0001193125-18-225929.txt : 20180725 0001193125-18-225929.hdr.sgml : 20180725 20180725160505 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-18-225929 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20180725 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20180725 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GULFMARK OFFSHORE INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001030749 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: OIL & GAS FILED MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3533] IRS NUMBER: 760526032 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-50945 FILM NUMBER: 18968770 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10111 RICHMOND AVE STREET 2: STE 340 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77042 BUSINESS PHONE: 7139639522 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10111 RICHMOND AVE STREET 2: STE 340 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77042 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: TIDEWATER INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000098222 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WATER TRANSPORTATION [4400] IRS NUMBER: 720487776 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6002 ROGERDALE ROAD STREET 2: SUITE 600 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77072 BUSINESS PHONE: 7134705300 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6002 ROGERDALE ROAD STREET 2: SUITE 600 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77072 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: TIDEWATER MARINE SERVICE INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19780724 SC 13D 1 d582758dsc13d.htm SC 13D SC 13D

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

GULFMARK OFFSHORE, INC.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

402629307

402629505

402629406

(CUSIP Number)

 

 

Tidewater Inc.

Attn: Bruce D. Lundstrom, EVP & General Counsel

6002 Rogerdale Road, Suite 600

Houston, Texas 77072

(713) 470-5300

with a copy to:

Curtis R. Hearn

Hope M. Spencer

Jones Walker LLP

201 St. Charles Ave, Suite 5100

New Orleans, LA 70170

(504) 582-8000

and a copy to:

James R. Griffin

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

200 Crescent Court, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75201

(214) 746-7000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

 

July 15, 2018

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d–1(e), 240.13d–1(f) or 240.13d–1(g), check the following box.  ☐

 

 

 


 CUSIP No. 402629307;

 402629505; 402629406

 

 

  1   

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS

 

Tidewater Inc.

  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  ☐        (b)  ☒

 

  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

    

  4  

SOURCE OF FUNDS

 

OO

  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

 

- 0 -

     8   

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

2,624,346(1) shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of GulfMark Offshore, Inc. (“GulfMark Common Stock”)

     9   

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

- 0 -

   10   

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

- 0 -

11  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

2,624,346(1) shares of GulfMark Common Stock

12  

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

 

    

13  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

 

34.99%(2)

14  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

CO

 

(1) As described in greater detail in this Schedule 13D (this “Statement”), an aggregate of 2,624,346 shares of GulfMark Common Stock is reported because Tidewater Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Tidewater”), has entered into Voting Agreements (as defined under Item 3) with the GulfMark Supporting Stockholders (as defined under Item 3) covering certain shares of GulfMark Common Stock beneficially owned by the GulfMark Supporting Stockholders. The filing of this Statement shall not be construed as an admission by Tidewater that it is the beneficial owner of any GulfMark Common Stock for purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
(2) Percentage calculated represents the quotient of the number of shares of GulfMark Common Stock subject to the Voting Agreements divided by 7,500,275 shares of GulfMark Common Stock, the number of shares of GulfMark Common Stock that GulfMark has represented to Tidewater in the Merger Agreement (as defined in Item 3) as being issued and outstanding as of the close of business on July 12, 2018.


ITEM 1. Security and Issuer

This Statement relates to the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of GulfMark Offshore, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“GulfMark”), and is being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1 under the Exchange Act. The principal executive offices of GulfMark are located at 842 West Sam Houston Parkway North, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77024.

 

ITEM 2. Identity and Background

(a)    This Statement is filed by Tidewater.

(b)    The principal executive offices of Tidewater are located at 6002 Rogerdale Road, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77072.

(c)    Tidewater, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates one of the largest fleets of offshore support vessels in the industry, with over 60 years of experience supporting offshore energy exploration and production activities worldwide. Tidewater’s vessels and associated vessel services provide support for all phases of offshore exploration, field development and production. These services include towing of, and anchor handling for, mobile offshore drilling units; transporting supplies and personnel necessary to sustain drilling, workover and production activities; offshore construction and seismic and subsea support; and a variety of specialized services such as pipe and cable laying. Tidewater’s offshore support vessel fleet includes vessels that are operated under joint ventures, as well as vessels that have been stacked. At March 31, 2018, Tidewater owned or chartered 207 vessels (excluding eight joint venture vessels, but including 70 stacked vessels) available to serve the global energy industry.

The name, present principal occupation or employment, and the name, principal business and address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted, of each executive officer and director of Tidewater is set forth in Annex A.

(d)    During the last five years Tidewater has not, and none of the persons referred to in Annex A has, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

 

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(e)    During the last five years Tidewater has not, and none of the persons referred to in Annex A 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.

(f)    The citizenship of each of the persons referred to in Annex A is set forth on Annex A.

 

ITEM 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

As more fully described in Item 4, Tidewater entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 15, 2018 (the “Merger Agreement”), with GulfMark. Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, each of Raging Capital Management, LLC (“Raging”) and 5 Essex, L.P. (“5 Essex” and together with Raging, the “GulfMark Supporting Stockholders”) entered into a voting and support agreement with Tidewater, dated as of July 15, 2018 (each a “Voting Agreement” and collectively, the “Voting Agreements”).

The GulfMark Common Stock to which this Statement relates has not been purchased or otherwise acquired by Tidewater, and no funds or consideration were expended by Tidewater in connection with entering into the Voting Agreements. For a description of the Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreements, see Item 4 below, which description is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.

 

ITEM 4. Purpose of Transaction

As described in Item 3 above, this Statement is being filed in connection with the Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreements.

Merger Agreement

The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that a to-be-formed wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of Tidewater (“Merger Sub”) will merge with and into GulfMark, resulting in GulfMark becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tidewater (the “First Merger”). Immediately thereafter, Tidewater will cause GulfMark to merge into a to-be-formed wholly-owned subsidiary limited liability company of Tidewater (“NewCo”), with NewCo continuing as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tidewater (the “Second Merger” and, together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”). Together, the Mergers are intended to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Mergers are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018, subject to possible extension under certain circumstances described in the Merger Agreement.

Upon consummation of the First Merger, each issued and outstanding share of GulfMark Common Stock, other than any shares held in treasury, will be converted into the right to receive 1.100 (the “Exchange Ratio”) shares of Tidewater common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Tidewater Common Stock”), with cash paid in lieu of any fractional shares. At the effective time of the First Merger, each outstanding GulfMark warrant will be converted automatically into a warrant representing a right to acquire Tidewater Common Stock, subject to Jones Act limitations on the foreign ownership of Tidewater, on substantially the same terms and

 

4


conditions as applied to such GulfMark warrant immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger, except that the number of shares of Tidewater Common Stock subject to such GulfMark warrant will be adjusted to reflect the Exchange Ratio as provided in the Merger Agreement. In addition, all restricted stock units of GulfMark that are outstanding as of the effective time of the First Merger (collectively, the “GulfMark Rollover RSUs”) will be converted automatically into a substantially similar award for Tidewater Common Stock, subject to their existing terms and conditions (including vesting terms) in effect as of immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger, with the number of Tidewater Common Stock subject to such GulfMark Rollover RSUs being adjusted in accordance with the Exchange Ratio.

The consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (collectively, the “Transactions”) is subject to the satisfaction or waiver, if legally permitted, of certain customary conditions, including (i) the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of GulfMark and the approval of the share issuance by the stockholders of Tidewater; (ii) the registration statement on Form S-4 used to register the Tidewater Common Stock to be issued in the First Merger having been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; (iii) the shares of Tidewater Common Stock issuable in connection with the First Merger having been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance; (iv) receipt of specified required regulatory approvals, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, if applicable; (v) the absence of any governmental order or law prohibiting the consummation of the Transactions; (vi) the accuracy of representations and warranties of the parties and compliance by each of the parties in all material respects with all of its covenants; and (vii) no material adverse effect with respect to Tidewater or GulfMark since the date of the Merger Agreement. In addition, each party’s obligation to complete the Mergers is subject to its receipt of a tax opinion to the effect that the Mergers qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Merger Agreement also provides that, upon consummation of the Transactions, Tidewater’s board of directors will be increased from seven to ten members, three of whom will be designated by GulfMark and seven of whom will be designated by Tidewater.

The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties and covenants customary for a transaction of this nature. Each of Tidewater and GulfMark has agreed, among other things, subject to certain exceptions, to conduct its respective business in the ordinary course during the period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the effective time of the Mergers. Tidewater and GulfMark are each subject to restrictions on their ability to solicit alternative acquisition proposals and to provide information to, and engage in discussion with, or approve or recommend an alternative acquisition proposal with third parties regarding such proposals during the period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the effective time of the Mergers, except under circumstances to permit Tidewater’s and GulfMark’s respective boards of directors to comply with their respective fiduciary duties. Subject to certain exceptions, each of the parties has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken actions necessary to consummate the Transactions, including with respect to obtaining required government approvals, if any.

 

5


The Merger Agreement provides that Tidewater and GulfMark may mutually agree to terminate the Merger Agreement before completing the Transactions. In addition, either party may decide to terminate the Merger Agreement if: (i) the Transactions are not consummated by January 31, 2019, subject to possible extension under certain circumstances described in the Merger Agreement; (ii) a court or other governmental entity issues a final, non-appealable order permanently prohibiting the Transactions; (iii) GulfMark’s stockholders fail to adopt the Merger Agreement; (iv) Tidewater’s stockholders fail to approve the issuance of Tidewater Common Stock; (v) a Triggering Event (as defined in the Merger Agreement) occurs by the other party; or (vi) the other party breaches its representations and warranties or covenants in a way that would entitle the party seeking to terminate the Merger Agreement not to consummate the Transactions, subject to the right of the breaching party to cure the breach within 30 days.

In addition, one party may be required to pay a termination fee to the other party ($35 million by Tidewater to GulfMark or $13 million by GulfMark to Tidewater) if the Transactions are not consummated under certain circumstances, including: (i) its board of directors fails to recommend that its stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement (in the case of GulfMark) or approve the issuance of shares of Tidewater Common Stock under applicable New York Stock Exchange rules (in the case of Tidewater); (ii) its board of directors takes (or fails to take) certain actions that indicate a lack of support for the Transactions; (iii) it enters into or consummates an alternative transaction within one year following termination of the Merger Agreement (either as a result of reaching the Merger Agreement’s end date or due to a stockholder “no” vote, in each case, in a situation where such alternative transaction was disclosed prior to such termination and was not later withdrawn); and (iv) it materially breaches its non-solicitation obligations resulting in an acquisition proposal or it materially breaches the stockholder meeting covenant.

The purpose of the Merger Agreement is to acquire control of the entire equity interest in GulfMark. As of the effective time of the First Merger, (i) the certificate of incorporation of GulfMark will be amended to read in its entirety substantially as the certificate of incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger (except the name shall remain “GulfMark Offshore, Inc.”), and (ii) the bylaws of GulfMark will be amended to conform to the bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger.

Following the First Merger, the GulfMark Common Stock will no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange, there will be no public market for the GulfMark Common Stock, and registration of the shares of GulfMark Common Stock under the Exchange Act will be terminated.

A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached to, and incorporated by reference into, this Statement as Exhibit 99.1. The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement.

The above description of the Merger Agreement and the copy of the Merger Agreement attached as Exhibit 99.1 have been included to provide investors with information regarding terms of the Transactions. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about Tidewater, GulfMark or their respective subsidiaries or affiliates or to modify or supplement any factual disclosures about Tidewater or GulfMark included in their public reports filed with the Securities

 

6


and Exchange Commission. The representations, warranties, and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement were made only for purposes of the Merger Agreement and as of the dates specified in the Merger Agreement, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement, may be subject to limitations, qualifications or other particulars agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts or made for other purposes, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors are not third-party beneficiaries under the Merger Agreement and should not rely on the representations, warranties, and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the parties thereto or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of representations and warranties may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in Tidewater’s public disclosures.

Voting Agreements

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Tidewater and each of the GulfMark Supporting Stockholders entered into a Voting Agreement pursuant to which the GulfMark Supporting Stockholders have agreed, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions of the Voting Agreements, to vote 1,709,464 shares of GulfMark Common Stock, in the case of Raging, and 914,882 shares of GulfMark Common Stock, in the case of 5 Essex (in the aggregate, the “Covered Shares”), beneficially owned by each, respectively, in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Transactions, including the Mergers. The GulfMark Supporting Stockholders also agreed to certain restrictions on transfer of the Covered Shares as well as restrictions on transfer of voting rights with respect to the Covered Shares. The obligations of the GulfMark Supporting Stockholders under the Voting Agreements will automatically terminate without any further action required by any person upon the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which the Merger Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms; (ii) the date upon which the Mergers become effective; (iii) the occurrence of a Company Change in Recommendation (as defined in the Merger Agreement) by GulfMark’s board of directors in compliance with the terms of the Merger Agreement; (iv) certain amendments to the Merger Agreement; or (v) the mutual agreement of Tidewater and such GulfMark Supporting Stockholder to terminate the Voting Agreement.

Shared voting power with respect to the Covered Shares owned by the GulfMark Supporting Stockholders may be deemed to have been acquired through the execution of the Voting Agreements. The purpose of the Voting Agreements is to facilitate the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby by the stockholders of GulfMark.

Copies of the Voting Agreements (which include the names and number of shares of GulfMark Common Stock beneficially held by each Supporting Stockholder, as represented by the Supporting Stockholders to Tidewater) are attached to, and incorporated by reference into, this Item 4 as Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 99.3. The foregoing description of the Voting Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Voting Agreements.

