UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): August 18, 2014
SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
(Exact Name of the Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
000-27163 | 77-0435679 |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
15770 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1290, Dallas, TX | 75248 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(972) 687-7250
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On August 18, 2014, SWK Holdings Corporation (the "Company") entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Carlson Capital, L.P. (“Carlson”). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, on August 18, 2014, Double Black Diamond Offshore Ltd. (“Double Black Diamond”) and Black Diamond Offshore Limited (“Black Diamond”), funds affiliated with Carlson (collectively, the “Stockholder”), acquired 55,908,000 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) for a purchase price of $1.37 per share or an aggregate purchase price of $76,593,960 (the “Initial Closing”). Prior to the date hereof, Carlson and its affiliates owned approximately 29.7% of the Company’s Common Stock and are lenders under the Company’s credit facility.
The Purchase Agreement provides that the Company will conduct a rights offering (the “Rights Offering”) as promptly as reasonably practical after the Initial Closing. The Rights Offering will be substantially on the terms set forth in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company with the SEC on February 13, 2014, as the same has been (and as it may be) amended and supplemented (including each amendment and supplement thereto, the “Registration Statement”). The Stockholder will have the right to participate in the Rights Offering on the same terms as all other stockholders, including with respect to the subscription price. In connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Stockholder agreed that it would only exercise that number rights it receives in the rights offering which represents the number of rights it would have received on the day immediately preceding the Initial Closing. Double Black Diamond, L.P., an affiliate of the Stockholder, has agreed to serve as the standby purchaser with respect to the Rights Offering and will generally have the right to purchase any unsubscribed rights (other than rights the Stockholder have agreed not to exercise as described above).
The Purchase Agreement further provides that, following the closing of the Rights Offering, the Stockholder will purchase a number of newly issued additional shares of Common Stock such that (after taking into account the Initial Closing and the closing of the Rights Offering, including any shares of Common Stock purchased by the Stockholder and its affiliates in the Rights Offering, including as standby purchaser) the Stockholders’ and its affiliates’ voting percentage of Common Stock equals 69% on a fully-diluted basis.
In connection with the transactions described above, the Company has agreed to reimburse the Stockholder for up to $900,000 in transaction expenses.
In connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company, Double Black Diamond and Black Diamond entered into a Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2014 (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, the Company granted the Stockholder approval rights with respect to certain transactions including with respect to the incurrence of indebtedness over specified amounts, the sale of assets over specified amounts, declaration of dividends, loans, capital contributions to or investments in any third party over specified amounts, changes in the size of the board of directors or changes in the Company’s chief executive officer. In addition, the Stockholder agreed that until the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the Initial Closing or the date it owns less than 40% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock it will not increase its voting percentage of Common Stock to greater than 76% or cause the Company to engage in any buybacks in excess of 3% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock without offering to acquire all of the then-outstanding Common Stock at the same price and on the same terms and conditions. The Stockholder further agreed that, until the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the Initial Closing or the date it owns less than 40% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, it will not sell shares of Common Stock to any purchaser that would result in such purchaser having a voting percentage of Common Stock in excess of 40% (and with neither the Stockholder and its affiliates nor any other holder of Common Stock and its affiliates holding a voting percentage in excess of 40%) unless the purchaser contemporaneously makes a binding offer to acquire all of the then-outstanding Common Stock of the Company, at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as the purchase of shares from the Stockholder. The Stockholder also agreed that, until the earlier of the eighth anniversary of the Initial Closing or the date it owns less than 40% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Stockholder will not engage in a transaction as described in Rule 13e-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, without offering to acquire all of the then-outstanding Common Stock at the same price and on the same terms and conditions. Additionally, until the earlier of the eighth anniversary of the Initial Closing or the date it owns less than 40% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Stockholder agrees to maintain at least two directors who are not affiliates of the Stockholder or the Company (the “Non-Affiliated Directors”), and agrees that any related party transaction or deregistration of the Common Stock from SEC reporting requirements requires the approval of the Non-Affiliated Directors. The Stockholders’ Agreement also contains a right for the Stockholder to serve as the exclusive standby purchaser for any additional rights offerings prior to September 6, 2016, and a pre-emptive right to purchase its pro rata share of any additional offerings other than such rights offerings by the Company prior to such date.
The Stockholders Agreement also provides that, until the second anniversary of the Initial Closing, the Company will not seek, negotiate or consummate any sale of Common Stock (with certain customary exceptions), except through one or more rights offerings substantially on the same structural terms as the Rights Offering. In addition, the Stockholder agreed that until the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the Initial Closing or the date it owns less than 40% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, it would provide support to the Company in various ways, including with respect to sourcing financing and other business opportunities.
Additionally, in connection with the transactions described above, William Clifford, Michael Margolis and John Nemelka resigned from the Company’s board of directors. Pursuant to the Company’s Bylaws, the board of directors appointed Christopher W. Haga, D. Blair Baker and Edward B. Stead to fill the vacancies created. Mr. Stead was appointed as a Class II director for a term expiring in 2017 and Mr. Baker and Mr. Haga were appointed as Class III directors for a terms expiring in 2014.
On August 18, 2014, the Company also entered into new employment agreements with J. Brett Pope, chief executive officer, and Winston Black, managing director. Under their respective new agreements, Messrs. Pope and Black will each receive a base salary of $240,000 beginning January 1, 2015, and will be entitled to a bonus based on the Company’s performance. In addition, each received an option grant for 1,000,000 shares with an exercise price of $1.37 per share. Fifty percent of the options vest over 4 years beginning December 31, 2015 and fifty percent vest if the 60 day average closing stock price exceeds $2.06.
In connection with the transactions described above, on August 18, 2014, the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, to designate the Stockholder and it affiliates as Exempt Persons (as defined in the Rights Agreement) unless they own more than 76% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
The foregoing descriptions of the material agreements entered into do not purport to describe all of the terms and provisions thereof and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the agreements, which are filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
In connection with the transactions, on August 18, 2014, the Company, Double Black Diamond, Black Diamond, and Double Black Diamond, L.P., entered into a Termination of Voting Agreement (the “Termination Agreement”). The Termination Agreement terminated the Voting Agreement, dated September 6, 2013, among the Company, Double Black Diamond, Black Diamond, and Double Black Diamond, L.P.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
As described in Item 1.01 above, on August 18, 2014, the Company issued to Stockholder, 55,908,000 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $76,593,960 paid in cash. There were no underwriting discounts or commissions paid by the Company. The shares were issued to Stockholder in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant Section 4(2) thereunder.
Item 5.01 Change in Control of Registrant.
As described in Item 1.01 above, on August 18, 2014, the Company issued to the Stockholder 55,908,000 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $76,593,960. The source of funds used to make the purchases reported herein is the working capital of the Stockholder and margin borrowings.
As of the close of business on August 18, 2014, Carlson together with its affiliates beneficially owned an aggregate of 69,057,100 shares of Common Stock (including a warrant to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock), constituting approximately 69.0% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensation Arrangements of Certain Officers.
In connection with the transaction described in Item 1.01 above, William Clifford, Michael Margolis and John Nemelka tendered their resignations for the board of directors effective on the Initial Closing.
On August 18, 2014, pursuant to the terms of the transaction described in Item 1.01 above, the board of directors appointed the following individuals to fill the vacancies created by the resignations of Messrs. Clifford, Margolis and Nemelka.
Christopher W. Haga, age 46, was appointed as a Class III director for a term expiring at the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Haga is a portfolio manager at Carlson. Mr. Haga, who joined Carlson in 2003, has 22 years of experience in public and private investing, investment banking and structured finance. His role at Carlson includes public and private investing in financial institutions, energy companies and special situations. Prior to Carlson, Mr. Haga held investment banking and principal investing roles at RBC Capital Markets, Stephens, Inc., Lehman Brothers (London) and Alex. Brown & Sons. Mr. Haga holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia.
D. Blair Baker, age 53, was appointed as a Class III director for a term expiring at the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Baker is the president of Precept Capital Management (“Precept”), an investment management company based in Dallas, Texas which he founded in 1998. Precept invests across multiple industries and asset types, focusing primarily on publicly-traded securities. His investments in the healthcare sector have included pharmaceutical, medical device, biotech, medical services and medical technology. He has extensive relationships throughout the industry. Mr. Baker previously worked with the advance staff for Vice President George H.W. Bush. Mr. Baker also formed an oil and gas operating company with ongoing operations in the Fort Worth Basin in North Texas. Other relevant prior experience includes Mr. Baker’s position as vice president and securities analyst covering telecommunications equipment companies at Rauscher Pierce Refsnes (later acquired by RBC) and as a member of the research team at Friess Associates that managed $7 billion of client assets.
Edward B. Stead, age 67, was appointed as a Class II director for a term expiring at the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Stead has served as a senior executive for various companies over an extensive business career. Mr. Stead began his career as a lawyer at IBM from 1973 to 1985. He then served at Apple Computer, Inc. from 1987 until 1996, where he held titles up to and including Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. At Apple, Mr. Stead led the significant advance of Apple in filing of patented inventions. He also served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Blockbuster, Inc. from 1997 until 2006. Mr. Stead has served on the Legal Advisory Boards of both the NYSE and the NASD. He is currently a member of the American Law Institute and serves on the Advisory Boards of the Perot Museum on Nature and Science as well as the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Mr. Haga is employed by Carlson as a portolio manager. Carlson and its affiliates (i) after the Initial Closing, own approximately 69% of the Company’s outstanding stock and (ii) are lenders to the Company.
The board has not determined on which committees the newly appointed directors will serve.
The newly appointed directors were not provided with any compensation in connection with their appointment.
On August 18, 2014, the Company also entered into new employment agreements with J. Brett Pope, chief executive officer, and Winston Black, managing director. Under their respective new agreements, Messrs. Pope and Black will each receive a base salary of $240,000 beginning January 1, 2015, and will be entitled to a bonus based on the Company’s performance. In addition, each received an option grant for 1,000,000 shares with an exercise price of $1.37 per share. Fifty percent of the options vest over 4 years beginning December 31, 2015, and fifty percent vest if the 30 day average closing stock price exceeds $2.06.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On August 18, 2014 the Company issued a press release announcing the transaction. A copy of such press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01: Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. | Description | |
4.1* | Amendment No. 1 to the Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2014, by and between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | |
10.1* | Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2014, by and between the Company and Carlson Capital, L.P. | |
10.2* | Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2014, by and among the Company, Double Black Diamond Offshore Ltd, and Black Diamond Offshore Ltd |
Exhibit No. | Description | |
10.3* | Termination of Voting Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2014, by and among Double Black Diamond, L.P., Double Black Diamond Offshore Ltd., Black Diamond Offshore, Ltd. and the Company. | |
10.4* | Employment Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2014, by and between the Company and J. Brett Pope** | |
10.5* | Employment Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2014, by and between the Company and Winston L. Black III ** | |
99.1* | Press Release regarding the transaction |
* Filed herewith
**Management contracts and compensatory plans and arrangements required to be filed as exhibits pursuant to Item 15(b) of this report.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Winston Black | |
Winston Black | ||
Managing Director |
Date: August 18, 2014
Execution Version
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment”), dated as of August 18, 2014, is made by and between SWK Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Kana Software, Inc., the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (the “Rights Agent”), to the Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of February 12, 2012, between the Company and the Rights Agent (the “Rights Agreement”). All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Rights Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company proposes to enter into a Securities Purchase Agreement by and between Carlson Capital L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Carlson”), and the Company (as amended, supplemented, modified or replaced from time to time, the “Securities Purchase Agreement”);
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Rights are redeemable;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that the Securities Purchase Agreement and the issuance of the Shares and the Rights Offering (each as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined it to be advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend the Rights Agreement as set forth in this Amendment to (a) render the Rights Agreement inapplicable to any of the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement, including without limitation the issuance of the Shares and the Rights Offering, and (b) cause Carlson and its Affiliates and Associates to each be considered an Exempt Person under the circumstances set forth herein;
WHEREAS, subject to certain limited exceptions, Section 27 of the Rights Agreement provides that at any time that the Rights are redeemable the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of the Rights Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights or holders of Common Shares;
WHEREAS, this Amendment is permitted by Section 27 of the Rights Agreement; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27, the Company hereby amends, and directs the Rights Agent to amend, the Rights Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Rights Agent, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Additional Definitions. Section 1 of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following definitions in alphabetical order:
““Carlson” shall mean Carlson Capital L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.”
““Securities Purchase Agreement” shall mean the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2014, by and between Carlson and the Company (as such agreement is amended, supplemented, modified or replaced from time to time).”
2. Replacement of Definitions. Section 1 of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended by deleting and replacing in entirety the following definitions:
““Exempt Person” means a Person whose Beneficial Ownership (together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person) of 4.9% or more of the then-outstanding Common Shares will not, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in its sole discretion, jeopardize or endanger the availability to the Company of its NOLs; provided, however, that such a Person will cease to be an “Exempt Person” if the Board of Directors makes a contrary determination with respect to the effect of such Person’s Beneficial Ownership (together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person) upon the availability to the Company of its NOLs; and provided further that Carlson and its Affiliates and Associates shall each be considered an Exempt Person at all times, unless and until their collective Beneficial Ownership of the then-outstanding Common Shares constitutes more than 76% of the then-outstanding Common Shares (with the definition of Common Shares for purposes of this proviso being deemed to include any Common Shares that a Person has the right to acquire, whether or not such right is exercisable immediately).”
““Final Expiration Date” means February 3, 2015.”
3. Amendment of Section 7. Section 7(d) is deleted and replaced in its entirety as follows:
“The Rights will expire on the Final Expiration Date unless earlier redeemed or exchanged.”
4. Addition of New Section 36. The Rights Agreement is amended by adding a new Section 36 thereto, which shall read as follows:
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“Section 36. Exception For Securities Purchase Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, none of a Flip-In Event, a Flip-Over Event, a Triggering Event, a Distribution Date or a Share Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have occurred, none of Carlson or any of its Affiliates or Associates, either individually or collectively, shall be deemed to have become an Acquiring Person, and no holder of any Rights shall be entitled to exercise any Rights under, or be entitled to any rights pursuant to, this Agreement, in any such case by reason of (a) the approval, execution, delivery, or performance of the Securities Purchase Agreement or any amendments thereof or other documents attached thereto (in each case approved by the Board of Directors of the Company), (b) public or other announcement or disclosure of the Securities Purchase Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, including without limitation the issuance of the Shares and the Rights Offering (each as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), or (c) the commencement or, prior to termination of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the consummation of, any of the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement, in accordance with their respective terms, including without limitation the issuance of the Shares and the Rights Offering.”
5. Effective Date; Certification. This Amendment shall be deemed effective as of the date first written above, as if executed on such date. The officer of the Company executing this Amendment hereby certifies to the Rights Agent that the amendment to the Rights Agreement set forth in this Amendment is in compliance with Section 27 of the Rights Agreement and the certification contained in this Section 3 shall constitute the certification required by Section 27 of the Rights Agreement.
6. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal substantive laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State.
7. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment will remain in full force and effect and will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
8. Notice. The Rights Agent and the Company hereby waive any notice requirement with respect to each other under the Rights Agreement, if any, pertaining to the matters covered by this Amendment.
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9. No Other Effect. Except as expressly set forth herein, the Rights Agreement shall not by implication or otherwise be supplemented or amended by virtue of this Amendment, but shall remain in full force and effect, as amended hereby.
10. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts will for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts will together constitute but one and the same instrument.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date and year first above written.
SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Brett Pope | |
Name: | Brett Pope | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., | ||
as Rights Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Robert A. Buckley, Jr | |
Name: | Robert A. Buckley, Jr | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT AMENDMENT]
Execution Version
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
between
CARLSON CAPITAL, L.P.,
as the Investor
and
SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION,
as the Company
Dated as of August 18, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
Article I ISSUANCE OF SHARES AND RIGHTS OFFERING | 1 |
Section 1.1 Issuance of the Shares at the Initial Closing | 1 |
Section 1.2 Initial Closing | 2 |
Section 1.3 Deliverables at the Initial Closing | 2 |
Section 1.4 Rights Offering | 3 |
Section 1.5 Dilution Make-Whole Issuance of the Shares at the Subsequent Closing | 3 |
Section 1.6 Subsequent Closing | 4 |
Section 1.7 Deliverables at the Subsequent Closing | 4 |
Article II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 4 |
Section 2.1 Organization | 4 |
Section 2.2 Authorization | 5 |
Section 2.3 Capitalization | 5 |
Section 2.4 Valid Issuance of Shares | 6 |
Section 2.5 Non-Contravention; Governmental Authorizations | 6 |
Section 2.6 Litigation | 6 |
Section 2.7 Compliance with Laws; Permits | 6 |
Section 2.8 Periodic Filings; Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities | 7 |
Section 2.9 Absence of Certain Changes | 8 |
Section 2.10 Brokers and Finders | 8 |
Section 2.11 Contracts | 9 |
Section 2.12 Employee Benefits | 9 |
Section 2.13 Taxes | 9 |
Section 2.14 Securities Act Compliance | 9 |
Section 2.15 No Further Reliance | 9 |
Article III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTOR | 10 |
Section 3.1 Organization and Authority | 10 |
Section 3.2 Authorization | 10 |
Section 3.3 Non-Contravention; Governmental Authorization | 10 |
Section 3.4 Securities Act Compliance | 11 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | |
Section 3.5 Brokers and Finders | 11 |
Section 3.6 Financial Capability | 11 |
Section 3.7 No Further Reliance | 11 |
Article IV COVENANTS | 11 |
Section 4.1 Public Announcements | 11 |
Section 4.2 Further Assurances | 12 |
Section 4.3 Indemnification of Resigning Directors | 12 |
Section 4.4 Treatment of Unvested Equity Held by Resigning Directors | 13 |
Section 4.5 Reimbursement of Transaction Expenses | 13 |
Article V INDEMNIFICATION | 13 |
Section 5.1 Period for Making Claims for Indemnification | 13 |
Section 5.2 Indemnification by the Company | 14 |
Section 5.3 Indemnification by the Investor | 14 |
Section 5.4 Procedures | 14 |
Section 5.5 Limitations on Indemnification | 14 |
Section 5.6 Exclusive Remedy | 15 |
Article VI GENERAL PROVISIONS | 15 |
Section 6.1 Fees and Expenses | 15 |
Section 6.2 Amendment and Modification | 15 |
Section 6.3 Waiver | 15 |
Section 6.4 Notices | 16 |
Section 6.5 Entire Agreement | 17 |
Section 6.6 Actions by the Company | 17 |
Section 6.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries | 17 |
Section 6.8 Governing Law | 17 |
Section 6.9 Jurisdiction | 17 |
Section 6.10 Waiver of Jury Trial | 17 |
Section 6.11 Specific Performance | 17 |
Section 6.12 Assignment; Successors | 18 |
Section 6.13 Severability | 18 |
Section 6.14 Counterparts; facsimile or.pdf signature | 18 |
Section 6.15 Interpretation | 18 |
ii |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | |
Annex I – Defined Terms | I-1 |
Disclosure Schedules | Dis. Sched.-1 |
Exhibit A – Form of Stockholders’ Agreement | A-1 |
Exhibit B – Form of Voting Agreement Termination | B-1 |
Exhibit C – Form of Rights Agreement Amendment | C-1 |
Exhibit D – Form of Management Employment Agreement (Brett Pope) | D-1 |
Exhibit E – Form of Management Employment Agreement (Winston Black) | E-1 |
Exhibit F – Schedule of Investment Amounts and Shares | F-1 |
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SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of August 18, 2014 (this “Agreement”), between Carlson Capital, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Investor”), and SWK Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Annex I to this Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue, in multiple issuances, and the Investor desires to cause one or more of its Affiliates to purchase in each such issuance, certain shares of the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, in connection such issuance, (i) the Company and the Investor are entering into a Stockholders’ Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), (ii) the Company and certain Affiliates of the Investor are terminating the Voting Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2013, among such Affiliates and the Company by executing a termination in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Voting Agreement Termination”), (iii) the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”) are entering into an amendment to the Second Amended Rights Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2012, by and between the Company and Computershare in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Rights Agreement Amendment”), and (iv) the Company is entering into management employment agreements with Brett Pope and Winston Black in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit D and Exhibit E, respectively (the “Management Employment Agreements”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor desire to cause the Company to conduct a rights offering (the “Rights Offering”), substantially on the terms set forth in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company with the SEC on February 13, 2014, as the same has been (and as it may be) amended and supplemented, at a price per right of $0.86 (including each amendment and supplement thereto, the “Registration Statement”).
