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VOTING AND EXCHANGE TRUST AGREEMENT

Voting Agreement

VOTING AND EXCHANGE TRUST AGREEMENT | Document Parties: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA | GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC | GRAN TIERRA EXCHANGECO INC You are currently viewing:
This Voting Agreement involves

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA | GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC | GRAN TIERRA EXCHANGECO INC

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Title: VOTING AND EXCHANGE TRUST AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Nevada     Date: 11/17/2008
Industry: Oil and Gas Operations     Sector: Energy

VOTING AND EXCHANGE TRUST AGREEMENT, Parties: computershare trust company of canada , gran tierra energy inc , gran tierra exchangeco inc
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Exhibit 10.1

VOTING AND EXCHANGE TRUST AGREEMENT

 

VOTING AND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) made as of the 14 th day of November, 2008.

 

AMONG:

 

GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC. , a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Nevada (hereinafter referred to as “ Acquiror ”),

 

- and -

 

GRAN TIERRA EXCHANGECO INC. , a corporation existing under the laws of Alberta (hereinafter referred to as “ ExchangeCo ”),

 

- and -

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA , a Canadian trust company incorporated under the laws of Canada (hereinafter referred to as the “ Trustee ”),

 

WHEREAS , in connection with the Arrangement Agreement, ExchangeCo may be required to issue Exchangeable Shares to certain holders of common shares in the capital of Target, a corporation existing under the laws of Alberta, pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement contemplated in the Arrangement Agreement;

 

AND WHEREAS , pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, Acquiror, ExchangeCo and Trustee have agreed to execute a voting and exchange trust agreement substantially in the form of this Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the respective covenants and agreements provided in this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged), the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

INTERPRETATION

 

1.1   Definitions

 

In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings respectively:

 

ABCA ” means the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) as the same has been and may hereafter from time to time be amended;

 


 

Acquiror Common Shares ” means the shares of common stock, no par value per share, in the capital of Acquiror;

 

Acquiror Control Transaction ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Exchangeable Share Provisions;

 

Acquiror Consent ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.2;

 

Acquiror Meeting ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.2;

 

Acquiror Special Voting Stock ” means one share of preferred stock of Acquiror to which that number of voting rights attach (each such voting right to be equal to the voting rights attached to one Acquiror Common Share) equal to the number of outstanding Exchangeable Shares held by Beneficiaries;

 

Acquiror Successor ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 10.1(a);

 

Affiliate ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Securities Act, unless otherwise expressly stated herein;

 

Arrangement ” means the arrangement under section 193 of the ABCA on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Plan of Arrangement, subject to any amendments or variations thereto made in accordance with Article 6 of the Plan of Arrangement and Section 9.2 of the Arrangement Agreement or made at the direction of the Court;

 

Arrangement Agreement ” means the arrangement agreement made as of July 28, 2008 among Acquiror, ExchangeCo and Target, as amended, supplemented and/or restated in accordance therewith prior to the date hereof, providing for, among other things, the Arrangement;

 

Automatic Exchange Rights ” means the benefit of the obligation of Acquiror to effect the automatic exchange of Exchangeable Shares for Acquiror Common Shares pursuant to Section 5.12;

 

Beneficiaries ” means the registered holders from time to time of Exchangeable Shares, other than Acquiror and its Affiliates;

 

Beneficiary Votes ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.2;

 

Business Day ” means any day on which commercial banks are generally open for business in Calgary, Alberta, other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day observed as a holiday in Calgary, Alberta under the laws of the Province of Alberta or the federal laws of Canada;

 

Callco ” means Gran Tierra Callco ULC, a corporation existing under the laws of the Province of Alberta;

 

2.


