-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, V5W2KMa5gZeoMN54NcX0zDIeQ5nx8qzBaWGidvSXV9qaKdgzxsrlq+1qSPaUqz0S c9myHOPGhvv6s9EuCdfV3A== 0001193125-07-143118.txt : 20070626 0001193125-07-143118.hdr.sgml : 20070626 20070626171737 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-07-143118 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070626 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070626 GROUP MEMBERS: FREEZE OPERATIONS HOLDING CORP. GROUP MEMBERS: FREEZE OPERATIONS, INC. SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000039135 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812] IRS NUMBER: 042053130 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-52679 FILM NUMBER: 07941809 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1855 BOSTON ROAD CITY: WILBRAHAM STATE: MA ZIP: 01095 BUSINESS PHONE: 4135432400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1855 BOSTON ROAD CITY: WILBRAHAM STATE: MA ZIP: 01095 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Freeze Group Holding Corp. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001404305 IRS NUMBER: 260343232 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE STREET 2: SUITE 470 CITY: BOCA RATON STATE: FL ZIP: 33486 BUSINESS PHONE: 561-962-3400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 5200 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE STREET 2: SUITE 470 CITY: BOCA RATON STATE: FL ZIP: 33486 SC 13D 1 dsc13d.htm SCHEDULE 13D Schedule 13D

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED

IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS

THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(a)

 

 

 

FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORPORATION

(Name of Issuer)

 

 

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

 

358497105

(CUSIP Number)

 

 

Gary Talarico

c/o Freeze Group Holding Corp.

5200 Town Center Circle

Suite 470

Boca Raton, Florida 33486

(561) 962-3400

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

With Copies To:

Steven A. Navarro, Esq.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

101 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10178

(212) 309-6000

 

June 17, 2007

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13D to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box  ¨.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

(Continued on following pages)

(Page 1 of 8 Pages)

 

1

The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).


CUSIP No. 570619106    13D    Page 2 of 8 Pages

 

  1  

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

FREEZE GROUP HOLDING CORP.                 EIN: 26-0343232    

   
  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a):  ¨

(b):  x

   
  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

   
  4  

SOURCE OF FUNDS*

 

NOT APPLICABLE

   
  5  

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)

 

   
  6  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

DELAWARE            

   

NUMBER OF  

SHARES  

BENEFICIALLY  

OWNED BY  

EACH  

REPORTING  

PERSON  

WITH  

 

  7    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

        Ø        

 

  8    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

        4,200,466

 

  9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

        Ø        

 

10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

        Ø        

11  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

4,200,466            

   
12  

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

 

   
13  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

 

51.4%            

   
14  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

 

CO            

   

 

* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!


CUSIP No. 570619106    13D    Page 3 of 8 Pages

 

  1  

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

FREEZE OPERATIONS HOLDING CORP.             EIN:

   
  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a):  ¨

(b):  x

   
  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

   
  4  

SOURCE OF FUNDS*

 

NOT APPLICABLE

   
  5  

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)

 

   
  6  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

DELAWARE            

   

NUMBER OF  

SHARES  

BENEFICIALLY  

OWNED BY  

EACH  

REPORTING  

PERSON  

WITH  

 

  7    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

        Ø        

 

  8    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

        4,200,466

 

  9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

        Ø        

 

10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

        Ø        

11  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

4,200,466            

   
12  

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

 

   
13  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

 

51.4%            

   
14  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

 

CO            

   

 

* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!


CUSIP No. 570619106    13D    Page 4 of 8 Pages

 

  1  

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

FREEZE OPERATIONS, INC.             EIN:

   
  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a):  ¨

(b):  x

   
  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

   
  4  

SOURCE OF FUNDS*

 

NOT APPLICABLE

   
  5  

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)

 

   
  6  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

MASSACHUSETTS

   

NUMBER OF  

SHARES  

BENEFICIALLY  

OWNED BY  

EACH  

REPORTING  

PERSON  

WITH  

 

  7    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

        Ø        

 

  8    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

        4,200,466

 

  9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

        Ø        

 

10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

        Ø        

11  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

4,200,466            

   
12  

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

 

   
13  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

 

51.4%            

   
14  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

 

CO            

   

 

* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!


Item 1. Security and Issuer

This Statement on Schedule 13D relates to the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation, (the “Company” or “Issuer”) with its principal executive office located at 1855 Boston Road, Wilbraham, Massachusetts, 01095.

 

Item 2. Identity and Background

This Statement is being filed by each of the following persons pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission: (i) Freeze Group Holding Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (“Freeze Group”), (ii) Freeze Operations Holding Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware and a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Freeze Group (“Freeze Operations”), and (iii) Freeze Operations, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Massachusetts and a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Freeze Operations (“Freeze Inc.”) (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”). The Reporting Persons are affiliates of Sun Capital Partners, Inc.

Freeze Group is a holding corporation. Freeze Operations is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Freeze Group. Freeze Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Freeze Operations.

The executive officers and directors of Freeze Group, Freeze Operations and Freeze Inc., as of June 26, 2007, are set forth on Schedules A, B and C attached hereto, containing the following information with respect to each such person:

 

  (a) Name and Position;

 

  (b) Residence or business address;

 

  (c) Present principal occupation or employment and the name, principal business and address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted;

 

  (d) Citizenship.

During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons or any person named in any of Schedules A, B and C attached hereto has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons nor any person listed on Schedule A, B and C has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

 

4


Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

In connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger (as described in the response to Item 4), Freeze Operations has entered into the following agreements (each a “Stockholders Agreement” and collectively, the “Stockholders Agreements”), each of which is dated as of June 17, 2007: (i) a Stockholders Agreement with The Lion Fund L.P., Biglari Capital Corp., Sardar Biglari, Western Sizzlin Corp. and Philip L. Cooley; (ii) a Stockholders Agreement with S. Prestley Blake; (iii) a Stockholders Agreement with Kevin Douglas; (iv) a Stockholders Agreement with Donald N. Smith; and (v) a Stockholders Agreement with James E. Vinick (Each such party to the Stockholders Agreements a “Stockholder” and, collectively, the “Stockholders”). Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreements, the Stockholders have agreed to vote all shares of Common Stock owned by such Stockholder (and any additional shares of Common Stock acquired by the Stockholders of record or beneficially after June 17, 2007) (collectively, the “Shares”) in favor of approval of the Agreement and Plan of Merger. As of June 12, 2007, 4,200,466 shares of Common Stock were subject to the Stockholders Agreements. Each Stockholder separately is the beneficial owner of a portion of the total number of Shares. Neither Freeze Operations nor any of the other persons listed in the response to Item 2 have expended any funds in connection with the Stockholders Agreements.

 

Item 4. Purposes of Transactions

On June 17, 2007, the Company, Freeze Operations and Freeze Inc. entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Agreement and Plan of Merger”) pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions therein, Freeze Inc. will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation of the Merger (the “Merger”).

Upon consummation of the Merger, (i) the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Freeze Operations, (ii) each share of Company common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger (other than shares held in treasury by the Company or held by any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) will be converted into the right to receive $15.50 in cash (the “Merger Consideration”), (iii) each option to purchase Company common stock that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger will be canceled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash as provided in the Agreement and Plan of Merger and (iv) each restricted share that is outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger will be canceled and converted into the right to receive, in respect of each underlying share of Company common stock, the Merger Consideration.

The transaction is conditioned upon clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, approval of the Company stockholders and other customary closing conditions.

In connection with the execution of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, Freeze Operations entered into the Stockholders Agreements with the Stockholders. Under the Stockholders Agreements, each Stockholder has agreed to vote its Shares (a) to approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger and any transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and any transactions in furtherance thereof requiring a vote of the Company stockholders; (b) in favor of any matter reasonably necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger; and (c) against the following actions: (i) any “alternative transaction proposal” (as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger); (ii) any extraordinary dividend or distribution by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any change in the capital structure of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger); and (iv) any other action that would reasonably be expected to result in any condition to the consummation of the Merger not being satisfied. Each

 

5


Stockholder further agrees to perform such acts and execute such documents as may be required to vest in Freeze Operations the sole power to vote such Stockholder’s shares in the above contemplated manner.

