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Cowen Holdings, Inc.
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8-K
Jun 5, 5:28 PM ET
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Cowen Group, Inc. 8-K
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Contents
131
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND USAGE
Section 1.1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms and variations thereof have the meanings specified or referred to in this Section 1.1:
Section 1.2. Usage.
(a) Interpretation. In this Agreement, unless a clear contrary intention appears:
(i) the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;
(ii) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually;
(iii) reference to any gender includes each other gender;
(iv) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof;
(v) reference to any Law means such Law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and reference to any section or other provision of any Law means that provision of such Law from time to time in effect and constituting the substantive amendment, modification, codification, replacement or reenactment of such section or other provision;
(vi) “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto,” and words of similar import shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other provision hereof;
(vii) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term;
(viii) with respect to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including” and “to” means “to but excluding”; and
(ix) references to documents, instruments or agreements shall be deemed to refer as well to all addenda, Exhibits, schedules or amendments thereto.
(b) Legal Representation of the Parties. This Agreement was negotiated by the parties with the benefit of legal representation, and any rule of construction or interpretation otherwise requiring this Agreement to be construed or interpreted against any party shall not apply to any construction or interpretation hereof.
ARTICLE II. JV INTEREST EXCHANGE; CLOSING
Section 2.1. JV Interest Exchange; Closing; Exchange Consideration.
Section 2.2. Closing. Subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions provided for in this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall be held at the time of the closing under the Transaction Agreement at the offices of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, or at such other place as the closing under the Transaction Agreement is to occur or as the parties hereto shall otherwise agree in writing. Ramius shall provide notice to Transferor of the date of the closing under the Transaction Agreement at least three business days in advance. At the Closing, all of the transactions provided for in this Article II shall be consummated on a substantially concurrent basis, effective immediately following the consummation of the Ramius Asset Exchange.
Section 2.3. Closing Obligations. In addition to any other documents to be delivered under other provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing:
(a) Transferor shall deliver:
(i) To JV Acquiror, an assignment (the “Assignment”) of all of the JV Interest in the form of Exhibit E hereto, executed by Transferor;
(ii) the Registration Rights Agreement executed, in respect of the Exchange Consideration, by the UniCredit Parties that are members of Ramius as of the Closing and Transferor; and
(iii) if the New Parent Revolver Execution has not occurred, an executed counterpart to the JV Note, executed by the UniCredit Parties thereto.
(b) New Parent shall, and Ramius, Cowen and JV Acquiror shall cause New Parent to, deliver to Transferor:
(i) Duly executed and validly issued stock certificates in the name of Transferor representing the Common Stock Consideration;
(ii) on behalf of JV Acquiror, evidence that the shares of Class A Common Stock included in the Exchange Consideration have been authorized for listing on the NASDAQ;
(iii) (x) if the New Parent Revolver Execution has not occurred, the JV Note and the JV Note Security Agreement, each executed by New Parent and any Subsidiaries party thereto or (y) if the New Parent Revolver Execution has occurred, the JV Principal Amount in cash; and
(iv) the Registration Rights Agreement executed by New Parent.
(c) Ramius shall deliver to New Parent and Transferor the Registration Rights Agreement executed by Ramius.
(d) JV Acquiror shall deliver to Park Exchange LLC:
(i) the Joinder Agreement executed by Acquiror.
ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF TRANSFEROR
Section 3.1. Organization and Good Standing. Each of the UniCredit Parties is a entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with full corporate power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use.
Section 3.2. Enforceability; Authority; No Conflict.
(a) This Agreement and the Amendments constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the UniCredit Parties that are parties thereto, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). Upon the execution and delivery by the applicable UniCredit Parties of the other Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, each of such agreements so executed thereby will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such UniCredit Party, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). Each of the UniCredit Parties has the requisite right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements executed (or to be executed thereby) to which it is a party, and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and such Ancillary Agreements, and such action has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action.
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the applicable Ancillary Agreements by the UniCredit Parties nor the consummation or performance of any of this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreements by any of them will, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):
(i) Breach any provision of any of the Governing Documents of the UniCredit Party executing or delivering such agreement;
(ii) Breach any Law or any Order to which the UniCredit Party executing or delivering such agreement may be subject; or
(iii) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or Breach of any of the terms or requirements of any Governmental Authorization applicable to the UniCredit Party executing or delivering such agreement.
