Exhibit 2.1
FORM OF
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
between
ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
and
ECHOSTAR HOLDING CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS
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2
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ARTICLE II
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BUSINESS SEPARATION
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14
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Section 2.1
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Separation
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14
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Section 2.2
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Implementation
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14
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Section 2.3
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Transfer of Separated Assets; Assumption of Assumed Liabilities
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15
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Section 2.4
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Separated Assets
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15
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Section 2.5
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Liabilities
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17
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Section 2.6
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Excluded Assumed Liabilities
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18
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Section 2.7
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Deferred Separation Transactions
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18
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Section 2.8
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Termination of Agreements
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19
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Section 2.9
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Consents and Governmental Approvals
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20
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Section 2.10
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Novation of the Assumed Liabilities
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20
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Section 2.11
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Documents Relating to Transfer of
Real Property Interests and Tangible Property Located Thereon
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21
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Section 2.12
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Documents Relating to Transfers of
the Separated Assets and Assumption of the Assumed Liabilities
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22
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Section 2.13
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Release of Security Interest
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23
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Section 2.14
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No Representation or Warranty
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23
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Section 2.15
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Use of Cash
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23
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Section 2.16
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Plan of Reorganization
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24
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ARTICLE III
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THE DISTRIBUTION AND ACTIONS PENDING THE DISTRIBUTION
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24
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Section 3.1
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Transactions Prior to the Distribution
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24
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Section 3.2
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Conditions Precedent to Consummation of the Distribution
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25
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Section 3.3
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Documents to be Delivered by ECC
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26
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Section 3.4
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Documents to be Delivered by the Company
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27
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Section 3.5
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Distribution
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27
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ARTICLE IV
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ADDITIONAL COVENANTS, FURTHER ASSURANCES AND OTHER MATTERS
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29
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Section 4.1
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Provision of Corporate Records
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29
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Section 4.2
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Further Assurance
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30
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Section 4.3
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Agreement For Exchange Of Information
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31
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Section 4.4
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Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation
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32
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Section 4.5
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Confidentiality
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33
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Section 4.6
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Privileged Matters
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34
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Section 4.7
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Tax Sharing Agreement
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36
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ARTICLE V
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SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION
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36
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Section 5.1
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Mutual Release
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36
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(i)
Table of Contents
(cont)
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Page
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Section 5.2
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Indemnification by ECC
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38
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Section 5.3
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Indemnification by the Company
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39
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Section 5.4
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Tax Indemnification
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39
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Section 5.5
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Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts
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39
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Section 5.6
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Procedures for Indemnification of Third Party Claims
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40
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Section 5.7
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Procedures for Indemnification of Direct Claims
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42
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Section 5.8
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Payments
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42
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Section 5.9
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Contribution
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43
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Section 5.10
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Remedies Cumulative
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43
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Section 5.11
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Survival of Indemnities
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43
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ARTICLE VI
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CONTINGENT GAINS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
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43
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Section 6.1
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Contingent Gains
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43
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Section 6.2
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Exclusive Contingent Liabilities
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44
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Section 6.3
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Shared Contingent Liabilities
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44
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Section 6.4
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Payments
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45
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Section 6.5
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Procedures to Determine Status of Contingent Liability or Contingent Gain
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45
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Section 6.6
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Certain Case Allocation Matters
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46
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ARTICLE VII
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INSURANCE
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46
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Section 7.1
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Insurance Matters
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46
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ARTICLE VIII
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DISPUTE RESOLUTION
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47
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Section 8.1
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Agreement to Resolve Disputes
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47
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Section 8.2
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Dispute Resolution; Mediation
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48
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Section 8.3
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Arbitration
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49
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Section 8.4
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Continuity of Service and Performance
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49
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ARTICLE IX
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MISCELLANEOUS
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50
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Section 9.1
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Limitation of Liability
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50
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Section 9.2
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Counterparts
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50
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Section 9.3
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Entire Agreement
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50
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Section 9.4
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Construction
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50
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Section 9.5
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Signatures
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51
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Section 9.6
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Assignability
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51
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Section 9.7
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Third Party Beneficiaries
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51
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Section 9.8
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Payment Terms
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52
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Section 9.9
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Governing Law
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52
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Section 9.10
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Notices
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53
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Section 9.11
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Severability
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53
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Section 9.12
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Nonrecurring Costs and Expenses
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54
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Section 9.13
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Publicity
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54
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(ii)
Table of Contents
(cont)
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Page
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Section 9.14
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Survival of Covenants
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54
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Section 9.15
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Waiver of Default; Conflicts
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54
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Section 9.16
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Amendments
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54
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Section 9.17
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Controlling Documents
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55
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Section 9.18
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Specific Performance
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55
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Annex A
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Company Group Balance Sheet
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SCHEDULES
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Schedule 1.1
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Company Contracts
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Schedule 1.2
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Exclusive ECC Contingent Gain
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Schedule 1.3
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Exclusive ECC Contingent Liability
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Schedule 1.4
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Exclusive Company Contingent Gain
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Schedule 1.5
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Exclusive Company Contingent Liability
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Schedule 1.6
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Separation Transactions
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Schedule 1.7
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Shared Contingent Gain
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Schedule 1.8
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Shared Contingent Liability
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Schedule 2.4(a)
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Outstanding Capital Stock, Units or Other Equity Interests of the Entities
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Schedule 2.4(b)(i)
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Excluded Assets
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Schedule 2.5(b)(ii)
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Excluded Assumed Liabilities
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Schedule 2.11(b)
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Transfer of Tangible Property
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Schedule 3.2(j)
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Consents and Approvals
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Schedule 3.3(b)
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Director and Officer Resignations-ECC Group
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Schedule 3.4(b)
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Director and Officer Resignations-Company
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Schedule 5.1
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Mutual Release
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Schedule 6.5
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Contingent Liability; Contingent Gain
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EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A
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Broadcast Agreement
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Exhibit B
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Employee Matters Agreement
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Exhibit C
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Installation Services Agreement
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Exhibit D
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Intellectual Property Matters Agreement
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Exhibit E-1
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Inverness Lease Agreement
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Exhibit E-2
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Meridian Lease Agreement
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Exhibit E-3
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Santa Fe Lease Agreement
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Exhibit F
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Management Services Agreement
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Exhibit G
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Packout Services Agreement
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Exhibit H
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Product Support Agreement
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Exhibit I
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Receiver Agreement
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Exhibit J
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Remanufactured Receiver Agreement
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Exhibit K-1
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Satellite Transponder Service Agreement (Echo III)
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Exhibit K-2
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Satellite Transponder Service Agreement (Echo VI)
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Exhibit K-3
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Satellite Transponder Service Agreement (Echo VIII)
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Exhibit K-4
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Satellite Transponder Service Agreement (Echo XII)
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(iii)
Table of Contents
(cont)
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Exhibit L
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Satellite Procurement Agreement
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Exhibit M
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Services Agreement
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Exhibit N
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Tax Sharing Agreement
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Exhibit O
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Telemetry Tracking and Control Agreement
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Exhibit P
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Transition Services Agreement
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(iv)
FORM OF
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This
Separation Agreement (this
Agreement
) is entered
into as of
, 2007, by
and between EchoStar Communications Corporation, a Nevada corporation (
ECC
), and EchoStar
Holding Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the
Company
).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of ECC (the
ECC Board
) has determined it is
appropriate and desirable to separate ECC and the Company into two publicly-traded companies by
separating from ECC and transferring to the Company ECCs non-Consumer Business (as defined below),
and related assets and liabilities, in a series of transactions on the terms and conditions set
forth herein.
WHEREAS, the ECC Board has determined that it would be advisable and in the best interests of
ECC and its stockholders for ECC to distribute, on a pro rata basis, (i) to the holders as of the
Record Date (as defined below) of the issued and outstanding shares of ECCs Class A common stock,
par value $0.01 per share (the
ECC Class A Common Stock
), all of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Companys Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the
Company Class A Common Stock
), owned by ECC as of the Distribution Date (as defined
below) and (ii) to the holders as of the Record Date of the issued and outstanding shares of ECCs
Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the
ECC Class B Common Stock
, together
with the ECC Class A Common Stock, the
ECC Common Stock
), all of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Companys Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the
Company Class B Common Stock
, together with the Company Class A Common Stock, the
Company Common Stock
), owned by ECC as of the Distribution Date, in each case, as further
described herein (collectively, the
Distribution
);
WHEREAS, ECC and the Company intend that the Separation (as defined below) and the
Distribution will qualify for United States federal income tax purposes as transactions that are
generally tax free under, among other provisions, Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code
) and hereby adopt this Agreement as a
plan of reorganization
; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend in this Agreement to set forth the principal arrangements
between them regarding the Separation and the Distribution and certain other agreements that will
govern the relationship of ECC and the Company following the Distribution.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree, intending
to be legally bound, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
AAA
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.3(a)
of this Agreement.
Action
means any demand, action, suit, counter suit, arbitration, inquiry,
proceeding or investigation by or before any federal, state, local, foreign or international
Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.
Affiliate
of any Person means any other Person that, directly or indirectly,
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such first Person as of the date on
which or at any time during the period for when such determination is being made. For purposes of
this definition,
Control
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract or otherwise, and the terms
Controlling
and
Controlled
have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Agent
means the distribution agent to be appointed by ECC to distribute to the
stockholders of ECC pursuant to the Distribution all of the shares of the Company Common Stock.
Agreement
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
Ancillary Agreements
means the (i) Broadcast Agreement, (ii) Employee Matters
Agreement, (iii) Installation Services Agreement, (iv) Intellectual Property Matters Agreement, (v)
Lease Agreements, (vi) Management Services Agreement, (vii) Packout Services Agreement, (viii)
Product Support Services Agreement, (ix) Receiver Agreement, (x) Remanufactured Receiver Agreement,
(xi) Satellite Transponder Service Agreements, (xii) Satellite Procurement Agreement, (xiii)
Services Agreement, (xiv) Tax Sharing Agreement, (xv) Telemetry Tracking and Control Agreement, and
(xvi) Transition Services Agreement, and, in the singular, means any one of them.
Applicable Law
means any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation of any
Governmental Authority or any outstanding order, judgment, injunction, ruling or decree by any
Governmental Authority.
Appurtenances
means, in respect of any Land, all privileges, rights, easements,
servitudes, hereditaments and appurtenances and similar interests belonging to or for the benefit
of such Land, including all easements and servitudes appurtenant to and for the benefit of such
Land (a
Dominant Parcel
) for, and as the primary means of, access between, the Dominant
Parcel and a public way, or for any other use upon which lawful use of the Dominant Parcel for the
purposes for which it is presently being used is dependent, and all rights existing in and to any
streets, alleys, passages and other rights-of-way included therein or adjacent thereto.
-2-
Assets
means assets, properties and rights (including goodwill), wherever located
(including in the possession of vendors or other third parties or elsewhere), whether real,
personal or mixed, tangible, intangible or contingent, in each case whether or not recorded or
reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial statements
of any Person, including the following:
(i) all accounting and other books, records and files whether in paper, microfilm, microfiche,
computer tape or disc, magnetic tape or any other form;
(ii) all computers and other electronic data processing equipment, fixtures, machinery,
equipment, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles and other transportation equipment, special
and general tools, prototypes and models and other tangible personal property, wherever located
that are owned or leased by the Person, together with any express or implied warranty by the
manufacturers, sellers or lessors of any item or component part thereof;
(iii) all inventories, wherever located, including all finished goods, (whether or not held at
any location or facility or in transit), work in process, raw materials, spare parts and all other
materials and supplies to be used or consumed in the production of finished goods;
(iv) all interests in any Land and Improvements and all Appurtenances thereto;
(v) all interests in any capital stock or other equity interests of any Subsidiary or any
other Person; all bonds, notes, debentures or other securities issued by any Subsidiary or any
other Person; all loans, advances or other extensions of credit or capital contributions to any
Subsidiary or any other Person; and all other investments in securities of any Person;
(vi) all license agreements, leases of personal property, including satellites, open purchase
orders for raw materials, supplies, parts or services, unfilled orders for the manufacture and sale
of products and other contracts, agreements or commitments;
(vii) all deposits and prepaid expenses, letters of credit and performance and surety bonds,
claims for refunds and rights of set-off in respect thereof;
(viii) all written technical information, data, specifications, research and development
information, engineering drawings, operating and maintenance manuals, and materials and analyses
whether prepared by Affiliates, by consultants or other third parties;
(ix) all Intellectual Property and licenses from third Persons granting the right to use any
Intellectual Property;
(x) all computer applications, programs and other software, including operating software,
network software, firmware, middleware, design software, design tools, systems documentation and
instructions;
(xi) all cost information, sales and pricing data, customer prospect lists, supplier records,
customer and supplier lists, customer and vendor data, correspondence and lists, product
literature, artwork, design, development and manufacturing files, vendor and customer drawings,
-3-
formulations and specifications, quality records and reports and other books, records,
studies, surveys, reports, plans and documents;
(xii) all trade accounts and notes receivable and other rights to payment from customers and
all security for such accounts or rights to payment, including all trade accounts receivable
representing amounts receivable in respect of goods shipped or products sold or otherwise disposed
of or services rendered to customers, (b) all other accounts and notes receivable and all security
for such accounts or notes, and (c) any claim, remedy or other right relating to any of the
foregoing;
(xiii) all rights under contracts or agreements, all claims or rights against any Person
arising from the ownership of any Asset, all rights in connection with any bids or offers and all
claims, choses in action or similar rights, whether accrued or contingent;
(xiv) all rights under insurance policies and all rights in the nature of insurance,
indemnification or contribution, including Insurance Proceeds;
(xv) all licenses (including radio and similar licenses), permits, approvals and
authorizations which have been issued by any Governmental Authority, including the FCC; and
(xvi) cash or cash equivalents, bank accounts, lock boxes and other deposit arrangements.
Assumed Liabilities
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.5(a)
of
this Agreement.
Class A Distribution Ratio
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section
3.5(c)(ii)
of this Agreement.
Class B Distribution Ratio
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section
3.5(c)(ii)
of this Agreement.
Code
shall have the meaning set forth in the recital of this Agreement.
Commission
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Company
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
Company
Business
means the Receiver Business, the fixed satellite transmission services
business, the satellite leasing business and the international businesses operated by the Company
Group.
Company Class A Common Stock
shall have the meaning set forth in the recital of this
Agreement.
Company Class B Common Stock
shall have the meaning set forth in the recital of this
Agreement.
-4-
Company Common Stock
shall have the meaning set forth in the recital of this
Agreement.
Company Contracts
means the following Contracts to which ECC or any member of the
ECC Group is a party or by which it or any of its Assets is bound, whether or not in writing,
except for any such Contract that is explicitly retained by ECC or any member of the ECC Group
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement: (i) any Contract entered
into in the name of, or expressly on behalf of, the Company Business; (ii) any Contract that
relates substantially or exclusively to the Company Business; (iii) any Contract that is otherwise
expressly contemplated pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to be assigned
to the Company or any member of the Company Group; (iv) any guarantee, indemnity, representation,
warranty or other Liability of any member of the ECC Group or the Company Group in respect of any
Company Contract, any Assumed Liability or the Company Business (including guarantees of financing
incurred by customers or other third parties in connection with purchases of products or services
from the Company Business); and (v) any other Contract identified on
Schedule 1.1
.
Company Group
means the Company, each Subsidiary of the Company and each other
Person that is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company immediately after the Distribution.
Company
Group Balance Sheet
means (i) the audited combined balance sheet of the
Company Group for the year ended December 31, 2006,
(ii) the unaudited combined balance sheet of the Company Group
for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and (iii) the
unaudited pro forma combined and adjusted balance sheet of the
Company Group for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, in
each case, including the notes thereto, substantially in the form attached
as
Annex A
.
Company
Indemnified Parties
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2
of this Agreement.
Company Information
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.6(a)
of
this Agreement.
Confidential Information
shall mean all proprietary, design or operational
information, data or material including, without limitation, (a) specifications, ideas and concepts
for products and services, (b) manufacturing specifications and procedures, (c) design drawings and
models, (d) materials and material specifications, (e) quality assurance policies, procedures and
specifications, (f) customer information, (g) computer software and derivatives thereof relating to
design development or manufacture of products, (h) training materials and information, (i) all
other know-how, methodology, procedures, techniques and trade secrets related to design,
development and manufacturing, (j) proprietary earnings reports and forecasts, (k) proprietary
macro-economic reports and forecasts, (l) proprietary business plans, (m) proprietary general
market evaluations and surveys and (o) proprietary financing and credit-related information of one
party hereto which, prior to or following the Distribution Date, has been disclosed by ECC or
members of its Group on the one hand, or the Company or members of its Group, on the other hand, in
written, oral (including by recording), electronic, or visual form to, or otherwise has come into
the possession of, the other Group, including pursuant to the access provisions of
Section
4.3
hereof or any other provision of this Agreement (except to the extent that such Information
can be shown to have been (x) in the public domain through no fault of such party
-5-
(or such partys Group) or (y) later lawfully acquired from other sources by the party (or
such partys Group) to which it was furnished;
provided
,
however
, in the case of
(y) that such sources did not provide such Information in breach of any confidentiality
obligations.
Consents
means any consents, waivers or approvals, or notification requirements.
Consumer Business
means the United States subscriber television services business,
which consists of numerous video, audio and data channels, interactive television channels, digital
video recording, high definition television, international programming, professional installation
and 24 hour customer service called DISH and known as the DISH Network.
Contingent Claim Committee
shall mean a committee composed of one representative
designated from time to time by each of ECC and the Company that shall be established in accordance
with
Section 6.5
.
Contingent Gain
means any claim or right of a member of the ECC Group or the Company
Group, whenever arising, against any Person (other than a member of the ECC Group or the Company
Group);
provided
, that (i) such claim or right has accrued as of the Distribution Date, and
(ii) the existence or scope of the claim or right against such other Person was not acknowledged,
fixed or determined in any material respect as of the Distribution Date as a result of a dispute
or other uncertainty due to the failure of such claim or right to have been discovered or asserted
as of the Distribution Date. For purposes of the foregoing, a claim or right shall be deemed to
have accrued as of the Distribution Date if all the elements of the claim necessary for its
assertion shall have occurred on or prior to the Distribution Date such that the claim or right,
where it is asserted in an Action on or prior to the Distribution Date would not be dismissed by a
court on ripeness or similar grounds, regardless of whether there was any Action pending,
threatened or contemplated as of the Distribution Date with respect thereto.
Contingent Liability
means any Liability of a member of the ECC Group or the Company
Group, whenever arising, against any Person (other than a member of the ECC Group or the Company
Group);
provided
, that (i) such Liability has accrued as of the Distribution Date and (ii)
the existence or scope of such Liability was not acknowledged, fixed or determined in any material
respect as of the Distribution Date as a result of a dispute or other uncertainty due to the
failure of such Liability to have been discovered or asserted as of the Distribution Date. For
purposes of the foregoing, a Liability shall be deemed to have accrued as of the Distribution Date
if all the elements necessary for the assertion of a claim with respect to such Liability shall
have occurred on or prior to the Distribution Date such that the claim, where it is asserted in an
Action on or prior to the Distribution Date would not be dismissed by a court on ripeness or
similar grounds.
Contract
means any contract, agreement, lease, purchase and/or commitment, license,
consensual obligation, promise or undertaking (whether written or oral and whether express or
implied) that is legally binding on any Person or any part of its property under Applicable Law,
including all claims or rights against any Person, choses in action and similar rights, whether
accrued or contingent with respect to any such contract, agreement, lease, purchase and/or
commitment, license, consensual obligation, promise or undertaking, but excluding this
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Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement save as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement
or in any Ancillary Agreement.
Contributions
means the Contribution, the First Contribution and the Second
Contribution.
Determination Request
means a written request made to the Contingent Claim
Committee, pursuant to
Section 6.5(b)
, for a determination as to whether a Third Party
Claim specified in such request constitutes a Shared Contingent Liability.
Distribution
shall have the meaning set forth in the recital of this Agreement.
Distributions
means the Distribution, the First Internal Distribution and the Second
Internal Distribution.
Distribution Date
means the date determined by the ECC Board as the date on which
the Distribution shall be effected.
Dispute
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.2(a)
of this
Agreement.
Dispute Notice
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.2(a)
of this
Agreement.
ECC
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
ECC Board
shall have the meaning set forth in the recital of this Agreement.
ECC Class A Common Stock
shall have the meaning set forth in the recital of this
Agreement.
ECC Class B Common Stock
shall have the meaning set forth in the recital of this
Agreement.
ECC Common Stock
shall have the meaning set forth in the recital of this Agreement.
ECC
Group
means ECC and each Subsidiary of ECC and each other Person that is
controlled directly or indirectly by ECC immediately after the Distribution (other than any member
of the Company Group).
ECC
Indemnified Parties
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.3
of
this Agreement.
Effective Time
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.5(b)
of this
Agreement.
Employee Matters Agreement
means the Employee Matters Agreement substantially in the
form attached hereto as
Exhibit A
. From and after the Distribution Date, the Employee
Matters Agreement shall refer to the agreement executed and delivered pursuant to such section, as
amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.
-7-
Encumbrance
means, with respect to any Asset, mortgages, liens, hypothecations,
pledges, chares, security interests or encumbrances of any kind in respect of such Asset, whether
or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under Applicable Law.
Environmental Law
means any federal, state, local, foreign or international statute,
ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, common law
(including tort and environmental nuisance law), legal doctrine, order, judgment, decree,
injunction, requirement or agreement with any Governmental Authority, now or hereafter in effect
relating to health, safety, pollution or the environment (including ambient air, surface water,
groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened
releases of any substance currently or at any time hereafter listed, defined designated or
classified as hazardous, toxic, waste, radioactive or dangerous, or otherwise regulated, under any
of the foregoing, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of any such substances, including the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and comparable provisions in
state, local, foreign or international law.
Environmental Liabilities
means all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or
resulting from any Environmental Law or Contract relating to environmental, health or safety
matters (including all removal, remediation or cleanup costs, investigatory costs, governmental
response costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injury damages, costs of
compliance with any product take back requirements or with any settlement, judgment or other
determination of Liability and indemnity, contribution or similar obligations) and all costs and
expenses, interest, fines, penalties or other monetary sanctions in connection therewith.
Exchange Act
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Excluded Assets
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.4(b)
of this
Agreement.
Excluded Assumed Liabilities
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section
2.5(b)
of this Agreement.
Exclusive ECC Contingent Gain
means any Contingent Gain if such Contingent Gain
relates exclusively to the Consumer Business, including the matters listed or described on
Schedule 1.2
hereto, or if such Contingent Gain is expressly assigned to any member of the
ECC Group pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
Exclusive ECC Contingent Liability
means any Contingent Liability if such Contingent
Liability relates exclusively to the Consumer Business, including the matters listed or described
on
Schedule 1.3
hereto, or if such Contingent Liability is expressly assigned to any
member of the ECC Group pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
Exclusive Company Contingent Gain
means any Contingent Gain if such Contingent Gain
relates exclusively to the Company Business, including the matters listed or described on
Schedule 1.4
hereto, or if such Contingent Gain is expressly assigned to any member of the
Company Group pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
-8-
Exclusive Company Contingent Liability
means any Contingent Liability if such
Contingent Liability relates exclusively to the Company Business, including the matters listed or
described on
Schedule 1.5
hereto, or if such Contingent Liability is expressly assigned to
any member of the Company Group pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
FCC
means the Federal Communications Commission.
GAAP
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.4(a)(v)
of this
Agreement.
Governmental Approvals
means any notices, reports or other filings to be made, or
any Consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations to be obtained from, any
Governmental Authority.
Governmental Authority
shall mean any federal, state, local, foreign or
international court, government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, official or other
regulatory, administrative or governmental authority.
Group
means the ECC Group or the Company Group, as the context requires.
Improvements
means, in respect of any Land, all buildings, structures, plants,
fixtures and improvements located on such Land, including those under construction.
Indemnified
Party
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.5(a)
of this
Agreement.
Indemnifying
Party
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.5(a)
of
this Agreement.
Indemnity
Payment
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.5(a)
of this
Agreement.
Information
means information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, in
written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium, including
studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts,
know-how, techniques, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes,
samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes, computer programs or other
software, marketing plans, customer names, communications by or to attorneys (including
attorney-client privileged communications), memos and other materials prepared by attorneys or
under their direction (including attorney work product), and other technical, financial, employee
or business information or data, but in any case excluding back-up tapes.
Information Statement
means the information statement forming a part of the Form 10
Registration Statement.
Installation Services Agreement
means the Installation Services Agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B
. From and after the Distribution
Date, the Installation Services Agreement shall refer to the agreement executed and delivered
substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B
, as amended and/or modified from
time to time in accordance with its terms.
-9-
Insurance Proceeds
means those monies (in each case net of any costs or expenses
incurred in the collection thereof and net of any applicable premium adjustments (including
reserves and retrospectively rated premium adjustments)): (a) received by an insured from an
insurance carrier; or (b) paid by an insurance carrier on behalf of the insured.
Intellectual Property
means all domestic and foreign patents and patent
applications, together with any continuations, continuations-in-part or divisional applications
thereof, and all patents issuing thereon (including reissues, renewals and re-examinations of the
foregoing); design patents, invention disclosures; mask works; copyrights, and copyright
applications and registrations; Web addresses, all domestic and foreign trademarks, service marks,
trade names, and trade dress, in each case together with any applications and registrations
therefor and all appurtenant goodwill relating thereto; trade secrets, commercial and technical
information, know-how, proprietary or confidential information, including engineering, production
and other designs, notebooks, processes, drawings, specifications, formulae, and technology;
computer and electronic data processing programs and software (object and source code), data bases
and documentation thereof; inventions (whether patented or not); utility models; registered
designs, certificates of invention and all other intellectual property under the laws of any
country throughout the world.
Intellectual Property Matters Agreement
means the Intellectual Property Matters
Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C
. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement shall refer to the agreement
executed and delivered substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C
, as amended
and/or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.
IRS
means the Internal Revenue Service.
Land
means, in respect of any Person, all parcels and tracts of land in which the
Person has an ownership interest.
Lease Agreements
means the Inverness Lease Agreement, the Meridian Lease Agreement
and the Santa Fe Lease Agreement, each substantially in the forms attached hereto as
Exhibit
D-1,
Exhibit D-2
and
Exhibit D-3
, respectively. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Lease Agreements shall refer to the agreements executed and delivered
substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit D-1
,
Exhibit D-2
and
Exhibit D-3
, respectively, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance with
its terms.
Liability
means, with respect to any Person, any and all losses, claims, charges,
debts, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, damages, obligations, payments, costs and
expenses, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, specialties, indemnities and similar
obligations, exoneration covenants, Contracts, controversies, doings, omissions, variances,
guarantees, make whole agreements and similar obligations, and other liabilities and requirements,
including all contractual obligations, whether absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured,
liquidated or unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, joint or several, whenever
arising, and including those arising under any Applicable Law, Action, threatened or contemplated
Action (including the costs and expenses of demands, assessments, judgments, settlements and
compromises relating thereto and attorneys fees and any and all costs and expenses, whatsoever
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reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any such Actions or
threatened or contemplated Actions) or order of any Governmental Authority or any award of any
arbitrator or mediator of any kind, and those arising under any Contract, in each case, whether or
not recorded or reflected or otherwise disclosed or required to be recorded or reflected or
otherwise disclosed, on the books and records or financial statements of any Person, including any
Liability for Taxes.
Management Services Agreement
means the Management Services Agreement substantially
in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit E
. From and after the Distribution Date, the
Management Agreement shall refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in the form
attached hereto as
Exhibit E
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance
with its terms.
NASDAQ
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1(e)
of this Agreement.
Packout Services Agreement
means the Packout Services Agreement substantially in the
form attached hereto as
Exhibit F
. From and after the Distribution Date, the Packout
Services Agreement shall refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in the form
attached hereto as
Exhibit F
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance
with its terms.
Person
means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability
company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated
organization or a Governmental Authority.
Prime Rate
means the rate which Bank of America (or any successor thereto or other
major money center commercial bank agreed to by the Parties hereto) announces from time to time as
its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time.
Private Letter Ruling
means the private letter ruling from the IRS, in which the IRS
rules that, among other things: (i) no gain or loss will be recognized by, and no amount will be
included in the income of, (A) ECC or the Company upon the contribution of certain assets by ECC to
the Company (the
Contribution
) and (B) ECC or stockholders of ECC upon the distribution
of the all of the Company Common Stock held by ECC to the stockholders of ECC in the Distribution;
(ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by, and no amount will be included in the income of, (A)
EchoStar Orbital Corporation (
Orbital
) or the Company upon the contribution of certain
assets by Orbital to the Company (the
Second Contribution
) and (B) Orbital or ECC upon
the distribution of the all of the Company Common Stock held by Orbital to ECC (the
Second
Internal Distribution
); and (iii) no gain or loss will be recognized by, and
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no amount will be included in the income of, (A) EchoStar DBS Corporation (
EDBS
) or
EchoStar Technologies Corporation (
ETC
) upon the contribution of certain assets by EDBS
to ETC (the
First Contribution
) and (B) EDBS or Orbital upon the distribution of the all
of the common stock of ETC held by EDBS to Orbital (the
First Internal Distribution
).
Privileged Information
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.6(a)
of
this Agreement.
Privileges
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.6(a)
of this
Agreement.
Product Support Agreement
means the Product Support Agreement substantially in the
form attached hereto as
Exhibit G
. From and after the Distribution Date, the Product
Support Agreement shall refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in the form
attached hereto as
Exhibit G
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance
with its terms.
Record Date
means the close of business on the date to be determined by ECCs Board
in its sole and absolute discretion as the record date for determining the stockholders of ECC
entitled to receive shares of the Company Common Stock in the Distribution.
Record Holders
mean the holders of record of ECC Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Record Date.
Receiver Agreement
means the Receiver Agreement substantially in the form attached
hereto as
Exhibit H
. From and after the Distribution Date, the Receiver Agreement shall
refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit H
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.
Receiver Business
means the business engaged in the design, development and
distribution of direct broadcast satellite receivers, antennae and other digital equipment for the
direct to home satellite television industry.
Registration Statement
means the registration statement on Form 10 (including any
and all exhibits filed thereto) to be filed under the Exchange Act, pursuant to which the shares of
Company Common Stock to be issued in the Company Distribution will be registered, together with all
amendments thereto.
Response
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.2(a)
of this
Agreement.
Satellite Capacity Agreement
means the Satellite Capacity Agreement substantially in
the form attached hereto as
Exhibit I
. From and after the Distribution Date, the Satellite
Capacity Agreement shall refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in the form
attached hereto as
Exhibit I
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance
with its terms.
Security Interest
means any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge,
claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-way, covenant, condition,
easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer, or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.
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Senior Party Representative
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section
8.2(a)
of this Agreement.
Separated Assets
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.4(a)
of this
Agreement.
Separation
means the multi-step process described in
Article II
, including
the Separation Transactions, by which the Company Business shall be transferred, directly or
indirectly, from ECC and members of the ECC Group to the Company and members of the Company Group.
Separation Transactions
means the transactions described on
Schedule 1.6
of
this Agreement and, in the singular, means any one of them.
Services Agreement
means the Services Agreement substantially in the form attached
hereto as
Exhibit J
. From and after the Distribution Date, the Services Agreement shall
refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit J
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.
Shared ECC Percentage
means the proportion of the Shared Contingent Gain or the
Shared Contingent Liability, as applicable, that relates to the Consumer Business.
Shared Company Percentage
means the proportion of the Shared Contingent Gain or the
Shared Contingent Liability, as applicable, that relates to the Company Business.
Shared
Contingent Gain
means, without duplication, any Contingent Gain that is not an Exclusive ECC
Contingent Gain or an Exclusive Company Contingent Gain and shared between the Groups, including
the matters listed or described on
Schedule 1.7
.
Shared
Contingent Liability
means, without duplication, any Contingent Liability
that is not an Exclusive ECC Contingent Liability or an Exclusive Company Contingent Liability and
shared between the Groups, including the matters listed or described on
Schedule 1.8
.
Shared Percentage
means the Shared ECC Percentage or the Shared Company Percentage,
as the case may be.
Subsidiary
of any Person means a corporation or other organization whether
incorporated or unincorporated of which at least a majority of the securities or interests having
by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors
or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is
directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or by any one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries;
provided
,
however
, that no Person that is not directly or indirectly wholly-owned by any other Person
shall be a Subsidiary of such other Person unless such other Person controls, or has the right,
power or ability to control, that Person.
-13-
Taxes
has the meaning set forth in the Tax Sharing Agreement.
Tax Sharing Agreement
means the Tax Sharing Agreement substantially in the form
attached hereto as
Exhibit K
. From and after the Distribution Date, the Tax Sharing
Agreement shall refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in the form attached
hereto as
Exhibit K
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance with its
terms.
Telemetry, Tracking and Control Agreement
means the Telemetry, Tracking and Control
Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit O
. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Telemetry, Tracking and Control Agreement shall refer to the agreement
executed and delivered substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit O
, as amended
and/or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.
Third-Party
Claim
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.6
of this
Agreement.
Transition Services Agreement
means the Transition Services Agreement substantially
in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit L
. From and after the Distribution Date, the
Transition Services Agreement shall refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in
the form attached hereto as
Exhibit L
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in
accordance with its terms.
Uplink Agreement
means the Uplink Agreement substantially in the form attached
hereto as
Exhibit M
. From and after the Distribution Date, the Uplink Agreement shall
refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit M
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.
Used Receiver Agreement
means the Used Receiver Agreement substantially in the form
attached hereto as
Exhibit N
. From and after the Distribution Date, the Used Receiver
Agreement shall refer to the agreement executed and delivered substantially in the form attached
hereto as
Exhibit N
, as amended and/or modified from time to time in accordance with its
terms.
ARTICLE II
BUSINESS SEPARATION
Section 2.1
Separation
. Prior to the Distribution, ECC and the Company shall
implement the Separation on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
The parties hereto acknowledge that the Separation is intended to result in the Company, directly
or indirectly, operating the Company Business, owning the Separated Assets and assuming the Assumed
Liabilities as set forth in this
Article II
. As promptly as practicable after the
Separation is complete and subject to the conditions set forth in
Section 3.2
, the parties
hereto shall take, or cause to be taken, all actions that are necessary or appropriate to
effectuate the Distribution.
Section 2.2
Implementation
. The Separation shall be completed in accordance with the agreed general principles,
objectives and other provisions set forth in this
Article II
and shall be implemented in
the following manner:
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(a) through the completion of the Separation Transactions described on
Schedule 1.6
;
(b) through the allocation from time to time following the Effective Time of the Assets
and Liabilities as set forth in
Article II
;
(c) through the completion from time to time following the Effective Time of the
transactions, as described in
Section 4.2
; and
(d) through the performance by the parties hereto of all other provisions of this
Agreement.
Section 2.3
Transfer of Separated Assets; Assumption of Assumed Liabilities
. On the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in furtherance of the Separation, on
or prior to the Distribution Date and in any event prior to the Distribution:
(a) ECC shall, and shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to, cause the Separated
Assets to be contributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered, directly or
indirectly, to the Company and the Company shall, and shall cause its applicable
Subsidiaries to, accept from ECC and its Subsidiaries, all of ECCs and its Subsidiaries
rights, title and interest in and to all the Separated Assets, which will result in the
Company owning, directly or indirectly, the Company Business.
(b) The Company shall accept, assume and agree to faithfully perform, discharge and
fulfill all of the Assumed Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms. The
Company shall be responsible for all of the Assumed Liabilities, regardless of when or where
such Assumed Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based
occurred prior to or subsequent to the Distribution Date, regardless of where or against
whom such Assumed Liabilities are asserted or determined or whether asserted or determined
prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 2.4
Separated Assets
. (a) For purposes of this Agreement, Separated Assets
shall mean, without duplication, those Assets used or contemplated to be used or held for use
exclusively or primarily in the ownership, operation or conduct of the Company Business or relating
exclusively or primarily to the Company Business, including the following:
(i) all Assets (including Company Contracts) expressly identified in this
Agreement, in any Ancillary Agreement or in any Schedule
hereto or thereto, including those listed on Schedule 1.6, as Assets to be
transferred to, or retained by, the Company or any other member of the Company
Group;
(ii) any Exclusive Company Contingent Gain or any Shared Company Percentage of
a Shared Contingent Gain;
(iii) the outstanding capital stock, units or other equity interests of the
entities listed on Schedule 2.4(a) and the Assets owned by such entities;
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(iv) all Assets properly reflected on the Company Group Balance Sheet,
excluding Assets disposed of by ECC or any other Subsidiary or entity controlled by
ECC subsequent to the date of the Company Group Balance Sheet;
(v) all Assets that have been written off, expensed or fully depreciated by ECC
or any Subsidiary or entity controlled by ECC that, had they not been written off,
expensed or fully depreciated, would have been reflected on the Company Group
Balance Sheet in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States (
GAAP
);
(vi) all Assets acquired by ECC or any Subsidiary or entity controlled by ECC
after the date of the Company Group Balance Sheet and that would be reflected on the
balance sheet of Company as of the Distribution Date, if such balance sheet were
prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(vii) all Assets transferred to Company or any member of the Company Group
pursuant to
Section 4.2
;
provided
,
however
, that any such
transfer shall take effect under
Section 4.2
and not under this
Section 2.4
; and
(viii) any and all Assets owned or held immediately prior to the Distribution
Date by ECC or any other member of the ECC Group that are used in the Company
Business. The intention of this clause (i) is only to rectify any inadvertent
omission of transfer or conveyance of any Assets that, had the parties hereto given
specific consideration to such Asset as of the date hereof, would have otherwise
been classified as a Separated Asset. No Asset shall be deemed to be a Separated
Asset solely as a result of this clause (i) if such Asset is within the category or
type of Asset expressly covered by the subject matter of an Ancillary Agreement.
In addition, no Asset shall be deemed a Separated Asset solely as a result of this
clause (i) unless a claim with respect thereto is made by the Company on or prior to
the second anniversary of the Distribution Date.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Section 2.4
or elsewhere in
this Agreement, the Separated Assets shall not in any event include the Excluded Assets referred to
in
Section 2.4(b)
below.
(b) The following Assets shall not form part of the Separated Assets and shall remain
the exclusive property of ECC or the relevant member of the ECC Group on and after the
Separation (the
Excluded Assets
):
(i) any Asset expressly identified on
Schedule 2.4(b)(i)
;
(ii) any Asset transferred to ECC or to any other relevant member of the ECC
Group pursuant to
Section 4.2
;
provided
,
however
, that any
such transfers shall take effect under
Section 4.2
and not under this
Section 2.4
.;
(iii) any Exclusive ECC Contingent Gain or any Shared ECC Percentage of a
Shared Contingent Gain; and
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(iv) any and all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or
any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Assets to be
retained by ECC or any other member of the ECC Group.