The Stockholders Agreements terminate upon the earlier of (i) the effective time of the Merger, (ii) the termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and (iii) in certain of the Stockholders Agreements, a fixed date (which date ranges in the applicable Stockholders Agreements from four months to five months from the anniversary of the date of the agreement) or a reduction in the Merger Consideration below $15.50 per Share.

Under its Stockholders Agreement, each Stockholder irrevocably and unconditonally grants a proxy appointing Freeze Operations as such Stockholder’s attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full power of substitution, for and in such Stockholder’s name, to vote the Stockholder’s Shares as described above. Each Stockholder further agrees to revoke any proxy previously granted by such Stockholder with respect to its Shares.

 

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer

(a) and (b) Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreements, Freeze Operations and Freeze Inc. for purposes of Rule 13d-3 may be deemed to beneficially own 4,200,466 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 51.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (based on approximately 8,176,121 Common Stock as reported by the Issuer to be issued and outstanding as of June 11, 2007). Freeze Group, which is the parent company of Freeze Operations, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares indirectly as a result of its control relationship with Freeze Operations. Any such beneficial ownership would represent the same shared voting and dispositive power exercised by Freeze Operations over the Shares. Each of the Reporting Persons other than Freeze Operations disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares.

(c) Except as described in the response to Item 4, there have been no transactions in the shares of Common Stock during the past sixty days by any Reporting Person or any other person listed on Schedules A, B and C.

(d) Except for the Stockholders, no person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Freeze Operations.

(e) Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Contract, Arrangements, Understandings, or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer

See the response to Item 4 regarding the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Stockholders Agreements for further information regarding these agreements.

Except for the agreements described in the response to Item 4, none of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the best of their knowledge, any persons listed on Schedules A, B and C hereto has any contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) with any person, with respect to any securities of the Company.

Copies of the Stockholders Agreements have been filed as exhibits hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

6


Item 7. Materials to Be Filed as Exhibits

 

Exhibit 1:

   Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp., The Lion Fund L.P., Biglari Capital Corp., Sardar Biglari, Western Sizzlin Corp. and Philip L. Cooley.

Exhibit 2:

   Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp. and S. Prestley Blake.

Exhibit 3:

   Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp. and Kevin Douglas.

Exhibit 4:

   Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp. and Donald N. Smith.

Exhibit 5:

   Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp. and James E. Vinick.

 

7


SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the knowledge and belief of each of the undersigned, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: June 26, 2007

 

Freeze Group Holding Corp.
By:   /s/ Michael Fieldstone
  Name:   Michael Fieldstone
  Title:   Vice President & Asst. Secretary
Freeze Operations Holding Corp.
By:   /s/ Michael Fieldstone
  Name:   Michael Fieldstone
  Title:   Vice President & Asst. Secretary
Freeze Operations, Inc.
By:   /s/ Michael Fieldstone
  Name:   Michael Fieldstone
  Title:   Vice President, Treasurer & Secretary

 

8


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit 1:    Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp., The Lion Fund L.P., Biglari Capital Corp., Sardar Biglari, Western Sizzlin Corp. and Philip L. Cooley.
Exhibit 2:    Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp. and S. Prestley Blake.
Exhibit 3:    Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp. and Kevin Douglas.
Exhibit 4:    Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp. and Donald N. Smith.
Exhibit 5:    Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007, by and among Freeze Operations Holding Corp. and James E. Vinick.

 

9


SCHEDULE A

Name, position, business address and present principal occupation or

employment of the directors and executive officers of

FREEZE GROUP HOLDING CORP.

 

Name & Position

   Citizenship   

Business Address

  

Present Principal Occupation

and Address of Employment

Gary Talarico

Vice President

   USA    375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152    Managing Director of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. 375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152

Michael Fieldstone

Sole Director,

Vice President & Asst.

Secretary

   USA    375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152    Principal of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. 375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152

Mark Hajduch

Vice President & Asst.

Secretary

   USA    5200 Town Center Circle, Suite 470, Boca Raton, Florida, 33486    Senior Vice President of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. 5200 Town Center Circle, Suite 470, Boca Raton, Florida, 33486

 

10


SCHEDULE B

Name, position, business address and present principal occupation or

employment of the directors and executive officers of

FREEZE OPERATIONS HOLDING CORP.

 

Name & Position

   Citizenship   

Business Address

  

Present Principal Occupation

and Address of Employment

Gary Talarico

Vice President

   USA    375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152    Managing Director of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. 375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152

Michael Fieldstone

Sole Director,

Vice President & Asst. Secretary

   USA    375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152    Principal of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. 375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152

Mark Hajduch

Vice President & Asst. Secretary

   USA    5200 Town Center Circle, Suite 470, Boca Raton, Florida, 33486    Senior Vice President of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. 5200 Town Center Circle, Suite 470, Boca Raton, Florida, 33486

 

11


SCHEDULE C

Name, position, business address and present principal occupation or

employment of the directors and executive officers of

FREEZE OPERATIONS, INC.

 

Name & Position

   Citizenship   

Business Address

  

Present Principal Occupation

and Address of Employment

Gary Talarico

President

   USA    375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152    Managing Director of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. 375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152

Michael Fieldstone

Sole Director,

Vice President, Treasurer & Secretary

   USA    375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152    Principal of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. 375 Park Avenue, Suite 1302, New York, New York, 10152

Mark Hajduch

Vice President & Asst. Secretary

   USA    5200 Town Center Circle, Suite 470, Boca Raton, Florida, 33486    Senior Vice President of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. 5200 Town Center Circle, Suite 470, Boca Raton, Florida, 33486

 

12

EX-1 2 dex1.htm STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JUNE 17, 2007. Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007.

Exhibit 1

Execution Copy

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 17, 2007 (this “Agreement”), among Freeze Operations Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) and each of the other parties signatory hereto (each a “Stockholder” and collectively the “Stockholders”).

WHEREAS, Parent, Freeze Operations, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”; terms defined in the Merger Agreement and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) and each issued and outstanding share (other than Excluded Shares) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in this Agreement, each Stockholder owns of record and/or beneficially (in each case as noted on Schedule A hereto) the number of shares of Company Common Stock (including Restricted Shares) set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto (such Company Common Stock, together with any other Company Common Stock acquired by any Stockholder after the date hereof, whether acquired directly or indirectly, by purchase, stock dividend, distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, or upon the exercise of Options, in each case from the date of this Agreement through the term of this Agreement, are collectively referred to herein as the Stockholders’ “Subject Shares”).

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has requested that the Stockholders agree, and each of the Stockholders has agreed, to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

VOTING AGREEMENT; GRANT OF PROXY

Section 1.1. Voting Agreement.

(a) Each Stockholder hereby agrees to vote (or cause to be voted) in person or by proxy, all Subject Shares that such Stockholder is entitled to vote at the time of any vote, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, and at any adjournment thereof, at which the Merger Agreement (or any amended version thereof) and the Merger are submitted for the consideration and vote of the stockholders of the Company, or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1.1,


(i) to approve the Merger Agreement and any transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and any actions in furtherance thereof requiring a vote of the Company stockholders and (ii) in favor of any matter reasonably necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Any such vote will be cast or consent will be given in accordance with the procedures applicable thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent. The obligations of the Stockholders set forth in this Section 1.1 shall apply whether or not (A) the Company Board has effected an Adverse Recommendation Change or (B) the Company breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement.

(b) Each Stockholder hereby agrees that it shall vote its Subject Shares against, and shall not provide consents to, the approval of (i) any Alternative Transaction Proposal (other than an Alternative Transaction Proposal by Parent or any of its Affiliates), (ii) any extraordinary dividend or distribution by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any change in the capital structure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to the Merger Agreement) and (iv) any other action that would reasonably be expected to result in any condition to the consummation of the Merger contained in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being satisfied.

