Exhibit 2.3
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of June 2, 1999, among UNITED PAN-EUROPE
COMMUNICATIONS NV, a corporation organized under the laws of The Netherlands
("Parent"), BISON ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation and an indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), and the other parties signatory
hereto (individually and collectively, the "Stockholder").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, prior to entering into this Agreement, Parent, Sub
and Eagle, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may hereafter be amended from
time to time, the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used and not defined
herein have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement),
pursuant to which Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger");
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Merger, Parent and the Company
desire that as soon as practicable (and not later than five business days) after
the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, Sub commence a cash tender
offer to purchase all outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (as defined in
Section 1) including all of the Shares (as defined in Section 2); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to entering into the Merger Agreement,
Parent has required that all of the holders of the Company Preference Shares
agree to sell such Company Preference Shares to Parent; and
WHEREAS, as an inducement and a condition to entering into the
Merger Agreement, Parent has required that the Stockholder agree, and the
Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Company Common Stock" shall mean at any time the common
stock, $.01 par value, of the Company.
(b) "Company Preference Shares" shall mean the Series A
Cumulative Preference Shares of the Company, par value $.01 per share and the
Series B Cumulative Preference Shares of the Company, par value $.01 per share.
"Existing Shares" shall mean the Company Preference Shares set
forth on Schedule I hereto.
(d) "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or
other entity.
(e) "Shares" shall mean the Existing Shares, together with
any other Company Preference Shares, in each case which such Company Preference
Shares were acquired by the Stockholder after the date hereof and prior to the
termination of this Agreement, whether upon the exercise of options, warrants or
rights, the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities, or
by means of purchase, dividend, distribution or otherwise
2. PROVISIONS CONCERNING COMPANY PREFERENCE SHARES. (a) The
Stockholder hereby agrees that during the period commencing on the date hereof
and continuing until the first to occur of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) the last
date the Stock Option is exercisable pursuant to Section 3 and (iii) the
termination date set forth in Section 8, at any meeting of the holders of
Company Preference Shares (or of the Company Common Stock, to the extent the
holders of Company Preference Shares are entitled to vote as with the holders of
Company Common Stock, whether as a single class or otherwise), however called,
or in connection with any written consent of the holders of Company Preference
Shares, the Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Shares owned by
the Stockholder whether issued, heretofore owned or hereafter acquired, (i) in
favor of the Merger, the execution and delivery by the Company of the Merger
Agreement and the approval of the terms thereof and each of the other actions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement and this Agreement and any actions required
in furtherance thereof and hereof; (ii) against any action or agreement that
would result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation or
warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Merger
Agreement; and (iii) except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by
Parent, against the following actions (other than the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement): (A) any extraordinary
corporate transaction, such as a merger, consolidation or other business
combination involving the Company or its subsidiaries; (B) a sale, lease or
transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, or a
reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution or liquidation of the Company or
its subsidiaries; (C) (1) any change in a majority of the persons who constitute
the board of directors of the Company; (2) any change in the present
capitalization of the Company or any amendment of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws; (3) any other material change in the Company's
corporate structure or business; or (4) any other action involving the Company
or its subsidiaries which is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to
impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, or materially adversely affect the
Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger
Agreement. The Stockholder shall not enter into any agreement or understanding
with any Person or entity the effect of which would be to violate the provisions
and agreements contained in this Section 2.
(b) The Stockholder hereby agrees to permit Parent and Sub to
publish and disclose in the Offer Documents and, if approval of the stockholders
of the Company is required under applicable law, the Proxy Statement (including
all documents and schedules filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission)
its identity and ownership of Company Preference Shares and the nature of its
commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement.
-2-
3. PURCHASE RIGHT. (a) The Stockholder hereby grants to Sub an
irrevocable option (the "Stock Option") to purchase the Shares at a purchase
price per Share (the "Purchase Price") equal to the liquidation preference of
such share PLUS all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon on the date of
purchase, payable in cash, until the termination date set forth in Section 8.