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:
Article
I
ISSUANCE OF SHARES AND RIGHTS OFFERING
Section 1.1 Issuance of the Shares at the Initial Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Initial Closing the Company is issuing and delivering shares of Common Stock to Double Black Diamond Offshore Ltd., a Cayman Islands company (“DBD”), and Black Diamond Offshore Ltd., a Cayman Islands company (together with DBD, the “Funds,” and the aggregate shares delivered to the Funds at the Initial Closing, the “Initial Closing Shares”), as set forth on Exhibit F for an aggregate purchase price equal to the product of (a) $1.37 multiplied by (b) the number of Initial Closing Shares (the “Initial Closing Purchase Price”).
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Section 1.2 Initial Closing. The issuance of the Initial Closing Shares is taking place at a closing (the “Initial Closing”) at the offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, 2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1100, Dallas, Texas 75201, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas time on the date hereof (the “Closing Date”).
Section 1.3 Deliverables at the Initial Closing.
(a) At the Initial Closing, the Investor is delivering to the Company:
(i) an amount equal to the Initial Closing Purchase Price in immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account designated in writing by the Company to the Investor;
(ii) an executed counterpart of each of the Stockholders’ Agreement and the Voting Agreement Amendment, in each case signed by each party thereto other than the Company; and
(iii) a written letter to the Company withdrawing the letter that the Investor, the Funds and certain Affiliates thereof delivered to the Company on July 16, 2014, providing formal notice that the Funds will nominate Edward B. Stead and D. Blair Baker for election to the Board at the 2014 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders.
(b) At the Initial Closing, the Company is delivering to the Investor:
(i) evidence of the issuance of the Initial Closing Shares to the Funds in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Investor;
(ii) an executed counterpart of each of the Ancillary Agreements, signed by each party other than the Investor and its Affiliates;
(iii) a signed tax opinion of legal counsel to the Company, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Investor, to the effect that (A) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not create an ownership change under Section 382(g) of the Code, and (B) the Company will not become a “Personal Holding Company” as such term is defined in the Code;
(iv) signed letters, effective as of the consummation of the Initial Closing, from each of William T. Clifford, Michael A. Margolis and John Nemelka, (A) evidencing the resignation of each such person from the Board and from any Board committee positions and officerships of the Company held by such person, and (B) waiving all claims that such person has against the Company (except for claims arising out of the Company’s obligations to indemnify such person as established by applicable Law or the Company Organizational Documents or the Indemnification Agreements); and
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(v) resolutions of the Board certified by an officer of the Company, effecting the appointment of Christopher W. Haga, D. Blair Baker, and Edward B. Stead to the Board, effective as of the consummation of the Initial Closing.
Section 1.4 Rights Offering.
(a) From and after the Initial Closing, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to, and the Investor shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company to, (i) as promptly as reasonably practical following the Initial Closing, file a pre-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, (ii) promptly respond to any comments to the Registration Statement raised by the staff of the SEC, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably practical following the Initial Closing, cause the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment to be declared effective by the SEC.
(b) Promptly following the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to, and the Investor shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company to, print and file with the SEC the final prospectus relating to the Rights Offering to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act (as amended or supplemented, the “Prospectus”), distribute the Prospectus to stockholders of the Company and effect the Rights Offering substantially on the terms set forth in the Registration Statement. The number of rights issued to each stockholder of the Company pursuant to the Rights Offering shall be determined based on such stockholder’s pro rata ownership of the Company, without taking into account the effect of the issuance of the Initial Closing Shares. The Investor will, and will cause its Affiliates to, exercise all rights issued to the Investor and its Affiliates to subscribe for shares of Common Stock (without taking into account the effect of the issuance of the Initial Closing Shares). The Company will engage the Investor, and the Investor will accept the engagement of the Company, to purchase the unsubscribed portion of any rights offered in the Rights Offering pursuant to the terms of the Standby Purchase Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement. Except as set forth in this Section 1.4(b), the Investor and its Affiliates shall participate in the Rights Offering on the same terms as each other stockholder of the Company, including with respect to the purchase price paid for shares of Common Stock purchased in the Rights Offering.
Section 1.5 Dilution Make-Whole Issuance of the Shares at the Subsequent Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, within three Business Day following the closing of the Rights Offering, the Company shall notify the Investor in writing (the “Subsequent Closing Notice”) of the number of shares of Common Stock (taking into account the Initial Closing and the closing of the Rights Offering, including any shares of Common Stock purchased by the Investor and its Affiliates in the Rights Offering) to be purchased by the Investor and its Affiliates such that the Investor’s and its Affiliates’ Voting Percentage equals 69% (the “Dilution Make-Whole Shares,” and collectively with the Initial Closing Shares, the “Shares”). At the Subsequent Closing, the Company shall issue and deliver the Dilution Make-Whole Shares to the Funds for an aggregate purchase price equal to the product of (a) $1.37 multiplied by (b) the number of Dilution Make-Whole Shares (the “Dilution Make-Whole Purchase Price”).
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Section 1.6 Subsequent Closing. The issuance of the Dilution Make-Whole Shares shall take place at a closing (the “Subsequent Closing”) to be held at the offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, 2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1100, Dallas, Texas 75201, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas time on the date that is two Business Days following receipt by the Investor of the Subsequent Closing Notice, or at such other place or at such other time or on such other date as the Company and the Investor mutually may agree in writing.
Section 1.7 Deliverables at the Subsequent Closing.
(a) At the Subsequent Closing, the Investor shall deliver to the Company an amount equal to the Dilution Make-Whole Purchase Price minus the amount of Transaction Expenses incurred and not included in the Initial Closing Transaction Expenses, with the aggregate amount of Transaction Expenses (including the Initial Closing Transaction Expenses) not to exceed $900,000, in immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account designated in writing by the Company to the Investor.
(b) At the Subsequent Closing, the Company shall deliver to the Investor:
(i) evidence of the issuance of the Dilution Make-Whole Shares to the Funds in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Investor; and
(ii) a signed tax opinion of legal counsel to the Company, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Investor, to the effect that (A) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not create an ownership change under Section 382(g) of the Code, and (B) the Company will not become a “Personal Holding Company” as such term is defined in the Code.
Article
II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the Schedules to this Agreement and the Company SEC Documents filed with the SEC since June 30, 2012 and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement (other than any disclosures set forth in any risk factor section and any other disclosures included in the Company SEC Documents to the extent they are predictive, cautionary or forward-looking in nature), the Company represents and warrants to the Investor as of the date of this Agreement as follows:
Section 2.1 Organization. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation or other entity under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) has the requisite corporate or other entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and conduct its business as currently conducted and (c) is duly qualified as a foreign entity for the transaction of business, and is in good standing, under the Laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification except, in the case of clause (c), where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 2.2 Authorization.
(a) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which the Company is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no further approval or authorization is required on the part of the Company. This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which the Company is a party constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and except as may be limited by applicable Law and public policy.
(b) The Board has taken all necessary action to approve the Investor becoming an “interested stockholder,” such that the Investor shall not be prohibited or restricted from entering into or consummating a “business combination” with the Company (in each case as the term is used in Section 203 of the DGCL) without obtaining any stockholder vote otherwise required by such Section 203 of the DGCL as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not cause to be applicable to the Company any “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition” or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation enacted under the DGCL or any other applicable Law.
Section 2.3 Capitalization.
(a) As of the date hereof, (i) the Company is authorized to issue up to 250,000,000 shares of Common Stock and has 43,174,894 shares of Common Stock outstanding and (ii) the Company is authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001, that may be issued in one or more series and no shares of preferred stock are outstanding. As of the date hereof there are outstanding options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of not more than 2,670,000 shares of Common Stock. Except as described in the foregoing sentence and for the Shares, the Company has not issued or agreed to issue any (x) shares of capital stock or other equity, ownership or voting interests, (y) securities or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity, ownership or voting interests, or (z) equity-equivalents, earnings, profits or revenue-based or equity-based rights. All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and were not issued in violation of any pre-emptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. There are no outstanding obligations of the Company that relate to the holding, voting or disposition of any shares of capital stock or other equity, ownership or voting interests.
(b) Schedule 2.3(b) sets forth a complete and correct list of all of the Company’s Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.3(b), all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of or other equity interests in each of the Company’s Subsidiaries has been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, were not issued in violation of any pre-emptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights, and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all Liens. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.3(b), the Company does not Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, any equity interests of any Person, and is not, directly or indirectly, a partner in any partnership or party to any joint venture.
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Section 2.4 Valid Issuance of Shares. The Shares were duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor as provided in this Agreement, the Shares (a) will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and (b) will not be subject to any statutory or contractual preemptive rights or other similar rights of stockholders.
Section 2.5 Non-Contravention; Governmental Authorizations.
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company Organizational Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give rise to any right to termination, acceleration or cancellation under any Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which their respective properties may be bound or affected, or (iii) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company, except in the case of clause (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any Governmental Entity necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Company’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 2.6 Litigation. There are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their officers or directors (in their capacity as such), except Actions which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any outstanding judgment, order, injunction, rule or decree of any Governmental Entity, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 2.7 Compliance with Laws; Permits.
(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries conduct, and since June 30, 2012 have conducted, their businesses in compliance with all applicable Laws, except for any noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any written, or to the Company’s knowledge oral, notice alleging that it may be in violation of any Law.
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(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries have all permits, licenses, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and have made all filings, applications and registrations with, any Governmental Entities that are required in order to carry on their business as presently conducted, except where the failure to have such permits, licenses, authorizations, orders and approvals or the failure to make such filings, applications and registrations would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and all such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect and, to the knowledge of the Company, no suspension or cancellation of any of them is threatened, and all such filings, applications and registrations are current, except where such absence, suspension or cancellation would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 2.8 Periodic Filings; Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.8, since June 30, 2012, the Company has timely filed all material reports, registrations, documents, filings, statements and submissions, together with any required amendments thereto (collectively, the “Company SEC Documents”), that were required to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”). As of their respective filing dates, the Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the Company SEC Documents contained, when filed with the SEC, and if amended as of the date of such amendment, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, except to the extent corrected by a subsequently filed document with the SEC.
(b) The Company’s consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, included or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents (the “Company Financial Statements”) (i) are correct and complete in all material respects and have been prepared in a manner consistent with the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ books and records, (ii) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (except as may be indicated in the notes and schedules thereto) during the periods involved, (iii) comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, and (iv) present fairly in all material respects the Company’s consolidated financial position at the dates thereof and of its operations and cash flows for the periods specified therein (subject to the absence of notes and year-end adjustments in the case of unaudited statements).
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations (accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, known or unknown and whether or not required by GAAP to be reflected on a balance sheet of the Company), other than liabilities or obligations (A) reflected on, reserved against, or disclosed in the notes to, the consolidated balance sheets of the Company Financial Statements, (B) incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the date of the last consolidated balance sheet in the Company Financial Statements or (C) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(d) The Company (i) has implemented and maintains financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is made known to the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company by others within those entities, and (ii) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior to the date hereof, to the Company’s outside auditors and the audit committee of the Board (A) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. As of the date hereof, the Company has no knowledge of any reason that its outside auditors and its chief executive officer and chief financial officer will not be able to give the certifications and attestations required pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, without qualification, when next due.
(e) The books of account and other financial records of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are accurate, complete, and correct in all material respects, (ii) represent actual, bona fide transactions, and (iii) have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices, including the maintenance of adequate internal accounting controls.
Section 2.9 Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31, 2013, the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have conducted their business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice. From December 31, 2013 to the date hereof, there has not been any Material Adverse Effect or any Effect that would, individually or in the aggregate with other Effects, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 2.10 Brokers and Finders. Except for Houlihan Lokey, the fees of which will be paid by the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial advisory fee, brokerage fees, commissions or finder’s fee, and no broker or finder has acted directly or indirectly for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
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Section 2.11 Contracts. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.11, as of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any Contract which is a “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) (a “Material Contract”) to be performed in full or in part after the date of this Agreement that has not been filed or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents. To the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any Contract which contains any provision that would prevent the Company, the Investor or any of the Affiliates of either of them from operating in a particular line or lines of business.
Section 2.12 Employee Benefits.
(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no material payment (whether of severance pay, bonus or otherwise), acceleration, forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting, distribution, increase in benefits or obligation to fund benefits with respect to any Employee will occur solely as a result of either the execution of or the performance of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no payment or benefit that will be made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any Employee, solely as a result of either the execution of or the performance of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, will be characterized as an “excess parachute payment,” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code.
(b) The Company represents and warrants that neither the execution of, nor the performance of the transactions contemplated in, this Agreement will result in a violation, in any material respect, of any Law with respect to any Company Plan.
Section 2.13 Taxes. The Company in a timely manner has filed all tax returns and other reports required of it under all federal, state, local and foreign tax laws. All such returns and reports are correct and complete in all material respects. The Company has paid in full all taxes or other amounts due thereunder, including without limitation all taxes that the Company is obligated to withhold from amounts paid or payable to or benefits conferred upon employees, creditors and third parties. No tax examinations or audits of the Company are in progress or have taken place (i) on or after June 30, 2012, or (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, since August 1, 2009 and prior to June 30, 2012. The Company has not agreed, nor is it required, to make any adjustments pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code or any similar provision of state or local law by reason of a change of accounting method initiated by it or any other relevant party. The Company is not and has not been a party to any “listed transaction” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) or to any other transaction that is a “reportable transaction” pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b).
Section 2.14 Securities Act Compliance. None of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering of the Shares, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities (excluding beneficial owners who are Affiliates of the Investor), calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “Issuer Covered Person” and, together, “Issuer Covered Persons”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event.
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Section 2.15 No Further Reliance. The Company acknowledges that it is not relying upon any representation or warranty made by the Investor not set forth in this Agreement or in an Ancillary Agreement.
Article
III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTOR
The Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
Section 3.1 Organization and Authority. The Investor (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) has the requisite limited partnership power and authority to own its property and assets and conduct its business in all material respects as currently conducted and (c) has been duly qualified as a foreign limited partnership for the transaction of business, and is in good standing, under the Laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification except, in the case of clause (c), where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Investor’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.2 Authorization. The Investor has the requisite limited partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by the Investor’s governing authority, and no further approval or authorization by any of its partners or other equity owners is required. This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which the Investor is a party constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms, except as such may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and except as may be limited by applicable Law and public policy.
Section 3.3 Non-Contravention; Governmental Authorization.
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of its certificate of formation, limited partnership agreement or similar governing documents; (ii) conflict with or result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give rise to any right to termination, acceleration or cancellation under any Contract to which the Investor is a party or by which its properties may be bound or affected; or (iii) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Investor, except in the case of clause (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Investor’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
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(b) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any Governmental Entity necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Investor of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Investor’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder will not require (i) any filings pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 or any similar applicable antitrust Law or (ii) the expiration of any waiting periods with respect thereto.
Section 3.4 Securities Act Compliance. The Shares are being acquired by the Funds for their own account for the purpose of investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any public resale or distribution thereof in violation of applicable securities Laws. The Investor and each Fund is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities Act and is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in business and financial matters, and fully understands the limitations on ownership, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Shares. The Investor and each Fund understands that the Shares may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required by Law. Neither the Investor nor the Funds nor, to the extent either the Investor or the Funds have them, any of their respective, managers, general partners, directors or executive officers (collectively with the Investor, the “Investor Covered Persons”), are subject to any Disqualification Event. The Investor has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Investor Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event.
Section 3.5 Brokers and Finders. Neither the Investor nor any of its Affiliates or any of their respective officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial advisory fee, brokerage fees, commissions or finder’s fee, and no broker or finder has acted directly or indirectly for the Investor or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective officers or directors in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.6 Financial Capability. At the Closing the Investor will have available funds necessary to consummate the Initial Closing, its obligations with respect to the Rights Offering, and the Subsequent Closing, in each case on the terms and conditions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.7 No Further Reliance. The Investor acknowledges that it is not relying upon any representation or warranty made by the Company not set forth in this Agreement or in an Ancillary Agreement. The Investor acknowledges that it has conducted such review and analysis of the business, assets, condition, operations and prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries that the Investor considers sufficient for purposes of the purchase of the Shares.
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Article
IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Public Announcements. The Investor and the Company shall consult with each other before issuing, and give each other a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not issue any such press release or make any public announcement without the prior consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, except as may be required by applicable Law.
Section 4.2 Further Assurances. Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all further acts and shall execute and deliver all other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.3 Indemnification of Resigning Directors.
(a) All rights to indemnification by the Company existing as of the date of this Agreement in favor of each of William T. Clifford, Michael A. Margolis and John Nemelka (the “Resigning Directors”) for their acts and omissions occurring prior to the Initial Closing, as provided in the Company Organizational Documents and as provided in the Indemnification Agreements, shall survive the Initial Closing and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall be honored by the Company and its Subsidiaries to the fullest extent available under Delaware law for a period of six years from the Initial Closing, and any claim made requesting indemnification pursuant to such indemnification rights within such six-year period shall continue to be subject to this Section 4.3(a) and the indemnification rights provided under this Section 4.3(a) until disposition of such claim.
