EX 99.2
WEINBERG, ROGER & ROSENFELD
ASHLEY K. IKEDA 2955-0
JERRY P.S. CHANG 6671
Central Pacific Plaza
220 South King Street, Suite 901
Honolulu, HI 96813
Telephone: (808)528-8880
Facsimile: (808) 528-8881
aikeda@unioncounsel.net
jchang@unioncounsel.net
Attorneys for Plaintiffs Ian Bell and Marc D'Annunzio
ROBBINS LLP
BRIAN J. ROBBINS
CRAIG W. SMITH (pro hac vice)
SHANE P. SANDERS (pro hac vice)
5040 Shoreham Place
San Diego, CA 92122
Telephone: (619) 525-3990
Facsimile: (619) 525-3991
brobbins@robbinsllp.com
csmith@robbinsllp.com
ssanders@robbinsllp.com
Attorneys for Plaintiff Ian Bell
LAW OFFICES OF BETH A. KELLER, P.C.
BETH A. KELLER (pro hac vice)
118 N Bedford Rd Ste 100
Mount Kisco, NY 10549
Telephone: (914) 752-3040
bkeller@keller-lawfirm.com
Attorneys for Plaintiff Marc D'Annunzio
[Additional Counsel on Signature Page.]
[Caption on following page.]
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF HAWAII
IN RE ECO SCIENCE SOLUTIONS, INC. SHAREHOLDER DERIVATIVE LITIGATION | Lead Civil No. 1:17-00530-LEK-WRP (Consolidated with No. 1:18-cv-00016) |
This Document Relates To: ALL ACTIONS | STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT |
This Stipulation of Settlement, dated September 21, 2020 (the "Stipulation"), is made and entered into by and among the following Settling Parties,1 by and through their respective counsel of record: (i) plaintiffs Ian Bell and Marc D'Annunzio ("Plaintiffs"), individually and derivatively on behalf of nominal defendant Eco Science Solutions, Inc. ("ESSI" or the "Company"); (ii) defendants Jeffery Taylor, Don Lee Taylor, L. John Lewis, S. Randall Oveson, and Gannon Giguiere (collectively, the "Individual Defendants"); and (iii) nominal defendant ESSI. This Stipulation is intended by the Settling Parties to fully, finally, and forever resolve, discharge, and settle the Released Claims, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
A. |
Plaintiffs' Allegations |
Plaintiffs allege that the Individual Defendants caused ESSI to make misleading statements about ESSI's business, operation, and prospects in order to inflate the stock price for their own benefits and disseminated false information concerning a proposed acquisition of Ga-Du Bank, Inc. ESSI's purported dissemination of inadequate and inaccurate information concerning the proposed acquisition of Ga-Du Bank, Inc. prompted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to suspend trading in ESSI stock.
B. | Relevant Procedural History |
Plaintiff Ian Bell commenced this shareholder derivative action on behalf of ESSI by filing a complaint on October 20, 2017. Plaintiff Marc D'Annunzio filed a shareholder derivative complaint based on similar allegations on January 11, 2018. The cases were ordered consolidated on February 9, 2018. Plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint on February 23, 2018.2
On March 16, 2018, Defendants moved to dismiss or stay the Action. Plaintiffs opposed the motion to stay. Following briefing, the Court held a hearing on June 4, 2018, and on August 13, 2018 denied Defendants' motion.
On September 28, 2018, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint. Rather than oppose the motion, Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint on December 10, 2018, adding additional factual allegations.
On January 29, 2019, Defendants filed a second motion to stay, which Plaintiffs opposed. On April 26, 2019, after full briefing, the Court denied Defendants' second stay motion.
On December 18, 2018, Plaintiffs sent Defendants a comprehensive written settlement demand seeking monetary and non-monetary relief in the form of comprehensive Board of Directors (the "Board") structure, corporate governance and internal controls reforms designed to prevent recurrence of the alleged wrongdoing and to restore investor confidence in the rigor and independence of ESSI's board oversight and the integrity of its management and public disclosures. Following a number of informal exchanges, on October 21, 2019, Plaintiffs sent a follow-up to their settlement demand, seeking information regarding ESSI's current financial condition and operations, any available insurance, and the Individual Defendants' finances. Defendants sent a formal written response to Plaintiffs' settlement demand on October 31, 2019.
1 All capitalized terms not otherwise defined are defined in section IV.1.
2 Two other shareholder derivative actions were filed based on similar allegations: (i) Glorioso v. Taylor, et al., No. 17OC0001371B (Carson City Nev.) (the "Glorioso Action"); and (ii) Menos v. Taylor, et al., No. 3:17-cv-00662-LRH-VPC (D. Nev.) (the "Menos Action"). The Glorioso Action has been stayed since its inception and remains pending. The Menos Action was voluntarily dismissed on March 3, 2020. The parties agree that the entry of judgment in this Action would effectively terminate the Glorioso Action by operation of res judicata.
Thereafter, the parties' counsel engaged in discussions concerning potential resolution of the Action. After months of substantive exchanges, it became clear that the parties would require the assistance of a neutral to make further progress. The parties agreed to participate in a formal settlement conference with Magistrate Judge Wes R. Porter. The Court set a settlement conference on December 3, 2019.
In the lead up to the settlement conference, the parties exchanged numerous settlement communications addressing the economic and non-economic remedies Plaintiffs sought, including matters relating to the scope and contours of corporate governance reforms. Defendants' Counsel provided information relating to insurance, ESSI's financial condition, and the Individual Defendants' ability to satisfy judgment. The parties prepared and submitted to Judge Porter detailed settlement conference statements addressing the allegations, damages, potential defenses, and their respective views of how to address the major impediments to achieving a settlement.