Until the termination date set forth in Section 8, if (i) the Offer is
terminated, abandoned or withdrawn by Parent or Sub (whether due to the failure
of any of the conditions thereto or otherwise), (ii) the Offer is consummated
but Sub has not accepted for payment and paid for the Shares or (iii) the Merger
Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Stock Option shall, in
any such case, become exercisable, in whole but not in part, upon the first to
occur of any such event and remain exercisable, in whole but not in part, until
the date which is 90 days after the date of the occurrence of such event, but
shall not be exercisable in each case unless: (x) all waiting periods under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR
Act"), required for the purchase of Shares upon the exercise of the Stock Option
shall have expired or been waived and all other necessary governmental consents
required for Sub to purchase Shares upon the exercise of the Stock Option,
including, but not limited to, all necessary approvals of the Polish
Anti-Monopoly Commission, and (y) there shall not then be in effect any
preliminary or final injunction or other order issued by any court or
governmental, administrative or regulatory agency or authority prohibiting the
exercise of the Stock Option pursuant to this Agreement. Provided that this
Agreement has not been terminated, in the event that the Stock Option is not
exercisable because the circumstances described in clauses (x) and (y) have not
occurred, then the Stock Option shall be exercisable for the 90 day period
commencing on the date that the circumstances set forth in clauses (x) and (y)
have occurred. In the event that Parent wishes to exercise the Stock Option,
Parent shall send a written notice to the Stockholder identifying the place for
the closing of such purchase at least three business days prior to such closing.
(b) In the event that Sub shall have purchased Shares of
Company Common Stock in the Offer in an amount necessary to satisfy the Minimum
Condition in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, Sub shall
thereafter purchase all of the Shares then held by the Stockholder no later than
the date which is the third business day after the date of such consummation at
a purchase price per Share equal to the liquidation preference of such share
PLUS all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon on the date of purchase.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDER. The
Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:
(a) OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. The Stockholder is the record and
beneficial owner of the number of Shares set forth opposite such Stockholder's
name on Schedule I hereto. On the date hereof, the Existing Shares set forth
opposite such Stockholder's name on Schedule I hereto constitute all of the
Shares owned beneficially or of record by such Stockholder. The Stockholder has
sole voting power and sole power to issue instructions with respect to the
matters set forth in Sections 2 and 3 hereof, sole power of disposition, sole
power of conversion, sole power to demand appraisal rights and sole power to
agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case with
respect to all of the Existing Shares set forth opposite Stockholder's name on
Schedule I hereto, with no limitations, qualifications or restrictions on such
rights, subject to applicable securities laws and the terms of this Agreement.
-3-
(b) POWER; BINDING AGREEMENT. The Stockholder has the legal
capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform all of the Stockholder's
obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by such Stockholder will not violate any other agreement to which
the Stockholder is a party including, without limitation, any voting agreement,
stockholders agreement or voting trust. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by the Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in
accordance with its terms. There is no beneficiary or holder of a voting trust
certificate or other interest of any trust of which the Stockholder is trustee
whose consent is required for the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the consummation by the Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) NO CONFLICTS. Except for (i) filings and approvals under
the HSR Act or any other applicable Laws related to competition, antitrust,
monopoly or similar matters, (A) no filing with, and no permit, authorization,
consent or approval of, any state or federal public body or authority is
necessary for the execution of this Agreement by such Stockholder and the
performance by such Stockholder of its obligations hereunder and (B) none of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder, the performance by
such Stockholder of its obligations hereunder or compliance by such Stockholder
with any of the provisions hereof shall (1) conflict with or result in any
breach of any applicable organizational documents applicable to such
Stockholder, or (2) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment,
order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Stockholder or any of such
Stockholder's properties or assets.
(d) NO FINDER'S FEES. Except as disclosed in the Merger
Agreement, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person is
entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or
commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of such Stockholder.
(e) NO ENCUMBRANCES. The Stockholder's Shares and the
certificates representing such Shares are now, and at all times during the term
hereof will be, held by such Stockholder, or by a nominee or custodian for the
benefit of such Stockholder, free and clear of all liens, claims, security
interests, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, understandings or arrangements
or any other encumbrances whatsoever, except for any such encumbrances or
proxies arising hereunder. The transfer by the Stockholder of its Shares to Sub
in the Offer or hereunder shall pass to and unconditionally vest in Sub good and
valid title to all Shares, free and clear of all claims, liens, restrictions,
security interests, pledges, limitations and encumbrances whatsoever.