(b) From the Initial Closing until the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company (together with its successors and assigns, the “Indemnifying Parties”) shall, to the fullest extent that the Company would have been permitted to under applicable Law, the Company Organizational Documents and the Indemnification Agreements, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Resigning Director in his capacity as a director of the Company against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments or fines incurred by such Resigning Director as a director of the Company, to the extent arising out of or pertaining to any and all matters pending, existing or occurring at or prior to the Initial Closing, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Initial Closing, including any such matter arising under any claim with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Indemnifying Parties shall also, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, advance reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any Resigning Director in connection with matters for which such Resigning Director is eligible to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of a written request for such advance, subject to the execution by any such Resigning Director of appropriate undertakings to repay such advanced costs and expenses if it is ultimately determined that such Resigning Director is not entitled to indemnification.
(c) In the event the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or Person of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, the Company shall ensure that the successors and assigns of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 4.3.
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(d) The provisions of this Section 4.3 shall survive the Initial Closing, the Rights Offering and the Subsequent Closing and are (i) intended to be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each of the Resigning Directors and their successors, assigns and heirs and (ii) in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such Person may have by contract or otherwise. This Section 4.3 may not be amended, altered or repealed after the Initial Closing without the prior written consent of the affected Resigning Director.
Section 4.4 Treatment of Unvested Equity Held by Resigning Directors. Each of the Company and the Investor hereby acknowledge and agree that, subject to the consummation of the Initial Closing, (a) for purposes of the SWK Holdings Corporation 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Initial Closing, constitute a Corporate Transaction (as defined in such plan) and, accordingly, all shares of restricted stock issued to the Resigning Directors in their capacity as Outside Directors (as defined in such plan) and currently held by the Resigning Directors shall fully vest as of the Initial Closing, (b) the 750,000 shares of restricted stock granted by the Company to Mr. Nemelka on May 14, 2012 shall remain outstanding following the Initial Closing and shall continue to vest in accordance with the terms thereof, and (c) for purposes of the Kana Software, Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, all options to purchase shares of Common Stock held by the Resigning Directors shall remain outstanding and exercisable through the first anniversary of the Closing Date, at which time they shall immediately terminate.
Section 4.5 Reimbursement of Transaction Expenses. The Investor shall promptly inform the Company of the aggregate amount of Transaction Expenses incurred through the Initial Closing (the “Initial Closing Transaction Expenses”), and shall provide documentation, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, of such Initial Closing Transaction Expenses. Within three Business Days after receipt of such documentation, the Company shall reimburse the Investor, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of Initial Closing Transaction Expenses, which shall not exceed $900,000.
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Article
V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.1 Period for Making Claims for Indemnification. Claims for indemnification under Section 5.2(a) and Section 5.3(a) may be made at any time prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, and not thereafter. Neither the Company nor the Investor shall have any liability whatsoever with respect to any claim for indemnification under Section 5.2(a) or Section 5.3(a) unless notice of such claim is given to the other party prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date.
Section 5.2 Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall save, defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Investor and its Affiliates and the respective Representatives, successors and assigns of each of the foregoing (the “Investor Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, claims, diminution of value, interest, awards, judgments, penalties, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in investigating, preparing or defending the foregoing) (hereinafter collectively, “Losses”), asserted against, incurred, sustained or suffered by any of the foregoing as a result of, arising out of or relating to:
(a) any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; and
(b) any breach of any covenant or agreement by the Company contained in this Agreement.
Section 5.3 Indemnification by the Investor. The Investor shall save, defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its Affiliates and the respective Representatives, successors and assigns of each of the foregoing (the “Company Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all Losses asserted against, incurred, sustained or suffered by any of the foregoing as a result of, arising out of or relating to:
(a) any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Investor contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; and
(b) any breach of any covenant or agreement by the Investor contained in this Agreement.
Section 5.4 Procedures. Payment of amounts due under this indemnity shall be made promptly upon demand by the indemnified party as and when incurred by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the indemnified party to the indemnifying party.
Section 5.5 Limitations on Indemnification.
(a) The Company shall not be liable for Losses as a result of, arising out of or relating to claims for indemnification under Section 5.2(a) until the aggregate amount of all such Losses exceeds $500,000 (the “Basket”), at which point the Company shall be liable for the amount of such Losses in excess of the Basket, subject to Section 5.5(b). Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Company shall be liable for all Losses (without giving effect to the Basket), subject to Section 5.5(b), as a result of, arising out of or relating to claims for indemnification under Section 5.2(a) for a breach of Section 2.2, Section 2.3(a) or Section 2.4. The Investor shall not be liable for Losses as a result of, arising out of or relating to claims for indemnification under Section 5.3(a) until the aggregate amount of all such Losses exceeds the Basket, at which point the Investor shall be liable for the amount of such Losses in excess of the Basket, subject to Section 5.5(b). Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Investor shall be liable for all Losses (without giving effect to the Basket), subject to Section 5.5(b), as a result of, arising out of or relating to claims for indemnification under Section 5.3(a) for a breach of Section 3.2.
14 |
(b) The aggregate amount of Losses for which the Investor Indemnified Parties may be entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 5.2(a) shall not exceed the sum of $15,000,000 (the “Cap”). Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the aggregate amount of Losses for which the Investor Indemnified Parties shall be liable as a result of, arising out of or relating to claims for indemnification under Section 5.3(a) for a breach of Section 3.2 shall be an amount equal to the sum of the Initial Closing Purchase Price and the Subsequent Closing Purchase Price. The aggregate amount of Losses for which the Company Indemnified Parties may be entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 5.3(a) shall not exceed the Cap. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the aggregate amount of Losses for which the Company Indemnified Parties shall be liable as a result of, arising out of or relating to claims for indemnification under Section 5.2(a) for a breach of Section 2.2, Section 2.3(a) or Section 2.4 shall be an amount equal to the sum of the Initial Closing Purchase Price and the Subsequent Closing Purchase Price.
Section 5.6 Exclusive Remedy. Except for the remedies described in Section 6.11, this Article V provides the exclusive remedy for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Article
VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 6.1 Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein (including as provided by Sections 1.1 and 1.5), all fees and expenses incurred in connection with or related to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not such transactions are consummated.
Section 6.2 Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented in any manner, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing specifically designated as an amendment hereto, signed on behalf of each party.
15 |
Section 6.3 Waiver. No failure or delay of either party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. Any such waiver by a party shall be valid only if set forth in writing by such party.
Section 6.4 Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of delivery, if delivered personally, (b) on the date of delivery, if delivered by facsimile during business hours, or on the next Business Day, if delivered by facsimile outside of business hours, in each case upon confirmation of receipt, (c) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier services, or (d) on the third Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the parties to this Agreement at the following address or to such other address either party to this Agreement shall specify by notice to the other party:
If to the Company:
SWK Holdings Corporation
15770 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 1290
Dallas, Texas 75248
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: (972) 687-7255
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Goodwin Procter LLP
53 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Attention: James A. Matarese
John M. Mutkoski
Facsimile: (617) 523-1231
If to the Investor:
Carlson Capital, L.P.
2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1800
Dallas, Texas 75201
Attention: Christopher W. Haga
Facsimile: (214) 932-9601
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas 75201
Attention: Jeffrey A. Chapman
Robert B. Little
Facsimile: (214) 571-2924
16 |
Section 6.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Ancillary Agreements, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties and/or their Affiliates with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. No party to this Agreement shall have any legal obligation to enter into the transactions contemplated hereby unless and until this Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by each of the parties.
Section 6.6 Actions by the Company. Any action required or permitted by the Company to (a) amend, modify or supplement this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.3, (b) waive any right or remedy under this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.4 or (c) exercise or otherwise enforce any right or remedy under this Agreement shall be taken only if approved by a majority of the then-current members of the Board that are (i) independent under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market and (ii) disinterested with respect to the subject matter of such action.
Section 6.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon any person other than the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns any right of any nature, except for the provisions in Section 4.3 and Article V, which shall inure to the benefit of the persons or entities benefiting therefrom who are expressly intended to be third-party beneficiaries thereof and who may enforce the covenants contained therein.
Section 6.8 Governing Law. This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the laws of any other jurisdiction that might be applied because of the conflicts of laws principles of the State of Delaware.
Section 6.9 Jurisdiction. The parties hereto agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may only be brought in any state or federal court located in the State of Delaware, and each of the parties hereby consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Each of the parties agrees not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein.
Section 6.10 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
17 |
Section 6.11 Specific Performance. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement are unique. Accordingly, each of the Company and the Investor acknowledges and agrees that, in addition to all other remedies to which it may be entitled, each of the parties hereto is entitled to seek a decree of specific performance, provided that such party is not in material default hereunder. The Company and the Investor agree that, if for any reason a party shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Agreement, then the party seeking to enforce this Agreement against such nonperforming party shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief, and the parties further agree to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable relief. This provision is without prejudice to any other rights that any party may have against another party for any failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the right to seek damages for a breach of any provision of this Agreement, and all rights, powers and remedies available (at law or in equity) to a party in respect hereof by the other party shall be cumulative and not alternative or exclusive, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise of any thereof by a party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other rights, powers or remedies by such party.
Section 6.12 Assignment; Successors. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party, except that the Investor may assign this Agreement to any of its Affiliates. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
Section 6.13 Severability. If any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof.
Section 6.14 Counterparts; facsimile or.pdf signature. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile or .pdf signature and a facsimile or .pdf signature shall constitute an original for all purposes.
Section 6.15 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to “Preamble,” “Articles,” “Sections” or “Annexes,” such reference shall be to a Preamble, Article or Section of, or Annex to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed followed by the words “without limitation.” No rule of construction against the draftsperson shall be applied in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, as this Agreement is the product of negotiation between sophisticated parties advised by counsel. All references to “$” or “dollars” mean the lawful currency of the United States of America. Except as expressly stated in this Agreement, all references to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute, rule or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules and regulations promulgated under the statute) and to any section of any statute, rule or regulation include any successor to the section.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
18 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Investor and the Company have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION | |||
By: | /s/ Brett Pope | ||
Name: Brett Pope | |||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | |||
CARLSON CAPITAL, L.P. | |||
By: | /s/ Christopher W. Haga | ||
Name: Christopher W. Haga | |||
Title: Portfolio Manager |
Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement
ANNEX I
Certain Defined Terms
“Action” means an action, suit, claim, arbitration, investigation, inquiry, grievance or other proceeding.
“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling or Controlled by or under direct or indirect common Control with such Person; provided, for purposes of this Agreement, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the Investor.
“Ancillary Agreements” means the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Voting Agreement Amendment, the Rights Agreement Amendment, and the Management Employment Agreements.
“Beneficially Own” has the meaning attributed it in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that any Person shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities that such Person has the right to acquire, whether or not such right is exercisable immediately.
“Board” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or one on which banks are authorized or required to close in Dallas, Texas.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company Organizational Documents” means (i) the Company’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended and (ii) the Company’s amended and restated bylaws, each as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.
“Company Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of ERISA section 3(3)), “multiemployer plans” (within the meaning of ERISA section 3(37)), and all stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock or other equity-based plan, severance, employment, collective bargaining, change-in-control, fringe benefit, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation and all other employee benefit and compensation plans, agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA (including any funding mechanism therefor now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise), whether formal or informal, written or oral, legally binding or not, under which any Employee (or any of their dependents) has any present or future right to compensation or benefits or the Company or its Subsidiaries has had or has any present or future liability or with respect to which it is otherwise bound.
“Contract” means any contract, agreement, license, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, commitment, lease or other instrument or obligation, whether written or oral.
Annex I-1 |
“Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, voting equity, limited liability company interests, general partner interests, or voting interests, by contract or otherwise.
“DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
“Effect” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Material Adverse Effect.”
“Employee” means each current, former, or retired employee, director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
“Governmental Entity” means any domestic or foreign governmental or regulatory authority, agency, commission, body, court or other legislative, executive or judicial governmental entity.
“Indemnification Agreements” means each of the indemnification agreements by and between the Company and each of the Resigning Directors, each as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.
“Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute or ordinance, common law, or any rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree, arbitration award, license or permit of any Governmental Entity.
“Lien” means any pledge, claim, lien, charge, option, right of first refusal, encumbrance and security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any limitation on voting, sale, transfer or other disposition or exercise of any other attribute of ownership).
“Material Adverse Effect” means any event, state of facts, circumstance, development, change, effect or occurrence (an “Effect”) that (a) is materially adverse to the financial condition, business, properties, assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) is materially adverse to the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Material Adverse Effect shall not include any Effect to the extent resulting from factors generally affecting the industries or markets in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates; provided, that, the impact of such Effect is not disproportionately adverse to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other Persons in the industries or markets in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates.
“Person” means any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity of any kind or nature.
Annex I-2 |
“Representatives,” with respect to any Person, means the directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants or other advisors, agents or representatives of such Person.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, means any Person (whether or not incorporated) directly or indirectly owned by such first Person or in respect of which such first Person has the power to vote or control 50% or more of any class or series of capital shares or other equity interests of such second Person.
“Transaction Expenses” means all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including without limitation the fees, charges, disbursements and expenses of financial advisors, accountants, consultants, attorneys and other advisors) incurred by the Investor and paid to third parties by the Investor in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
“Votes” means the number of votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors to the Board.
“Voting Percentage” of a Person means, as of the date of determination, the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of (i) the Votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by such Person to (ii) the aggregate Votes entitled to be cast by all holders of the then-outstanding Voting Securities.
“Voting Securities” means, together, (i) the Common Stock, (ii) any class of capital stock or other securities of the Company other than the Common Stock that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors to the Board, and (iii) any of the securities described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this definition that a Person has the right to acquire, whether or not such right is exercisable immediately.
Annex I-3 |
Table of Additional Defined Terms
Agreement | 1 |
Basket | 15 |
Cap | 15 |
Closing Date | 2 |
Common Stock | 1 |
Company | 1 |
Company Financial Statements | 7 |
Company Indemnified Parties | 14 |
Company SEC Documents | 7 |
Computershare | 1 |
DBD | 2 |
Dilution Make-Whole Purchase Price | 4 |
Dilution Make-Whole Shares | 3 |
Disqualification Event | 10 |
Exchange Act | 7 |
Funds | 2 |
Indemnifying Parties | 13 |
Initial Closing | 2 |
Initial Closing Purchase Price | 2 |
Initial Closing Shares | 2 |
Initial Closing Transaction Expenses | 14 |
Investor | 1 |
Investor Covered Persons | 11 |
Investor Indemnified Parties | 14 |
Issuer Covered Person | 10 |
Issuer Covered Persons | 10 |
Losses | 14 |
Management Employment Agreements | 1 |
Material Contract | 9 |
Prospectus | 3 |
Registration Statement | 1 |
Resigning Directors | 12 |
Rights Agreement Amendment | 1 |
Rights Offering | 1 |
Securities Act | 7 |
Shares | 4 |
Stockholders’ Agreement | 1 |
Subsequent Closing | 4 |
Subsequent Closing Notice | 3 |
Voting Agreement Termination | 1 |
Annex I-4 |
Execution Version
STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT
by and among
DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD.,
BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD.,
and
SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
DATED AS OF AUGUST 18, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 1 |
Section 1.1 Definitions | 1 |
Section 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions | 6 |
ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 6 |
Section 2.1 Organization | 7 |
Section 2.2 Authorization | 7 |
Section 2.3 Non-Contravention | 7 |
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDER | 7 |
Section 3.1 Organization and Authority | 7 |
Section 3.2 Authorization | 7 |
Section 3.3 Non-Contravention; Governmental Authorization | 8 |
ARTICLE IV RIGHTS OFFERINGS | 8 |
Section 4.1 Follow On Rights Offerings | 8 |
Section 4.2 Additional Rights Offerings | 8 |
Section 4.3 Procedures for Additional Rights Offerings | 9 |
ARTICLE V INVESTOR SUPPORT | 9 |
Section 5.1 Investor Support | 9 |
Section 5.2 Stockholder Support Services | 10 |
Section 5.3 NOLs | 11 |
ARTICLE VI STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL RIGHTS | 11 |
Section 6.1 Stockholder Approval Rights | 11 |
ARTICLE VII MINORITY PROTECTIONS | 12 |
Section 7.1 Minority Protections | 12 |
Section 7.2 Stockholder Purchase Offer | 13 |
Section 7.3 Acquiror Purchase Offer | 13 |
ARTICLE VIII REGISTRATION RIGHTS | 14 |
Section 8.1 Registration Rights | 14 |
ARTICLE IX RIGHT OF FIRST OFFER ON SUBSEQUENT ISSUANCES | 14 |
Section 9.1 General | 14 |
Section 9.2 Procedures | 14 |
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS | 15 |
Section 10.1 Injunctive Relief | 15 |
Section 10.2 Assignment | 16 |
Section 10.3 Amendments; Waiver | 16 |
Section 10.4 After-Acquired Shares | 16 |
Section 10.5 Recapitalization, Etc. | 16 |
Section 10.6 Further Action | 16 |
Section 10.7 Notices | 17 |
Section 10.8 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Forum; Waiver of Trial by Jury | 17 |
Section 10.9 Interpretation | 18 |
Section 10.10 Entire Agreement; No Other Representations | 18 |
Section 10.11 No Third-Party Beneficiaries | 18 |
Section 10.12 Severability | 18 |
Section 10.13 Counterparts | 18 |
i |
STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT, dated as of August 18, 2014 (this “Agreement”), by and among DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD., a Cayman Islands exempted company, BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD, a Cayman Islands exempted company (collectively, the “Stockholder”), and SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Stockholder desire to establish in this Agreement certain rights and obligations in respect of the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) owned by the Stockholder, and related matters concerning the Stockholder’s relationship with and investment in the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Stockholder are party to a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will offer and sell shares of Common Stock to the Stockholder.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
“Acquiror Purchase Offer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.
“Additional Purchase Transaction” shall mean a Purchase Transaction, a Buyback Transaction or a Rule 13e-3 Transaction.
“Affiliate” shall mean with respect to any Person, (a) a Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with such Person or (b) any officer, director, general partner, managing member or trustee of any such Person or any Person described in clause (a), provided that the Stockholder shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company and vice versa.
“Affiliated Directors” shall mean Directors who are also (i) officers, directors, general partners, managing members or trustees of the Stockholder or its Affiliates or (ii) the Company or its Affiliates.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Backstop Agent” shall mean any Person that is engaged to purchase the unsubscribed portion of any rights offered in any Rights Offering.