Section 2.5
Liabilities
.
(a) For the purposes of this Agreement,
Assumed Liabilities
shall mean
(without duplication):
(i) any and all Liabilities that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or
thereto) as Liabilities to be assumed by the Company or any member of the Company
Group, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any member of the Company
Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
(ii) all Liabilities (other than Taxes, which are allocated as set forth in the
Tax Sharing Agreement), including any employee-related Liabilities and Environmental
Liabilities (other than the Environmental Liabilities under
Section
2.5(b)(v)
), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from:
(A) the operation of the Company Business, as conducted at any time
prior to, on or after the Distribution Date (including any Liability
relating to, arising out of or resulting from any act or failure to act by
any director, officer, employee, agent or representative (whether or not
such act or failure to act is or was within such Persons authority)); or
(B) any Separated Assets;
in any such case whether arising prior to, on or after the Distribution Date;
(iii) subject to the terms of
Article VI
, all Exclusive Company
Contingent Liabilities and the Shared Company Percentage of any Shared Contingent
Liabilities;
(iv) all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting
from any of the terminated, divested or discontinued businesses and operations of
the Company Business;
(v) all Liabilities reflected as liabilities or obligations of the Company or
its Subsidiaries in the Company Group Balance Sheet, subject to any discharge of
such Liabilities subsequent to the date of the Company Group Balance Sheet;
(vi) all Liabilities arising out of claims made by the Companys respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates against any
member of the Company Group; and
-17-
(vii) any inadvertent omission of transfer or assumption of Liability that, had
the parties given specific consideration to such Liability as of the date hereof,
would have otherwise been classified as an Assumed Liability.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Assumed Liabilities shall not include the Excluded Assumed
Liabilities referred to in
Section 2.5(b)
below.
(b) For the purposes of this Agreement,
Excluded Assumed Liabilities
shall
mean:
(i) any and all Liabilities that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or
thereto) as Liabilities to be retained or assumed by ECC or any other member of the
ECC Group, and all agreements and obligations of any member of the ECC Group under
this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
(ii) any Liability which is expressly identified on
Schedule 2.5(b)(ii)
;
(iii) any and all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any
Excluded Assets;
(iv) subject to the terms of
Article VI
, all Exclusive ECC Contingent
Liabilities and the Shared ECC Percentage of any Shared Contingent Liabilities;
(v) all Environmental Liabilities accrued as of the date hereof relating to,
arising out of or resulting from the Consumer Business; and
(vi) any inadvertent transfer, conveyance or assumption of any Liability that,
had the parties given specific consideration to such Liability as of the date
hereof, would have otherwise been classified as an Excluded Assumed Liability.
Section 2.6
Excluded Assumed Liabilities
. ECC shall, or shall cause, as applicable,
its Subsidiaries, to be responsible for the Excluded Assumed Liabilities regardless of when or
where such Liabilities arose or arise, regardless of where such Liabilities are asserted or
determined or regardless of whether asserted or determined prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 2.7
Deferred Separation Transactions
.
(a)
Misallocated Assets
. In the event that at any time or from time to time
(whether prior to, on or after the Distribution Date), any member of the ECC Group or any
member of the Company Group shall receive or otherwise possess any Asset that is allocated
to a member of the other Group pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the
Separation (including any remittances from account debtors), ECC shall or shall cause such
member of the ECC Group or the Company shall or shall cause such member of the Company
Group, as the case may be, to promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Asset to
the Person so entitled thereto. Prior to any such transfer,
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the Person receiving or
possessing such Asset shall hold such Asset in trust for any such other Person. Each party
hereto shall cooperate with the other party hereto and use its commercially reasonable
efforts to set up procedures and notifications as are reasonably necessary or advisable to
effectuate the transfers contemplated by this
Section 2.7
.
(b)
Mistaken Assignments and Assumptions
. If at anytime there exists
(i) Assets that either party hereto discovers were, contrary to the agreements between the
parties, by mistake or unintentional omission, transferred to the Company or retained by ECC
or (ii) Liabilities that either party hereto discovers were, contrary to the agreements
between the parties, by mistake or unintentional omission, assumed by the Company or not
assumed by the Company or retained by the ECC Group, then the parties hereto shall cooperate
in good faith to effect the transfer or retransfer of misallocated Assets, and/or the
assumption or reassumption of misallocated Liabilities, to or by the appropriate Person and
shall not use the determination that remedial actions need to be taken to alter the original
intent of the parties hereto with respect to the Assets to be transferred to or Liabilities
to be assumed by the Company or retained by ECC. Each party hereto shall reimburse the
other or make other financial adjustments or other adjustments to remedy any mistakes or
omissions relating to any of the Assets transferred hereby or any of the Liabilities assumed
or retained hereby.
(c)
No Additional Consideration
. For the avoidance of doubt, the transfer or
assumption of any Assets or Liabilities under this
Section 2.7
shall be effected
without any additional consideration by either party hereto.
Section 2.8
Termination of Agreements
.
(a) Except as set forth in
Section 2.8(b)
, in furtherance of the releases and
other provisions of
Section 5.1
, the Company and each member of the Company Group,
on the one hand, and ECC and each member of the ECC Group, on the other hand, effective as
of the Distribution Date, shall terminate, any and all Contracts (including any intercompany
accounts payable or accounts receivable accrued as of the Distribution Date that are
reflected in the books and records of the parties or otherwise documented in writing in
accordance with past practices), whether or not in writing, between or among the Company and/or any member of the Company Group, on the one hand, and ECC and/or any
member of the ECC Group, on the other hand, effective as of the Distribution Date. No such
terminated Contracts (including any provision thereof which purports to survive termination)
shall be of any further force or effect after the Distribution Date. Each party hereto
shall, at the reasonable request of any other party, take, or cause to be taken, such other
actions as may be necessary to effect the foregoing.
(b) The provisions of
Section 2.8(a)
shall not apply to any of the following
Contracts (or to any of the provisions thereof) in: (i) this
Agreement or the Ancillary
Agreements (and each other agreement or instrument expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be entered into by any of the
parties hereto or any of the members of their respective Groups); (ii) any Contracts to
which any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective Affiliates is a party
(it being understood that to the extent that the rights and obligations of the
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parties and the members of their respective Groups under any such Contracts constitute Separated Assets
or Assumed Liabilities, they shall be assigned pursuant to
Section 2.3
); (iii) any
Contracts to which any non-wholly owned Subsidiary of ECC or the Company, as the case may
be, is a party (it being understood that directors qualifying shares or similar interests
will be disregarded for purposes of determining whether a Subsidiary is wholly owned); or
(iv) any other Contracts that this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement expressly contemplates will survive the Distribution Date.
Section 2.9
Consents and Governmental Approvals
.
(a)
Transfers not Consummated Prior to Separation Date
. If the transfer or
assignment of any Asset intended to be transferred or assigned hereunder is not consummated
prior to or on the Distribution Date, whether as a result of a requisite Consent or
Governmental Approvals or for any other reason, then the Person retaining such Asset shall
thereafter hold such Asset for the use and benefit, insofar as reasonably possible, of the
Person entitled thereto until the consummation of the transfer or assignment thereof (or as
otherwise determined by ECC and the Company, as applicable). In addition, the Person
retaining such Asset shall take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the
Person to whom such Asset is to be transferred in order to place such Person, insofar as
reasonably possible, in the same position as if such Asset had been transferred as
contemplated hereby and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Asset,
including possession, use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and dominion, control and
command over such Asset, are to inure from and after the Distribution Date to the Person to
whom such Asset is to be transferred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such Asset shall
still be considered a Separated Asset or Excluded Asset, as applicable.
(b)
Expenses
. The Person retaining an Asset due to the deferral of the
transfer and assignment of such Asset shall not be obligated, in connection with the
foregoing, to expend any money in connection with the maintenance of the Asset or otherwise
unless the necessary funds are advanced by the Person to whom such Asset is to be transferred,
other than reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, attorneys fees and recording or similar fees,
all of which shall be promptly reimbursed by the Person to whom such Asset is to be
transferred;
provided
,
however
, that the Person retaining such Asset shall
provide prompt notice to the Person to whom such Asset is to be transferred of the amount of
all such expenses and fees.
(c)
No Additional Consideration
. For the avoidance of doubt, the transfer of
any Assets under this
Section 2.9
shall be effected without any additional
consideration by either party hereto.
Section 2.10
Novation of the Assumed Liabilities
.
(a)
Reasonable Best Efforts
. The Company, at the request of ECC, shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any agreement, instrument,
Consent, substitution or amendment required to novate or assign all rights
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and obligations under Contracts and other obligations or Liabilities of any nature whatsoever that
constitute the Assumed Liabilities or to obtain in writing the unconditional release of all
parties to such arrangements other than any member of the Company Group, so that, in any
such case, the Company and the other members of the Company Group will be solely responsible
for such Liabilities;
provided
,
however
, that neither the ECC Group nor the
Company Group shall be obligated to pay any consideration or assume any additional
obligation therefore to any third party from whom any such Consent, substitution or
amendment is requested.
(b)
Inability to Obtain Novation
. If ECC or the Company is unable to obtain,
or to cause to be obtained, any such required agreement, instrument, Consent, release,
substitution or amendment with respect to any such Assumed Liability, the applicable member
of the ECC Group shall continue to be bound by such Contracts and other obligations and
Liabilities and, unless not permitted by Applicable Law or the terms thereof (except to the
extent expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement), the Company shall,
as agent or subcontractor for ECC or such other Person, as the case may be, pay, perform and
discharge fully, or cause to be paid, transferred or discharged all the obligations or other
Liabilities of any member of the ECC Group thereunder from and after the Distribution Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such Liability shall still be considered an Assumed
Liability;
provided
,
however
, that ECC shall not (and shall not permit any
member of the ECC Group to) and the Company shall not (and shall not permit any member of
the Company Group to) amend, renew, change the term of, modify the obligations under, or
transfer to a third Person, any such Contract or other obligation or other Liability without
the written consent of the Company (in the case of any such action by the ECC Group) or ECC
(in the case of any such action by the Company Group). ECC and the Company shall each use
reasonable best efforts to provide prompt notice to the other of any request they receive
from the counterparty to any Contract for any such amendment, renewal, change, modification
or transfer. ECC shall, without further consideration, pay and remit, or cause to be paid
or remitted, to the Company or its appropriate Subsidiary promptly all money, rights and other
consideration received by it or any member of the Company Group in respect of such
performance (unless any such consideration is an Excluded Asset). If and when any such
agreement, instrument, Consent, release, substitution or amendment shall be obtained or such
Contract or other obligations and Liabilities shall otherwise become assignable or able to
be novated, ECC shall thereafter assign, or cause to be assigned, all its rights,
obligations and other Liabilities thereunder or any rights or obligations of any member of
the Company Group to the Company without payment of further consideration and the Company
shall, without the payment of any further consideration, assume such rights, obligations and
Liabilities.
Section 2.11
Documents Relating to Transfer of Real Property Interests and Tangible
Property Located Thereon
.
(a) In furtherance of the contribution, assignment, transfer and conveyance of the
Separated Assets and the acceptance and assumption of Assumed Liabilities set forth in this
Article II
, simultaneously with the execution of the Separation, ECC and the Company
shall, or the applicable member of their respective Groups shall, execute and
-21-
deliver
deeds, lease assignments and assumptions, leases, subleases and sub-subleases as agreed to among
the parties hereto (which in certain cases may include different forms for real property and
leasehold interests located outside of the United States, if any).
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, all tenant improvements, fixtures, furniture, office equipment,
servers, private branch exchanges, artwork and other tangible property (other than
equipment subject to capital or operating equipment leases, which will be transferred or
retained based on whether the associated capital or operating equipment lease is or is not a
Separated Asset) located as of the Separation on any real property
that is covered by any Ancillary Agreement, shall, except to the extent expressly set forth
on
Schedule 2.11(b)
, be transferred or retained as follows:
(i) In the case of any real property or leasehold interests that is a deed or
lease assignment and assumption, all such tangible property will be transferred to
the transferee or assignee of the applicable real property or leasehold interest.
(ii) In the case of any real property or leasehold interests that is a lease,
all such tangible property will be retained by the lessor under the applicable
lease, except that any such tangible property (other than tenant improvements,
fixtures, furniture and artwork) used exclusively by the lessee shall be transferred
to, or retained by, the lessee.
(iii) In the case of any real property or leasehold interests that is a
sublease or sub-sublease, all such tangible property will be retained by the
sublessor or sub-sublessor, respectively, under the applicable sublease or sub-sublease, except that any such tangible property (other than tenant
improvements, fixtures and artwork) used exclusively by the sublessee or
sub-sublessee, respectively, shall be transferred to, or retained by, such sublessee
or sub-sublessee.
In the case of this
Section 2.11(b)
, all determinations as to exclusive use by
any member of a Group shall be made without regard to infrequent and immaterial use by the
members of any other Group, if the transfer of such Asset to, or the retention of such Asset
by, such first Group would not interfere in any material respect with either the business or
operations of any such other Group.
(c) In the case of any real property or leasehold interest that is covered by
Section 2.11(b)(i)
and either
Section 2.11(b)(ii)
or
(iii)
, all such
tangible property shall first be allocated pursuant to the provisions of Section
2.11(b)(i)
and thereafter pursuant to whichever of such other clauses is applicable.
Section 2.12
Documents Relating to Transfers of the Separated Assets and Assumption of the
Assumed Liabilities
. In furtherance of the Separation and the Distribution, (i) ECC shall
execute and deliver, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, such bills of sale,
stock powers, certificates of title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of transfer,
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conveyance and assignment as and to the extent necessary to evidence the transfer, conveyance and
assignment of all of ECCs and its Subsidiaries right, title and interest in and to the Separated
Assets to the Company or its Subsidiaries and (ii) the Company shall execute and deliver, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, to ECC and its Subsidiaries such assumptions of
contracts and other instruments of assumption as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid
and effective assumption of the Assumed Liabilities by the Company. All conveyance and assumption
documents and instruments used to effectuate the Separation and the Distribution shall be in form
mutually satisfactory to ECC and the Company.
Section 2.13
Release of Security Interest
. Upon the Companys reasonable request, ECC
shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain from third parties the release of any Security
Interest granted by ECC (or any member of its Group) on any Separated Asset.
Section 2.14
No Representation or Warranty
.
(a) No party to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, or
any other agreement or document contemplated by this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or
otherwise, is making any representation as to, warranty of or covenant, express or implied,
with respect to: (a) any of the Separated Assets, the Company Business, the Excluded Assets
or the Assumed Liabilities, including any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose, or any representation or warranty regarding any Consents or Governmental
Approvals required in connection therewith or their transfer, (b) the value or freedom from Encumbrances of, or any
other matter concerning, any Separated Asset or Excluded Asset, or regarding the absence of
any defense or right of setoff or freedom from counterclaim with respect to any claim or
other Separated Asset or Excluded Asset, including any account receivable of either party
hereto, or (c) the legal sufficiency of any assignment, document or instrument delivered
hereunder to convey title to any Separated Asset or Excluded Asset upon the execution,
delivery and filing hereof or thereof.
(b) EXCEPT AS MAY EXPRESSLY BE SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, ALL ASSETS TO BE TRANSFERRED AS SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE TRANSFERRED AS IS, WHERE IS (AND, IN THE CASE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY, BY
MEANS OF A QUITCLAIM OR SIMILAR FORM DEED OR CONVEYANCE) AND THE TRANSFEREE SHALL BEAR THE
ECONOMIC AND LEGAL RISK THAT ANY CONVEYANCE SHALL PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO VEST IN THE
TRANSFEREE GOOD AND MARKETABLE TITLE, AND CLEAR OF ANY SECURITY INTEREST OR ANY
NECESSARY CONSENTS OR GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS ARE NOT OBTAINED OR THAT ANY REQUIREMENTS OF
LAWS OR JUDGMENTS ARE NOT COMPLIED WITH.
Section 2.15
Use of Cash
. From the date hereof until the Distribution Date, ECC
shall be entitled to use, retain or otherwise dispose of all cash generated by the Company Business
and the Separated Assets in accordance with the ordinary course of operation of ECC.
-23-
Section 2.16
Plan of Reorganization
. In respect of each of the Contribution and
Distribution, the Second Contribution and Second Internal Distribution, and the First Contribution
and First Internal Distribution, this Agreement shall constitute a plan of reorganization for
purposes of Section 368 of the Code.
ARTICLE III
THE DISTRIBUTION AND ACTIONS PENDING THE DISTRIBUTION
Section 3.1
Transactions Prior to the Distribution
. Subject to the conditions
specified in
Section 3.2
, ECC and the Company shall use their reasonable best efforts to
consummate the Distribution. Such efforts shall include, without limitation, those specified in
this
Section 3.1
.
(a)
Registration Statements
.
(i) ECC and the Company shall cooperate in preparing and filing the
Registration Statement on Form 10 with the Commission. Subsequent to filing such Registration Statement ECC and the Company shall cooperate in the
preparation and filing of any amendments as may be necessary in order to cause the
same to become and remain effective as required by Applicable Law, including,
without limitation, filing such amendments or supplements to the Registration
Statement as may be required by the Commission or federal, state or foreign
securities laws.
(ii) ECC and the Company shall cooperate in preparing, filing with the
Commission and causing to become effective any registration statements or amendments
thereof which are required to reflect the establishment of, or amendments or
supplements to, any employee benefit and other plans necessary or appropriate in
connection with the Separation, the Distribution, or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
(b)
Other Securities Laws Matters
. ECC and the Company shall take all such
actions as may be necessary or appropriate under the securities or blue sky laws of any
state of the United States (and any comparable laws under any foreign jurisdiction) in
connection with the Distribution, including ECC filing a Schedule 14C information statement
in connection with amending its articles of incorporation to
(i) effectuate a name change, (ii) amend its treatment
of the doctrine of corporate opportunities to clarify the
duties of directors and officers and (iii) adopt provisions
clarifying the conversion procedures with respect to uncertificated
shares.
(c)
Information Statement
. ECC shall, as soon as practicable after the
Registration Statement on Form 10 is declared effective under the Exchange Act (or, after
consultation with counsel, prior to such effectiveness) and the ECC Board has approved the
Distribution, cause the Information Statement to be mailed to the Record Holders.
(d)
Other Materials
. ECC and the Company shall prepare and mail, on or prior
to the Distribution Date, to the holders of ECC Common Stock, such other information
concerning the Company, its business, operations and management, the
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Separation, the Distribution and such other matters as ECC in its sole and absolute discretion determines
are necessary or desirable and as may be required by Applicable Law. ECC and the Company
will prepare, and ECC or the Company (as applicable) will, to the extent required under
Applicable Law, file with the Commission any such documentation which ECC in its sole and
absolute discretion determines are necessary or desirable to effectuate the Distribution and
ECC and the Company shall each use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary
approvals from the Commission with respect thereto as soon as practicable.
(e)
NASDAQ Listing
. The Company shall prepare, file and use its reasonable
best efforts to seek to make effective, an application for listing of the Company Class A
Common Stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market (
NASDAQ
), subject to official notice of
distribution.
Section 3.2
Conditions Precedent to Consummation of the Distribution
. The obligation of ECC to effect the Distribution is subject to the satisfaction or the
waiver by ECC, in its sole and absolute discretion, of each of the following conditions:
(a)
Approval by ECCs Board
. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, including establishing the Record Date and the declaration of the Distribution,
shall have been duly taken and approved by the ECC Board in accordance with Applicable Law
and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of ECC.
(b)
Registration Statements
. The Registration Statement on Form 10 shall have
been declared effective by the Commission, and there shall be no stop-order in effect with
respect thereto, and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted by the
Commission and a registration statement on Form S-8 shall have been declared effective by
the Commission, and there shall be no stop-order in effect with respect thereto, and no
proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted by the Commission.
(c)
Dissemination of Information to ECCs Stockholders
. Prior to the
Distribution, ECC and the Company shall have prepared and mailed to the holders of record of
ECC Common Stock the Information Statement and such other Information concerning the
Company, its business, operations and management, the Distribution as ECC shall determine in
its sole and absolute discretion and as may otherwise be required by Applicable Law.
(d)
NASDAQ Listing
. The Company Class A Common Stock to be distributed
pursuant to the Distribution shall have been accepted for listing on NASDAQ, subject to
official notice of the Distribution.
(e)
No Legal Restraints
. No Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction
shall have, after the date of this Agreement, enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or
entered any statute, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction or other order (whether
temporary, preliminary or permanent), which is in effect and prohibits or materially
restricts or materially adversely affects the consummation of the Separation or
-25-
the Distribution or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements.
(f)
Separation
. The Separation shall have become effective in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement and the Separation Transactions.
(g)
Tax Opinion of Counsel
. An opinion of White & Case LLP shall have been
obtained in form and substance satisfactory to ECC in its sole and absolute discretion to the effect that, among other things, the Contribution and
Distribution, the Second Contribution and Second Internal Distribution, and the First Contribution and First Internal Distribution will each qualify as
tax-free reorganizations for United States federal income tax purposes under Section
368(a)(1)(D) of the Code and distributions under Section 355 of the Code.
(h)
Consents and Approvals
. Any Consent and Governmental Approval necessary to
consummate the Separation and the Distribution shall have been obtained and be in full force
and effect, including the Consents and Governmental Approvals set forth on
Schedule
3.2(h)
.
(i)
No Other Events
. No other events or developments shall have occurred that,
in the judgment of the ECC Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, would result in the
Separation or the Distribution having a material adverse effect on ECC, its stockholders,
the Consumer Business or the Company Business.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of ECC and shall not give rise to or create
any duty on the part of ECC or the ECC Board to waive or not to waive any such conditions or in any
way limit ECCs right to terminate this Agreement as set forth in
Section 3.5(d)
or alter
the consequences of any such termination from those specified in
Section 3.5(d)
. Any
determination made by ECC prior to the Distribution concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any or
all of the conditions set forth in this
Section 3.2
shall be conclusive.
Section 3.3
Documents to be Delivered by ECC
. On or prior to the Distribution Date,
ECC will deliver, or will cause its appropriate Subsidiaries to deliver, to the Company all of the
following:
(a) In each case where ECC or any other member of the ECC Group is a party to any
Ancillary Agreement, a duly executed counterpart of such Ancillary Agreement;
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(b) Resignations of each individual listed on
Schedule 3.3(b)
, who is a
director and/or officer of any member of the Company Group;
(c) The agreements, documents and instruments necessary to effectuate the Separation; and
(d) Such other agreements, documents or instruments as the parties may agree are
necessary or desirable in order to achieve the purposes hereof.
Section 3.4
Documents to be Delivered by the Company
. On or prior to the Distribution
Date, the Company will deliver, or will cause its appropriate Subsidiaries to deliver, to ECC all
of the following:
(a) In each case where the Company or any other member of the Company Group is a party
to any Ancillary Agreement, a duly executed counterpart of such Ancillary Agreement;
(b) Resignations of each individual listed on
Schedule 3.4(b)
who is a director
and/or officer of any member of the ECC Group; and
(c) The agreements, documents and instruments necessary to effectuate the Separation; and
(d) Such other agreements, documents or instruments as the parties may agree are
necessary or desirable in order to achieve the purposes hereof.
Section 3.5
Distribution
.
(a)
Sole Discretion
. ECC shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine
whether or not to proceed with all or part of the Distribution, determine the Distribution
Date and determine all terms of the Distribution, including, without limitation, the form,
structure and terms of any transaction(s) to effect the Distribution (including the
Separation) and the timing of and conditions to the consummation of the Distribution. In
addition, ECC may at any time and from time to time until the completion of the
Distribution, modify or change the terms of the Distribution, including, without limitation,
by accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the
Distribution. The Company shall cooperate with ECC in all respects to accomplish the
Distribution and shall, at ECCs direction, promptly take any and all actions reasonably
necessary or desirable in ECCs sole and absolute discretion to effect the Distribution.
(b)
Effective Time
. The Distribution shall be effective at
12:01 a.m., Mountain Time, on the Distribution Date (the
Effective Time
).
(c) Actions in Connection with Distribution.
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(i) Subject to
Section 3.2
, on or prior to the Distribution Date, (i)
ECC will deliver to the Agent for the benefit of the Record Holders of ECC Class A
Common Stock, a single stock certificate, endorsed by ECC in blank, representing all
of the outstanding shares of the Company Class A Common Stock then owned by ECC, and
shall cause the transfer agent for the shares of ECC Common Stock to instruct the
Agent to distribute on the Distribution Date the appropriate number of such shares
of the Company Class A Common Stock to each such Record Holder, and (ii) ECC will
deliver to the Agent for the benefit of the Record Holders of ECC Class B Common
Stock, a single stock certificate, endorsed by ECC in blank, representing all of the
outstanding shares of the Company Class B Common Stock then owned by ECC, and shall
cause the transfer agent for the shares of ECC Common Stock to instruct the Agent to
distribute on the Distribution Date the appropriate number of such shares of the Company Class B
Common Stock to each such Record Holder.
(ii) Subject to
Section 3.2
, (i) each Record Holder of ECC Class A
Common Stock will be entitled to receive in the Distribution a number of shares of
the Company Class A Common Stock equal to the number of shares of ECC Class A Common
Stock held by such Record Holder on the Record Date multiplied by the distribution
ratio to be determined by the ECC Board when it declares the Distribution (the
Class A Distribution Ratio
), and (ii) each Record Holder of ECC Class B
Common Stock will be entitled to receive in the Distribution a number of shares of
the Company Class B Common Stock equal to the number of shares of ECC Class B Common
Stock held by such Record Holder on the Record Date multiplied by the distribution
ratio to be determined by the ECC Board when it declares the Distribution (the
Class B Distribution Ratio
). The ECC Board shall have the right to adjust
the Class A Distribution Ratio and/or the Class B Distribution Ratio at any time
prior to the Distribution.
(iii) ECC and the Company, as the case may be, will provide to the Agent all
share certificates and any information required in order to complete the
Distribution on the basis set forth in this
Section 3.5
. No action will be
necessary for any Record Holder of ECC to receive Company Class A Common Stock
and/or Company Class B Common Stock, as applicable, in the Distribution.
(d)
Termination
. Without limiting the generality of
Section 3.5(a)
,
(i) this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements may be terminated, (ii) the Separation may
be abandoned and (iii) the Distribution may be abandoned, in each case at any time prior to the
Effective Time by and in the sole and absolute discretion of ECC without the approval of the
Company. In the event of such termination, neither party hereto shall have any Liability of
any kind to the other party.
(e) Fractional Shares.
(i) ECC shall direct the Agent to (i) determine the number of whole shares and
fractional shares of the Company Class A Common Stock allocable to each Record
Holder of ECC Class A Common Stock, (ii) aggregate all such
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fractional shares and
sell the whole shares obtained thereby in open market transactions as soon as
practicable on or after the Distribution Date at then prevailing trading prices and
(iii) cause to be distributed to each such Record Holder or for the benefit of each
such beneficial owner, in lieu of any fractional share, such Record Holders or
owners ratable share of the proceeds of such sale. Solely for purposes of computing fractional share
interests pursuant to this
Section 3.5(e)
, the beneficial owner of ECC Class
A Common Stock held of record in the name of a nominee in any nominee account shall
be treated as the Record Holder with respect to such shares.
(ii) ECC shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of
shares of Company Class B Common Stock, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or
pay cash in lieu of fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties hereto
that all fractional interests with respect to Company Class B Common Stock as a
result of the Distribution shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction down to the
nearest whole number of shares of Company Class B Common Stock allocable to each
Record Holder of ECC Class B Common Stock.
(f)
Unclaimed Shares or Cash
. Any Company Class A Common Stock or cash in lieu
of fractional shares with respect to Company Class A Common Stock that remain unclaimed by
any Record Holder of Class A Common Stock one hundred eighty (180) days after the
Distribution Date shall be delivered to the Company. The Company shall hold all such
Company Class A Common Stock and cash for the account of such Record Holder and any such
Record Holder shall look only to the Company for such Company Class A Common Stock and cash,
if any, in lieu of fractional share interests, subject in each case to applicable escheat or
other abandoned property laws.
ARTICLE IV
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS, FURTHER ASSURANCES AND OTHER MATTERS
Section 4.1
Provision of Corporate Records
. Prior to or as promptly as practicable
after the Distribution Date, ECC shall deliver or make available to the Company all corporate books
and records of the Company Group in its possession and complete and accurate copies of all relevant
portions of all corporate books and records of the ECC Group relating directly and primarily to the
Separated Assets, the Company Business, or the Assumed Liabilities,
including, in each case, all active agreements, active litigation files, government filings and returns or reports relating to
Taxes for all open periods. Subject to
Section 4.5
and
Section 4.6
, ECC may retain
complete and accurate copies of such books and records. From and after the Distribution Date, all
such books, records and copies shall be the property of the Company. Prior to or as promptly as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company shall deliver or make available to ECC, all
corporate books and records of the Company Group in its possession and complete and accurate copies
of all relevant portions of all corporate books and records of the Company Group relating directly
and primarily to the Consumer Business, including, in each case, all
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active agreements, active
litigation files, government filings and returns or reports relating to Taxes for all open periods.
Subject to
Section 4.5
and
Section 4.6
, the Company may retain complete and
accurate copies of such books and records. From and after the Distribution Date, all such books,
records and copies shall be the property of ECC. The costs and expenses incurred in the provision
of records or other information to a party shall be paid for by the receiving party.
Section 4.2
Further Assurance
.
(a) In addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement
(such as
Section 2.7
,
Section 2.9(a)
, and
Section 2.11(b)
), ECC and
the Company agree to execute or cause to be executed by the appropriate parties and deliver,
as appropriate, such other agreements, instruments and other documents as may be necessary
or desirable in order to effect the purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at the request of the Company,
and without further consideration, ECC will execute and deliver, and will cause the
applicable members of the ECC Group to execute and deliver, to the Company and the
applicable members of the Company Group such other instruments of transfer, conveyance,
assignment, substitution, confirmation or other documents and take such action as the
Company may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to more effectively transfer,
convey and assign to the Company and the applicable members of the Company Group and confirm
the Companys and the applicable members of the Company Group title to all of the assets,
rights and other things of value contemplated to be transferred to the Company and the
applicable members of the Company Group pursuant to this Agreement, the Ancillary
Agreements, and any documents referred to therein, to put the Company and the applicable
members of the Company Group in actual possession and operating control thereof and to
permit the Company and the applicable members of the Company Group to exercise all rights
with respect thereto (including, without limitation, rights under Contracts and other
arrangements as to which the consent of any third party to the transfer thereof shall not
have previously been obtained). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at the
request of ECC and without further consideration, the Company will execute and deliver, and
will cause the applicable members of the Company Group to execute and deliver, to ECC and
the applicable members of the ECC Group all instruments, assumptions, novations,
undertakings, substitutions or other documents and take such other action as ECC may
reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to have the Company and the applicable
members of the Company Group fully and unconditionally assume and discharge the liabilities
contemplated to be assumed by the Company and the applicable members of the Company Group
under this Agreement or any document in connection herewith and to relieve the ECC and the
applicable members of the ECC Group of any liability or obligation with respect thereto and
evidence the same to third parties.
(c) Neither ECC nor the Company shall be obligated, in connection with this
Section 4.2
, to expend money other than reasonable out-of-pocket expenses,
attorneys fees and recording or similar fees, unless reimbursed by the other party hereto.
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(d) Furthermore, each party hereto, at the request of the other party, shall execute
and deliver such other instruments and do and perform such other acts and things as may be
necessary or desirable for effecting completely the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 4.3
Agreement For Exchange Of Information
.
(a)
Generally
. Except as provided in the Transition Services Agreement or the
Tax Sharing Agreement, in which event such agreement shall control, each of ECC and the
Company, on behalf of its respective Group, agrees to provide, or cause to be provided, to
the other partys Group and their authorized accountants, counsel and other designated
representatives, at any time after the Distribution Date, reasonable access during normal
business hours and as soon as reasonably practicable after written request therefor, (i) all
Information regularly provided by such respective Group to the other Group prior to the
Distribution Date, and (ii) any Information in the possession or under the control of such
respective Group that the requesting party reasonably needs (A) to comply with reporting,
disclosure, filing or other requirements imposed on the requesting party (including under
applicable securities and tax laws) by a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the
requesting party, (B) for use in any other judicial, regulatory, administrative or other
proceeding or in order to satisfy audit, accounting, claims, regulatory, litigation or other
similar requirements, in each case, other than claims or allegations that one party to this
Agreement has against the other, (C) subject to the foregoing clause (B) above, to comply
with its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (D) to the extent such
Information and cooperation is necessary to comply with such reporting, filing and
disclosure obligations, for the preparation of financial statements or completing an audit,
and as reasonably necessary to conduct the ongoing businesses of ECC or the Company, as the
case may be or (E) for use in compensation, benefit or welfare plan administration or other
bona fide business purposes;
provided
,
however
, that in the event that
either ECC or the Company determines that any such provision of or access to Information
would be commercially detrimental in any material respect, violate any Applicable Law or
agreement or waive any Privilege, the parties hereto shall take all reasonable measures to
permit the compliance with such obligations in a manner that avoids any such harm or
consequence and shall comply with the applicable provisions of this Agreement. Each of ECC
and the Company agree to make their respective personnel available during normal business
hours to discuss the Information exchanged pursuant to this
Section 4.3
provided
, that such access does not interfere with the day-to-day operations of the
applicable party.
(b)
Financial Information
. Without limiting the generality of
Section
4.3(a)
, until the end of the first full Company fiscal year occurring after the
Distribution Date (and for a reasonable period of time afterwards as required for each party
hereto to prepare consolidated financial statements or complete a financial statement audits
for the fiscal year during which the Distribution Date occurs), each party hereto shall use
its commercially reasonable efforts, to cooperate with the
other partys Information
requests to enable the other party hereto to meet is timetable for dissemination (in
accordance with applicable securities laws) of its earnings releases, financial statements
and enable such
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other partys auditors to timely complete their audit of the annual
financial statements and review of the quarterly financial statements of such party.
(c)
Ownership of Information
. Any Information owned by a party hereto that is
provided to the other party pursuant to this
Section 4.3
shall be deemed to remain
the property of the party that owned and provided such Information. Unless specifically set
forth herein, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as granting or
conferring rights of license or ownership in any Information owned by one party
hereunder to the other party hereunder.
(d)
Record Retention
. Except with respect to Information for which a different
retention policy is specified in an Ancillary Agreement, to facilitate the possible exchange
of Information pursuant to this
Section 4.3
and other provisions of this Agreement
after the Distribution Date, each party hereto agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to
retain and cause the members of its Group to retain all Information in their respective
possession or control on the Distribution Date in accordance with the record retention and
destruction policies of ECC as in effect on the Distribution Date or such other policies and
procedures as may reasonably be adopted by the applicable party hereto after the
Distribution Date as provided herein. No party hereto will destroy, or permit any member of
its Group to destroy, any Information which the other party may have the right to obtain
pursuant to this Agreement without first notifying the other party of the proposed
destruction and giving the other party the opportunity to take possession of such
Information prior to such destruction;
provided
,
however
, that no party
hereto will destroy, or permit any member of its Group to destroy, any Information required
to be retained by Applicable Law.
(e)
Limitation of Liability
. Each party hereto will use its reasonable best
efforts to ensure that Information provided to the other party hereto is accurate and
complete;
provided
,
however
, except as otherwise provided in any Ancillary
Agreement, no party hereto shall have any liability to any other party in the event that any
Information exchanged or provided pursuant to this
Section 4.3
is found to be
inaccurate, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the party providing
such Information. No party hereto shall have any liability to the other party if any
Information is destroyed after commercially reasonable efforts by such party to comply with
the provision of this
Section 4.3
.
(f)
Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information
. The rights and
obligations granted under this
Section 4.3
are subject to any specific limitations,
qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing, exchange or confidential treatment
of Information set forth in this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement.
(g)
Compensation for Providing Information
. The party hereto requesting
Information agrees to reimburse the other party for the reasonable out-of-pocket costs, if
any, of creating, gathering and copying such Information, to the extent that such costs are
incurred for the benefit of the requesting party.
Section 4.4
Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation
.
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(a) Subject to
Section 4.6
, after the Distribution Date, except in the case of
any Action by one or more members of one Group against one or more members of the other
Group, each party hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to make available to the
other party, upon written request, the former, current and future directors, officers,
employees, other personnel and agents of the members of its respective Group as
witnesses and any books, records or other documents within its control or which it otherwise
has the ability to make available, to the extent that any such person (giving consideration
to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or
books, records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection with any Action
in which the requesting party may from time to time be involved, regardless of whether such
Action is a matter with respect to which indemnification may be sought hereunder.
Notwithstanding
Section 4.3(g)
, the requesting party shall reimburse the other party
for its reasonable out-of-pocket cost and expenses in connection with requests made under
this
Section 4.4
.
(b) Without limiting the forgoing but subject to
Section 4.6
, the parties
hereto shall cooperate and consult to the extent reasonably necessary with respect to any
Action, except in the case of an adversarial Action by one or more members of one Group
against one or more members of the other Group.
Section 4.5
Confidentiality
.
(a) Subject to
Section 4.6
, which shall govern Privileged Information, from and
after the Distribution Date, ECC and the Company shall hold and shall cause each member of
their respective Groups to hold, and shall each cause their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents, consultants, advisors and other representatives to hold, in strict
confidence and not to disclose or release without the prior written consent of the other
party, any and all Confidential Information of the other partys Group;
provided
,
that each party hereto may disclose, or may permit disclosure of, Confidential Information
(w) to its respective auditors, attorneys, financial advisors, bankers and other appropriate
consultants and advisors who have a need to know such Confidential Information and are
informed of such partys obligation to hold such information confidential to the same extent
as is applicable to the parties hereto and in respect of whose failure to comply with such
obligations, the Company or ECC, as the case may be, will be responsible, (x) if such party
or any of the members of such partys respective Group is compelled to disclose any such
information by judicial or administrative process or, in the opinion of independent legal
counsel, by other requirements of Applicable Law, (y) if any such information is or becomes
generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure in violation of
this Agreement or (z) if such information was or becomes available to either the Company or
ECC or any member of their respective Group on a non-confidential basis and from a source
(other than a party to this Agreement or any Affiliate, director, officer, employee, agent,
consultant, advisor and other representative of such party hereto) that is not known after
actual inquiry to be bound by a confidentiality obligation. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the event that any demand or request for disclosure of Confidential Information is made
pursuant to clause (x) above, ECC or the Company, as the case may be, shall promptly notify
the other of the existence of such request or demand and shall provide the other a
reasonable
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opportunity to seek an appropriate confidentiality agreement, protective order or
other remedy at the reasonable cost and expense of the disclosing party and which both
parties
hereto will cooperate in obtaining. In the event that such appropriate protective
order or other remedy is not obtained, the party whose Confidential Information is required
to be disclosed shall or shall cause the other party to furnish, or cause to be furnished,
only that portion of the Confidential Information that is legally required to be disclosed.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, ECC and the members of its Group,
on the one hand, and the Company and the members of its Group, on the other hand, shall be
deemed to have satisfied their obligations hereunder with respect to Confidential
Information if they exercise the same degree of care (but no less than a reasonable degree
of care) as they take to preserve confidentiality for their own similar Information.