 

7


Except as set forth in this Statement and in connection with the Mergers described above, Tidewater does not have any plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the transactions described in Item 4 of this Schedule 13D.

 

ITEM 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer

(a)    As a result of entering into the Voting Agreements, Tidewater may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 2,624,346 shares of GulfMark Common Stock held by the GulfMark Supporting Stockholders, or approximately 34.99% of the issued and outstanding GulfMark Common Stock based on the number of shares represented by GulfMark to Tidewater in the Merger Agreement as being issued and outstanding as of the close of business on July 12, 2018. The filing of this Statement shall not be construed as an admission by Tidewater that it is the beneficial owner of any GulfMark Common Stock for purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Exchange Act. Tidewater is not entitled to any rights as a stockholder of GulfMark as to the shares of GulfMark Common Stock covered by the Voting Agreements, except as otherwise expressly provided for in the Voting Agreements. To the knowledge of Tidewater, no shares of GulfMark Common Stock are beneficially owned by any of the persons identified in Annex A.

(b)    Tidewater may be deemed to have shared voting power with respect to 2,624,346 shares of GulfMark Common Stock held by the GulfMark Supporting Stockholders due to the terms of the Voting Agreements.

(c)    To the knowledge of Tidewater, no transactions in shares of GulfMark Common Stock have been effected during the past sixty days by Tidewater or any of the persons named on Annex A other than in connection with the execution of the Voting Agreements.

(d)    To the knowledge of Tidewater, no person other than the GulfMark Supporting Stockholders has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares referenced in Item 5(b).

(e)    Not applicable.

ITEM 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer

The information set forth, or incorporated by reference, in Items 3 through 5 of this Statement is incorporated by reference in this Item 6. Except as otherwise described in this Statement, to the knowledge of Tidewater, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) among the persons named in Item 2 above, or between any such person and any other person, with respect to any securities of GulfMark.

 

8


ITEM 7. Material to Be Filed as Exhibits

 

Exhibit

  

Description

Exhibit 99.1:    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 15, 2018, by and between Tidewater Inc. and GulfMark Offshore, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Tidewater with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 2018).
Exhibit 99.2:    Voting and Support Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2018, by and between Tidewater Inc. and Raging Capital Management, LLC.
Exhibit 99.3:    Voting and Support Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2018, by and between Tidewater Inc. and 5 Essex, L.P.

 

9


SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: July 25, 2018

 

TIDEWATER INC.
By:  

/s/ Bruce D. Lundstrom

  Bruce D. Lundstrom
  Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary


ANNEX A

Executive Officers and Directors of Tidewater Inc.

Unless otherwise indicated, each of the individuals named below is a citizen of the United States and the business address of each individual is 6002 Rogerdale Road, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77072.

 

Name

  

Relationship to

Company

  

Present Principal Occupation or

Employment (if different from

relationship to Company)

  

Principal Business

Address
(if different from above)

Thomas R. Bates, Jr.    Director    Director and Chairman of the board of each of Tidewater Inc., Independence Contract Drilling, Inc., and Vantage Drilling International.    —  
Alan J. Carr    Director    Chief Executive Officer of Drivetrain, LLC.   

630 Third Avenue

21st Floor

New York, NY 10017

Randee E. Day    Director    Chief Executive Officer of Goldin Maritime, LLC.   

350 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10118

Dick Fagerstal    Director    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Marine Holdings LLC and Executive Chairman of Global Marine Systems Ltd.   

115 East Putnam Avenue

3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

Steven L. Newman    Director    Former Chief Executive Officer and director of Transocean Ltd. and director of Dril-Quip, Inc. and SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.    —  
Larry T. Rigdon    Director    Former Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Tidewater Inc.    —  
John T. Rynd    Director, President, and CEO    —      —  
Quinn P. Fanning    EVP and Chief Financial Officer    —      —  
Jeffrey A. Gorski    EVP and Chief Operating Officer    —      —  
Bruce D. Lundstrom    EVP, General Counsel and Secretary    —      —  
EX-99.2 2 d582758dex992.htm EX-99.2 EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT

THIS VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of July 15, 2018, by and between TIDEWATER INC., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and the holder of Common Stock (as defined below) identified on the signature page hereto (“Stockholder”).

RECITALS

A.    Stockholder is a holder of record and/or the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of certain shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of GulfMark Offshore, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company”).

B.    Parent and the Company are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger of even date herewith (such agreement, as it may be amended, the “Merger Agreement”), which provides (subject to the conditions set forth therein) for, among other things, (i) the merger of a to be formed Delaware corporation, which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), with and into the Company (the “First Merger”), with the Company being the surviving entity in such merger (the “Surviving Corporation”), and (ii) immediately following the First Merger, the merger of the Surviving Corporation with and into a to be formed Delaware limited liability company (“Newco”), with Newco being the surviving entity in such merger (the “Second Merger” and, together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”).

C.    Stockholder is entering into this Agreement in order to induce Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement and cause the Mergers to be consummated.

AGREEMENT

The parties to this Agreement, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement:

(a)    Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Merger Agreement.

(b)    “Covered Securities” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

(c)    “Expiration Date shall mean the earliest of: (i) the date on which the Merger Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms; (ii) the date upon which the Mergers become effective, (iii) the occurrence of a Company Change in Recommendation made by the Company Board in compliance with the terms of the Merger Agreement; (iv) the effectiveness of any amendment, modification or supplement to the Merger Agreement or waiver under the Merger Agreement, in each case, where such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver would (A) decrease, or change the form of, the consideration to be received under the Merger Agreement by holders of Company Common Stock, (B) adversely affect in any material respect the ability of any party thereto to consummate either Merger or (C) materially delay the occurrence of the First Merger Effective Time; or (v) the mutual agreement of Parent and Stockholder to terminate this Agreement.

 

1


(d)    A Stockholder shall be deemed to “Own” or to have acquired “Ownership” of a security if Stockholder: (i) is the record owner of such security; or (ii) is the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of such security.

(e)    “Subject Securities” shall mean: (i) all securities of the Company (including all shares of Common Stock and all Company RSUs, Company Warrants and other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock) Owned by Stockholder as of the date of this Agreement; and (ii) all additional securities of the Company (including all additional shares of Common Stock and all additional Company RSUs, Company Warrants and other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock) of which Stockholder acquires Ownership during the Voting Period.

(f)    A Person shall be deemed to have effected a “Transfer” of a security if such Person directly or indirectly: (i) sells, assigns, pledges, encumbers, grants an option with respect to, transfers or disposes of such security, or any interest in such security, to any Person other than Parent or Merger Sub; (ii) enters into an agreement or commitment (whether or not in writing) providing for the sale of, assignment of, pledge of, encumbrance of, grant of an option with respect to, transfer of or disposition of such security or any interest therein to any Person other than Parent or Merger Sub; or (iii) reduces such Person’s beneficial ownership of or interest in such security. The parties acknowledge that the First Merger, in and of itself, shall not be deemed a Transfer in violation of this Agreement.