On December 3, 2019, the parties participated in an in-person Settlement conference with Judge Porter in Honolulu, Hawaii. In addition to counsel for the parties, plaintiff Ian Bell, a representative of the Individual Defendants, and ESSI's current Chief Operating Officer ("COO") attended the settlement conference. With Judge Porter's assistance, the parties made substantial progress towards establishing a settlement framework. But it was clear that the parties would need substantial additional time to address certain issues, and the settlement conference was adjourned.
Over the following five months, the parties continued to negotiate. They exchanged drafts of corporate governance reforms and detailed settlement term sheet that included monetary and non-monetary components. These exchanges led to a March 9, 2020, meeting of counsel at Greenberg Traurig LLP's San Francisco office, where the parties continued to make progress.
On April 15, 2020, counsel for the parties participated in a telephonic settlement conference with Judge Porter, which accelerated progress toward agreement on the material substantive terms of a settlement. Following further discussions with Judge Porter and amongst counsel, on May 11, 2020, the parties finalized and executed a settlement term sheet reflecting the material substantive settlement terms, including a substantial pecuniary recovery and a comprehensive package of corporate governance therapeutics. On May 12, 2020, the Settlement was read into the record before Judge Porter.
Thereafter, counsel for the parties commenced negotiations regarding a reasonable attorneys' fee and expense amount for Plaintiffs' Counsel in consideration for the substantial benefits secured through their litigation and settlement efforts. Following several weeks of arm's-length negotiations facilitated by Judge Porter, the parties made progress but were unable to reach agreement. Judge Porter made a double-blind mediator's recommendation, which all parties accepted on June 24, 2020.
II. | PLAINTIFFS' CLAIMS AND THE BENEFITS OF SETTLEMENT |
Plaintiffs believe the Action has substantial merit, and Plaintiffs' entry into this Stipulation and Settlement is not intended to be and shall not be construed as an admission or concession concerning the relative strength or merit of the claims alleged in the Action. Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs' Counsel recognize and acknowledge the significant risk, expense, and length of continued proceedings necessary to prosecute the Action against the Individual Defendants through trial and possible appeals, and the uncertainties inherent in the continued prosecution of the claims through and any subsequent appeal, including problems of proof, overcoming available defenses, the difficulties of measuring and proving damages. Plaintiffs also recognize the unique challenges in this Action of attempting to pursue claims on behalf of ESSI without damaging its financial viability, and of collecting on any damages that might be awarded at trial. ESSI has virtually no cash and no directors' and officers' liability insurance. Continued litigation threatened the Company's viability. Even non-monetary remedial measures had to be subject to detailed implementation protocols to ensure their cost would not overwhelm the Company's limited human and financial resources.
Plaintiffs' Counsel conducted an extensive investigation and thorough evaluation of the relevant facts, law, and unique operational and financial issues bearing on settlement before agreeing to resolve this Action, including, inter alia: (i) reviewing ESSI's press releases, public statements, SEC filings, and securities analysts' reports and advisories about the Company; (ii) reviewing related business and financial media reports about the Company; (iii) researching applicable law with respect to the claims alleged in the Action and potential defenses thereto;
(iv) preparing and filing derivative complaint(s); (v) conducting extensive damages analyses; (vi) evaluating stock awards made and putative debt obligations owed by ESSI to the Individual Defendants; (vii) evaluating the merits of, and the Defendants' potential liability in connection with certain related litigation and investigations; (viii) evaluating Defendants' motions to dismiss, and analyzing and incorporating the substantial additional information contained in related filings into a detailed Amended Complaint; (ix) evaluating ESSI's executive staff, board composition and corporate governance and internal controls, and identifying the governance structures and lapses in board oversight and controls that permitted the alleged wrongdoing to occur; (x) reviewing peer company and secondary sources to develop a comprehensive suite of proposed governance reforms; (xi) preparing a comprehensive monetary and non-monetary settlement demand based on the foregoing information; (xii) preparing detailed settlement conference statements for consideration by Judge Porter, which evaluated the claims, defenses and unique financial and operational considerations material to the settlement negotiations; (xiii) evaluating additional details regarding ESSI's current operations, financial condition, and debt obligations in meetings with Defendants' Counsel and ESSI's COO at the December 3, 2019 settlement conference; (xiv) considering the additional information supplied by Defendants' Counsel at the March 2019 in-person meeting; (xv) developing a detailed, phased corporate therapeutics implementation program tailored to the Company's unique operational and financial challenges based on additional information gleaned during in the course of settlement negotiations; and (xvi) developing a tailored pecuniary recovery plan tailored to address ESSI's unique financial and governance challenges.
Plaintiffs' Counsel's assessment of the facts, legal and financial issues material to their recommendation in favor of the Settlement was further honed and refined over the course of months of substantive written and verbal exchanges with Defendants, Defendants' Counsel and Judge Porter.
Based on Plaintiffs' Counsel's thorough review and analysis of the relevant facts, allegations, defenses, and controlling legal principles, and the information material to developing a comprehensive remedial plan tailored to ESSI's circumstances, Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs' Counsel believe that the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation is fair, reasonable, and adequate, and confers substantial benefits upon ESSI and its shareholders and serves their best interests. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have agreed to settle the Action upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
III. | DEFENDANTS' DENIALS OF WRONGDOING AND LIABILITY |
Defendants have denied and continue to deny each and all of the claims and contentions alleged by Plaintiffs in the Action. The Individual Defendants have expressly denied and continue to deny they made any misrepresentations or took any other wrongful actions in order to benefit themselves at the expense of ESSI's shareholders, or they have committed, threatened, or attempted to commit, any other violations of law, or breached any duty owed to ESSI including, but not limited to, all charges of wrongdoing or liability against them arising out of any of the conduct, statements, acts, or omissions alleged, or that could have been alleged in the Action.