 

Change of Law Call Right  has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement;

 

Court ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement;

 

Effective Date ” means the date the Arrangement is effective under the ABCA;

 

Equivalent Vote   Amount ” means, with respect to any matter, proposition or question on which holders of Acquiror Common Shares are entitled to vote, consent or otherwise act, the number of votes to which a holder of one Acquiror Common Share is entitled with respect to such matter, proposition or question;

 

Exchange Right ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.1;

 

Exchangeable Shares ” means the non-voting exchangeable shares in the capital of ExchangeCo, having substantially the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions set out in Schedule “A” to the Plan of Arrangement;

 

Exchangeable Share Consideration ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Exchangeable Share Provisions;

 

Exchangeable Share Price ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Exchangeable Share Provisions;

 

Exchangeable Share Provisions ” means the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Exchangeable Shares;

 

Final Order ” means the final order of the Court approving the Arrangement as such order may be amended by the Court at any time prior to the date hereof or, if appealed, then, unless such appeal is withdrawn or denied, as affirmed;

 

Indemnified Parties ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.1;

 

Insolvency Event ” means: (i) the institution by ExchangeCo of any proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent or to be wound up, or the consent of ExchangeCo to the institution of bankruptcy, insolvency or winding-up proceedings against it; or (ii) the filing of a petition, answer or consent seeking dissolution or winding-up under any bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws, including the Companies Creditors’ Arrangement Act (Canada) and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), and the failure by ExchangeCo to contest in good faith any such proceedings commenced in respect of ExchangeCo within 30 days of becoming aware thereof, or the consent by ExchangeCo to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver; or (iii) the making by ExchangeCo of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission in writing by ExchangeCo of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or (iv) ExchangeCo not being permitted, pursuant to solvency requirements of applicable law, to redeem any Retracted Shares pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Exchangeable Share Provisions;

 

3.


 

Liquidation Call Right ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement;

 

Liquidation Event ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 5.12(b);

 

Liquidation Event Effective Time ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 5.12(c);

 

List ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.6;

 

Officer’s Certificate ” means, with respect to Acquiror or ExchangeCo, as the case may be, a certificate signed by any one of the authorized signatories of Acquiror or ExchangeCo, as the case may be;

 

Person ” includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, venture capital fund, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, association, trust, trustee, executor, administrator, legal personal representative, estate, group, body corporate, corporation, unincorporated association or organization, government body, syndicate or other entity, whether or not having legal status;

 

Plan of Arrangement ” means the plan of arrangement substantially in the form and content of Exhibit A annexed to the Arrangement Agreement and any amendments or variations thereto made in accordance with Section 9.2 of the Arrangement Agreement or Article 6 of the Plan of Arrangement or made at the direction of the Court in the Final Order;

 

Redemption Call   Right ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan of Arrangement;

 

Redemption Date ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Exchangeable Share Provisions;

 

Retracted Shares ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.7;

 

Retraction Call Right ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Exchangeable Share Provisions;

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act (Alberta) and the rules, regulations and policies made thereunder, as now in effect and as they may be amended from time to time prior to the Effective Date;

 

Support Agreement ” means that certain support agreement made as of even date herewith among ExchangeCo, Callco and Acquiror substantially in the form and content of Exhibit B to the Arrangement Agreement, with such changes thereto as the parties to the Arrangement Agreement, acting reasonably, may agree;

 

Target ” means Solana Resources Limited, a corporation existing under the laws of Alberta;

 

4.


 

Trust ” means the trust created by this Agreement;

 

Trust Estate ” means the Acquiror Special Voting Stock, any other securities, the Exchange Right, the Automatic Exchange Rights and any money or other property which may be held by the Trustee from time to time pursuant to this Agreement; and

 

Voting Rights ” means the voting rights of the Acquiror Special Voting Stock held by the Trustee in respect of which the Beneficiaries are, in accordance with this Agreement, entitled to instruct the Trustee to vote.

 

1.2   Interpretation Not Affected by Headings, etc .

 

The division of this Agreement into articles, sections, subsections and other portions and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and should not affect the construction or interpretation hereof. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to an “Article”, “Section” or “Subsection” followed by a number refer to the specified Article, Section or Subsection of this Agreement. The terms “this Agreement,” “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and similar expressions refer to this Agreement and not to any particular Article, Section, Subsection or other portion hereof.