(g)    “Voting Period shall mean the period commencing on (and including) the date of this Agreement and ending on (and including) the Expiration Date.

SECTION 2. TRANSFER OF COVERED SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS

2.1    Restriction on Transfer of Covered Securities. Subject to Section 2.3, during the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, cause or permit any Transfer of any of the Covered Securities to be effected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not tender, agree to tender or permit to be tendered any of the Covered Securities in response to or otherwise in connection with any tender or exchange offer. For the avoidance of doubt, a conversion by the Company of Common Stock into Company Warrants shall not be deemed to be a “Transfer” or violate any of the provisions of this Agreement.

2.2    Restriction on Transfer of Voting Rights. During the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not: (a) deposit any of the Covered Securities into a voting trust; (b) other than the proxy contemplated by this Agreement, grant any proxy with respect to any of the Covered Securities; or (c) other than this Agreement, enter into any tender, voting or other similar agreement or arrangement, with respect to any of the Covered Securities.

2.3    Permitted Transfers. Section 2.1 shall not prohibit a Transfer of Covered Securities by Stockholder: (a) if Stockholder is an individual (i) to any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or to a trust for the benefit of Stockholder or any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or (ii) upon the death of Stockholder, to any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or to a trust for the benefit of any member of Stockholder’s immediate family; (b) if Stockholder is not an individual, to one or more partners or members of Stockholder or to an affiliated entity under common control with Stockholder; or (c) to another Person that has signed a voting and support agreement with Parent in connection with the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that a Transfer referred to in this sentence shall be permitted only if, (x) as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee agrees in a written document, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Parent, to be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement, and (y) such Transfer is effected no later than three Business Days prior to the scheduled date of the Company Stockholders’ Meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) and does not delay, hinder or impede (A) the timely voting of the Covered Securities in accordance with Section 3.1 or (B) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.

 

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2.4    Other Restrictions. During the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not take any action that would make any representation or warranty of Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect or in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of any of Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or seek to do or solicit any of the actions prohibited in this Section 2. Stockholder agrees to notify Parent promptly, and to provide all details reasonably requested by Parent, if Stockholder shall be approached or solicited, directly or indirectly, by any Person in connection with an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company or any Company Entity or Acquisition Inquiry with respect to the Company or any Company Entity.

SECTION 3. VOTING OF SHARES

3.1    Voting Covenant. Stockholder hereby agrees that, during the Voting Period, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company (and at every adjournment or postponement thereof), however called, and in any written action by consent of the stockholders of the Company, Stockholder shall cause the Covered Securities to be voted (including via proxy):

(a)    in favor of (i) the adoption of the Merger Agreement, the terms thereof and all agreements related to the Mergers, (ii) each of the other actions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and (iii) any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing;

(b)    against any action or agreement that would result in a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation of the Company in the Merger Agreement; and

(c)    against the following actions (other than the Contemplated Transactions): (i) any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any sale, lease, sublease, license, sublicense or transfer of a material portion of the rights or other assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) any reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iv) any change in the board of directors of the Company; (v) any amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other charter or organizational documents; (vi) any material change in the capitalization of the Company or the Company’s corporate structure; and (vii) any other action which is intended, or would reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the Mergers or any of the other Contemplated Transactions.

3.2    Other Voting Agreements.

(a)    During the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not (i) enter into any agreement or understanding with any Person to vote or give instructions in any manner inconsistent with clause “(a),” clause “(b)” or clause “(c)” of Section 3.1, or (ii) grant a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of the Covered Securities that is inconsistent with this Agreement, or otherwise take any other action with respect to any of the Covered Securities that would prevent the performance of any of Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or any of the actions contemplated hereby.

(b)    During the Voting Period, at every meeting of the stockholders of the Company (and at every adjournment or postponement thereof), however called, Stockholder shall be represented in person or by proxy at such meeting in order for the Covered Securities to be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum.

 

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(c)    Without limiting the obligations set forth in this Agreement, in connection with the Company Stockholders Meeting, Stockholder shall cause the Covered Securities to be voted (in person or by proxy) in accordance with Section 3.1 within five Business Days after the date on which Stockholder receives any proxy card or voting instruction form with respect to such Covered Securities, and shall not withdraw, revoke or otherwise alter such vote while this Agreement is in effect.

3.3    Proxy. In furtherance of Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to Section 3.1, Stockholder hereby irrevocably and to the fullest extent permitted by law appoints and constitutes Parent the attorney and proxy of Stockholder, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to the full extent of Stockholder’s rights with respect to the Covered Securities, to vote, or grant a consent in respect of, such Covered Securities solely on the matters, and in the manner, set forth in Section 3.1 above (and Stockholder may vote such Covered Securities on all other matters and Parent may not exercise this proxy with respect to such other matters). This proxy granted to Parent pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall become effective on the date that is five Business Days prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting and will automatically terminate, be revoked and be of no further force or effect on the Expiration Date.

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDER

Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

4.1    Authorization, etc. Stockholder has the absolute and unrestricted right, power, authority and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform Stockholder’s obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Stockholder, enforceable against Stockholder in accordance with its terms, subject to: (a) laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors; and (b) rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies. If Stockholder is a corporation, then Stockholder is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was organized. If Stockholder is a general or limited partnership, then Stockholder is a partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was organized. If Stockholder is a limited liability company, then Stockholder is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was organized. Stockholder has reviewed and understands the terms of this Agreement, and Stockholder has consulted and relied upon Stockholder’s counsel in connection with this Agreement.

4.2    No Conflicts or Consents.

(a)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Stockholder will not: (i) conflict with or violate any Legal Requirement or Order applicable to Stockholder or by which Stockholder or any of Stockholder’s properties is bound or affected; or (ii) result in or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) any breach of or default under, or result (with or without notice or lapse of time) in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of the Subject Securities pursuant to, any Contract to which Stockholder is a party or by which Stockholder or any of Stockholder’s properties is bound.

(b)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Stockholder will not, require any Consent of any Person.

4.3    Title to Securities. As of the date of this Agreement: (a) Stockholder holds of record (free and clear of any Encumbrances) the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock set forth under the heading “Shares of Common Stock Held of Record” on the signature page hereof; (b) Stockholder

 

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holds (free and clear of any Encumbrances) the Company RSUs and Company Warrants forth under the heading “Company RSUs, Company Warrants and Other Rights” on the signature page hereof; (c) Stockholder Owns the additional securities of the Company set forth under the heading “Additional Securities Beneficially Owned” on the signature page hereof; and (d) Stockholder does not directly or indirectly Own any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company, or any Company RSU, Company Warrant or other right to acquire (by purchase, conversion or otherwise) any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company, other than the shares, warrants and other rights set forth on the signature page hereof.