Section 4.6
Privileged Matters
.
(a) ECC and the Company agree that their respective rights and obligations to maintain,
preserve, assert or waive any or all privileges belonging to either party hereto or the
respective members of their respective Group with respect to the Consumer Business or the
Company Business, including but not limited to the attorney-client, work product privileges
or any other applicable privileges (collectively,
Privileges
), shall be governed
by the provisions of this
Section 4.6
. With respect to Privileged Information of
ECC, ECC shall have sole authority in perpetuity to determine whether to assert or waive any
or all Privileges, and the Company shall take no action (nor permit any member of its Group
to take action) without the prior written consent of ECC that could result in any waiver of
any Privilege that could be asserted by ECC or any member of its Group under Applicable Law
and this Agreement. With respect to Privileged Information of the Company arising after the
Distribution Date, the Company shall have sole authority in perpetuity to determine whether
to assert or waive any or all Privileges, and ECC shall take no action (nor permit any
member of its Group to take action) without the prior written consent of the Company that
could result in any waiver of any Privilege that could be asserted by the Company or any
member of its Group under Applicable Law and this Agreement. The rights and obligations
created by this
Section 4.6
shall apply to all Information as to which ECC or the
Company or their respective Groups would be entitled to assert or have asserted a Privilege
without regard to the effect, if any, of the Separation and the Distribution
(
Privileged Information
). Privileged Information of ECC and its Group includes
but is not limited to (i) any and all Information regarding the Consumer Business and its
Group (other than Information relating to the Company Business (
Company
Information
)), whether or not such Information (other than Company Information) is in
the possession of the Company or any member of its Group; (ii) all communications subject to
a Privilege between counsel for ECC (including any person who, at the time of the
communication, was an employee of ECC or its Group in the capacity of in-house counsel,
regardless of whether such employee is or becomes an employee of the Company or any member
of its Group) and any person who, at the time of the communication, was an employee of ECC,
regardless of whether such employee is or becomes an employee of the Company or any member
of its Group and (iii) all Information generated, received or arising after the Distribution
Date that refers or relates
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to Privileged Information of ECC or its Group generated, received or arising prior to
the Distribution Date. Privileged Information of the Company and its Group includes but is
not limited to (x) any and all Company Information, whether or not it is in the possession
of ECC or any member of its Group; (y) all communications subject to a Privilege occurring
after the Distribution between counsel for the Company Business (including in-house counsel
and former in-house counsel who are employees of ECC) and any person who, at the time of the
communication, was an employee of the Company, any member of its Group or the Company
Business regardless of whether such employee was, is or becomes an employee of ECC or any
member of its Group and (z) all Information generated, received or arising after the
Distribution Date that refers or relates to Privileged Information of the Company or its
Group generated, received or arising after the Distribution Date.
(b) Upon receipt by ECC or the Company, or any of the members of the respective Groups,
as the case may be, of any subpoena, discovery or other request from any third party that
actually or arguably calls for the production or disclosure of Privileged Information of the
other or if ECC or the Company, or any of members of their respective Groups, as the case
may be, obtains knowledge that any current or former employee of ECC or the Company, as the
case may be, receives any subpoena, discovery or other request from any third party that
actually or arguably calls for the production or disclosure of Privileged Information of the
other, ECC or the Company, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the other of the
existence of the request and shall provide the other a reasonable opportunity to review the
Information and to assert any rights it may have under this
Section 4.6
or otherwise
to prevent the production or disclosure of Privileged Information. ECC or the Company, as
the case may be, will not, and will cause the members of their respective Groups to not,
produce or disclose to any third party any of the others Privileged Information under this
Section 4.6
unless (i) the non-disclosing party has provided its express written
consent to such production or disclosure or (ii) a court of competent jurisdiction has
entered an order not subject to interlocutory appeal or review finding that the Information
is not entitled to protection from disclosure under any applicable privilege, doctrine or
rule, in which case, such Information shall be subject to
Section 4.5
.
(c) ECCs transfer of books and records pertaining to the Company Business and other
Information to the Company, ECCs agreement to permit the Company to obtain Information
existing prior to the Distribution, the Companys transfer of books and records pertaining
to the Consumer Business, if any, and other Information to ECC and the Companys agreement to permit ECC to obtain
Information existing prior to the Distribution are made in reliance on ECCs and the
Companys respective agreements, as set forth in
Section 4.5
and this
Section
4.6
, to maintain the confidentiality of such Information and to take the steps provided
herein for the preservation of all Privileges that may belong to or be asserted by ECC or
the Company, as the case may be. The access to Information, witnesses and individuals being
granted pursuant to
Sections 4.3
and the disclosure to the Company and ECC of
Privileged Information relating to the Company Business or the Consumer Business pursuant to
this Agreement in connection with the Separation and Distribution shall not be asserted by
ECC or the Company to constitute, or otherwise deemed, a waiver of any Privilege that has
been or may be asserted under this
Section 4.6
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or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement shall operate to reduce, minimize or condition
the rights granted to ECC and the Company in, or the obligations imposed upon ECC and the
Company by, this
Section 4.6
.
Section 4.7
Tax Sharing Agreement
. None of the provisions of this
Article IV
are intended to supersede any provision in the Tax Sharing Agreement with respect to matters
related to Taxes. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Tax Sharing
Agreement, the Tax Sharing Agreement shall control with respect to matters related to Taxes.
ARTICLE V
SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.1
Mutual Release
.
(a) Effective as of the Distribution Date and except as otherwise specifically set
forth in the Ancillary Agreements or on
Schedule 5.1
, each of ECC, on behalf of
itself and each member of the ECC Group, on the one hand, and the Company, on behalf of
itself and each member of the Company Group, on the other hand, hereby unequivocally,
unconditionally and irrevocably releases and forever discharges the other party and the
members of such partys Group, and its and their respective directors, officers, managers or
other persons acting in a similar capacity, agents, record and beneficial security holders
(including trustees and beneficiaries of trusts holding such securities), advisors,
accountants, attorneys and other representatives (in each case, in their respective
capacities as such) and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and
assigns, of and from, all Liabilities whatsoever of every name and nature, whether at law or
in equity (including any right of contribution), whether arising under any Contract, by
operation of law or otherwise, existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or
failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions
existing or alleged to have existed on or before the Distribution Date, whether or not know
on the Distribution Date, whether fixed or contingent, and whether or not concealed or
hidden, including in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement
the Separation and the Distributions.
(b)
Nothing contained in
Section 5.1(a)
shall impair any right of any party
hereto (or any of the respective members of such partys Group) to enforce this Agreement,
any Ancillary Agreement or any other Contracts
that are contemplated by
Section 2.8(b)
or the applicable Schedules thereto,
nor shall anything contained in those sections be interpreted as terminating as of the
Distribution Date any rights under any such Contracts. For purposes of clarification,
nothing contained in
Section 5.1(a)
shall release any Person from:
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(i) any Liability provided in or resulting from any agreement among any member
of the ECC Group or the Company Group that is specified in
Section 2.8(b)
or
the applicable Schedules thereto as not to terminate as of the Distribution Date, or
any other Liability specified in such
Section 2.8(b)
as not to terminate as
of the Distribution Date;
(ii) any Liability, contingent or otherwise, assumed, transferred, assigned or
allocated to the Group of which such Person is a member in accordance with, or any
other Liability of any member of any Group under, this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement;
(iii) any Liability for the sale, lease, construction or receipt of goods,
property or services purchased, obtained or used in the ordinary course of business
by a member of one Group from a member of any other Group prior to the Distribution
Date;
(iv) any Liability for unpaid amounts for products or services or refunds owing
on products or services due on a value-received basis for work done by a member of
one Group at the request or on behalf of a member of another Group;
(v) any Liability that the parties may have with respect to indemnification or
contribution pursuant to this Agreement for claims brought against the parties by
third Persons, which Liability shall be governed by the provisions of this
Article V
and
Article VI
and, if applicable, the appropriate
provisions of the Ancillary Agreements; or
(vi) any Liability the release of which would result in the release of any
Person other than a Person released pursuant to this
Section 5.1
.
In
addition, nothing contained in
Section 5.1(a)
shall release any party hereto from
honoring its existing obligations to indemnify any director, officer or employee of either Group
who was a director, officer or employee of such party on or prior to the Distribution Date, to the
extent that such director, officer or employee becomes a named defendant in any litigation
involving such party and was entitled to such indemnification pursuant to then existing
obligations.
(c) ECC shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the ECC Group to make,
any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any
claim of contribution or any indemnification, against the Company or any member of the
Company Group or any other Person released pursuant to
Section 5.1(a)
, with respect
to any Liabilities released pursuant to
Section 5.1(a)
. The Company shall not make,
and shall not permit any other member of the Company Group to make, any claim or demand, or
commence any Action asserting any claim or demand,
including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against Company or any
other member of Company Group or any other Person released pursuant to
Section
5.1(a)
, with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to
Section 5.1(a)
.
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(d) It is the intent of ECC and the Company by virtue of the provisions of this
Section 5.1
to provide for a full and complete release and discharge of all
Liabilities existing or arising from all acts and events occurring or failing to occur or
alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur and all conditions existing or alleged
to have existed on or before the Distribution Date, between or among ECC or any member of
the ECC Group, on the one hand, and the Company or any member of the Company Group, on the
other hand (including any contractual agreements or arrangements existing or alleged to
exist between or among any such members on or before the Distribution Date), except as
expressly set forth in
Section 5.1(b)
. At any time, at the request of any other
party, each party shall cause each member of its respective Group to execute and deliver
releases reflecting the provisions hereof.
Section 5.2
Indemnification by ECC
. Except as provided in
Section 5.6
and
Section 5.7
and subject to
Section 9.1
, ECC shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Company, each member of the Company Group and each of their respective current and
former directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns
of any of the foregoing (collectively, the
Company Indemnified Parties
), from and against
any and all Liabilities of the Company Indemnified Parties relating to, arising out of or resulting
from any of the following items (without duplication):
(a) the failure of ECC or any other member of the ECC Group or any other Person to pay,
perform or otherwise promptly discharge any Liabilities of the ECC Group other than the
Assumed Liabilities whether prior to or after the date hereof;
(b) the Consumer Business or any Liability of the ECC Group (including the Excluded
Assumed Liabilities) other than the Assumed Liabilities, except as set forth in clause (c)
below;
(c) any Assumed Liability that relates to, arises out of or results from Intellectual
Property Liabilities, existing or arising from acts or events occurring or failing to occur
or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing or alleged
to have existed on or before the Distribution Date or after the Distribution Date if
relating to, arising out of or resulting from acts or omissions by ECC or any member of the
ECC Group;
(d) any breach of, or failure to perform or comply with, any covenant, undertaking or
obligation of, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements, by ECC or any member of the ECC
Group; and
(e) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent
relating to ECC Group contained in the Registration Statement, the Information
Statement, the Schedule 14C information statement or any other registration statements filed
by the Company or ECC in connection with the Distribution.
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Section 5.3
Indemnification by the Company
. Except as provided in
Section 5.6
and
Section 5.7
and subject to
Section 9.1
, the Company shall indemnify defend and
hold harmless ECC, each member of the ECC Group and each of their respective current and former
directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any
of the foregoing (collectively, the
ECC Indemnified Parties
) from and against any and all
Liabilities of the ECC Indemnified Parties relating to, arising out of or resulting from any of the
following items (without duplication):
(a) the failure of the Company or any other member of the Company Group or any other
Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any Assumed Liabilities in accordance
with their respective terms, whether prior to or after the date hereof;
(b) the Company Business or any Assumed Liability, except as set forth in clause (c)
below;
(c) any Assumed Liability that relates to, arises out of or results from Intellectual
Property Liabilities, existing or arising from acts or events occurring or failing to occur
or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing or alleged
to have existed after the Distribution Date if relating to, arising out of or resulting from
acts or omissions by the Company or any member of the Company Group;
(d) any breach of, or failure to perform or comply with, any covenant, undertaking or
obligation of, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements, by the
Company or any member of the Company Group;
(e) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent relating to the Company
Group contained in the Registration Statement, the Information Statement or any other
registration statements filed by the Company in connection with the Distribution.
Section 5.4
Tax Indemnification
. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
indemnification for matters subject to the Tax Sharing Agreement is governed by the terms,
provisions and procedures of the Tax Sharing Agreement and not by this
Article V
.
Section 5.5
Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts
.
(a) The parties hereto intend that any Liability subject to indemnification or
reimbursement pursuant to this
Article V
or
Article VI
will be net of
Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of the Liability. Accordingly, the
amount which any party hereto (an
Indemnifying Party
) is required to pay to any
Person entitled to indemnification hereunder (an
Indemnified Party
) will be
reduced by any Insurance Proceeds theretofore actually received, realized or recovered by or
on behalf of the Indemnified Party in reduction of the related Liability. If an Indemnified
Party receives a
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payment (an
Indemnity Payment
) required by this Agreement from an
Indemnifying Party in respect of any Liability and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds
that actually reduce the amount of the Liability, then the Indemnified Party will pay to the
Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment received over the
amount of the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if the Insurance Proceeds had been
received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment was made.
(b) In the case of any Shared Contingent Liability, any Insurance Proceeds actually
received, realized or recovered by any party hereto in respect of the Shared Contingent
Liability will be shared among the parties hereto in such manner as may be necessary so that
the obligations of the parties hereto for such Shared Contingent Liability, net of such
Insurance Proceeds, will remain in proportion to their respective Shared Percentages,
regardless of which party or parties hereto may actually receive, realize or recover such
Insurance Proceeds.
(c) An insurer who would otherwise be obligated to pay any claim shall not be relieved
of the responsibility with respect thereto or, solely by virtue of the indemnification
provisions hereof, have any subrogation rights with respect thereto, it being expressly
understood and agreed that no insurer or any other third party shall be entitled to a
wind-fall (
i.e.
, a benefit they would not be entitled to receive in the absence of
the indemnification provisions) by virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof. Nothing
contained in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement shall obligate any member of any
Group to seek to collect or recover any Insurance Proceeds;
provided
, that such
member is capable of fulfilling and meeting any of its obligations as an Indemnifying Party
under this Agreement (including, but not limited to the ability to make a full payment on
any indemnification obligation).
Section 5.6
Procedures for Indemnification of Third Party Claims
.
(a) If an Indemnified Party shall receive notice or otherwise learn of the assertion by
a Person (including any Governmental Authority) who is not a member of the ECC Group or the
Company Group of any claim or of the commencement by any such Person of any Action
(collectively, a
Third Party Claim
) with respect to which an Indemnifying Party
may be obligated to provide indemnification to such Indemnified Party pursuant to
Section 5.2
or
Section 5.3
or any other section of this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, such Indemnified Party shall give such Indemnifying Party written
notice thereof within twenty (20) days after becoming aware of such Third Party Claim. Any
such notice shall describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail. If any Person shall
receive notice or otherwise learn of the assertion of a Third Party Claim which may
reasonably be determined to be a Shared Contingent Liability, such Person shall give the
other party to this Agreement written notice thereof within twenty (20) days after becoming
aware of such Third Party Claim. Any such notice shall describe the Third Party Claim in
reasonable detail. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of any Indemnified Party or
other Person to give notice as provided in this
Section 5.6(a)
shall not relieve the
related Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this
Article V
, except
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to the
extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice.
(b)
If the Indemnifying Party receiving any notice pursuant to
Section 5.6(a)
or the Indemnified Party believes that the Third Party Claim is or may be a Shared
Contingent Liability, such Indemnified Party or other party may make a Determination Request
at any time following any notice given by the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party.
ECC shall be entitled (but not obligated) to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim as
if it were the Indemnifying Party hereunder until a determination on whether such Third
Party Claim is a Shared Contingent Liability. In any such event, ECC shall be entitled to
reimbursement of all the costs and expenses of such defense once a final determination or
acknowledgment is made as to the status of the Third Party Claim;
provided
, that, if
such Third Party Claim is determined to be a Shared Contingent Liability, such costs and
expenses shall be shared as provided in
Section 5.6(c)
. If it is determined by the
parties hereto or the Contingent Claim Committee that the Third Party Claim is a Shared
Contingent Liability, the Indemnifying Party determined to have a majority of the Shared
Percentage of such Shared Contingent Liability shall assume the defense of such Third Party
Claim;
provided
, that such Indemnifying Party is solvent. If the Indemnifying Party
with a majority of the Shared Contingent Liability is insolvent, the Indemnifying Party with
less than a majority of the Shared Contingent Liability shall be entitled (but not
obligated) to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim.
(c) The costs and expenses of assuming the defense of any Third Party Claim that is a
Shared Contingent Liability (subject to
Section 5.6(b)
), and/or seeking to settle or
compromise (subject to
Section 5.6(g)
) shall be included in the calculation of the
amount of the applicable Shared Contingent Liability in determining the reimbursement
obligations of the other parties with respect thereto pursuant to
Section 6.3
. Any
Indemnified Party in respect of a Shared Contingent Liability shall have the right to employ
separate counsel and to participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise, or
settlement thereof, but all fees and expenses of such counsel shall be the expense of such
Indemnified Party.
(d) Other than in the case of a Shared Contingent Liability, an Indemnifying Party may
elect to defend (and, unless the Indemnifying Party has specified any reservations or
exceptions, to seek to settle or compromise), at such Indemnifying Partys own expense and
by such Indemnifying Partys own counsel, any Third Party Claim.
Within thirty (30) days after the receipt of notice from an Indemnified Party in
accordance with
Section 5.6(a)
(or sooner, if the nature of such Third Party Claim
so requires), the Indemnifying Party shall notify the Indemnified Party of its election
whether the Indemnifying Party will assume responsibility for defending such Third Party
Claim, which election shall specify any reservations or exceptions. After notice from an
Indemnifying Party to an Indemnified Party of its election to assume the defense of a Third
Party Claim, such Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to
participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise, or settlement thereof, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be the expense of such Indemnified Party.
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(e) Other than in the case of a Shared Contingent Liability, if an Indemnifying Party
elects not to assume responsibility for defending a Third Party Claim, or fails to notify an
Indemnified Party of its election as provided in
Section 5.6(d)
, such Indemnified
Party may defend such Third Party Claim at the cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party.
(f) Unless the Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the defense of the Third Party
Claim in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, no Indemnified Party may settle or
compromise any Third Party Claim that is not a Shared Contingent Liability without the
consent of the Indemnifying Party. No Indemnified Party may settle or compromise any Third
Party Claim that is a Shared Contingent Liability without the consent of the Indemnifying
Party that is entitled to or has assumed the defense of such Third Party Claim.
(g) In the case of a Third Party Claim that is not a Shared Contingent Liability, no
Indemnifying Party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement of
the Third Party Claim without the consent of the Indemnified Party if the effect thereof is
to permit any injunction, declaratory judgment, other order or other nonmonetary relief to
be entered, directly or indirectly against any Indemnified Party. In the case of a Third
Party Claim that is a Shared Contingent Liability, the Indemnifying Party that has assumed
the defense of such Third Party Claim shall not consent to entry of any judgment or enter
into any settlement of the Third Party Claim without the consent of the Indemnified Party if
the effect thereof is to permit any injunction, declaratory judgment, other order or other
nonmonetary relief to be entered, directly or indirectly, against any Indemnified Party;
provided
,
however
, the Indemnifying Party shall not need to obtain the
consent of the Indemnified Party if the Indemnified Party is insolvent.
Section 5.7
Procedures for Indemnification of Direct Claims
. Any claim for
indemnification made directly by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party that does not
result from a Third Party Claim shall be asserted by written notice from the Indemnified Party to
the Indemnifying Party specifically claiming indemnification hereunder. Such Indemnifying Party
shall have a period of forty five (45) days after the receipt of such notice within which to
respond thereto. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such forty-five (45)-day
period, such Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have accepted responsibility to make payment and
shall have no further right to contest the
validity of such claim. If such Indemnifying Party does respond within such forty (45)-day
period and rejects such claim in whole or in part, such Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue
resolution as provided in
Article VIII
.
Section 5.8
Payments
. The Indemnifying Party shall pay all amounts payable pursuant
to this
Article V
by wire transfer of immediately available funds, promptly following
receipt from an Indemnified Party of a bill, together with all accompanying reasonably detailed
backup documentation, for a Liability that is the subject of indemnification hereunder, unless the
Indemnifying Party in good faith disputes the Liability, in which event it shall so notify the
Indemnified Party. In any event, the Indemnifying Party shall pay to the Indemnified Party, by
wire transfer of immediately available funds, the amount of any Liability for which it is liable
hereunder no later than three (3) days following any final determination of such Liability and the
-42-
Indemnifying Partys liability therefor. A
final determination
shall exist when (a) the
parties to the dispute have reached an agreement in writing, (b) a court of competent jurisdiction
shall have entered a final and non-appealable order or judgment or (c) an arbitration or like panel
shall have rendered a final non-appealable determination with respect to disputes the parties have
agreed to submit thereto.
Section 5.9
Contribution
. If the indemnification provided for in this
Article V
shall, for any reason, be unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless the
Indemnified Party hereunder in respect of any Liability, then each Indemnifying Party shall, in
lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Liability, in such proportion as shall be sufficient to place
the Indemnified Party in the same position as if such Indemnified Party were indemnified hereunder,
the parties hereto intending that their respective contributions hereunder be as close as possible
to the indemnification under
Section 5.2
and
Section 5.3
. If the contribution
provided for in the previous sentence shall, for any reason, be unavailable or insufficient to put
the Indemnified Party in the same position as if it were indemnified
under
Section 5.2
or
Section 5.3
, as the case may be, then the Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Liability, in such proportion as
shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by and the relative fault of the
Indemnifying Party on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on the other hand with respect to the
matter giving rise to the Liability.
Section 5.10
Remedies Cumulative
. The remedies provided in this
Article V
shall be cumulative and, subject to the provisions of
Article VIII
, shall not preclude
assertion by any Indemnified Party of any other rights or the seeking of any and all other remedies
against any Indemnifying Party.
Section 5.11
Survival of Indemnities
. The rights and obligations of each of ECC and
the Company and their respective Indemnified Parties under this
Article V
shall survive the
distribution, sale or other transfer by any party hereto of any Assets or the delegation or
assignment by it of any Liabilities.
ARTICLE VI
CONTINGENT GAINS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
Section 6.1
Contingent Gains
.
(a) ECC shall have the sole and exclusive right to any benefit received with respect to
any Exclusive ECC Contingent Gain. ECC shall have the sole and exclusive authority to
commence, prosecute, settle, manage, control, conduct, waive, forego, release, discharge,
forgive and otherwise determine all matters whatsoever with respect to any Exclusive ECC
Contingent Gain.
(b) The Company shall have the sole and exclusive right to any benefit received with
respect to any Exclusive Company Contingent Gain. The Company shall have the sole and
exclusive authority to commence, prosecute, settle, manage, control,
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conduct, waive, forego,
release, discharge, forgive and otherwise determine all matters whatsoever with respect to
any Exclusive Company Contingent Gain.
(c) Any benefit that may be received from any Shared Contingent Gain shall be shared
between ECC and the Company in proportion to the Shared ECC Percentage and the Shared
Company Percentage, respectively, and shall be paid in accordance with
Section 6.4
.
If it is determined by the parties hereto or the Contingent Claim Committee that a
Contingent Gain is a Shared Contingent Gain, the party hereto determined to have a majority
of the Shared Percentage of such Shared Contingent Gain shall have the sole and exclusive
authority to commence, prosecute, settle, manage, control, conduct, waive, forgo, release,
discharge, forgive and otherwise determine all matters whatsoever with respect to such
Shared Contingent Gain. The party hereto with a minority interest in such Shared Contingent
Gain shall not take, or permit any member of its Group to take, any action (including
commencing any claim) that would interfere with such rights and powers of the other party.
The party with a majority of the Shared Percentage of such Shared Contingent Gain shall use
its reasonable best efforts to notify the other party in the event that it commences an Action with
respect to a Shared Contingent Gain;
provided
, that the failure to provide such
notice shall not give rise to any rights on the part of the other party against such party
or affect any other provision of this
Section 6.1
. The party with a majority of the
Shared Percentage of such Shared Contingent Gain may elect not to pursue any Shared
Contingent Gain for any reason whatsoever (including a different assessment of the merits of
any Action, claim or right than the other party or any business reasons that are in the best
interests of such party or a member of such partys Group, without regard to the best
interests of any member of the other Group) and no member of the Group with a majority
interest in such Shared Contingent Gain shall have any liability to any Person (including
any member of the other Group) as a result of any such determination.
(d) In the event of any dispute as to whether any claim or right is a Contingent Gain
or whether any Contingent Gain is a Shared Contingent Gain, an Exclusive ECC
Contingent Gain or an Exclusive Company Contingent Gain, ECC may, but shall not be
obligated to, commence prosecution or other assertion of such claim or right pending
resolution of such dispute. In the event that ECC commences any such prosecution or
assertion and, upon resolution of the dispute, it is determined hereunder that the Company
has the exclusive right to such claim or right, ECC shall, promptly upon the request of the
Company, discontinue the prosecution or assertion of such right or claim and transfer the
control thereof to the Company. In such event, the Company will reimburse ECC for all costs
and expenses, reasonably incurred prior to resolution of such dispute in the prosecution or
assertion of such claim or right.
Section 6.2
Exclusive Contingent Liabilities
. Each Exclusive Contingent Liability
shall constitute a Liability for which indemnification is provided by ECC or the Company, as the
case may be, pursuant to
Article V
and shall be subject to the procedures set forth in
Article V
with respect thereto.
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Section 6.3
Shared Contingent Liabilities
.
(a)
As set forth in
Section 5.6(c)
and subject to
Section 5.6(g)
, any
Third Party Claim that is a Shared Contingent Liability, and the costs and expenses thereof,
shall be included in the calculation of the amount of the applicable Shared Contingent
Liability in determining the reimbursement obligations of the other parties with respect
thereto pursuant to this
Section 6.3
.
(b) Each of ECC and the Company shall be responsible for its Shared Percentage of any
Shared Contingent Liability. It shall not be a defense to any obligation by any party to
pay any amount in respect of any Shared Contingent Liability that such party was not
consulted in the defense thereof, that such partys views or opinions as to the conduct of
such defense were not accepted or adopted, that such party does not approve of the quality
or manner of the defense thereof or that such Shared Contingent Liability was incurred by
reason of a settlement rather than by a judgment or other determination of liability (even
if, subject to
Section 5.6(g)
, such settlement was effected without the consent or
over the objection of such party).
Section 6.4
Payments
. Any amount owed in respect of (i) any Shared Contingent Liabilities
(including reimbursement for the cost or expense of defense of any Third Party Claim that is a
Shared Contingent Liability), or (ii) any Shared Contingent Gains (including reimbursement for the
costs or expenses to commence, prosecute or settle matters with respect to a Shared Contingent
Gain), pursuant to this
Article VI
shall be remitted promptly after the party entitled to
such amount provides an invoice (including reasonable supporting information with respect thereto)
to the party owing such amount.
Section 6.5
Procedures to Determine Status of Contingent Liability or Contingent Gain
.
(a) With respect to the Actions set forth on
Schedule 6.5
, and with respect to
any other matters not set forth on
Schedules 1.2
,
1.3
,
1.4
,
1.5
,
1.7
or
1.8
(regardless of whether such matters are currently
pending but not set forth on such Schedules or are asserted or filed hereafter), ECC and the
Company will form the Contingent Claim Committee for (x) the purpose of resolving whether:
(i) any claim or right is a Contingent Gain;
(ii) any Contingent Gain is a Shared Contingent Gain, an Exclusive ECC
Contingent Gain or an Exclusive Company Contingent Gain;
(iii) any Liability is a Contingent Liability; or
(iv) any Contingent Liability is a Shared Contingent Liability, an Exclusive
ECC Contingent Liability or an Exclusive Company Contingent Liability.
and (y) for the purpose of determining the Shared Company Percentage and the Shared ECC Percentage
in connection with Shared Contingent Gains and Shared Contingent Liabilities.
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(b) (i) the parties hereto shall refer any Shared Contingent Gain or Shared Contingent
Liability to the Contingent Claim Committee to determine the Shared Company Percentage and
the Shared ECC Percentage in connection with such Shared Contingent Gain or Shared
Contingent Liability and (ii) any of the parties hereto may refer any potential Contingent
Gains or Contingent Liabilities to the Contingent Claim Committee for resolution as
described in Section 6.5(a). If the Contingent Claim Committee reaches a determination
(which shall be made within thirty (30) days of such referral on a matter submitted to the
Contingent Claim Committee by any of the parties hereto), then that determination shall be
binding on all of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. In the
event that the Contingent Claim Committee cannot reach a determination as to (i) the
appropriate allocation of Contingent Gains or Contingent Liabilities between the parties
hereto in connection with Shared Contingent Gains or Shared Contingent Liabilities,
respectively, or (ii) as to the nature or status of any such Contingent Liabilities or
Contingent Gains, within thirty (30) days after such referral, then the issue will be
submitted to the respective Senior Party Representative of ECC and the Company for
determination. If the Senior Party Representatives cannot reach a determination, then the
procedures set forth in Article VIII of this Agreement shall govern.
Section 6.6
Certain Case Allocation Matters
. The parties hereto agree that if any
Action not set forth on
Schedules 1.2
,
1.3
,
1.4
,
1.5
,
1.7
or
1.8
involves separate and distinct claims that, if not joined in a single Action, would
constitute separate Exclusive Contingent Liabilities of two or more parties, they will use their
reasonable best efforts to segregate such separate and distinct claims so that the Liabilities
associated with each such claim (including all costs and expenses) shall be treated as Exclusive
Contingent Liabilities of the appropriate party and so that each party shall have the rights
and obligations with respect to each such claim (including pursuant to
Article V
) as would
have been applicable had such claims been commenced as separate Actions. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions, this
Section 6.6
shall not apply to any separate and distinct claim
that is de minimis or frivolous in nature.
Section 6.7
Termination of Certain Article VI Provisions
. The provisions set forth in
this
Article VI
related to the sharing of Contingent Gains and Contingent Liabilities shall
terminate on the second anniversary of the Distribution Date except for (i) any claim or action
pending or asserted by either party hereto on or prior to such termination, or (ii) any claim or
action related to any matter that has a statute of limitations that extends beyond such termination
date. Any claim or action referred to in (i) and (ii) above shall survive until the later of the
final determination applicable to any such claim or action or for the applicable statute of
limitations covering such claim or action as applicable.
ARTICLE VII
INSURANCE
Section 7.1
Insurance Matters
.
(a) The Company does hereby, for itself and each other member of the Company Group,
agree that no member of the ECC Group or any ECC Indemnified Party
-46-
shall have any liability
whatsoever as a result of the insurance policies and practices of ECC and its Affiliates as
in effect at any time prior to the Effective Time, including as a result of the level or
scope of any such insurance, the creditworthiness of any insurance carrier, the terms and
conditions of any policy, the adequacy or timeliness of any notice to any insurance carrier
with respect to any claim or potential claim or otherwise.
(b) ECC agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the interest and rights of
the Company and the other members of the Company Group as of the Effective Time as insureds,
additional named insureds or beneficiaries or in any other capacity under occurrence-based
insurance policies and programs (and under claims-made policies and programs to the extent a
claim has been submitted prior to the Effective Time) of ECC or any other member of the ECC
Group in respect of periods prior to the Effective Time to survive the Effective Time for
the period for which such interests and rights would have survived without regard to the
transactions contemplated hereby to the extent permitted by such policies, and ECC shall
continue to administer such policies and programs on behalf of the Company and the other
members of the Company Group, subject to the Companys reimbursement to ECC and the other
relevant members of the ECC Group for the actual out-of-pocket costs of such ongoing
administration and the internal costs (based on the proportion of the amount of time
actually spent on such matter to such employees normal working time) of any employee or
agent of ECC of any other relevant member of the ECC Group who will be required to spend at
least [ten
percent (10%) of his or her normal working time over any ten (10) Business Days working
with respect to any such matter]. Any proceeds received by ECC or any other member of the
ECC Group after the Effective Time under such policies and programs in respect of the
Company and the other members of the Company Group shall be for the benefit of the Company
and the other members of the Company Group.
(c) This Agreement is not intended as an attempted assignment of any policy of
insurance or as a contract of insurance and shall not be construed to waive any right or
remedy of any member of the ECC Group in respect of any insurance policy or any other
contract or policy of insurance.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to restrict any member of the Company
Group from acquiring at its own expense any other insurance policy in respect of any
Liabilities or covering any period.
ARTICLE VIII
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Section 8.1
Agreement to Resolve Disputes
. Except as otherwise specifically provided
in any Ancillary Agreement, the procedures for discussion, negotiation and dispute resolution set
forth in this
Article VIII
shall apply to all disputes, controversies or claims (whether
sounding in contract, tort or otherwise) that may arise out of or relate to, or arise under or in
connection with this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including all actions taken in furtherance of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby on or prior to the date hereof), or the commercial or
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economic relationship of the parties hereto relating hereto or thereto, between or among any member
of the ECC Group on the one hand and the Company Group on the other hand. Each party hereto agrees
on behalf of itself and each member of its respective Group that the procedures set forth in this
Article VIII
shall be the sole and exclusive remedy in connection with any dispute,
controversy or claim relating to any of the foregoing matters and irrevocably waives any right to
commence any Action in or before any Governmental Authority, except as otherwise required by
Applicable Law.
Section 8.2
Dispute Resolution; Mediation
.
(a) Either party hereto may commence the dispute resolution process of this
Section
8.2
by giving the other party hereto written notice (a
Dispute Notice
) of any
controversy, claim or dispute of whatever nature arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the breach, termination, enforceability or validity thereof (a
Dispute
) which has not been resolved in the normal course of business. The parties
hereto shall attempt in good faith to resolve any Dispute by negotiation between executives
of each party hereto (
Senior Party Representatives
) who have authority to settle
the Dispute and who are at a higher level of management than the persons who have direct
responsibility for the administration of this Agreement. Within fifteen (15) days after
delivery of the Dispute Notice, the receiving party shall submit to the other a written
response (the
Response
). The Dispute Notice and the Response shall include (i) a
statement setting forth the position of the party giving such notice and a summary of
arguments supporting such position and (ii) the name and title of such partys Senior Party
Representative and any other persons who will accompany the Senior Party Representative at
the meeting at which the parties hereto will attempt to settle the Dispute. Within thirty
(30) days after the delivery of the Dispute Notice, the Senior Party Representatives of both
parties hereto shall meet at a mutually acceptable time and place, and thereafter as often
as they reasonably deem necessary, to attempt to resolve the Dispute. The parties hereto
shall cooperate in good faith with respect to any reasonable requests for exchanges of
information regarding the Dispute or a Response thereto.
(b) If the Dispute has not been resolved within sixty (60) days after delivery of the
Dispute Notice, or if the parties hereto fail to meet within thirty (30) days after delivery
of the Dispute Notice as hereinabove provided, the parties hereto shall make a good faith
attempt to settle the Dispute by mediation pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 8.2
before resorting to arbitration contemplated by
Section 8.3
or any other dispute resolution procedure that may be agreed by the
parties hereto.
(c) All negotiations, conferences and discussions pursuant to this
Section 8.2
shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations.
Nothing said or disclosed, nor any document produced, in the course of such negotiations,
conferences and discussions that is not otherwise independently discoverable shall be
offered or received as evidence or used for impeachment or for any other purpose in any
current or future arbitration.
(d) Unless the parties hereto agree otherwise, the mediation shall be conducted in
accordance with the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution Model Procedure
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for Mediation of
Business Disputes in effect on the date of this Agreement by a mediator mutually selected by
the parties hereto.
(e) Within thirty (30) days after the mediator has been selected as provided above,
both parties hereto and their respective attorneys shall meet with the mediator for one (1)
mediation session, it being agreed that each party representative attending such mediation
session shall be a Senior Party Representative with authority to settle the Dispute. If the
Dispute cannot be settled at such mediation session or at any mutually agreed continuation
thereof, either party hereto may give the other and the mediator a written notice declaring
the mediation process at an end.
(f) Costs of the mediation shall be borne equally by the parties involved in the
matter, except that each party hereto shall be responsible for its own expenses.
Section 8.3
Arbitration
.
(a) Subject to
Section 8.3(b)
, if the Dispute has not been resolved by the
dispute resolution process described in
Section 8.2
, the parties hereto agree that
any such
Dispute shall be settled by binding arbitration before the American Arbitration
Association (
AAA
) in Denver, Colorado pursuant to the Commercial Rules of the AAA.
Any arbitrator(s) selected to resolve the Dispute shall be bound exclusively by the laws of
the State of New York without regard to its choice of law rules. Any decisions of award of
the arbitrator(s) will be final and binding upon the parties hereto and may be entered as a
judgment by the parties hereto. Any rights to appeal or review such award by any court or
tribunal are hereby waived to the extent permitted by Applicable Law.
(b) Any Dispute regarding the following is not required to be negotiated or mediated
prior to seeking relief from an arbitrator: (i) breach
of any obligation of confidentiality; and (ii) any other claim where interim relief from the
arbitrator is sought to prevent serious and irreparable injury to one of the
parties hereto. However, the parties hereto to the Dispute shall make a good faith effort
to negotiate and mediate such Dispute, according to the above procedures, while such
arbitration is pending.
(c) Costs of the arbitration shall be borne equally by the parties involved in the
matter, except that each party hereto shall be responsible for its own expenses.
Section 8.4
Continuity of Service and Performance
. Unless otherwise agreed in
writing, the parties hereto will continue to provide service and honor all other commitments under
this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the
provisions of this
Article VIII
with respect to all matters not subject to such Dispute.
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ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1
Limitation of Liability
. In no event shall any member of the ECC Group or
the Company Group be liable to any member of the other Group for any special, consequential,
indirect, collateral, incidental or punitive damages or lost profits or failure to realize expected
savings or other commercial or economic loss of any kind, however caused and on any theory of
liability (including negligence) arising in any way out of this Agreement, whether or not such
Person has been advised of the possibility of any such damages;
provided
,
however
,
that the foregoing limitations shall not limit either partys hereto indemnification obligations
for Liabilities with respect to Third Party Claims as set forth in
Article V
. The
provisions of
Article V
and
Article VIII
shall be the parties hereto sole recourse for any breach hereof
or any breach of the Ancillary Agreements.
