EX-99.1 2 e621892_ex99-1.htm JOINT FILING AND SOLICITATION AGREEMENT

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

JOINT FILING AND SOLICITATION AGREEMENT

 

WHEREAS, certain of the undersigned are shareholders, direct or beneficial, of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., a Tennessee corporation (the “Company”);

 

WHEREAS, The Lion Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Biglari Capital Corp., a Texas limited liability company, First Guard Insurance Company, an Arizona corporation, Southern Pioneer Property and Casualty Insurance Company, an Arkansas corporation, SPP&C Holding Co., Inc., an Arkansas corporation, Biglari Holdings Inc., an Indiana corporation, Sardar Biglari (collectively, “Biglari”), and Jody Bilney and Kevin Reddy (the “Nominees”) wish to form a group for the purpose of seeking representation on the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) at the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders of the Company (including any other meeting of shareholders held in lieu thereof, and any adjournments, postponements, reschedulings or continuations thereof, the “Annual Meeting”) and for the purpose of taking all other action necessary to achieve the foregoing.

 

NOW, IT IS AGREED, this 18th day of August 2022 by the parties hereto:

 

1.       In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k)(1)(iii) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), each of the undersigned (collectively, the “Group”) agrees to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D, and any amendments thereto, with respect to the securities of the Company, if applicable. Each member of the Group shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of his/her/its own disclosure therein, and is not responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information concerning the other members, unless such member knows or has reason to know that such information is inaccurate.

 

2.       So long as this Agreement is in effect, each of the Nominees shall provide written notice to Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP (“Olshan”) of (i) any of his or her purchases or sales of securities of the Company; or (ii) any securities of the Company over which he or she acquires or disposes of beneficial ownership. Notice shall be given no later than 24 hours after each such transaction.

 

3.       So long as this Agreement is in effect, each of the Nominees agrees to provide Biglari advance written notice prior to effecting any purchase, sale, acquisition or disposal of any securities of the Company which he or she has, or would have, direct or indirect beneficial ownership so that Biglari has an opportunity to review the potential implications of any such transaction in the securities of the Company and pre-clear any such potential transaction in the securities of the Company by the Nominees. Each of the Nominees agrees that he or she shall not undertake or effect any purchase, sale, acquisition or disposal of any securities of the Company without the prior written consent of Biglari.

 

4.       Each of the undersigned agrees to form the Group for the purpose of (i) soliciting proxies or written consents for the election of the person(s) nominated by the Group to the Board at the Annual Meeting, (ii) taking such other actions as the parties deem advisable, and (iii) taking all other action necessary or advisable to achieve the foregoing.

 

5.       Biglari shall have the right to pre-approve all expenses incurred in connection with the Group’s activities and agrees to pay directly all such pre-approved expenses.

 

6.       Each of the undersigned agrees that any SEC filing, press release or shareholder communication proposed to be made or issued by the Group or any member of the Group in connection with the Group’s activities set forth in Section 4 shall be first approved by Biglari.

 

 

 

 

7.       The relationship of the parties hereto shall be limited to carrying on the business of the Group in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Such relationship shall be construed and deemed to be for the sole and limited purpose of carrying on such business as described herein. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any party to act as an agent for any other party, or to create a joint venture or partnership, or to constitute an indemnification. Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing herein shall restrict any party’s right to purchase or sell securities of the Company, as he/she/it deems appropriate, in his/her/its sole discretion, provided that all such sales are made in compliance with all applicable securities laws.

 

8.       This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same instrument, which may be sufficiently evidenced by one counterpart.

 

9.       In the event of any dispute arising out of the provisions of this Agreement or their investment in the Company, the parties hereto consent and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and State Courts in the State of New York.

 

10.       Any party hereto may terminate his/its obligations under this Agreement on 24 hours’ written notice to all other parties, with a copy by email to Michael Neidell at Olshan, mneidell@olshanlaw.com.

 

11.       Each party acknowledges that Olshan shall act as counsel for both the Group and Biglari and its affiliates relating to their investment in the Company.

 

12.       Each of the undersigned parties hereby agrees that this Agreement shall be filed as an exhibit to a Schedule 13D pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1)(iii) under the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

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

 

  THE LION FUND II, L.P.
   
  By: BIGLARI CAPITAL CORP., its General Partner
     
  By: /s/ Sardar Biglari
    Name: Sardar Biglari
    Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
   
   
  BIGLARI CAPITAL CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Sardar Biglari
    Name: Sardar Biglari
    Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
   
   
  FIRST GUARD INSURANCE COMPANY
   
  By: /s/ Sardar Biglari
    Name: Sardar Biglari
    Title: Authorized Signatory
   
   
  SOUTHERN PIONEER PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
   
  By: /s/ Sardar Biglari
    Name: Sardar Biglari
    Title: Authorized Signatory
   
   
  SPP&C HOLDING CO., INC.
   
  By: /s/ Sardar Biglari
    Name: Sardar Biglari
    Title: Authorized Signatory
   
   
  BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.
   
  By: /s/ Sardar Biglari
    Name: Sardar Biglari
    Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

  /s/ Sardar Biglari
  SARDAR BIGLARI
   
   
  /s/ Jody Bilney
  JODY BILNEY
   
   
  /s/ Kevin Reddy
  KEVIN REDDY