4.4    Accuracy of Representations. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are accurate and complete in all respects as of the date of this Agreement, and will be accurate in all material respects at all times through and including the Expiration Date as if made as of any such time or date.

SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS

5.1    Stockholder Information. Stockholder hereby agrees to permit Parent and Merger Sub to publish and disclose in any press release, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any other filing or disclosure required under the Exchange Act or otherwise required in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Mergers and the other Contemplated Transactions, Stockholder’s identity and ownership of shares of Common Stock and other Subject Securities and the nature of Stockholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the disclosure of this Agreement).

5.2    No Solicit. During the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not directly or indirectly, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that each of Stockholder’s Representatives (subject to Section 5.3) does not directly or indirectly: (a) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate the making, submission or announcement of any Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company or any Company Entity or any Acquisition Inquiry with respect to the Company or any Company Entity; (b) furnish or otherwise provide access to any information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry; (c) engage in discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry; (d) support or endorse any Acquisition Proposal; (e) take any action that could result in the revocation or invalidation of the proxy contemplated by this Agreement; or (f) agree or publicly propose to take any of the actions referred to in this Section 5.2 or otherwise prohibited by this Agreement; provided, however, that if requested by the Company Board after the time (but not before) the Company Board has made a determination in compliance with the provisions of Section 4.4 of the Merger Agreement that an Acquisition Proposal is or could reasonably be expected to result in a Company Superior Offer, the foregoing shall not prohibit Stockholder from indicating to the Company Board, after such time and during the pendency of such Acquisition Proposal, either support, or lack thereof, and the reasons for such support or lack thereof, with respect to such Acquisition Proposal.

5.3    Fiduciary Duties. Stockholder is entering into this Agreement solely in Stockholder’s capacity as an Owner of Subject Securities. This Agreement shall not limit or otherwise affect any actions taken, or required or permitted to be taken, by any Affiliate or Representative of Stockholder as a director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, subject to compliance with the terms of the Merger Agreement), and any actions taken, or failure to take any actions, by any of the foregoing Persons in such capacity as a director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

 

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5.4    No Legal Action. Stockholder shall not, and shall direct its Representatives not to, bring, commence, institute, maintain, voluntarily aid or prosecute any claim, appeal or proceeding which (a) challenges the validity of or seeks to enjoin the operation of any provision of this Agreement, or (b) alleges that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder (or its performance hereunder) breaches any fiduciary duty of the Company Board (or any member thereof) or any duty that such Stockholder has (or may be alleged to have) to the Company or to the other holders of Common Stock.

5.5    Certain Adjustments. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Common Stock by reason of any split-up, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or the like, the terms “Common Stock” and “Covered Securities” shall be deemed to refer to and include such shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

5.6    Reliance. Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and compliance with the terms hereof.

5.7    Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. All Parent’s rights and remedies with respect to any breach of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made by Stockholder in this Agreement shall survive the Expiration Date.

5.8    Further Assurances; Notice of Certain Events. From time to time and without additional consideration, Stockholder shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional documents and other instruments, and shall take such further actions, as Parent may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out and furthering the intent of this Agreement.

5.9    Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.

5.10    Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made as follows: (a) if sent by registered or certified mail in the United States of America return receipt requested, upon receipt; (b) if sent designated for overnight delivery by a nationally recognized overnight air courier (such as Federal Express), one Business Day after mailing; (c) if sent by electronic mail, when transmitted (with electronic confirmation of delivery thereof); and (d) if otherwise actually personally delivered, when delivered, provided that such notices, requests, demands and other communications are delivered to the address set forth below, or to such other address as any party hereto shall provide by like notice to the other party:

if to Stockholder:

at the address set forth on the signature page hereof; and

if to Parent:

Tidewater Inc.

6002 Rogerdale Road

Suite # 600

Houston, Texas 77072

Attention: Bruce D. Lundstrom

Email: blundstrom@tdw.com

 

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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

200 Crescent Court, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attention:             James R. Griffin, Esq.

Facsimile:             (214) 746-7777

Email:                   james.griffin@weil.com

5.11    Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties hereto agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

5.12    Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Merger Agreement and any other documents delivered by the parties in connection herewith constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect thereto.

5.13    Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or supplemented other than by means of a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of Parent and Stockholder.

5.14    Assignment; Binding Effect; No Third Party Rights. Except as provided herein, including pursuant to Section 2.3, neither this Agreement nor any of the interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated by Stockholder, and any attempted or purported assignment or delegation of any of such interests or obligations shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon Stockholder and Stockholder’s heirs, estate, executors and personal representatives and Stockholder’s successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Parent and its successors and assigns. Without limiting any of the restrictions set forth in Section 2, Section 3 or elsewhere in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be binding upon any Person to whom any Covered Securities are Transferred. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer on any Person (other than Parent, Merger Sub and their successors and assigns) any rights or remedies of any nature.

5.15    Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached. Stockholder agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach by Stockholder of any covenant or obligation contained in this Agreement, Parent shall be entitled, without any proof of actual damage (and in addition to any other remedy that may be available to it,

 

7


including monetary damages) to obtain: (a) a decree or order of specific performance to enforce the observance and performance of such covenant or obligation; and (b) an injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach. Stockholder further agrees that neither Parent nor any other Person shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section 5.15, and Stockholder irrevocably waives any right Stockholder may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.

5.16    Non-Exclusivity. The rights and remedies of Parent under this Agreement are not exclusive of or limited by any other rights or remedies which it may have, whether at law, in equity, by contract or otherwise, all of which shall be cumulative (and not alternative). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights and remedies of Parent under this Agreement, and the obligations and liabilities of Stockholder under this Agreement, are in addition to their respective rights, remedies, obligations and liabilities under common law requirements and under all applicable Legal Requirements.

5.17    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a)    This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement, and any claim or controversy directly or indirectly based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the actions contemplated by this Agreement, including all matters of construction, validity and performance, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

(b)    In any action between any of the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the Contemplated Transactions, each of the parties: (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (unless the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the matter, in which case each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware); (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from such court; and (c) agrees that it will not bring any such action in any court other than the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (unless the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the matter, in which case each of the parties agrees that it will not bring such action in any court other than the United States District Court for the District of Delaware). Service of any process, summons, notice or document to any party’s address and in the manner set forth in Section 5.10 shall be effective service of process for any such action. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 5.17(b), a party may commence any legal action or proceeding in a court other than the above-named courts solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the above-named courts. Each party hereto further waives any claim and will not assert that venue should properly lie in any other location within the selected jurisdiction.

(c)    EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER OR RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES, AGREES AND CERTIFIES THAT: (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO PREVENT OR DELAY ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH WAIVER; (ii) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED

 

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THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER; (iii) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (iv) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.17.

5.18    Counterparts; Exchanges by Facsimile or Electronic Delivery. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by facsimile or by electronic delivery shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms of this Agreement.