Section 9.2
Counterparts
. This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become
effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties thereto and
delivered to the other party or parties.
Section 9.3
Entire Agreement
. This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements,
and the Schedules and Exhibits hereto and thereto constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all previous agreements, negotiations,
discussions, understandings, writings, commitments and conversations between the parties hereto
with respect to such subject matter. No agreements or understandings exist between the parties
hereto other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.
Section 9.4
Construction
. In this Agreement and each of the Ancillary
Agreements, unless a clear contrary intention appears:
(a) the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;
(b) reference to any Person includes such Persons successors and assigns but, if
applicable, only if such successors and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement or the
relevant Ancillary Agreement, and reference to a Person in a
particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually;
(c) reference to any gender includes each other gender;
(d) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document
or instrument as amended, modified, supplemented or restated, and in effect from time to
time in accordance with the terms thereof subject to compliance with the requirements set
forth herein or in the relevant Ancillary Agreement;
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(e) reference to any Applicable Law means such Applicable Law as amended, modified,
codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time,
including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and reference to any section or
other provision of any Applicable Law means that provision of such Applicable Law from time
to time in effect and constituting the substantive amendment, modification, codification,
replacement or reenactment of such section or other provision;
(f) herein, hereby, hereunder, hereof, hereto and words of similar import
shall be deemed references to this Agreement or to the relevant Ancillary Agreement as a whole and not to any particular article, section or other
provision hereof or thereof;
(g) including (and with correlative meaning include) means including without
limiting the generality of any description preceding such term;
(h) the Table of Contents and headings are for convenience of reference only and shall
not affect the construction or interpretation hereof or thereof;
(i) with respect to the determination of any period of time, from means from and
including and to means to but excluding; and
(j) references to documents, instruments or agreements shall be deemed to refer as well
to all addenda, exhibits, schedules or amendments thereto.
Section 9.5
Signatures
. Each party hereto acknowledges that it and the other party
hereto (and the other members of their respective Groups) may execute
this Agreement and each of the Ancillary
Agreements by facsimile, stamp or pdf signature. Each party hereto
expressly adopts and confirms each such facsimile, stamp or pdf signature made in its respective
name (or that of the applicable member of its Group) as if it were a manual signature, agrees that
it will not assert that any such signature is not adequate to bind such party to the same extent as
if it were signed manually and agrees that at the reasonable request of the other party hereto at
any time it will as promptly as reasonably practicable cause each
such Agreement and Ancillary
Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date
of the initial date thereof).
Section 9.6
Assignability
. Except as set forth in any Ancillary Agreement, this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto, respectively, and their
respective successors and permitted assigns;
provided
,
however
, that except as specifically
provided in any Ancillary Agreement, no party
hereto or thereto may assign (by merger, operation of law or
otherwise) its respective rights or delegate its respective obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other parties
hereto or thereto.
Section 9.7
Third Party Beneficiaries
. Except for the indemnification rights under
this Agreement of any ECC Indemnified Party or any Company Indemnified Party in their respective
capacities as such and for the release under
Section 5.2
of any Person provided therein and
except as specifically provided in any Ancillary Agreement, (a) the provisions of this Agreement
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and each Ancillary Agreement are solely for the benefit of the parties
hereto and thereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and are not intended to
confer upon any Person, except the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns, any rights or remedies hereunder and (b) there are no third party beneficiaries
of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; and neither this Agreement
nor any Ancillary Agreement shall provide any third party with any remedy,
claim, liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing
without reference to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
Section 9.8
Payment Terms
.
(a) Other than with respect to amounts payable pursuant to
Article V
(which are
covered by
Section 5.9
), any amount to be paid or reimbursed by one party to the
other under this Agreement shall be paid or reimbursed hereunder
within sixty (60) days
after presentation of an invoice or a written demand therefor and setting forth, or
accompanied by, reasonable documentation or other reasonable explanation supporting such
amount.
(b) Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary
Agreement, any amount not paid when due pursuant to this Agreement (and any amount billed or
otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that is not paid within thirty (30) days
of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the
Prime Rate plus 2% (or the maximum legal rate, whichever is lower),
calculated for the actual number of days elapsed, accrued from the date on which such
payment was due up to the date of the actual receipt of payment.
Section 9.9
Governing Law
. This
Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement and the legal relations between the parties hereto shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to
the conflict of laws rules thereof to the extent such rules would require the application of the
law of another jurisdiction.
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Section 9.10
Notices
. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be in writing, shall be delivered by hand or sent by facsimile or sent,
postage prepaid, by registered, certified or express mail or overnight courier service and shall be
deemed given when so delivered by hand or facsimile (upon receipt of confirmation), or if mailed,
one day after mailing, as follows:
If to ECC, to:
EchoStar Communications Corporation
9601 S. Meridian Blvd., Englewood, CO 80112
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (303) 723-1699
with a copy to:
White & Case LLP
1155 Avenues of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Daniel G. Dufner
Fax: (212) 403-2000
If to Company, to:
EchoStar Holding Corporation
90 Inverness Circle East, Englewood, CO 80112
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (303) 723-1699
with a copy to:
White & Case LLP
1155 Avenues of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Daniel G. Dufner
Fax: (212) 403-2000
Section 9.11
Severability
. If any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or
thereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other
than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or
legal substance of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, as the case may be, is not affected in any manner
adverse to any party hereto or thereto. Upon such determination, the parties hereto shall negotiate
in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the
original intent of the parties hereto.
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Section 9.12
Nonrecurring Costs and Expenses
. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, any nonrecurring costs and expenses incurred by the parties hereto to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby which are not allocated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
any Ancillary Agreement shall be the responsibility of the party which incurs such costs and
expenses.
Section 9.13
Publicity
. Prior to the Distribution Date, ECC shall be responsible for
issuing any press releases or otherwise making public statements with respect to this Agreement,
the Separation, the Distribution or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
and the Company shall not make such statements without the prior written consent of ECC. Prior to
the Distribution Date, ECC and the Company shall each consult with the other prior to making any
filings with any Governmental Authority with respect thereto.
Section 9.14
Survival of Covenants
. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement, any covenants, representations or warranties contained in this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall survive the Separation and Distribution and shall
remain in full force and effect.
Section 9.15
Waiver of Default; Conflicts
.
(a) Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived, or the time for its
performance may be extended, by the party or the parties hereto entitled to the benefit
thereof. Any such waiver shall be validly and sufficiently given for the purposes of this
Agreement if, as to any party hereto, it is in writing signed by an authorized
representative of such party.
(b) Waiver by any party hereto of any default by the other party hereto of any
provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver
by the waiving party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it in any way affect the
validity of this Agreement or any party hereof or prejudice the rights of the other party
thereafter to enforce each and ever such provision. No failure or delay by any party hereto
in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor
shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof
or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
(c) Each party hereto acknowledges that each of the parties hereto and each member of
their respective Group are all currently represented by members of ECCs
legal department and ECCs outside counsel. Each of ECC (on behalf of itself and every
member of its Group), on the one hand, and Company (on behalf of itself and every member of
its Group), on the other hand, waives any conflict with respect to such common
representation that may arise before, at or after the Distribution Date.
Section 9.16
Amendments
. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented, modified or
abandoned at any time prior to the Distribution Date by and in the sole and absolute discretion of
ECC without the approval of Company or of the stockholders of ECC. After the Effective Time, no
provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed amended, modified
or supplemented by any party hereto, unless such amendment,
-54-
supplement or modification is
in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the party against whom it is sought to
enforce such amendment, supplement or modification.
Section 9.19
Controlling Documents
. To the extent that the provisions of the Employee
Matters Agreement, the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement, the
Management Services Agreement, the Tax
Sharing Agreement or the Transition Services Agreement conflict with the provisions of this
Agreement, the provisions of such other agreement or agreements shall govern.
Section 9.20
Specific Performance
. The parties hereto agree that the remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement may be inadequate, and that, as between ECC and the Company, any
party hereto by whom this Agreement is enforceable shall be entitled to specific performance in
addition to any other appropriate relief or remedy. Such party may, in its sole discretion, apply
to a court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance or injunctive or such other relief as
such court may deem just and proper in order to enforce this Agreement as between ECC and the
Company, or prevent any violation hereof, and, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, as
between ECC and the Company, each party hereto waives any objection to the imposition of such
relief.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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WHEREFORE
, the parties have signed this Separation Agreement effective as of the date first
set forth above.
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ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
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Name:
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ECHOSTAR HOLDING CORPORATION
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Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
ECHOSTAR HOLDING CORPORATION
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of the corporation shall be ECHOSTAR HOLDING CORPORATION (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
Period of Duration
The Corporation shall exist in perpetuity, from and after the date of filing of its original
Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada unless dissolved
according to law.
ARTICLE III
Purposes
The purpose for which this Corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful acts and
activities for which corporations may be organized under the laws of the State of Nevada and to
exercise any powers permitted to corporations under the laws of the State of Nevada.
ARTICLE IV
Capital
1.
Authorized Capital Stock
. The total number of shares of capital stock which the
Corporation is authorized to issue shall be 4,020,000,000 shares, consisting of 4,000,000,000
shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (Common Stock), and 20,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (Preferred Stock).
2.
Common Stock
. Of the 4,000,000,000 shares of authorized Common Stock,
1,600,000,000 shares shall be designated Class A Common Stock (Class A Common Stock), 800,000,000
shares shall be designated Class B Common Stock (Class B Common Stock), 800,000,000 shares shall
be designated Class C Common Stock (Class C Common Stock) and 800,000,000 shares shall be
designated Class D Common Stock (Class D Common Stock).
1
3.
Preferred Stock
. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is hereby authorized
to provide, by resolution or resolutions adopted by such Board, for the issuance of Preferred Stock
from time to time in one or more classes and/or series, to establish the number of shares of each
such class or series, and to fix the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of
any of the shares of each such class or series, all to the full extent permitted by the Nevada
Revised Statutes (the NRS), or any successor law(s) of the State of Nevada. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors is authorized to provide that shares of a class
or series of Preferred Stock:
(1) are entitled to cumulative, partially cumulative or noncumulative dividends or
other distributions payable in cash, capital stock or indebtedness of the Corporation or
other property, at such times and in such amounts as are set forth in the Board resolutions
establishing such class or series or as are determined in a manner specified in such
resolutions;
(2) are entitled to a preference with respect to payment of dividends over one or more
other classes and/or series of capital stock of the Corporation;
(3) are entitled to a preference with respect to any distribution of assets of the
Corporation its liquidation, dissolution or winding up over one or more other classes and/or
series of capital stock of the Corporation in such amount as is set forth in the Board
resolutions establishing such class or series or as is determined in a manner specified in
such resolutions;
(4) are redeemable or exchangeable at the option of the Corporation and/or on a
mandatory basis for cash, capital stock or indebtedness of the Corporation or other
property, at such times or upon the occurrence of such events, and at such prices, as are
set forth in the Board resolutions establishing such class or series or as are determined in
a manner specified in such resolutions;
(5) are entitled to the benefits of such sinking fund, if any, as is required to be
established by the Corporation for the redemption and/or purchase of such shares by the
Board resolutions establishing such class or series;
(6) are convertible at the option of the holders thereof into shares of any other class
or series of capital stock of the Corporation, at such times or upon the occurrence of such
events, and upon such terms, as are set forth in the Board resolutions establishing such
class or series or as are determined in a manner specified in such resolutions;
(7) are exchangeable at the option of the holders thereof for cash, capital stock or
indebtedness of the Corporation or other property, at such times or upon the occurrence of
such events, and at such prices, as are set forth in the Board resolutions establishing such
class or series or as are determined in a manner specified in such resolutions;
(8) are entitled to such voting rights, if any, as are specified in the Board
resolutions establishing such class or series (including, without limiting the generality of
2
the foregoing, the right to elect one or more directors voting alone as a single class
or series or together with one or more other classes and/or series of Preferred Stock, if so
specified by such Board resolutions) at all times or upon the occurrence of specified
events; and
(9) are subject to restrictions on the issuance of additional shares of Preferred Stock
of such class or series or of any other class or series, or on the reissuance of shares of
Preferred Stock of such class or series or of any other class or series, or on increases or
decreases in the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock of such class or series or
of any other class or series.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing authorizations, any of the voting powers,
designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of a class or
series of Preferred Stock may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside the Board
resolutions establishing such class or series, all to the full extent permitted by the NRS. Unless
otherwise specified in the Board resolutions establishing a class or series of Preferred Stock,
holders of a class or series of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to cumulate their votes in
any election of directors in which they are entitled to vote and shall not be entitled to any
preemptive rights to acquire shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation.
ARTICLE V
Voting and Conversion Rights
1.
Voting Rights
.
(a) Except as otherwise required by law or, in any Preferred Stock Statement and Certificate
of Designations, Preferences and Rights (Certificate of Designations), with respect to all
matters upon which stockholders are entitled to vote or to which stockholders are entitled to give
consent, the holders of any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class
C Common Stock and Preferred Stock shall vote together without regard to class, and every holder of
any outstanding shares of the Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to
cast one vote in person or by proxy for each share of the Class A Common Stock and Class C Common
Stock held by such holder; every holder of any outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall be
entitled to cast ten votes in person or by proxy for each share of Class B Common Stock held by
such holder; and every holder of any outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
cast, in person or by proxy for each share of Preferred Stock held by such holder, the number of
votes specified in the applicable Certificate of Designations;
provided
however
, in
the event of a Change in Control of the Corporation, the holders of any outstanding shares of
Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to cast ten votes in person or by proxy for each share of
Class C Common Stock held by such holder. The Class D Common Stock shall be non-voting stock. As
used herein, a Change of Control of the Corporation means: (i) any transaction or series of
transactions, the result of which is that the Principals and their Related Parties (as such terms
are hereinafter defined), or an entity controlled by the Principals and their Related Parties,
cease to be the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13(d) (3) under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934) of at least 30% of the total equity interests of the Corporation and to have the voting
power to elect at least a
3
majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; or (ii) the first day on which a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation are not continuing directors.
Principals means Charles W. Ergen, James DeFranco, and David K. Moskowitz. Related Parties
means, with respect to any Principal: (y) the spouse and each immediate family member of such
Principal; and (z) each trust, corporation, partnership or other entity of which such Principal
beneficially holds an 80% or more controlling interest.
(b) A quorum for the purpose of shareholder meeting shall consist of a majority of the voting
power of the Corporation. If a quorum is present, the effective vote of a majority of the voting
power represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the
shareholders, unless the vote of a greater proportion or number is required by any provisions
contained in the NRS. Notwithstanding any provisions contained in the NRS requiring the vote of
shares possessing two-thirds of the voting power of the Corporation to take action, absent a
provision herein to the contrary, in the case of such provisions the affirmative vote of a majority
of the voting power shall be the act of the shareholders.
(c) Holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of
directors and shall not be entitled to any preemptive rights to acquire shares of any class or
series of capital stock of the Corporation. Subject to any preferential rights of holders of
Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive their pro rata shares, based
upon the number of shares of Common Stock held by them, of such dividends or other distributions as
may be declared by the Board of Directors from time to time and of any distribution of the assets
of the Corporation upon its liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or
involuntary.
2.
Conversion Rights
.
(a) Each share of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall be convertible at the
option of the holder thereof into Class A Common Stock of the Corporation in accordance with this
Article V
. In order to exercise the conversion privilege, a holder of Class B Common Stock
or Class C Common Stock shall surrender the certificate evidencing such Class B Common Stock or
Class C Common Stock to the Corporation at its principal office, duly endorsed to the Corporation
or, in the case of uncertificated shares, instruct the Corporations transfer agent to surrender
such shares to the Corporation and, in either case, accompanied by written notice to the
Corporation that the holder thereof elects to convert a specified portion or all of such shares.
Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock converted at the option of the holder shall be deemed
to have been converted on the day of surrender of the certificate representing such shares for
conversion in accordance with the foregoing provisions or, in the case of uncertificated shares, on
the day in which the Corporations transfer agent receives instruction to effect a book entry
transfer to the Corporation, and at such time the rights of the holder of such Class B Common Stock
or Class C Common Stock, as such holder, shall cease and such holder shall be treated for all
purposes as the record holder of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion. As promptly as
practicable on or after the conversion date, the Corporation shall issue and mail or deliver to
such holder a certificate or certificates for the number of Class A Common Stock issuable upon
conversion or shall instruct the Corporations transfer agent to effect a book entry transfer to
reflect such Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion, computed to the nearest one hundredth
of a full share, and a certificate or
4
certificates or book entry transfer for the balance of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common
Stock surrendered, if any, not so converted into Class A Common Stock.
(b) The Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall be convertible into one share of
Class A Common Stock for each share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock so converted
(the Conversion Rate). In the event the Corporation shall at any time subdivide or split its
outstanding Class A Common Stock, into a greater number of shares or declare any dividend payable
in Class A Common Stock, the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such subdivision, split
or dividend shall be proportionately increased, and conversely, in case the outstanding Class A
Common Stock of the Corporation shall be combined into a smaller number of shares, the Conversion
Rate in effect immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately decreased.
(c) Upon any adjustment of the Conversion Rate then and in each such case the Corporation
shall give written notice thereof, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
registered holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock at the addresses of such
holders as shown on the books of the Corporation, which notice shall state the Conversion Rate
resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares
receivable at such price upon the conversion of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock,
setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such
calculation is based.
(d) The holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall have the following
rights to certain properties received by the holders of Class A Common Stock:
(i) In case the Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution upon Class
A Common Stock payable other than in cash out of earnings or surplus or other than
in Class A Common Stock, then thereafter each holder of Class B Common Stock or
Class C Common Stock upon the conversion thereof will be entitled to receive the
number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which such Class B Common Stock or
Class C Common Stock shall be converted, and, in addition and without payment
therefor, the property which such holder would have received as a dividend if
continuously since the record date for any such dividend or distribution such
holder: (A) had been the record holder of the number of Class A Common Stock then
received; and (B) had retained all dividends or distributions originating directly
or indirectly from such Class A Common Stock.
(ii) If any capital reorganization or reclassification of the capital stock of
the Corporation, or consolidation or merger of the Corporation with another
corporation, or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets to another
corporation shall be effected in such a way that holders of Class A Common Stock
shall be entitled to receive stock, securities or assets with respect to or in
exchange for a Class A Common, then, as a condition of such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale, lawful and adequate provision shall
be made whereby the holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common
5
Stock shall thereafter have the right to receive, in lieu of Class A Common
Stock of the Corporation immediately theretofore receivable upon the conversion of
such Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, such shares of stock, securities
or assets as may be issued or payable with respect to or in exchange for a number of
outstanding Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Class A Common Stock
immediately theretofore receivable upon the conversion or such Class B Common Stock
and Class C Common Stock had such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation,
merger or sale not taken place, and in any such case appropriate provision shall be
made with respect to the rights and interests of the holders of the Class B Common
Stock and Class C Common Stock to the end that the provisions hereof (including
without limitation provisions for adjustments of the Conversion Rate and of the
number of shares receivable upon the conversion of such Class B Common Stock and
Class C Common Stock) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be, in
relation to any shares of stock, securities or assets thereafter receivable upon the
conversion of such Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock. The Corporation
shall not effect any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or
sale, unless prior to the consummation thereof the surviving corporation (if other
than the Corporation), the corporation resulting from such consolidation or the
corporation purchasing such assets shall assume by written instrument executed and
mailed to the registered holders of the Class B Common Stock and Class C Common
Stock at the last address of such holders appearing on the books of the Corporation,
the obligation to deliver to such holders such shares of stock, securities or assets
as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such holders may be entitled to
receive.
(e) In case at any time:
(iii) the Corporation shall pay any dividend payable in stock upon Class A
Common Stock or make any distribution (other than regular cash dividends to the
holders of Class A Common Stock); or
(iv) the Corporation shall offer for subscription pro rata to the holders of
Class A Common Stock any additional shares of stock of any class or other rights; or
(v) there shall be any capital reorganization, reclassification of the capital
stock of the Corporation, or consolidation or merger of the Corporation with, or
sale of all or substantially all of its assets, to another corporation
(
provided
however
, that this provision shall not be applicable to
the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another corporation if,
following such merger or consolidation, the shareholders of the Corporation
immediately prior to such merger or consolidation own at least 80% of the equity of
the combined entity); or
(vi) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Corporation;
6
then, in any one or more of the aforesaid cases, the Corporation shall give written notice, by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C
Common Stock at the addresses of such holders as shown on the books of the Corporation, of the date
on which: (A) the books of the Corporation shall close or a record shall be taken for such
dividend, distribution or subscription rights; or (B) such reorganization, reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up shall take place, as the case
may be. Such notice shall also specify the date as of which the holders of Class A Common Stock of
record shall participate in such dividend, distribution, or subscription rights, or shall be
entitled to exchange their Class A Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon
such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or
winding up, as the case may be. Such written notice shall be given at least 20 days prior to the
action in question and not less than 20 days prior to the record date or the date on which the
Corporations transfer books are closed in respect thereto.
ARTICLE VI
Board of Directors
The name and addresses of the first board of directors, which shall be seven (7) in number,
are as follows:
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NAME
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ADDRESS
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Charles W. Ergen
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90 Inverness Circle East,
Englewood, CO 80112
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Michael T. Dugan
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90 Inverness Circle East,
Englewood, CO 80112
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David K. Moskowitz
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90 Inverness Circle East,
Englewood, CO 80112
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Carl E. Vogel
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90 Inverness Circle East,
Englewood, CO 80112
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Stephen R. Goodbarn
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90 Inverness Circle East,
Englewood, CO 80112
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Tom A. Ortolf
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90 Inverness Circle East,
Englewood, CO 80112
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C. Michael Schroeder
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90 Inverness Circle East,
Englewood, CO 80112
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The number of directors shall be increased or decreased as prescribed by the Bylaws of the
Corporation.
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ARTICLE VII
Right of Directors to Contract with Corporation
The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct
of the affairs of the Corporation, and the same are in furtherance of and not in limitation of the
powers conferred by law.
1. No contract or other transaction between this Corporation and one or more of its directors
or any other corporation, firm, association, or entity in which one or more of its directors are
directors or officers or are financially interested shall be either void or voidable solely because
of such relationship or interest or solely because such directors are present at the meeting of the
Board of Directors or a committee thereof which authorizes, approves or ratifies such contract or
transaction or solely because their votes are counted for such purpose if:
(a) The material facts as to such relationship or interest and as to the contract or
transaction are disclosed or are otherwise known to the Board of Directors or committee and
the Board or committee authorizes, approves, or ratifies such contract or transaction by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though such directors
are less than a quorum; or
(b) The material facts of such relationship or interest and as to the contract or
transaction are disclosed or are otherwise known to the shareholders entitled to vote
thereon and they authorize, approve or ratify such contract or transaction by vote or
written consent; or
(c) The contract or transaction is fair and reasonable to the Corporation.
2. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a
meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof which authorizes, approves or ratifies
such contract or transaction.
ARTICLE VIII
Corporate Opportunity
1.
Certain Acknowledgements; Definitions
. The provisions of this Article VIII shall,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, delineate the doctrine of corporate opportunities, as it
applies to the Corporation, define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation and its
Subsidiaries and the Corporations and its Subsidiaries directors and officers as they may involve
EchoStar Communications Corporation (EchoStar) and its Subsidiaries, and the powers, rights,
duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and the Corporations and its
Subsidiaries directors, officers and employees in connection therewith. In recognition and
anticipation that (a) directors and officers of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries may serve as
directors, officers and employees of EchoStar and its Subsidiaries, (b) the Corporation and its
Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, may engage and are expected to continue to engage in the
same, similar or related lines of business as those engaged in by EchoStar and its Subsidiaries
8
and other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which EchoStar and
its Subsidiaries may engage, (c) the Corporation and its Subsidiaries may have an interest in the
same areas of business opportunity as EchoStar and its Subsidiaries, (d) the Corporation and its
Subsidiaries may engage in material business transactions with EchoStar and its Subsidiaries,
including, without limitation, receiving services from, providing services to or being a
significant customer or supplier to EchoStar and its Subsidiaries, and that the Corporation,
EchoStar and/or one or more of their respective Subsidiaries may benefit from such transactions,
and (e) as a consequence of the foregoing, it is in the best interests of the Corporation that the
rights of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, and the duties of any directors or officers of the
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, be determined and delineated in respect of (x) any
transactions between the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and EchoStar and its
Subsidiaries, on the other hand, and (y) any potential transactions or matters that may be
presented to officers and directors or the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, or of which such
officers or directors may otherwise become aware, which potential transactions or matters may
constitute business opportunities of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, and in recognition
of the benefits to be derived by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries through its continued
contractual, corporate and business relations with EchoStar and its Subsidiaries and of the
benefits to be derived by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries by the possible service as directors
or officers of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries of persons who may also serve from time to time
as directors, officers and employees of EchoStar or any of its Subsidiaries, the provisions of this
Article VIII shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, regulate and define the conduct of the
business and affairs of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries in relation to EchoStar and its
Subsidiaries, and as such conduct and affairs may involve EchoStars and its Subsidiaries
directors, officers and employees, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the
Corporation and its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors in connection
therewith and in connection with any potential business opportunities of the Corporation and its
Subsidiaries. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any shares of capital stock of the
Corporation, or any interest therein, shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to
the provisions of this Article VIII. For purposes of this Article VIII, Control and derivative
terms means the possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a person, whether through the possession of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and Subsidiary means, with respect to any person, any other person that such first
person directly or indirectly Controls. References in this Article VIII to directors, officers
or employees of any person shall be deemed to include those persons who hold similar positions or
exercise similar powers and authority with respect to any such person that is a limited liability
company, partnership, joint venture or other non-corporate entity or any close corporation governed
directly by its stockholders.
2.
Certain Agreements and Transactions Permitted
. No contract, agreement,
arrangement or transaction (or any amendment, modification or termination thereof) entered into
between the Corporation and/or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and EchoStar and/or any of
its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, before the Corporation ceased to be a wholly-owned subsidiary
of EchoStar shall be void or voidable or be considered unfair to the Corporation or any of its
Subsidiaries for the reason that EchoStar or any of its Subsidiaries is a party thereto, or because
any directors, officers or employees of EchoStar or a Subsidiary of EchoStar are a party thereto,
or because any directors, officers or employees of EchoStar or a Subsidiary of EchoStar were
present at or participated in any meeting of the board of directors, or committee thereof, of
9
the Corporation, or the board of directors, or committee thereof, of any Subsidiary of the
Corporation, that authorized the contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction (or any amendment,
modification or termination thereof), or because his, her or their votes were counted for such
purpose. The Corporation may from time to time enter into and perform, and cause or permit any of
its Subsidiaries to enter into and perform, one or more contracts, agreements, arrangements or
transactions (or amendments, modifications or supplements thereto) with EchoStar or any Subsidiary
thereof pursuant to which the Corporation or a Subsidiary thereof, on the one hand, and EchoStar or
a Subsidiary thereof, on the other hand, agree to engage in contracts, agreements, arrangements or
transactions of any kind or nature with each other, or agree to compete, or to refrain from
competing or to limit or restrict their competition, with each other, including to allocate and
cause their respective directors, officers and employees (including any such persons who are
directors, officers or employees of both) to allocate opportunities between, or to refer
opportunities to, each other. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no such contract, agreement,
arrangement or transaction (nor any such amendments, modifications or supplements), nor the
performance thereof by the Corporation, EchoStar or any Subsidiary of the Corporation or EchoStar,
shall be considered contrary to any fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation (or to any Subsidiary of
the Corporation, or to any stockholder of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries) by any
director or officer of the Corporation (or by any director or officer of any Subsidiary of the
Corporation) who is also a director, officer or employee of EchoStar or any Subsidiary thereof. To
the fullest extent permitted by law, no director or officer of the Corporation or any Subsidiary of
the Corporation who is also a director, officer or employee of EchoStar or any Subsidiary thereof
shall have or be under any fiduciary duty to the Corporation (or to any Subsidiary of the
Corporation, or to any stockholder of the Corporation of any of its Subsidiaries) to refrain from
acting on behalf of the Corporation or EchoStar, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, in
respect of any such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction or performing any such
contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction in accordance with its terms and each such director
or officer of the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation who is also a director, officer
or employee of EchoStar or any Subsidiary thereof shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and
in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation, and shall be deemed not to have breached his or her duties of loyalty to the
Corporation and their respective stockholders, and not to have derived an improper personal benefit
therefrom.
3.
Duties of Directors and Officers Regarding Potential Business Opportunities; No
Liability for Certain Acts or Omissions
. If a director or officer of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary of the Corporation is offered, or otherwise acquires knowledge of, a potential
transaction or matter that may constitute or present a business opportunity for the Corporation or
any of its Subsidiaries (any such transaction or matter, and any such actual or potential business
opportunity, a Potential Business Opportunity), such director or officer shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, have no duty or obligation to refer such Potential Business Opportunity to
the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, or to refrain from referring such Potential Business
Opportunity to any other person, or to give any notice to the Corporation or any of its
Subsidiaries regarding such Potential Business Opportunity (or any matter relating thereto), and
such director or officer will not be liable to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, as a
director, officer, stockholder or otherwise, for any failure to refer such Potential Business
Opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, or for referring such Potential Business
Opportunity to any other person, or for any failure to give any notice to the
10
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries regarding such Potential Business Opportunity or any
matter relating thereto,
unless
all of the following conditions are satisfied: (A) the
Corporation has expressed an interest in such business opportunity as determined from time to time
by the Corporations Board of Directors as evidenced by resolutions appearing in the Corporations
minutes; (B) such Potential Business Opportunity was expressly offered to such director or officer
solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation or as a director or
officer of any Subsidiary of the Corporation;
and
(C) such opportunity relates to a line of
business in which the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation is then directly engaged.
In the event the preceding conditions are satisfied with respect to a particular Potential Business
Opportunity, then such Potential Business Opportunity shall be offered first to the Corporation.
In the event the preceding conditions are satisfied and the Corporation declines to pursue such
Potential Business Opportunity, the directors, officers and other members of management of the
Corporation shall be free to engage in such Potential Business Opportunity on their own and this
paragraph shall not limit the right of any director, officer or other member of management of the
Corporation to continue a business existing prior to the time that such area of interest is
designated by the Corporation. This paragraph shall not be construed to release any employee of
this Corporation (other than a director, officer or member of management) from any duties which may
be owed to this Corporation.
4.
Amendment of Article VIII
. No alteration, amendment or repeal, or adoption of any
provision inconsistent with, any provision of this Article VIII shall have any effect upon (a) any
agreement between the Corporation or a Subsidiary thereof and EchoStar or a Subsidiary thereof that
was entered into before such time or any transaction entered into in connection with the
performance of any such agreement, whether such transaction is entered into before or after such
time, (b) any transaction entered into between the Corporation or a Subsidiary thereof and EchoStar
or a Subsidiary thereof before such time, (c) the allocation of any business opportunity between
the Corporation or a Subsidiary thereof and EchoStar or a Subsidiary thereof before such time, or
(d) any duty or obligation owed by any director or officer of the Corporation or any Subsidiary of
the Corporation (or the absence of any such duty or obligation) with respect to any potential
business opportunities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation which such director
or officer was offered, or of which such director or officer otherwise became aware, before such
time.
5.
Renunciation
. In addition to, and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of
this Article VIII, a potential transaction or business opportunity (1) that the Corporation or its
Subsidiaries is not financially able, contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or (2)
that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporations or its Subsidiaries business, is of
no practical advantage to the Corporation or its Subsidiaries or that is one in which the
Corporation or its Subsidiaries has no interest or reasonable expectancy, shall not, in any such
case, be deemed to constitute a corporate opportunity belonging to the Corporation, or any of its
Subsidiaries, and the Corporation, on behalf of itself and each Subsidiary, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, hereby renounces any interest therein.
6.
Termination
. Notwithstanding anything in these Articles of Incorporation to the
contrary, the provisions of Sections 2 and 4(a)-(c) of this Article VIII shall automatically
terminate, expire and have no further force and effect from and after the date on which no the
Corporation director or officer is also an EchoStar director, officer or employee.
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7.
Deemed Notice
. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or
obtaining any interest in any capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice and
to have consented to the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.
Severability
. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision, or
part of any provision, of this Article VIII shall not affect the other provisions or parts hereof,
and this Article VIII shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining
provisions of this Article VIII shall be unaffected thereby and will remain in full force and
effect.
ARTICLE IX
Indemnification of Officers, Directors and Others
1. To the full extent permitted by the NRS, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit in proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether
formal or informal (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Corporation, or is
or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines an amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding, if he conducted himself in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not
act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
2. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against expenses (including
attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification
shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been
adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the
Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which such court shall deem proper.
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3. To the extent that a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of a corporation has
been wholly successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding
referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
4. Any indemnification under paragraphs 1 and 2 of this
Article IX
(unless ordered by
a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a
determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent is proper
in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs
1 and 2. Such determination shall be made: (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding; or (2) if
such quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so
directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (3) by the shareholders.
5. Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation as they are incurred and in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized in the manner provided in paragraph 4
of this
Article IX
upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer,
employee or agent to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined by a final order of a
court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the
Corporation.
6. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any
person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Corporation, or is or
was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against
any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his
status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such
liability under the provisions of this
Article IX
.
7. In addition to the forgoing, the Corporation shall have the power to indemnify current or
former directors, officer, employees and agents to the fullest extent provided by law.
ARTICLE X
Director Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by the NRS, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a
director of this Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
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ARTICLE XI
Incorporator
The name and address of the sole incorporator of the Corporation is as follows: EchoStar
Satellite Operating Corporation (By: R. Stanton Dodge, Executive Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary), 9601 S. Meridian Blvd., Englewood, CO 80112.
ARTICLE XII
Registered Office and Registered Agent
The address of the registered office of the Corporation is 502 East John Street, Carson City,
Nevada 89706. The name of the Corporations resident agent at that address is CSC Services of
Nevada, Inc. Either the registered office or the registered agent may be changed in the manner
permitted by law.
14
Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
ECHOSTAR HOLDING CORPORATION
(effective October 16, 2007)
ARTICLE I
Principal Office and Corporate Seal
Section 1.1.
Principal Office
. The principal office and place of business of
EchoStar Holding Corporation (the Corporation) is presently at 90 Inverness Circle East,
Englewood, Colorado 80112.
Section 1.2.
Other Offices
. Other offices and places of business either within or
outside Nevada or Colorado may be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of
Directors or as the business of the Corporation may require. The registered office of the
Corporation required by Title 7, Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes to be maintained in
Nevada may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 1.3.
Seal
. The seal of the Corporation shall have inscribed thereon the
name of the Corporation and the word Seal, and shall be in such form as may be approved by the
Board of Directors or Secretary, which shall have the power to alter the same at its or his
pleasure. The Corporation may use the seal by causing it, or a facsimile thereof, to be impressed
or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
ARTICLE II
Shares and Transfer Thereof
Section 2.1.
Stock Certificates and Uncertificated Shares
. Every holder of stock
in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the
Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary, or their designee of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares of
stock owned by him in the Corporation; provided, however, that the Corporation may authorize the
issuance of uncertificated shares of some or all of any or all classes or series of the
Corporations stock. Any such issuance of uncertificated shares shall have no effect on existing
certificates for shares until such certificates are surrendered to the Corporation, or on the
respective rights and obligations of the Stockholders. Whenever any such certificate is
1
countersigned or otherwise authenticated by a transfer agent or a transfer clerk and by a
registrar (other than the Corporation), then a facsimile of the signatures of any corporate
officers or agents, the transfer agent or transfer clerk or the registrar of the Corporation may be
printed or lithographed upon the certificate in lieu of the actual signatures. In the event that
any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signatures have been used on any
certificate or certificates for stock cease to be an officer or officers because of death,
resignation or other reason, before the certificate or certificates for stock have been delivered
by the Corporation, the certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Corporation
and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed the certificate or
certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon, had not ceased to
be an officer or officers of the Corporation.
If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series
of any class, the certificate shall contain a statement setting forth the office or agency of the
Corporation from which Stockholders may obtain a copy of a statement or summary of the powers,
designations, preferences, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of stock
or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or
rights. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the
Stockholders shall be identical whether or not their shares of stock are represented by
certificates.
Each certificate representing shares shall state the following upon the face thereof: the
name of the state of the Corporations organization, the name of the person to whom issued; the
number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate
represents; the par value of each share, if any, represented by such certificate or a statement
that the shares are without par value. Certificates of stock shall be in such form consistent with
law as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors. No certificate shall be issued until the
shares represented thereby are fully paid.
Section 2.2.
Record
. A record shall be kept of the name of each person or other
entity holding the stock of the Corporation issued, the number of shares held by each such person,
the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. The Corporation shall
be entitled to treat the person or other entity in whose name shares of stock of the Corporation
stand on the books of the Corporation as the absolute owner thereof, and thus a holder of record of
such shares of stock, for all purposes as regards the Corporation, and the Corporation shall not be
bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part
of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as
otherwise provided by the laws of Nevada.
Section 2.3.
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New
Certificates
. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in
the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate,
or such owners legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond or other security sufficient
to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft
or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated
shares.
2
Section 2.4.
Closing of Transfer Books Record Date
. For the purpose of determining
Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Stockholders, or any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of
Stockholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors may provide that the stock
transfer books shall be closed for a stated period, but not to exceed in any case sixty (60) days.
If the stock transfer books shall be closed for the purpose of determining Stockholders entitled to
notice of, or to vote at a meeting of Stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten
(10) days immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the stock transfer books, the
Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of
Stockholders, such date in any case to be not more than sixty (60) or less than ten (10) days prior
to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of Stockholders is to be
taken. If the Board of Directors does not order the stock transfer books closed, or fix in advance
a record date, as above provided, then the record date for the determination of Stockholders
entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of Stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, or
entitled to receive payment of any dividend or for the determination of Stockholders for any proper
purpose shall at the close of business on the day before the day on which notice is given or, if
notice is waived, at the close of business on the day prior to the date on which the particular
action requiring such determination of Stockholders is to be taken.
Section 2.5.
Transfer of Shares
. Upon surrender to the Corporation or to a transfer
agent of the Corporation of a certificate of stock duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence
of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, and such documentary stamps as may be required
by law, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled
thereto, and cancel the old certificate. Upon written notice to the Corporation or to a transfer
agent of the Corporation from the holder of record of any uncertificated shares of stock requesting
a registration of transfer of such uncertificated shares to another person, accompanied by proper
evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, and such documentary stamps as may be
required by law, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to register such uncertificated shares of
stock in the name of such other person on the books of the Corporation as the successor holder of
record of such uncertificated shares of stock. Every such transfer of stock shall be entered on
the stock book of the Corporation which shall be kept at its principal office or by its registrar
duly appointed.