Section 1.2. Irrevocable Proxy. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally revokes any and all previous proxies granted with respect to its Subject Shares. By entering into this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants a proxy appointing Parent as such Stockholder’s attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full power of substitution, for and in such Stockholder’s name, to vote or execute consents in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1. The proxy granted by such Stockholder pursuant to this Article 1 is coupled with an interest, is irrevocable and is granted in consideration of Parent and Merger Sub entering into this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and incurring certain related fees and expenses. Such proxy will expire automatically and without further action by the parties upon the termination of this Agreement. Each Stockholder shall perform such further acts and execute such further documents as may be required to vest in Parent the sole power to vote such Stockholder’s Subject Shares in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1.

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to Parent that:

Section 2.1. Authorization. If such Stockholder is not an individual, the execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the corporate or similar powers of such Stockholder and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action. If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity, the Person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder. If such Stockholder is a natural person and is married, and such Stockholder’s

 

2


Subject Shares constitute community property or otherwise need spousal or other approval for this Agreement to be legal, valid and binding, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, the Stockholder’s spouse, enforceable against such spouse in accordance with its terms. No trust of which such Stockholder is a trustee requires the consent of any beneficiary to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 2.2. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and shall not (i) if such Stockholder is not an individual, violate any organizational documents of such Stockholder, (ii) violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree, (iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or to a loss of any benefit to which such Stockholder is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding on such Stockholder, (iv) result in the imposition of any lien on any asset of Stockholder or (v) violate any other agreement, arrangement or instrument to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such Stockholder (or any of its assets) is bound.

Section 2.3. Ownership of Subject Shares. Except as set forth on Schedule A hereto, such Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto, free and clear of any lien and any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote or otherwise dispose of the Subject Shares), other than pursuant to this Agreement and such Stockholder has good and valid title to such Subject Shares. Except for this Agreement, none of the Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or instrument with respect to the voting of such shares.

Section 2.4. Total Subject Shares. Except for the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto or any beneficial interests in Subject Shares that are set forth on Schedule A hereto, and except for any Options referred to in the immediately following sentence, such Stockholder does not beneficially own any (i) shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company, (ii) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company or (iii) Options or other rights to acquire from the Company any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of the Company.

Section 2.5. Reliance by Parent and Merger Sub. Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

Parent hereby represents and warrants to each Stockholder that (i) the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the

 

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transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are within Parent’s and Merger Sub’s respective corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action and (ii) this Agreement and the Merger Agreement each constitutes Parent’s and Merger Sub’s valid and binding agreement. Parent understands that each Stockholder is entering into this Agreement in reliance upon Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby covenants and agrees that:

Section 4.1. No Interference; No Transfers. Except pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, such Stockholder shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent which may be withheld in its sole discretion, directly or indirectly, (i) grant any proxies or enter into any voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of any Subject Shares, (ii) voluntarily take any action that would or is reasonably likely to (A) make any representation or warranty contained herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect or (B) have the effect in any material respect of preventing such Stockholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) voluntarily sell, assign, transfer, pledge, encumber, distribute, gift or otherwise dispose of (including by merger or otherwise by operation of law) (collectively , a “Transfer”) or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any Transfer of any Subject Shares during the term of this Agreement except for Transfers in the case of Stockholders who are individuals, upon the death of such Stockholder, pursuant to the terms of any trust or will of such Stockholder or by the laws of intestate succession; provided that such Subject Shares shall remain subject to the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Stockholder shall be permitted to Transfer (i) up to 20% of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares prior to the record date (the “Record Date”) established for the meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which the Merger Agreement (or any amended version thereof) and the Merger are submitted for approval of the stockholders of the Company and (ii) up to an additional 13.3% of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares thereafter; provided that with respect to any Subject Shares transferred after the Record Date, such Stockholder shall remain obligated to vote such Subject Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and with respect to any Subject Shares transferred on or prior to the Record Date, such Stockholder shall not be obligated to vote such Subject Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 4.1, the term “sell” or “sale” or any derivatives thereof shall include (i) a sale, Transfer or disposition of record or beneficial ownership, or both and (ii) a short sale with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring an offsetting derivative contract with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward contract to deliver Company Common Stock or substantially identical property or entering into any transaction that has the same effect as any of the foregoing.

Section 4.2. Other Transactions. Each of the Stockholders agrees that it shall not, nor shall they authorize or permit any of their respective Representatives retained by it or any Company Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, induce, facilitate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information or providing

 

4


access to its properties, books, records or personnel) any inquiries regarding, or the making, submission or announcement of any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Transaction Proposal or (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations (other than with Parent, Merger Sub or their respective directors, officers or employees or Representatives) regarding, or furnish to any Person any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations (including any such activities, discussions or negotiations conducted by Affiliates or representatives of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries) with respect to consideration of any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders shall promptly (and, in any event, within 24 hours) advise Parent orally and in writing of any Alternative Transaction Proposal, the terms and conditions of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the Person making any such Alternative Transaction Proposal and of any discussions, explorations or negotiations sought to be entered into or continued by such Person with such Stockholder or any of its respective Representatives. The Stockholders shall keep Parent reasonably informed of the status (including any change to the terms and conditions thereof) of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal. None of the Stockholders shall make an Alternative Transaction Proposal to the Company (including to the Company’s senior management or the Company Board).

Section 4.3. Further Assurances. Parent and each Stockholder shall each execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations, to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1. Amendments; Termination. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) the 5-month anniversary of the date hereof and (iii) a reduction in the Merger Consideration below $15.50 per share in cash; provided that Article II and this Article V shall survive any such termination.

Section 5.2. Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.

Section 5.3. Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto, except that Parent may transfer or assign its rights and obligations to any of its Affiliates; provided further that no such transfer or assignment shall relieve Parent of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of

 

5


the parties hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 5.4. Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL BE INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS RULES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAW OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IS MANDATORILY APPLICABLE. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the County and State of New York and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in the County and State of New York or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to herein, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the parties irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such a New York State, Massachusetts Commonwealth or Federal court. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties solely for such purpose and over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 5.7 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.4.

 

6


Section 5.5. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.

Section 5.6. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provisions is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

Section 5.7. 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 given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

if to Parent or Merger Sub:

c/o Sun Capital Partners, Inc.

5200 Town Center Circle

Suite 470

Boca Raton, Florida 33486

Attention: Gary Talarico and Deryl Couch

Facsimile: (561) 394-0540

    with an additional copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

101 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10178

Attention: Steven A. Navarro, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 309-6001

if to the Stockholders, to the address set forth on the signature pages this Agreement.

Section 5.8. Interpretation. When reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “or”

 

7


shall not be exclusive. The words “beneficial ownership” and “owned beneficially” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to mean “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.

Section 5.9. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that, prior to any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.

Section 5.10. Acknowledgment. Parent acknowledges that each Stockholder has entered into this Agreement solely in its capacity as the record and/or beneficial (as applicable) owner of the Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by such Stockholder, or require such Stockholder to take any action or abstain from taking any action, in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, including to disclose information acquired solely in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, and any actions taken by (or failure to take any actions by) any Stockholder in such capacity shall not be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FREEZE OPERATIONS HOLDING CORP.
By:   /s/ Gary Talarico
Name:   Gary Talarico
Title:   Vice President

 

THE LION FUND L.P.
By:  

Biglari Capital Corp.

General Partner

By:   /s/ Sardar Biglari
Name:   Sardar Biglari
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

BIGLARI CAPITAL CORP.
By:   /s/ Sardar Biglari
Name:   Sardar Biglari
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

/s/ Sardar Biglari
SARDAR BIGLARI

 

WESTERN SIZZLIN CORP.
By:   /s/ Sardar Biglari
Name:   Sardar Biglari
Title:   Attorney-In-Fact for Western Sizzlin Corp.

 

/s/ Philip L. Cooley
PHILIP L. COOLEY

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


Subject Shares Directly

Owned

  

Stockholder

  

Notice Information

651,070 (100 shares of which are held of record)    The Lion Fund L.P.   