“Beneficially Own” shall have the meaning attributed it in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that any Person shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities that such Person has the right to acquire, whether or not such right is exercisable immediately.
“Board” shall mean, as of any date, the Board of Directors of the Company in office on that date.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or one on which banks are authorized or required to close in Dallas, Texas.
“Buyback Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
“Cash Flows” shall mean the difference of (a) the sum of (i) all cash payments to be received by the Company and its Subsidiaries related to activities that are consistent with the Investment Policy and are contractually required to be paid to the Company and its Subsidiaries in the four succeeding full fiscal quarters after the date of determination in amounts that are fixed or determinable as of the date of determination, including scheduled interest payments and mandatory amortization payments, fixed royalty payments, fixed revenue sharing and fixed revenue based amortization, plus (ii) 75% of estimated cash payments to be received by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the four succeeding fiscal quarters after the date of determination that are contractually required to be paid to the Company and its Subsidiaries but that are not fixed or determinable as of the date of determination, minus (b) all cash amounts that the Company and its Subsidiaries are contractually obligated to pay to third parties, including cash amounts due as employee compensation and for administrative or other services, other than cash amounts payable with respect to service of Indebtedness.
“Closing Date” shall mean the date of this Agreement.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Company Organizational Documents” shall mean (i) the Company’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and (ii) the Company’s amended and restated bylaws, each as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.
“Company SEC Documents” shall mean the reports, registrations, documents, filings, statements and submissions filed with the SEC by the Company pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
“Control” shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, voting equity, limited liability company interests, general partner interests, or voting interests, by contract or otherwise.
“Director” shall mean any member of the Board.
-2- |
“Encumbrance” shall mean any lien, pledge, charge, claim, encumbrance, hypothecation, security interest, option, lease, license, mortgage, easement or other restriction or third-party right of any kind, including any right of first refusal, tag-along or drag-along rights or restriction on voting, transferring, lending, disposing or assigning, in each case other than pursuant to this Agreement.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Follow On Rights Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
“Governmental Entity” shall mean any domestic or foreign governmental or regulatory authority, agency, commission, body, court or other legislative, executive or judicial governmental entity.
“Indebtedness” shall mean (a) all funded indebtedness for borrowed money, including notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments and all prepayment premiums or penalties and other amounts with respect to such Indebtedness, and any unpaid interest and bank fees owing on the Indebtedness, (b) any deferred purchase price payment obligations, (c) liabilities for any underfunded pension or retiree medical plans and any accrued and unpaid severance obligations, (d) obligations in respect of banker’s acceptances or letters of credit, (e) obligations under swaps and other derivatives, (f) all indebtedness secured by any lien on property owned subject to such lien, (g) all capital leases, including, without limitation, all amounts representing the capitalization of rentals in accordance with GAAP or (h) all guarantees with respect to liabilities of a type described in any of clauses (a) through (g) above. For the avoidance of doubt, as used in clause (a) above, funded indebtedness shall be limited to actual amounts drawn under any credit facility.
“Indebtedness to Cash Flow Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to (b) all Cash Flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
“Initial Rights Offering” shall mean the Rights Offering, substantially on the terms set forth in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company with the SEC on February 13, 2014, as the same has been (and as it may be) amended and supplemented (including each amendment and supplement thereto).
“Investment Policy” shall mean the Company’s investment objectives, policies, restrictions and limitations as described on Exhibit A hereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time by the Board.
“Law” shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute or ordinance, common law, or any rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree, arbitration award, license or permit of any Governmental Entity.
-3- |
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any event, state of facts, circumstance, development, change, effect or occurrence that (a) is materially adverse to the financial condition, business, properties, assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) is materially adverse to the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“New Securities” shall mean shall mean any equity (or equity-based) securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not now authorized, and rights, options or warrants to purchase such securities, and securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into such securities; provided, that the term “New Securities” does not include: (i) shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Warrant Agreement; (ii) shares of Common Stock (as such number of shares is equitably adjusted for subsequent stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends and recapitalizations) issued directly or upon the exercise of options to directors, officers, employees, or consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with their service as directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, their employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their retention as consultants by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case authorized by the Board and, if applicable, the stockholders of the Company, including, without limitation, pursuant to any of the Company’s stock compensation plans as described in the Company SEC Documents; (iii) shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued in connection with any stock split or stock dividend; and (iv) securities issued to the Company or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries.
“Non-Affiliated Directors” shall mean any Directors who are not Affiliated Directors.
“NOLs” shall mean the Company’s net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes.
“Ownership Reduction Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity of any kind or nature.
“Pro Rata Share” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(b).
“Proposed Acquiror” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
“Related Party Transactions” shall mean any transaction between the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, on one hand, and the Stockholder and any one or more of its Affiliates, on the other hand, other than (a) compensation of Affiliated Directors, so long as such compensation does not exceed the compensation provided to Directors who are not Affiliated Directors, (b) reimbursement of Affiliated Directors for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Affiliated Directors in connection with traveling to and from and attending meetings of the Board and while conducting business at the request of the Company and (c) any transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate payments to or from the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that do not exceed $100,000.
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“Rights Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2012, by and between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“Rights Offering” shall mean any issuance of rights offered to the Company’s stockholders that entitles them to purchase New Securities in proportion to their existing holdings, or any other similar issuance to the Company’s stockholders (excluding any rights or securities issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement or any “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan now or hereafter in effect).
“Rights Offering Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).
“ROFO Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).
“Rule 13e-3 Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
“Sale Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
“SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Securities Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Sponsored Fund” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f).
“Stockholder” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Stockholder Purchase Offer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.
“Stockholder Support Services” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
“Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Person (whether or not incorporated) directly or indirectly owned by such first Person or in respect of which such first Person has the power to vote or control 50% or more of any class or series of capital shares or other equity interests of such second Person.
“Tangible Assets to Book Equity Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the assets (as defined under GAAP) (not including deferred tax assets as defined under GAAP) of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to (b) the book value of the total stockholders’ equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (as determined under GAAP).
“Votes” shall mean the number of votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of Directors.
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“Voting Percentage” of a Person shall mean, as of the date of determination, the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of (i) the Votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by such Person to (ii) the aggregate Votes entitled to be cast by all holders of the then-outstanding Voting Securities.
“Voting Securities” shall mean, together, (i) the Common Stock, (ii) any class of capital stock or other securities of the Company other than the Common Stock that are entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors and (iii) any of the securities described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition that a Person has the right to acquire, whether or not such right is exercisable immediately.
“Warrant Agreement” shall mean that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2013, by the Company in favor of the Stockholder.
Section 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. Unless the express context otherwise requires:
(a) the words “hereof”, “herein”, and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;
(b) the words “date hereof”, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to the date set forth in the Preamble;
(c) the terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa;
(d) the terms defined in the present tense have a comparable meaning when used in the past tense, and vice versa;
(e) any references herein to “Dollars” and “$” are to United States Dollars;
(f) any references herein to a specific Section shall refer to Sections of this Agreement;
(g) wherever the word “include”, “includes”, or “including” is used in this Agreement, it shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;
(h) references herein to any gender includes each other gender; and
(i) the word “or” shall not be exclusive.
ARTICLE
II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to the Stockholder that:
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Section 2.1 Organization. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is (a) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation or other entity under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) has requisite corporate or other entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and conduct its business as currently conducted and (c) is duly qualified as a foreign entity for the transaction of business, and is in good standing, under the Laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification except, in the case of clause (c), where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 2.2 Authorization. The Company has requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no further approval or authorization is required on the part of the Company. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and except as may be limited by applicable Law and public policy.
Section 2.3 Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or the amended and restated bylaws of the Company, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give rise to any right to termination, acceleration or cancellation under any contract, agreement, license, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, commitment, lease or other instrument or obligation, whether written or oral, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which their respective properties may be bound or affected, or (iii) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company, except in the case of clause (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to impair in any material respect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE
III
Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder
The Stockholder represents and warrants to the Company that:
Section 3.1 Organization and Authority. Each Stockholder (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has all limited partnership power and authority to own its property and assets and conduct its business in all material respects as currently conducted, (iii) has been duly qualified as a foreign limited partnership for the transaction of business, and (iv) is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification.
Section 3.2 Authorization. Each Stockholder has all power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance by each Stockholder of this Agreement have been duly authorized by such Stockholder’s governing authority, and no further approval or authorization by any of its partners or other equity owners is required. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except as such may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and except as may be limited by applicable Law and public policy.
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Section 3.3 Non-Contravention; Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Stockholder of this Agreement will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of its certificate of formation, limited partnership agreement or similar governing documents; (ii) conflict with or result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give rise to any right to termination, acceleration or cancellation under any contract, agreement, license, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, commitment, lease or other instrument or obligation, whether written or oral, to which the Stockholder is a party or by which its properties may be bound or affected; or (iii) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Stockholder, except in the case of clause (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to impair in any material respect the ability of the Stockholder to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE
IV
RIGHTS OFFERINGS
Section 4.1 Follow On Rights Offerings. Except for the Initial Rights Offering and the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement, until the second anniversary of the Closing Date, but in any case subject to approval of the terms thereof by a special committee of the Non-Affiliated Directors or a subset thereof as a Related Party Transaction pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(ii), the Company shall not seek, negotiate or consummate any sale of New Securities, except through one or more Rights Offerings (each, a “Follow On Rights Offering”) substantially on the same structural terms as the Initial Rights Offering. The Stockholder shall serve as the exclusive Backstop Agent for each Follow On Rights Offering on substantially the same structural terms as the backstop in connection with the Initial Rights Offering. The procedures for taking subscriptions and allocating shares in any Follow On Rights Offering shall be substantially the same as the procedures used in the Initial Rights Offering; provided that if it would be commercially unreasonable to use such procedures in such Follow On Rights Offering, such procedures need not be followed; and provided further that if any such procedures, including the Stockholder’s role as Backstop Agent for the Follow On Rights Offering, would be reasonably likely to jeopardize the Company’s ability to retain the benefit of the NOLs, such procedures need not be followed.
Section 4.2 Additional Rights Offerings. Except for the Initial Rights Offering and any Follow On Rights Offerings (which are not the subject of this Section 4.2 or Section 4.3), until September 6, 2016, the Stockholder (or its designee) shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to serve as the exclusive Backstop Agent for any Rights Offering.
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Section 4.3 Procedures for Additional Rights Offerings.
(a) If the Company proposes to undertake a Rights Offering with one or more Backstop Agents, it shall give written notice to the Stockholder of its intention to undertake the Rights Offering (the “Rights Offering Notice”), describing the price and the terms upon which the Company proposes to offer New Securities in the Rights Offering and the terms on which the Company proposes to engage a Backstop Agent(s) for the Rights Offering. The Stockholder (or its designee) shall have 15 days from receipt of any such Rights Offering Notice to agree to serve as the Backstop Agent for the Rights Offering upon the terms specified in the Rights Offering Notice by giving written notice to the Company and stating in such notice the portion of the Rights Offering for which the Stockholder will serve as Backstop Agent.
(b) If the Stockholder (or its designee) fails to provide such written notice within such 15 day period or provides written notice that it elects not to serve as Backstop Agent for all or any portion of the Rights Offering, then the Company shall have 90 days from the expiration of the period set forth above to engage other Backstop Agents as to any portion of the Rights Offering to which the Stockholder has not agreed to serve as Backstop Agent and to consummate the Rights Offering, in each case, upon terms not materially more favorable to the other Backstop Agents and the stockholders of the Company than specified in the Rights Offering Notice. If the Company has not consummated the Rights Offering within such period, then after such period the Company shall not commence any Rights Offering without again first complying with this ARTICLE IV.
(c) If the Stockholder (or its designee) provides written notice within such 15 day period that it elects to serve as Backstop Agent for all or any portion of the Rights Offering, then the Company and the Stockholder (or its designee) shall promptly thereafter execute and deliver a customary engagement letter providing for the terms on which the Stockholder (or its designee) will serve as Backstop Agent. The Company and the Board shall also take all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under the Rights Agreement or any other rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s charter, bylaws or similar charter documents or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Company as a result of the Company and the Stockholder (or its designee) consummating any such Rights Offering (including the issuance of any New Securities by the Company to the Stockholder (or its designee) in connection with any such Rights Offering). Any such engagement shall be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
ARTICLE
V
INVESTOR SUPPORT
Section 5.1 Investor Support. Until the earlier of (a) such time as the Stockholder’s and its Affiliates’ Voting Percentage is less than 40% (the “Ownership Reduction Event”) and (b) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, the Stockholder will:
(a) grant the Company (or any Sponsored Fund) a right of first refusal with respect to any opportunity of the Stockholder to provide capital to companies, institutions or investors in the biotechnology, medical device, medical diagnostics and related tools, animal health and pharmaceutical industries consistent with the Investment Policy;
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(b) inform the Company (or any Sponsored Fund) of investment opportunities presented by third parties to the Stockholder that, in the Stockholder’s sole determination, meet the Company’s investment guidelines;
(c) make the Stockholder’s and its Affiliates’ network of financial industry contacts and counterparties available to assist the Company in securing debt funding on attractive terms, attracting equity research coverage and engaging in other matters of similar nature;
(d) support the Company’s syndication efforts to the extent commercially reasonable, and in any event, make referrals to other investors on behalf of the Company and grant supporting references to the Company and its management;
(e) be available as a syndication partner to the Company, if (i) the Company has had priority with respect to any allocation relating to such syndication, (ii) the Stockholder participates on terms (x) no worse than those of the Company’s participation and (y) no better than those of any other syndication partner, (iii) the Stockholder determines in its sole discretion that the syndication is attractive and within the Stockholder’s investment mandate and (iv) to the extent not inconsistent with the requirements in clauses (i) – (iii), such syndication is subject to the investment management agreement by and between the Stockholder and SWK Advisors LLC; and
(f) explore the establishment of an equal joint venture between an Affiliate of the Stockholder and the Company pursuant to which the Company would become the asset manager of a new fund under the “Black Diamond” brand (a “Sponsored Fund”). The ultimate determination to participate in any such joint venture would be made in the Stockholder’s sole discretion. Any joint venture would be subject to the Company (i) fully investing its available financial resources, including prudent leverage, and (ii) establishing a track record sufficient to attract outside investors in a fund format. The Stockholder’s responsibility would include fundraising, regulatory compliance, establishment of entity structuring, fund documentation and a “seed” investment. The Company would be responsible for sourcing, closing and monitoring transactions.
Section 5.2 Stockholder Support Services. The obligations set forth in Section 5.1 are collectively referred to as the “Stockholder Support Services.” For the avoidance of doubt, any Stockholder Support Service that constitutes or results in a Related Party Transaction shall be subject to approval by a special committee of the Non-Affiliated Directors or a subset thereof as a Related Party Transaction pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(ii). In addition, the terms of any Stockholder Support Service that constitutes or results in a Related Party Transaction shall be disclosed to the holders of the Common Stock. Disclosure in a public filing with the SEC, such as a Current Report on Form 8-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, shall satisfy such disclosure requirement.
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Section 5.3 NOLs. For so long as the Company holds any material NOLs, the Stockholder shall not cause the Company to issue any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company or otherwise engage in any material transaction unless the Stockholder reasonably believes that such issuance or transaction would not jeopardize the Company’s ability to retain the benefit of the NOLs.
ARTICLE
VI
STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL RIGHTS
Section 6.1 Stockholder Approval Rights. Until the Ownership Reduction Event, without the prior written approval of the Stockholder (which approval shall be separate and apart from the voting rights of the Stockholder’s designees on the Board), the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, and shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, enter into any commitment to:
(a) create, incur, issue, assume or otherwise become liable for (including through a merger, acquisition or otherwise) or refinance or guarantee any Indebtedness that would result in the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, having or being liable for Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount that would result in (x) the Indebtedness to Cash Flow Ratio for the succeeding four full fiscal quarters following the date of determination to be greater than 4.5 to 1.0 on a pro forma basis as if both the additional Indebtedness and the funding of any prospective investment for which such Indebtedness is being incurred had been incurred or consummated, as applicable, at the beginning of such four-quarter period or (y) the Tangible Assets to Book Equity Ratio to be greater than 2.0 to 1.0 on a pro forma basis as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred as of the date of such determination;
(b) offer, issue or sell New Securities to any Person;
(c) enter into or effect any transaction or series of related transactions involving the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of equity (or equity-based) securities of the Company or any of its non-wholly owned Subsidiaries from any Person;
(d) enter into or effect any transaction or series of related transactions involving the sale, lease, license, exchange, disposition or Encumbrance (including by merger, consolidation, sale of stock or sale of assets) by the Company or its Subsidiaries of any material portion of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets that (i) taken as a whole, constitute greater than 25% of their total consolidated assets (with total consolidated assets being measured by reference to, and as of the date of, the most recent consolidated balance sheet included in the most recently filed Company SEC Document that includes the Company’s financial statements) or (ii) is not consistent with the Investment Policy;
(e) enter into or effect any transaction or series of related transactions involving the purchase, lease, license, exchange or other acquisition (including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or acquisition of assets) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any assets and/or equity interests of any Person (i) that involves aggregate consideration in excess of an amount equal to 25% of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ total consolidated assets (with total consolidated assets being measured by reference to, and as of the date of, the most recent consolidated balance sheet included in the most recently filed Company SEC Document that includes the Company’s financial statements) or (ii) is not consistent with the Investment Policy;
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(f) declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock or any other equity securities of the Company or any of its non-wholly owned Subsidiaries;
(g) make any loan, advance, capital contribution to or investment in any transaction or series of related transactions in any Person (i) in excess of an amount equal to 25% of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ total consolidated assets (with total consolidated assets being measured by reference to, and as of the date of, the most recent consolidated balance sheet included in the most recently filed Company SEC Document that includes the Company’s financial statements) or (ii) that is not consistent with the Investment Policy;
(h) make any change in the size of the Board; or
(i) terminate or hire a replacement for the Company’s chief executive officer.