Section 2.6.
Transfer Agents, Registrars and Paying Agents
. The Board of
Directors may, at its discretion, appoint one or more transfer agents, registrars and agents for
making payment upon any class of stock, bond, debenture or other security of the Corporation. Such
agents and registrars may be located either within or outside Nevada. They shall have such rights
and duties and shall be entitled to such compensation as may be agreed.
ARTICLE III
Stockholders and Meetings Thereof
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Section 3.1.
Place of Meeting
. Meetings of Stockholders shall be held at the
principal office of the Corporation or at such other place, either within or without Nevada, as
shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.2.
Annual Meeting
. The annual meeting of Stockholders of the
Corporation for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may
properly come before the meeting, shall be held as determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors. If a quorum be not present, the meeting may be adjourned from time to time, but no
single adjournment shall exceed sixty (60) days. If the election of directors shall not be held at
the annual meeting of Stockholders, or at any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors shall
cause the election to be held at a special meeting of Stockholders as soon thereafter as
convenient.
Section 3.3.
Special Meetings
. Special meetings of Stockholders, for any purpose or
purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors, or the holders of not less than
one-third (1/3) of the voting power of the Corporation. Any holder or holders of not less than
one-third (1/3) of the voting power of the Corporation who desire to call a special meeting
pursuant to this Article III, Section 3.3 shall notify the Chairman of the Board of Directors in
writing that a special meeting of the Stockholders shall be called and shall state the purpose of
the meeting and include any information required by applicable law or these Bylaws. Within thirty
(30) days after notice to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary shall set the date, time and location of
the Stockholders meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting shall be confined to the
purposes stated in the notice thereof.
Section 3.4.
Notice of Meeting
. Written notice stating the place, day and hour of any
annual or special meeting of Stockholders, and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is
called, shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of
the meeting, either personally by mail, or by a form of electronic transmission permitted for such
purpose by applicable law and each national securities exchange upon which the Corporations voting
stock is then listed, by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President (or in his absence by a Vice President), the Secretary, the Board
of Directors, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each Stockholder of record entitled
to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the
United States mail postage prepaid, directed to the Stockholder at such Stockholders address as it
appears on the records of the Corporation. If sent by electronic transmission, such notice shall
be deemed to be given when sent to the Stockholder at such Stockholders electronic address as it
appears on the records of the Corporation. Failure to deliver such notice or obtain a waiver
thereof shall not cause the meeting to be lost, but it shall be adjourned by the Stockholders
present for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days until any deficiency to notice or waiver shall
be supplied.
Section 3.5.
Adjournment
. When a meeting is for any reason adjourned to another
time, notice will not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced
at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
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Section 3.6.
Organization
. Meetings of Stockholders shall be presided over by the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, by
the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in his absence by the Chief Executive Officer, or
in his absence by the President, or in his absence by a Vice President, or in the absence of the
foregoing persons by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such
designation by a chairman elected at the meeting by a majority of the votes which all Stockholders
present in person or by proxy are entitled to cast. The Secretary, or in the absence of the
Secretary an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the
Secretary and any Assistant Secretary the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as
secretary of the meeting.
The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairman of the
meeting. The chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules,
regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things as are necessary or desirable for the
proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, the establishment of procedures for
the maintenance of order and safety, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments on
the affairs of the Corporation, restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for
the commencement thereof and the opening and closing of the voting polls.
Section 3.7.
Voting Records
. The officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer
books for shares of the Corporation shall make, at least ten (10) days, before each meeting of
Stockholders, a complete record of the Stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any
adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of shares
held by each, which record, for a period of ten (10) days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on
file at the principal office of the Corporation, whether within or without Nevada, and shall be
subject to inspection by any Stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting at any time during
the whole time of the meeting. The original stock transfer books shall be prima facie evidence as
to who are the Stockholders entitled to examine such record or transfer books or to vote at any
meeting of Stockholders.
Section 3.8.
Quorum
. At each meeting of Stockholders, except where otherwise provided
by Title 7, Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes or the Articles of Incorporation or these
Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the voting power of stock entitled to vote on a matter at the
meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. For purposes of the
foregoing, where a separate vote by class or series is required for any matter, the holders of a
majority of the voting power of such class or series, present in person or represented by proxy,
shall constitute a quorum to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Two or more
classes or series of stock shall be considered a single class if the holders thereof are entitled
to vote together as a single class at the meeting. In the absence of a quorum of the holders of a
majority of the voting power of any class of stock entitled to vote on a matter, the holders of a
majority of the voting power of such class so present or represented may adjourn the meeting of
such class from time to time in the manner provided by Section 3.5 of these Bylaws until a quorum
of such class shall be so present or represented for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days at any
one adjournment. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any
business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
The Stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may
5
continue to transact business until adjourned, notwithstanding the withdrawal of Stockholders
so that less than a quorum remains.
Section 3.9.
Proxies
. A Shareholder may vote either in person or by proxy executed in
writing by the Shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney in fact. No proxy shall be valid
after six (6) months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Section 3.10.
Action by Written Consent
. Unless the Articles of Incorporation or these
Bylaws specifically provide otherwise, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of
shareholders may be taken without a meeting if, before or after the action, a written consent
thereto is signed by shareholders holding at least a majority of the voting power, except that if
any greater proportion of voting power is required for such action at a meeting, then such greater
proportion of written consents shall be required. In no instance where action is authorized by
written consent need a meeting of shareholders be called or noticed.
Section 3.11.
Voting
. Each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled
to one vote, and each fractional share shall be entitled to a corresponding fractional vote on each
matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of Stockholders, except as may be otherwise provided in the
Articles of Incorporation. If the Articles of Incorporation provide for more or less than one vote
for any class or series of shares on any matter, every reference in these Bylaws to a majority or
other proportion of stock shall refer to such a majority or other proportion of the voting power of
all of the shares of those classes or series of shares. In the election of directors, each record
holder of stock entitled to vote at such election shall have the right to vote in person or by
proxy the number of shares owned by him, for as many persons as there are directors to be elected,
and for whose election he has the right to vote unless the Articles of Incorporation otherwise
provide. Cumulative voting shall not be allowed.
Section 3.12.
Advance Notice of Stockholder Proposals
. At any annual meeting of
Stockholders, proposals by Stockholders and persons nominated for election as directors by
Stockholders shall be considered only if advance notice thereof has been timely given as provided
herein and such proposals or nominations are otherwise proper for consideration under applicable
law and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Corporation. To be timely, a Stockholders
notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the
principle office of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) nor more than one hundred twenty
(120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of
Stockholders; provided, however that in the event the annual meeting of Stockholders is not within
thirty (30) days before or after such anniversary date then notice by the Stockholder must be
received not later than the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of
the annual meeting was mailed or first publicly announced or disclosed (in a public filing or
otherwise), whichever occurs first. Any Stockholder who gives notice of any such proposal shall
deliver therewith the text of the proposal to be presented and a brief written statement of the
reasons why such Stockholder favors the proposal and setting forth such Stockholders name and
address, the number and class of all shares of each
6
class of stock of the Corporation beneficially
owned by such Stockholder and any material interest of such Stockholder in the proposal (other than as a stockholder). Any Stockholder desiring to nominate any person for election as a
director of the Corporation shall deliver with such notice a statement in writing setting forth the
name of the person to be nominated, the number and class of all shares of each class of stock of
the Corporation beneficially owned by such person, the information regarding such person required
by paragraphs (a), (e) and (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (or the corresponding provisions of any regulation subsequently adopted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to the Corporation), such persons signed consent to
serve as a director of the Corporation if elected, such Stockholders name and address and the
number and class of all shares of each class of stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such
Stockholder. The chairman presiding at the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations
that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall determine whether such notice has been
duly given and shall direct that proposals and nominees not be considered if such notice has not
been given.
ARTICLE IV
Directors: Powers and Meetings
Section 4.1.
General Powers
. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall
be managed by its Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in Title 7, Chapter 78 of the
Nevada Revised Statutes or the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 4.2.
Performance of Duties
. A director of the Corporation shall perform his
duties as a director, including his duties as a member of any committee of the Board of Directors
upon which he may serve, in good faith, in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best
interests of the Corporation, and with such care as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position
would use under similar circumstances. In performing his duties, a director shall be entitled to
rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other
financial data, in each case prepared or presented by persons and groups listed in paragraphs (a),
(b), and (c) of this Section 4.2; but he shall not be considered to be acting in good faith if he
has knowledge concerning the matter in question that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted. A
person who so performs his duties shall not have any liability by reason of being or having been a
director of the Corporation. Those persons and groups upon whose information, opinions, reports,
and statements a director is entitled to rely are:
(a) One or more officers or employees of the Corporation whom the director reasonably believes
to be reliable and competent in the matters presented;
(b) Counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters which the director reasonably
believes to be within such persons professional or expert competence; or
(c) A committee of the Board of Directors upon which he does not serve, duly
7
designated in
accordance with the provisions of the Articles of incorporation or the Bylaws, as to matters within
its designated authority, which committee the director reasonably believes to merit confidence.
Section 4.3.
Number; Tenure; Qualification; Chairman
. The number of directors which
shall constitute the whole Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time
by resolution of the Board of Directors or Stockholders (any such resolution of the Board of
Directors or Stockholders being subject to any later resolution of either of them). The number of
directors of the Corporation shall be not less than three (3) nor more than ten (10) who need not
be Stockholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Nevada and who shall be elected at
the annual meeting of Stockholders or some adjournment thereof, except that there need be only as
many directors as there are Stockholders in the event that the outstanding shares are held of
record by fewer than three (3) persons. Directors shall hold office until the next succeeding
annual meeting of Stockholders or until their successors shall have been elected and shall qualify
or until his earlier resignation or removal. No provision of this section shall be restrictive
upon the right of the Board of Directors to fill vacancies or upon the right of Stockholders to
remove Directors as is hereinafter provided. The Board of Directors may designate one director as
the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.4.
Resignation
. Any Director of the Corporation may resign at any time by
giving written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer,
the President, or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the date
of receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein and, unless otherwise specified
therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. When one
or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority
of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill
such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations
shall become effective, each director so appointed to hold office during the remainder of the term
of office of the resigning director or directors.
Section 4.5.
Annual Meeting
. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be
held at the same place and on the same day as the annual meeting of Stockholders, and no notice
shall be required in connection therewith. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be
for the purpose of electing the elective officers of the Corporation and the transaction of such
other business as may come before the meeting.
Section 4.6.
Regular Meetings
. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held
at such places within or without Nevada and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time
to time determine, and if so determined notice thereof need not be given.
Section 4.7.
Special Meetings
. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
called at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or by any two (2) directors, and may be held within or
outside the State of Nevada at such time and place as the notice or waiver thereof may specify.
Notice of such meetings shall be mailed to the last known address of each director at least five
(5) days, or shall be given to a director in person or by telephone, facsimile or email at
8
least
forty-eight (48) hours prior to the date or time fixed for the meeting. Special meetings of the
Board of Directors may be held at any time that all directors are present in person, and presence
of any director at a meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of such meeting, except as otherwise provided by law. Unless specifically required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these
Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of
Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 4.8.
Meetings by Telephone
. Members of the Board of Directors or any
committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of
Directors or committee by means of telephone conference or similar communications equipment by
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Such
participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 4.9.
Quorum
. A quorum at all meetings of the Board of Directors shall
consist of a majority of the number of directors then holding office, but a smaller number may
adjourn from time to time without further notice, until a quorum be secured. The act of the
majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the
Board of Directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by Title 7, Chapter 78 of the
Nevada Revised Statutes, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Section 4.10.
Manner of Acting
. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a
majority of the directors present at the meeting and entitled to vote on that particular matter
shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the vote of a greater number is required by law
or the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 4.11.
Action by Written Consent
. Unless the Articles of Incorporation or
these Bylaws specifically provide otherwise, any action required or permitted to be taken at a
meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by such board may be taken without a
meeting if the action is evidenced by one or more written consents describing the action taken,
signed by each director or committee member, and delivered to the Secretary for inclusion in the
minutes or for filing with the corporate records. Action taken under this section is effective
when all directors or committee members have signed the consent, unless the consent specifies a
different effective date. Such consents shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote
of the directors or committee members and may be stated as such in any document.
Section 4.12.
Vacancies
. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be
filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a quorum
of the Board of Directors. A director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall be elected or
appointed for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office, and shall hold such office until his
successor is fully elected and shall qualify or until his earlier resignation or removal. Any
directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors shall be filled by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, which may be less than a
quorum, or by an election at an annual meeting, or at a special meeting, of Stockholders called for
that purpose. Any director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next
annual meeting of Stockholders and until his successor shall have been elected and shall qualify or
until his earlier resignation or removal.
9
Section 4.13.
Compensation
. Unless otherwise restricted by the Articles of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors may receive fees, compensation, and expense reimbursement as may be established by appropriate resolution of the Board of Directors for
service on the Board of Directors and its committees, including without limitation attendance at
and travel to meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees.
Section 4.14.
Committees
. The Board of Directors may by resolution designate one or
more directors to constitute one or more committees which each shall have and may exercise all
authority in the management of the Corporation as the Board of Directors to the extent provided in
such resolution for such committee; but no such committee shall have the authority of the Board of
Directors in reference to amending the Articles of Incorporation, adopting a plan of merger or
consolidation, recommending to the Stockholders the sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation otherwise than in the usual
and regular course of its business, recommending to the Stockholders a voluntary dissolution of the
Corporation or a revocation thereof, or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation. The Board of
Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may
replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Unless the Board of
Directors appoints alternative members pursuant to this bylaw, the member or members thereof
present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members
constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the
meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member of the committee. The designation of such
committees and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of
Directors, or any member thereof, of any responsibility imposed by law. Each member of the Board of
Directors, whether or not such director is a member of such committees, shall be entitled to
receive notice of each meeting of each committee of the Board of Directors and each member of the
Board of Directors shall be entitled to attend each meeting of any such committee, whether or not
such director is a member of such committee.
Section 4.15.
Committee Rules
. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides
and subject to Section 4.1 of these Bylaws, a majority of the entire authorized number of members
of such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, the vote of a majority
of the members present at a meeting at the time of such vote if a quorum is then present shall be
the act of such committee, and in other respects each committee shall conduct its business in the
same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to this Article IV of these
Bylaws.
Section 4.16.
Removal
. The Stockholders may, at a meeting called for the express
purpose of removing directors, by the vote of Stockholders representing not less than two-thirds of
the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to voting power, remove the entire
Board of Directors or any lesser number, with or without cause.
Section 4.17.
Organization
. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided
over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in his absence by the Vice Chairman of the Board
of Directors, or in his absence by Chief Executive Officer, or in his absence by a chairman chosen
at the meeting by a majority of the directors present at the meeting.
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ARTICLE V
Officers
Section 5.1.
Officers; Election; Term of Office
. The elective officers of the
Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, any number of Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, any number of Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and any number of Assistant Treasurers,
who shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its annual meeting. Unless removed in
accordance with the procedures established by law and these Bylaws or unless provided in the
resolution of the Board of Directors electing any officer, the said officers shall serve until the
next succeeding annual meeting of the Board of Directors and until their respective successors are
elected and shall qualify or until their earlier resignation or removal. Any two or more offices
may be held by the same person at the same time. The officers of the Corporation shall be natural
persons of the age of eighteen (18) years or older. The Board of Directors may elect or appoint
such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall hold office during the pleasure
of the Board of Directors, and shall be paid such compensation as may be directed by the Board of
Directors.
Section 5.2.
Powers and Duties
. The officers of the Corporation shall respectively
exercise and perform the respective powers, duties and functions as are stated below, and as may be
assigned to them by the Board of Directors, not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
(a)
Chief Executive Officer
. The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to
the control of the Board of Directors, have the ultimate responsibility for the management
and control of the affairs and business of the Corporation, and shall perform all duties and
have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer or
which are delegated to him by the Board of Directors or as may be provided by law. In the
absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors, he shall preside at all meetings of Stockholders and of the Board of Directors at
which he shall be present.
(b)
President
. The President shall, subject to the control of the Board of
Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, have general supervision, direction and control
of the business and officers of the Corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board
of Directors, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer,
he shall preside at all meetings of the Stockholders and of the Board of Directors at which
he shall be present. The Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, unless some other person is specifically authorized by
the Board of Directors, shall sign all bonds, deeds, mortgages, leases and contracts of the
Corporation. The President shall perform all the duties commonly incident to his office and
such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the
Chief Executive Officer shall designate or as may be provided by law.
(c)
Vice President
. In the absence or disability of the President, or at the
Chief Executive Officers or Presidents request, the Vice President or Vice Presidents, in
order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors, and if not ranked, the Vice
11
Presidents in the order designated by the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such
designation, in the order designated by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, shall perform all
the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be
subject to all the restrictions on the President. Each Vice President shall have such other
powers and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the
Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or
the President or as may be provided by law.
(d)
Secretary
. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of
the Stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committees. He shall keep, or cause to be
kept, a register of the Stockholders of the Corporation and shall be responsible for the
giving of notice of meetings of the Stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committees,
and shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these
Bylaws or as required by law. The Secretary shall be custodian of the records and of the
seal of the Corporation and shall attest the affixing of the seal of the Corporation when so
authorized. The Secretary shall perform all duties commonly incident to his office and such
other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President or as may
be provided by law.
(e)
Assistant Secretary
. An Assistant Secretary may, at the request of the
Secretary, or in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform all the duties of the
Secretary. He shall perform such other duties as may assigned to him by the Board of
Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Secretary or as may be provided by law.
(f)
Treasurer
. The Treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors,
shall have the care and custody of the money, funds, securities, receipts, valuable papers
and documents of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall keep accurate books of accounts of the
Corporations transactions, which shall be the property of the Corporation, and shall render
financial reports and statements of condition of the Corporation when so requested by the
Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or
the President. The Treasurer shall perform all duties commonly incident to his office and
such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him by the Board of Directors,
the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President or as
may be provided by law.
(g)
Assistant Treasurer
. An Assistant Treasurer may, at the request of the
Treasurer, or in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform all of the duties of
the Treasurer. He shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Treasurer or as may be provided by law.
(h)
Other Officers
. The other officers, if any, of the Corporation shall have
such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as shall be stated in a
resolution of the Board of Directors which is not inconsistent with these Bylaws and, to the
extent not so stated, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the
12
control of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may require any officer,
agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.
Section 5.3.
Salaries
. All officers of the Corporation may receive salaries or other
compensation if so ordered and fixed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have
the authority to fix salaries in advance for stated periods or render the same retroactive as the
Board of Directors may deem advisable.
Section 5.4.
Inability to Act
. In the event of absence or inability of any officer to
act, the Board of Directors may delegate the power or duties of such officer to any other officer,
director or person whom it may select.
Section 5.5.
Resignation; Removal; Vacancies
. Any officer or agent may resign at
any time upon written notice to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President
or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified
therein, and unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be
necessary to make it effective. Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors
whenever, in its judgment, the best interest of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such
removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not, of itself, create contract rights. Any
vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may
be filled by the Board or Directors at any regular or special meeting.
ARTICLE VI
Finance
Section 6.1.
Reserve Fund
. The Board of Directors, in its uncontrolled
discretion, may set aside from time to time, out of the net profits or earned surplus of the
Corporation, such sum or sums as it deems expedient as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, for
equalizing dividends, for maintaining any property of the Corporation, and for any other
purposes.
Section 6.2.
Checks and Deposits
. The monies of the Corporation shall be
deposited in the name of the Corporation in such bank or banks or trust companies, as the Board of
Directors shall designate, and may be drawn out only on checks signed in the name of the
Corporation by such person or persons as the Board of Directors by appropriate resolution may
direct. Notes and commercial paper, when authorized by the Board of Directors, shall be signed in
the name of the Corporation by such officer or officers or agent or agents as shall thereto be
authorized from time to time.
Section 6.3.
Fiscal Year
. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on
December 31 of each year or shall be as otherwise determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors.
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ARTICLE VII
Bankruptcy/Insolvency
The Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the whole Board of Directors
of the Corporation, institute any proceedings to adjudicate the Corporation a bankrupt or
insolvent, consent to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against the
Corporation, file a petition seeking or consenting to reorganization or relief under any applicable
federal or state law relating to bankruptcy, consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Corporation or a substantial
part of its property or admit its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or
authorize any of the foregoing to be done or taken on behalf of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
Waiver of Notice
With any notices required by law or under the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws
to be given to any Stockholder or director of the Corporation, a waiver thereof in writing signed
by the person entitled to such notice, whether before, at, or after the time stated
therein, shall be the equivalent to the giving of such notice.
ARTICLE IX
Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Others
Section 9.1. To the full extent permitted by Title 7, Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised
Statutes, Section 7502, as the same may be amended from time to time, the Corporation shall
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative and whether formal or informal (other than an action by or in the right of the
Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he
conducted himself in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had
no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not of itself create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and
in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
14
best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 9.2. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interest of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim,
issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or
misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the
Court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
Section 9.3. To the extent that a director, officer, or employee or agent of the Corporation
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding
referred to in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this Article IX, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
Section 9.4. Any indemnification under Section 9.1 and 9.2 of this Article IX (unless ordered
by a Court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a
determination that indemnification of the office, director and employee or agent is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 9.1 and
9.2 of this Article IX. Such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of Directors by a
majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or
proceeding, or (b) if a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (c) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote and represented at a meeting called for such purpose.
Section 9.5. Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in defending a civil or criminal
action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation as they are incurred and in advance of
the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors as
provided in Section 9.4 of this Article IX upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined by a
final order of a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified
by the Corporation as authorized in this Article IX.
Section 9.6. The Board of Directors may exercise the Corporations power to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
15
other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power
to indemnify him against such liability hereunder or otherwise.
Section 9.7. The indemnification provided by this Article IX shall not be deemed exclusive of
any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles of
Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote or shareholders or disinterested directors, Title 7,
Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and representatives of such person.
Section 9.8. The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify current or former directors,
officers, employees and agents to the fullest extent provided by the laws of the State of Nevada.
ARTICLE X
Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted, at the annual
meeting of the Board of Directors or at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous
Section 11.1.
Loans
. The Corporation may loan money to, guarantee the
obligations of and otherwise assist directors, officers and employees of the Corporation, or
directors of another corporation of which the Corporation owns a majority of the voting stock, only
upon compliance with the requirements of Title 7, Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation and no evidence of indebtedness
shall be issued in its name unless authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors. Such
activity may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 11.2.
Contracts
. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or
officers, agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the
name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
16
/s/ R. Stanton Dodge
R. Stanton Dodge
Secretary
17
Exhibit 10.1
FORM OF
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT is entered into as of [
], 2007, by and between EchoStar
Communications Corporation, a Nevada corporation (
DISH
), and Echostar Holding
Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the
Company
).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of DISH has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to
separate DISH and the Company into two publicly-traded companies by separating from DISH and
transferring to the Company DISHs non-consumer related businesses and related assets and
liabilities (the
Separation
);
WHEREAS, DISH and the Company have entered into that certain Separation Agreement, dated as of
[
] (the
Separation Agreement
), in order to carry out, effect and consummate the
Separation; and
WHEREAS, to facilitate the Separation, DISH and the Company deem it to be appropriate and in
the best interests of DISH and the Company that DISH provide certain services to the Company
pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree, intending
to be legally bound, as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.1
Definitions
. Unless otherwise defined herein, each capitalized term shall
have the meaning specified for such term in the Separation Agreement. As used in this Agreement:
(a)
Agreement
means this Transition Services Agreement, the provisions of the
Separation Agreement referenced herein and all Schedules attached hereto and incorporated
herein by this reference and all amendments, modifications and changes hereto and thereto.
(b)
Company Indemnified Parties
means the Company and its Affiliates and each
of their respective present and former directors, managers, or persons acting in a similar
capacity, officers, employees, agents, consultants, or other representatives and each of the
heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing.
(c)
Company Systems
means any computer software program or routine or part
thereof owned, licensed or provided by or for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which
is used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their suppliers on behalf the Company
or any
of its Subsidiaries, each as modified, maintained or enhanced from time to time by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, DISH or any of its Subsidiaries or any Third Party.
(d)
Cost
means the fully-burdened cost incurred by DISH and its Affiliates
to provide or procure the Services. For purposes of this definition, the fully-burdened
cost includes without limitation: (i) the costs of any materials
or fees paid to third party consultants or advisers used in the provision or
procurement of the Services; (ii) shipping costs; (iii) the salary, benefits (if any)
(including without limitation, medical plans and 401(k) or other retirement plans),
employment taxes (if any) of all DISH employees involved in the provision or procurement of
the Services; (iv) related overhead expenses (including without limitation cost of
facilities and utilities costs, insurance, and the cost of all general support, operational
and business services); (v) any and all licensing fees paid or payable to Third Parties for
any intellectual property incorporated into the Services; and (iv) depreciation on any
equipment or assets involved in the provision or procurement of the Services.
(e)
DISH Indemnified Parties
means DISH and its Affiliates and each of their
respective present and former directors, managers, or persons acting in a similar capacity,
officers, employees, agents, consultants, or other representatives and each of the heirs,
executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing.
(f)
DISH Systems
means any computer software program or routine or part
thereof owned, licensed or provided by or for DISH or any of its Subsidiaries which is used
by DISH or any of its Subsidiaries or their suppliers on behalf DISH or any of its
Subsidiaries, each as modified, maintained or enhanced from time to time by DISH or any of
its Subsidiaries or any Third Party.
(g)
Expenses
means any and all expenses incurred in connection with
investigating, defending or asserting any claim, action, suit or proceeding incident to any
matter indemnified against hereunder (including court filing fees, court costs, arbitration
fees or costs, witness fees, and reasonable fees and disbursements of legal counsel,
investigators, expert witnesses, consultants, accountants and other professionals).
(h)
Systems
means the DISH Systems or the Company Systems, individually, or
the DISH Systems and the Company Systems, collectively, as the context may indicate.
(i)
Third Party
means a Person that is not an Affiliate of any party hereto.
Section 1.2
Interpretation
. (a) In this Agreement, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise:
(i) words used in the singular include the plural and words used in the plural include
the singular;
(ii) references to any Person include such Persons successors and assigns but, if
applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement, and a
reference to such Persons Affiliates shall be deemed to mean such Persons Affiliates
following the Distribution;
(iii) references to any gender includes the other gender;
2
(iv) the words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by
the words without limitation;
(v) references to any Article, Section or Schedule means such Article or Section of, or
such Schedule to, this Agreement, as the case may be, and references in any Section or
definition to any clause means such clause of such Section or definition;
(vi) the words herein, hereunder, hereof, hereto and words of similar import
shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or
other provision hereof;
(vii) references to any agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement,
instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the
extent permitted by the provisions thereof and by this Agreement;
(viii) references to any Applicable Law (including statutes and ordinances) means such
law (including all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) as amended, modified,
codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect at the time of determining
compliance or applicability;
(ix) relative to the determination of any period of time, from means from and
including, to means to but excluding and through means through and including;
(x) accounting terms used herein shall have the meanings historically ascribed to them
by DISH and its Subsidiaries, including the Company, in its and their internal accounting
and financial policies and procedures in effect prior to the date of this Agreement;
(xi) if there is any conflict between the provisions of the Separation Agreement and
this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control with respect to the subject
matter hereof;
(xii) the titles to Articles and headings of Sections contained in this Agreement have
been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of or
to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement;
(xiii) any portion of this Agreement obligating a party hereto to take any action or
refrain from taking any action, as the case may be, shall mean that such party shall also be
obligated to cause its relevant Affiliates to take such action or refrain from taking such
action, as the case may be (and, accordingly, if Services are provided by Affiliates of
DISH, references to DISH shall be deemed to be references to such Affiliate which shall
provide the Services under this Agreement; and
(xiv) unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all references to dollar amounts
herein shall be in respect of lawful currency of the United States.
3
ARTICLE II
Performance of Services
Section 2.1
Description of the Services
. Following the Distribution Date, DISH shall
provide, or cause to be provided, the following services (collectively, the
Services
) to
the Company in support of the Separated Businesses:
(a)
Financial Services
. DISH or its designee shall provide each of the financial
services specified in
Schedule 2.1.1
(the
Financial Services
) to the Company or
its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the terms and conditions for such Financial Services listed on
Schedule 2.1.1
.
(b)
IT Services
. DISH or its designee shall provide each of the IT services specified
in
Schedule 2.1.2
(the
IT Services
) to the Company or its Subsidiaries, in
accordance with the terms and conditions for such IT Services listed on
Schedule 2.1.2
.
(c)
Travel and Event Coordination Services
. DISH or its designee shall provide each
of the travel and events coordination services specified in
Schedule 2.1.3
(the
Travel
and Event Coordination Services
) to the Company or its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the
terms and conditions for such
Travel and Event Coordination
Services listed on
Schedule
2.1.3
.
(d)
Human Resources Services
. DISH or its designee shall provide each of the human
resources services (including human resources development (training)) specified in
Schedule
2.1.4
(the
Human Resources Services
) to the Company or its Subsidiaries, in
accordance with the terms and conditions for such Human Resources Services listed on
Schedule
2.1.4
.
(e)
Program Management Services
. DISH or its designee shall provide each of the
program management services specified in
Schedule 2.1.5
(the
Program Management
Services
) to the Company or its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the terms and conditions for
such Program Management Services listed on
Schedule 2.1.5
.
(f)
Internal Audit Services
. DISH or its designee shall provide each of the internal
audit and corporate quality services specified in
Schedule 2.1.6
(the Internal
Audit
Services
) to the Company or its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the terms and conditions for
such Internal Audit Services listed on
Schedule 2.1.6
.
(g)
Legal Services
. DISH or its designee shall provide each of the legal services
specified in
Schedule 2.1.7
(the
Legal Services
) to the Company or its
Subsidiaries, in accordance with the terms and conditions for such Legal Services listed on
Schedule 2.1.7
.
(h)
Accounting and Tax Services
. DISH or its designee shall provide each of the
accounting and tax services specified in
Schedule 2.1.8
(the
Accounting and Tax
Services
) to the Company or its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the terms and conditions for
such Accounting and Tax Services listed on
Schedule 2.1.8
.
(i)
Other Services
: To the extent fees for a specific Service are not provided in
Schedule 2.1.1
through
Schedule 2.1.8
, then DISH or its designee shall provide such
Service in accordance with the terms and conditions listed on
Schedule 2.1.9
.
4
Section 2.2
Schedules Update
. To the extent any Services are mischaracterized in any
of
Schedule 2.1.1
through
Schedule 2.1.9
(collectively, the
Service
Schedules
), DISH and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such Service Schedules
as appropriate.
Section 2.3
Service Levels
. With respect to Services that DISH provided, or caused to
be provided, to the Separated Businesses prior to the Distribution Date, DISH shall at all times
perform such Services (i) with at least the same degree of care, skill and diligence with which
DISH performs similar services for itself, consistent with past practices, including, with respect
to the type, quality and timeliness of such Services, subject to variation in the provision of such
Services agreed to by the parties hereto, but, in no case may such degree of care, skill and
diligence be less than the degree of care, skill and diligence with which DISH historically has
performed such Services for the benefit of the Separated Businesses prior to the Distribution Date,
(ii) with the use of reasonable care, (iii) in material compliance with Applicable Laws and (iv)
with substantially the same priority under comparable circumstances as it provides such services to
itself and its Subsidiaries.
Section 2.4
Additional Services
. If the Company reasonably determines that additional
transition services of the type previously provided by the DISH or its designee to the Separated
Businesses are necessary to conduct the Separated Businesses and the Company or its Affiliates are
not able to provide such services to the Separated Businesses (each such service an
Additional
Service
), then the Company may provide written notice thereof to DISH. Upon receipt of such
notice by DISH, if DISH is willing, in its sole discretion, to provide such Additional Service, the
parties hereto will negotiate in good faith an amendment to the Services Schedules setting forth
the Additional Service, the terms and conditions for the provision of such Additional Service and
the Fees (as defined below) payable by the Company for such Additional Service, such Fees to be
determined on an arms-length basis and at fair market value.
Section 2.5
Third Party Services
. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that
certain of the Services to be provided under this Agreement have been, and will continue to be,
provided (in accordance with this Agreement) to the Company, as applicable, by Third Parties
designated by DISH responsible for providing such Services. To the extent so provided, DISH shall
use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) cause such Third Parties to provide such Services under
this Agreement and/or (b) enable the Company and its Affiliates to avail itself of such Services;
provided
,
however
, that if any such Third Party is unable or unwilling to provide
any such Services, DISH shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to determine the manner in
which such Services can best be provided.
Section 2.6
Cost of Providing the Services
. Unless otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, DISH shall bear all costs of
providing the Services (including all out-of-pocket and third-party expenses incurred by DISH in
order to provide the Services).
ARTICLE III
Service Disruptions
Section 3.1
Contingency Plans
. DISH agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts,
consistent with its practices for itself and its divisions and Affiliates, to avoid any inability
to provide the Services. In the event of a disaster, DISH agrees to use the same degree of care to
restore the Services as DISH would use to restore similar services for itself and as provided in
Section 3.3
, but in any event
5
no less than commercially reasonable efforts. In the event
of scheduled downtime, DISH shall provide notice to the Company Contract Manager (as defined below)
with as much notice as is reasonably possible under the circumstances.
Section 3.2
Non-Performance
. (a) Except with respect to a Force Majeure Event (as
defined below) which shall be subject to
Section 3.3
, if DISHs, any of its Affiliates or
any Third Partys performance of any Service is interrupted in whole or in part for any reason for
more than two (2) consecutive Business Days (other than a Force Majeure Event), then the Company
shall have the right to make, at DISHs sole cost and expense, commercially reasonable arrangements
to procure such interrupted Services from an alternative source at a cost no greater than the fair
market value of such interrupted Services for the period the Service is interrupted;
provided
, that the Company shall provide prompt written notice to the DISH Contract Manager
setting forth in reasonable detail the terms and conditions of the arrangements to procure such
interrupted Services from an alternative source. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not
be obligated to pay DISH for the interrupted Services during the period when DISH is not providing
such Services.
Section 3.3
Force Majeure
. (a) If DISH, any of its Affiliates or any Third Party
service provider is prevented from or delayed in complying, either totally or in part, with any of
the terms or provisions of this Agreement by reason of fire, flood, storm, strike, walkout, lockout
or other labor trouble or shortage, delays by unaffiliated suppliers or carriers, shortages of
fuel, power, raw materials or components, any Applicable Law, order, proclamation, regulation,
ordinance, demand, seizure or requirement of any Governmental Authority, riot, civil commotion,
war, rebellion, acts of terrorism, nuclear accident or other acts of God, or acts, omissions or
delays in acting by any governmental or military authority (a
Force Majeure Event
), then
upon notice to the Company, the affected provisions and/or other requirements of this Agreement
shall be suspended during the period of such disability and, unless otherwise set forth herein to
the contrary, the Company shall have no liability to DISH, its Affiliates, any Third Party or any
other Person in connection therewith. DISH shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly
remove such disability as soon as possible, but in any event no later than 30 days after giving
notice of such disability;
provided
,
however
, that nothing in this
Section
3.3
will be construed to require the settlement
of any strike, walkout, lockout or other labor dispute on terms which, in the reasonable
judgment of DISH, are contrary to its interest. It is understood that the settlement of a strike,
walkout, lockout or other labor dispute will be entirely within the discretion of DISH. If DISH is
unable to provide any of the Services due to such a disability, each party hereto shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cooperatively seek a solution that is mutually satisfactory.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the obligation of DISH to resume
performance of its obligations hereunder pursuant to this
Section 3.3
shall terminate and
cease to be in effect to the extent and period that the Company has acquired such Services from an
alternate source pursuant to this
Section 3.3
. The Company shall be free to acquire such
Services from an alternate source, at the Companys sole cost and expense, and without liability to
DISH, for the period and to the extent reasonably necessitated by such non-performance and during
the continuation of any agreement entered into with the provider of such Service, and for that
period that such Service is provided by an alternate source, DISH shall have no obligation to
provide such Service to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be
obligated to pay DISH for such Services during the period when DISH is not providing such Services.
6
(c) Notwithstanding anything hereunder to the contrary, the parties hereto agree that this
Section 3.3
shall not be construed so as to excuse a party hereto of its obligations to
perform in accordance with
Article VII
and
Article VIII
at all times during the
term of this Agreement.
Section 3.4
Recovery of Data
. If DISH loses or damages any of the Companys data,
DISH shall use its best efforts to recover and re-process such data immediately after discovery of
such loss or damage. If DISH is unable to re-process such data immediately, DISH shall notify the
Company in writing of such loss or damage.
ARTICLE IV
Cooperation
Section 4.1
Cooperation
. During the term of this Agreement, DISH shall provide
commercially reasonable cooperation to the Company by responding to the Companys reasonable
requests for information related to the functionality or operation of the Services;
provided
, that such requested information is related to the Separated Businesses and does
not require disclosure of any proprietary or confidential information of DISH or any of its
Affiliates. Without limiting the foregoing, DISH shall provide the Company with (i) reasonable
access (during reasonable business hours) to records and DISH employees related to the provision of
the Services and (ii) reasonable access (during reasonable business hours) for the Companys
employees and consultants to DISHs employees and facilities for the purpose of training and
consulting with respect to the Services;
provided
, that such access shall not interfere
with the day-to-day operations of DISH and its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.2
Consents
. (a) DISH shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, cooperate
to obtain (i) all Consents for any Third Party software or other Third Party intellectual property
related to the provision of the Services sufficient to enable DISH or its designee to perform the
Services in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) all other Consents to allow DISH to provide the
Services and to allow the Company to access and use the Services (collectively, the
Required
Consents
);
provided
,
however
, that DISH shall not be obligated under this
Agreement to pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any Liability to any third Person
to obtain any such Required Consent.
Schedule 4.2
sets forth a list of all Required
Consents and whether such Consents have been obtained as of the date hereof.
(b) In the event that any Required Consent is not obtained, then, unless and until such
Required Consent is obtained, the parties hereto shall cooperate with each other in achieving a
reasonable alternative arrangement for the Company to continue to process its work and for DISH to
perform such Services and in a manner which does not increase the fees or costs payable by the
Company hereunder.
Section 4.3
Primary Points of Contact for Agreement
.