 

1.3   Rules of Construction

 

Unless otherwise specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires: (a) all references to “dollars” or “$” mean United States dollars; (b) words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and words importing any gender shall include all genders; and (c) “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

 

1.4   Date for any Action

 

In the event that any date on which any action is required to be taken hereunder by any of the parties hereto is not a Business Day, such action shall be required to be taken on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day.

 

1.5   Payments

 

All payments to be made hereunder will be made without interest and less any tax required by Canadian law to be deducted or withheld.

 

ARTICLE 2

PURPOSE OF AGREEMENT

 

2.1   Establishment of Trust

 

The purpose of this Agreement is to create the Trust for the benefit of the Beneficiaries and Acquiror, as herein provided. The Trustee will hold the Acquiror Special Voting Stock in order to enable the Trustee to exercise the Voting Rights and will hold the Exchange Right and the Automatic Exchange Rights in order to enable the Trustee to exercise such rights, in each case as trustee for and on behalf of the Beneficiaries as provided in this Agreement. The Trustee will hold the Acquiror Special Voting Stock for and on behalf of Acquiror for all other rights associated with such Acquiror Special Voting Stock other than the Voting Rights.

 

5.


 

ARTICLE 3

ACQUIROR SPECIAL VOTING STOCK

 

3.1   Issue and Ownership of the Acquiror Special Voting Stock

 

Acquiror hereby agrees to issue to, and deposit with, the Trustee the Acquiror Special Voting Stock to be hereafter held of record by the Trustee as trustee for and on behalf of, and for the use and benefit of, the Beneficiaries and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Acquiror hereby acknowledges receipt from the Trustee as trustee for and on behalf of the Beneficiaries of good and valuable consideration (and the adequacy thereof) for the issuance of the Acquiror Special Voting Stock by Acquiror to the Trustee. During the term of the Trust and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Trustee shall possess and be vested with full legal ownership of such Acquiror Special Voting Stock and shall be entitled to exercise all of the rights and powers of an owner with respect to such Acquiror Special Voting Stock provided that the Trustee shall:

 

 

(a)

hold such Acquiror Special Voting Stock and the legal title thereto as trustee solely for the use and benefit of the Beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; and

 

 

(b)

except as specifically authorized by this Agreement, have no power or authority to sell, transfer, vote or otherwise deal in or with such Acquiror Special Voting Stock and such Acquiror Special Voting Stock shall not be used or disposed of by the Trustee for any purpose other than the purposes for which this Trust is created pursuant to this Agreement.

 

3.2   Legended Share Certificates

 

ExchangeCo will cause each certificate representing Exchangeable Shares to bear an appropriate legend notifying the Beneficiaries of their right to instruct the Trustee with respect to the exercise of the portion of the Voting Rights in respect of the Exchangeable Shares held by the Beneficiaries.

 

3.3   Safe Keeping of Certificate

 

The physical certificates representing the Acquiror Special Voting Stock are held by the Trust, such certificates shall at all times be held in safe keeping by the Trustee or its duly authorized agent.

 

6.


 

ARTICLE 4

EXERCISE OF VOTING RIGHTS

 

4.1   Voting Rights

 

The Trustee, as the holder of record of the Acquiror Special Voting Stock forming part of the Trust Estate, shall be entitled to all of the Voting Rights, including the right to vote in person or by proxy the Acquiror Special Voting Stock held by the Trustee on any matter, question, proposal or proposition whatsoever that may properly come before the shareholders of Acquiror at a Acquiror Meeting or in connection with a Acquiror Consent. The Voting Rights shall be and remain vested in and exercised by the Trustee. Subject to Section 6.15:

 

 

(a)

the Trustee shall exercise the Voting Rights only on the basis of instructions received pursuant to this Article 4 from Beneficiaries entitled to instruct the Trustee as to the voting thereof at the time at which the Acquiror Meeting is held or a Acquiror Consent is sought; and

 

 

(b)

to the extent that no instructions are received from a Beneficiary with respect to the Voting Rights to which such Beneficiary is entitled, the Trustee shall not exercise or permit the exercise of such Voting Rights.