ARTICLE
VII
MINORITY PROTECTIONS
Section 7.1 Minority Protections.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Ownership Reduction Event and (ii) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date:
(i) The Stockholder shall not, and shall cause each of its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with any other Person, except, in each case, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2:
(A) acquire, offer to acquire or agree to acquire (including from the Company) Beneficial Ownership of any Common Stock that would cause the Stockholder’s and its Affiliates’ Voting Percentage to exceed 76% unless such acquisition has been accepted or approved by a majority of the Non-Affiliated Directors (a “Purchase Transaction”); provided, however, that the Stockholder shall not be permitted to acquire, offer to acquire or agree to acquire (including from the Company) Beneficial Ownership of any Common Stock if such acquisition or contemplated acquisition would be reasonably likely to jeopardize the Company’s ability to retain the benefit of the NOLs; or
(B) cause the Company to engage in stock buybacks of its Common Stock that exceed 3% of the Voting Securities outstanding on the day any such buyback is executed (a “Buyback Transaction”); or
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(ii) The Stockholder shall not sell shares of Common Stock to any Person (a “Proposed Acquiror”) that would result in such Person having a Voting Percentage in excess of 40% (and with neither the Stockholder and its Affiliates nor any other holder of Common Stock and its Affiliates holding a Voting Percentage in excess of 40%) (a “Sale Transaction”), except in accordance with Section 7.3;
(b) Until the earlier of (i) the Ownership Reduction Event and (ii) the eighth anniversary of the Closing Date:
(i) The Stockholder shall not, and shall cause each of its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with any other Person, engage in a transaction as described in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act (a “Rule 13e-3 Transaction”) except in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2;
(ii) Any (A) Related Party Transaction and (B) the voluntarily de-registration of the Common Stock from registration under the Exchange Act, shall be subject to review, evaluation and approval by a special committee of the Non-Affiliated Directors or a subset thereof; and
(iii) The Company shall maintain at least two (2) Directors who are Non-Affiliated Directors.
Section 7.2 Stockholder Purchase Offer. If the Stockholder or its Affiliates proposes to engage in an Additional Purchase Transaction, the Stockholder or its Affiliates shall offer to acquire all of the then-outstanding Common Stock at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as the Additional Purchase Transaction (the “Stockholder Purchase Offer”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Stockholder Purchase Offer may contemplate a merger or other consolidation, a tender offer, or any other transaction that could permit the acquisition of all of the then-outstanding Common Stock. The Stockholder shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, consummate, in whole or in part, any Additional Purchase Transaction or Stockholder Purchase Offer unless such Stockholder Purchase Offer is (i) accepted and approved by a special committee of the Non-Affiliated Directors or a subset thereof, and (ii), in the case of a Rule 13e-3 Transaction, accepted and approved by holders of a majority of the Common Stock held by stockholders of the Company other than the Stockholder and its Affiliates. The Stockholder may, in its sole discretion, withdraw any Stockholder Purchase Offer and terminate any Additional Purchase Transaction at any time. For the avoidance of doubt, any withdrawal of a Stockholder Purchase Offer shall require the termination of the Additional Purchase Transaction giving rise to such Stockholder Purchase Offer.
Section 7.3 Acquiror Purchase Offer. No Sale Transaction shall be consummated unless the Proposed Acquiror shall contemporaneously make a binding offer to acquire all of the then-outstanding Common Stock of the Company, at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as the Sale Transaction (the “Acquiror Purchase Offer”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Acquiror Purchase Offer may contemplate a merger or other consolidation, a tender offer, or any other transaction that permits the acquisition of all of the then-outstanding Common Stock.
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ARTICLE
VIII
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 8.1 Registration Rights. Each of the Company and the Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that all shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Stockholder, including shares purchased by the Stockholder pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement and in any Rights Offering (including the Initial Rights Offering), and any other securities issued in respect thereof or into which such shares of Common Stock shall be converted or exchanged in connection with stock dividends or distributions, combinations or any similar recapitalizations, shall be deemed to be “Registrable Securities” as defined in, and entitled to the rights and benefits of, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the Stockholder dated as of September 6, 2013.
ARTICLE
IX
RIGHT OF FIRST OFFER ON SUBSEQUENT
ISSUANCES
Section 9.1 General.
(a) Except for the Initial Rights Offering, the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement and any Follow On Rights Offerings (which are not the subject of this ARTICLE IX, until September 6, 2016, the Stockholder (or its designees) shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to purchase its Pro Rata Share (as of immediately prior to the issuance of any New Securities) of all or any part of any New Securities that the Company may from time to time issue or sell during such period.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the Stockholder’s “Pro Rata Share” shall mean, as of any time, the ratio of (i) the number of fully-diluted shares of Common Stock directly or indirectly owned by the Stockholder and its Affiliates as of such time to (ii) the number of fully-diluted shares of Common Stock actually outstanding as of such time (excluding any shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of such time); provided that for purposes of this definition, “fully-diluted shares of Common Stock” shall only include shares of Common Stock underlying rights, options or warrants to purchase such Common Stock, and securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into Common Stock, to the extent that (x) all applicable vesting requirements have been satisfied and (y) the per share value of the Common Stock as of such time (which shall be deemed to be the closing price of a share of Common Stock on any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted) exceeds the exercise or conversion price per share of Common Stock for such rights, options or warrants to purchase such Common Stock, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into Common Stock, in each case, as of such time.
Section 9.2 Procedures.
(a) If the Company proposes to undertake an issuance of New Securities (other than the Initial Rights Offering, the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement or any Follow On Rights Offering), it shall give written notice to the Stockholder of its intention to issue New Securities (the “ROFO Notice”), describing the type of New Securities and the price and the terms upon which the Company proposes to issue such New Securities. The Stockholder (or its designee) shall have 15 days from receipt of any such ROFO Notice to agree to purchase up to the Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share of such New Securities for the price and upon the terms specified in the ROFO Notice by giving written notice to the Company and stating in such notice the quantity of New Securities to be purchased (not to exceed the Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share).
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(b) If the Stockholder (or its designee) fails to provide such written notice within such 15 day period or provides written notice that it elects not to purchase all or any portion of the New Securities, then the Company shall have 90 days from the expiration of the periods set forth above to sell all or any New Securities that were not agreed to be purchased by the Stockholder, at a price not less than, and upon terms not materially more favorable to the purchasers of such New Securities than, specified in the ROFO Notice. If the Company has not issued and sold such New Securities within such period, then after such period the Company shall not issue or sell any New Securities without again first complying with this ARTICLE IX.
(c) If the Stockholder (or its designee) provides written notice within such 15 day period that it elects to purchase any or all of the New Securities, then the Company and the Stockholder (or its designee) shall promptly thereafter proceed to consummate the sale or issuance of New Securities by the Company to the Stockholder (or its designee) on the terms set forth in the ROFO Notice. The Company and its board of directors shall also take all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under the Rights Agreement or any other rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s charter, bylaws or similar charter documents or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Company as a result of the Company and the Stockholder (or its designee) consummating any such sale or issuance of New Securities by the Company to the Stockholder (or its designee). Any such sale or issuance to the Stockholder (or its designee) shall be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Injunctive Relief. Each party hereto acknowledges that it would be impossible to determine the amount of damages that would result from any breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement and that the remedy at law for any breach, or threatened breach, of any of such provisions would likely be inadequate and, accordingly, agrees that the other party shall, in addition to any other rights or remedies which it may have, be entitled to such equitable and injunctive relief as may be available from any court of competent jurisdiction to compel specific performance of, or restrain any party from violating, any of such provisions. In connection with any action or proceeding for injunctive relief, each party hereto hereby waives the claim or defense that a remedy at law alone is adequate and agrees, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, to have each provision of this Agreement specifically enforced against it, without the necessity of posting bond or other security against it, and consents to the entry of injunctive relief against it enjoining or restraining any breach or threatened breach of such provisions of this Agreement.
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Section 10.2 Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, heirs, legal representatives and permitted assigns. Neither party may directly or indirectly assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party other than (a) in connection with a change in control of the Stockholder or to any successor of the Company or (b) by the Stockholder in whole or in part, to one or more of its Affiliates so long as the Stockholder remains liable for its obligations as contained herein. Any purported direct or indirect assignment in violation of this Section 10.2 shall be null and void ab initio.
Section 10.3 Amendments; Waiver. No amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement, and no waiver hereunder, and no extension of time for the performance of any of the obligations hereunder, shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by (a) the Company where enforcement of the amendment, modification, discharge, waiver or extension is sought against the Company or (b) the Stockholder where enforcement of the amendment, modification, discharge, waiver or extension is sought against the Stockholder. Any such waiver shall constitute a waiver only with respect to the specific matter described in such writing and shall in no way impair the rights of the party granting such waiver in any other respect or at any other time. The waiver by the Company or the Stockholder of a breach of, or a default under, any of the provisions hereof, or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder, shall not be construed as a waiver of any other breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any of such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and none is exclusive of any other, or of any rights or remedies that any party may otherwise have at law or in equity.
Section 10.4 After-Acquired Shares. This Agreement shall apply to all shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Stockholder and its Affiliates at all times, whether such shares are acquired prior to or after the date hereof.
Section 10.5 Recapitalization, Etc. In the event that any capital stock or other securities are issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of, shares of capital stock of the Company by reason of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, spin-off, partial or complete liquidation, stock dividend, split-up, sale of assets, distribution to stockholders or combination of shares or any other change in the Company’s capital structure, appropriate adjustments shall be made to the provisions of this Agreement so as to fairly and equitably preserve, as far as practicable, the original rights and obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement.
Section 10.6 Further Action. From time to time after the Closing Date, without additional consideration, each party hereto will (or, if appropriate, will cause its Subsidiaries to) execute and deliver such further instruments and take such other action as may be necessary or reasonably requested by another party hereto to make effective the transactions contemplated hereby. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company will, in order to permit the Stockholder and its Affiliates to acquire additional shares of Common Stock to increase their Voting Percentage to 76%, cause the Rights Agreement to be amended to allow the Stockholder and its Affiliates to increase their Voting Percentage to such amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company or its Subsidiaries be required to take any action that would be reasonably likely to jeopardize the Company’s ability to retain the benefit of the NOLs.
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Section 10.7 Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of delivery, if delivered personally, (b) on the date of delivery, if delivered by facsimile during business hours, or on the next Business Day, if delivered by facsimile outside of business hours, in each case upon confirmation of receipt, (c) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier services, or (d) on the third Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the parties to this Agreement at the following address or to such other address either party to this Agreement shall specify by notice to the other party:
if to the Company, to:
SWK Holdings Corporation
15770 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 1290
Dallas, Texas 75248
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: (972) 687-7255
if to the Stockholder, to:
Carlson Capital, L.P.
2100 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75201
Attention: Christopher W. Haga
Fax: (214) 932-9601
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas 75201
Attention: Jeffrey A. Chapman
Robert B. Little
Fax: (214) 571-2900
or to such other Persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice as provided above.
Section 10.8 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Forum; Waiver of Trial by Jury.
(a) This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the laws of any other jurisdiction that might be applied because of the conflicts of laws principles of the State of Delaware.
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(b) The parties hereto agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may only be brought in any state or federal court located in the State of Delaware, and each of the parties hereby consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Each of the parties agrees not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein.
Section 10.9 Interpretation. The table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event that an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
Section 10.10 Entire Agreement; No Other Representations. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, undertakings, arrangements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 10.11 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
Section 10.12 Severability. If any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof.
Section 10.13 Counterparts; facsimile or.pdf signature. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile or .pdf signature and a facsimile or .pdf signature shall constitute an original for all purposes.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first written above.
SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION | |||
By: | /s/ Brett Pope | ||
Name: | Brett Pope | ||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD. | |||
BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD. | |||
By: | Carlson Capital, L.P., their investment manager | ||
By: | /s/ Christopher W. Haga | ||
Name: | Christopher W. Haga | ||
Title: | Portfolio Manager |
Signature Page to Stockholders’ Agreement
Execution Version
TERMINATION OF VOTING AGREEMENT
This TERMINATION OF VOTING AGREEMENT (the "Termination") is entered into as of August 18, 2014, by and among DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD., a Cayman Islands exempted company, BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD, a Cayman Islands exempted company, DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (collectively, the “Investor”), and SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company” and, together with the Investor, the “Parties” and, each individually, a “Party”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor are party to that certain Voting Agreement dated as of September 6, 2013 (the "Voting Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor desire to terminate the Voting Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Termination. Effective immediately, the Voting Agreement shall be terminated and be of no force and effect, and no party thereunder shall have any further obligation or liability pursuant thereto.
2. Governing Law; Submission to Process. This Termination shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. Each Party hereby irrevocably (a) submits itself to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Dallas County, Texas, (b) agrees and consents that service of process may be made upon it in any legal proceeding relating to the Termination by any means allowed under Delaware or federal law, and (c) waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such proceeding being in such a court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
3. Counterparts; Fax. This Termination may be separately executed in any number of counterparts and by different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to constitute one and the same Termination. This Termination may be validly executed and delivered in counterparts exchanged via facsimile, electronic mail in portable document format (.pdf) or other electronic transmission, each of which counterparts shall be deemed originals for all purposes
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Termination to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.
SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Brett Pope | |
Name: | Brett Pope | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD. | ||
BLACK DIAMOND OFFSHORE LTD. | ||
DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND, L.P. | ||
By: | Carlson Capital, L.P., its investment manager | |
By: | /s/ Christopher W. Haga | |
Name: | Christopher W. Haga | |
Title: | Portfolio Manager |
Signature page to Termination of Voting Agreement
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 18th day of August 2014 (the “Effective Date”), by and between J. Brett Pope (the “Employee”) and SWK Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). The Company and the Employee are collectively referred to as the Parties and each as a Party.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Employee is currently employed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”); and
WHEREAS, Company desires to continue employ the Employee as, and the Employee desires to remain, the CEO;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee desire to enter into this Agreement as to the terms of the Employee’s employment with the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby expressly acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment and Duties. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Employee shall serve as CEO of the Company, reporting to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Employee shall have such duties, responsibilities and reporting obligations as the Board may from time to time establish. The Employee’s principal place of employment shall be Dallas, Texas, subject to such travel as the performance of the Employee’s duties and the business of the Company may require. The Employee shall be appointed as a member of the Board as of the Effective Date. The Employee shall remain a member of the Board as long as he retains the title of CEO or other equivalent title.
(b) Exclusive Services. Except with respect to performance under any PBS Capital Management contract existing on May 14, 2012, the Employee shall devote his full business working time to the performance of the Employee’s duties for so long as the Employee is employed by the Company and the Employee shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company. Further, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, render material services to any other person or organization without the consent of the Board or otherwise engage in activities that would either (i) interfere significantly with the performance of the Employee’s duties owed to the Company under this Agreement or otherwise or (ii) involve either a conflict of interest, or activities competitive, with either the Company or any other member of the Company Group (as defined in Section 5(a) below).
2. Term. The Employee’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Employee’s termination of employment pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement or (ii) December 31, 2018 (the “Term”).
3. Compensation and Other Benefits. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall pay and provide the following compensation and other benefits to the Employee during the Term as compensation for services rendered hereunder:
(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Employee an annual salary (the “Base Salary”) at the rate of (i) $212,000 per annum for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2014, and (ii) $240,000 per annum for the period commencing on January 1, 2015, and ending on December 31, 2018, payable in substantially equal installments at such intervals as may be determined by the Company in accordance with its ordinary payroll practices as established from time to time.
(b) Bonus. (i) Employee shall be eligible to participate in the bonus pool described in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement.
(ii) Any bonus pursuant to Section 3(b) that is otherwise payable, shall be paid on the earlier of (1) March 31 following the end of the fiscal year upon which such bonus was calculated and (2) the date two weeks after the completion of the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year; provided that, in no event shall such bonus be paid earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the March 31 date described herein. The payment of such bonus is subject to the Employee’s continued employment with the Company at the time of payment of the bonus, unless the Employee is employed by the Company as of the last date of the period during which the achievement of the bonus is measured and the Employee’s employment is thereafter terminated pursuant to death or Disability (as defined in Section 4(a) below), by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined in Section 4(b)(iii) below), by the Company without Cause (as defined in Section 4(b)(ii) below), due to the expiration of the Term, or if the Employee is still employed by the Company (but not subject to this Agreement) and prior to the payment of the bonus, the Employee has not breached any obligations or duties owed to the Company.
(iii) In the event that any bonus payable pursuant to Section 3(b) exceeds $500,000, the Employee shall have the right to elect to receive up to 50% of such amount (the “Stock Bonus Portion”) over $500,000 in fully vested shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to the reasonable approval of the Company to insure its ability to maintain its net operating loss carryforwards. The number of fully vested shares the Employee shall receive following such election shall be equal to the Stock Bonus Portion less the Gross Up Payment (described below) divided by the fair market value of the Company’s common stock for the ten (10) trading day period ending on the last trading day prior to the bonus payment date, with fractional shares rounded up to the nearest whole share. The Employee shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross Up Payment”) in an amount such that, after payment (whether through withholding at the source or otherwise) by the Employee of all taxes, including, without limitation, any income taxes and employment taxes imposed upon the Gross Up Payment, the Employee retains an amount of the Gross Up Payment equal to the taxes, including, without limitation, any income taxes and employment taxes, imposed on the Stock Bonus Portion of the bonus payable pursuant to this Section 3(b). For the avoidance of doubt, the election to receive the Stock Bonus Portion will not result in the aggregate payment of the Stock Bonus Payment plus the Gross Up Payment being in excess of the expected net pre-tax amount should such amount have been paid only in cash.
(c) Benefit Plans. The Employee shall be eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans, programs and policies of the Company as are generally available to employees of the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions of such plans, programs and policies, as may be amended from time to time.
(d) Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Employee for reasonable travel and other business-related expenses incurred by him in the fulfillment of his duties hereunder upon presentation of written documentation thereof, in accordance with the business expense reimbursement policies and procedures of the Company as in effect from time to time.
(e) Option Grant. On the date hereof, the Company and the Employee shall enter into a stock option award agreement in the form attached as Exhibit B to this Agreement.
(f) Retirement Plans. The Company shall implement a defined contribution retirement plan for the benefit of all employees on such terms as determined by the Compensation Committee. Employee shall be eligible to participate in such plan in accordance with the terms and conditions of such plan, as may be amended from time to time. Effective for calendar year 2015, the Company shall match the Employee’s contributions to such plan dollar for dollar up to 6% of the Employee’s base salary. Employee shall be fully vested in such contribution.
(4) Termination of Employment. Subject to this Section 4, the Company shall have the right to terminate the Employee’s employment at any time, with or without Cause (as defined below), and the Employee shall have the right to resign his employment at any time, provided that the Employee shall: (i) provide the Company with at least 60 days written notice prior to the resignation date; (ii) not make any public announcements concerning the Employee’s resignation prior to the resignation date without the written consent of the Company; and (iii) continue to perform faithfully the duties assigned to the Employee under the Agreement (or such other duties as the Board may assign to the Employee) from the date of such notice until the date of the Employee’s termination of employment.