(a)
Appointment and Responsibilities
. Each party hereto shall appoint an individual
to act as the primary point of operational contact for the administration and operation of this
Agreement, as follows:
7
(i) The individual appointed by the Company as the primary point of operational contact
pursuant to this
Section 4.3(a)
(the
Company Contract Manager
) shall have
overall responsibility for coordinating on behalf of the Company all activities of the
Company undertaken hereunder, for the performance of the Companys obligations hereunder,
for coordinating the performance of the Services with DISH, for acting as a day-to-day
contact with the DISH Contract Manager and for making available to DISH the data,
facilities, resources and other support services from the Company required for DISH to be
able to perform the Services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Company
may change the Company Contract Manager from time to time upon written notice to DISH.
(ii) The individual appointed by DISH as the primary point of operational contact
pursuant to this
Section 4.3(a)
(the
DISH Contract Manager
) shall have
primary operational responsibility for coordinating on behalf of DISH its joint activities
with the Company under the Agreement and for DISHs performance of the Services, including
all DISH personnel and other resources used by DISH, and will serve as the day-to-day
contact with the Company Contract Manager. DISH may change the DISH Contract Manager from
time to time upon written notice to the Company.
(b)
Review Meetings and Reports
. The DISH Contract Manager and the Company Contract
Manager shall meet at least monthly to review DISHs performance of the Services as required under
this Agreement. The DISH Contract Manager shall provide to the parties hereto reports on the
parties respective performance, identifying any significant problems that are unresolved and any
details concerning their expected resolution.
Section 4.4
Steering Committee
.
(a)
Size and Composition
. DISH shall appoint two (2) members of its management staff
and the Company shall appoint two (2) members of its management staff to serve on a steering
committee (the
Steering Committee
). Either party hereto may change its Steering
Committee members from time to time upon written notice to the other party;
provided
,
however
, that the DISH Contract Manager and the Company Contract Manager shall at all times
remain as members of the Steering Committee. In addition, the parties hereto may mutually agree to
increase or decrease the size, purpose or composition of the Steering Committee in an effort for
DISH to better provide, and for the Company to better utilize, the Services.
(b)
Responsibilities
. The Steering Committees responsibilities include (i) generally
overseeing the performance of each partys hereto obligations under this Agreement and (ii)
assisting in providing the Services by DISH and utilizing the Services by the Company.
Section 4.5
Meetings
. The Steering Committee shall meet once a month or at such
other frequency as mutually agreed by the parties hereto or the members of the Steering Committee.
Each Steering Committee meeting shall be at a mutually acceptable location determined by the
members of the Steering Committee.
Section 4.6
Dispute Resolution
. The procedures for discussion and negotiation set
forth in this
Section 4.6
shall apply to all disputes, controversies or claims (whether
arising in contract, tort or
8
otherwise) that may arise out of or relate to, or arise under or in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(a)
Primary Points of Contact
. It is the intent of the parties hereto to use their
respective reasonable best efforts to resolve expeditiously any dispute, controversy or claim
between them with respect to the matters covered hereby that may arise from time to time on a
mutually acceptable negotiated basis. In furtherance of the foregoing, if a dispute arises, the
Company Contract Manager and the DISH Contract Manager shall consider the dispute for up to seven
(7) Business Days following receipt of a notice from either party hereto specifying the nature of
the dispute, during which time the Company Contract Manager and the DISH Contract Manager shall
meet in person at least once, and attempt to resolve the dispute.
(b)
Senior Management
. If the dispute is not resolved by the end of the seven (7) day
period referred to in
Section 4.6(a)
, or if the Company Contract Manager and the DISH
Contract Manager agree that the dispute shall not be resolved by them, either party hereto may
deliver a notice (an
Escalation Notice
) demanding an in person meeting involving
appropriate representatives of the parties hereto at a senior level of management of the parties
hereto (or if the parties agree, of the appropriate strategic business unit or division within such
entity) (collectively,
Senior Executives
). Thereupon, each of the Company Contract
Manager and the DISH Contract Manager shall promptly prepare a memorandum stating (i) the issues in
dispute and each partys position thereon, (ii) a summary of the evidence and arguments supporting
each partys positions (attaching all relevant documents), (iii) a summary of the negotiations that
have taken place to date, and (iv) the name and title of the Senior Executive who shall represent
each party. The Company Contract Manager and the DISH Contract Manager shall deliver such
memorandum to its respective Senior Executive promptly upon receipt of
such memorandum from the DISH Contract Manager and the Company Contract Manager, respectively.
The Senior Executives shall meet for negotiations (which may be held telephonically) at a mutually
agreed time and place within 10 days of the Escalation Notice, and thereafter as often as the
Senior Executives deem reasonably necessary to resolve the dispute.
(c)
Court Actions
. In the event that any party, after complying with the provisions
set forth in
Sections 4.6(a)
and
4.6(b)
and desires to commence an action, such
party may submit the dispute, controversy or claim (or such series of related disputes,
controversies or claims), subject to
Section 12.2
, to any court of competent jurisdiction.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the parties hereto shall continue to provide service and honor
all other commitments under this Agreement during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the
provisions of this
Section 4.6
with respect to all matters not subject to such dispute,
controversy or claim.
ARTICLE V
Fees
Section 5.1
Fees
. The fees for any of the Services are set forth in the Cost
Details column in the respective Service Schedule (the
Fees
).
Section 5.2
Taxes
. To the extent required or permitted by Applicable Law, there shall
be added to any Fees due under this Agreement, and the Company agrees to pay to DISH, amounts equal
to any taxes, however designated or levied, based upon such Fees, or upon this Agreement or the
Systems,
9
Services or materials provided under this Agreement, or their use, including state and
local privilege or excise taxes based on gross revenue and any taxes or amounts in lieu thereof
paid or payable by the Company. In the event taxes are not added to an invoice from DISH, the
Company shall be responsible to remit to the appropriate tax jurisdiction any additional amounts
due including tax, interest and penalty. If additional amounts are determined to be due on the
Services provided hereunder as a result of an audit by a tax jurisdiction, the Company agrees to
reimburse DISH for the additional amounts due including tax, interest and penalty. DISH will be
responsible for penalty or interest associated with its failure to remit invoiced taxes. The
parties hereto further agree that no party hereto shall be required to pay any franchise taxes,
taxes based on the net income of the other party hereto or personal property taxes on property
owned or leased by a party hereto.
ARTICLE VI
Invoice and Payment; Audit
Section 6.1
Invoices and Payment
. Within 20 days following the end of each month
during the term of this Agreement (or within 20 days after receipt of a Third Party suppliers
invoice in the case of Services that are provided by a Third Party supplier), DISH will submit to
the Company for payment a written statement of amounts due under this Agreement for such month.
DISH shall include with each invoice a reasonably detailed description of the Services performed and the fees charged and, if requested by the
Company, will contain reasonably satisfactory documentation in support of such amounts as specified
therein and such other supporting detail as the Company may reasonably require to validate such
amounts due.
Section 6.2
Timing of Payment; No Offsets
. The Company will pay all undisputed
amounts due pursuant to this Agreement within 60 days after the date upon which each such statement
that is required to be provided hereunder is received by the Company. The Company shall not offset
any amounts owing to it by DISH or any of its Affiliates against amounts payable by the Company
hereunder or any other agreement or arrangement.
Section 6.3
Fees Dispute
. (a) In the event that the Company has a good faith dispute
with regard to any Fees invoiced by DISH (the
Disputed Fee
), the Company shall provide
DISH with written notice of such dispute (the
Fee Dispute Notice
), together with a
reasonably detailed explanation of such dispute, at the time payment would have otherwise been due,
and the Company may withhold payment of any Disputed Fee pending resolution of the dispute. For
the avoidance of doubt, the Companys failure to pay the Disputed Fee in accordance with this
Section 6.3
shall not be grounds for a claim of breach or suspension of work by DISH.
(a) In the event that the parties hereto are unable to agree after reasonable negotiation, in
accordance with
Sections 4.6(a)
and
4.6(b)
, upon the Disputed Fee, the parties
hereto shall jointly select a qualified unaffiliated independent third party to determine the fair
value (the
Arbitrator
). If the parties hereto are unable to agree on an Arbitrator
within 10 days of the receipt of a Fee Dispute Notice by DISH, then there shall be an arbitral
tribunal consisting of 3 neutral arbitrators of (the
Tribunal
) whom each party hereto
shall select one within 10 days of the receipt of a Fee Dispute Notice by DISH. The two
party-appointed arbitrators shall select the third arbitrator within 10 days of the nomination of
the second arbitrator. The determination of the Arbitrator or Tribunal, as applicable, with
respect to such disagreement shall be completed within 30 days after the appointment of the
10
Arbitrator or Tribunal, as applicable, and such determination shall be final and binding upon the
parties hereto. The Arbitrator or Tribunal, as applicable, shall adopt the position of either the
Company or DISH with respect to the Disputed Fees. The fees, costs and expenses of the Arbitrator
or Tribunal, as applicable, selected in the event of a dispute shall be paid by the party hereto
who the Arbitrator or Tribunal, as applicable, did not side with in its decision.
Section 6.4
Audit Rights
. (a) The Company may audit (or cause an independent Third
Party auditor to audit) the books, records and facilities of DISH to the extent necessary to
determine DISHs compliance with this Agreement with respect to Fees paid or payable pursuant to
this
Article VI
, or the performance of its other obligations set forth in this Agreement.
For any given Service, the Company shall have the right to audit the books, records and facilities
of DISH once for each twelve month period during which payment obligations are due (and at such
other times as may be required by Applicable Law). The Company shall also have the right to audit
(or cause an independent Third Party auditor to audit) the books, records and facilities of DISH
pertaining to a particular Service within six months after the termination of such Service.
(b) Any audit shall be conducted during regular business hours and in a manner that complies
with the building and security requirements of DISH. Such audits shall not interfere unreasonably
with the operations of DISH. The Company shall provide notice to DISH not less than 30 days prior
to the commencement of the audit and shall specify the date on which the audit will commence. The
Company conducting an audit shall pay the costs of conducting such audit, unless the results of an
audit reasonably indicate an overpayment by the Company of 10% or more (such percentage to be
determined by reference to the Services which are subject to the specific audit), in which case
DISH shall pay the reasonable out-of-pocket costs of the Company.
ARTICLE VII
Independence; Ownership of Assets
Section 7.1
Independence
. All employees and representatives of a party hereto and any
of its Affiliates will be deemed for purposes of all compensation and employee benefits to be
employees or representatives of such party or its Affiliates (or its subcontractors) and not
employees or representatives of the other party hereto or any of the other partys Affiliates. In
providing the Services, DISHs employees and representatives will be under the direction, control
and supervision of DISH or its Affiliates (or its subcontractors), and not of the Company. DISH or
its Affiliates (or its subcontractors) will have the sole right to exercise all authority with
respect to the employment (including termination of employment), assignment and compensation of its
employees and representatives.
Section 7.2
Ownership of Assets
.
(a)
DISH Systems
. The DISH Systems and any and all enhancements thereof or
improvements thereto are and shall remain the sole exclusive property of DISH, its Subsidiaries and
their suppliers, as the case may be. From and after the creation of any and all such DISH Systems
or enhancements thereof or improvements thereto by the Company or by any contractor, Affiliate or
other Third Party on the Companys behalf, in each case, pursuant to this Agreement, the Company
shall cause to be assigned and hereby assigns to DISH or the applicable Subsidiary, any and all
right, title and
11
interest that the Company or such contractor, Affiliate or Third Party may have in
such DISH Systems or enhancements thereof or improvements thereto.
(b)
Company Systems
. The Company Systems and any and all enhancements thereof or
improvements thereto are and shall remain the sole exclusive property of the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their suppliers, as the case may be. From and after the creation of any and all
such Company Systems or enhancements thereof or improvements thereto by DISH or by any contractor,
Affiliate or other Third Party on DISHs behalf, in each case, pursuant to this Agreement, DISH
shall cause to be assigned and hereby assigns to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, any and
all right, title and interest that DISH or such contractor, Affiliate or Third Party may have in
such Company Systems or enhancements thereof or improvements thereto.
(c)
License
. During the term of this Agreement, each party hereto grants to the other
party and such partys respective suppliers a non-exclusive, royalty-free right and license to use
the
DISH Systems or the Company Systems, as applicable, solely to provide the Services or use the
Services contemplated hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary hereunder, each party
hereto agrees to cooperate with the other (and shall cause its suppliers to so cooperate) to cause
the orderly return of the other partys Systems and property upon the termination of this Agreement
or upon written request, whichever is earlier.
(d)
Data Ownership
. As between DISH and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the
Company and its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, all right, title and interest in and to all data
processed hereunder shall be owned exclusively by DISH or its applicable Subsidiary or the Company
or its applicable Subsidiary that originally supplied it to the other. DISH and the Company hereby
assign to the other, and shall cause any of its or their contractors, Affiliates or suppliers to
assign to the other, as applicable, all right, title and interest that DISH or the Company, as
applicable, may have in the others data.
(e)
Third Party Suppliers
. DISH shall have written agreements with its employees
consistent with past practices, and shall cause any contractor, Affiliate or Third Party performing
Services on its behalf pursuant to this Agreement to also have written agreements with its
employees that are consistent with its obligations hereunder, including the obligations to disclose
and assign all right, title and interest in intellectual property rights as contemplated in this
Section 7.2
. DISH agrees not to voluntarily terminate or to amend or modify such
agreements with respect to the provisions described above without providing at least 30 days prior
written notice thereof and further agrees that any such amendments or modifications to such
agreements shall be prospective only.
Section 7.3
Other Assets
. Except as otherwise noted in
Sections 7.1
and
7.2
, all procedures, methods, systems, strategies, tools, equipment, facilities and other
resources used by a party hereto, any of its Affiliates or any Third Party service provider shall
remain the property of such party, its Affiliates or such service providers and, except as
otherwise provided herein, shall at all times be under the sole direction and control of such
party, its Affiliates or such Third Party service provider.
12
ARTICLE VIII
Confidentiality
Section 8.1
Confidentiality
. Each party hereto agrees that the specific terms and
conditions of this Agreement and any information conveyed or otherwise received by or on behalf of
a party hereto in conjunction herewith are confidential and are subject to the terms of the
confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 4.5 of the Separation Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
No Agency Relationship
Section 9.1
No Agency Relationship
. DISH, in performance of this Agreement, is acting as an independent contractor to the
Company, and not as a partner, joint venturer or agent, nor do the parties hereto intend to create
by this Agreement an employer-employee relationship. Neither party hereto shall be bound by any
representation, act or omission of the other party hereto. Neither party hereto has any right,
power or authority to create any obligation, express or implied, on behalf of the other party
hereto.
ARTICLE X
Term and Termination
Section 10.1
Term
.
(a)
Term of Agreement
. This Agreement shall commence on the Distribution Date and
shall end on the earliest of: (i) the date all Services have expired in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement; (ii) the date all Services have been terminated in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement; or (iii) the secondary anniversary of the Distribution Date.
(b)
Term of Services
. DISH shall provide each Service beginning on the Distribution
Date, or as otherwise set forth in the Service Schedules or agreed to by the parties hereto in
writing and continuing for a period equal to the service term set forth in the Service Term
column of the Service Schedules, or as otherwise agreed to by the parties hereto in writing, unless
renewed or sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement. To the extent the
term for a specific Service is not provided in this Agreement or the Service Schedules, the term
for such Service shall be no longer than 2 years following the Distribution Date.
Section 10.2
Termination
.
(a)
Termination of Services
. The Company may terminate its right to receive any
particular Service for any or no reason by providing DISH not less than 30 days prior written
notice (the
Termination Notice
) setting forth in reasonable detail the Services to be
terminated (the
Terminated Services
) and the termination date (the
Termination
Date
) for each Terminated Service that shall not be less than 30 days from the receipt of the
Termination Notice by DISH. Beginning on such Termination Date, the Company shall not be obligated
to pay any Fees in connection with such
13
Terminated Services other than Fees owed by the Company to
DISH for such Terminated Services prior to the Termination Date. The Company shall, as soon as
practicable but no later than 10 Business Days after the Company realizes that a Service is no
longer required by the Company and to be provided pursuant to the Agreement, deliver a Termination
Notice with respect to such Service in accordance with
Section 10.2(a)
.
(b)
Termination for Convenience
. The Company may terminate this Agreement for any or
no reason by providing DISH not less than 60 days prior written notice setting forth the
termination date for this Agreement.
(c)
Termination for Breach
. If a party hereto materially breaches any of its
obligations under this Agreement, and does not cure such default within 30 days after receiving
written notice thereof from the non-breaching party, then the non-breaching party may, at its
option, terminate any Service affected by such breach or this Agreement in its entirety by
providing written notice of termination to the breaching party, which termination shall be
effective immediately upon receipt of such termination notice.
(d)
Bankruptcy Termination
. This Agreement may be terminated by either party hereto
upon at least 30 days prior written notice if the other party hereto is declared insolvent or
bankrupt, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or a receiver is appointed or any
proceeding is demanded by, for or against the other under any provision of the Federal Bankruptcy
Act. Any termination of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to any rights or obligations of
the parties hereto accruing prior to such termination including the right to payment of unpaid
amounts owing for services performed prior to termination.
(e)
Termination for Illegal Agreement
. If there shall be any Applicable Law that
makes any or all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, illegal or otherwise
prohibited or if any order of any competent authority prohibiting such transactions is entered and
such order shall become final and non-appealable, then either party hereto may terminate any
Service affected by such Applicable Law or order by providing written notice of termination to the
other party hereto, which termination shall be effective immediately upon receipt of such
termination notice.
Section 10.3
Procedures on Termination
. Following any termination of this Agreement
in whole or in part, each party hereto will cooperate with the other party as reasonably necessary
to avoid disruption of the ordinary course of the other partys and its Affiliates businesses.
Termination shall not affect any right to payment for Services provided prior to termination.
Section 10.4
Effect of Termination
.
Sections 4.3
and
Articles V
and
VI
(with respect to Fees and Taxes attributable to periods prior to termination),
7.2(a)
,
7.2(b),
7.2(d)
,
10.3
, this
Section 10.4
and
Articles VII
,
VIII
,
XI
and
XII
shall survive any termination of
this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, termination of a particular Service hereunder shall be
a termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XI
Indemnification
Section 11.1
Indemnification by the Company
. The Company shall indemnify, defend and
hold harmless the DISH Indemnified Parties for any Losses and Expenses incurred by them in
14
connection with or arising out of any (i) breach of this Agreement by the Company, its Affiliates
or employees and (ii) Third Party claims arising out of the provision of the DISH Services, except
to the extent that such third Person claims for Losses and Expenses are finally determined by a
final non-appealable decision of a court having jurisdiction over the Company and DISH to have
arisen out of the material breach of this Agreement, gross negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct of DISH, its Affiliates, employees, suppliers or contractors
in providing the DISH Services.
Section 11.2
Indemnification by DISH
. DISH shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
the Company Indemnified Parties for any Losses and Expenses incurred by them in connection with or
arising out of (i) any breach of this Agreement by DISH, its Affiliates, employees, suppliers or
contractors, (ii) any bodily injury or damage to property occasioned by the acts or omissions of
DISH, its Affiliates, employees, suppliers or contractors, (iii) DISHs, its Affiliates,
employees, suppliers or contractors gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith in the
provision of the DISH Services by DISH, its Affiliates, employees, suppliers or contractors
pursuant to this Agreement, (iv) any Action that determines that the provision by DISH and/or the
receipt by the Company Indemnified Parties of any DISH Services infringes upon or misappropriates
the intellectual property of any Third Party to the extent that any such Losses and Expenses are
determined to have resulted from DISHs, its Affiliates, employees, suppliers or contractors
gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, and (v) Third Party claims arising out of the
provision of the Company Services, except to the extent that such Losses and Expenses are finally
determined by a final non-appealable decision of a court having jurisdiction over DISH and the
Company to have arisen out of the material breach of this Agreement, gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct of the Company, its Affiliates, employees, suppliers or contractors in providing
the Company Services.
Section 11.3
Limitations and Liability
. Each party hereto shall have a duty to
mitigate the Losses and Expenses for which the other is responsible hereunder. EXCEPT FOR CLAIMS
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO
ARTICLE VIII
, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE LIABLE FOR ANY
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL (INCLUDING LOSS OF REVENUES OR PROFITS), EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE
DAMAGES OR THE LIKE ARISING UNDER ANY LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY OR ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS AGREEMENT (OR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES HEREUNDER), ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED BY
AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ADVISED
OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Section 11.4
Indemnification is Exclusive Remedy
. The indemnification provisions of
this
Article XI
shall be the exclusive remedy for breach of this Agreement.
Section 11.5
Risk Allocation
. Each party hereto agrees that the Fees charged under
this Agreement reflect the allocation of risk between the parties hereto, including the limitations
on liability in
Section 11.3
. Modifying the allocation of risk from what is stated here
would affect the Fees that each party hereto charges, and in consideration of those Fees, each
party hereto agrees to the stated allocation of risk.
15
Section 11.6
Indemnification Procedures
. All claims for indemnification pursuant to
this
Article XI
shall be made in accordance with the provisions set forth in Sections 5.3
and 5.4 of the Separation Agreement.
ARTICLE XII
Miscellaneous
Section 12.1
Entire Agreement
. This Agreement, including the Schedules hereto and the
sections of the Separation Agreement referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior
agreements, negotiations, discussions, understandings, writings and commitments between the parties
hereto with respect to such subject matter.
Section 12.2
Governing Law; Service of Process; Jurisdiction
. This Agreement and the
legal relations between the parties hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws rules thereof to the
extent such rules would require the application of the law of another jurisdiction. The state or
federal courts located within the City of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any and
all disputes between the parties hereto, whether in law or equity, arising out of or relating to
this Agreement and the agreements, instruments and documents contemplated hereby and the parties
hereto consent to and agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts. Each of the
parties hereto hereby waives and agrees not to assert in any such dispute, to the fullest extent
permitted by Applicable Law, any claim that (i) such party is not personally subject to the
jurisdiction of such courts, (ii) such party and such partys property is immune from any legal
process issued by such courts or (iii) any litigation or other proceeding commenced in such courts
is brought in an inconvenient forum. The parties hereto hereby agree that mailing of process or
other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in
Section
12.10
, or in such other manner as may be permitted by Applicable Law, shall be valid and
sufficient service thereof and hereby waive any objections to service accomplished in the manner
herein provided.
Section 12.3
Waiver of Jury Trial
. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT THAT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED IN THIS AGREEMENT (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION,
SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HERETO HAS
BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT.
Section 12.4
Amendment
. This Agreement shall not be amended, modified or supplemented
except by a written instrument signed by an authorized representative of each of DISH and the
Company.
16
Section 12.5
Waiver
. Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived, or the
time for its performance may be extended, by the party or the parties hereto entitled to the
benefit thereof. Any such waiver shall be validly and sufficiently given for the purposes of this
Agreement if, as to any party hereto, it is in writing signed by an authorized representative of
such party. The failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement
shall not be construed to be a waiver of such provision, or in any way to affect the validity of
this Agreement or any part hereof or the right of any party hereto thereafter to enforce each and
every such provision. No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be held to constitute a
waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
Section 12.6
Severability
. If any provision of this Agreement or the application
thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or the application of
such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has
been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, as the case may be, is not affected in any manner
adverse to any party hereto or thereto. Upon such determination, the parties hereto shall negotiate
in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the
original intent of the parties hereto.
Section 12.7
Execution in Counterparts
. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement, and shall become binding when one or more counterparts have
been signed by and delivered to each of the parties hereto.
Section 12.8
Successors and Assigns
. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns;
provided
,
however
, that the rights and obligations of either party hereto under this Agreement shall
not be assignable by such party without the prior written consent of the other party. The
successors and permitted assigns hereunder shall include any permitted assignee as well as the
successors in interest to such permitted assignee (whether by merger, liquidation (including
successive mergers or liquidations) or otherwise).
Section 12.9
Third Party Beneficiaries
. Except to the extent otherwise provided in
Article XI
, the provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective Affiliates, successors and permitted
assigns and shall not confer upon any third Person any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement
or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.
Section 12.10
Notices
. All notices or other communications under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given when delivered or mailed in accordance with the
terms of Section 9.12 of the Separation Agreement.
Section 12.11
No Public Announcement
. Neither DISH nor the Company shall, without the
approval of the other, make any press release or other public announcement concerning the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as and to the extent that either party hereto
shall be so obligated by Applicable Law or the rules of any regulatory body, stock exchange or
quotation system, in which case the other party hereto shall be advised and the parties hereto
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause a mutually agreeable release or announcement to
be issued;
provided
,
17
however
, that the foregoing shall not preclude communications
or disclosures necessary to implement the provisions of this Agreement or to comply with Applicable
Law, accounting and SEC disclosure obligations or the rules of any stock exchange.
Section 12.12
Limited Liability
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, no individual who is a stockholder, director, employee, officer, agent or representative
of the Company or DISH, in its capacity as such, shall have any liability in respect of or relating
to the covenants or obligations of such party under this Agreement and, to the fullest extent
legally permissible, each of the Company and DISH, for itself and its respective stockholders,
directors, employees, officers and Affiliates, waives and agrees not to seek to assert or enforce
any such liability that any such Person otherwise might have pursuant to Applicable Law.
Section 12.13
Divestiture
. If the Company divests or sells all or a part of the
company during the term of this Agreement, DISH shall continue to provide the Services to the
divested or sold entity or part thereof until the termination or expiration of the provision of
Services hereunder, as long as the Sellers obligations hereunder are not materially increased
thereby.
Section 12.14
Mutual Drafting
. This Agreement shall be deemed to be the joint work
product of DISH and the Company and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted
or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable.
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their
authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
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Echostar Holding Corporation
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Signature Page to Transition Services Agreement
19
Exhibit 10.2
[Form of]
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATION CORPORATION
AND
ECHOSTAR HOLDING CORPORATION
DATED AS OF [________ , 2007]
FORM OF
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT
This Tax Sharing Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into as of the ___day of [ ],
2007, between EchoStar Communications Corporation (ECC), a Nevada corporation, and EchoStar
Holding Corporation (the Company), a Nevada corporation.
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, ECC and the Company have entered into a Separation Agreement dated [ ] (the
Separation Agreement
); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Separation Agreement the issued and outstanding common stock of the
Company owned by ECC will be distributed by ECC (pro rata) to the holders of its common stock with
respect to such stock in the Distribution; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to provide for the payment of tax liabilities and
entitlement to tax refunds for the taxable periods ending before, on or after the date of the
Distribution, to allocate responsibility and provide for cooperation in the preparation and filing
of tax returns with respect to such taxable periods, and to provide for certain other related
matters;
NOW, THEREFORE, ECC, on behalf of itself and the ECC Group (as hereinafter defined), and the
Company, on behalf of itself and the Company Group (as hereinafter defined), in consideration of
the mutual covenants contained herein, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
General
. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall
have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Separation Agreement or, to the extent the
context requires, have the meaning assigned to them in the Code or the applicable Treasury
Regulations promulgated thereunder (as interpreted in administrative pronouncements and judicial
decisions) or in comparable provisions of applicable law. As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the
singular and the plural forms of the terms defined):
Affiliate shall mean any entity that is directly or indirectly under the control of the
Person or entity in question, where control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of a Person, whether through
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Ancillary Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Big Four Public Accounting Firms shall mean each of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Ernst & Young
LLP, KPMG LLP, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Combined Tax Return shall mean a consolidated, combined or unitary Income Tax Return that
actually includes, by election or otherwise, one or more members of the ECC Group and one or more
members of the Company Group.
Company Group shall mean the Company and all direct and indirect Subsidiaries or Affiliates
of the Company at the time of the Distribution.
Contribution shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Contributions shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Distribution shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Distribution Liability shall mean any liability for which the Company has provided an
indemnity pursuant to Sections 3.1(b)(ii) or (iii) of this Agreement.
Distribution Date shall mean the date on which the Distribution is effected.
Distributions shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
ECC Consolidated Group shall mean ECC and each direct and indirect Subsidiary, including a
member of the Company Group, that is eligible to join with ECC in the filing of a consolidated
federal income tax return.
ECC Group shall mean ECC and all direct and indirect Subsidiaries or Affiliates of ECC other
than a member of the Company Group.
Effective Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.3.
Estimated Tax Return shall mean any Tax Return filed in respect of any estimated Tax payment
that is due on or before the Distribution Date.
First Contribution shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
First Internal Distribution shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Income Tax shall mean federal income tax and any other tax imposed on or measured by net
income.
Income Tax Return shall mean any Tax Return in respect of Income Taxes.
IRS shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
3
Out-of-Pocket Expenses shall include, but not be limited to, reasonable attorneys fees,
accountant fees and other related professional fees and disbursements.
Party shall mean each of ECC and the Company.
Person shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company,
corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or similar entity
or a governmental authority or any department or agency or other unit thereof.
Post-Distribution Taxes shall mean all Taxes incurred by, imposed on or asserted against any
member of the ECC Group or the Company Group that is attributable to income or operations in a
Post-Distribution Tax Period and shall include any Taxes (including Taxes related to a Straddle
Period) incurred by any member of the Company Group as a result of any transaction undertaken by
such member that is not specifically set forth in the Separation Agreements and that is outside of
the ordinary course of business on the Distribution Date after the Distribution.
Post-Distribution Tax Period shall mean (i) any tax year or period beginning after the
Distribution Date, and (ii) with respect to a Straddle Period, the portion of the Straddle Period
that commences on the day immediately after the Distribution Date.
Pre-Distribution Taxes shall mean all Taxes incurred by, imposed on or asserted against any
member of the ECC Group or the Company Group that is attributable to income or operations in a
Pre-Distribution Tax Period (including any Taxes arising as a result of the Contributions,
Distributions or Separation Transactions failing to qualify for Tax-Free Status) but shall not
include any Taxes (including Taxes related to a Straddle Period) incurred by any member of the
Company Group as a result of any transaction undertaken by such member that is not specifically set
forth in the Separation Agreements and that is outside of the ordinary course of business on the
Distribution Date after the Distribution.
Pre-Distribution Tax Period shall mean (i) any tax year or period ending on or before the
Distribution Date, and (ii) with respect to a Straddle Period, the portion of the Straddle Period
ending on and including the Distribution Date.
Pre-Distribution Tax Return shall mean any Tax Return that includes Taxes allocable to the
Pre-Distribution Tax Period but excluding any Tax Return related to a Straddle Period.
Prepaid Taxes shall mean all payments of Taxes made in respect of the Tax liability of the
Company or any member of the Company Group (whether by reason of an estimated Tax payment or
otherwise) on or prior to the Distribution Date, including any refunds or credits attributable to a
Pre-Distribution Tax Period, and which is in respect of the Straddle Period.
Prime shall mean, the rate announced from time to time as prime as reported in the Wall
Street Journals Money Rates table as the prime rate with respect to the applicable currency.
Private Letter Ruling shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
4
Ruling Request shall mean the request submitted to the IRS on September 14, 2007, for the
Private Letter Ruling (including the exhibits attached thereto and all related supplements) and any
other ruling in connection with the Contributions and Distributions that ECC deems to be
appropriate.
Second Contribution shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Second Internal Distribution shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Separation Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Separation Transactions shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Short Year shall mean the short taxable year beginning on the first day of the Companys
first taxable period in the year of the Distribution and ending on and including the Distribution
Date.
Straddle Period shall mean any taxable year or period that begins on or before the
Distribution Date and ends after the Distribution Date.
Straddle Period Tax Return shall mean any Tax Return that includes Taxes allocable to the
Straddle Period other than a Combined Tax Return.
Subsidiary shall mean any entity in which a Party, directly or indirectly, possesses fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total (i) combined voting power of all classes of its stock or (ii)
interests in the capital or profits.
Taxes shall mean all taxes, assessments, charges, duties, fees, levies or other governmental
charges, including, without limitation, all Federal, state, local, foreign and other income,
franchise, profits, capital gains, capital stock, transfer, sales, use, occupation, property,
excise, severance, windfall profits, stamp, license, payroll, withholding and other taxes,
assessments, charges, duties, fees, levies or other governmental charges of any kind whatsoever
(whether payable directly or by withholding and whether or not requiring the filing of a return),
all estimated taxes, deficiency assessments, additions to tax, penalties and interest and shall
include any liability for such amounts as a result of being a member of a combined, consolidated,
unitary or affiliated group.
Tax Attribute shall mean any net operating loss, net capital loss, investment tax credit,
foreign tax credit, deduction or any loss, credit or tax attribute that could be carried forward or
back to reduce taxes (including without limitation deductions and credits related to alternative
minimum taxes).
Tax-Free Status shall mean the qualification of each of the Contribution and Distribution,
the Second Contribution and Second Internal Distribution, and the First Contribution and First
Internal Distribution, respectively, as a reorganization described in Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the
Code and a distribution under Section 355 of the Code.
5
Tax Materials shall mean all Pre-Distribution Tax Returns involving another Party (or its
Subsidiaries) and all Straddle Period Tax Returns involving another Party (or its Subsidiaries), or
other books, records and files relating to such Tax Returns
Tax Matter shall mean any inquiry, claim, assessment, audit or similar event with respect to
Taxes.
Tax Refund shall mean any refund of Taxes (and any interest attributable thereto), including
any reduction in Taxes otherwise payable by means of a credit, offset or otherwise.
Tax Return shall mean any tax return, statement, report or form (including estimated tax
returns and reports, extension requests and forms, and information returns and reports) required to
be filed with any taxing authority and any amended return (including any claims for refunds) with
respect to the foregoing.
ARTICLE II
PREPARATION AND FILING OF RETURNS AND PAYMENT OF TAXES
Section 2.1
Tax Returns
.
ECC shall have the exclusive authority to prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed
(i) all Tax Returns for all members of the Company Group for all taxable years or periods ending on
or before the Distribution Date, including any Estimated Tax Returns due on or prior to the
Distribution Date, (ii) all consolidated federal Income Tax Returns of the ECC Consolidated Group,
(iii) any other Combined Tax Return, and (iv) any Tax Return of any member of the ECC Group.
Section 2.2
Straddle Period Tax Returns
.
(a) (i) The Company shall prepare (in accordance with past practices of ECC) the initial
draft of all Straddle Period Tax Returns (other than Estimated Tax Returns due on or prior to the
Distribution Date) and shall submit such Tax Returns, along with a calculation of ECCs portion of
any Pre-Distribution Taxes (reduced by any Prepaid Taxes) set forth on such Tax Returns, to ECC for
approval no later than thirty (30) days prior to the due date thereof. No later than fifteen (15)
days after the receipt of such Tax Return from the Company, ECC shall notify the Company of any
reasonable objections ECC may have to items set forth in such draft Tax Returns and/or the
calculation of such Taxes for which ECC is responsible. The Company and ECC agree to consult and
resolve in good faith any such objection, it being understood and agreed that in the absence of any
such resolution, any and all such objections shall be resolved in a manner consistent with the past
practices with respect to such items unless otherwise required by law. If ECC and the Company
cannot resolve such matter, then the Parties shall submit the disagreement to an independent public
accounting firm following the procedure set forth in Section 8.3. The Company shall not file such
Tax Returns without the prior written consent of ECC, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed.
(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, Taxes related to a Straddle Period shall be apportioned
between the Pre-Distribution Tax Period and the Post-Distribution Tax Period as
6
follows: (A) in the case of Taxes other than income, sales and use and withholding Taxes, on a
per-diem basis, and (B) in the case of income, sales and use and withholding Taxes, as determined
from the books and records of ECC, the Company and/or the relevant Subsidiary as though the taxable
year of ECC, the Company and/or the relevant Subsidiary terminated at the close of business on the
Distribution Date.
(b) ECC will pay to the Company ECCs portion of the Pre-Distribution Taxes related to a
Straddle Period Tax Return (as determined pursuant to Section 2.2(a)) no later than the later of:
one (1) day prior to the due date of the Tax Return for which such Taxes relate to the extent ECC
and the Company have reached an agreement on the amount of such Taxes by that date or the only
dispute relates solely to the total amount of Tax shown on the Tax Return, and in the case of a
dispute between ECC and the Company that solely relates to the percentage of the total amount of
Tax shown on the Straddle Period Tax Return allocated to ECC, ECC shall pay (i) the amount it
believes, in good faith, is its allocable portion of such Taxes within one (1) day prior to the due
date of the Tax Return for which such Taxes relate, and (ii) the remainder, if any, determined to
be owed by ECC by the independent accounting firm described in paragraph (a) above within two (2)
days after such accounting firm has determined ECCs liability with respect to such amounts. In
the event a payment is made pursuant to this paragraph (b) with respect to amounts that are in
dispute, such payment will be adjusted following the resolution of the dispute.
(c) To the extent the Prepaid Taxes exceed the Taxes owed by ECC for such Straddle Period
(as determined pursuant to Section 2.2(a)), the Company shall pay ECC such excess.
Section 2.3
Other Tax Returns
.
The Company shall have the exclusive authority to prepare and file or cause to be prepared and
filed all Tax Returns for all members of the Company Group for Taxable years or periods beginning
after the Distribution Date.
Section 2.4
Distribution
.
(a) Except as required by applicable law, the Company shall not, and shall cause the members
of the Company Group not to, take any position that is inconsistent with the treatment of the
Contributions or Distributions as having Tax-Free Status (or analogous status under state, local or
foreign law).
Section 2.5
Allocation
.
Immediately after the Distribution, the Company Group will close its books utilizing a cut
off method, and the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-76(b)(1)(ii)(A), End of Day
Rule, shall be applied to the Short Year.
Section 2.6
Short Year State, Local and Foreign Returns
.
ECC and the Company agree that Combined Tax Returns and Income Tax Returns filed for tax
periods that begin prior to the Distribution Date will reflect a short taxable year for the Company
ending on the Distribution Date in any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction in which such
tax year is allowed by administrative practice, whether or not required by law.
7
Section 2.7
Tax Return Preparation Costs
.
Each Party shall bear all costs incurred by it in preparing and filing the Tax Returns it is
responsible for under this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
ALLOCATION OF TAXES
Section 3.1
Taxes
.
(a) ECC shall be liable for and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company and
members of the Company Group on an after-tax basis against (i) all Pre-Distribution Taxes, (ii) all
Income Taxes incurred by or imposed on the Company or the Company Group solely as a result of the
provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 or the similar or analogous provisions of any
state, local or foreign law with respect to any period during which ECC and the Company filed a
Combined Tax Return, and (iii) all Post-Distribution Taxes of the ECC Group;
provided
,
however
, that ECC shall not be liable for, and shall not indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Company and members of the Company Group against any Taxes under this Section 3.1(a)
that are a Distribution Liability.