Section 3.3. Title. Transferor owns good and marketable title to the JV Interest, free and clear of all Encumbrances. The Interest constitutes the entire equity interest in the JV owned by UniCredit or its Affiliates.
Section 3.4. No Consents. No consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with or notice to any Governmental Body or any other Person are necessary in connection with (a) the execution and delivery by the UniCredit Parties of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and (b) the consummation by the UniCredit Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
ARTICLE IV.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF RAMIUS
Section 4.1. Organization and Good Standing. Ramius is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, with full limited liability company power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use.
Section 4.2. Enforceability; Authority; No Conflict.
(a) This Agreement and the Amendments constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of Ramius, enforceable against Ramius in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’
rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). Upon the execution and delivery by Ramius of the other Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, each of such agreements will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of Ramius, enforceable against Ramius in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). Ramius has the requisite right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements executed (or to be executed thereby) to which it is a party, and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and such Ancillary Agreements, and such action has been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action.
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the applicable Ancillary Agreements by Ramius nor the consummation or performance of any of this Agreement or such applicable Ancillary Agreements will, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):
(i) Breach any provision of any of the Governing Documents of Ramius;
(ii) Breach any Law or any Order to which Ramius may be subject; or
(iii) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or Breach of any of the terms or requirements of any Governmental Authorization applicable to Ramius.
Section 4.3. No Consents. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.3 hereto and except for the consents of the members of Ramius in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, no consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with or notice to any Governmental Body or any other Person are necessary in connection with (A) the execution and delivery by Ramius of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and (B) the consummation by Ramius of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
ARTICLE V.
Section 5.1. Organization and Good Standing.
(a) Both New Parent and JV Acquiror are corporations duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Both New Parent and JV Acquiror have the requisite corporate power and authority to conduct their respective businesses as they are now being conducted and to own or use the properties and assets that they purport to own or use.
Section 5.2. Enforceability; Authority; No Conflict.
(a) This Agreement and the Amendments constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the New Parent Parties, enforceable against the New Parent Parties in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). Upon the execution and delivery by each of the New Parent Parties of the other Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, each of such agreements will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such New Parent Party, enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). Each New Parent Party has the requisite right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements executed (or to be executed thereby) to which it is a party, and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and such Ancillary Agreements, and such action has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action, as the case may be.
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the applicable Ancillary Agreements by any New Parent Party nor the consummation or performance of any of this Agreement or such applicable Ancillary Agreements will, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):
(i) Breach any provision of any of the Governing Documents of such Person;
(ii) Breach any Law or any Order to which such Person may be subject; or
(iii) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or Breach of any of the terms or requirements of any Governmental Authorization applicable to such Person.
Section 5.3. Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of New Parent will at Closing consist of 250,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 250,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of the Closing, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock issued to Transferor or its designee in accordance with this Agreement
shall have been duly authorized and validly issued and will be fully paid, nonassessable and will not have been issued in violation of any applicable Law or Contract.
ARTICLE VI. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO RAMIUS’S, NEW PARENT’S AND JV ACQUIROR’S OBLIGATIONS TO CLOSE
Section 6.1. Accuracy of Representations. The representations and warranties of Transferor set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (without regard to any materiality qualifiers therein) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing as though made on and as of the Closing, other than representations and warranties that speak as of another specific date or time prior to the date hereof (which need only be true and correct as of such date or time); provided, however, that for purposes of determining satisfaction of this condition, such representations and warranties shall be deemed to be true and correct in all respects unless the failure or failures of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Transferor.
Section 6.2. Performance. Each of the covenants and obligations that Transferor and HVB AG are required to perform or to comply with pursuant to this Agreement and each of the covenants and obligations that each of the UniCredit Parties are required to perform or to comply with pursuant to the Ancillary Agreements, in each case, at or prior to the Closing, shall have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects.
Section 6.3. Ramius Asset Exchange. The transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, including, without limitation, the Ramius Asset Exchange, shall have been consummated.
Section 6.4. Ancillary Agreements. Each of the Ancillary Agreements shall be in full force and effect.
Section 6.5. No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No order, injunction or decree issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other law preventing or making illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in effect.
ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO TRANSFEROR’S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE
Section 7.1. Accuracy of Representations. The representations and warranties of Ramius set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (without regard to any materiality qualifiers therein) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing as though made on and as of the Closing, other than representations and warranties that speak as of another specific date or time prior to the date hereof (which need only be true and correct as of such date or time); provided, however, that for purposes of determining satisfaction of this condition, such representations and warranties shall be deemed to be true and correct in all respects unless the failure or failures of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Ramius.
Section 7.2. Performance. Each of the covenants and obligations that each of the New Parent Parties, Ramius and Cowen is required to perform or to comply with pursuant to this Agreement and each of the covenants and obligations that such parties are required to perform or comply with pursuant to the applicable Ancillary Agreements, in each case, at or prior to the Closing, shall have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects.
Section 7.3. Ramius Asset Exchange. The transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, including, without limitation, the Ramius Asset Exchange, shall have been consummated in accordance with the Transaction Agreement.
Section 7.4. NASDAQ Listing. The shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued as part of the Exchange Consideration shall have been authorized for listing on the NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance.
Section 7.5. No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No order, injunction or decree issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other law preventing or making illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in effect.
Section 7.6. Debt Consideration. The JV Note and JV Note Security Agreement shall have been executed by New Parent and its Subsidiaries party thereto; provided, that if the New Parent Revolver Execution has occurred, the JV Note and JV Note Security Agreement shall not be executed.
ARTICLE VIII. OTHER AGREEMENTS, ASSURANCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Section 8.1. Exchange Consideration Transfer Restrictions.
(a) Subject to Section 8.1(b), following the Closing, Transferor shall not sell, assign, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Class A Common Stock issued as part of the Exchange Consideration (including any other equity securities of New Parent issued or issuable in exchange for or with respect to such shares of Class A Common Stock (x) by way of dividend, split or combination of shares or (y) in
connection with a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, other reorganization or similar transaction); provided, that (i) Transferor may assign all or any part of the Exchange Consideration to any Affiliate all of the outstanding equity interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by Transferor or by any person which directly or indirectly wholly owns Transferor, (ii) Transferor may, at any time, transfer a portion of the Exchange Consideration to the extent necessary to prevent Transferor from being in violation of the BHC Act or other federal, state or foreign banking Law (in Transferor’s sole discretion); and (iii) Transferor may, in non-market private sale transactions, sell or transfer all or any part of the Exchange Consideration to third party investors (“Third Party Investors”); provided that, without the consent of Ramius, no such private sale transaction, individually or in the aggregate, shall result in any Third Party Investor and it Affiliates beneficially owning in excess of 10% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock as of the completion of such transaction; provided further, that any transferee of all or portion of the Exchange Consideration referred to in clauses (i) or (iii) above shall agree in writing to be bound by Sections 8.1(a) and 8.1(b). Any purported sale, pledge, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or of any portion of the Exchange Consideration in violation of this Section 8.1(a) shall be null and void and of no force and effect.
(b) The restrictions set forth in Section 8.1(a) shall expire and be of no further force or effect commencing one day after the six month anniversary of the Closing, with respect to the Common Stock included in the Exchange Consideration if and to the extent that following any sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition of such Common Stock by such holder, the Transferor, its Affiliates and its permitted third-party transferees in accordance with this Agreement and the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company retain beneficial ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the sum of (x) the Class A Common Stock constituting Exchange Consideration and (y) the Common Stock constituting the aggregate Capital Contributions of the Series I Members under the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company (as adjusted for stock splits, consolidations, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers and similar events affecting the New Parent capital). Following the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement, the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 9.1 with respect to the Exchange Consideration shall terminate. In addition, any such transfer restrictions shall terminate and cease to apply following a Lock-up Termination Event.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, subject to any applicable provisions of the Insider Trading policy of New Parent, the UniCredit Parties and their Affiliates shall not be restricted from engaging in hedging or derivatives transactions with respect to shares of Common Stock of New Parent. Subject to receiving information regarding the beneficial ownership of Common Stock by the UniCredit Parties and their Affiliates through Ramius in accordance with the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company of Ramius, the UniCredit Parties shall provide written notice to Ramius and New Parent reasonably promptly upon becoming aware that the UniCredit Parties and their Affiliates beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 4.9% of the Common Stock of New Parent whether as a result of hedging or derivates transactions or otherwise. New Parent will promptly inform Transferor in the event that it enters into any redemption, repurchase or similar transaction involving its
Common Stock that would reasonably be expected to result in an increase in Transferor’s or its Affiliates’ proportionate interest in the Common Stock.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, but subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 8.01(a) and Section 8.01(b), unless permitted by applicable law, the UniCredit Parties shall not sell or dispose of any shares of Class B Common Stock they or their Affiliates may hold from time to time, except solely upon the consummation of any of the following events: (a) any disposition of shares of Class B Common Stock to the public in connection with a widely dispersed offering (including, without limitation, a public offering registered under the Securities Act), (b) any disposition by a holder of Class B Common Stock of shares of Class B Common Stock under Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act, or any similar rule then in force, of no more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding voting securities of New Parent, (c) any transfer by a holder of Class B Common Stock of shares of Class B Common Stock in a single transaction to an independent third party or “group” (as such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, whether or not applicable) of independent third parties who holds or acquires at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of New Parent without regard to the transfer of any shares of Class B Common Stock.