5.19    Captions. The captions contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

5.20    Attorneys’ Fees. If any legal action or other legal proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement is brought against any party hereto, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements (in addition to any other relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled).

5.21    Waiver. No failure on the part of Parent to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of Parent in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy. Parent shall not be deemed to have waived any claim available to Parent arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy of Parent under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of Parent; and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.

5.22    Independence of Obligations. The covenants and obligations of Stockholder set forth in this Agreement shall be construed as independent of any other Contract between Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Company or Parent, on the other. The existence of any claim or cause of action by Stockholder against the Company or Parent shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement of any of such covenants or obligations against Stockholder. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Parent under the Merger Agreement, or any of the rights or remedies of Parent or any of the obligations of Stockholder under any agreement between Stockholder and Parent or any certificate or instrument executed by Stockholder in favor of Parent, and nothing in the Merger Agreement or in any other such agreement, certificate or instrument, shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Parent or any of the obligations of Stockholder under this Agreement.

5.23    Construction.

(a)    For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa; the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine genders.

(b)    The parties agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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(c)    As used in this Agreement, the words “include” and “including,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

(d)    Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to “Sections” and “Exhibits” are intended to refer to Sections of this Agreement and Exhibits to this Agreement, and the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision of this Agreement

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

TIDEWATER INC.

By: /s/ John Rynd

John Rynd

Name

President and Chief Executive Officer

Title

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT


RAGING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC

/s/ Frederick C. Wasch

Signature  

Frederick C. Wasch, Chief Financial Officer

Printed Name
Address:   10 Princeton Avenue
  Rocky Hill, NJ 08553
Facsimile:   609-423-0966

 

Shares of Common Stock

Held of Record

   Company RSUs, Company
Warrants and Other Rights
   Additional Securities
Beneficially Owned

0

   149,900    2,199,514

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT


SCHEDULE 1

COVERED SECURITIES

1,709,464.21 shares of Common Stock

EX-99.3 3 d582758dex993.htm EX-99.3 EX-99.3

Exhibit 99.3

VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT

THIS VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of July 15, 2018, by and between TIDEWATER INC., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and the holder of Common Stock (as defined below) identified on the signature page hereto (“Stockholder”).

RECITALS

A.    Stockholder is a holder of record and/or the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of certain shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of GulfMark Offshore, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company”).

B.    Parent and the Company are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger of even date herewith (such agreement, as it may be amended, the “Merger Agreement”), which provides (subject to the conditions set forth therein) for, among other things, (i) the merger of a to be formed Delaware corporation, which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), with and into the Company (the “First Merger”), with the Company being the surviving entity in such merger (the “Surviving Corporation”), and (ii) immediately following the First Merger, the merger of the Surviving Corporation with and into a to be formed Delaware limited liability company (“Newco”), with Newco being the surviving entity in such merger (the “Second Merger” and, together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”).

C.    Stockholder is entering into this Agreement in order to induce Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement and cause the Mergers to be consummated.

AGREEMENT

The parties to this Agreement, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement:

(a)    Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Merger Agreement.

(b)    “Covered Securities” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

(c)    “Expiration Date shall mean the earliest of: (i) the date on which the Merger Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms; (ii) the date upon which the Mergers become effective, (iii) the occurrence of a Company Change in Recommendation made by the Company Board in compliance with the terms of the Merger Agreement; (iv) the effectiveness of any amendment, modification or supplement to the Merger Agreement or waiver under the Merger Agreement, in each case, where such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver would (A) decrease, or change the form of, the consideration to be received under the Merger Agreement by holders of Company Common Stock, (B) adversely affect in any material respect the ability of any party thereto to consummate either Merger or (C) materially delay the occurrence of the First Merger Effective Time; or (v) the mutual agreement of Parent and Stockholder to terminate this Agreement.

 

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(d)    A Stockholder shall be deemed to “Own” or to have acquired “Ownership” of a security if Stockholder: (i) is the record owner of such security; or (ii) is the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of such security.

(e)    “Subject Securities” shall mean: (i) all securities of the Company (including all shares of Common Stock and all Company RSUs, Company Warrants and other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock) Owned by Stockholder as of the date of this Agreement; and (ii) all additional securities of the Company (including all additional shares of Common Stock and all additional Company RSUs, Company Warrants and other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock) of which Stockholder acquires Ownership during the Voting Period.

(f)    A Person shall be deemed to have effected a “Transfer” of a security if such Person directly or indirectly: (i) sells, assigns, pledges, encumbers, grants an option with respect to, transfers or disposes of such security, or any interest in such security, to any Person other than Parent or Merger Sub; (ii) enters into an agreement or commitment (whether or not in writing) providing for the sale of, assignment of, pledge of, encumbrance of, grant of an option with respect to, transfer of or disposition of such security or any interest therein to any Person other than Parent or Merger Sub; or (iii) reduces such Person’s beneficial ownership of or interest in such security. The parties acknowledge that the First Merger, in and of itself, shall not be deemed a Transfer in violation of this Agreement.

(g)    “Voting Period shall mean the period commencing on (and including) the date of this Agreement and ending on (and including) the Expiration Date.

SECTION 2. TRANSFER OF COVERED SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS

2.1    Restriction on Transfer of Covered Securities. Subject to Section 2.3, during the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, cause or permit any Transfer of any of the Covered Securities to be effected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not tender, agree to tender or permit to be tendered any of the Covered Securities in response to or otherwise in connection with any tender or exchange offer. For the avoidance of doubt, a conversion by the Company of Common Stock into Company Warrants shall not be deemed to be a “Transfer” or violate any of the provisions of this Agreement.

2.2    Restriction on Transfer of Voting Rights. During the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not: (a) deposit any of the Covered Securities into a voting trust; (b) other than the proxy contemplated by this Agreement, grant any proxy with respect to any of the Covered Securities; or (c) other than this Agreement, enter into any tender, voting or other similar agreement or arrangement, with respect to any of the Covered Securities.

2.3    Permitted Transfers. Section 2.1 shall not prohibit a Transfer of Covered Securities by Stockholder: (a) if Stockholder is an individual (i) to any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or to a trust for the benefit of Stockholder or any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or (ii) upon the death of Stockholder, to any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or to a trust for the benefit of any member of Stockholder’s immediate family; (b) if Stockholder is not an individual, to one or more partners or members of Stockholder or to an affiliated entity under common control with Stockholder; or (c) to another Person that has signed a voting and support agreement with Parent in connection with the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that a Transfer referred to in this sentence shall be permitted only if, (x) as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee agrees in a written document, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Parent, to be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement, and (y) such Transfer is effected no later than three Business Days prior to the scheduled date of the Company Stockholders’ Meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) and does not delay, hinder or impede (A) the timely voting of the Covered Securities in accordance with Section 3.1 or (B) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.