(b) The Company shall be liable for and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless ECC and
members of the ECC Group on an after-tax basis against (i) all Post-Distribution Taxes that are
attributable to the business or operations of, or incurred by or imposed on, the Company or the
Company Group, (ii) any Taxes, losses, claims and expenses (including losses, claims and expenses
arising out of claims by ECCs stockholders against ECC and ECCs Affiliates (and any successors to
the foregoing)) resulting from the Contributions and/or Distributions failing to qualify as
tax-free transactions pursuant to any provision of Section 355, Section 361, or Section
368(a)(1)(D) of the Code (A) to the extent that such Taxes, losses, claims and expenses are caused
by any action that the Company takes or fails to take, or (B) as a result of (in whole or in part)
the direct or indirect acquisition (including a transfer of assets) by one or more persons of any
of the capital stock, stock options or assets of the Company, and (iii) any Taxes, losses, claims
and expenses (including losses, claims and expenses arising out of claims by ECCs stockholders
against ECC and ECCs Affiliates (and any successors to the foregoing)) resulting from a breach by
the Company or any member of the Company Group of the covenants made by the Company in Section 9.1
hereof.
Section 3.2
Carrybacks
.
No member of the Company Group shall carry back losses, credits or other Tax Attributes
attributable to a Post-Distribution Tax Period to offset Taxes attributable to any Pre-Distribution
Tax Period.
ARTICLE IV
TAX ATTRIBUTES AND REFUNDS OF PRE-DISTRIBUTION TAXES
8
Section 4.1
Tax Refunds
.
(a) Any Tax Refund attributable to (i) any member of the Company Group for any tax period
that ends on or prior to the Distribution Date and (ii) any member of the ECC Group for any taxable
period shall be, in each case, for the account of ECC. Therefore, ECC shall retain any such Tax
Refund received by ECC or a member of the ECC Group and the Company shall pay to ECC any such Tax
Refund received by a member of the Company Group within ten (10) days after receipt thereof or
entitlement thereto.
(b) Any Tax Refund attributable to any member of the Company Group for any Straddle Period
shall be allocated between ECC and the Company in the same manner as the Tax to which such refund
relates was allocated between ECC and the Company. The recipient of any such Tax Refund shall pay
such refund over to the other party to the extent such refund is allocated to such other party
pursuant to the preceding sentence within ten (10) days after receipt thereof or entitlement
thereto.
Section 4.2
Tax Attributes
.
ECC shall in good faith determine the apportionment of Tax Attributes between the ECC Group
and the Company Group in accordance with applicable laws.
Section 4.3
Third Party Indemnities
.
(a) If a member of the Company Group has the right to receive (or actually receives) a
payment from a Person that is not a member of the Company Group (whether by reason of indemnity,
reimbursement agreement or otherwise) with respect to (or items related to) (i) Pre-Distribution
Taxes of a member of the Company Group or (ii) Taxes of a member of the ECC Group in each case,
other than such Taxes for which the Company is liable under this Agreement, such payment shall be
for the account of ECC and the Company shall pay to ECC the amount of any such payment within ten
(10) days after a member of the Company group receives such payment. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to obtain any payment described in the preceding sentence;
provided
,
however
, that ECC shall pay or promptly reimburse the Company for all Out-of-Pocket
Expenses incurred in such attempt. To the extent it is legally permitted to do so, the Company
shall assign (or caused to be assigned) to ECC all rights to receive such payment, including any
rights to enforce such payment (and shall take all actions to facilitate such assignment, such as
providing any required notice to any Person and executing any documents) so long as ECC pays or
promptly reimburses the Company for all Out-of-Pocket Expenses related thereto. If the Company is
unable to assign all of its rights to such payment, the Company shall permit ECC to control all
aspects of the enforcement of such rights and shall cooperate with ECC consistent with the
principles set forth in Section 7.1 hereof so long as ECC pays or promptly reimburses the Company
for all Out-of-Pocket Expenses related thereto.
(b) If a member of the ECC Group has the right to receive (or actually receives) a payment
from a Person that is not a member of the ECC Group (whether by reason of indemnity, reimbursement
agreement or otherwise) with respect to (or items related to) Taxes of a member of the Company
Group for any Post-Distribution Tax Period other than such Taxes for which ECC is liable under this
Agreement, such payment shall be for the account of the Company and
9
ECC shall pay to the Company the amount of any such payment within ten (10) days after a
member of the ECC Group receives such payment. ECC shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain any
payment described in the preceding sentence;
provided
,
however
, that the Company
shall pay or promptly reimburse ECC for all Out-of-Pocket Expenses incurred in such attempt. To the
extent it is legally permitted to do so, ECC shall assign (or caused to be assigned) to the Company
all rights to receive such payment, including any rights to enforce such payment (and shall take
all actions to facilitate such assignment, such as providing any required notice to any Person and
executing any documents) so long as the Company pays or promptly reimburses ECC for all
Out-of-Pocket Expenses related thereto. If ECC is unable to assign all of its rights to such
payment, ECC shall permit the Company to control all aspects of the enforcement of such rights and
shall cooperate with the Company consistent with the principles set forth in Section 7.1 hereof so
long as the Company pays or promptly reimburses ECC for all Out-of-Pocket Expenses related thereto.
ARTICLE V
PAYMENTS BETWEEN PARTIES
Section 5.1
Notice and Time of Payment
.
To the extent that one Party (the Paying Party) owes an amount to another Party (the
Recipient Party) pursuant to this Agreement, the Recipient Party shall notify the Paying Party
and shall provide the Paying Party with its calculations of such amounts owed. The Paying Party
shall pay the amount shown in such notice no later than ten (10) days after receiving the notice,
unless the Paying Party disagrees with such amount, in which case the Parties agree to negotiate in
good faith to resolve any difference. If such difference cannot be resolved within thirty (30)
days after the Recipient Party indicates its disagreement, then the Parties shall submit the
disagreement to an independent public accounting firm following the procedure set forth in Section
8.3. Any amount owing to another Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed made when
received by such other party. Any payment that is not made when due shall bear interest at a rate
equal to Prime for each day until paid. Where there is a provision in this Agreement that provides
for a different and specific payment schedule than the payment schedule provided in this Section
5.1, the more specific payment schedule shall apply.
Section 5.2
Netting of Payments
.
If, on the day payment is due under this Agreement, each of the Company and ECC owes an amount
to the other Party pursuant to this Agreement and any other agreement between the Parties,
including, without limitation, the Separation Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, the Parties
shall satisfy their respective obligations to each other by netting the aggregate amounts due to
one Party against the aggregate amounts due to the other Party, with the Party, if any, owing the
greater aggregate amount paying the other Party the difference between the amounts owed. Such net
payment shall be made pursuant to the provision of Section 5.1.
Section 5.3
Treatment of Payments
.
10
To the extent permitted by law, all amounts payable under this Agreement, shall be deemed to
be made immediately before the Distribution, and shall be treated as a distribution or contribution
to capital, as appropriate.
ARTICLE VI
AUDITS AND CONTESTS
Section 6.1
Notification
.
The Company shall promptly notify ECC in writing upon receipt by the Company or any member of
the Company Group of any communication with respect to any Tax Matter (or pending or threatened Tax
Matter) relating to any Tax period beginning on or before the Distribution Date. The Company shall
include with such notification a complete copy of any written communication received by the Company
or any member of the Company Group in respect of such Tax Matter. The failure of the Company to
promptly forward such notification in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence shall not
relieve ECC of any obligation under this Agreement, except to the extent that the failure to
promptly forward such notification actually prejudices the ability of ECC to contest such Tax
Matter.
Section 6.2
Representation with Respect to Tax Disputes
.
(a) ECC (or such member of the ECC Group as ECC shall designate) shall have the sole right to
represent the interests of the members of the ECC Group and the members of the Company Group, to
employ counsel of its choice at its expense and to make decisions with respect to settlements in
any Tax Matter relating to (A) any consolidated federal Income Tax Returns of the ECC Consolidated
Group, (B) any Combined Tax Return, (C) any Tax Return of any member of the ECC Group, and (D) any
Tax Returns for all members of the Company Group for all taxable years or periods ending on or
before the Distribution Date;
provided
,
however
, that, to the extent that such Tax
Matter involves any issue that could materially affect the amount of Taxes for which any member of
the Company Group is liable in a Post-Distribution Tax Period, ECC shall (i) keep the Company
informed of all material developments relating to such Tax Matter; (ii) act in a reasonable manner
and in good faith in discussing such issue with the relevant tax authority and contesting such Tax
Matter; and (iii) contest, and shall not settle or compromise such Tax Matter unless ECC reasonably
determines in good faith that (x) based on discussions with tax counsel, such settlement or
compromise is an appropriate resolution of such Tax Matter taking into account only the applicable
facts, applicable law and hazards and costs of controversy in respect of such Tax Matter standing
alone, and (y) ECC would find such settlement acceptable if ECC (and not any member of the Company
Group) were required to bear the tax consequences of the settlement of such Tax Matter for all
relevant Tax periods.
(b) The Company (or such member of the Company Group as the Company shall designate) shall
have the sole right to represent the interests of the members of the Company Group, to employ
counsel of its choice at its expense and to make decisions with respect to settlements in any Tax
Matter relating to any Tax Returns in respect of Post-Distribution Taxable Periods;
provided
,
however
, that, to the extent that such Tax Matter involves any issue that
could materially affect the amount of Taxes for which any member of the ECC Group is liable in a
11
Pre-Distribution Tax Period (or for other Taxes with respect to which ECC is required to indemnify
the members of the Company Group pursuant to Section 3.1(a)), the Company shall (i) keep ECC
informed of all material developments relating to such Tax Matter; (ii) act in a reasonable manner
and in good faith in discussing such issue with the relevant tax authority and contesting such Tax
Matter; and (iii) contest, and shall not settle or compromise such Tax Matter unless the Company
reasonably determines in good faith that (x) based on discussions with tax counsel, such settlement
or compromise is an appropriate resolution of such Tax Matter taking into account only the
applicable facts, applicable law and hazards and costs of controversy in respect of such Tax Matter
standing alone and (y) the Company would find such settlement acceptable if the Company (and not
any member of the ECC Group) were required to bear the tax consequences of the settlement of such
Tax Matter for all relevant Tax periods.
Section 6.3
Straddle Period Taxes
.
ECC (or such member of the ECC Group as ECC shall designate) shall have the sole right to
represent the interests of the members of the ECC Group and the members of the Company Group and to
employ counsel of its choice in any Tax Matter related to any Straddle Period Tax Return. ECC
shall have absolute discretion with respect to any decisions to be made, or the nature of any
action to be taken, with respect to any Tax Matter related to a Straddle Period Tax Return
described in the preceding sentence;
provided
,
however
, with respect to Tax Matters
that affect the Companys Tax liability, (i) ECC shall keep the Company informed of all material
developments and events relating to such matters to the extent they affect the Companys Tax
liability, (ii) at its own cost and expense, the Company shall have the right to participate in the
defense of any such tax claim, and (iii) neither ECC nor the Company shall take any action in
respect of such claim without the consent of the other Party, such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed.
ARTICLE VII
COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION
Section 7.1
Cooperation
.
(a) Beginning on the Distribution Date, each of ECC and the Company, on behalf of itself and
each member of the ECC Group and the Company Group, respectively, agrees to use good faith efforts
to provide the other Party with such cooperation or information as such other Party reasonably
shall request in connection with the determination of any payment or any calculations described in
this Agreement, the preparation or filing of any Pre-Distribution Tax Return, Straddle Period Tax
Return, Tax Return related to any Tax period beginning after the Distribution Date or claim for
refund, or the conduct of any Tax Matter. Such cooperation and information shall include, without
limitation:
(i) promptly forwarding copies of appropriate notices and forms or other communications
(including, without limitation, information document requests, revenue agents reports and
similar reports, notices of proposed adjustments and notices of deficiency) received from or
sent to any Tax authority or any other administrative, judicial or governmental authority,
12
(ii) providing copies of all relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with
accompanying schedules and related workpapers, documents relating to rulings or other
determinations by any Tax authority, and such other records concerning the ownership and Tax
basis of property, or other relevant information,
(iii) the provision of such additional information and explanations of documents and
information provided under this Agreement (including statements, certificates, forms,
returns and schedules delivered by either Party) as shall be reasonably requested by ECC or
the Company, as the case may be,
(iv) the execution of any document that may be necessary or appropriate in connection
with the filing of a Tax Return, a claim for a refund, or in connection with any Tax Matter,
including such waivers, consents or powers of attorney as may be necessary for ECC or the
Company, as the case may be, to exercise its rights under this Agreement,
(v) the use of ECCs or the Companys, as the case may be, reasonable efforts to obtain
any documentation from a governmental authority or a third party that may be necessary or
reasonably helpful in connection with any of the foregoing, and
(vi) preparing and submitting to ECC (in a time frame consistent with past practice),
at the Companys expense, all information within the Companys possession and not otherwise
reasonably available to ECC that ECC shall reasonably request, in such form as ECC shall
reasonably request, to enable ECC to prepare any Tax Returns required to be filed by ECC
pursuant to Section 2.1.
(b) Any request for information or documents pursuant to Section 7.1 shall be made by the
requesting Party in writing. The other Party shall promptly (and in no event later than thirty (30)
days after receipt of the request) provide the requested information. Except as otherwise provided
in (a)(vi), the requesting party shall indemnify the other party for any Out-of-Pocket Expenses
incurred by such party in connection with providing any information or documentation pursuant to
Section 7.1. Upon reasonable notice, each of ECC and the Company shall make its, or shall cause the
members of the ECC Group or the Company Group, as applicable, to make their, employees and
facilities available on a mutually convenient basis to provide explanation of any documents or
information provided hereunder. Any information obtained under Section 7.1 shall be kept
confidential, except as otherwise reasonably may be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax
Returns or claims for refund or in conducting any Tax Matter.
Section 7.2
Retention of Records and Returns
.
(a) For at least seven (7) years following the Distribution, each Party will retain such
records, documents, accounting data and other information (including computer data) in its
possession in the ordinary course of business reasonably necessary for (i) the preparation and
filing of all Pre-Distribution Tax Returns and Straddle Period Tax Returns required to be filed by,
on behalf of, or with respect to another Party, and (ii) any Tax Matters relating to such
Pre-Distribution Tax Returns, Straddle Period Tax Returns, or to any Pre-Distribution Taxes payable
by, on behalf of, or with respect to, another Party.
13
(b) The Parties shall, from and after the Distribution Date, preserve all Tax Materials for
such seven (7) year period, and, thereafter, not destroy or dispose of or allow the destruction or
disposition of such Tax Materials without first having offered in writing to deliver such Tax
Materials to the other Party at such other Partys expense. If such Party fails to request such
Tax Materials within ninety (90) days after receipt of the notice described in the preceding
sentence, the other Party may dispose of such Tax Materials.
ARTICLE VIII
ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMPLIANCE MATTERS
Section 8.1
Sole Tax Sharing Agreement
.
Any and all existing tax sharing agreements or arrangements, written or unwritten, between any
member of the ECC Group and any member of the Company Group shall be terminated as of the Effective
Date or shall be amended so as to exclude all members of the Company Group from continuing as a
party to such agreements or arrangements. As of the Effective Date, this Agreement shall be the
sole tax sharing agreement, and there shall be no further rights, obligation or liabilities under
any preexisting tax sharing agreement, between the members of the Company Group and the members of
the ECC Group.
Section 8.2
Designation of Agent
.
The Company and each member of the Company Group hereby irrevocably authorizes and designates
ECC as its agent, coordinator, and administrator, for the purpose of taking any and all actions
(including the execution of waivers of applicable statutes of limitation) necessary or incidental
to the filing of any Tax Return, and for the purpose of making payments to, or collecting Tax
Refunds from, any taxing authority, in each case if such Tax Return relates only to any
Pre-Distribution Tax Period.
Section 8.3
Disputes
.
If ECC or the Company fails to give its agreement, approval or consent in a situation
described in Section 2.2, or the Parties cannot agree on an amount owed under Section 5.1, or any
other dispute or disagreement arises under this Agreement that cannot be resolved among the
Parties, the issue involved shall be submitted to an independent public accounting firm acceptable
to both ECC and the Company;
provided
,
however
, that if the dispute or disagreement
involves a matter of legal interpretation, then upon the written consent of both Parties such
dispute shall be resolved by such independent public accounting firm, otherwise such independent
accounting firm shall select an outside attorney (1) experienced in federal income tax law and (2)
mutually acceptable to ECC and the Company (which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld) to
resolve such dispute or disagreement. If ECC and the Company cannot agree on an independent public
accounting firm, the first Big Four Public Accounting Firm (on an alphabetical basis) that is not
currently serving as the auditor of either Party shall be selected to resolve the dispute. The
decision of the independent public accounting firm (and any outside attorney selected by such
accounting firm) in resolving the dispute shall be final and binding. The fees and expenses
incurred with respect to the independent public accounting firm resolving the dispute shall be
allocated fifty percent (50%) to ECC and fifty percent (50%) to the
14
Company. All other fees and expenses incurred in resolving the dispute shall be borne by the
Party that incurs such fees and expenses.
ARTICLE IX
CERTAIN COVENANTS
Section 9.1
Company Covenants
.
(a) The Company will not, nor will it permit any member of the Company Group to, take any
action inconsistent with the information and representations furnished to the IRS in connection
with the Ruling Request, or to counsel in connection with any opinion being delivered by counsel
with respect to the Contributions or Distributions, regardless of whether such information and
representations were included in the ruling issued by the IRS or in the opinion of counsel.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1
Notices
.
(a) Any notice, demand, claim, or other communication under this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given upon the delivery or mailing thereof, as the case
may be, if delivered personally or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid or sent by facsimile, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address
as a party may specify by notice to the other):
If to ECC, to:
EchoStar Communications Corporation
9601 S. Meridian Blvd., Englewood, CO 80112
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: 303-723-1699
If to Company, to:
EchoStar Holding Corporation
90 Inverness Circle East, Englewood, CO 80112
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: 303-723-1699
Section 10.2
Costs and Expenses
.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, each party shall bear its own costs and
expenses incurred pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 10.3
Effectiveness; Termination and Survival
.
15
This Agreement shall become effective upon the consummation of the Distribution (the
Effective Date). All rights and obligations arising hereunder shall survive until the later of
(i) the full period of all applicable statutes of limitation (giving effect to any extension,
waiver or mitigation thereof), or (ii) all rights and obligations are fully effectuated or
performed.
Section 10.4
Subsidiaries
.
ECC agrees and acknowledges that ECC shall be responsible for the performance by each member
of the ECC Group of the obligations hereunder applicable to such member. The Company agrees and
acknowledges that the Company shall be responsible for the performance by each member of the
Company Group of the obligations hereunder applicable to such member.
Section 10.5
Headings
.
The headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
constitute a part hereof or in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 10.6
Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers; Severability
.
(a)
Entire Agreement
. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the
Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein. No alteration, amendment,
modification, or waiver of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be valid unless made by an
instrument signed by an authorized officer of each of ECC and the Company, or in the case of a
waiver, by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective.
(b)
Amendments and Waivers
. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any
right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or
partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any
right, power or privilege. This Agreement shall not be waived, amended or otherwise modified
except as in writing, duly executed by all of the Parties.
(c)
Severability
. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such
provision to any Party or circumstances shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement or such
provision or the application of such provision to such Party or circumstances, other than those
determined to be so invalid, illegal or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law and shall not be affected by such determination, unless such a
construction would be unreasonable.
Section 10.7
Governing Law and Interpretation.
This Agreement has been made in, and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws of, the State of New York without giving effect to laws and principles relating to conflicts
of law.
Section 10.8
Counterparts.
16
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
Section 10.9
Assignments; Third Party Beneficiaries.
Except as provided below, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure only to the
benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, by merger, acquisition
of assets or otherwise (including but not limited to any successor of a party hereto succeeding to
the Tax Attributes of such Party under applicable law). This Agreement is not intended to benefit
any Person other than the Parties hereto and such successors and assigns, and no other Person shall
be a third party beneficiary hereof.
Section 10.10
Further Assurances
.
ECC and the Company shall execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be executed,
acknowledged and delivered, such instruments and take such other action as may be necessary or
advisable to carry out their obligations under this Agreement and under any exhibit, document or
other instrument delivered pursuant hereto.
Section 10.11
Authorization
.
Each of the Parties hereby represents and warrants that it has the power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, that this Agreement has been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of such party, that this Agreement constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of each such party and that the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by such party does not contravene or conflict with any provision or law or of its
charter or bylaws or any agreement, instrument or order binding on such Party.
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
ECC on its own behalf and on behalf of each member of
ECC Group.
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
Company on its own behalf and on
behalf of each member of the Company
Group.
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
18
Exhibit 10.3
FORM OF
EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT (this
Agreement
) is entered into as of [
], 2007, by
and between EchoStar Communications Corporation, a Nevada corporation (
ECC
), and EchoStar
Holding Corporation , a Nevada corporation (the
Company
).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of ECC has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to
separate ECC and the Company into two publicly-traded companies by separating from ECC and
transferring to the Company ECCs non-consumer related businesses and related assets and
liabilities (the
Separation
); and
WHEREAS, ECC and the Company have entered into that certain Separation Agreement, dated as of
[
], 2007 (the
Separation Agreement
), in order to carry out, effect and consummate the
Separation; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Separation, ECC and the Company desire to enter into this
Employee Matters Agreement to allocate between them assets, liabilities and responsibilities with
respect to certain employee compensation, benefit plans, programs and arrangements, and certain
employment matters.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree, intending
to be legally bound, as follows.
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.01 Unless otherwise defined herein, each capitalized term shall have the meaning
specified for such term in the Separation Agreement. As used in this Agreement:
Agreement
means this Employee Matters Agreement together with those parts of the
Separation Agreement referenced herein and all Schedules hereto and all amendments, modifications
and changes hereto and thereto.
Business Employee
means a Transferred Employee or any other individual employed at
any time on or prior to the Distribution Date by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates who has, as of the Distribution Date, or who, immediately prior to his or her
termination of employment with all of ECC, its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates, had
employment duties primarily related to the Company Business.
COBRA
means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as codified
at Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and at Section 4980B of the Code, as amended.
Code
means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Domestic Business Employee
means a Business Employee who is located in the United
States or who is an expatriate Business Employee employed by a U.S. entity but who is performing
services outside of the United States for a temporary period of time at the request of his
employer.
ERISA
means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, 29
U.S.C. §1001, et. seq.
ECC Non-ERlSA Benefit Arrangement
means any Non-ERlSA Benefit Arrangement sponsored
or maintained by ECC or its Subsidiaries.
ECC Plan
means any Pension Plan or Welfare Plan sponsored or maintained by ECC or
its Subsidiaries.
IRS
means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
Non-Domestic Business Employee
means a Business Employee who is located outside the
United States or who is an inpatriate Business Employee in the U.S. employed by a Non-U.S. entity
but who is performing services in the United States for a temporary period of time at the request
of his employer.
Non-ERISA Benefit Arrangement
means any contract, agreement, policy, practice,
program, plan, trust or arrangement, other than a Pension Plan or Welfare Plan, providing for
benefits, perquisites or compensation of any nature to any Business Employee, or to any family
member, dependent or beneficiary of any such Business Employee, including, without limitation,
disability, severance, health, dental, life, accidental death and dismemberment, travel and
accident, tuition reimbursement, supplemental unemployment, vacation, sick, personal or bereavement
days, holidays, retirement, deferred compensation, profit sharing, bonus, stock-based compensation
or other forms of incentive compensation.
Pension Plan
means any pension plan as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA.
Transferred Employee
means an employee of ECC or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) whose employment is transferred to the Company Group on or
immediately prior to the Distribution Date.
Welfare Plan
means any employee welfare plan as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA.
-2-
ARTICLE II
Assignment of Employees
Effective on or immediately prior to the Distribution Date, the employment of the Transferred
Employees by ECC and its Subsidiaries shall be terminated and thereupon shall commence with and
shall be assigned and transferred to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding
anything set forth below or herein to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall create any
obligation on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to continue the employment of any
employee for any definite period following the Distribution Date or to change the employment status
of any employee from at will. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to preserve
payroll, benefits, or other legal entitlements with respect to employees outside the United States,
the Company and ECC may enter into one or more agreements whereby either party may lease employees
from the other party for a limited period of time following the Distribution Date. Any such
agreement(s) shall require the party receiving the services of such leased employees to fully
reimburse the leasing company for the full cost of the employee(s) remuneration and shall contain
other terms and conditions consistent with an arms length commercial relationship between the
leasing entity and the service recipient.
ARTICLE III
Pension Plans
Section 3.01
U.S. Defined Contribution Plans
.
(a) Establishment of the Company 401(k) Plan. On or as soon as administratively practicable
following the Distribution Date, the Company shall adopt, establish and maintain a 401(k) profit
sharing Pension Plan and trust intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and exempt
from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code (the
Company 401(k) Plan
).
(b) Transfer of Account Balances and Forfeitures. As soon as administratively practicable
after the Distribution Date, there shall be transferred from the EchoStar Communications
Corporation 401(k) Employee Savings Plan Trust (
ECC 401(k) Plan Trust
) to the trust
established by the Company for the Company 401(k) Plan assets having a value as of the applicable
valuation date that are equal to the value of the account balances of, and liabilities with respect
to, all Business Employees (other than Business Employees whose employment has terminated prior to
the Distribution Date) with an account balance under the EchoStar Communications Corporation 401(k)
Employee Savings Plan (
ECC 401(k) Plan
) as of such valuation date. In addition, as soon
as administratively practicable after the Distribution Date, there shall be transferred from the
ECC 401(k) Plan Trust to the trust established by the Company to hold the Company 401(k) Plan
assets a pro rata share of all amounts held as unallocated forfeitures in the ECC 401(k) Plan
Trust, determined based upon the ratio of the sum of the account balances of the Business Employees
described in the immediately preceding sentence as of the applicable valuation date to the sum of
all account balances held in the ECC
-3-
401(k) Plan Trust as of such valuation date. Such transferred assets shall be in cash, shares
of securities, promissory notes evidencing outstanding plan loans of such Business Employees, and
shares of ECC Class A Common Stock and Company Class A Common Stock, and such transfer shall be
made in accordance with Section 414(l) of the Code. Liabilities under any qualified domestic
relations orders (as defined in Section 414(p) of the Code) received with respect to any accounts
transferred to the Company 401(k) Plan shall be transferred to and assumed by the Company 401(k)
Plan at the time such assets attributable to such accounts are transferred. The Company shall
assume and thereafter be solely responsible for all then existing and future employer liabilities
related to such Business Employees under the Company 401(k) Plan and the administration thereof,
and ECC shall have no liability therefore.
(c) In consideration for the continued participation of Business Employees in the ECC 401(k)
Plan for any period following the Distribution Date, the Company shall pay to ECC, or reimburse it
for, such amounts as are set forth in the Benefits Administration Services Schedule to the
Transition Services Agreement.
Section 3.02
Non-U.S. Retirement Plans
.
Following the Distribution Date, the Company
shall cause its Non-U.S. Subsidiaries to continue to maintain in full force and effect retirement
plans as were sponsored and maintained by such Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Distribution
Date, and neither ECC nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any liability or obligation with
respect to such plans or any participants or former participants in such plans with respect to
their participation therein. In addition, effective either prior to or as of the Distribution
Date, the Company shall cause its Non-U.S. Subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Spain, Holland, Hong
Kong, Ukraine, Korea, China, Taiwan and Dubai, to adopt retirement plans with appropriate
eligibility and benefits terms to ensure that Non-Domestic Business Employees in such countries are
either (1) eligible to participate in the same type of plan and enjoy the same level of benefits
for which such NonDomestic Business Employees were eligible immediately prior to the Distribution
Date (or date of plan adoption, if earlier), or (2) eligible to participate in a plan intended to
provide a substantially comparable level of benefits for which such NonDomestic Business Employees
were eligible immediately prior to the Distribution Date (or date of plan adoption, if earlier).
ARTICLE IV
Welfare Plans
Section 4.01
Company Welfare Plans
.
(a) On or as soon as administratively practicable following the Distribution Date, the Company
shall have adopted for the benefit of eligible Domestic Business Employees and their respective
eligible dependents, health (including medical, vision and dental), life, accidental death and
dismemberment, disability and other Welfare Plans as determined by the Company (the
Company
Welfare Plans
) that are substantially similar to the terms of the corresponding Welfare Plans
maintained by ECC. Domestic Business Employees shall be eligible to participate
in the Company Welfare Plans on the terms established by the Company. In consideration for
the continued participation of Business Employees in the Welfare Plans maintained by ECC for any
period following the Distribution Date, the Company shall pay to ECC, or reimburse it for,
-4-
such
amounts as are set forth in the Benefits Administration Services Schedule to the Transition
Services Agreement.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Company shall cause its Non-U.S. Subsidiaries to
continue to maintain in full force and effect Welfare Plans as were sponsored and maintained at
such Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Distribution Date, and neither ECC nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall have any liability or obligation with respect to such plans or any participants
or former participants in such plans with respect to their participation therein. ECC and the
Company shall have separate provider contracts established for employees of ECC and Non-U.S.
Subsidiaries of the Company effective on or prior to the Distribution Date. In addition, effective
either prior to or as of the Distribution Date, the Company shall cause its Non-U.S. Subsidiaries
in the United Kingdom, Spain, Holland, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Korea, China, Taiwan and Dubai, to adopt
Welfare Plans with appropriate eligibility and benefits terms, to ensure that Non-Domestic Business
Employees in such countries are either (1) eligible to participate in the same type of plan and
enjoy the same level of benefits for which such Non-Domestic Business Employees were eligible
immediately prior to the Distribution Date (or date of plan adoption, if earlier), or (2) eligible
to participate in a plan intended to provide a substantially comparable level of benefits for which
such Non-Domestic Business Employees were eligible immediately prior to the Distribution Date (or
date of plan adoption, if earlier), and neither ECC nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any
liability or obligation with respect to such plans or any participants in such plans.
Section 4.02
Welfare Plan Liabilities
.
(a)
Company Liabilities
. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Company
shall assume, and be solely responsible for all ECC and Company Welfare Plan liabilities incurred
by any Business Employee before, on, or after the Distribution Date.
(b)
ECC Liabilities
. ECC shall continue to be responsible after the Distribution
Date for employer liabilities under the EchoStar Communications Corporation Employee Benefits
Health & Welfare Plan and any Non-U.S. Welfare Plan incurred with respect to Business Employees
and their eligible dependents only with respect to the following (except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement):
(1) Continuation Coverage for Terminated Domestic Business Employees and their Dependents.
Any Domestic Business Employee whose employment terminates prior to the Distribution Date for any
reason, including a Domestic Business Employee currently receiving
EchoStar Communications
Corporation Employee Benefits Health & Welfare Plan
benefits pursuant to a termination
agreement or an Agreement and Release under the applicable ECC severance policy, and any
dependent of such Domestic Business Employee, who elected or is eligible to elect, pursuant to the
rights under COBRA or any comparable state law, to continue to
participate in the
EchoStar Communications Corporation Employee Benefits Health & Welfare
Plan
on the applicable date of termination.
(2) Disabled Persons. ECC shall continue to be responsible after the Distribution Date for
all claims for long-term disability incurred prior to the Distribution Date by any Domestic
Business Employee who is absent from active employment due to a total
-5-
disability, as defined in the
EchoStar Satellite L.L.C. Employee Life Insurance and Disability Plans
, on or prior to the
Distribution Date to the extent that such long-term disability benefits are provided under an
insurance contract. ECC shall also be responsible for long-term disability benefits for any
Domestic Business Employee who is receiving weekly short-term disability benefits as of the
Distribution Date and who becomes eligible for long-term disability benefits thereafter, provided
that the total disability relates to the same condition for which weekly short-term disability
benefits were paid and, provided further, that such long-term disability benefits are payable under
an insurance contract.
Section 4.03
Flexible Spending Accounts
.
Effective as of the Distribution Date, the
Company shall adopt and maintain a flexible spending account plan (the Company FSA) with terms
that are substantially identical in all material respects to those of the EchoStar Communications
Corporation Flexible Benefit Plan (the ECC FSA). As soon as practicable following the
Distribution Date, ECC shall cause to be transferred to the Company an amount in cash equal to the
excess of the aggregate accumulated contributions to the flexible spending reimbursement accounts
under the ECC FSA made during the year in which the Distribution Date occurs by the Business
Employees over the aggregate reimbursement payouts made for such year from such accounts to such
Business Employees. The Company shall cause such amounts to be credited to each such employees
corresponding accounts under the Company FSA following the Distribution Date. On and after the
Distribution Date, the Company shall assume and be solely responsible for all claims for
reimbursement by Business Employees, whether incurred prior to, on or after the Distribution Date,
that have not been paid in full as of the Distribution Date, which claims shall be paid pursuant to
and under the terms of the Company FSA, and the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless ECC from
any and all claims by or with respect Business Employees for reimbursement under the ECC FSA that
have not been paid in full as of the Distribution Date. The Company agrees to cause the Company FSA
to honor and continue through the end of the calendar year in which the Distribution Date occurs
the elections made by each Business Employee under the Company FSA in respect of the flexible
spending reimbursement accounts that are in effect immediately prior to the Distribution Date.
ARTICLE V
Equity Compensation Plans
Section 5.01
Stock Options
.
ECC and the Company shall take any and all action as
shall be necessary or appropriate so that outstanding options issued under the Amended and Restated
EchoStar Communications Corporation 1995 Stock Incentive Plan, the EchoStar Communications
Corporation 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, the EchoStar Communications Corporation 2001
Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan and the ECC 1995 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan)
(collectively, the
ECC SIPs
) to purchase ECC Class A Common Stock (
ECC Stock
Options
) held at the close of business on the Distribution Date by current and former
employees and directors of ECC and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates (or their respective
transferees) shall be replaced pursuant to the terms of the ECC SIPs with an adjusted ECC Stock
Option with an adjusted exercise price and a substitute option under the EchoStar Holding
Corporation Transition Stock Incentive Plan (the
Company SIP
) to purchase Company Class A
Common Stock (a
Company Stock Option
). Such replacement will be
-6-
implemented in a manner
such that immediately following the Distribution (i) the number of shares relating to the adjusted
ECC Stock Option will be equal to the number of shares of ECC Class A Common Stock subject to such
option immediately prior to the Distribution, (ii) the number of shares subject to the substitute
Company Stock Option will be equal to the number of shares of Company Class A Common Stock that
the option holder would have received in the Distribution had the ECC Class A Common Stock subject
to the option represented outstanding shares of ECC Class A Common Stock, and (iii) the per share
option exercise price of the original ECC Stock Option will be proportionally allocated between
such separate stock options based upon the relative per share trading prices of ECC Class A Common
Stock and the Company Class A Common Stock immediately following the Distribution, with the
intention that such adjustment and substitution satisfy the requirements of Section 424 of the Code
and avoid treatment as nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code.
Each adjusted ECC Stock Option and substituted Company Stock Option adjusted from or substituted
for an original ECC Stock Option described in this
Section 5.01 (a)
, when combined, will in
the exclusive and sole discretion of the administrative committee established pursuant to the
applicable ECC SIP (the ECC SIP Committee) preserve the intrinsic value of such original ECC
Option, and each will preserve the ratio from the original option of the exercise price to the fair
market value of the stock subject to the option. Fractional shares shall be adjusted or
compensated by ECC as appropriate in the sole discretion of the ECC SIP Committee. All employment
with both ECC and the Company shall be taken into account for purposes of determining the vesting
and exercisability provisions of such awards.
Section 5.02
Restricted Stock
.
ECC and the Company shall take any and all action as
shall be necessary or appropriate, so that current and former employees and directors of ECC and
its Subsidiaries and Affiliates (or their respective transferees) who on the Distribution Date hold
shares of ECC Class A Common Stock issued under one or more ECC SIP that are subject to
restrictions on sale and transfer(
ECC Restricted Stock
) shall, in addition to the ECC
Restricted Stock, receive shares of the Company Class A Common Stock that are subject to
restrictions on sale and transfer (
Company Restricted Stock
) in connection with the
Distribution under the applicable Company SIP based upon the number of shares of ECC Restricted
Stock they hold. All employment with both ECC and the Company shall be taken into account for
purposes of determining when the restrictions on the sale and transfer of such shares lapse.
Fractional shares shall be adjusted or compensated by ECC as appropriate in the sole discretion of
the ECC SIP Committee.
Section 5.03
Restricted Stock Units
.
ECC and the Company shall take any and all action as shall be necessary or appropriate, so
that current and former employees and directors of ECC and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates (or
their respective transferees) will have each of their restricted stock units granted under one or
more ECC SIP with respect to ECC Class A Common Stock (
ECC Restricted Stock Unit
)
replaced with a ECC Restricted Stock Unit and a substitute Company restricted stock unit issued
under the Company SIP (
Company Restricted Stock Unit
). The number of the Company
Restricted Stock Units issued in replacement for such ECC Restricted Stock Units shall be
calculated so that immediately following the Distribution (i) the number of ECC Restricted Stock
Units will be equal to the number of ECC Restricted Stock Units held by the participant immediately
prior to the Distribution, and (ii) the number of the Company Restricted Stock Units will be equal
to the number of shares of the Company Class A Common Stock that the holder of the restricted stock
-7-
unit would have received in the Distribution had the ECC Restricted Stock Unit represented
outstanding shares of ECC Class A Common Stock. The ECC Restricted Stock Units and the Company
Restricted Stock Units will each take into account all employment with both ECC and the Company,
and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates, for purposes of determining when such awards vest
and terminate. Fractional shares shall be adjusted or compensated by ECC as appropriate in the
sole discretion of the ECC SIP Committee.
Section 5.04
Approval and Terms of Equity and Equity-Based Awards
. By its approval of
this
Article V,
the Board of Directors of the Company, as issuer of Company substitute and
replacement equity and equity-based awards provided hereunder, and the Board of Directors of ECC,
as issuer of ECC substitute and replacement equity and equity-based awards provided hereunder and
as sole shareholder of the Company, hereby adopt and approve, respectively, the issuance of the
substitute and replacement options and equity and equity-based awards provided for herein. Except
as set forth above, the terms of the Company SIP, and the Company substitute and replacement equity
and equity-based awards hereunder, shall be substantially identical in all material respects to the
terms of the ECC SIPs, and the corresponding awards under the ECC SIPs, as applicable, except that
references in the substitute and replacement equity and equity-based awards in respect of Company
Class A Common Stock to Board and Committee shall mean the Board and committee designed by the
Board of the Company, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing, awards made under the Company
SIP, or adjusted under the ECC SIPs, pursuant to the Companys or ECCs obligations under this
Agreement shall take into account all employment with both ECC and the Company, and their
respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates, for purposes of determining the vesting and exercisability
provisions of such awards. In exercising power and authority hereunder with respect to
replacement and substitute awards provided hereunder, ECC and the Company shall each (i) act in
good faith and (ii) cooperate with, and give due regard to any information provided by, the other
party. In addition, with respect to such replacement and substitute equity and equity-based
awards, neither the Company nor ECC shall, without the prior written consent of the ECC SIP
Committee or the applicable committee designated by the Companys Board of Directors, as
applicable, take any discretionary action to accelerate vesting of any such awards.
