve a
“road show”, at least three (3) days prior to such
proposed sale), which notice shall specify the number of the
Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Demand
Offering.
(iii) Shelf Demand Offering .
The Company shall prepare and file a prospectus supplement,
post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement and/or
Exchange Act reports incorporated by reference into the Shelf
Registration Statement and take such other actions as reasonably
necessary or appropriate to permit the consummation of such Shelf
Demand Offering. In the case of a Shelf Demand Offering that does
not involve a “road show”, the Company shall take all
actions to enable the Shareholder Group Member to price such
offering within three (3) days of receipt of the Shelf Demand
Notice; provided, that if a “comfort” letter is
required in connection with the pricing of such offering, and the
Company was unable to obtain such “comfort” letter
within three (3) days of receipt of such Shelf Demand Notice,
then the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
such “comfort” letter and price such offering as soon
as reasonably practicable.
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(b) Demand Registrations
.
(i) If at any time (x) the
Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by
Section 3.1(a) is not effective to register all the
Registrable Shares and (y) a Shareholder Group Member
continues to hold any Registrable Securities, Shareholder may
request in writing that the Company effect the registration of all
or any part of the Registrable Securities (a “
Registration Request ”), provided, that the aggregate
offering price applicable to any such Registration Request shall
not be less than $25 million (determined in accordance with the
aggregate Market Value of the Registrable Securities included in
such Registration Request on the day on which such Registration
Request is received by the Company). Promptly after its receipt of
any Registration Request, the Company will use its reasonable best
efforts to register, in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, all Registrable Securities that have been requested to
be registered in the Registration Request. The Company will pay all
Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration
pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) , whether or not any
registration or Prospectus becomes effective or final. Any
registration requested by Shareholder pursuant to this
Section 3.1(b) is referred to in this Agreement as a
“ Demand Registration .”
(ii) Limitation on Demand
Registrations . Shareholder will be entitled to initiate no
more than three (3) Demand Registrations. No request for
registration will count for the purposes of the limitations in this
Section 3.1(b)(ii) if (i) the relevant Shareholder
Group Member determines in good faith to withdraw the proposed
registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement relating to such request due to adverse business
developments at the Company that were not known to Shareholder at
the time of the request to initiate such registration proceedings,
(ii) the Registration Statement relating to such request is
not declared effective within one hundred eighty (180) days of
the date such Registration Statement is first filed with the
Commission (other than solely by reason of the relevant Shareholder
Group Member having refused to proceed) and Shareholder withdraws
its Registration Request prior to such Registration Statement being
declared effective, (iii) prior to the sale of at least ninety
percent (90%) of the Registrable Securities included in the
applicable registration relating to such request, such registration
is adversely affected by any stop order, injunction or other order
or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental Authority
for any reason and the Company fails to have such stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement removed, withdrawn or
resolved to Shareholder’s reasonable satisfaction within
thirty (30) days of the date of such order, (iv) more
than fifteen percent (15%) of the Registrable Securities
requested by Shareholder to be included in the registration are not
so included pursuant to Section 3.1(e) , or
(v) the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting
agreement or purchase agreement entered into in connection with the
registration relating to such request are not satisfied (other than
as a result of a default or breach thereunder by the relevant
Shareholder Group Member). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any
request for a registration pursuant to
Section 3.1(b)(i) regardless of whether or not such
request counts toward the limitation set forth above.
(c) Restrictions on Required
Registrations . If the filing, initial effectiveness or
continued use of a Registration Statement with respect to the Shelf
Registration or a Demand Registration would (i) require the
Company to make a public disclosure of material non-public
information, which disclosure in the good faith judgment of the
Board (A) would be required to be made in any
11
such Registration Statement so that such
Registration Statement would not be materially misleading,
(B) would not be required to be made at such time but for the
filing, effectiveness or continued use of any such Registration
Statement and (C) would in the good faith judgment of the
Board reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the Company or its business if made at such time, or (ii) in
the good faith judgment of the Board reasonably be expected to have
a material adverse effect on the Company or its business or on the
Company’s ability to effect a planned or proposed
acquisition, disposition, financing, reorganization,
recapitalization or similar transaction, then the Company may upon
giving prompt written notice of such action to Shareholder (which
hereby agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all information
disclosed to such participants) delay the filing or initial
effectiveness of, or suspend use of, any such Registration
Statement, provided , that the Company shall not be
permitted to do so (x) more than two (2) times during any
twelve-month period or (y) for periods exceeding, in the
aggregate, one hundred twenty (120) days during any
twelve-month period (a “ Suspension Period ”).
In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding
sentence, Shareholder agrees to suspend, and to cause any relevant
Shareholder Group Member to suspend, promptly upon receipt of the
notice referred to above, its use of any Prospectus relating to
such registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell
Registrable Securities. Any Suspension Period shall terminate at
such time as the public disclosure of such information is made or
the requisite financial information becomes publicly available, as
applicable. In the case of the Shelf Registration, or a Demand
Registration not withdrawn pursuant to the immediately following
sentence, after the expiration of any Suspension Period and without
any further request from Shareholder (or any Shareholder Group
Member), the Company shall as promptly as reasonably practicable
prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the applicable
Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any d