Biglari Capital Corp.

9311 San Pedro Avenue

Suite 1440

San Antonio, Texas 78216

Attention: Sardar Biglari

Facsimile: (210) 344-3411

0    Biglari Capital Corp.   

Biglari Capital Corp.

9311 San Pedro Avenue

Suite 1440

San Antonio, Texas 78216

Attention: Sardar Biglari

Facsimile: (210) 344-3411

0    Sardar Biglari   

Biglari Capital Corp.

9311 San Pedro Avenue

Suite 1440

San Antonio, Texas 78216

Attention: Sardar Biglari

Facsimile: (210) 344-3411

531,318    Western Sizzlin Corp.   

1338 Plantation Road

Roanoke, Virginia 24012

Attention: Sardar Biglari

Facsimile: (210) 344-3411

100    Philip L. Cooley   

Trinity University

One Trinity Place

San Antonio, Texas 78212

Attention: Philip L. Cooley

Facsimile: (210) 999-8134

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SUBJECT SHARES

 

Shares

  

Owner of Record

  

Beneficial Owner

1,182,388

   Cede & Co.    Each of the Stockholders

100

   The Lion Fund L.P.    Each of the Stockholders
EX-2 3 dex2.htm STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JUNE 17, 2007. Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007.

Exhibit 2

Execution Copy

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 17, 2007 (this “Agreement”), among Freeze Operations Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) and each of the other parties signatory hereto (each a “Stockholder” and collectively the “Stockholders”).

WHEREAS, Parent, Freeze Operations, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”; terms defined in the Merger Agreement and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) and each issued and outstanding share (other than Excluded Shares) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in this Agreement, each Stockholder owns of record and/or beneficially (in each case as noted on Schedule A hereto) the number of shares of Company Common Stock (including Restricted Shares) set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto (such Company Common Stock, together with any other Company Common Stock acquired by any Stockholder after the date hereof, whether acquired directly or indirectly, by purchase, stock dividend, distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, or upon the exercise of Options, in each case from the date of this Agreement through the term of this Agreement, are collectively referred to herein as the Stockholders’ “Subject Shares”).

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has requested that the Stockholders agree, and each of the Stockholders has agreed, to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

VOTING AGREEMENT; GRANT OF PROXY

Section 1.1. Voting Agreement.

(a) Each Stockholder hereby agrees to vote (or cause to be voted) in person or by proxy, all Subject Shares that such Stockholder is entitled to vote at the time of any vote, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, and at any adjournment thereof, at which the Merger Agreement (or any amended version thereof) and the Merger are submitted for the consideration and vote of the stockholders of the Company, or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1.1, (i) to approve the Merger Agreement and any transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and any actions in furtherance thereof requiring a vote of the Company stockholders and


(ii) in favor of any matter reasonably necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Any such vote will be cast or consent will be given in accordance with the procedures applicable thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent. The obligations of the Stockholders set forth in this Section 1.1 shall apply whether or not (A) the Company Board has effected an Adverse Recommendation Change or (B) the Company breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement.

(b) Each Stockholder hereby agrees that it shall vote its Subject Shares against, and shall not provide consents to, the approval of (i) any Alternative Transaction Proposal (other than an Alternative Transaction Proposal by Parent or any of its Affiliates), (ii) any extraordinary dividend or distribution by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any change in the capital structure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to the Merger Agreement) and (iv) any other action that would reasonably be expected to result in any condition to the consummation of the Merger contained in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being satisfied.

Section 1.2. Irrevocable Proxy. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally revokes any and all previous proxies granted with respect to its Subject Shares. By entering into this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants a proxy appointing Parent as such Stockholder’s attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full power of substitution, for and in such Stockholder’s name, to vote or execute consents in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1. The proxy granted by such Stockholder pursuant to this Article 1 is coupled with an interest, is irrevocable and is granted in consideration of Parent and Merger Sub entering into this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and incurring certain related fees and expenses. Such proxy will expire automatically and without further action by the parties upon the termination of this Agreement. Each Stockholder shall perform such further acts and execute such further documents as may be required to vest in Parent the sole power to vote such Stockholder’s Subject Shares in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1.

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to Parent that:

Section 2.1. Authorization. If such Stockholder is not an individual, the execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the corporate or similar powers of such Stockholder and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action. If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity, the Person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder. If such Stockholder is a natural person and is married, and such Stockholder’s Subject Shares constitute community property or otherwise need spousal or other approval for this Agreement to be legal, valid and binding, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed

 

2


and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, the Stockholder’s spouse, enforceable against such spouse in accordance with its terms. No trust of which such Stockholder is a trustee requires the consent of any beneficiary to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 2.2. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and shall not (i) if such Stockholder is not an individual, violate any organizational documents of such Stockholder, (ii) violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree, (iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or to a loss of any benefit to which such Stockholder is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding on such Stockholder, (iv) result in the imposition of any lien on any asset of Stockholder or (v) violate any other agreement, arrangement or instrument to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such Stockholder (or any of its assets) is bound.

Section 2.3. Ownership of Subject Shares. Except as set forth on Schedule A hereto, to the best of such Stockholder’s knowledge, such Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto, free and clear of any lien and any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote or otherwise dispose of the Subject Shares), other than pursuant to this Agreement and such Stockholder has good and valid title to such Subject Shares. Except for this Agreement, none of the Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or instrument with respect to the voting of such shares.

Section 2.4. Total Subject Shares. Except for the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto or any beneficial interests in Subject Shares that are set forth on Schedule A hereto, and except for any Options referred to in the immediately following sentence, to the best of such Stockholder’s knowledge, such Stockholder does not beneficially own any (i) shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company, (ii) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company or (iii) Options or other rights to acquire from the Company any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of the Company. As of the date of this Agreement, the Stockholder owns no Options to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company.

Section 2.5. Reliance by Parent and Merger Sub. Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

Parent hereby represents and warrants to each Stockholder that (i) the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the

 

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transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are within Parent’s and Merger Sub’s respective corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action and (ii) this Agreement and the Merger Agreement each constitutes Parent’s and Merger Sub’s valid and binding agreement. Parent understands that each Stockholder is entering into this Agreement in reliance upon Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby covenants and agrees that:

Section 4.1. No Interference; No Transfers. Except pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, such Stockholder shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent which may be withheld in its sole discretion, directly or indirectly, (i) grant any proxies or enter into any voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of any Subject Shares, (ii) voluntarily take any action that would or is reasonably likely to (A) make any representation or warranty contained herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect or (B) have the effect in any material respect of preventing such Stockholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) voluntarily sell, assign, transfer, pledge, encumber, distribute, gift or otherwise dispose of (including by merger or otherwise by operation of law) (collectively , a “Transfer”) or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any Transfer of any Subject Shares during the term of this Agreement except for Transfers in the case of Stockholders who are individuals, upon the death of such Stockholder, pursuant to the terms of any trust or will of such Stockholder or by the laws of intestate succession; provided that such Subject Shares shall remain subject to the terms of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 4.1, the term “sell” or “sale” or any derivatives thereof shall include (i) a sale, Transfer or disposition of record or beneficial ownership, or both and (ii) a short sale with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring an offsetting derivative contract with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward contract to deliver Company Common Stock or substantially identical property or entering into any transaction that has the same effect as any of the foregoing.

Section 4.2. Other Transactions. Each of the Stockholders agrees that it shall not, nor shall they authorize or permit any of their respective Representatives retained by it or any Company Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, induce, facilitate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information or providing access to its properties, books, records or personnel) any inquiries regarding, or the making, submission or announcement of any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Transaction Proposal or (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations (other than with Parent, Merger Sub or their respective directors, officers or employees or Representatives) regarding, or furnish to any Person any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations (including any such activities, discussions or negotiations conducted by Affiliates or representatives of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries) with

 

4


respect to consideration of any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders shall promptly (and, in any event, within 24 hours) advise Parent orally and in writing of any Alternative Transaction Proposal, the terms and conditions of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the Person making any such Alternative Transaction Proposal and of any discussions, explorations or negotiations sought to be entered into or continued by such Person with such Stockholder or any of its respective Representatives. The Stockholders shall keep Parent reasonably informed of the status (including any change to the terms and conditions thereof) of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal. None of the Stockholders shall make an Alternative Transaction Proposal to the Company (including to the Company’s senior management or the Company Board).