(a) Termination Due to Death or Disability. Unless otherwise terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall terminate upon either the Employee’s death or Disability. In the event of the Employee’s death or Disability, the Company shall pay to the Employee (or his estate, as applicable) (i) the Employee’s earned but unpaid Base Salary through and including the date of termination and any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided by law or under any plan, program or policy of the Company (the “Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits”), within thirty (30) days of termination of the Employee’s employment and (ii) any bonus otherwise payable for a fiscal year, prorated based upon the number of days elapsed from the beginning of that fiscal year relative to the number of days in the full fiscal year. Such bonus will be payable on the earlier of (1) March 31 following the end of the fiscal year upon which such bonus was calculated and (2) the date two weeks after the completion of the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year; provided that, in no event shall such bonus be paid earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the March 31 date described herein. Such bonus will be subject to downward adjustment if the asset value upon which the bonus was calculated is greater than the asset value reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means that the Employee, because of physical or mental disability or incapacity, is unable to perform the Employee’s duties for an aggregate of 180 working days during any twelve (12) month period. All questions arising under this Agreement regarding the Employee’s disability or incapacity shall be determined by a reputable physician mutually selected by the Company and the Employee at the time such question arises. The determination of the physician selected pursuant to the above provisions of this Section 4(a) as to such matters shall be conclusively binding upon the Parties.
(b) Termination for Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason, Expiration of Term. (i) If (1) prior to the expiration of the Term, the Company terminates the Employee’s employment for Cause or the Employee resigns without Good Reason, or (2) the Employee’s employment terminates upon the Term expiring, the Employee shall be entitled only to payment of the Employee’s earned but unpaid Base Salary through and including the date of termination and Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits, payable in accordance with Company policies and practices and in no event later than thirty (30) days after the Employee’s employment terminates. The Employee shall have no further right to receive any other compensation or benefits, and the Company shall have no further obligation to Employee under this Agreement, after such termination or resignation of employment.
(ii) Termination for “Cause” shall mean termination of the Employee’s employment for any of the following reasons:
(A) the Employee entering a plea of no-contest with respect to, or being convicted (including by a plea of guilty) by a court of competent jurisdiction of, any felony, whether or not involving any member of the Company Group (as defined in Section 5(a) below);
(B) any willful misconduct by the Employee that is injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of any member of the Company Group;
(C) the Employee materially breaches a duty of loyalty owed to any member of the Company Group or, as a result of the Employee’s gross negligence, breaches a duty of care owed to any member of the Company Group; or
(D) the Employee materially breaches this Agreement or fails or refuses to perform any of the Employee’s material duties as required by this Agreement in any respect, after the Employee being given written notice by the Company of such breach, failure or refusal, and the Employee fails to cure the same within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of such notice.
(iii) Resignation with Good Reason shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events, without the express written consent of the Employee, unless such events are fully corrected in all material respects by the Company within twenty (20) business days (sixty (60) business days in the case of (E) below) following written notification by the Employee to the Company of the occurrence of one of the reasons set forth below:
(A) Material diminution in the Employee’s Base Salary, material duties, authorities or responsibilities (other than temporarily while physically or mentally incapacitated or as required by applicable law);
(B) Permanent relocation of the Employee’s primary work location by more than thirty (30) miles from the Dallas, Texas metropolitan area;
(C) The Company pursues, either by Board action or as announced to the public, a strategy of using a substantial portion of the Company’s assets to engage in a business that is substantially different from pharmaceutical or medical technology financing; or
(D) (1) the transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any unaffiliated third party; (2) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the adoption of a plan by the stockholders of the Company relating to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company; or (3) the acquisition by any unaffiliated third party of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of a majority of the voting power of the total outstanding capital stock of the Company; or,
(E) Material diminution of the Employee’s ability to earn bonus payment set forth in Section 3(b) and Exhibit A and with reference to the approved business plan with respect to a given fiscal year due to actions taken by the Board or the Board’s failure to act and not by the Employee’s lack of performance.
The Employee shall provide each member of the Board with a written notice detailing the specific circumstances alleged to constitute Good Reason within ten (10) days after the first occurrence of such circumstances, and actually terminate employment within thirty (30) days following the expiration of the Company’s twenty (20) or sixty (60) business day period described above. Otherwise, any claim of such circumstances as Good Reason shall be deemed irrevocably waived by the Employee.
(c) Termination Without Cause; Resignation with Good Reason. If, prior to the expiration of the Term, the Company terminates the Employee’s employment without Cause, or the Employee resigns with Good Reason, the Employee shall only be entitled to payment of the Employee’s earned but unpaid Base Salary through and including the date of termination and the Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits and, subject to Section 4(d), shall be entitled to receive the Severance Benefits. For purposes of this Agreement, “Severance Benefits” mean:
(i) Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the date the Employee’s employment is terminated), payable in substantially equal monthly installments over a period of six (6) months following the Company’s termination of the Employee’s employment without Cause or the Employee’s resignation with Good Reason (the “Severance Period”);
(ii) The Company shall reimburse the Employee, on a monthly basis, in arrears, for the premium cost of COBRA continuation coverage under the Company’s group medical insurance plan during the Severance Period (only to the extent of the employer portion of the premium cost for similarly situated active employees in the Company’s group medical insurance plan) until the earlier of (x) the date the Employee becomes eligible for group medical insurance coverage as the result of the Employee accepting another position with a new employer or (y) the termination of the Severance Period, whichever shall occur first; provided, that the Employee agrees to notify the Company by registered mail, return receipt requested, within five (5) business days of becoming eligible for group medical insurance coverage as the result of his accepting another position with a new employer. The Employee shall be solely responsible for the remainder of the premium cost of COBRA continuation coverage; and
(iii) Any bonus otherwise payable for the fiscal year during which the Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 4(c), prorated based upon the number of days elapsed from the beginning of that fiscal year relative to the number of days in the full fiscal year. Such bonus will be payable on the earlier of (1) March 31 following the end of the fiscal year upon which such bonus was calculated and (2) the date two weeks after the completion of the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year; provided, that in no event shall such bonus be paid earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the March 31 date described herein. Such bonus will be subject to downward adjustment if the asset value upon which the bonus was calculated is greater than the asset value reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year.
(d) Execution and Delivery of Release. In the event the Employee fails or refuses to execute and deliver to the Company, within twenty-one days following Employee’s Termination Date, a general waiver and release of claims in a form substantially similar to Exhibit C attached to this Agreement (the “Release”) or otherwise revokes the Release during the applicable revocation period, the Employee shall forfeit the Severance Benefits, and no Severance Benefits will be paid to the Employee.
(e) Notice of Termination. Any termination of employment by the Company or the Employee shall be communicated by a written “Notice of Termination” to the other Party given in accordance with Section 23 of this Agreement, except that the Company may waive in writing the requirement for such Notice of Termination by the Employee. In the event of the Employee’s resignation of employment for any reason other than Good Reason, the Notice of Termination shall specify the date of termination, which date shall not be less than sixty (60) days after the giving of such notice, unless the Company agrees in writing to waive any notice period by the Employee.
(f) Resignation of Officerships. The termination of the Employee’s employment for any reason shall constitute the Employee’s resignation from any officer, employee, directorship or fiduciary position the Employee has with the Company Group. The Employee agrees that this Agreement shall serve as written notice of resignation in this circumstance.
5. Confidentiality.
(a) Confidential Information. (i) For purposes of this Agreement, Company Group means the Company and any subsidiaries or Affiliates of the Company. Affiliates means any entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. The Employee agrees that during his employment with the Company and indefinitely after the Employee’s employment terminates for any reason, the Employee will not at any time, except with the prior written consent of the Company or as required by law, directly or indirectly, reveal to any person, entity or other organization (other than any member of the Company Group or its respective employees, officers, directors, shareholders or agents) or use for the Employee’s own benefit any information deemed to be confidential by any member of the Company Group relating to the assets, liabilities, employees, goodwill, business or affairs of any member of the Company Group, including, without limitation, any information concerning customers, business plans, marketing data, or other confidential information known to the Employee by reason of the Employee’s employment by, shareholdings in or other association with any member of the Company Group (“Confidential Information”); provided, that such Confidential Information does not include any information which (x) is available to the general public or is generally available within the relevant business or industry other than as a result of the Employee’s action, or (y) is or becomes available to the Employee after his employment terminates on a non-confidential basis from a third-party source provided that such third-party source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement or any other obligation of confidentiality. Confidential Information may be in any medium or form, including, without limitation, physical documents, computer files or disks, videotapes, audiotapes, and oral communications.
(ii) In the event that the Employee becomes legally compelled to disclose any Confidential Information, the Employee shall provide the Company with prompt written notice so that the Company may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, the Employee shall furnish only that portion of such Confidential Information or take only such action as is legally required by binding order and shall exercise his reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment shall be accorded any such Confidential Information. The Company shall promptly pay (upon receipt of invoices and any other documentation as may be requested by the Company) all reasonable expenses and fees incurred by the Employee, including attorneys’ fees, in connection with the Employee’s compliance with the immediately preceding sentence.
(iii) The Employee understands that the Company may receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality (the “Third Party Information”) and to use the Third Party Information only for certain limited purposes. The Employee shall hold any Third Party Information the Employee gains access to based on his employment with the Company in the strictest confidence and will disclose the Third Party Information only as needed to perform the Employee’s duties and then only to others who have a need to know.
(b) Exclusive Property. The Employee confirms that all Confidential Information is and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company Group. All business records, papers and documents kept or made by the Employee relating to the business of the Company Group shall be and remain the property of the Company Group. Upon the request and at the expense of the Company Group, the Employee shall promptly make all disclosures, execute all instruments and papers and perform all acts reasonably necessary to vest and confirm in the Company Group, fully and completely, all rights created or contemplated by this Section 5.
(c) Return of Confidential Information. At the request of the Company, the Employee shall immediately return to the Company any Confidential Information, whether received from the Company or contained in materials prepared or developed by the Employee in the course of the Employee’s employment. The Employee shall not retain any copies, summaries or notes of the Confidential Information, unless expressly approved in writing by the Board.
(d) Corporate Opportunities. Unless approved in advance by the Board, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, accept or pursue, for his own benefit, any business, commercial or investment opportunities or offers which relate to the Company’s business.
6. Restrictive Covenants Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Employee shall execute and deliver to the Company the Restrictive Covenants Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit D. During the Term of this Agreement, in the event of any conflict between the Employee’s obligations under Section 5 of this Agreement and the Restrictive Covenants Agreement, Section 5 of this Agreement shall control. The Employee understands that the Restrictive Covenants Agreement applies during and after both the Term of this Agreement and the Employee’s employment with the Company.
7. Injunctive Relief. Without intending to limit the remedies available to the Company or other members of the Company Group, the Employee agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in Sections 5 of this Agreement may result in material and irreparable injury to the Company or other members of the Company Group for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of such a breach or threat thereof, any member of the Company Group shall be entitled to seek a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction, or both, without bond or other security, restraining the Employee from engaging in activities prohibited by the covenants contained in Sections 5 of this Agreement or such other relief as may be required specifically to enforce any of the covenants contained in this Agreement. Such injunctive relief in any court shall be available to the Company or other member of the Company Group in aid of, in lieu of, prior to or pending determination in, any arbitration proceeding, without such action constituting a waiver of the agreement to arbitrate contained in Section 16 of this Agreement.
8. Section 409A.
(a) General. This Agreement is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and shall be interpreted and construed consistent with that intent. For purposes of this Agreement, “termination of employment” means a “Separation from Service” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).
(b) Deferred Compensation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the right to any payment (including the provision of benefits) hereunder provides for the “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code, the payment shall be paid (or provided) in accordance with the following:
(i) If the Employee is a “Specified Employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code on the date of the Employee’s “Separation from Service” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code, then no such payment shall be made or commence during the period beginning on the date of the Employee’s Separation from Service and ending on the date that is six months following the Employee’s Separation from Service or, if earlier, on the date of the Employee’s death. The amount of any payment that would otherwise be paid to the Employee during this period shall instead be paid to the Employee on the fifteenth day of the first calendar month following the end of the period (the “Delayed Payment Date”). If payment of an amount is delayed as a result of this Section 10(b)(i), such amount shall be increased with interest from the date on which such amount would otherwise have been paid to the Employee but for this Section 10(b)(i) to the day prior to the Delayed Payment Date. The rate of interest shall be compounded monthly, at the prime rate as published by Citibank NA for the month in which occurs the date of the Employee’s Separation from Service. Such interest shall be paid on the Delayed Payment Date.
(ii) Payments with respect to reimbursements of expenses shall be made in accordance with Company policy and in no event later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the relevant expense is incurred. All reimbursements or provision of in-kind benefits pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) such that the reimbursement or provision will be deemed payable at a specified time or on a fixed schedule relative to a permissible payment event. Specifically, the amount reimbursed or in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement during the Employee’s taxable year may not affect the amounts reimbursed or provided in any other taxable year (except that total reimbursements may be limited by a lifetime maximum under a group health plan), the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made on or before the last day of the Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred, and the right to reimbursement or provision of in-kind benefit is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(iii) Each payment under this Agreement is intended to be (i) excepted from Section 409A of the Code, including, but not limited to, by compliance with the short-term deferral exception as specified in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and the involuntary separation pay exception within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or (ii) in the event any Gross Up Payment is made pursuant to Section 3(b) herein, in compliance with Section 409A of the Code, including, but not limited to, being paid pursuant to a fixed schedule or specified date pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(1)(v), and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted, or construed).
9. Source of Payments. All payments provided under this Agreement, other than payments made pursuant to a plan which provides otherwise, shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company, and no special or separate fund shall be established, and no other segregation of assets shall be made, to assure payment. The Employee shall have no right, title or interest whatsoever in or to any investments which the Company may make to aid the Company in meeting its obligations hereunder. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.
10. Cooperation. Upon the receipt of reasonable notice from the Company (including outside counsel), the Employee agrees that while employed by the Company and thereafter for a period of eighteen (18) months, the Employee will respond and provide information with regard to matters in which the Employee has knowledge as a result of the Employee’s employment with the Company, and will provide reasonable assistance to the Company or any other member of the Company Group and their respective representatives in defense of any claims that may be made against the Company or other member of the Company Group, and will assist the Company or any other member of the Company Group in the prosecution of any claims that may be made by the Company or other members of the Company Group, to the extent that such claims may relate to the period of the Employee’s employment with the Company (collectively, the “Claims”). The Employee agrees to promptly inform the Company if the Employee becomes aware of any lawsuits involving Claims that may be filed or threatened against the Company or any other member of the Company Group. The Employee also agrees to promptly inform the Company (to the extent that the Employee is legally permitted to do so) if the Employee is asked to assist in any investigation of the Company or any other member of the Company Group (or their actions) or another party attempts to obtain information or documents from the Employee (other than in connection with any litigation or other proceeding in which the Employee is a party-in-opposition) with respect to matters the Employee believes in good faith to relate to any investigation of the Company or any other member of the Company Group, in each case, regardless of whether a lawsuit or other proceeding has then been filed against the Company or any other member of the Company Group with respect to such investigation, and shall not do so unless legally required. During the pendency of any litigation or other proceeding involving Claims, the Employee shall not communicate with anyone (other than the Employee’s attorneys and tax and/or financial advisors and except to the extent that the Employee determines in good faith is necessary in connection with the performance of the Employee’s duties hereunder) with respect to the facts or subject matter of any pending or potential litigation or regulatory or administrative proceeding involving the Company or any other member of the Company Group without giving prior written notice to the Company. The Company shall compensate the Employee at the rate of $100 per hour for all hours spent complying with this Section 10 during any calendar month following the termination of Employee’s employment in which Employee’s compliance with this Section 10 exceeds ten (10) hours. Upon presentation of appropriate documentation, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket travel, duplicating or telephonic expenses incurred by the Employee in complying with this Section 10.
11. Representations and Warranties. As a condition to, and in consideration of, the Employee’s employment with the Company, the Employee represents and warrants to the Company that the Employee:
(a) has the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and to perform all of the obligations on the Employee’s part to be performed hereunder in accordance with its terms;
(b) is not a party to any agreement or understanding, written or oral, and is not subject to any restriction, which, in either case, could prohibit the Employee from entering into this Agreement or performing all of the Employee’s duties and obligations hereunder; and
(c) has complied with any and all notice provisions of any agreement that the Employee has with his former employers;
(d) understands and acknowledges that the Company respects the confidential and proprietary information, and trade secrets of other entities and therefore, does not want, and will not willingly and unlawfully use, any confidential or proprietary information, and/or trade secrets that are the property of a third party; and
(e) does not possess any information that belonged to any former employer, without the permission of such former employer, regardless of whether such information was ever: (i) in his possession as a hard copy document; (ii) on a computer; (iii) on a blackberry, PDA or cell phone; or (iv) on an external hard drive, thumb drive, or any other piece of external media that permits the storage of electronic or hard copy information.
12. Statement of Direction. The Company hereby directs the Employee to:
(a) not disclose to the Company any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information of other entities, including any former employers, without the permission of such entity;
(b) neither bring on the premises of, nor provide to, the Company, copies of any documents, electronic media or tangible items that contain or refer to confidential, proprietary or trade secret information that is the property of any other party, including any former employers, without the permission of such entity; and
(c) not provide any information to the Company that belongs or belonged to any prior employer, regardless of the medium in which such information is contained, without the permission of such prior employer.
13. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement or otherwise in connection with the Employee’s employment by the Company that cannot be mutually resolved by the Parties to this Agreement and their respective advisors and representatives shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Dallas County, Texas, in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association before one arbitrator of exemplary qualifications and stature, who shall be selected jointly by an individual to be designated by the Company and an individual to be selected by the Employee, or if such two individuals cannot agree on the selection of the arbitrator, who shall be selected by the American Arbitration Association. The Parties also agree that the American Arbitration Association’s Optional Rules for Emergency Measures of Protection shall apply to all arbitrations conducted pursuant to this Agreement. The Employee understands and represents that the Employee is waiving the right to adjudicate claims, including employment-based claims, in a judicial forum and opting instead to arbitrate such claims. The arbitrator shall issue a written award containing findings of fact and conclusions of law. All substantive rights and remedies under any law shall be preserved. The Company shall reimburse the Employee for any filing fee the Employee paid and pay (i) any remaining filing fee balance, (ii) the arbitrator’s compensation and any chargeable expenses, (iii) the daily hearing fees and (iv) any fees associated with renting a hearing room. The award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding with respect to the subject matter of the arbitration and a judgment of any circuit court, or other court of competent jurisdiction, may be rendered upon the arbitration award.
14. Nonassignability; Binding Agreement
(a) By the Employee. This Agreement and any and all rights, duties, obligations or interests hereunder shall not be assignable or delegable by the Employee.
(b) By the Company. This Agreement and all of the Company’s rights and obligations hereunder shall not be assignable by the Company except as incident to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. If the Company shall be merged or consolidated with another entity, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the entity surviving such merger or resulting from such consolidation. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Employee, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken plan. The provisions of this Section 14 shall continue to apply to each subsequent employer of the Employee hereunder in the event of any subsequent merger, consolidation, transfer of assets of such subsequent employer or otherwise.