 

4.2   Number of Votes

 

With respect to all meetings of shareholders of Acquiror at which holders of Acquiror Common Shares are entitled to vote (each, a “ Acquiror Meeting ”) and with respect to all written consents sought from Acquiror’s shareholders, including the holders of Acquiror Common Shares (each, a “ Acquiror Consent ”), each Beneficiary shall be entitled to instruct the Trustee to cast and exercise, in the manner instructed, a number of votes equal to the Equivalent Vote Amount for each Exchangeable Share owned of record by such Beneficiary on the record date established by Acquiror or by applicable law for such Acquiror Meeting or Acquiror Consent, as the case may be (collectively, the “ Beneficiary Votes ”), in respect of each matter, question, proposal or proposition to be voted on at such Acquiror Meeting or consented to in connection with such Acquiror Consent.

 

4.3   Mailings to Shareholders

 

With respect to each Acquiror Meeting and Acquiror Consent, the Trustee will use its reasonable commercial efforts promptly to mail or cause to be mailed (or otherwise communicate in the same manner as Acquiror utilizes in communications to holders of Acquiror Common Shares subject to applicable regulatory requirements and provided such manner of communications is reasonably available to the Trustee) to each of the Beneficiaries named in the List, such mailing or communication to commence on the same day as the mailing or notice (or other communication) with respect thereto is commenced by Acquiror to its shareholders:

 

 

(a)

a copy of such notice, together with any related materials, including any proxy or information statement, to be provided to shareholders of Acquiror;

 

7.


 

 

(b)

a statement that such Beneficiary is entitled to instruct the Trustee as to the exercise of the Beneficiary Votes with respect to such Acquiror Meeting or Acquiror Consent or, pursuant to Section 4.7, to attend such Acquiror Meeting and to exercise personally thereat the Beneficiary Votes of such Beneficiary;

 

 

(c)

a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given to the Trustee, including an express indication that instructions may be given to the Trustee to give:

 

 

(i)

a proxy to such Beneficiary or its designee to exercise personally the Beneficiary Votes; or

 

 

(ii)

a proxy to a designated agent or other representative of the management of Acquiror to exercise such Beneficiary Votes;

 

 

(d)

a statement that if no such instructions are received from the Beneficiary, the Beneficiary Votes to which such Beneficiary is entitled will not be exercised;

 

 

(e)

a form of direction whereby the Beneficiary may so direct and instruct the Trustee as contemplated herein; and

 

 

(f)

a statement of the time and date by which such instructions must be received by the Trustee in order to be binding upon it, which in the case of a Acquiror Meeting shall not be earlier than the close of business on the Business Day immediately prior to the date by which the Corporation has required proxies be deposited for such meeting, and of the method for revoking or amending such instructions.

 

For the purpose of determining Beneficiary Votes to which a Beneficiary is entitled in respect of any Acquiror Meeting or Acquiror Consent, the number of Exchangeable Shares owned of record by the Beneficiary shall be determined at the close of business on the record date established by Acquiror or by applicable law for purposes of determining shareholders entitled to vote at such Acquiror Meeting or to give written consent in connection with such Acquiror Consent. Acquiror will notify the Trustee of any decision of the Board of Directors of Acquiror with respect to the calling of any Acquiror Meeting or the seeking of any Acquiror Consent and shall provide all necessary information and materials to the Trustee in each case promptly and in any event in sufficient time to enable the Trustee to perform its obligations contemplated by this Section 4.3.

 

The materials referred to in this Section 4.3 are to be provided to the Trustee by Acquiror and the materials referred to in Subsections 4.3(c), 4.3(e) and 4.3(f) shall be subject to reasonable comment by the Trustee in a timely manner. Acquiror shall ensure that the materials to be provided to the Trustee are provided in sufficient time to permit the Trustee to comment as aforesaid and to send all materials to each Beneficiary at the same time as such materials are first sent to holders of Acquiror Common Shares. Acquiror agrees not to communicate with holders of Acquiror Common Shares with respect to the materials referred to in this Section 4.3 otherwise than by mail unless such method of communication is also reasonably available to the Trustee for communication with the Beneficiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Acquiror may at its option exercise the duties of the Trustee to deliver copies of all materials to each Beneficiary as required by this Section 4.3 so long as in each case Acquiror delivers a certificate to the Trustee stating that Acquiror has undertaken to perform the obligations of the Trustee set forth in this Section 4.3.