Without admitting the validity of any allegations made in the Action, or any liability with respect thereto, the Individual Defendants have concluded that it is desirable for the Action to be fully and finally settled in the matter and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Stipulation. Defendants are entering into this Settlement because it will eliminate the distraction, burden, and expense of further litigation and taking into account the uncertainty and risks inherent in any litigation, especially in complex cases like the Action. ESSI's directors have unanimously determined that the Settlement confers substantial benefits on the Company, and that it is in the best interests of ESSI and its shareholders for the Action to be settled in the manner and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Stipulation.
Neither this Stipulation, nor any of its terms or provisions, nor entry of the Judgment, nor any document or exhibit referred or attached to this Stipulation, nor any action taken to carry out this Stipulation, is, may be construed as, or may be used as evidence of the validity of any of the Released Claims or an admission by or against the Individual Defendants of any fault, wrongdoing, or concession of liability whatsoever.
IV. | TERMS OF STIPULATION AND AGREEMENT OF SETTLEMENT |
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED by and among the undersigned counsel for the Settling Parties herein, in consideration of the benefits flowing to the parties from the Settlement, and subject to the approval of the Court, that the claims asserted in the Action and the Released Claims shall be finally and fully compromised, settled, and released, and the Action shall be dismissed with prejudice and with full preclusive effect as to all Settling Parties, upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Stipulation, as set forth below.
As used in this Stipulation, and in addition to the terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
1.1 "Action" means the consolidated derivative action styled as In re Eco Science Solutions, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation, Lead Civil No. 1:17-cv-00530-LEK-WRP (D. Haw.) consolidated on February 9, 2018.
1.2 "Amended Complaint" means the Verified Amended Consolidated Stockholder Derivative Complaint filed with the Court on December 10, 2018.
1.3 "Court" means the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.
1.4 "Current ESSI Shareholders" means any Person who owned ESSI common stock as of the date of the execution of this Stipulation and continues to hold their ESSI common stock as of the date of Settlement Hearing, excluding the Individual Defendants, the officers and directors of ESSI, members of their immediate families, and their legal representatives, heirs, successors, or assigns, and any entity in which Individual Defendants have or had a controlling interest.
1.5 "Defendants" means, collectively, nominal defendant ESSI and the Individual Defendants.
1.6 "Defendants' Counsel" means the law firms Greenberg Traurig LLP and Miller Shea LLLC.
1.7 "Effective Date" means the date by which the events and conditions specified in paragraph 6.1 of this Stipulation have been met and have occurred.
1.8 "Effective Term" means a period of four years following final approval of the Settlement.
1.9 "Fee and Expense Amount" shall have the meaning defined in paragraph 4.1 herein.
1.10 "Final" means the date upon which the last of the following shall occur with respect to the Judgment approving this Stipulation, substantially in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto: (1) the expiration of the time to file a notice of appeal from the Judgment; or (2) if an appeal has been filed, the Court of Appeals has either affirmed the Judgment or dismissed that appeal and the time for any reconsideration or further appellate review has passed; or (3) if a higher court has granted further appellate review, that court has either affirmed the underlying Judgment or affirmed the Court of Appeals' decision affirming the Judgment or dismissing the appeal. For purposes of this paragraph, an "appeal" shall not include any appeal that concerns only the issue of attorneys' fees and expenses. Any proceeding or order, or any appeal or petition for a writ of certiorari pertaining solely to the application for attorneys' fees, costs, or expenses, shall not in any way delay or preclude the Judgment from becoming Final.
1.11 "Individual Defendants" mean Jeffery Taylor ("J. Taylor"), Don Lee Taylor ("D. Taylor"), L. John Lewis ("Lewis"), S. Randall Oveson ("Oveson"), and Gannon Giguiere ("Giguiere").
1.12 "Judgment" means the Order and Final Judgment to be rendered by the Court, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.
1.13 "Notice" means the Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Shareholder Derivative Actions, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
1.14 "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability corporation, professional corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, association, joint stock company, estate, legal representative, trust, unincorporated association, government or any political subdivision or agency thereof and any business or legal entity and their spouses, heirs, predecessors, successors, representatives, or assignees.
1.15 "Plaintiffs" means, collectively, Ian Bell and Marc D'Annunzio.
1.16 "Plaintiffs' Counsel" means the law firms Robbins LLP; the Law Offices of Beth A. Keller, P.C.; Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld; and RM Law, P.C.
1.17 "ESSI" or the "Company" means nominal defendant ESSI, a Nevada corporation, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, and assigns.
1.18 "Related Persons" means: (i) with regard to any individual, his or her spouse, marital communities, immediate family members, heirs, executors, personal representatives, estates, administrators, trusts, predecessors, successors, and assigns or other individual or entity in which any Individual Defendant has a controlling interest, and each and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, attorneys, accountants, auditors, advisors, insurers, co-insurers, re-insurers, heirs, executors, personal representatives, estates, administrators, trusts, predecessors, successors, and assigns; and (ii) with regard to any entity, its respective past or present agents, officers, directors, attorneys, accountants, auditors, advisors, insurers, co-insurers, reinsurers, partners, controlling shareholders, joint venturers, related or affiliated entities, advisors, employees, affiliates, predecessors, successors, parents, subsidiaries, insurers, and assigns.
