EXHIBIT 2.3
VOTING AND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
THIS VOTING AND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT is entered into as of June ___, 2001,
among ASPi Europe, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Pubco"), GrowthExperts Group
Inc., an Alberta corporation ("Target"), Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Barristers & Solicitors
("Trustee"), ASPi Alberta Holdings Inc., an Alberta corporation ("Acquiror"),
and the holders of Exchangeable Shares of Amalco, as described in Schedule A
(the "Holders").
WHEREAS,:
A. Pursuant to an Amalgamation and Re-organization Agreement dated
effective as of June ___, 2001 by and between Pubco, Acquiror, and Target (such
agreement as it may be further amended or restated is hereinafter referred to as
the "Amalgamation Agreement"), the parties agreed that on the Closing Date (as
defined in the Amalgamation Agreement), Pubco, Amalco (as defined herein) and
the Holders would execute and deliver a Voting and Exchange Agreement containing
the terms and conditions set forth in Schedule K to the Amalgamation Agreement
together with such other terms and conditions as may be agreed to by the parties
to the Amalgamation Agreement acting reasonably;
B. Pursuant to an amalgamation of Target and Acquiror (the
"Amalgamation", with the subsequent entity that is formed referred to as
"Amalco") effected by Articles of Amalgamation dated June ____, 2001 filed
pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) (or any successor or other
corporate statute by which Amalco may in the future be governed) (the "Act"),
each issued and outstanding common share of Target (a "Target Common Share") was
exchanged for nonvoting exchangeable shares of Amalco (the "Exchangeable
Shares");
C. The Articles of Amalgamation of Amalco set forth the rights,
privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Exchangeable Shares,
which rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions are described in Schedule
A to the Amalgamation Agreement (collectively, the "Exchangeable Share
Provisions");
D. Pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement, Pubco will grant to each
Holder voting rights in Pubco on the basis of each Holder having an equivalent
number of votes in Pubco as the number of Exchangeable Shares held by such
Holder;
E. Pubco is to grant to and in favor of the Holders (other than Pubco and
its subsidiaries) from time to time of the Exchangeable Shares the right, in the
circumstances set
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forth herein, to require Pubco to acquire from each such Holder all or any part
of the Exchangeable Shares held by the Holder;
F. The parties desire to make appropriate provision and to establish
a procedure whereby the Holders have voting rights in Pubco by and through a
Trustee, which will hold legal title to and a share certificate in respect of a
share of Pubco Special Voting Stock (the "Pubco Special Voting Stock") to which
voting rights attach for the benefit of such Holders;
G. The parties desire to make appropriate provision and to establish a
procedure whereby the rights to require Pubco to acquire the Exchangeable Shares
from the Holders thereof (other than Pubco and its subsidiaries) shall be
exercisable from time to time by such Holders; and
H. These recitals and any statement of facts in this Agreement are made
by Pubco, Acquiror and Target and not by the Trustee.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective covenants and
agreements provided in this Agreement and for other good and valuable
consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged),
the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 Definitions
In this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(a) "Aggregate Equivalent Vote Amount" means, with respect to any matter,
proposition or question on which holders of Pubco Common Stock are
entitled to vote, consent or otherwise act, the product of (i) the
number of shares of Exchangeable Shares issued and outstanding and
held by Holders multiplied by (ii) the Equivalent Vote Amount.
(b) "Amalgamation" has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.
(c) "Automatic Exchange Rights" means the benefit of the obligation of
Pubco to effect the automatic exchange of shares of the Pubco Common
Stock for the Exchangeable Shares pursuant to Section 5.10 hereof.
(d) "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of Amalco.
(e) "Business Day" has the meaning provided in the Exchangeable Share
Provisions.
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(f) "Equivalent Vote Amount" means, with respect any matter, proposition
or question on which holders of Pubco Common Stock are entitled to
vote, consent or otherwise act, the number of votes to which a holder
of one share of Pubco Common Stock is entitled with respect to such
matter, proposition or question.