(f) RELIANCE BY PARENT. The Stockholder understands and
acknowledges that Parent is entering into, and causing Sub to enter into, the
Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder's execution and delivery of
this Agreement.
5. COVENANTS OF THE STOCKHOLDER. The Stockholder covenants and
agrees as follows:
(a) NO SOLICITATION. Beginning on the date hereof and ending
on the last date the Stock Option is exercisable pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
the Stockholder shall not, in its
-4-
capacity as such, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit (including by way of
furnishing information), encourage or respond to or take any other action
knowingly to facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal by any
person or entity (other than Parent or any affiliate of Parent) with respect to
the Company that constitutes or reasonably may be expected to lead to, an
Acquisition Proposal, or enter into or maintain or continue discussions or
negotiate with any person or entity in furtherance of such inquiries or to
obtain any Acquisition Proposal, or agree to or endorse any Acquisition
Proposal, or authorize or permit any Person or entity acting on behalf of the
Stockholder to do any of the foregoing. If the Stockholder receives any inquiry
or proposal regarding any Acquisition Proposal, the Stockholder shall promptly
inform Parent of that inquiry or proposal and the details thereof.
(b) RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER, PROXIES AND NON-INTERFERENCE.
Beginning on the date hereof and ending on the last date the Stock Option is
exercisable pursuant to Section 4 hereof, except as expressly contemplated by
this Agreement, the Stockholder shall not (i) directly or indirectly, offer for
sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of,
or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with
respect to or consent to the offer for sale, transfer, tender, pledge,
encumbrance, assignment or other disposition of, any or all of such
Stockholder's Shares or any interest therein; provided that the Stockholder may
transfer any Shares to any Affiliate of the Stockholder; provided, further that
such transferee shall have become a party to this Agreement (or an agreement
identical to this Agreement) and shall be deemed to make all representations and
warranties set forth in paragraph 4 hereof on the date of such transfer of
Shares; (ii) grant any proxies or powers of attorney (except for powers of
attorney granted to Affiliates of the Stockholder for purely administrative
purposes and which require the holder thereof to vote any and all Shares subject
to such powers in accordance with this Agreement), deposit any Shares into a
voting trust or enter into a voting agreement with respect to any Shares; or
(iii) take any action that would make any representation or warranty of such
Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of
preventing the Stockholder from performing the Stockholder's obligations under
this Agreement.
(c) WAIVER OF APPRAISAL RIGHTS. The Stockholder hereby
irrevocably waives any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger
that the Stockholder may have.
(d) STOP TRANSFER; CHANGES IN SHARES. The Stockholder agrees
with, and covenants to, Parent that the Stockholder shall not request that the
Company register the transfer (book-entry or otherwise) of any certificate or
uncertificated interest representing any of the Stockholder's Shares, unless
such transfer is made in compliance with this Agreement. In the event of a stock
dividend or distribution, or any change in the Company Preference Shares by
reason of any stock dividend, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange
of shares or the like, the term "Shares" shall be deemed to refer to and include
the Shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any shares
into which or for which any or all of the Shares may be changed or exchanged and
the Purchase Price shall be appropriately adjusted. The Stockholder shall be
entitled to receive any cash dividend paid by the Company during the term of
this Agreement until Shares are purchased in the Offer or hereunder.
6. FIDUCIARY DUTIES. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, the covenants and agreements set forth herein shall
not prevent of the Stockholder (or
-5-
any of its designees) from taking any action, subject to the applicable
provisions of the Merger Agreement, while acting in his or her (or such
designee's) capacity as a director of the Company.
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) FURTHER ASSURANCES. From time to time, at the other
party's request and without further consideration, each party hereto shall
execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further lawful
action as may be necessary or desirable to consummate and make effective, in the
most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; provided that no party shall be required to incur an unreasonable
expense in complying with this paragraph.