1.19 "Released Claims" mean and include any and all actions, suits, claims, debts, rights, liabilities, and causes of action of every nature, whether based on federal, state, or local statutory or common law or any other law, rule or regulation, including potential or actual liabilities, known and Unknown Claims (as defined in paragraph 1.27 below), potential or actual, that were or could have been asserted derivatively on behalf of ESSI, by Plaintiffs, any other shareholder of ESSI or any Person standing or purporting to stand in ESSI's shoes, against any of the Released Persons that arise out of, concern or in any way relate to: (i) the allegations, transactions, facts, matters, events, disclosures, non-disclosures, statements, occurrences, representations, acts or omissions or failures to act that have been or could have been alleged or asserted in the Action; (ii) the Settlement, except for any claims to enforce the Settlement; or that (iii) would have been barred by res judicata had the Action been fully litigated to a final judgment. Excluded from the term "Released Claims" are all claims alleged in the pending securities class action captioned In re Eco Science Solutions, Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No. 1:17-cv-03707 (D.N.J.).
1.20 "Released Defendants' Claims" mean all claims, including Unknown Claims (as defined in paragraph 1.27 below), arising out of, relating to, or in connection with the institution, prosecution, assertion, settlement, or resolution of the Action; provided, however, that nothing herein shall in any way impair or restrict the rights of any Settling Party to enforce the terms of the Settlement.
1.21 "Released Persons" mean collectively, ESSI, the Individual Defendants, and their Related Persons. "Released Person" means, individually, any of the Released Persons.
1.22 "Releasing Parties" mean Plaintiffs, all other Current ESSI Shareholders, Plaintiffs' Counsel, and ESSI, and their Related Persons. "Releasing Party" means, individually, any of the Releasing Parties.
1.23 "Settlement" means the settlement and compromise of the Action as provided for herein.
1.24 "Settlement Hearing" means the hearing or hearings at which the Court will review the adequacy, fairness, and reasonableness of the Settlement.
1.25 "Settling Parties" mean, collectively, Plaintiffs and Defendants. "Settling Party" means, individually, any of the Settling Parties.
1.26 "Summary Notice" means the Summary Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Shareholder Derivative Actions, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
1.27 "Unknown Claims" means any Released Claim(s) which Plaintiffs or Defendants do not know of or suspect to exist in his, her, or its favor at the time of the release of the Released Persons. With respect to any and all Released Claims, the Settling Parties agree that upon the Effective Date, the Settling Parties expressly waive the provisions, rights and benefits conferred by or under California Civil Code section 1542, or any other law of the United States or any state or territory of the United States, or principle of common law, which is similar, comparable, or equivalent to section 1542, which provides:
A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.
The Settling Parties acknowledge that they may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those now known or believed to be true by them, with respect to the subject matter of the Released Claims, but it is the intention of the Settling Parties to completely, fully, finally, and forever compromise, settle, release, discharge, and extinguish any and all Released Claims, known or unknown, suspect or unsuspected, actual or potential, contingent or absolute, accrued or unaccrued, apparent or unapparent, which do now exist, or heretofore existed, or may hereafter exist, and without regard to the subsequent discovery of additional or different facts.
The Settling Parties acknowledge that the foregoing waiver was separately bargained for and is a key element of this Stipulation of which this release is a part.
2. | Terms of the Settlement
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2.1 | Economic Consideration:
|
(a) Defendant Giguiere shall make the following contributions to ESSI: (i) Giguiere will release ESSI from any and all obligations to repay $1,500,000 loaned by Giguiere to ESSI, which shall be recognized and reported as a material taxable event to ESSI; (ii) Giguiere will release ESSI from any and all obligations to pay interest, fees or penalties on any and all monies owed to Giguiere, and shall forgo any and all rights arising from any event of default under any loan agreement currently governing such indebtedness as of the date the Settlement is approved and will agree to enter into new loan agreements satisfactory to the Ombudsman and Giguiere; (iii) within five (5) days of final approval of the Settlement, Giguiere shall deliver 1,500,000 shares of ESSI common stock he presently owns to ESSI, which shall be held by the Company as treasury stock or cancelled, as determined by the Ombudsman (see paragraph 2.2 below); and (iv) any remaining shares of ESSI in excess of 1,500,000 shares owned by Giguiere will be held outside the control of Giguiere in a blind trust or other mechanism acceptable to the Ombudsman. Giguiere shall be prohibited in perpetuity from acquiring any additional shares of ESSI common stock from any third party. Giguiere shall be prohibited in perpetuity from acting as officer, director, employee, agent, of ESSI. The Ombudsman (discussed at paragraph 2.2 below) may, in his or her discretion, retain Giguiere as a technology consultant or advisor to ESSI, but any compensation paid to Giguiere for such services must take the form of restricted stock units subject to a three-year vesting period and capped at a maximum of 1,500,000 shares, subject to the determination by the Ombudsman that it is necessary and would serve ESSI's best interests to relax one or both of these limitations.
(b) Within five (5) days of final approval of the Settlement, defendant J. Taylor shall deliver and forgo any interest whatsoever in 750,000 shares of ESSI common stock he presently owns to ESSI, which shall be held by the Company as treasury stock for at least one year following final approval of the Settlement or cancelled, as determined by the Ombudsman. During the Effective Term, J. Taylor shall be prohibited from acquiring additional shares of ESSI stock, except as payment for services rendered to ESSI in amounts approved by the Ombudsman or the reconstituted Board (see paragraph 2.4 below).