Section 4.3. Further Assurances. Parent and each Stockholder shall each execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations, to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1. Amendments; Termination. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) the date that the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, (iii) the four (4)-month anniversary of the date hereof (provided that in the event all conditions to the consummation of the Merger Agreement have been satisfied except for the conditions provided under Sections 9.1(a) and 9.1(b) thereof, the date provided under this clause (iii) shall be the five (5)-month anniversary of the date hereof), and (iv) the date on which the Merger Agreement is amended or amended and restated to provide for Merger Consideration of less than $15.50 per share; provided that Article II and this Article V shall survive any such termination.

Section 5.2. Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.

Section 5.3. Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto, except that Parent may transfer or assign its rights and obligations to any of its Affiliates; provided further that no such transfer or assignment shall relieve Parent of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

5


Section 5.4. Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL BE INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS RULES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAW OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IS MANDATORILY APPLICABLE. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to herein, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the parties irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such a Massachusetts Commonwealth or Federal court. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties solely for such purpose and over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 5.7 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.4.

Section 5.5. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.

 

6


Section 5.6. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provisions is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

Section 5.7. 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 given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

if to Parent or Merger Sub:

c/o Sun Capital Partners, Inc.

5200 Town Center Circle

Suite 470

Boca Raton, Florida 33486

Attention: Gary Talarico and Deryl Couch

Facsimile: (561) 394-0540

    with an additional copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

101 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10178

Attention: Steven A. Navarro, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 309-6001

if to the Stockholders, to the address set forth on the signature pages this Agreement.

Section 5.8. Interpretation. When reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. The words “beneficial ownership” and “owned beneficially” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to mean “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.

 

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Section 5.9. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that, prior to any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.

Section 5.10. Acknowledgment. Parent acknowledges that each Stockholder has entered into this Agreement solely in its capacity as the record and/or beneficial (as applicable) owner of the Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by such Stockholder, or require such Stockholder to take any action or abstain from taking any action, in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, including to disclose information acquired solely in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, and any actions taken by (or failure to take any actions by) any Stockholder in such capacity shall not be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FREEZE OPERATIONS HOLDING CORP.
By:   /s/ Gary Talarico
Name:   Gary Talarico
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


Subject Shares Owned

  

Stockholder

  

Notice Information

1,055,100   

 

/s/ S. Prestley Blake

S. Prestley Blake

  

S. Prestley Blake

c/o Jeffrey E. Swaim, Esq.

Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie &

Lougee, LLP

100 Front Street

Worcester, MA 01608

Telephone: (508) 791-8500

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SUBJECT SHARES

 

Shares

  

Owner of Record

  

Beneficial Owner

1,055,100

   SPB Family Limited Partnership    S. Prestley Blake
EX-3 4 dex3.htm STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JUNE 17, 2007. Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007.

Exhibit 3

Execution Copy

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 17, 2007 (this “Agreement”), among Freeze Operations Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) and each of the other parties signatory hereto (each a “Stockholder” and collectively the “Stockholders”).

WHEREAS, Parent, Freeze Operations, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”; terms defined in the Merger Agreement and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) and each issued and outstanding share (other than Excluded Shares) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in this Agreement, each Stockholder owns of record and/or beneficially (in each case as noted on Schedule A hereto) the number of shares of Company Common Stock (including Restricted Shares) set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto (such Company Common Stock, together with any other Company Common Stock acquired by any Stockholder after the date hereof, whether acquired directly or indirectly, by purchase, stock dividend, distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, or upon the exercise of Options, in each case from the date of this Agreement through the term of this Agreement, are collectively referred to herein as the Stockholders’ “Subject Shares”).

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has requested that the Stockholders agree, and each of the Stockholders has agreed, to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

VOTING AGREEMENT; GRANT OF PROXY

Section 1.1. Voting Agreement.

(a) Each Stockholder hereby agrees to vote (or cause to be voted) in person or by proxy, all Subject Shares that such Stockholder is entitled to vote at the time of any vote, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, and at any adjournment thereof, at which the Merger Agreement (or any amended version thereof) and the Merger are submitted for the consideration and vote of the stockholders of the Company, or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1.1, (i) to approve the Merger Agreement and any transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and any actions in furtherance thereof requiring a vote of the Company stockholders and


(ii) in favor of any matter reasonably necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Any such vote will be cast or consent will be given in accordance with the procedures applicable thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent. The obligations of the Stockholders set forth in this Section 1.1 shall apply whether or not (A) the Company Board has effected an Adverse Recommendation Change or (B) the Company breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement.

(b) Each Stockholder hereby agrees that it shall vote its Subject Shares against, and shall not provide consents to, the approval of (i) any Alternative Transaction Proposal (other than an Alternative Transaction Proposal by Parent or any of its Affiliates), (ii) any extraordinary dividend or distribution by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any change in the capital structure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to the Merger Agreement) and (iv) any other action that would reasonably be expected to result in any condition to the consummation of the Merger contained in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being satisfied.

Section 1.2. Irrevocable Proxy. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally revokes any and all previous proxies granted with respect to its Subject Shares. By entering into this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants a proxy appointing Parent as such Stockholder’s attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full power of substitution, for and in such Stockholder’s name, to vote or execute consents in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1. The proxy granted by such Stockholder pursuant to this Article 1 is coupled with an interest, is irrevocable and is granted in consideration of Parent and Merger Sub entering into this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and incurring certain related fees and expenses. Such proxy will expire automatically and without further action by the parties upon the termination of this Agreement. Each Stockholder shall perform such further acts and execute such further documents as may be required to vest in Parent the sole power to vote such Stockholder’s Subject Shares in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1.

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to Parent that:

Section 2.1. Authorization. If such Stockholder is not an individual, the execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the corporate or similar powers of such Stockholder and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action. If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity, the Person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder. If such Stockholder is a natural person and is married, and such Stockholder’s Subject Shares constitute community property or otherwise need spousal or other approval for this Agreement to be legal, valid and binding, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed

 

2


and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, the Stockholder’s spouse, enforceable against such spouse in accordance with its terms. No trust of which such Stockholder is a trustee requires the consent of any beneficiary to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 2.2. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and shall not (i) if such Stockholder is not an individual, violate any organizational documents of such Stockholder, (ii) violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree, (iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or to a loss of any benefit to which such Stockholder is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding on such Stockholder, (iv) result in the imposition of any lien on any asset of Stockholder or (v) violate any other agreement, arrangement or instrument to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such Stockholder (or any of its assets) is bound.

Section 2.3. Ownership of Subject Shares. Except as set forth on Schedule A hereto, such Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto, free and clear of any lien and any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote or otherwise dispose of the Subject Shares), other than pursuant to this Agreement and such Stockholder has good and valid title to such Subject Shares. Except for this Agreement, none of the Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or instrument with respect to the voting of such shares.

Section 2.4. Total Subject Shares. Except for the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto or any beneficial interests in Subject Shares that are set forth on Schedule A hereto, and except for any Options referred to in the immediately following sentence, such Stockholder does not beneficially own any (i) shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company, (ii) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company or (iii) Options or other rights to acquire from the Company any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of the Company. As of the date of this Agreement, the Stockholder owns no Options to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company.