 

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2.4    Other Restrictions. During the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not take any action that would make any representation or warranty of Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect or in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of any of Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or seek to do or solicit any of the actions prohibited in this Section 2. Stockholder agrees to notify Parent promptly, and to provide all details reasonably requested by Parent, if Stockholder shall be approached or solicited, directly or indirectly, by any Person in connection with an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company or any Company Entity or Acquisition Inquiry with respect to the Company or any Company Entity.

SECTION 3. VOTING OF SHARES

3.1    Voting Covenant. Stockholder hereby agrees that, during the Voting Period, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company (and at every adjournment or postponement thereof), however called, and in any written action by consent of the stockholders of the Company, Stockholder shall cause the Covered Securities to be voted (including via proxy):

(a)    in favor of (i) the adoption of the Merger Agreement, the terms thereof and all agreements related to the Mergers, (ii) each of the other actions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and (iii) any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing;

(b)    against any action or agreement that would result in a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation of the Company in the Merger Agreement; and

(c)    against the following actions (other than the Contemplated Transactions): (i) any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any sale, lease, sublease, license, sublicense or transfer of a material portion of the rights or other assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) any reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iv) any change in the board of directors of the Company; (v) any amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other charter or organizational documents; (vi) any material change in the capitalization of the Company or the Company’s corporate structure; and (vii) any other action which is intended, or would reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the Mergers or any of the other Contemplated Transactions.

3.2    Other Voting Agreements.

(a)    During the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not (i) enter into any agreement or understanding with any Person to vote or give instructions in any manner inconsistent with clause “(a),” clause “(b)” or clause “(c)” of Section 3.1, or (ii) grant a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of the Covered Securities that is inconsistent with this Agreement, or otherwise take any other action with respect to any of the Covered Securities that would prevent the performance of any of Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or any of the actions contemplated hereby.

(b)    During the Voting Period, at every meeting of the stockholders of the Company (and at every adjournment or postponement thereof), however called, Stockholder shall be represented in person or by proxy at such meeting in order for the Covered Securities to be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum.

 

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(c)    Without limiting the obligations set forth in this Agreement, in connection with the Company Stockholders Meeting, Stockholder shall cause the Covered Securities to be voted (in person or by proxy) in accordance with Section 3.1 within five Business Days after the date on which Stockholder receives any proxy card or voting instruction form with respect to such Covered Securities, and shall not withdraw, revoke or otherwise alter such vote while this Agreement is in effect.

3.3    Proxy. In furtherance of Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to Section 3.1, Stockholder hereby irrevocably and to the fullest extent permitted by law appoints and constitutes Parent the attorney and proxy of Stockholder, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to the full extent of Stockholder’s rights with respect to the Covered Securities, to vote, or grant a consent in respect of, such Covered Securities solely on the matters, and in the manner, set forth in Section 3.1 above (and Stockholder may vote such Covered Securities on all other matters and Parent may not exercise this proxy with respect to such other matters). This proxy granted to Parent pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall become effective on the date that is five Business Days prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting and will automatically terminate, be revoked and be of no further force or effect on the Expiration Date.

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDER

Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

4.1    Authorization, etc. Stockholder has the absolute and unrestricted right, power, authority and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform Stockholder’s obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Stockholder, enforceable against Stockholder in accordance with its terms, subject to: (a) laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors; and (b) rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies. If Stockholder is a corporation, then Stockholder is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was organized. If Stockholder is a general or limited partnership, then Stockholder is a partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was organized. If Stockholder is a limited liability company, then Stockholder is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was organized. Stockholder has reviewed and understands the terms of this Agreement, and Stockholder has consulted and relied upon Stockholder’s counsel in connection with this Agreement.

4.2    No Conflicts or Consents.

(a)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Stockholder will not: (i) conflict with or violate any Legal Requirement or Order applicable to Stockholder or by which Stockholder or any of Stockholder’s properties is bound or affected; or (ii) result in or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) any breach of or default under, or result (with or without notice or lapse of time) in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of the Subject Securities pursuant to, any Contract to which Stockholder is a party or by which Stockholder or any of Stockholder’s properties is bound.

(b)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Stockholder will not, require any Consent of any Person.

4.3    Title to Securities. As of the date of this Agreement: (a) Stockholder holds of record (free and clear of any Encumbrances) the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock set forth under the heading “Shares of Common Stock Held of Record” on the signature page hereof; (b) Stockholder

 

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holds (free and clear of any Encumbrances) the Company RSUs and Company Warrants forth under the heading “Company RSUs, Company Warrants and Other Rights” on the signature page hereof; (c) Stockholder Owns the additional securities of the Company set forth under the heading “Additional Securities Beneficially Owned” on the signature page hereof; and (d) Stockholder does not directly or indirectly Own any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company, or any Company RSU, Company Warrant or other right to acquire (by purchase, conversion or otherwise) any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company, other than the shares, warrants and other rights set forth on the signature page hereof.

4.4    Accuracy of Representations. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are accurate and complete in all respects as of the date of this Agreement, and will be accurate in all material respects at all times through and including the Expiration Date as if made as of any such time or date.

SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS

5.1    Stockholder Information. Stockholder hereby agrees to permit Parent and Merger Sub to publish and disclose in any press release, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any other filing or disclosure required under the Exchange Act or otherwise required in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Mergers and the other Contemplated Transactions, Stockholder’s identity and ownership of shares of Common Stock and other Subject Securities and the nature of Stockholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the disclosure of this Agreement).

5.2    No Solicit. During the Voting Period, Stockholder shall not directly or indirectly, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that each of Stockholder’s Representatives (subject to Section 5.3) does not directly or indirectly: (a) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate the making, submission or announcement of any Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company or any Company Entity or any Acquisition Inquiry with respect to the Company or any Company Entity; (b) furnish or otherwise provide access to any information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry; (c) engage in discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry; (d) support or endorse any Acquisition Proposal; (e) take any action that could result in the revocation or invalidation of the proxy contemplated by this Agreement; or (f) agree or publicly propose to take any of the actions referred to in this Section 5.2 or otherwise prohibited by this Agreement; provided, however, that if requested by the Company Board after the time (but not before) the Company Board has made a determination in compliance with the provisions of Section 4.4 of the Merger Agreement that an Acquisition Proposal is or could reasonably be expected to result in a Company Superior Offer, the foregoing shall not prohibit Stockholder from indicating to the Company Board, after such time and during the pendency of such Acquisition Proposal, either support, or lack thereof, and the reasons for such support or lack thereof, with respect to such Acquisition Proposal.