(c) Defendant D. Taylor shall deliver and forgo any interest whatsoever in 750,000 shares of ESSI common stock he presently owns to ESSI, which shall be held by the Company as treasury stock for at least one year following final approval of the settlement or cancelled, as determined by the Ombudsman. During the Effective Term, D. Taylor shall be prohibited from acquiring additional shares of ESSI stock, except as payment for services rendered to ESSI in amounts approved by the Ombudsman or the reconstituted Board.
(d) Defendant Lewis shall deliver and forgo any interest whatsoever in 250,000 shares of ESSI common stock he presently owns to ESSI, which shall be held by the Company as treasury stock for at least one year following final approval of the settlement or cancelled, as determined by the Ombudsman. During the Effective Term, Lewis shall be prohibited from acquiring additional shares of ESSI stock, except as payment for services rendered to ESSI in amounts approved by the Ombudsman or the reconstituted Board.
(e) Defendant Oveson shall deliver and forgo any interest whatsoever in 250,000 shares of ESSI common stock he presently owns to ESSI, which shall be held by the Company as treasury stock for at least one year following final approval of the settlement or cancelled, as determined by the Ombudsman. During the Effective Term, Oveson shall be prohibited from acquiring additional shares of ESSI stock, except as payment for services rendered to ESSI in amounts approved by the Ombudsman or the reconstituted Board.
Coterminous with the date of final approval of the Settlement, A. Carl Mudd ("Mudd") shall report to and be deemed appointed by order of the District Court, and with the agreement and consent of J. Taylor, D. Taylor, and the current COO, as Ombudsman and Chairman of the Board, to whom is delegated all necessary powers and plenary authority of the Board to ensure the full and faithful adoption, implementation, and operation of the corporate governance reforms set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the "Governance Reforms"). The Ombudsman shall retain these powers and authority for the duration of the Effective Term, or until the Board is fully reconstituted as set forth in paragraph 2.4, below, at which time these powers and plenary authority shall revert to the Board. Mudd shall continue to serve as Chairman of the Board for the entire Effective Term. In the event Mudd is unwilling or unable to so serve, the remaining members of the reconstituted Board shall take all necessary steps to recruit, vet, and appoint a new independent (as defined by Nasdaq, Inc. Listing Rule 5605(a)(2)) non-employee director with similar background and qualifications, who shall stand for election at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the shareholders. Pursuant to the Judgment (attached hereto as Exhibit E), in connection with his role as Ombudsman, Mr. Mudd shall be afforded the maximum legal protections that may be afforded to individuals serving as "special masters" appointed by this Court under Rule 53 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
2.3 | Corporate Governance Reforms and Funding Commitment: |
(a) ESSI shall fully implement the Governance Reforms within two years of the final approval of the Settlement, unless the Ombudsman or reconstituted Board determines that it would be financially impracticable or contrary to ESSI and its shareholders' best interests to attempt to implement particular elements of the Governance Reforms at that time. The Governance Reforms shall be maintained for not less than three (3) years following the Ombudsman's or reconstituted Board's certification that the Governance Reforms have been fully implemented or determination that it would be financially impracticable or contrary to ESSI and its shareholders' best interests to continue to maintain any of the Governance Reforms. In the event of any such determinations, the Ombudsman or reconstituted Board shall include a formal report to shareholders in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, detailing the bases for the Ombudsman's or Board's findings and determinations, and a plan and schedule for completing the implementation of the Governance Reforms and/or for adopting and maintaining substitute corporate governance provisions designed and intended to accomplish the same purposes as measures determined to financially impracticable or contrary to the Company's and its shareholders' best interests.
(b) Following the final approval of the Settlement and throughout the Effective Term, ESSI shall dedicate not less than 15% of such revenue, debt raised, or equity infused (regardless of source, but apart from and in addition to any personal contributions toward Company operations made by current officers, directors and employees) toward achieving the agreed-upon objectives and implementation and maintenance of the Governance Reforms. Upon attainment of $10,000,000 in cash collected from revenue, debt, or equity, the Company shall dedicate a minimum of 18% of such revenue, debt raised, or equity infused (apart from and in addition to any personal contributions toward Company operations made by current officers, directors and employees). These minimum contributions may be adjusted upward as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman must exercise his/her discretion to ensure the implementation of the Governance Reforms to the greatest extent permitted by available resources, whether or not cash on hand meets the foregoing thresholds. The Ombudsman's findings and determinations with respect to the Governance Reform Funding Commitment shall be recorded in resolutions and minutes of the proceedings of the Board.
(c) The Ombudsman or reconstituted Board shall include a formal report to shareholders in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and on the investor relations page of ESSI's web site, setting forth, inter alia: (i) the Company's progress in implementing the Governance Reforms; (ii) the Company's plans, anticipated schedule and budget for achieving the complete implementation of the Governance Reforms; (iii) any findings and determinations that certain provisions of the Governance Reforms should not be implemented or maintained; (iv) the total amount and percentage of corporate funds being spent on implementation and maintenance of the Governance Reforms, and how such funds were spent; (v) whether thresholds for the Governance Reform Funding Commitment have been met or exceeded and changes in budgets and planning to meet the mandatory contribution requirements; and (vi) the status of the Company's efforts to obtain directors' and officers' insurance ("D&O Insurance") and the amount of D&O Insurance, if any, the Company has secured.