(e) Pursuant to this Agreement and the Fourth Amended and Restated Ramius LLC Agreement, unless and until the UniCredit Parties and their Affiliates beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 4.9% of the Common Stock of New Parent throughout any consecutive ninety (90) day period, BA Alpine Holdings Inc. or its Affiliate-designee shall have the right to nominate one (but no more than one) individual (the “Board Designee”) to serve as a director on the board of directors of New Parent and New Parent shall nominate such designee (or a replacement designee) as part of the slate proposed by New Parent in connection with any vote to elect the board of directors of New Parent. In the event that the Board Designee ceases to be a member of the board of directors of New Parent, unless the UniCredit Parties and their Affiliates beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 4.9% of the common stock of New Parent throughout any consecutive ninety (90) day period, BA Alpine Holdings Inc. or its Affiliate-designee shall be entitled to select another person to fill such vacancy and such person shall be appointed by New Parent to the board of directors.
(f) Subject to applicable law and stock exchange requirements, unless and until the UniCredit Parties and their Affiliates beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 10% of the Common Stock of New Parent throughout any consecutive ninety (90) day period following the Closing, New Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Board Designee to be a member of each committee of the board of directors of New Parent.
(g) In connection with the closing of the transactions pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, BA Alpine Holdings Inc. shall, upon request by New Parent, notify New Parent at least ten days prior to the initial filing of the proxy statement to be submitted to the stockholders of Cowen in connection with the Transactions, the name of
its initial designee to the board of directors of New Parent. Such individual shall become a director of New Parent, effective the business day after the Closing.
(h) For so long as there is a Board Designee on the board of directors of New Parent, in the event that Transferor intends to sell or transfer all or a part of the Exchange Consideration in accordance with this Section 8.1, such sale or transfer must be made in accordance with the Insider Trading Policy of New Parent attached hereto as Exhibit E, including, without limitation, limitations on sales during any “blackout periods.”
(i) For so long as BA Alpine Holdings has the right to a Board Designee, New Parent shall not amend its Insider Trading Policy (i) in any material respect or (ii) in any manner which would in its practical application discriminatorily affect only the UniCredit Parties and their Affiliates and which is not reasonably supported by rational legal or business purpose unrelated to the UniCredit Parties’ or their Affiliates’ investment in Common Stock (other than discriminatory treatment of the UniCredit Parties and their Affiliates), in each case without the prior written consent of Transferor, other than any changes that are required by law. New Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any request for pre-approval under the Insider Trading Policy made by the UniCredit Parties or their Affiliates.
Section 8.2. Acknowledgements. Transferor acknowledges that anything in the JV LLC Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the JV need not make any further distributions to any member of the JV until this Agreement is terminated; provided, that the (x) JV may make distributions of up to $5,000,000 in the aggregate to Ramius and (y) Ramius shall cause JV to make payments of the Retained Fee Stream in accordance with Section 10.1(a) and the JV LLC Agreement and (ii) the JV’s or Ramius’s entering into an agreement to consummate any transaction, which consummation is subject to (and does not occur prior to) the occurrence of the Closing, shall not be deemed to violate the JV LLC Agreement.