Section 2.5. Reliance by Parent and Merger Sub. Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

Parent hereby represents and warrants to each Stockholder that (i) the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the

 

3


transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are within Parent’s and Merger Sub’s respective corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action and (ii) this Agreement and the Merger Agreement each constitutes Parent’s and Merger Sub’s valid and binding agreement. Parent understands that each Stockholder is entering into this Agreement in reliance upon Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby covenants and agrees that:

Section 4.1. No Interference; No Transfers. Except pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, such Stockholder shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent which may be withheld in its sole discretion, directly or indirectly, (i) grant any proxies or enter into any voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of any Subject Shares, (ii) voluntarily take any action that would or is reasonably likely to (A) make any representation or warranty contained herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect or (B) have the effect in any material respect of preventing such Stockholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) voluntarily sell, assign, transfer, pledge, encumber, distribute, gift or otherwise dispose of (including by merger or otherwise by operation of law) (collectively , a “Transfer”) or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any Transfer of any Subject Shares during the term of this Agreement except for Transfers in the case of Stockholders who are individuals, upon the death of such Stockholder, pursuant to the terms of any trust or will of such Stockholder or by the laws of intestate succession; provided that such Subject Shares shall remain subject to the terms of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 4.1, the term “sell” or “sale” or any derivatives thereof shall include (i) a sale, Transfer or disposition of record or beneficial ownership, or both and (ii) a short sale with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring an offsetting derivative contract with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward contract to deliver Company Common Stock or substantially identical property or entering into any transaction that has the same effect as any of the foregoing.

Section 4.2. Other Transactions. Each of the Stockholders agrees that it shall not, nor shall they authorize or permit any of their respective Representatives retained by it or any Company Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, induce, facilitate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information or providing access to its properties, books, records or personnel) any inquiries regarding, or the making, submission or announcement of any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Transaction Proposal or (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations (other than with Parent, Merger Sub or their respective directors, officers or employees or Representatives) regarding, or furnish to any Person any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations (including any such activities, discussions or negotiations conducted by Affiliates or representatives of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries) with

 

4


respect to consideration of any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders shall promptly (and, in any event, within 24 hours) advise Parent orally and in writing of any Alternative Transaction Proposal, the terms and conditions of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the Person making any such Alternative Transaction Proposal and of any discussions, explorations or negotiations sought to be entered into or continued by such Person with such Stockholder or any of its respective Representatives. The Stockholders shall keep Parent reasonably informed of the status (including any change to the terms and conditions thereof) of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal. None of the Stockholders shall make an Alternative Transaction Proposal to the Company (including to the Company’s senior management or the Company Board).

Section 4.3. Further Assurances. Parent and each Stockholder shall each execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations, to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1. Amendments; Termination. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the Effective Time and (ii) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms; provided that Article II and this Article V shall survive any such termination.

Section 5.2. Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.

Section 5.3. Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto, except that Parent may transfer or assign its rights and obligations to any of its Affiliates; provided further that no such transfer or assignment shall relieve Parent of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 5.4. Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL BE INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS RULES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT

 

5


THE LAW OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IS MANDATORILY APPLICABLE. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the County and State of New York and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in the County and State of New York or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to herein, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the parties irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such a New York State, Massachusetts Commonwealth or Federal court. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties solely for such purpose and over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 5.7 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.4.

Section 5.5. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.

Section 5.6. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provisions

 

6


is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

Section 5.7. 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 given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

if to Parent or Merger Sub:

c/o Sun Capital Partners, Inc.

5200 Town Center Circle

Suite 470

Boca Raton, Florida 33486

Attention: Gary Talarico and Deryl Couch

Facsimile: (561) 394-0540

    with an additional copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

101 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10178

Attention: Steven A. Navarro, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 309-6001

if to the Stockholders, to the address set forth on the signature pages this Agreement.

Section 5.8. Interpretation. When reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. The words “beneficial ownership” and “owned beneficially” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to mean “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.

Section 5.9. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that, prior to any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, the parties shall be

 

7


entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.

Section 5.10. Acknowledgment. Parent acknowledges that each Stockholder has entered into this Agreement solely in its capacity as the record and/or beneficial (as applicable) owner of the Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by such Stockholder, or require such Stockholder to take any action or abstain from taking any action, in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, including to disclose information acquired solely in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, and any actions taken by (or failure to take any actions by) any Stockholder in such capacity shall not be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FREEZE OPERATIONS HOLDING CORP.
By:   /s/ Gary Talarico
Name:   Gary Talarico
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


Subject Shares Owned

  

Stockholder

  

Notice Information

840,700   

 

/s/ Kevin Douglas

  

Kevin Douglas

c/o Jim Black

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

405 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 773–5840

   Kevin Douglas   
     
     
     

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SUBJECT SHARES

 

Shares

  

Owner of Record

  

Beneficial Owner

358,146    Kevin and Michelle Douglas    Kevin Douglas
73,445    James E. Douglas, III    Kevin Douglas
222,304    Douglas Family Trust    Kevin Douglas
186,805    James Douglas and Jean Douglas Irrevocable Descendants’ Trust    Kevin Douglas
EX-4 5 dex4.htm STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JUNE 17, 2007. Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007.

Exhibit 4

Execution Copy

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 17, 2007 (this “Agreement”), among Freeze Operations Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) and each of the other parties signatory hereto (each a “Stockholder” and collectively the “Stockholders”).

WHEREAS, Parent, Freeze Operations, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”; terms defined in the Merger Agreement and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) and each issued and outstanding share (other than Excluded Shares) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in this Agreement, each Stockholder owns of record and/or beneficially (in each case as noted on Schedule A hereto) the number of shares of Company Common Stock (including Restricted Shares) set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto (such Company Common Stock, together with any other Company Common Stock acquired by any Stockholder after the date hereof, whether acquired directly or indirectly, by purchase, stock dividend, distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, or upon the exercise of Options, in each case from the date of this Agreement through the term of this Agreement, are collectively referred to herein as the Stockholders’ “Subject Shares”).

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has requested that the Stockholders agree, and each of the Stockholders has agreed, to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

VOTING AGREEMENT; GRANT OF PROXY

Section 1.1. Voting Agreement.

(a) Each Stockholder hereby agrees to vote (or cause to be voted) in person or by proxy, all Subject Shares that such Stockholder is entitled to vote at the time of any vote, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, and at any adjournment thereof, at which the Merger Agreement (or any amended version thereof) and the Merger are submitted for the consideration and vote of the stockholders of the Company, or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1.1, (i) to approve the Merger Agreement and any transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and any actions in furtherance thereof requiring a vote of the Company stockholders and


(ii) in favor of any matter reasonably necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Any such vote will be cast or consent will be given in accordance with the procedures applicable thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent. The obligations of the Stockholders set forth in this Section 1.1 shall apply whether or not (A) the Company Board has effected an Adverse Recommendation Change or (B) the Company breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement.

(b) Each Stockholder hereby agrees that it shall vote its Subject Shares against, and shall not provide consents to, the approval of (i) any Alternative Transaction Proposal (other than an Alternative Transaction Proposal by Parent or any of its Affiliates), (ii) any extraordinary dividend or distribution by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any change in the capital structure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to the Merger Agreement) and (iv) any other action that would reasonably be expected to result in any condition to the consummation of the Merger contained in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being satisfied.

Section 1.2. Irrevocable Proxy. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally revokes any and all previous proxies granted with respect to its Subject Shares. By entering into this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants a proxy appointing Parent as such Stockholder’s attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full power of substitution, for and in such Stockholder’s name, to vote or execute consents in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1. The proxy granted by such Stockholder pursuant to this Article 1 is coupled with an interest, is irrevocable and is granted in consideration of Parent and Merger Sub entering into this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and incurring certain related fees and expenses. Such proxy will expire automatically and without further action by the parties upon the termination of this Agreement. Each Stockholder shall perform such further acts and execute such further documents as may be required to vest in Parent the sole power to vote such Stockholder’s Subject Shares in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1.