(d) In implementing the Governance Reforms, priority shall be given to recruiting, vetting, and appointing two new independent, non-employee directors to reconstitute the Board, and securing D&O Insurance, as set forth in paragraph 2.4 below.
2.4 | Reconstitution of the Board |
(a) Within thirty (30) days of final approval of the Settlement, D. Taylor shall resign from the Board, and shall not be appointed or seek election to the Board for the Effective Term. He will assume the position of Executive Director of Festivals and relinquish all other executive functions.
(b) Immediately upon final approval of the Settlement, J. Taylor will be deemed to have relinquished chairmanship of the Board, which shall be assumed by the Ombudsman. J. Taylor may continue to serve on the Board.
(c) Within thirty (30) days of final approval of the Settlement, Lewis will resign from the Board, and not be appointed or seek election to the Board or to any executive office for the Effective Term.
(d) The Ombudsman shall take all necessary and advisable steps to recruit, vet and appoint at least two new, independent non-employee directors to the Board as soon as financially practicable.
(e) In addition, the Ombudsman shall take all necessary and advisable steps to obtain D&O Insurance sufficient to protect the Company's interests and to make ESSI attractive to qualified persons to serve as directors and executives of the Company, including obtaining quotes, having a policy prepared, and evaluating the appropriate scope, terms and conditions, and amounts of coverage. The Company shall secure at least three (3) quotes for D&O Insurance within ninety (90) days of final approval of the settlement. The Ombudsman shall have full authority to determine if and when the Company purchases D&O Insurance based on cost considerations, benefits to the Company of having insurance (e.g., to attract qualified directors and executives), protecting the interests of the Company's shareholders, and any other relevant considerations as determined by the Ombudsman. Once financially feasible, as determined by the Ombudsman, the policy will be bound. The Ombudsman's annual report to shareholders shall address describe the Ombudsman's efforts to secure D&O insurance, including whether any such policies have been bound, and if not, why not.
2.5 ESSI acknowledges and agrees that the economic and non-monetary consideration accorded to ESSI in connection with the Settlement is a result of Plaintiffs' litigation and settlement efforts in the Action; that this consideration confers substantial benefits on the Company and its shareholders; and that the Settlement is fair, reasonable and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
3.1 Promptly after execution of this Stipulation, the Settling Parties shall submit this Stipulation together with its exhibits to the Court and shall jointly apply for entry of an order (the "Preliminary Approval Order"), substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, requesting: (i) preliminary approval of the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation; (ii) approval of the form and manner of providing Notice of the Settlement to Current ESSI Shareholders; and (iii) a date for the Settlement Hearing.
3.2 Notice to Current ESSI Shareholders shall consist of a Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Shareholder Derivative Actions ("Notice"), which includes the general terms of the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation and the date of the Settlement Hearing, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, as well as a Summary Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Shareholder Derivative Action ("Summary Notice"), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
3.3 ESSI shall undertake the administrative responsibility for providing notice to Current ESSI Shareholders and shall be solely responsible for paying the costs and expenses related to providing the notice provided for herein or any other form or means of notice as may be ordered by the Court to its shareholders. Within ten (10) business days after the entry of the Preliminary Approval Order, ESSI shall cause (a) the Stipulation of Settlement and long-form notice to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K with an accompanying press release; (b) publication of the short-form notice once in the national edition of Investor's Business Daily; and (c) publication of the Stipulation of Settlement and the long-form notice on an internet page that ESSI shall create for this purpose, the address of which shall also be featured on the long-form and the short-form notices. The Settling Parties believe the content and manner of the notice, as set forth in this paragraph, constitutes adequate and reasonable notice to Current ESSI Shareholders pursuant to applicable law and due process. Prior to the Settlement Hearing, Defendants' Counsel shall file with the Court an appropriate affidavit or declaration with respect to filing and posting the Notice and Summary Notice.
3.4 Pending the Court's determination as to final approval of the Settlement, Plaintiffs' Counsel, Plaintiffs and other current ESSI shareholders are barred and enjoined from commencing, prosecuting, instigating, or in any way participating in the commencement, prosecution or continued prosecution of any action asserting any Released Claim against any of the Released Persons.
4. | Attorneys' Fees and Expenses |
4.1 In recognition of the substantial benefits conferred upon ESSI as a direct result of the prosecution and Settlement of the Action, in accordance with the mediator's proposal made by Judge Porter, and subject to Court approval, the Company has agreed to and shall pay Plaintiffs' Counsel: (i) USD $350,000, which shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note ("Note") attached hereto as Exhibit F, which shall be executed by ESSI, delivered to Plaintiffs' Counsel, and duly recorded and filed in the appropriate public register within seven (7) days of the entry of Judgment; and (ii) 1.4 million shares of unregistered ESSI stock (together, the "Fee and Expense Amount"). The stock to be transferred to Plaintiffs' Counsel hereunder shall be subject only to a legend restricting sale for one year following transfer to Plaintiffs' Counsel by ESSI, pursuant to Rule 144's one-year holding period for unregistered stock held by non-affiliates. 17 CFR §230.144. Defendants acknowledge and agree that none of Plaintiffs or Plaintiffs' Counsel are affiliates under Rule 144. ESSI agrees that one year after transfer, the shares will become freely tradable. ESSI agrees to take all steps as may be necessary to lift, confirm, certify and/or document the absence of any restriction.
4.2 The Fee and Expense Amount shall constitute final and complete payment for Plaintiffs' attorneys' fees and expenses that have been incurred or will be incurred in connection with the Action.