 

8.


 

4.4   Copies of Shareholder Information

 

Acquiror will deliver to the Trustee copies of all proxy materials (including notices of Acquiror Meetings but excluding proxies to vote Acquiror Common Shares, and in lieu of such proxies, Acquiror shall deliver to the Trustee a voting information form in form satisfactory to the Trustee, acting reasonably), information statements, reports (including all interim and annual financial statements) and other written communications that, in each case, are to be distributed from time to time to holders of Acquiror Common Shares in sufficient quantities and in sufficient time so as to enable the Trustee to send those materials to each Beneficiary, to the extent possible, at the same time as such materials are first sent to holders of Acquiror Common Shares. The Trustee will mail or otherwise send to each Beneficiary, at the expense of Acquiror, copies of all such materials (and all materials specifically directed to the Beneficiaries or to the Trustee for the benefit of the Beneficiaries by Acquiror) received by the Trustee from Acquiror, to the extent possible, at the same time as such materials are sent to holders of Acquiror Common Shares. The Trustee will make copies of all such materials available for inspection by any Beneficiary at the Trustee’s principal office in Calgary, Alberta. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Acquiror at its option may exercise the duties of the Trustee to deliver copies of all materials to each Beneficiary as required by this Section 4.4 so long as in each case Acquiror delivers a certificate to the Trustee stating that Acquiror has undertaken to perform the obligations set forth in this Section 4.4.

 

4.5   Other Materials

 

As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by Acquiror or holders of Acquiror Common Shares (if such receipt is known by Acquiror) of any material sent or given by or on behalf of a third party to holders of Acquiror Common Shares generally, including dissident proxy and information circulars (and related information and material) and tender and exchange offer circulars (and related information and material), Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain and deliver to the Trustee copies thereof in sufficient quantities so as to enable the Trustee to forward such material (unless the same has been provided directly to Beneficiaries by such third party) to each Beneficiary as soon as possible thereafter. As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt thereof, the Trustee will mail or otherwise send to each Beneficiary, at the expense of Acquiror, copies of all such materials received by the Trustee from Acquiror. The Trustee will also make available for inspection by any Beneficiary at the Trustee’s principal office in Calgary, Alberta copies of all such materials. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Acquiror at its option may exercise the duties of the Trustee to deliver copies of all such materials to each Beneficiary as required by this Section 4.5 so long as in each case Acquiror delivers a certificate to the Trustee stating that Acquiror has undertaken to perform the obligations set forth in this Section 4.5.

 

9.


 

4.6   List of Persons Entitled to Vote

 

ExchangeCo shall: (a) prior to each annual and special Acquiror Meeting or the seeking of any Acquiror Consent; and (b) forthwith upon each request made at any time by the Trustee in writing, prepare or cause to be prepared a list (a “ List ”) of the names and addresses of the Beneficiaries arranged in alphabetical order and showing the number of Exchangeable Shares held of record by each such Beneficiary, in each case at the close of business on the date specified by the Trustee in such request or, in the case of a List prepared in connection with a Acquiror Meeting or a Acquiror Consent, at the close of business on the record date established by Acquiror or pursuant to applicable law for determining the holders of Acquiror Common Shares entitled to receive notice of and/or to vote at such Acquiror Meeting or to give consent in connection with such Acquiror Consent. Each such List shall be delivered to the Trustee promptly after receipt by ExchangeCo of such request or the record date for such meeting or seeking of consent, as the case may be, and in any event within sufficient time as to permit the Trustee to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Acquiror agrees to give ExchangeCo notice (with a copy to the Trustee) of the calling of any Acquiror Meeting or the seeking of any Acquiror Consent by Acquiror or its management, together with the record dates therefor, sufficiently prior to the date of the calling of such meeting or seeking of such consent so as to enable ExchangeCo to perform its obligations under this Section 4.6.