(c) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Parties hereto, any successors to or assigns of the Company and the Employee’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Employee’s estate.
15. Withholding. Any payments made or benefits provided to the Employee under this Agreement shall be reduced by any applicable withholding taxes or other amounts required to be withheld by law or contract.
16. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not be modified, amended or waived in any manner, except by an instrument in writing signed by the Parties. The waiver by either Party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement by the other Party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such Party of a provision of this Agreement.
17. Other Severance Benefits. In consideration for the payments to be made to the Employee under the Agreement, the Employee agrees to waive any and all rights to any payments or benefits under any other severance plan, program or arrangement of the Company Group, except where such waiver would result in an impermissible substitution of benefits under Section 409A or any guidance issued thereunder.
18. Governing Law and Choice of Forum. All matters affecting this Agreement, including the validity thereof, are to be subject to, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas. Any lawsuit brought pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement shall be brought only in either any state court located in Dallas County or the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
19. Survival of Certain Provisions. The rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement that, by their terms, extend beyond the Term shall survive the Term.
20. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and its exhibits contain the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties with respect to the matters covered herein, and supersede all prior or contemporaneous negotiations, commitments, representations, warranties, agreements and writings with respect to the subject matter hereof, all such other negotiations, commitments, agreements and writings shall have no further force or effect, and the parties to any such other negotiation, commitment, agreement or writing shall have no further rights or obligations thereunder.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by either of the Parties hereto in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A facsimile signature, whether by fax or other electronic form, shall be deemed an original and shall bind the signing Party.
22. Headings. The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
23. Notices. All notices or communications hereunder shall be in writing, addressed as follows:
To the Company:
SWK Holdings Corporation
15770 North Dallas Parkway; Suite 1290
Dallas, TX 75248
(972) 687-7250
Attention: Parth S. Munshi, Esq
Email: pmunshi@swkhold.com
To the Employee:
J. Brett Pope
6009 Kettering Ct
Dallas, TX 75248
Email: bpope@swkhold.com
With a copy to:
Baker Botts L.L.P.
2001 Ross Avenue, Suite 600
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 953-6500
Attention: Jennifer M. Trulock
Email: jennifer.trulock@bakerbotts.com
Facsimile: (214) 661-4642
All such notices shall be conclusively deemed to be received and shall be effective (i) if sent by hand delivery, upon receipt or (ii) if sent by electronic mail or facsimile, upon receipt by the sender of confirmation of such transmission; provided, however, that any electronic mail or facsimile will be deemed received and effective only if followed, within 48 hours, by a hard copy sent by certified United States mail.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed pursuant to the authority of its Board, and the Employee has executed this Agreement, as of the date set forth above.
SWK Holdings Corporation | |||
By: | /s/ Winston Black | ||
Winston Black | |||
Managing Director | |||
/s/ J. Brett Pope | |||
J. Brett Pope |
EXHIBIT A
BONUS POOL DESCRIPTION
The Bonus Pool, calculated as described below, will represent the aggregate potential bonus award for the Company’s entire executive team. The allocation of the Bonus Pool among the executive team will be determined by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and will be subject to approval by the Board’s Compensation Committee.
Definitions
“Pre-Tax Profit” shall be the Company’s pre-tax profit in a particular fiscal year as determined in accordance with GAAP, but including paid state taxes, Board stock compensation and any mark-down of the Company’s investment portfolio and excluding deal related expenses, other income/loss from unrealized warrants, net operating loss GAAP accounting adjustments, capital raising related expenses realized by the Company in 2014 and non-cash adjustments for old warrant/option liability.
“Return on Equity” means Pre-Tax Profit (as defined above) for a particular fiscal year, divided by the Company’s tangible book value for such fiscal year.
Bonus Pool Formulas*
FY 2014 - The Bonus Pool will equal (i) 10.5% of the average Pre-Tax Profit for fiscal years 2013 and 2014, multiplied by (ii) one (1) plus 50% of the Return on Equity for fiscal year 2014.
FY 2015 and thereafter - The Bonus Pool will equal (i) 11% of the average Pre-Tax Profit for fiscal year of the bonus calculation and the immediately prior fiscal year , multiplied by (ii) one (1) plus 50% of the Return on Equity for fiscal year of the bonus calculation.
__________
* All Bonus Pool formulas are subject to review and equitable adjustment by the Board’s Compensation Committee to take into account unusual items.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 18th day of August 2014 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Winston L. Black III (the “Employee”) and SWK Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). The Company and the Employee are collectively referred to as the Parties and each as a Party.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Employee is currently employed as the Company’s Managing Director (the “MD”); and
WHEREAS, Company desires to continue employ the Employee as, and the Employee desires to remain, the MD;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee desire to enter into this Agreement as to the terms of the Employee’s employment with the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby expressly acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment and Duties. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Employee shall serve as MD of the Company, reporting to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Employee shall have such duties, responsibilities and reporting obligations as the Board may from time to time establish. The Employee’s principal place of employment shall be Dallas, Texas, subject to such travel as the performance of the Employee’s duties and the business of the Company may require. The Employee shall be appointed as a member of the Board as of the Effective Date. The Employee shall remain a member of the Board as long as he retains the title of MD or other equivalent title.
(b) Exclusive Services. Except with respect to performance under any PBS Capital Management contract existing on May 14, 2012, the Employee shall devote his full business working time to the performance of the Employee’s duties for so long as the Employee is employed by the Company and the Employee shall use his best efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company. Further, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, render material services to any other person or organization without the consent of the Board or otherwise engage in activities that would either (i) interfere significantly with the performance of the Employee’s duties owed to the Company under this Agreement or otherwise or (ii) involve either a conflict of interest, or activities competitive, with either the Company or any other member of the Company Group (as defined in Section 5(a) below).
2. Term. The Employee’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Employee’s termination of employment pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement or (ii) December 31, 2018 (the “Term”).
3. Compensation and Other Benefits. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall pay and provide the following compensation and other benefits to the Employee during the Term as compensation for services rendered hereunder:
(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Employee an annual salary (the “Base Salary”) at the rate of (i) $212,000 per annum for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2014, and (ii) $240,000 per annum for the period commencing on January 1, 2015, and ending on December 31, 2018, payable in substantially equal installments at such intervals as may be determined by the Company in accordance with its ordinary payroll practices as established from time to time.
(b) Bonus. (i) Employee shall be eligible to participate in the bonus pool described in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement.
(ii) Any bonus pursuant to Section 3(b) that is otherwise payable, shall be paid on the earlier of (1) March 31 following the end of the fiscal year upon which such bonus was calculated and (2) the date two weeks after the completion of the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year; provided that, in no event shall such bonus be paid earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the March 31 date described herein. The payment of such bonus is subject to the Employee’s continued employment with the Company at the time of payment of the bonus, unless the Employee is employed by the Company as of the last date of the period during which the achievement of the bonus is measured and the Employee’s employment is thereafter terminated pursuant to death or Disability (as defined in Section 4(a) below), by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined in Section 4(b)(iii) below), by the Company without Cause (as defined in Section 4(b)(ii) below), due to the expiration of the Term, or if the Employee is still employed by the Company (but not subject to this Agreement) and prior to the payment of the bonus, the Employee has not breached any obligations or duties owed to the Company.
(iii) In the event that any bonus payable pursuant to Section 3(b) exceeds $500,000, the Employee shall have the right to elect to receive up to 50% of such amount (the “Stock Bonus Portion”) over $500,000 in fully vested shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to the reasonable approval of the Company to insure its ability to maintain its net operating loss carryforwards. The number of fully vested shares the Employee shall receive following such election shall be equal to the Stock Bonus Portion less the Gross Up Payment (described below) divided by the fair market value of the Company’s common stock for the ten (10) trading day period ending on the last trading day prior to the bonus payment date, with fractional shares rounded up to the nearest whole share. The Employee shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross Up Payment”) in an amount such that, after payment (whether through withholding at the source or otherwise) by the Employee of all taxes, including, without limitation, any income taxes and employment taxes imposed upon the Gross Up Payment, the Employee retains an amount of the Gross Up Payment equal to the taxes, including, without limitation, any income taxes and employment taxes, imposed on the Stock Bonus Portion of the bonus payable pursuant to this Section 3(b). For the avoidance of doubt, the election to receive the Stock Bonus Portion will not result in the aggregate payment of the Stock Bonus Payment plus the Gross Up Payment being in excess of the expected net pre-tax amount should such amount have been paid only in cash.
(c) Benefit Plans. The Employee shall be eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans, programs and policies of the Company as are generally available to employees of the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions of such plans, programs and policies, as may be amended from time to time.
(d) Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Employee for reasonable travel and other business-related expenses incurred by him in the fulfillment of his duties hereunder upon presentation of written documentation thereof, in accordance with the business expense reimbursement policies and procedures of the Company as in effect from time to time.
(e) Option Grant. On the date hereof, the Company and the Employee shall enter into a stock option award agreement in the form attached as Exhibit B to this Agreement.
(f) Retirement Plans. The Company shall implement a defined contribution retirement plan for the benefit of all employees on such terms as determined by the Compensation Committee. Employee shall be eligible to participate in such plan in accordance with the terms and conditions of such plan, as may be amended from time to time. Effective for calendar year 2015, the Company shall match the Employee’s contributions to such plan dollar for dollar up to 6% of the Employee’s base salary. Employee shall be fully vested in such contribution.
(4) Termination of Employment. Subject to this Section 4, the Company shall have the right to terminate the Employee’s employment at any time, with or without Cause (as defined below), and the Employee shall have the right to resign his employment at any time, provided that the Employee shall: (i) provide the Company with at least 60 days written notice prior to the resignation date; (ii) not make any public announcements concerning the Employee’s resignation prior to the resignation date without the written consent of the Company; and (iii) continue to perform faithfully the duties assigned to the Employee under the Agreement (or such other duties as the Board may assign to the Employee) from the date of such notice until the date of the Employee’s termination of employment.
(a) Termination Due to Death or Disability. Unless otherwise terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall terminate upon either the Employee’s death or Disability. In the event of the Employee’s death or Disability, the Company shall pay to the Employee (or his estate, as applicable) (i) the Employee’s earned but unpaid Base Salary through and including the date of termination and any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided by law or under any plan, program or policy of the Company (the “Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits”), within thirty (30) days of termination of the Employee’s employment and (ii) any bonus otherwise payable for a fiscal year, prorated based upon the number of days elapsed from the beginning of that fiscal year relative to the number of days in the full fiscal year. Such bonus will be payable on the earlier of (1) March 31 following the end of the fiscal year upon which such bonus was calculated and (2) the date two weeks after the completion of the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year; provided that, in no event shall such bonus be paid earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the March 31 date described herein. Such bonus will be subject to downward adjustment if the asset value upon which the bonus was calculated is greater than the asset value reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means that the Employee, because of physical or mental disability or incapacity, is unable to perform the Employee’s duties for an aggregate of 180 working days during any twelve (12) month period. All questions arising under this Agreement regarding the Employee’s disability or incapacity shall be determined by a reputable physician mutually selected by the Company and the Employee at the time such question arises. The determination of the physician selected pursuant to the above provisions of this Section 4(a) as to such matters shall be conclusively binding upon the Parties.
(b) Termination for Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason, Expiration of Term. (i) If (1) prior to the expiration of the Term, the Company terminates the Employee’s employment for Cause or the Employee resigns without Good Reason, or (2) the Employee’s employment terminates upon the Term expiring, the Employee shall be entitled only to payment of the Employee’s earned but unpaid Base Salary through and including the date of termination and Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits, payable in accordance with Company policies and practices and in no event later than thirty (30) days after the Employee’s employment terminates. The Employee shall have no further right to receive any other compensation or benefits, and the Company shall have no further obligation to Employee under this Agreement, after such termination or resignation of employment.
(ii) Termination for “Cause” shall mean termination of the Employee’s employment for any of the following reasons:
(A) the Employee entering a plea of no-contest with respect to, or being convicted (including by a plea of guilty) by a court of competent jurisdiction of, any felony, whether or not involving any member of the Company Group (as defined in Section 5(a) below);
(B) any willful misconduct by the Employee that is injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of any member of the Company Group;
(C) the Employee materially breaches a duty of loyalty owed to any member of the Company Group or, as a result of the Employee’s gross negligence, breaches a duty of care owed to any member of the Company Group; or
(D) the Employee materially breaches this Agreement or fails or refuses to perform any of the Employee’s material duties as required by this Agreement in any respect, after the Employee being given written notice by the Company of such breach, failure or refusal, and the Employee fails to cure the same within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of such notice.
(iii) Resignation with Good Reason shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events, without the express written consent of the Employee, unless such events are fully corrected in all material respects by the Company within twenty (20) business days (sixty (60) business days in the case of (E) below) following written notification by the Employee to the Company of the occurrence of one of the reasons set forth below:
(A) Material diminution in the Employee’s Base Salary, material duties, authorities or responsibilities (other than temporarily while physically or mentally incapacitated or as required by applicable law);
(B) Permanent relocation of the Employee’s primary work location by more than thirty (30) miles from the Dallas, Texas metropolitan area;
(C) The Company pursues, either by Board action or as announced to the public, a strategy of using a substantial portion of the Company’s assets to engage in a business that is substantially different from pharmaceutical or medical technology financing; or
(D) (1) the transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any unaffiliated third party; (2) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the adoption of a plan by the stockholders of the Company relating to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company; or (3) the acquisition by any unaffiliated third party of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of a majority of the voting power of the total outstanding capital stock of the Company; or,
(E) Material diminution of the Employee’s ability to earn bonus payment set forth in Section 3(b) and Exhibit A and with reference to the approved business plan with respect to a given fiscal year due to actions taken by the Board or the Board’s failure to act and not by the Employee’s lack of performance.
The Employee shall provide each member of the Board with a written notice detailing the specific circumstances alleged to constitute Good Reason within ten (10) days after the first occurrence of such circumstances, and actually terminate employment within thirty (30) days following the expiration of the Company’s twenty (20) or sixty (60) business day period described above. Otherwise, any claim of such circumstances as Good Reason shall be deemed irrevocably waived by the Employee.
(c) Termination Without Cause; Resignation with Good Reason. If, prior to the expiration of the Term, the Company terminates the Employee’s employment without Cause, or the Employee resigns with Good Reason, the Employee shall only be entitled to payment of the Employee’s earned but unpaid Base Salary through and including the date of termination and the Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits and, subject to Section 4(d), shall be entitled to receive the Severance Benefits. For purposes of this Agreement, “Severance Benefits” mean:
(i) Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the date the Employee’s employment is terminated), payable in substantially equal monthly installments over a period of six (6) months following the Company’s termination of the Employee’s employment without Cause or the Employee’s resignation with Good Reason (the “Severance Period”);
(ii) The Company shall reimburse the Employee, on a monthly basis, in arrears, for the premium cost of COBRA continuation coverage under the Company’s group medical insurance plan during the Severance Period (only to the extent of the employer portion of the premium cost for similarly situated active employees in the Company’s group medical insurance plan) until the earlier of (x) the date the Employee becomes eligible for group medical insurance coverage as the result of the Employee accepting another position with a new employer or (y) the termination of the Severance Period, whichever shall occur first; provided, that the Employee agrees to notify the Company by registered mail, return receipt requested, within five (5) business days of becoming eligible for group medical insurance coverage as the result of his accepting another position with a new employer. The Employee shall be solely responsible for the remainder of the premium cost of COBRA continuation coverage; and
(iii) Any bonus otherwise payable for the fiscal year during which the Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 4(c), prorated based upon the number of days elapsed from the beginning of that fiscal year relative to the number of days in the full fiscal year. Such bonus will be payable on the earlier of (1) March 31 following the end of the fiscal year upon which such bonus was calculated and (2) the date two weeks after the completion of the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year; provided, that in no event shall such bonus be paid earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the March 31 date described herein. Such bonus will be subject to downward adjustment if the asset value upon which the bonus was calculated is greater than the asset value reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year.
(d) Execution and Delivery of Release. In the event the Employee fails or refuses to execute and deliver to the Company, within twenty-one days following Employee’s Termination Date, a general waiver and release of claims in a form substantially similar to Exhibit C attached to this Agreement (the “Release”) or otherwise revokes the Release during the applicable revocation period, the Employee shall forfeit the Severance Benefits, and no Severance Benefits will be paid to the Employee.
(e) Notice of Termination. Any termination of employment by the Company or the Employee shall be communicated by a written “Notice of Termination” to the other Party given in accordance with Section 23 of this Agreement, except that the Company may waive in writing the requirement for such Notice of Termination by the Employee. In the event of the Employee’s resignation of employment for any reason other than Good Reason, the Notice of Termination shall specify the date of termination, which date shall not be less than sixty (60) days after the giving of such notice, unless the Company agrees in writing to waive any notice period by the Employee.
(f) Resignation of Officerships. The termination of the Employee’s employment for any reason shall constitute the Employee’s resignation from any officer, employee, directorship or fiduciary position the Employee has with the Company Group. The Employee agrees that this Agreement shall serve as written notice of resignation in this circumstance.
5. Confidentiality.
(a) Confidential Information. (i) For purposes of this Agreement, Company Group means the Company and any subsidiaries or Affiliates of the Company. Affiliates means any entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. The Employee agrees that during his employment with the Company and indefinitely after the Employee’s employment terminates for any reason, the Employee will not at any time, except with the prior written consent of the Company or as required by law, directly or indirectly, reveal to any person, entity or other organization (other than any member of the Company Group or its respective employees, officers, directors, shareholders or agents) or use for the Employee’s own benefit any information deemed to be confidential by any member of the Company Group relating to the assets, liabilities, employees, goodwill, business or affairs of any member of the Company Group, including, without limitation, any information concerning customers, business plans, marketing data, or other confidential information known to the Employee by reason of the Employee’s employment by, shareholdings in or other association with any member of the Company Group (“Confidential Information”); provided, that such Confidential Information does not include any information which (x) is available to the general public or is generally available within the relevant business or industry other than as a result of the Employee’s action, or (y) is or becomes available to the Employee after his employment terminates on a non-confidential basis from a third-party source provided that such third-party source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement or any other obligation of confidentiality. Confidential Information may be in any medium or form, including, without limitation, physical documents, computer files or disks, videotapes, audiotapes, and oral communications.
(ii) In the event that the Employee becomes legally compelled to disclose any Confidential Information, the Employee shall provide the Company with prompt written notice so that the Company may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, the Employee shall furnish only that portion of such Confidential Information or take only such action as is legally required by binding order and shall exercise his reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment shall be accorded any such Confidential Information. The Company shall promptly pay (upon receipt of invoices and any other documentation as may be requested by the Company) all reasonable expenses and fees incurred by the Employee, including attorneys’ fees, in connection with the Employee’s compliance with the immediately preceding sentence.