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to Parent that:

Section 2.1. Authorization. If such Stockholder is not an individual, the execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the corporate or similar powers of such Stockholder and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action. If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity, the Person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder. If such Stockholder is a natural person and is married, and such Stockholder’s Subject Shares constitute community property or otherwise need spousal or other approval for this Agreement to be legal, valid and binding, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed

 

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and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, the Stockholder’s spouse, enforceable against such spouse in accordance with its terms. No trust of which such Stockholder is a trustee requires the consent of any beneficiary to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 2.2. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and shall not (i) if such Stockholder is not an individual, violate any organizational documents of such Stockholder, (ii) violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree, (iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or to a loss of any benefit to which such Stockholder is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding on such Stockholder, (iv) result in the imposition of any lien on any asset of Stockholder or (v) violate any other agreement, arrangement or instrument to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such Stockholder (or any of its assets) is bound.

Section 2.3. Ownership of Subject Shares. Except as set forth on Schedule A hereto, such Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto, free and clear of any lien and any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote or otherwise dispose of the Subject Shares), other than pursuant to this Agreement and such Stockholder has good and valid title to such Subject Shares. Except for this Agreement, none of the Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or instrument with respect to the voting of such shares.

Section 2.4. Total Subject Shares. Except for the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto or any beneficial interests in Subject Shares that are set forth on Schedule A hereto, and except for any Options referred to in the immediately following sentence, such Stockholder does not beneficially own any (i) shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company, (ii) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company or (iii) Options or other rights to acquire from the Company any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of the Company. As of the date of this Agreement, the Stockholders collectively own Options to acquire a number of shares of capital stock of the Company which does not exceed 2,000 shares in the aggregate.

Section 2.5. Reliance by Parent and Merger Sub. Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

Parent hereby represents and warrants to each Stockholder that (i) the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the

 

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transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are within Parent’s and Merger Sub’s respective corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action and (ii) this Agreement and the Merger Agreement each constitutes Parent’s and Merger Sub’s valid and binding agreement. Parent understands that each Stockholder is entering into this Agreement in reliance upon Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby covenants and agrees that:

Section 4.1. No Interference; No Transfers. Except pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, such Stockholder shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent which may be withheld in its sole discretion, directly or indirectly, (i) grant any proxies or enter into any voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of any Subject Shares, (ii) voluntarily take any action that would or is reasonably likely to (A) make any representation or warranty contained herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect or (B) have the effect in any material respect of preventing such Stockholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) voluntarily sell, assign, transfer, pledge, encumber, distribute, gift or otherwise dispose of (including by merger or otherwise by operation of law) (collectively , a “Transfer”) or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any Transfer of any Subject Shares during the term of this Agreement except for Transfers in the case of Stockholders who are individuals, upon the death of such Stockholder, pursuant to the terms of any trust or will of such Stockholder or by the laws of intestate succession; provided that such Subject Shares shall remain subject to the terms of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 4.1, the term “sell” or “sale” or any derivatives thereof shall include (i) a sale, Transfer or disposition of record or beneficial ownership, or both and (ii) a short sale with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring an offsetting derivative contract with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward contract to deliver Company Common Stock or substantially identical property or entering into any transaction that has the same effect as any of the foregoing.

Section 4.2. Other Transactions. Each of the Stockholders agrees that it shall not, nor shall they authorize or permit any of their respective Representatives retained by it or any Company Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, induce, facilitate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information or providing access to its properties, books, records or personnel) any inquiries regarding, or the making, submission or announcement of any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Transaction Proposal or (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations (other than with Parent, Merger Sub or their respective directors, officers or employees or Representatives) regarding, or furnish to any Person any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations (including any such activities, discussions or negotiations conducted by Affiliates or representatives of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries) with

 

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respect to consideration of any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders shall promptly (and, in any event, within 24 hours) advise Parent orally and in writing of any Alternative Transaction Proposal, the terms and conditions of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the Person making any such Alternative Transaction Proposal and of any discussions, explorations or negotiations sought to be entered into or continued by such Person with such Stockholder or any of its respective Representatives. The Stockholders shall keep Parent reasonably informed of the status (including any change to the terms and conditions thereof) of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal. None of the Stockholders shall make an Alternative Transaction Proposal to the Company (including to the Company’s senior management or the Company Board).

Section 4.3. Further Assurances. Parent and each Stockholder shall each execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations, to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1. Amendments; Termination. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the Effective Time and (ii) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms; provided that Article II and this Article V shall survive any such termination.

Section 5.2. Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.

Section 5.3. Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto, except that Parent may transfer or assign its rights and obligations to any of its Affiliates; provided further that no such transfer or assignment shall relieve Parent of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 5.4. Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL BE INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS RULES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT

 

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THE LAW OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IS MANDATORILY APPLICABLE. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the County and State of New York and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in the County and State of New York or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to herein, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the parties irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such a New York State, Massachusetts Commonwealth or Federal court. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties solely for such purpose and over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 5.7 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.4.

Section 5.5. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.

Section 5.6. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provisions

 

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is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

Section 5.7. 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 given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

if to Parent or Merger Sub:

c/o Sun Capital Partners, Inc.

5200 Town Center Circle

Suite 470

Boca Raton, Florida 33486

Attention: Gary Talarico and Deryl Couch

Facsimile: (561) 394-0540

    with an additional copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

101 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10178

Attention: Steven A. Navarro, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 309-6001

if to the Stockholders, to the address set forth on the signature pages this Agreement.

Section 5.8. Interpretation. When reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. The words “beneficial ownership” and “owned beneficially” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to mean “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.

Section 5.9. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that, prior to any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, the parties shall be

 

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entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.

Section 5.10. Acknowledgment. Parent acknowledges that each Stockholder has entered into this Agreement solely in its capacity as the record and/or beneficial (as applicable) owner of the Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by such Stockholder, or require such Stockholder to take any action or abstain from taking any action, in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, including to disclose information acquired solely in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, and any actions taken by (or failure to take any actions by) any Stockholder in such capacity shall not be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FREEZE OPERATIONS HOLDING CORP.
By:    /s/ Gary Talarico
Name:    Gary Talarico
Title:    Vice President

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


Subject Shares Owned

  

Stockholder

  

Notice Information

1,007,278   

 

/s/ Donald N. Smith

Donald N. Smith

  

Donald N. Smith

c/o Friendly Ice Cream Corporation

1855 Boston Road

Wilbraham, MA 01095.

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SUBJECT SHARES

 

Shares

  

Owner of Record

  

Beneficial Owner

1,007,278

   Donald N. Smith    Donald N. Smith
EX-5 6 dex5.htm STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JUNE 17, 2007. Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2007.

Exhibit 5

Execution Copy

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 17, 2007 (this “Agreement”), among Freeze Operations Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) and each of the other parties signatory hereto (each a “Stockholder” and collectively the “Stockholders”).

WHEREAS, Parent, Freeze Operations, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”; terms defined in the Merger Agreement and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) and each issued and outstanding share (other than Excluded Shares) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in this Agreement, each Stockholder owns of record and/or beneficially (in each case as noted on Schedule A hereto) the number of shares of Company Common Stock (including Restricted Shares) set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto (such Company Common Stock, together with any other Company Common Stock acquired by any Stockholder after the date hereof, whether acquired directly or indirectly, by purchase, stock dividend, distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, or upon the exercise of Options, in each case from the date of this Agreement through the term of this Agreement, are collectively referred to herein as the Stockholders’ “Subject Shares”).

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has requested that the Stockholders agree, and each of the Stockholders has agreed, to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

VOTING AGREEMENT; GRANT OF PROXY

Section 1.1. Voting Agreement.

(a) Each Stockholder hereby agrees to vote (or cause to be voted) in person or by proxy, all Subject Shares that such Stockholder is entitled to vote at the time of any vote, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, and at any adjournment thereof, at which the Merger Agreement (or any amended version thereof) and the Merger are submitted for the consideration and vote of the stockholders of the Company, or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1.1, (i) to approve the Merger Agreement and any transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and any actions in furtherance thereof requiring a vote of the Company stockholders and


(ii) in favor of any matter reasonably necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Any such vote will be cast or consent will be given in accordance with the procedures applicable thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent. The obligations of the Stockholders set forth in this Section 1.1 shall apply whether or not (A) the Company Board has effected an Adverse Recommendation Change or (B) the Company breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement.