 

4.7   Entitlement to Direct Votes

 

Any Beneficiary named in a List prepared in connection with any Acquiror Meeting or Acquiror Consent will be entitled: (a) to instruct the Trustee in the manner described in Section 4.3 with respect to the exercise of the Beneficiary Votes to which such Beneficiary is entitled; or (b) to attend such meeting and personally exercise thereat (or to personally exercise with respect to any Acquiror Consent), as the proxy of the Trustee, the Beneficiary Votes to which such Beneficiary is entitled.

 

4.8   Voting by Trustee and Attendance of Trustee Representative at Meeting

 

 

(a)

In connection with each Acquiror Meeting and Acquiror Consent, the Trustee shall exercise, either in person or by proxy, in accordance with the instructions received from a Beneficiary pursuant to Section 4.3, the Beneficiary Votes as to which such Beneficiary is entitled to direct the vote (or any lesser number thereof as may be set forth in the instructions); provided, however, that such written instructions are received by the Trustee from the Beneficiary prior to the time and date fixed by the Trustee for receipt of such instruction in the notice given by the Trustee to the Beneficiary pursuant to Section 4.3.

 

 

(b)

The Trustee shall cause a representative who is empowered by it to sign and deliver, on behalf of the Trustee, proxies for Voting Rights to attend each Acquiror Meeting. Upon submission by a Beneficiary (or its designee) of identification satisfactory to the Trustee’s representative, and at the Beneficiary’s request, such representative shall sign and deliver to such Beneficiary (or its designee) a proxy to exercise personally the Beneficiary Votes as to which such Beneficiary is otherwise entitled hereunder to direct the vote, if such Beneficiary either: (i) has not previously given the Trustee instructions pursuant to Section 4.3 in respect of such meeting; or (ii) submits to such representative written revocation of any such previous instructions. At such meeting, upon receipt of a proxy from the Trustee’s representative, the Beneficiary exercising such Beneficiary Votes shall have the same rights as the Trustee to speak at the meeting in respect of any matter, question, proposal or proposition, to vote by way of ballot at the meeting in respect of any matter, question, proposal or proposition, and to vote at such meeting by way of a show of hands in respect of any matter, question or proposition.

 

10.


 

4.9   Distribution of Written Materials

 

Any written materials distributed by or on behalf of the Trustee pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent by mail (or otherwise communicated in the same manner as Acquiror utilizes in communications to holders of Acquiror Common Shares, subject to applicable regulatory requirements and provided such manner of communications is reasonably available to the Trustee) to each Beneficiary at its address as shown on the books of ExchangeCo. Acquiror agrees not to communicate with holders of Acquiror Common Shares with respect to such written material otherwise than by mail unless such method of communication is also reasonably available to the Trustee for communication with the Beneficiaries. ExchangeCo shall provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee for purposes of communication, on a timely basis and without charge or other expense:

 

 

(a)

a current List; and

 

 

(b)

upon the request of the Trustee, mailing labels to enable the Trustee to carry out its duties under this Agreement.

 

ExchangeCo’s obligations under this Section 4.9 shall be deemed satisfied to the extent Acquiror exercises its option to perform the duties of the Trustee to deliver copies of materials to each Beneficiary and ExchangeCo provides the required information and materials to Acquiror.

 

4.10   Termination of Voting Rights

 

Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Exchangeable Share Provisions, all of the rights of a Beneficiary with respect to the Beneficiary Votes exercisable in respect of the Exchangeable Shares held by such Beneficiary, including the right to instruct the Trustee as to the voting of or to vote personally such Beneficiary Votes, shall be deemed to be surrendered by the Beneficiary to Acquiror or Callco, as the case may be, and such Beneficiary Votes and the Voting Rights represented thereby shall cease and be terminated immediately, upon the delivery by such Beneficiary to the Trustee of the certificates representing such Exchangeable Shares in connection with the exercise by the Beneficiary of the Exchange Right or upon the occurrence of the automatic exchange of Exchangeable Shares for Acquiror Common Shares, as specified in Article 5 (unless, in either case, Acquiror shall not have delivered the Exchangeable Share Consideration deliverable in exchange therefor to the Trustee for delivery to the Beneficiaries), or upon the redemption of Exchangeable Shares pursuant to Article 6 or Article 7 of the Exchangeable Share Provisions, or upon the effective date of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of ExchangeCo pursuant to Article 5 of the Exchangeable Share Provisions, or the purchase of Exchangeable Shares from the holder thereof by Callco pursuant to the exercise by Callco of the Retraction Call Right, the Redemption Call Right or the Liquidation Call Right, or upon the purchase of Exchangeable Shares from the holders thereof by Acquiror or Callco pursuant to the exercise by Acquiror or Callco of the Change of Law Call Right.