5.3    Fiduciary Duties. Stockholder is entering into this Agreement solely in Stockholder’s capacity as an Owner of Subject Securities. This Agreement shall not limit or otherwise affect any actions taken, or required or permitted to be taken, by any Affiliate or Representative of Stockholder as a director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, subject to compliance with the terms of the Merger Agreement), and any actions taken, or failure to take any actions, by any of the foregoing Persons in such capacity as a director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

 

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5.4    No Legal Action. Stockholder shall not, and shall direct its Representatives not to, bring, commence, institute, maintain, voluntarily aid or prosecute any claim, appeal or proceeding which (a) challenges the validity of or seeks to enjoin the operation of any provision of this Agreement, or (b) alleges that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder (or its performance hereunder) breaches any fiduciary duty of the Company Board (or any member thereof) or any duty that such Stockholder has (or may be alleged to have) to the Company or to the other holders of Common Stock.

5.5    Certain Adjustments. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Common Stock by reason of any split-up, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or the like, the terms “Common Stock” and “Covered Securities” shall be deemed to refer to and include such shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

5.6    Reliance. Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and compliance with the terms hereof.

5.7    Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. All Parent’s rights and remedies with respect to any breach of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made by Stockholder in this Agreement shall survive the Expiration Date.

5.8    Further Assurances; Notice of Certain Events. From time to time and without additional consideration, Stockholder shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional documents and other instruments, and shall take such further actions, as Parent may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out and furthering the intent of this Agreement.

5.9    Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.

5.10    Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made as follows: (a) if sent by registered or certified mail in the United States of America return receipt requested, upon receipt; (b) if sent designated for overnight delivery by a nationally recognized overnight air courier (such as Federal Express), one Business Day after mailing; (c) if sent by electronic mail, when transmitted (with electronic confirmation of delivery thereof); and (d) if otherwise actually personally delivered, when delivered, provided that such notices, requests, demands and other communications are delivered to the address set forth below, or to such other address as any party hereto shall provide by like notice to the other party:

if to Stockholder:

at the address set forth on the signature page hereof; and

if to Parent:

Tidewater Inc.

6002 Rogerdale Road

Suite # 600

Houston, Texas 77072

Attention: Bruce D. Lundstrom

Email: blundstrom@tdw.com

 

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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

200 Crescent Court, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attention:          James R. Griffin, Esq.

Facsimile:         (214) 746-7777

Email:               james.griffin@weil.com

5.11    Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties hereto agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

5.12    Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Merger Agreement and any other documents delivered by the parties in connection herewith constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect thereto.

5.13    Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or supplemented other than by means of a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of Parent and Stockholder.

5.14    Assignment; Binding Effect; No Third Party Rights. Except as provided herein, including pursuant to Section 2.3, neither this Agreement nor any of the interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated by Stockholder, and any attempted or purported assignment or delegation of any of such interests or obligations shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon Stockholder and Stockholder’s heirs, estate, executors and personal representatives and Stockholder’s successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Parent and its successors and assigns. Without limiting any of the restrictions set forth in Section 2, Section 3 or elsewhere in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be binding upon any Person to whom any Covered Securities are Transferred. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer on any Person (other than Parent, Merger Sub and their successors and assigns) any rights or remedies of any nature.

5.15    Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached. Stockholder agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach by Stockholder of any covenant or obligation contained in this Agreement, Parent shall be entitled, without any proof of actual damage (and in addition to any other remedy that may be available to it,

 

7


including monetary damages) to obtain: (a) a decree or order of specific performance to enforce the observance and performance of such covenant or obligation; and (b) an injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach. Stockholder further agrees that neither Parent nor any other Person shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section 5.15, and Stockholder irrevocably waives any right Stockholder may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.

5.16    Non-Exclusivity. The rights and remedies of Parent under this Agreement are not exclusive of or limited by any other rights or remedies which it may have, whether at law, in equity, by contract or otherwise, all of which shall be cumulative (and not alternative). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights and remedies of Parent under this Agreement, and the obligations and liabilities of Stockholder under this Agreement, are in addition to their respective rights, remedies, obligations and liabilities under common law requirements and under all applicable Legal Requirements.

5.17    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a)    This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement, and any claim or controversy directly or indirectly based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the actions contemplated by this Agreement, including all matters of construction, validity and performance, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

(b)    In any action between any of the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the Contemplated Transactions, each of the parties: (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (unless the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the matter, in which case each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware); (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from such court; and (c) agrees that it will not bring any such action in any court other than the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (unless the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the matter, in which case each of the parties agrees that it will not bring such action in any court other than the United States District Court for the District of Delaware). Service of any process, summons, notice or document to any party’s address and in the manner set forth in Section 5.10 shall be effective service of process for any such action. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 5.17(b), a party may commence any legal action or proceeding in a court other than the above-named courts solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the above-named courts. Each party hereto further waives any claim and will not assert that venue should properly lie in any other location within the selected jurisdiction.

(c)    EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER OR RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES, AGREES AND CERTIFIES THAT: (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO PREVENT OR DELAY ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH WAIVER; (ii) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED

 

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THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER; (iii) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (iv) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.17.

5.18    Counterparts; Exchanges by Facsimile or Electronic Delivery. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by facsimile or by electronic delivery shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms of this Agreement.

5.19    Captions. The captions contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

5.20    Attorneys’ Fees. If any legal action or other legal proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement is brought against any party hereto, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements (in addition to any other relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled).

5.21    Waiver. No failure on the part of Parent to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of Parent in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy. Parent shall not be deemed to have waived any claim available to Parent arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy of Parent under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of Parent; and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.

5.22    Independence of Obligations. The covenants and obligations of Stockholder set forth in this Agreement shall be construed as independent of any other Contract between Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Company or Parent, on the other. The existence of any claim or cause of action by Stockholder against the Company or Parent shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement of any of such covenants or obligations against Stockholder. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Parent under the Merger Agreement, or any of the rights or remedies of Parent or any of the obligations of Stockholder under any agreement between Stockholder and Parent or any certificate or instrument executed by Stockholder in favor of Parent, and nothing in the Merger Agreement or in any other such agreement, certificate or instrument, shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Parent or any of the obligations of Stockholder under this Agreement.

5.23    Construction.

(a)    For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa; the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine genders.

(b)    The parties agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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(c)    As used in this Agreement, the words “include” and “including,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

(d)    Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to “Sections” and “Exhibits” are intended to refer to Sections of this Agreement and Exhibits to this Agreement, and the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision of this Agreement

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

TIDEWATER INC.

By: /s/ John Rynd

John Rynd

Name

President and Chief Executive Officer

Title

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT


5 Essex, L.P.
By: Captain Q, LLC, its General Partner

/s/ Noel Nesser

Signature

Noel Nesser, Treasurer and CFO

Printed Name

Address:   5 Essex, L.P.
  301 Commerce St., Suite 3200
  Fort Worth, TX 76102
Facsimile:   817-332-7463

 

Shares of Common Stock

Held of Record

   Company RSUs, Company
Warrants and Other Rights
   Additional Securities
Beneficially Owned
 

0

   0      1,177,150 shares of Common Stock  

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT


SCHEDULE 1

COVERED SECURITIES

914,882.01 shares of Common Stock