(iii) The Employee understands that the Company may receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality (the “Third Party Information”) and to use the Third Party Information only for certain limited purposes. The Employee shall hold any Third Party Information the Employee gains access to based on his employment with the Company in the strictest confidence and will disclose the Third Party Information only as needed to perform the Employee’s duties and then only to others who have a need to know.
(b) Exclusive Property. The Employee confirms that all Confidential Information is and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company Group. All business records, papers and documents kept or made by the Employee relating to the business of the Company Group shall be and remain the property of the Company Group. Upon the request and at the expense of the Company Group, the Employee shall promptly make all disclosures, execute all instruments and papers and perform all acts reasonably necessary to vest and confirm in the Company Group, fully and completely, all rights created or contemplated by this Section 5.
(c) Return of Confidential Information. At the request of the Company, the Employee shall immediately return to the Company any Confidential Information, whether received from the Company or contained in materials prepared or developed by the Employee in the course of the Employee’s employment. The Employee shall not retain any copies, summaries or notes of the Confidential Information, unless expressly approved in writing by the Board.
(d) Corporate Opportunities. Unless approved in advance by the Board, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, accept or pursue, for his own benefit, any business, commercial or investment opportunities or offers which relate to the Company’s business.
6. Restrictive Covenants Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Employee shall execute and deliver to the Company the Restrictive Covenants Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit D. During the Term of this Agreement, in the event of any conflict between the Employee’s obligations under Section 5 of this Agreement and the Restrictive Covenants Agreement, Section 5 of this Agreement shall control. The Employee understands that the Restrictive Covenants Agreement applies during and after both the Term of this Agreement and the Employee’s employment with the Company.
7. Injunctive Relief. Without intending to limit the remedies available to the Company or other members of the Company Group, the Employee agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in Sections 5 of this Agreement may result in material and irreparable injury to the Company or other members of the Company Group for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of such a breach or threat thereof, any member of the Company Group shall be entitled to seek a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction, or both, without bond or other security, restraining the Employee from engaging in activities prohibited by the covenants contained in Sections 5 of this Agreement or such other relief as may be required specifically to enforce any of the covenants contained in this Agreement. Such injunctive relief in any court shall be available to the Company or other member of the Company Group in aid of, in lieu of, prior to or pending determination in, any arbitration proceeding, without such action constituting a waiver of the agreement to arbitrate contained in Section 16 of this Agreement.
8. Section 409A.
(a) General. This Agreement is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and shall be interpreted and construed consistent with that intent. For purposes of this Agreement, “termination of employment” means a “Separation from Service” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).
(b) Deferred Compensation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the right to any payment (including the provision of benefits) hereunder provides for the “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code, the payment shall be paid (or provided) in accordance with the following:
(i) If the Employee is a “Specified Employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code on the date of the Employee’s “Separation from Service” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code, then no such payment shall be made or commence during the period beginning on the date of the Employee’s Separation from Service and ending on the date that is six months following the Employee’s Separation from Service or, if earlier, on the date of the Employee’s death. The amount of any payment that would otherwise be paid to the Employee during this period shall instead be paid to the Employee on the fifteenth day of the first calendar month following the end of the period (the “Delayed Payment Date”). If payment of an amount is delayed as a result of this Section 10(b)(i), such amount shall be increased with interest from the date on which such amount would otherwise have been paid to the Employee but for this Section 10(b)(i) to the day prior to the Delayed Payment Date. The rate of interest shall be compounded monthly, at the prime rate as published by Citibank NA for the month in which occurs the date of the Employee’s Separation from Service. Such interest shall be paid on the Delayed Payment Date.
(ii) Payments with respect to reimbursements of expenses shall be made in accordance with Company policy and in no event later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the relevant expense is incurred. All reimbursements or provision of in-kind benefits pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) such that the reimbursement or provision will be deemed payable at a specified time or on a fixed schedule relative to a permissible payment event. Specifically, the amount reimbursed or in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement during the Employee’s taxable year may not affect the amounts reimbursed or provided in any other taxable year (except that total reimbursements may be limited by a lifetime maximum under a group health plan), the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made on or before the last day of the Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred, and the right to reimbursement or provision of in-kind benefit is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(iii) Each payment under this Agreement is intended to be (i) excepted from Section 409A of the Code, including, but not limited to, by compliance with the short-term deferral exception as specified in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and the involuntary separation pay exception within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or (ii) in the event any Gross Up Payment is made pursuant to Section 3(b) herein, in compliance with Section 409A of the Code, including, but not limited to, being paid pursuant to a fixed schedule or specified date pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(1)(v), and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted, or construed).
9. Source of Payments. All payments provided under this Agreement, other than payments made pursuant to a plan which provides otherwise, shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company, and no special or separate fund shall be established, and no other segregation of assets shall be made, to assure payment. The Employee shall have no right, title or interest whatsoever in or to any investments which the Company may make to aid the Company in meeting its obligations hereunder. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.
10. Cooperation. Upon the receipt of reasonable notice from the Company (including outside counsel), the Employee agrees that while employed by the Company and thereafter for a period of eighteen (18) months, the Employee will respond and provide information with regard to matters in which the Employee has knowledge as a result of the Employee’s employment with the Company, and will provide reasonable assistance to the Company or any other member of the Company Group and their respective representatives in defense of any claims that may be made against the Company or other member of the Company Group, and will assist the Company or any other member of the Company Group in the prosecution of any claims that may be made by the Company or other members of the Company Group, to the extent that such claims may relate to the period of the Employee’s employment with the Company (collectively, the “Claims”). The Employee agrees to promptly inform the Company if the Employee becomes aware of any lawsuits involving Claims that may be filed or threatened against the Company or any other member of the Company Group. The Employee also agrees to promptly inform the Company (to the extent that the Employee is legally permitted to do so) if the Employee is asked to assist in any investigation of the Company or any other member of the Company Group (or their actions) or another party attempts to obtain information or documents from the Employee (other than in connection with any litigation or other proceeding in which the Employee is a party-in-opposition) with respect to matters the Employee believes in good faith to relate to any investigation of the Company or any other member of the Company Group, in each case, regardless of whether a lawsuit or other proceeding has then been filed against the Company or any other member of the Company Group with respect to such investigation, and shall not do so unless legally required. During the pendency of any litigation or other proceeding involving Claims, the Employee shall not communicate with anyone (other than the Employee’s attorneys and tax and/or financial advisors and except to the extent that the Employee determines in good faith is necessary in connection with the performance of the Employee’s duties hereunder) with respect to the facts or subject matter of any pending or potential litigation or regulatory or administrative proceeding involving the Company or any other member of the Company Group without giving prior written notice to the Company. The Company shall compensate the Employee at the rate of $100 per hour for all hours spent complying with this Section 10 during any calendar month following the termination of Employee’s employment in which Employee’s compliance with this Section 10 exceeds ten (10) hours. Upon presentation of appropriate documentation, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket travel, duplicating or telephonic expenses incurred by the Employee in complying with this Section 10.
11. Representations and Warranties. As a condition to, and in consideration of, the Employee’s employment with the Company, the Employee represents and warrants to the Company that the Employee:
(a) has the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and to perform all of the obligations on the Employee’s part to be performed hereunder in accordance with its terms;
(b) is not a party to any agreement or understanding, written or oral, and is not subject to any restriction, which, in either case, could prohibit the Employee from entering into this Agreement or performing all of the Employee’s duties and obligations hereunder; and
(c) has complied with any and all notice provisions of any agreement that the Employee has with his former employers;
(d) understands and acknowledges that the Company respects the confidential and proprietary information, and trade secrets of other entities and therefore, does not want, and will not willingly and unlawfully use, any confidential or proprietary information, and/or trade secrets that are the property of a third party; and
(e) does not possess any information that belonged to any former employer, without the permission of such former employer, regardless of whether such information was ever: (i) in his possession as a hard copy document; (ii) on a computer; (iii) on a blackberry, PDA or cell phone; or (iv) on an external hard drive, thumb drive, or any other piece of external media that permits the storage of electronic or hard copy information.
12. Statement of Direction. The Company hereby directs the Employee to:
(a) not disclose to the Company any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information of other entities, including any former employers, without the permission of such entity;
(b) neither bring on the premises of, nor provide to, the Company, copies of any documents, electronic media or tangible items that contain or refer to confidential, proprietary or trade secret information that is the property of any other party, including any former employers, without the permission of such entity; and
(c) not provide any information to the Company that belongs or belonged to any prior employer, regardless of the medium in which such information is contained, without the permission of such prior employer.
13. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement or otherwise in connection with the Employee’s employment by the Company that cannot be mutually resolved by the Parties to this Agreement and their respective advisors and representatives shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Dallas County, Texas, in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association before one arbitrator of exemplary qualifications and stature, who shall be selected jointly by an individual to be designated by the Company and an individual to be selected by the Employee, or if such two individuals cannot agree on the selection of the arbitrator, who shall be selected by the American Arbitration Association. The Parties also agree that the American Arbitration Association’s Optional Rules for Emergency Measures of Protection shall apply to all arbitrations conducted pursuant to this Agreement. The Employee understands and represents that the Employee is waiving the right to adjudicate claims, including employment-based claims, in a judicial forum and opting instead to arbitrate such claims. The arbitrator shall issue a written award containing findings of fact and conclusions of law. All substantive rights and remedies under any law shall be preserved. The Company shall reimburse the Employee for any filing fee the Employee paid and pay (i) any remaining filing fee balance, (ii) the arbitrator’s compensation and any chargeable expenses, (iii) the daily hearing fees and (iv) any fees associated with renting a hearing room. The award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding with respect to the subject matter of the arbitration and a judgment of any circuit court, or other court of competent jurisdiction, may be rendered upon the arbitration award.
14. Nonassignability; Binding Agreement
(a) By the Employee. This Agreement and any and all rights, duties, obligations or interests hereunder shall not be assignable or delegable by the Employee.
(b) By the Company. This Agreement and all of the Company’s rights and obligations hereunder shall not be assignable by the Company except as incident to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. If the Company shall be merged or consolidated with another entity, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the entity surviving such merger or resulting from such consolidation. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Employee, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken plan. The provisions of this Section 14 shall continue to apply to each subsequent employer of the Employee hereunder in the event of any subsequent merger, consolidation, transfer of assets of such subsequent employer or otherwise.
(c) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Parties hereto, any successors to or assigns of the Company and the Employee’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Employee’s estate.
15. Withholding. Any payments made or benefits provided to the Employee under this Agreement shall be reduced by any applicable withholding taxes or other amounts required to be withheld by law or contract.
16. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not be modified, amended or waived in any manner, except by an instrument in writing signed by the Parties. The waiver by either Party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement by the other Party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such Party of a provision of this Agreement.
17. Other Severance Benefits. In consideration for the payments to be made to the Employee under the Agreement, the Employee agrees to waive any and all rights to any payments or benefits under any other severance plan, program or arrangement of the Company Group, except where such waiver would result in an impermissible substitution of benefits under Section 409A or any guidance issued thereunder.
18. Governing Law and Choice of Forum. All matters affecting this Agreement, including the validity thereof, are to be subject to, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas. Any lawsuit brought pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement shall be brought only in either any state court located in Dallas County or the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
19. Survival of Certain Provisions. The rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement that, by their terms, extend beyond the Term shall survive the Term.
20. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and its exhibits contain the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties with respect to the matters covered herein, and supersede all prior or contemporaneous negotiations, commitments, representations, warranties, agreements and writings with respect to the subject matter hereof, all such other negotiations, commitments, agreements and writings shall have no further force or effect, and the parties to any such other negotiation, commitment, agreement or writing shall have no further rights or obligations thereunder.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by either of the Parties hereto in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A facsimile signature, whether by fax or other electronic form, shall be deemed an original and shall bind the signing Party.
22. Headings. The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
23. Notices. All notices or communications hereunder shall be in writing, addressed as follows:
To the Company:
SWK Holdings Corporation
15770 North Dallas Parkway; Suite 1290
Dallas, TX 75248
(972) 687-7250
Attention: Parth S. Munshi, Esq
Email: pmunshi@swkhold.com
To the Employee:
Winston L. Black III
5951 Beacon Hill Drive
Frisco, TX 75034
Email: wlblack3@yahoo.com
With a copy to:
Baker Botts L.L.P.
2001 Ross Avenue, Suite 600
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 953-6500
Attention: Jennifer M. Trulock
Email: jennifer.trulock@bakerbotts.com
Facsimile: (214) 661-4642
All such notices shall be conclusively deemed to be received and shall be effective (i) if sent by hand delivery, upon receipt or (ii) if sent by electronic mail or facsimile, upon receipt by the sender of confirmation of such transmission; provided, however, that any electronic mail or facsimile will be deemed received and effective only if followed, within 48 hours, by a hard copy sent by certified United States mail.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed pursuant to the authority of its Board, and the Employee has executed this Agreement, as of the date set forth above.
SWK Holdings Corporation | |||
By: | /s/ J. Brett Pope | ||
J. Brett Pope | |||
CEO | |||
/s/ Winston L. Black III | |||
Winston L. Black III |
EXHIBIT A
BONUS POOL DESCRIPTION
The Bonus Pool, calculated as described below, will represent the aggregate potential bonus award for the Company’s entire executive team. The allocation of the Bonus Pool among the executive team will be determined by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and will be subject to approval by the Board’s Compensation Committee.
Definitions
“Pre-Tax Profit” shall be the Company’s pre-tax profit in a particular fiscal year as determined in accordance with GAAP, but including paid state taxes, Board stock compensation and any mark-down of the Company’s investment portfolio and excluding deal related expenses, other income/loss from unrealized warrants, net operating loss GAAP accounting adjustments, capital raising related expenses realized by the Company in 2014 and non-cash adjustments for old warrant/option liability.
“Return on Equity” means Pre-Tax Profit (as defined above) for a particular fiscal year, divided by the Company’s tangible book value for such fiscal year.
Bonus Pool Formulas*
FY 2014 - The Bonus Pool will equal (i) 10.5% of the average Pre-Tax Profit for fiscal years 2013 and 2014, multiplied by (ii) one (1) plus 50% of the Return on Equity for fiscal year 2014.
FY 2015 and thereafter - The Bonus Pool will equal (i) 11% of the average Pre-Tax Profit for fiscal year of the bonus calculation and the immediately prior fiscal year , multiplied by (ii) one (1) plus 50% of the Return on Equity for fiscal year of the bonus calculation.
___________
* All Bonus Pool formulas are subject to review and equitable adjustment by the Board’s Compensation Committee to take into account unusual items.
SWK Holdings Corporation Announces Up to Approximately $115 Million Equity Financing
Dallas, TX, August 18, 2014 – SWK Holdings Corporation (SWKH.OB) (“SWK” or the “Company”), a life science focused specialty finance company, announced that on August 18, 2014 that it has entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and related documents with Carlson Capital, L.P. and affiliates (“Carlson”) whereby in a series of transactions funds affiliated with Carlson (the "Stockholder") will purchase new shares in the Company such that its ownership increases to 69.0%.
The issuance of shares will be staged as follows:
(i) | First, the Company conducted an initial share issuance of 55,908,000 shares to Carlson Capital at $1.37 per share. | |
(ii) | Then, as promptly as reasonably practicable, the Company will undertake a separate $12.5 million Rights Offering based on a price of $0.86 per share. Existing stockholders, including Carlson based on its 28.9% pro rata basic participation rights, may elect to participate on a pro rata basis. | |
(iii) | Lastly, a subsequent share issuance at $1.37 per share of a to-be-determined number of shares will occur such that Carlson will have a voting 69.0% ownership interest in the Company. |
With the Purchase Agreement and the Rights Offering, the Company expects to raise at least approximately $89.1 million and up to approximately $115 million in equity proceeds, based on non-Carlson stockholder participation in the Rights Offering of zero and 100%, respectively.
“We are extremely pleased to announce this financing and Carlson's continued support of the Company,” said Brett Pope, Chief Executive Officer of SWK. "We set out two years ago to establish SWK as a leading specialty finance company, providing capital to a broad range of life science companies, institutions and inventors. With the proceeds from this transaction, SWK is now well positioned to aggressively pursue this compelling market opportunity in order to generate significant cash flow and compound book value."
In connection with the transaction, William Clifford, Michael Margolis and John Nemelka resigned from the Company's Board of Directors. Pursuant to the Company’s Bylaws, the Board of Directors appointed Chris Haga, Blair Baker and Ed Stead to fill the vacancies created.
Michael Weinberg, Chairman, said "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the departing directors for their contribution and service to the Company and wish them well in their future endeavors. We welcome Chris Haga, Blair Baker and Ed Stead to the Board and look forward to leveraging their collective expertise as we prepare SWK for its next leg of growth."
In connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Stockholder entered into a Stockholder’s Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2014 (the “Stockholder’s Agreement”). The key terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement and all other related transaction documents will be included in the Company’s Form 8-K that will be filed on August 19, 2014. Brett Pope and Winston Black also entered into new employment agreements with the Company, extending their employment in their current capacities as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, respectively, through December 31, 2018.
Please refer the Company's website at www.swkhold.com for biographical information on the newly appointed members of the Board of Directors.
Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. acted as financial advisor to the Special Committee of the Company's Board of Directors; Goodwin Procter LLP acted as legal counsel to the Special Committee. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher acted as legal counsel to Carlson. Holland & Knight acted as legal counsel to SWK.
About SWK Holdings Corporation
SWK Holdings Corporation is a specialized finance company with a focus on the global healthcare sector. SWK partners with ethical product marketers and royalty holders to provide flexible financing solutions at an attractive cost of capital to create long-term value for both SWK’s business partners and its investors. SWK believes its financing structures achieve an optimal partnership for companies, institutions and inventors seeking capital for expansion or capital and estate planning by allowing its partners to monetize future cash flow with minimal dilution to their equity stakes. Additional information on the life science finance market is available on the Company’s website at www.swkhold.com.
About Carlson Capital, L.P.
Carlson Capital, L.P. is an alternative asset management firm. Founded in 1993 by Clint Carlson, the firm currently manages over eight billion dollars across multiple hedge funds.
Statements in this release that are not strictly historical and any statements regarding events or developments that we believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in our SEC filings, including our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K. These forward looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise
Representations made on behalf of or about SWK or its personnel are attributable solely to SWK and are not representations or guarantees by Carlson Capital, LP.
CONTACT: SWK Investor Relations at (972) 687-7250 or investor.relations@swkhold.com.
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