 

11.


 

ARTICLE 5

EXCHANGE RIGHT AND AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE

 

5.1   Grant and Ownership of the Exchange Right

 

Acquiror hereby grants to the Trustee as trustee for and on behalf of, and for the use and benefit of, the Beneficiaries the right (the “ Exchange Right ”), upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Insolvency Event, to require Acquiror to purchase from each or any Beneficiary all or any part of the Exchangeable Shares held by such Beneficiary and the Automatic Exchange Rights, all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Acquiror hereby acknowledges receipt from the Trustee as trustee for and on behalf of the Beneficiaries of good and valuable consideration (and the adequacy thereof) for the grant of the Exchange Right and the Automatic Exchange Rights by Acquiror to the Trustee. During the term of the Trust and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Trustee shall possess and be vested with full legal ownership of the Exchange Right and the Automatic Exchange Rights and shall be entitled to exercise all of the rights and powers of an owner with respect to the Exchange Right and the Automatic Exchange Rights, provided that the Trustee shall:

 

 

(a)

hold the Exchange Right and the Automatic Exchange Rights and the legal title thereto as trustee solely for the use and benefit of the Beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; and

 

 

(b)

except as specifically authorized by this Agreement, have no power or authority to exercise or otherwise deal in or with the Exchange Right or the Automatic Exchange Rights, and the Trustee shall not exercise any such rights for any purpose other than the purposes for which the Trust is created pursuant to this Agreement.

 

5.2   Legended Share Certificates

 

ExchangeCo will cause each certificate representing Exchangeable Shares to bear an appropriate legend notifying the Beneficiaries of:

 

 

(a)

their right to instruct the Trustee with respect to the exercise of the Exchange Right in respect of the Exchangeable Shares held by a Beneficiary; and

 

 

(b)

the Automatic Exchange Rights.

 

12.


 

5.3   General Exercise of Exchange Right

 

The Exchange Right shall be and remain vested in and exercisable by the Trustee. Subject to Section 6.15, the Trustee shall exercise the Exchange Right only on the basis of instructions received pursuant to this Article 5 from Beneficiaries entitled to instruct the Trustee as to the exercise thereof. To the extent that no instructions are received from a Beneficiary with respect to the Exchange Right, the Trustee shall not exercise or permit the exercise of the Exchange Right.

 

5.4   Purchase Price

 

The purchase price payable by Acquiror for each Exchangeable Share to be purchased by Acquiror under the Exchange Right shall be an amount per share equal to the Exchangeable Share Price on the last Business Day prior to the day of closing of the purchase and sale of such Exchangeable Share under the Exchange Right. In connection with each exercise of the Exchange Right, Acquiror shall provide to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the calculation of the Exchangeable Share Price for each Exchangeable Share. The Exchangeable Share Price for each such Exchangeable Share so purchased may be satisfied only by Acquiror delivering or causing to be delivered to the Trustee, on behalf of the relevant Beneficiary, the Exchangeable Share Consideration representing the total Exchangeable Share Price. Upon payment by Acquiror of such purchase price to the Trustee for the benefit of the Beneficiary, the relevant Beneficiary shall cease to have any right to be paid any amount in respect of declared and unpaid dividends on each such Exchangeable Share by ExchangeCo.