4.3 Plaintiffs' Counsel shall allocate the Fee and Expense Amount among themselves. Defendants shall have no responsibility for, and no liability with respect to, the allocation of the attorneys' fees among Plaintiffs' Counsel and/or to any other person who may assert some claim thereto, except as otherwise agreed to in writing. Plaintiffs' Counsel agree that any disputes regarding the allocation of the Fee and Expense Amount among them shall be addressed in mediation with an agreed upon mediator, and, if necessary, finally decided and resolved by the mediator. The mediator's fees and costs shall be borne solely by Plaintiffs' Counsel, and allocated among Plaintiffs' Counsel by agreement or as finally determined by the mediator. Any dispute regarding any allocation of fees or expenses among Plaintiffs' Counsel shall have no effect on the Settlement.
4.4 In the event that the Judgment fails to become Final as defined in paragraph 6 herein, then it shall be the obligation of Plaintiffs' Counsel to make appropriate refunds or repayments to the Company of any portion of attorneys' fees and expenses previously paid within fifteen (15) business days from receiving notice from Defendants' Counsel or from a court of appropriate jurisdiction.
5.1 Upon the Effective Date, the Releasing Parties shall be deemed to have (and by operation of the Judgment in the Action shall have) fully, finally, and forever settled, released, relinquished, discharged and dismissed with prejudice any and all of the Released Claims (including Unknown Claims) against the Released Persons and any and all claims arising out of, relating to, or in connection with the defense, settlement, or resolution of the Action against the Released Persons, and shall forever be barred and enjoined form initiating, instituting, commencing, maintaining, or prosecuting or continuing to prosecute any and all Released Claims against any of the Released Parties. Nothing herein shall in any way impair or restrict the rights of any Settling Party to enforce the terms of this Stipulation.
5.2 Upon the Effective Date, each of the Defendants and their Related Persons shall be deemed to have fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished, and discharged Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs' Counsel and their Related Persons from the Released Defendants' Claims, including all claims (including Unknown Claims), arising out of, relating to, or in connection with the institution, prosecution, assertion, settlement, or resolution of the Action or the Released Claims. Nothing herein shall in any way impair or restrict the rights of any Settling Party to enforce the terms of this Stipulation.
5.3 The Parties will seek entry of Judgment by the Court, dismissing the Action with prejudice and barring any Released Claims.
6. | Conditions of Settlement; Effect of Disapproval, Cancellation, or Termination |
6.1 The Effective Date of this Stipulation shall be conditioned on the occurrence of all of the following events:
(a) Board approval of the Settlement, which ESSI's counsel represents has already been accomplished;
(b) Court approval of the Settlement and approval of the content and method of providing Notice of the proposed Settlement to Current ESSI Shareholders, and the subsequent dissemination of the Notice to Current ESSI Shareholders;
(c) Court entry of the Judgment, in all material respects in the form set forth as Exhibit E annexed hereto, approving the Settlement and dismissing the Action with prejudice, without awarding costs to any party, except as provided herein;
(d) the completion of all requisite steps relating to the Fee and Expense Amount, in accordance with and as outlined in paragraph 4.1; and
(e) the passing of the date upon which the Judgment becomes Final.
6.2 If any of the conditions specified above in paragraph 6.1 are not met, then this Stipulation shall be canceled and terminated subject to paragraph 6.3, unless counsel for the Settling Parties mutually agree in writing to proceed with this Stipulation.
6.3 If for any reason the Effective Date of this Stipulation does not occur, or if this Stipulation is in any way canceled, terminated or fails to become Final in accordance with its terms: (a) all Settling Parties and Released Persons shall be restored to their respective positions in the Action as of September 21, 2020; (b) all releases delivered in connection with this Stipulation shall be null and void, except as otherwise provided for in this Stipulation; (c) any portion of the Fee and Expense Amount paid to Plaintiffs' Counsel shall be refunded and returned within thirty (30) calendar days and the Note shall be deemed cancelled; and (d) all negotiations, proceedings, documents prepared, and statements made in connection herewith shall be without prejudice to the Settling Parties, shall not be deemed or construed to be an admission by a Settling Party of any act, matter, or proposition, and shall not be used in any manner for any purpose in any subsequent proceeding in the Action or in any other action or proceeding. In such event, the terms and provisions of this Stipulation shall have no further force and effect with respect to the Settling Parties and shall not be used in the Action or in any other proceeding for any purpose.
7. | Miscellaneous Provisions |
7.1 The Settling Parties: (a) acknowledge that it is their intent to consummate this Stipulation; and (b) agree to act in good faith and cooperate to take all reasonable and necessary steps to expeditiously implement the terms and conditions of this Stipulation.
7.2 In the event that any part of the Settlement is found to be unlawful, void, unconscionable, or against public policy by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining terms and conditions of the Settlement shall remain intact.
7.3 The Settlement is not to be conditioned upon the obtaining of, or judicial approval of, any releases between or among any settling defendants and/or any third parties.
7.4 The Settlement is not conditioned upon the settlement, or the approval of the settlement, of any other lawsuits or claims.
7.5 The Settling Parties intend this Settlement to be a final and complete resolution of all disputes between them with respect to the Action. The Settlement comprises claims that are contested and shall not be deemed an admission by any Settling Party as to the merits of any claim, allegation, or defense. The Settling Parties will request that the Judgment in the Action contain a finding that during the course of the litigation, including the filing of the complaints, the parties and their counsel at all times complied with the requirements of the applicable laws and rules of the Court, including, without limitation, Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and all other similar laws and/or rules governing professional conduct.