Section 8.3. Actions of Cowen and Ramius. Each of Cowen and Ramius shall take all actions necessary to cause the New Parent Parties to comply with their respective obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that New Parent fails to fulfill any of its obligations under this Agreement due solely to the breach of this Agreement by either Ramius or Cowen, such breaching party shall be solely liable for any such failure by New Parent.
Section 8.4. Registration Rights Agreement. Cowen and Ramius shall cause New Parent to execute and deliver to Transferor the Registration Rights Agreement, at or prior to Closing.
Section 8.5. JV Note; JV Note Security Agreement. If the New Parent Revolver Execution has not occurred, Cowen and Ramius shall cause New Parent to execute and deliver to Transferor the JV Note and the JV Note Security Agreement, at or prior to Closing.
Section 8.6. Transfer Restriction — JV Interest. For a period of one year following the Closing, JV Acquiror will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or a portion
of the JV Interest and will not acquire any additional interest in the JV; provided that no sale, transfer or disposition to any unrelated third-party purchaser from JV Acquiror shall be prohibited hereunder.
Section 8.7. Reorganization. In connection with any merger, consolidation, tender offer, or any other transaction resulting in the stockholders of New Parent immediately before such transaction owning substantially the same aggregate voting power of the resultant entity, New Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that BA Alpine Holdings’ right to designate a Board Designee to the surviving or succeeding parent company shall be preserved on the terms described herein, including the requisite ownership thresholds.
Section 8.8. Tax Treatment. The parties hereto agree to treat the JV Interest Exchange as a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is not part of the Code Section 351 exchange contemplated by the Transaction Agreement. New Parent and JV Acquiror (and Cowen, as successor to JV Acquiror) agree to report the JV Interest Exchange consistently with the foregoing on all applicable tax returns and will not take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure to act could be reasonably likely to cause the JV Interest Exchange to be treated as a tax-free transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Section 8.9. Registration. Ramius shall in good faith evaluate and consider whether the shares of Class A Common Stock included in the Exchange Consideration may in accordance with applicable securities laws be included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”) to be filed by Cowen in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement. If Ramius determines that such shares may be so included, Ramius shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include such shares in the Form S-4.
ARTICLE IX. TERMINATION
Section 9.1. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate prior to the Closing solely as follows (and may not be terminated following the Closing):
(a) By mutual written consent of the parties hereto;
(b) upon termination of the Transaction Agreement; or
(c) by either party in the event that the Closing has not occurred on or before December 31, 2009, unless the failure of the Closing to occur by such date shall be due to the failure of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe the covenants and agreements of such party set forth in this Agreement.
Section 9.2. Effect of Termination. In the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1 all further obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate, except for the obligations set forth in this Section 9.2 and Article XI, and except that such termination shall not relieve any party hereto of any Liability for any Breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.
ARTICLE X. STATUS OF OTHER AGREEMENTS
Section 10.1. JV LLC Agreement. At the Closing, the JV LLC Agreement shall terminate as between the Ramius Parties that are parties thereto, on the one hand, and the UniCredit Parties that are parties thereto, on the other, except that:
(a) Transferor shall remain entitled to its rights in and to the HVB Retained Fee Stream (as defined in the JV LLC Agreement) pursuant to Section 3.6(h)(ii) as if the transactions contemplated in this Agreement were occurring in connection with a Put/Call Event or Buy/Sell Right under the JV LLC Agreement and Ramius shall cause JV to make such payments in accordance with the JV LLC Agreement;.
(b) Section 8.1 (Confidentiality) of the JV LLC Agreement as to HVB AG and its Subsidiaries (as defined in the JV LLC Agreement) will survive indefinitely;
(c) so long as the HVB Solicitation Agreement remains in effect, Section 6.7(e) (Sales Loads) of the JV LLC Agreement will survive; and
(d) Section 10.1 (Indemnification) of the JV LLC Agreement shall continue to apply to the Transferor and its Affiliates with respect to the period during which Transferor was a member of the JV as if such Persons were “Members” or “Affiliates of Members” thereunder.
Section 10.2. Other Agreements. Except as provided in Section 10.1 and in the Ancillary Agreements: all agreements (including the HVB Solicitation Agreement, the Ramius Revolving Credit Agreement, the JV Secured Revolving Loan Agreement, the Ramius
Investment Management Agreement, the JV Investment Management Agreement and the agreements with respect to the Ramius Funds and JV Funds into which investments have been made) between Ramius and any of its Subsidiaries (or Ramius Funds), on the one hand, and UniCredit and any of its Subsidiaries, on the other, shall remain in full force and effect with such modifications thereto as are contemplated by the UniCredit Consent and the Amendments.