(b) Each Stockholder hereby agrees that it shall vote its Subject Shares against, and shall not provide consents to, the approval of (i) any Alternative Transaction Proposal (other than an Alternative Transaction Proposal by Parent or any of its Affiliates), (ii) any extraordinary dividend or distribution by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any change in the capital structure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to the Merger Agreement) and (iv) any other action that would reasonably be expected to result in any condition to the consummation of the Merger contained in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being satisfied.

Section 1.2. Irrevocable Proxy. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally revokes any and all previous proxies granted with respect to its Subject Shares. By entering into this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants a proxy appointing Parent as such Stockholder’s attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full power of substitution, for and in such Stockholder’s name, to vote or execute consents in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1. The proxy granted by such Stockholder pursuant to this Article 1 is coupled with an interest, is irrevocable and is granted in consideration of Parent and Merger Sub entering into this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and incurring certain related fees and expenses. Such proxy will expire automatically and without further action by the parties upon the termination of this Agreement. Each Stockholder shall perform such further acts and execute such further documents as may be required to vest in Parent the sole power to vote such Stockholder’s Subject Shares in the manner contemplated by Section 1.1.

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to Parent that:

Section 2.1. Authorization. If such Stockholder is not an individual, the execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the corporate or similar powers of such Stockholder and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action. If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity, the Person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder. If such Stockholder is a natural person and is married, and such Stockholder’s Subject Shares constitute community property or otherwise need spousal or other approval for this Agreement to be legal, valid and binding, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed

 

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and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, the Stockholder’s spouse, enforceable against such spouse in accordance with its terms. No trust of which such Stockholder is a trustee requires the consent of any beneficiary to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 2.2. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and shall not (i) if such Stockholder is not an individual, violate any organizational documents of such Stockholder, (ii) violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree, (iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or to a loss of any benefit to which such Stockholder is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding on such Stockholder, (iv) result in the imposition of any lien on any asset of Stockholder or (v) violate any other agreement, arrangement or instrument to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such Stockholder (or any of its assets) is bound.

Section 2.3. Ownership of Subject Shares. Except as set forth on Schedule A hereto, such Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto, free and clear of any lien and any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote or otherwise dispose of the Subject Shares), other than pursuant to this Agreement and such Stockholder has good and valid title to such Subject Shares. Except for this Agreement, none of the Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or instrument with respect to the voting of such shares.

Section 2.4. Total Subject Shares. Except for the Subject Shares set forth beside such Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto or any beneficial interests in Subject Shares that are set forth on Schedule A hereto, and except for any Options referred to in the immediately following sentence, such Stockholder does not beneficially own any (i) shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company, (ii) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company or (iii) Options or other rights to acquire from the Company any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of the Company. As of the date of this Agreement the Stockholder owns no Options to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company.

Section 2.5. Reliance by Parent and Merger Sub. Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

Parent hereby represents and warrants to each Stockholder that (i) the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the

 

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transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are within Parent’s and Merger Sub’s respective corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action and (ii) this Agreement and the Merger Agreement each constitutes Parent’s and Merger Sub’s valid and binding agreement. Parent understands that each Stockholder is entering into this Agreement in reliance upon Parent’s and Merger Sub’s execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby covenants and agrees that:

Section 4.1. No Interference; No Transfers. Except pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, such Stockholder shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent which may be withheld in its sole discretion, directly or indirectly, (i) grant any proxies or enter into any voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of any Subject Shares, (ii) voluntarily take any action that would or is reasonably likely to (A) make any representation or warranty contained herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect or (B) have the effect in any material respect of preventing such Stockholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) subject to compliance with any liens described in Schedule A, voluntarily sell, assign, transfer, pledge, encumber, distribute, gift or otherwise dispose of (including by merger or otherwise by operation of law) (collectively , a “Transfer”) or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any Transfer of any Subject Shares during the term of this Agreement except for Transfers in the case of Stockholders who are individuals, upon the death of such Stockholder, pursuant to the terms of any trust or will of such Stockholder or by the laws of intestate succession; provided that such Subject Shares shall remain subject to the terms of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 4.1, the term “sell” or “sale” or any derivatives thereof shall include (i) a sale, Transfer or disposition of record or beneficial ownership, or both and (ii) a short sale with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring an offsetting derivative contract with respect to Company Common Stock or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward contract to deliver Company Common Stock or substantially identical property or entering into any transaction that has the same effect as any of the foregoing.

Section 4.2. Other Transactions. Each of the Stockholders agrees that it shall not, nor shall they authorize or permit any of their respective Representatives retained by it or any Company Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, induce, facilitate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information or providing access to its properties, books, records or personnel) any inquiries regarding, or the making, submission or announcement of any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Transaction Proposal or (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations (other than with Parent, Merger Sub or their respective directors, officers or employees or Representatives) regarding, or furnish to any Person any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations (including any such activities, discussions or negotiations conducted by Affiliates or representatives of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries) with

 

4


respect to consideration of any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Each of the Stockholders shall promptly (and, in any event, within 24 hours) advise Parent orally and in writing of any Alternative Transaction Proposal, the terms and conditions of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the Person making any such Alternative Transaction Proposal and of any discussions, explorations or negotiations sought to be entered into or continued by such Person with such Stockholder or any of its respective Representatives. The Stockholders shall keep Parent reasonably informed of the status (including any change to the terms and conditions thereof) of any such Alternative Transaction Proposal. None of the Stockholders shall make an Alternative Transaction Proposal to the Company (including to the Company’s senior management or the Company Board).

Section 4.3. Further Assurances. Parent and each Stockholder shall each execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations, to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1. Amendments; Termination. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the Effective Time and (ii) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms; provided that Article II and this Article V shall survive any such termination.

Section 5.2. Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.

Section 5.3. Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto, except that Parent may transfer or assign its rights and obligations to any of its Affiliates; provided further that no such transfer or assignment shall relieve Parent of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 5.4. Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL BE INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS RULES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT

 

5


THE LAW OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IS MANDATORILY APPLICABLE. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the County and State of New York and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in the County and State of New York or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to herein, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the parties irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such a New York State, Massachusetts Commonwealth or Federal court. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties solely for such purpose and over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 5.7 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.4.

Section 5.5. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.

Section 5.6. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provisions

 

6


is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

Section 5.7. 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 given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

if to Parent or Merger Sub:

c/o Sun Capital Partners, Inc.

5200 Town Center Circle

Suite 470

Boca Raton, Florida 33486

Attention: Gary Talarico and Deryl Couch

Facsimile: (561) 394-0540

    with an additional copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

101 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10178

Attention: Steven A. Navarro, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 309-6001

if to the Stockholders, to the address set forth on the signature pages this Agreement.

Section 5.8. Interpretation. When reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. The words “beneficial ownership” and “owned beneficially” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to mean “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.

Section 5.9. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that, prior to any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, the parties shall be

 

7


entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.

Section 5.10. Acknowledgment. Parent acknowledges that each Stockholder has entered into this Agreement solely in its capacity as the record and/or beneficial (as applicable) owner of the Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by such Stockholder, or require such Stockholder to take any action or abstain from taking any action, in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, including to disclose information acquired solely in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, and any actions taken by (or failure to take any actions by) any Stockholder in such capacity shall not be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FREEZE OPERATIONS HOLDING CORP.
By:   /s/ Gary Talarico
Name:   Gary Talarico
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


Subject Shares Owned

  

Stockholder

  

Notice Information

114,900   

 

/s/ James E. Vinick

  

James E. Vinick

jvinick@moorscabot.com

74 Prynne Ridge Rd

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Facsimile: (617) 830-0964

   James E. Vinick   
     
     

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SUBJECT SHARES

 

Shares

  

Owner of Record

  

Beneficial Owner

90,000*

   James E. Vinick    James E. Vinick

24,900+

   James E. Vinick    James E. Vinick

 

* Shares are subject to divesture pursuant to the terms of a margin call agreement.

 

+

IRA

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