Section 5.05
Responsibility for Tax Withholding, Reporting, and Social Insurance
Contributions
. ECC and the Company agree that, unless prohibited by applicable law, (a) ECC shall be
responsible for all tax withholding and reporting obligations and shall pay the employers share of
any social insurance tax obligations that arise in connection with the grant, vesting, exercise,
transfer or other settlement of the substitute and replacement awards held by current and former
employees and directors of ECC and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates who are not Business Employees
(or their respective transferees), (b) the Company shall be responsible for all tax withholding and
reporting obligations and shall pay the employers share of any social insurance tax obligations
that arise in connection with the grant, vesting, exercise, transfer or other settlement of the
substitute and replacement awards held by Business Employees (or their transferees). ECC and the
Company agree to enter into any necessary agreements regarding the subject matter of this
Section 5.05
to enable ECC and the Company to fulfill their respective obligations
hereunder, including but not limited to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
regarding the reporting, withholding or remitting of income and social insurance taxes.
-8-
Section 5.06
No Change of Control
. The Distribution will not constitute a change of
control for purposes of ECC equity and equity-based awards which are outstanding as of the
Distribution Date.
Section 5.07
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
. On or prior to the Distribution Date, the
Company shall establish an employee stock purchase plan (the
Company ESPP
) with terms
that are substantially identical in all material respects to the terms of the Amended and Restated
ECC 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
ECC ESPP
). Business Employees will be
eligible to participate in the Company ESPP on the Distribution Date. Prior to the Distribution
Date, ECC shall take whatever action is necessary under the ECC ESPP
to provide that the Purchase Period (as defined in the ECC
ESPP) ending on December 31, 2007 shall instead end on or about
December 19, 2007.
Section 5.08
Establishment of the Company Stock Incentive Plans
. Effective as of the
Distribution Date, the Company shall establish the a stock incentive plan to provide for awards
which may include the following: (i) stock options (both qualified and non-qualified), (ii) stock
appreciation rights, (iii) restricted stock awards, (iv) restricted stock unit awards, (v) phantom
stock units, (vi) performance grants and (vii) bonus awards, including, without limitation, the
awards provided for herein.
ARTICLE VI
Compensation Matters and General Benefit Matters
Section 6.01
Cessation of Participation in ECC Plans and Non-ERISA U.S. Benefit
Arrangements
. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or as required by the terms of any ECC Plan
or ECC Non-ERISA Benefit Arrangement, or by applicable law, ECC and the Company shall take any and
all action as shall be necessary or appropriate so that participation in ECC Plans and ECC
Non-ERISA Benefit Arrangements by all Business Employees shall terminate as soon as
administratively practicable following the Distribution Date and the Company and/or its
Subsidiaries, as applicable, shall cease to be participating employers under the terms of such ECC
Plans and ECC Non-ERISA Benefit Arrangements as soon as administratively practicable following the
Distribution Date.
Section 6.02
Assumption of Certain Employee Related Obligations
. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, effective as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, the
Company shall assume, and none of ECC or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall have any
further liability for, the following agreements, obligations and liabilities and the Company shall
indemnify ECC and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and the officers, directors, and employees of
each, and hold them harmless with respect to such agreements, obligations or liabilities:
(a) Agreements entered into between ECC, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and Business
Employees.
(b) Agreements entered into between ECC, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and independent
contractors providing services solely to the Company Business.
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(c) All collective bargaining agreements, collective agreements, trade union, or works council
agreements entered into between ECC, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and any union, works council,
or other body representing only Business Employees.
(d) All wages, salary, incentive compensation, commissions and bonuses payable to Business
Employees on or after the Distribution Date, without regard to when such wages, salary, incentive
compensation, commissions and bonuses are or may have been earned.
(e) All moving expenses and obligations related to relocation, repatriation, transfers, or
similar items incurred by or owed to Business Employees.
(f) All immigration-related, visa, work application, or similar rights, obligations and
liabilities related to Business Employees.
(g) All liabilities and obligations whatsoever of the Company Business with respect to claims
made by or with respect to Business Employees or any other persons who at any time prior to the
Distribution Date had employment duties primarily related to the Company Business relating to any
employee benefit plan, program or policy not otherwise retained or assumed by ECC pursuant to this
Agreement, including such liabilities relating to actions or omissions of or by the Company or any
officer, director, employee or agent thereof prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 6.03
Restrictive Covenants in Employment and Other Agreements
. To the extent permitted under applicable law, following the Distribution, the Company and
its Subsidiaries and Affiliates shall be considered to be successors to ECC and its Subsidiaries
and Affiliates for purposes of all agreements containing restrictive covenants (including but not
limited to confidentiality and non-competition provisions) between ECC (or any of its Subsidiaries
or Affiliates) and Business Employees, employees of ECC (or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates)
as of the Distribution Date that the Company reasonably determines have substantial knowledge of
the Company Business, former employees and independent contractors executed prior to the
Distribution Date such that each of ECC, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries and
Affiliates shall all enjoy the rights and benefits under such agreements, with respect to such
partys and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates business operations;
provided
,
however
, that (a) in no event shall ECC be permitted to enforce the restrictive covenant
agreements against Business Employees in their capacity as employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, and (b) in no event shall the Company be permitted to enforce the restrictive
covenants agreements of ECC employees in their capacity as employees of ECC or its Subsidiaries.
Section 6.04
Severance
. Effective as of the Distribution Date, the Company may
establish one or more severance plans and policies with respect to Business Employees as the
Company deems appropriate in its discretion. ECC shall have no liability or obligation under any
ECC severance plan or policy with respect to Business Employees whose employment terminates on or
after the Distribution Date. It is not intended that any Business Employee will be eligible for
termination or severance payments or benefits from ECC or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates as a
result of the transfer or change of employment from ECC to the Company or their respective
Subsidiaries or Affiliates. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in the event that
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any such
termination or severance payments or benefits become payable on account of such transfer, change or
the refusal of a Business Employee to accept employment with the Company, the Company shall
indemnify ECC, and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, for the amount of such termination or severance
payments or benefits.
Section 6.05
Past Service Credit
. With respect to all Domestic Business Employees,
the Company shall recognize all service recognized under the comparable ECC Plans and ECC Non-ERlSA
Benefit Arrangements for purposes of determining eligibility, participation, vesting, and
calculation of benefits under the Companys comparable plans and programs,
provided
that
there shall be no duplication of benefits for Business Employees under the Companys plans and
programs. ECC will provide to the Company copies of any records available to ECC to document such
service, plan participation and membership and cooperate with the Company to resolve any
discrepancies or obtain any missing data for purposes of determining benefit eligibility,
participation, vesting and calculation of benefits with respect to such Domestic Business
Employees. With respect to retaining, destroying, transferring, sharing, copying and permitting
access to all such information, ECC and the Company shall each comply with all applicable laws,
regulations and internal policies and each party shall indemnify and hold harmless the other party
from and against any and all liability, claims, actions, and damages that arise from a failure (by
the
indemnifying party) to so comply with all applicable laws, regulations and internal policies
applicable to such information.
Section 6.06
Accrued Vacation Days Off
. The Company shall recognize and assume all
liability for all vacation, holiday, sick leave, flex days and personal days off, including banked
vacation, accrued by Business Employees as of the Distribution Date and the Company shall credit
each Business Employee with such days off accrual.
Section 6.07
Leaves of Absence
. The Company will continue to apply the leave of
absence policies maintained by ECC to inactive Business Employees who are on an approved leave of
absence as of the Distribution Date. Leaves of absence taken by Business Employees prior to the
Distribution Date shall be deemed to have been taken as employees of the Company.
Section 6.08
ECC Assets
. Except as otherwise set forth herein, ECC shall retain all
reserves, bank accounts, trust funds or other balances maintained with respect to ECCs Non-ERlSA
Benefit Arrangements.
Section 6.09
Further Cooperation/Personnel Records/Data Sharing
. The parties shall
provide each other such records and information only as necessary or appropriate to carry out their
obligations under law, this Agreement, or for the purposes of administering the Company plans and
policies. The parties shall take commercially reasonable actions so that after the Separation, all
ministerial matters relating to (i) the Company awards issued to individuals other than Business
Employees can be administered by ECC and (ii) ECC equity and equity-based awards issued to Business
Employees can be administered by the Company. Each of the parties shall provide information
requested by the other party relating to employee status changes (such as terminations,
retirements, etc.) and exercised options during the ten-year period beginning on the Distribution
Date. Subject to applicable law, all information and records regarding employment and personnel
matters of Business Employees shall be accessed, retained,
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held, used, copied and transmitted after
the Distribution Date by the Company in accordance with all laws and policies relating to the
collection, storage, retention, use, transmittal, disclosure and destruction of such records.
Access to such records after the Distribution Date will be provided to ECC in accordance with
Article IV of the Separation Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ECC shall retain reasonable
access to those records necessary for ECCs continued administration of any plans or programs on
behalf of Business Employees after the Distribution Date,
provided
that such access shall
be limited to individuals who have a job-related need to access such records. ECC shall also
retain copies of all confidentiality and non-compete agreements with any Business Employee in which
ECC has a valid business interest. With respect to retaining, destroying, transferring, sharing,
copying and permitting access to all such information, ECC and the Company shall each comply with
all applicable laws, regulations and internal policies, and each party shall indemnify and hold
harmless the other party from and against any and all liability, claims, actions, and damages that
arise from a failure (by the indemnifying party) to so comply with all applicable laws,
regulations and internal policies applicable to such information.
ARTICLE VII
General Provisions
Section 7.01
Preservation of Rights to Amend
. The rights of ECC or the Company to
amend or terminate any plan, program, or policy referred to herein shall not be limited in any way
by this Agreement.
Section 7.02
Confidentiality
. Each party hereto agrees that the specific terms and
conditions of this Agreement and any information conveyed or otherwise received by or on behalf of
a party hereto in conjunction herewith are confidential and are subject to the terms of the
confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 4.5 of the Separation Agreement.
Section 7.03
Administrative Complaints/Litigation
. Except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement, as of and after the Distribution Date, the Company shall assume, and be solely
liable for, the handling, administration, investigation, and defense of actions, including, without
limitation, ERISA, occupational safety and health, employment standards, union grievances, wrongful
dismissal, discrimination or human rights and unemployment compensation claims, asserted at any
time against ECC or the Company by any Business Employee (including any dependent or beneficiary of
a Business Employee), or any other person to the extent such actions or claims arise out of or
relate to employment or the provision of services (whether as an employee, contractor, consultant,
or otherwise) to or with the Company Business. Any Liabilities arising from such actions shall be
deemed Assumed Liabilities under the Separation Agreement.
Section 7.04
Reimbursement and Indemnification
. The parties hereto agree to reimburse
each other, within 30 days of receipt from the other party of appropriate verification, for all
costs and expenses which each may incur on behalf of the other as a result of any of the Welfare
Plans, Pension Plans and Non-ERISA Benefit Arrangements and, as contemplated by
Section
6.04
, any termination or severance payments or benefits. All liabilities retained, assumed or
indemnified against by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, and all
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liabilities retained,
assumed or indemnified against by ECC pursuant to this Agreement, shall in each case shall be
subject to the indemnification provisions of Article V of the Separation Agreement.
Section 7.05
Entire Agreement
. This Agreement, including the Schedules hereto and
the sections of the Separation Agreement referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all
prior agreements,
negotiations, discussions, understandings, writings and commitments between the parties hereto
with respect to such subject matter.
Section 7.06
Governing Law; Service of Process; Jurisdiction
. This Agreement and the
legal relations between the parties hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws rules thereof to the
extent such rules would require the application of the law of another jurisdiction. The state or
federal courts located within the City of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any and
all disputes between the parties hereto, whether in law or equity, arising out of or relating to
this Agreement and the agreements, instruments and documents contemplated hereby and the parties
hereto consent to and agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts. Each of the
parties hereto hereby waives and agrees not to assert in any such dispute, to the fullest extent
permitted by Applicable Law, any claim that (i) such party is not personally subject to the
jurisdiction of such courts, (ii) such party and such partys property is immune from any legal
process issued by such courts or (iii) any litigation or other proceeding commenced in such courts
is brought in an inconvenient forum.
Section 7.07
Amendment
. This Agreement shall not be amended, modified or supplemented
except by a written instrument signed by an authorized representative of each of ECC and the
Company.
Section 7.08
Waiver
. Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived, or the
time for its performance may be extended, by the party or the parties hereto entitled to the
benefit thereof. Any such waiver shall be validly and sufficiently given for the purposes of this
Agreement if, as to any party hereto, it is in writing signed by an authorized representative of
such party. The failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement
shall not be construed to be a waiver of such provision, or in any way to affect the validity of
this Agreement or any part hereof or the right of any party hereto thereafter to enforce each and
every such provision. No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be held to constitute a
waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
Section 7.09
Severability
. If any provision of this Agreement or the application
thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or the application of
such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has
been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, as the case may be, is not affected in any manner
adverse to any party hereto or thereto. Upon such determination, the parties hereto shall negotiate
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in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the
original intent of the parties hereto.
Section 7.10
Execution in Counterparts
. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement, and shall become binding when one or more counterparts have
been signed by and delivered to each of the parties hereto.
Section 7.11
Successors and Assigns
. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns;
provided
,
however
, that the rights and obligations of either party hereto under this Agreement shall
not be assignable by such party without the prior written consent of the other party. The
successors and permitted assigns hereunder shall include any permitted assignee as well as the
successors in interest to such permitted assignee (whether by merger, liquidation (including
successive mergers or liquidations) or otherwise).
Section 7.12
Notices
. All notices or other communications under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given when delivered or mailed in accordance with the
terms of Section 9.12 of the Separation Agreement.
Section 7.13
Performance
. Each party hereto shall cause to be performed, and hereby
guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be
performed by any Affiliate of such party.
Section 7.14
No Public Announcement
. Neither ECC nor the Company shall, without the
approval of the other, make any press release or other public announcement concerning the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as and to the extent that either party hereto
shall be so obligated by Applicable Law or the rules of any regulatory body, stock exchange or
quotation system, in which case the other party hereto shall be advised and the parties hereto
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause a mutually agreeable release or announcement to
be issued;
provided
,
however
, that the foregoing shall not preclude communications
or disclosures necessary to implement the provisions of this Agreement or to comply with Applicable
Law, accounting and SEC disclosure obligations or the rules of any stock exchange.
Section 7.15
Limited Liability
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, no individual who is a stockholder, director, employee, officer, agent or representative
of the Company or ECC, in its capacity as such, shall have any liability in respect of or relating
to the covenants or obligations of such party under this Agreement and, to the fullest extent
legally permissible, each of the Company and ECC, for itself and its respective stockholders,
directors, employees, officers and
Affiliates, waives and agrees not to seek to assert or enforce any such liability that any
such Person otherwise might have pursuant to Applicable Law.
Section 7.16
Mutual Drafting
. This Agreement shall be deemed to be the joint work
product of ECC and the Company and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or
construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable.
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Section 7.17
Dispute Resolution
. The parties hereto agree that any dispute,
controversy or claim between them with respect to the matters covered hereby shall be governed by
and resolved in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article VIII of the Separation
Agreement.
Section 7.18
No Third Party Beneficiaries
. No Business Employee or other current or
former employee of ECC or the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of either (or his/her spouse,
dependent or beneficiary), or any other person not a party to this Agreement, shall be entitled to
assert any claim hereunder. The provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective Affiliates, successors and permitted assigns and shall not
confer upon any third Person any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement or other right in excess
of those existing without reference to this Agreement.
Section 7.19
Effect if Separation Does Not Occur
. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, if the Separation Agreement is terminated prior to the Distribution
Date, this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect
Section 7.20
Waiver of Jury Trial
. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT THAT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED IN THIS AGREEMENT (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION,
SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HERETO HAS
BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT.
Section 7.21
Corporate Authorization
. The officers of ECC and the Company are hereby authorized, empowered and directed, in the
name and on behalf of each of ECC and the Company, respectively, to take or cause to be taken all
such further action, to execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered all such further
agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, to make or cause to be made all such filings
with governmental or regulatory authorities, and to pay or cause to be paid all such fees and
expenses, in each case which shall in such officers judgment be deemed necessary, proper or
advisable to effect and carry out the intent of this Agreement, such determination to be evidenced
conclusively by such officers execution and delivery thereof or taking of action in respect
thereto.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their
authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
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EchoStar Communications Corporation
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Title:
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EchoStar Holding Corporation
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By:
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Exhibit 10.22
FORM OF
ECHOSTAR HOLDING CORPORATION
2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Section 1. Purpose
The purpose of this Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) is to promote the interests of EchoStar
Holding Corporation (the Company) and its Subsidiaries by aiding the Company in attracting and
retaining Participants capable of assuring the future success of the Company, to offer such
personnel incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Companys business and to
afford such personnel an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.
Section 2. Definitions
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) Award shall mean an award granted to a Participant in accordance with the terms of this
Plan in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units,
Performance Awards, Dividend Equivalents or Other Stock-Based Awards granted under the Plan, or any
combination of the foregoing.
(b) Award Agreement shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or
document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan.
(c) Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d) Committee shall mean the committee described in Section 3 of the Plan.
(e) Company shall mean EchoStar Holding Corporation, a Nevada corporation, and any successor
corporation.
(f) Dividend Equivalent shall mean any right granted under Section 6(e) of the Plan.
(g) Echostar shall mean EchoStar Communications Corporation, a Nevada corporation, and any
successor corporation.
(h) Employee Matters Agreement shall mean the agreement entered into by the Company and
EchoStar as of [
].
(i) Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(j) Key Employee shall mean any person, including officers and directors, in the regular
full-time employment of the Company or a Subsidiary who, in the opinion of the Committee, is,
or is expected to be, primarily responsible for the management, growth or protection of some part
or all of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or otherwise to contribute substantially
to the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(k) Fair Market Value shall mean, with respect to Shares, the final closing price, as quoted
by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ) or any
other exchange on which the Shares are traded, for the date in question. If Fair Market Value is in
reference to property other than Shares, the Fair Market Value of such other property shall be
determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the
Committee.
(l) Incentive Stock Option shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that
is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.
(m) Non-employee Director shall mean a director of the Company who is a non-employee
director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.
(n) Non-Qualified Stock Option shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan
that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
(o) Option shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option, and shall
include Restoration Options.
(p) Other Stock-Based Award shall mean any right granted under Section 6(f) of the Plan.
(q) Outside Director shall mean a director of the Company who is an outside director
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(r) Participant shall mean (1) any Key Employee designated to be granted an Award under the
Plan by the Committee, (2) a consultant or advisor currently providing services to the Company or
Subsidiary (by contract or otherwise) designated to be granted an Award under the Plan by the
Committee, or (3) any employee of the Company or Subsidiary designated to be granted an Award under
the Plan by the Committee if such grant is part of a broad-based performance incentive program. In
addition, in connection with the spin-off of the Company, certain current and former employees and
consultants and advisors of Echostar will be considered Participants in connection with their
receipt of Replacement and Substitute Awards.
(s) Performance Award shall mean any right granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan.
(t) Person shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association or trust.
(u) Plan shall mean this 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
(v) Replacement and Substitute Award shall mean an Option or Restricted Stock Unit granted
in connection with the spin-off of the Company to certain current and former employees
and consultants and advisors of Echostar pursuant to the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement.
2
(w) Restoration Option shall mean any Option granted under Section 6(a)(iv) of the Plan
which confers upon the Participant the right to receive a new Option upon the payment of the
exercise price of a previously held Option by delivery of previously owned Shares.
(x) Restricted Stock shall mean any Share granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan, subject to
such restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate or desirable.
(y) Restricted Stock Unit shall mean any unit granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan
evidencing the right to receive a Share (or a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a
Share) at some future date.
(z) Retirement shall mean becoming eligible to receive immediate retirement benefits under a
retirement or pension plan of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(aa) Rule 16b-3 shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor rule or regulation.
(bb) Shares
shall mean shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company or
such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made
under Section 4(c) of the Plan.
(cc) Stock Appreciation Right shall mean any right granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan.
(dd) Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of
corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation
in the unbroken chain owns 50% or more of the voting stock or other equity interests in one of the
other corporations in such chain.
(ee) Ten-Percent Stockholder shall mean an individual who owns (within the meaning of
Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company or of a Subsidiary.
(ff) Total Disability shall mean the complete and permanent inability of an employee
Participant to perform such Participants duties under the terms of the Participants employment
with the Company or any Subsidiary, as determined by the Committee upon the basis of such evidence,
including independent medical reports and data, as the Committee deems appropriate or necessary.
3
Section 3. Administration.
(a)
Power and Authority of the Committee
.
(i)
The Committee
. The Committee shall consist of at least two directors of the Company and
may consist of the entire Board of Directors;
provided, however,
that (i) if the Committee consists
of less than the entire Board of Directors, each member shall be a Non-employee Director and (ii)
to the extent necessary for any Award intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m) of the Code, to so qualify, each member of the Committee, whether or not it consists
of the entire Board of Directors, shall be an Outside Director. The Committee may determine the
extent to which any Stock Option under the Plan is required to comply, or not comply, with Section
409A of the Code.
(ii)
Power and Authority
. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and to applicable law,
the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine
the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the
number of Shares to be covered by (or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are
to be calculated in connection with) each Award; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any
Award or Award Agreement which may be based on various factors such as length of employment and/or
performance of the Participant or the Company (such performance criteria may include but are not
limited to Companys achievement of specified financial or other performance metrics, such as
subscriber growth); (v) amend the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement and
accelerate the exercisability of Options or the lapse of restrictions relating to Restricted Stock,
Restricted Stock Units or other Awards; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances Awards may be exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other
property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under
what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts
payable with respect to an Award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the
election of the holder thereof or the Committee; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any
instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (ix) establish, amend, suspend
or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the
proper administration of the Plan; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action
that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committees
selection of a person to participate in this Plan at any time shall not require the Committee to
select such person to participate in this Plan at any other time. Unless otherwise expressly
provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under
or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may
be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon any Participant, any holder or
beneficiary of any Award and any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. The Committees
decisions and determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among
Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.
(b)
Delegation
. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, delegate such powers and
duties under the Plan as it deems appropriate;
provided, however
, that the Committee shall not
delegate its powers and duties under the Plan with regard to executive officers or directors of the
Company or any Subsidiary who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
4
(c)
Replacement and Substitute Awards
. In exercising its power and authority
hereunder with respect to Replacement and Substitute Awards held by current and former employees
and directors of EchoStar (and their respective transferees), the Committee shall (i) act in good
faith and (ii) cooperate with and give due regard to any information provided by Echostar. In
addition, with respect to such Replacement and Substitute Awards, the Company shall not, without
the prior written consent of the Echostar Compensation Committee, take any discretionary action to
accelerate vesting of any such awards.
Section 4. Shares Available for Awards.
(a)
Shares Available
. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), the number of
Shares that may be issued subject to Awards under the Plan shall not
exceed 16,000,000;
provided,
however,
that during the term of the Plan (i) no Participant may be granted Awards (other than
Awards described in clause (ii) below) in the aggregate in
respect of more than 800,000 Shares in any one calendar year and (ii) the maximum amount that any Participant may receive in any
one calendar year in respect of Performance Awards granted pursuant to Section 6(d) may not exceed
the Fair Market Value of 400,000 Shares. Shares to be issued under the Plan may be either
Shares reacquired and held in the treasury or authorized but unissued Shares. If any Shares covered
by an Award or to which an Award relates are not purchased or are forfeited, or if an Award
otherwise terminates without delivery of any Shares, then the number of Shares counted against the
aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of
any such forfeiture or termination, shall again be available for granting Awards under the Plan.
The Company shall at all times keep available out of authorized but
unissued and/or reacquired Shares the number of
Shares to satisfy Awards granted under the Plan.
(b)
Accounting for Awards
. For purposes of this Section 4, if an Award entitles the
holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to
which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate
number of Shares available under Section 4(a) above for granting Awards under the Plan.
(c)
Adjustments
. In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or
other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property),
recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation,
split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the
Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company
or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is
determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the
benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee
shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of
Shares (or other securities or other property) which thereafter may be made the subject of Awards,
(ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) subject to outstanding
Awards and (iii) the purchase or exercise price with respect to any Award;
provided,
5
however,
that the number of Shares covered by any Award or to which such Award relates shall always
be a whole number.
Section 5. Eligibility of Key Employees.
Any Key Employee, including any Key Employee who is an officer or director of the Company or
any Subsidiary, shall be eligible to be designated a Participant;
provided, however,
a director of
the Company who is not also an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary shall not be designated as
an Participant. In determining which Key Employees shall receive an Award and the terms of any
Award, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective
Key Employees, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company or such
other factors as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall deem relevant. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to full or part-time employees (which term
as used herein includes, without limitation, officers and directors who are also employees) of the
Company and its Subsidiaries.
Section 6. Awards.
(a)
Options
. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Options to Participants with
the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent
with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine, which terms and conditions shall
be set forth in a form approved by the Committee.
(i)
Exercise Price
. The exercise price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be
determined by the Committee;
provided, however
, that, the exercise price of an Option shall not be
less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option (110% in the
case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Stockholder);
provided, further,
that
the aggregate Fair Market Value, determined at the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted, of
the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be exercisable for the first time by
an employee Participant in any calendar year under all plans of the Company and any parent
corporation of the Company and any Subsidiary shall not exceed $100,000.
(ii)
Option Term
. The term of each Option shall be for a period of ten years from the date of
grant of any Incentive Stock Option (5 years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a
Ten-Percent Stockholder) and ten years and three months from the date of grant of a Non-Qualified
Stock Option, unless an earlier expiration date shall be stated in the Option or the Option shall
cease to be exercisable pursuant to this Section 6. If an employee Participants employment with
the Company and all Subsidiaries terminates other than by reason of such Participants death, Total
Disability or Retirement, the Participants Option shall terminate and cease to be exercisable upon
termination of employment, unless the Committee shall determine otherwise.
(iii)
Time and Method of Exercise
. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an
Option may be exercised in whole or in part and the method or methods by which, and the form or
forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes, other securities, other
Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the
6
exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price) in which, payment of the exercise price with
respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made. The Committee may also permit the holders
of Options, in accordance with such procedures as the Committee may in its sole discretion
establish, including those set forth in Section 6(g) hereof, to exercise Options and sell Shares
acquired pursuant to a brokerage or similar arrangement approved in advance by the Committee, and
to use the proceeds from such sale as payment of the exercise price of such Options.
(iv)
Restoration Options
. The Committee may grant Restoration Options, separately or together
with another Option, pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions established by the
Committee and any applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 or any other applicable law, the
Participant would be granted a new Option when the payment of the exercise price of the Option to
which such Restoration Option relates is made by the delivery of Shares owned by the Participant
pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Plan or agreement relating to such Option, which new
Option would be an Option to purchase the number of Shares not exceeding the sum of (A) the number
of Shares so provided as consideration upon the exercise of the previously granted Option to which
such Restoration Option relates and (B) the number of Shares, if any, tendered or withheld as
payment of the amount to be withheld under applicable tax laws in connection with the exercise of
the Option to which such Restoration Option relates pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Plan
or agreement relating to such Option. Restoration Options may be granted with respect to Options
previously granted under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company, and may be granted
in connection with any Option granted under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company
at the time of such grant;
provided, however
, that Restoration Options may not be granted with
respect to any Option granted to a Non-employee Director under any other stock option plan of the
Company.
(v)
Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options
. Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall
specify whether it is an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option, provided that the
Committee may in the case of the grant of an Incentive Stock Option give the Participant the right
to receive in its place a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
(b)
Stock Appreciation Rights
. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Stock
Appreciation Rights to Participants subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award
Agreement. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder thereof a
right to receive upon exercise thereof the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the
date of exercise (or, if the Committee shall so determine, at any time during a specified period
before or after the date of exercise) over (ii) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as
specified by the Committee, which price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one
Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right. Subject to the terms of the Plan and
any applicable Award Agreement, the grant price, term, methods of exercise, dates of exercise,
methods of settlement and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be
as determined by the Committee. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the
exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it may deem appropriate.
7
(c)
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
. The Committee is hereby authorized to
grant Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to Participants with the following
terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:
(i)
Restrictions
. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to
such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, any limitation on the
right to vote a Share of Restricted Stock or the right to receive any dividend or other right or
property with respect thereto), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such
time or times, in such installments or otherwise as the Committee may deem appropriate (the
Restricted Period).
(ii)
Stock Certificates.
Any Restricted Stock granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by
issuance of a stock certificate or certificates, which certificate or certificates shall be held by
the Company. Such certificate or certificates shall be registered in the name of the Participant
and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable
to such Restricted Stock. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(c), no Shares of
Restricted Stock received by a Participant shall be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise disposed of during the Restricted Period. In the case of Restricted Stock
Units, no Shares shall be issued at the time such Awards are granted.
(iii)
Forfeiture; Delivery of Shares
. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon
termination of a Participants employment (as determined under criteria established by the
Committee) during the applicable Restricted Period, all Shares of Restricted Stock and all
Restricted Stock Units held by such Participant at such time subject to restriction shall be
forfeited and reacquired by the Company;
provided, however
, that in the cases of death, Total
Disability or Retirement, or in circumstances where the Committee finds that a waiver would be in
the best interest of the Company, the Committee may waive in whole or in part any or all remaining
restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. Any Share
representing Restricted Stock that is no longer subject to restrictions shall be delivered to the
holder thereof promptly after the applicable restrictions lapse or are waived. Upon the lapse or
waiver of restrictions and the restricted period relating to Restricted Stock Units evidencing the
right to receive Shares, such Shares shall be issued and delivered to the holders of the Restricted
Stock Units.
(d)
Performance Awards
. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Performance Awards
to Participants subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. A Performance
Award granted under the Plan (i) may be denominated or payable in cash, Shares (including, without
limitation, Restricted Stock), other securities, other Awards or other property and (ii) shall
confer on the holder thereof the right to receive payments, in whole or in part, upon the
achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall
establish. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the performance
goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the
amount of any Performance Award granted, the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant
to any Performance Award and any other terms and conditions of any Performance Award shall be
determined by the Committee.
8
(e)
Dividend Equivalents
. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant to Participants
Dividend Equivalents under which such Participants shall be entitled to receive payments (in cash,
Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property as determined in the discretion of the
Committee) equivalent to the amount of cash dividends paid by the Company to holders of Shares with
respect to a number of Shares determined by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any
applicable Award Agreement, such Dividend Equivalents may have such terms and conditions as the
Committee shall determine.
(f)
Other Stock-Based Awards
. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant to
Participants such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by
reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation,
securities convertible into Shares), as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the
purpose of the Plan;
provided, however
, that such grants must comply with applicable law and, in
the case of executive officers and directors of the Company, Rule 16b-3. Subject to the terms of
the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions
of such Awards. Shares or other securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under
this Section 6(f) shall be purchased for such consideration, which may be paid by such method or
methods and in such form or forms (including without limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes,
other securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof), as the Committee
shall determine, the value of which consideration, as established by the Committee, shall not be
less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities as of the date such
purchase right is granted.
(g)
General
.
(i)
No Cash Consideration for Awards
. Awards shall be granted for no cash consideration or for
such minimal cash consideration as may be required by applicable law.
(ii)
Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together
. Awards may, in the discretion of the
Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for, any
other Award or any award granted under any plan of the Company or any Subsidiary other than the
Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or in addition to or in tandem
with awards granted under any such other plan of the Company or any Subsidiary may be granted
either at the same time as, or at a different time from, the grant of such other Awards or awards.
(iii)
Forms of Payment under Awards
. Subject to the terms of the Plan and of any applicable
Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary upon the grant,
exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine
(including, without limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes, other securities, other Awards or
other property or any combination thereof), and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in
installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures
established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions
for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the
grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents with respect to installment or deferred payments.
9
(iv)
Cashless Exercise
. Options may be exercised in whole or in part upon delivery to the
Secretary of the Company of an irrevocable written notice of exercise. The date on which such
notice is received by the Secretary shall be the date of exercise of the Option, provided that
within three business days of the delivery of such notice the funds to pay for exercise of the
Option are delivered to the Company by a broker acting on behalf of the optionee either in
connection with the sale of the Shares underlying the Option or in connection with the making of a
margin loan to the optionee to enable payment of the exercise price of the Option. In connection
with the foregoing, the Company will provide a copy of the notice of exercise of the Option to the
aforesaid broker upon receipt by the Secretary of such notice and will deliver to such broker,
within three business days of the delivery of such notice to the Company, a certificate or
certificates (as requested by the broker) representing the number of Shares underlying the Option
that have been sold by such broker for the optionee.
(v)
Limits on Transfer of Awards.
No Award and no right under any such Award shall be
transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code;
provided, however
, that,
if so determined by the Committee, a Participant may, in the manner established by the Committee,
designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise the rights of the Participant and receive any
property distributable with respect to any Award upon the death of the Participant. Each Award or
right under any Award shall be exercisable during the Participants lifetime only by the
Participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participants guardian or legal
representative. No Award or right under any such Award may be pledged, alienated, attached or
otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment or encumbrance thereof shall
be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Subsidiary.
(vi)
Term of Awards
. Unless otherwise expressly set forth in the Plan, the term of each Award
shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.
(vii)
Restrictions; Securities Listing
. All certificates for Shares or other securities
delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such
stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or
the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any
applicable federal or state securities laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be
placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. If the Shares
or other securities are traded on NASDAQ or a securities exchange, the Company shall not be
required to deliver any Shares or other securities covered by an Award unless and until such Shares
or other securities have been admitted for trading on NASDAQ or such securities exchange.
Section 7. Amendment and Termination; Adjustments.
Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law and unless otherwise expressly provided in
an Award Agreement or in the Plan:
(a)
Amendments to the Plan
. The Board of Directors of the Company may amend, alter,
suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan;
provided, however,
that, notwithstanding any other
10
provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, without the approval of the stockholders of the
Company, no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made
that, absent such approval;
(i) would violate the rules or regulations of NASDAQ or any securities exchange that are
applicable to the Company; or
(ii) would cause the Company to be unable, under the Code, to grant Incentive Stock Options
under the Plan.
(b)
Amendments to Awards
. The Committee may waive any conditions of or rights of the
Company under any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively. The Committee may not amend,
alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively,
without the consent of the Participant or holder or beneficiary thereof, except as otherwise herein
provided (for clarification purposes, in no event shall the consent
of the participant or holder or beneficiary be required in order for
the Committee to effectuate a lock-up).
(c)
Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies
. The Committee may correct
any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the
manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.
Section 8. Income Tax Withholding; Tax Bonuses.
(a)
Withholding
. In order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax
laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all
applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and
absolute responsibility of a Participant, are withheld or collected from such Participant. In order
to assist a Participant in paying all or a portion of the federal and state taxes to be withheld or
collected upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) an Award, the
Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt,
may permit the Participant to satisfy such tax obligation by (i) electing to have the Company
withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise to be delivered upon exercise or receipt of (or the
lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such
taxes or (ii) delivering to the Company shares other than Shares issuable upon exercise or receipt
of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the
amount of such taxes.
(b)
Tax Bonuses
. The Committee, in its discretion, shall have the authority, at the
time of grant of any Award under this Plan or at any time thereafter, to approve cash bonuses to
designated Participants to be paid upon their exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions
relating to) Awards in order to provide funds to pay all or a portion of federal and state taxes
due as a result of such exercise or receipt (or the lapse of such restrictions). The Committee
shall have full authority in its discretion to determine the amount of any such tax bonus.
11
Section 9. General Provisions
(a)
No Rights to Awards
. No Key Employee, Participant or other Person shall have any
claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of
treatment of Key Employees, Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The
terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Participant or with respect
to different Participants.
(b)
Award Agreements
. No Participant will have rights under an Award granted to such
Participant unless and until an Award Agreement shall have been duly executed on behalf of the
Company.
(c)
No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements
. Nothing contained in the Plan shall
prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional
compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable
only in specific cases.
(d)
No Right to Employment
. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a
Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary, nor will it
affect in any way the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate such employment at any
time, with or without cause. In addition, the Company or a Subsidiary may at any time dismiss a
Participant from employment free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise
expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.
(e)
Assignability
. No Award granted under this Plan, nor any other rights acquired by
a Participant under this Plan, shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant, other than by
will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as
defined by the Code, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules
promulgated thereunder.
(f)
Governing Law
. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any Award, and
any rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any Award, shall be determined in accordance with
the laws of the State of Colorado.
(g)
Severability
. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify the Plan or any
Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed
amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without,
in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the purpose or intent of the Plan or the
Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction or Award, and the remainder of the
Plan or any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(h)
No Trust or Fund Created
. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be
construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
Company or any Subsidiary and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person
acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to an Award, such
right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any
Subsidiary.
12
(i)
No Fractional Shares
. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant
to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of
any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled,
terminated or otherwise eliminated.
(j)
Transfers and Leaves of Absence
. Solely for the purposes of the Plan: (a) a
transfer of an employee Participants employment without an intervening period from the Company to
a Subsidiary or vice versa, or from one Subsidiary to another, shall not be deemed a termination of
employment, and (b) an employee Participant who is granted in writing a leave of absence shall be
deemed to have remained in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, during
such leave of absence.
(k)
Headings
. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as
a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or
relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
(l)
Replacement and Substitute Awards
. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the
contrary, any Option or Award that is intended to be a Replacement or Substitute Award granted in
connection with the spin-off of the Company shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as
the original EchoStar award to which it relates; provided, however that such awards shall be
administered by the Committee. In this regard, all employment with EchoStar shall be taken into
account for purposes of determining the vesting and exercisability provisions of such Options
and/or Awards.
Section 10. Effective Date of the Plan.
The Plan shall be effective as of [
], subject to approval by the stockholders of
the Company on or before that date or within one year thereafter.
Section 11. Term of the Plan.
Unless the Plan shall have been discontinued or terminated as provided in Section 7(a), the
Plan shall terminate on [
]. No Award shall be granted after the termination of the
Plan. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement,
any Award theretofore granted may extend beyond the termination of the Plan, and the authority of
the Committee provided for hereunder with respect to the Plan and any Awards, and the authority of
the Board of Directors of the Company to amend the Plan, shall extend beyond the termination of the
Plan.
13