 

5.5   Exercise Instructions

 

Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, a Beneficiary shall be entitled, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Insolvency Event, to instruct the Trustee to exercise the Exchange Right with respect to all or any part of the Exchangeable Shares registered in the name of such Beneficiary on the books of ExchangeCo. To cause the exercise of the Exchange Right by the Trustee, the Beneficiary shall deliver to the Trustee, in person or by certified or registered mail, at its principal office in Calgary, Alberta or at such other places as the Trustee may from time to time designate by written notice to the Beneficiaries, the certificates representing the Exchangeable Shares which such Beneficiary desires Acquiror to purchase, duly endorsed in blank for transfer, and accompanied by such other documents and instruments as may be required to effect a transfer of Exchangeable Shares under the ABCA and the by-laws of ExchangeCo and such additional documents and instruments as the Trustee, ExchangeCo and Acquiror may reasonably require together with: (a) a duly completed form of notice of exercise of the Exchange Right, contained on the reverse of or attached to the Exchangeable Share certificates, stating: (i) that the Beneficiary thereby instructs the Trustee to exercise the Exchange Right so as to require Acquiror to purchase from the Beneficiary the number of Exchangeable Shares specified therein: (ii) that such Beneficiary has good title to and owns all such Exchangeable Shares to be acquired by Acquiror free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests and encumbrances; (iii) the names in which the certificates representing Acquiror Common Shares issuable in connection with the exercise of the Exchange Right are to be issued; and (iv) the names and addresses of the persons to whom such new certificates should be delivered; and (b) payment (or evidence satisfactory to the Trustee, ExchangeCo and Acquiror of payment) of the taxes (if any) payable as contemplated by Section 5.8 of this Agreement. If only a part of the Exchangeable Shares represented by any certificate or certificates delivered to the Trustee are to be purchased by Acquiror under the Exchange Right, a new certificate for the balance of such Exchangeable Shares shall be issued to the holder at the expense of ExchangeCo.

 

13.


 

5.6   Delivery of Acquiror Common Shares; Effect of Exercise

 

Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of the certificates representing the Exchangeable Shares which the Beneficiary desires Acquiror to purchase under the Exchange Right, together with such documents and instruments of transfer and a duly completed form of notice of exercise of the Exchange Right (and payment of taxes, if any payable as contemplated by Section 5.8 or evidence thereof), duly endorsed for transfer to Acquiror, the Trustee shall notify Acquiror and ExchangeCo of its receipt of the same, which notice to Acquiror and ExchangeCo shall constitute exercise of the Exchange Right by the Trustee on behalf of the Beneficiary in respect of such Exchangeable Shares, and Acquiror shall promptly thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee, for delivery to the Beneficiary in respect of such Exchangeable Shares (or to such other persons, if any, properly designated by such Beneficiary) the Exchangeable Share Consideration deliverable in connection with the exercise of the Exchange Right; provided, however, that no such delivery shall be made unless and until the Beneficiary requesting the same shall have paid (or provided evidence satisfactory to the Trustee, ExchangeCo and Acquiror of the payment of) the taxes (if any) payable as contemplated by Section 5.8 of this Agreement. Immediately upon the giving of notice by the Trustee to Acquiror and ExchangeCo of the exercise of the Exchange Right, as provided in this Section 5.6, the closing of the transaction of purchase and sale contemplated by the Exchange Right shall be deemed to have occurred, and the Beneficiary of such Exchangeable Shares shall be deemed to have transferred to Acquiror all of such Beneficiary’s right, title and interest in and to such Exchangeable Shares and in the related interest in the Trust Estate and shall cease to be a holder of such Exchangeable Shares and shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a holder in respect thereof, other than the right to receive his proportionate part of the total purchase price therefor, unless such Exchangeable Share Consideration is not delivered by Acquiror to the Trustee for delivery to such Beneficiary (or to such other person, if any, properly designated by such Beneficiary) within five Business Days of the date of the giving of such notice by the Trustee, in which case the rights of the Beneficiary shall remain unaffected until such Exchangeable Share Consideration is delivered by Acquiror and any cheque included therein is paid. Upon delivery of such Exchangeable Share Consideration by Acquiror to the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver such Exchangeable Share Consideration to such Beneficiary (or to such other person, if any, properly designated by such Beneficiary).


 
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