(b) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement
constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understanding, both
written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(c) CERTAIN EVENTS. The Stockholder agrees that this Agreement
and the obligations hereunder shall attach to the Stockholder's Shares and shall
be binding upon any person or entity to which legal or beneficial ownership of
such Shares shall pass, whether by operation of law or otherwise, including,
without limitation, such Stockholder's heirs, guardians, administrators or
successors. Notwithstanding any transfer of Shares, the transferor shall remain
liable for the performance of all obligations under this Agreement of the
transferor in the event such transferee does not perform such obligations.
(d) ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assigned by
operation of law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the other
party provided that Parent may assign, at its sole discretion, its rights and
obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent, although no such assignment shall relieve Parent of its obligations
hereunder if such assignee does not perform such obligations.
(e) AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC. This Agreement may not be
amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated,
except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the
relevant parties hereto.
(f) NOTICES. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly received if so given) by hand delivery, telegram, telex
or telecopy, or by mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) or by any courier service, such as Federal Express, providing
proof of delivery. All communications hereunder shall be delivered to the
respective parties at the following addresses:
If to the Stockholders: At the addresses set forth on
Schedule I hereto
copy to:
-6-
If to Parent or Sub:
c/o United Pan-Europe Communications NV
Fred. Roeskestraat 123
1076 EE Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Attention: Anton H.E. van Voskuijlen
Facsimile: +31 20 778 9817
copy to: White & Case LLP
1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Attention: William F. Wynne, Jr., Esq.
Facsimile: +212 354 8113
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
(g) SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision or portion
of any provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision
or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein.
(h) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Each of the parties hereto
recognizes and acknowledges that a breach by it of any covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement will cause the other party to sustain damages for
which it would not have an adequate remedy at law for money damages, and
therefore each of the parties hereto agrees that in the event of any such breach
the aggrieved party shall be entitled to the remedy of specific performance of
such covenants and agreements and injunctive and other equitable relief in
addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled, at law or in equity;
provided that no party shall be liable for any consequential or punitive damages
or damages for lost profits or lost opportunities, whether or not such damages,
profits or opportunities were foreseen or foreseeable by such party, except to
the extent such damages are the result of a breach of this Agreement arising out
of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such party.
(i) REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. All rights, powers and remedies
provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or
in equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise of any
thereof by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of
any other such right, power or remedy by such party.
(j) NO WAIVER. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any
right, power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in
respect hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other
party hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the
parties at variance with the terms hereof shall not constitute a
-7-
waiver by such party of its right to exercise any such or other right, power or
remedy or to demand such compliance.
(k) NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is not
intended to be for the benefit of, and shall not be enforceable by, any person
or entity who or which is not a party hereto.
(l) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving
effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
(m) JURISDICTION. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court or any court of the
State of Delaware, in each case, located in the City of Wilmington, Delaware in
any action, suit or proceeding arising in connection with this Agreement, and
agrees that any such action, suit or proceeding may be brought in such court
(and waives any objection based on forum non conveniens or any other objection
to venue therein); provided, however, that such consent to jurisdiction is
solely for the purpose referred to in this paragraph (m) and shall not be deemed
to be a general submission to the jurisdiction of said Courts or in the State of
Delaware other than for such purposes. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING.
(n) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings used herein
are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part
of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(o) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which,
taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
8. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate, and no party
shall have any rights or obligations hereunder and this Agreement shall become
null and void and have no effect upon the fifth day after the earlier of (1) the
expiration of the 90 day exercise period set forth in Section 4 hereof, (2) at
the Stockholder's option upon the valid termination of the Merger Agreement by
the Company pursuant to Section 10.3 thereof or (3) the date which is 180 days
after the date hereof.
9. BINDING AGREEMENT. All authority and rights herein
conferred or agreed to be conferred by the Stockholder shall survive the death
or incapacity of the Stockholder. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal
representatives, successors and assigns.
-8-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and each Stockholder have
caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above
written.
[ ]
By: ________________________
Name:
Title:
[ ]
By: ________________________
Name:
Title:
[ ]
By: ________________________
Name:
Title:
-9-
SCHEDULE I TO
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
NAME AND ADDRESS OF STOCKHOLDER NUMBER OF SHARES OWNED
Attention:
-10-