7.6 Each of the Individual Defendants expressly denies and continues to deny all allegations of wrongdoing or liability against himself or herself arising out of any conduct, statements, acts, or omissions alleged, or which could have been alleged, in the Action. The existence of the provisions contained in this Stipulation shall not be deemed to prejudice in any way the respective positions of the Settling Parties with respect to the Action, shall not be deemed a presumption, a concession, or admission by any of the Settling Parties of any fault, liability, or wrongdoing as to any facts, claims, or defenses that have been or might have been alleged or asserted in the Action or with respect to any of the claims settled in the Action, or any other action or proceeding, and shall not be interpreted, construed, deemed, invoked, offered, or received in evidence or otherwise used by any person in the Action, or in any other civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding in any court, administrative agency or any other tribunal, except for any litigation or judicial proceeding arising out of or relating to this Stipulation or the Settlement , for any purpose other than as provided expressly herein. Any of the Released Parties may file the Stipulation or Judgement in any action that has been or may be brought against them in order to support a defense or counterclaim based on principles of res judicata, collateral estoppel, release, good faith settlement, judgment bar or reduction, or any other theory of claim preclusion or issue preclusion or similar defense or counterclaim.
7.7 This Stipulation may be modified or amended only by a writing signed by the signatories hereto.
7.8 This Stipulation shall be deemed drafted equally by all Settling Parties.
7.9 No representations, warranties, or inducements have been made to any of the Settling Parties concerning this Stipulation or its exhibits other than the representations, warranties, and covenants contained and memorialized in such documents.
7.10 Each counsel or other Person executing this Stipulation or its exhibits on behalf of any of the Settling Parties hereby warrants that such Person has the full authority to do so.
7.11 The exhibits to this Stipulation are material and integral parts hereof and are fully incorporated herein by this reference.
7.12 This Stipulation and the exhibits attached hereto constitute the entire agreement among the Settling Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements and discussions.
7.13 In the event that there exists a conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this Stipulation and the terms of any exhibit hereto, the terms of this Stipulation shall prevail.
7.14 This Stipulation may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by signature transmitted by facsimile or e-mailed PDF files. Each counterpart, when so executed, shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts together shall constitute the same instrument.
7.15 This Stipulation shall be considered to have been negotiated, executed and delivered, and to be wholly performed, in the State of California, and the rights and obligations of the parties to this Stipulation shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and governed by, the internal, substantive laws of the State of California without giving effect to that State's choice of law principles.
7.16 Any dispute arising out of or relating to the Settlement shall be resolved by an agreed-upon mediator, first by way of mediation and, if unsuccessful, then by way of final, binding, non-appealable resolution by such mediator.
7.17 The Court shall retain jurisdiction to implement and enforce the terms of the Stipulation and the Court's Judgment, and the Settling Parties submit to the jurisdiction of the Court for purposes of implementing and enforcing the Settlement embodied in the Stipulation and Judgment.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Settling Parties have caused this Stipulation to be executed by their duly authorized attorneys.
Dated: _____________, 2020 | WEINBERG, ROGER & ROSENFELD |
| ASHLEY K. IKEDA (2955-0) JERRY P.S. CHANG (6671) Central Pacific Plaza 220 South King Street, Suite 901 Honolulu, HI 96813 Telephone: (808)528-8880 Facsimile: (808) 528-8881 E-mail: aikeda@unioncounsel.net jchang@unioncounsel.net Attorneys for Plaintiffs Ian Bell and Marc D'Annunzio |
Dated: _____________, 2020 | ROBBINS LLP |
| BRIAN J. ROBBINS CRAIG W. SMITH (pro hac vice) SHANE P. SANDERS (pro hac vice) 5040 Shoreham Place San Diego, CA 92122 Telephone: (619) 525-3990 Facsimile: (619) 525-3991 E-mail: brobbins@robbinsllp.com csmith@robbinsllp.com ssanders@robbinsllp.com RM LAW, P.C. RICHARD A. MANISKAS (pro hac vice) 1055 Westlakes Drive, Suite 3112 Berwyn, PA 19312 Telephone: (484) 324-6800 Facsimile: (484) 631-1305 E-mail: rmaniskas@rmclasslaw.com Attorneys for Plaintiff Ian Bell |
Dated: _____________, 2020 | LAW OFFICES OF BETH A. KELLER, P.C. |
| BETH A. KELLER (pro hac vice) 118 N Bedford Rd Ste 100 Mount Kisco, NY 10549 Telephone: (914) 752-3040 E-mail: bkeller@keller-lawfirm.com Attorneys for Plaintiff Marc D'Annunzio |
Dated: _____________, 2020 | GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP |
| JOEL MAX EADS (pro hac vice) |
| KATHLEEN M. KLINE (pro hac vice) 1717 Arch Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Telephone: (215) 988-7856 Facsimile: (215) 988-7801 E-mail: eadsj@gtlaw.com klineka@gtlaw.com MIRIAM G. BAHCALL (pro hac vice) 77 West Wacker Drive, Suite 3100 Chicago, IL 60601 Telephone: (312) 476-5135 Facsimile: (312) 988-0437 E-mail: bahcallm@gtlaw.com |
| MILLER SHEA LLLC PATRICK K. SHEA (8387) 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 2925 Honolulu, HI 96813 Telephone: (808) 536-2442 E-mail: patrick@millershealaw.com |
| Attorneys for Defendants Jeffery Taylor, Don Lee Taylor, L. John Lewis, S. Randall Oveson, Gannon Giguiere and Eco Science Solutions, Inc. |