ARTICLE XI. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 11.1. Expenses. Each of the parties hereto will bear its own expenses in connection with the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements; provided that (i) Ramius shall reimburse UniCredit for fees and expenses of Gleacher Partners (not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate) incurred by UniCredit in connection with analyses prepared by Gleacher Partners in connection with UniCredit’s evaluation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and (ii) Ramius shall reimburse UniCredit for additional out of pocket expenses (not to exceed $400,000 in the aggregate) incurred by UniCredit or it Subsidiaries to third parties in connection with their evaluation (including the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements) of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements upon submission of reasonably detailed documentation of such expenses.
Section 11.2. Public Announcements and Confidentiality. None of the parties hereto or their Affiliates shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to, or otherwise make any public statement concerning, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior consent of the other parties hereto; provided, however, that any party may, without the prior consent of any other party hereto (but after prior consultation with the other parties hereto to the extent practicable under the circumstances and using commercially reasonable efforts to accommodate any reasonable requests of the other parties with respect to any such disclosure) issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement to the extent required by Law or any Governmental Body.
Section 11.3. Notices. All notices, Consents, waivers and other communications required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given to a party when (a) delivered to the appropriate address by hand or by nationally recognized overnight courier service (costs prepaid); (b) sent by facsimile or e-mail with confirmation of transmission by the transmitting equipment; or (c) received or rejected by the addressee, if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, in each case to the following addresses, facsimile numbers or e-mail addresses and marked to the attention of the person (by name or title) designated below (or to such other address, facsimile number, e-mail address or person as a party may designate by notice to the other parties):
If to Cowen or New Parent, to:
Section 11.4. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; Enforcement.
(a) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and wholly performed within such state, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law principles. The parties hereto agree that any suit, action or proceeding brought by either party to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in any federal or state court located in the State of Delaware. Each of the parties hereto submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and hereby irrevocably waives the benefit of jurisdiction derived from present or future domicile or otherwise in such action or proceeding. Each party hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(b) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY, IN ANY MATTERS (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(c) Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms on a timely basis or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this
Agreement in any court identified in Section 11.4 hereto, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
Section 11.5. Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. The rights and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not alternative. Neither any failure nor any delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or any of the documents referred to in this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, (a) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or any of the documents referred to in this Agreement can be discharged by one party, in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the other party; (b) no waiver that may be given by a party will be applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (c) no notice to or demand on one party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of that party or of the right of the party giving such notice or demand to take further action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement.
Section 11.6. Entire Agreement and Modification. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to its subject matter (including any letter of intent and any confidentiality agreement between the parties related to the subject matter of this Agreement) and constitutes (along with the agreements described in Article X) a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified except by a written agreement executed by the party to be charged with the amendment and Transferor.
Section 11.7. Disclaimers. EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ARTICLES III, IV, AND V OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, EACH AS APPLICABLE, NONE OF THE PARTIES HERETO HAVE MADE OR HEREBY MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTY, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, OF ANY NATURE.
Section 11.8. Assignments, Successors and No Third-Party Rights. No party may assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided, however, that Transferor shall be entitled to assign its rights to receive shares of Class A Common Stock at the Closing to one or more of its Affiliates all of the outstanding equity interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by Transferor or by any person which directly or indirectly wholly owns Transferor. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will apply to, be binding in all respects upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the parties. Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any Person other than the parties to this Agreement any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement, except such rights as shall inure to a successor or permitted assignee pursuant to this Section 11.8.
Section 11.9. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.
Section 11.10. Construction. The headings of Articles and Sections in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and will not affect its construction or interpretation. All references to “Articles,” “Sections” and “Parts” refer to the corresponding Articles, Sections and Parts of this Agreement.
Section 11.11. Execution of Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile or email transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement as to the parties and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement for all purposes. Signatures of the parties transmitted by facsimile or email shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 11.12. HVB AG Obligation. HVB AG hereby agrees that it shall be jointly and severally responsible for the prompt and complete performance by Transferor, when due, of all of Transferor’s obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
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