(g) "Exchangeable Share Consideration" has the meaning provided in the
Exchangeable Share Provisions.
(h) "Exchangeable Share Provisions" has the meaning provided in the
recitals hereto.
(i) "Exchangeable Shares" has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.
(j) "Exchange Put Right" has the meaning provided in the Exchangeable
Share Provisions.
(k) "Exchange Right" has the meaning provided in Section 5.1 hereof.
(l) "Exchangeable Shareholder Approval" means approval by the Holders in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3.9 of the Exchangeable
Share Provisions.
(m) "Holders" means the registered holders from time to time of the
Exchangeable Shares.
(n) "Insolvency Event" means the institution by Amalco of any proceeding
to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent or to be dissolved or
wound-up, or the consent of Amalco to the institution of bankruptcy,
insolvency, dissolution or winding-up proceedings against it, or the
filing of a petition, answer or consent seeking dissolution or
winding-up under any bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws,
including without limitation the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act
(Canada) and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), and the
failure by Amalco to contest in good faith any such proceedings
commenced in respect of Amalco within 15 days of becoming aware
thereof, or the consent by Amalco to the filing of any such petition
or to the appointment of a receiver, or the making by Amalco of a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission in
writing by Amalco of its inability to pay its debts generally as they
become due, or Amalco's not being permitted, pursuant to liquidity or
solvency requirements of applicable law, to redeem any Retracted
Shares pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Exchangeable Share Provisions.
(o) "Liquidation Call Right" has the meaning provided in the Exchangeable
Share Provisions.
(p) "Liquidation Event" has the meaning provided in subsection 5.10
hereof.
(q) "Liquidation Event Effective Time" has the meaning provided in
subsection 5.10(c) hereof.
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(r) "List" has the meaning provided in Section 4.6 hereof.
(s) "Officer's Certificate" means, with respect to Pubco or Amalco, as the
case may be, a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the
Board, the Vice-Chairman of the Board (if there be one), the President
or any Vice-President of Pubco or Amalco, as the case may be.
(t) "Person" includes an individual, body corporate, partnership, company,
unincorporated syndicate or organization, trust, trustee, executor,
administrator and other legal representative.
(u) "Pubco Common Stock" has the meaning provided in the Exchangeable
Share Provisions.
(v) "Pubco Consent" has the meaning provided in Section 4.2 hereof.
(w) "Pubco Meeting" has the meaning provided in subsection 4.2 hereof.
(x) "Pubco Special Voting Stock" has the meaning provided in the recitals
hereto.
(y) "Pubco Successor" has the meaning provided in subsection 11.1 hereof.
(z) "Redemption Call Right" has the meaning provided in the Exchangeable
Share Provisions.
(aa) "Retracted Shares" has the meaning provided in Section 5.6 hereof.
(bb) "Retraction Call Right" has the meaning provided in the Exchangeable
Share Provisions.
(cc) "Share Consideration" has the meaning provided in the Exchangeable
Share Provisions.
(dd) "Share Price" has the meaning provided in the Exchangeable Share
Provisions.
(ee) "Stockholder Votes" has the meaning provided in Section 4.2 hereof.
(ff) "Subsidiary" has the meaning provided in the Exchangeable Share
Provisions.
(gg) "Support Agreement" means that certain support agreement made as of
even date hereof by and between Pubco, Aquiror and Target.
(hh) "Trust" means the trust created by this Agreement.
(ii) "Trust Estate" means the Voting Share held by the Trustee from time to
time pursuant to this Agreement.
(jj) "Voting Rights" means the voting rights attached to the Voting Share.
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(kk) "Voting Share" means the one share of Pubco Special Voting Stock, with
a par value of $0.001, issued by Pubco to and deposited with the
Trustee, which entitles the holder of record to a number of votes at
meetings of holders of Pubco Common Stock equal to the Aggregate
Equivalent Vote Amount.
1.2 Interpretation Not Affected by Headings, Etc.
The division of this Agreement into articles, sections and paragraphs
and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall
not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
1.3 Number, Gender, Etc.
Words importing the singular number only shall include the plural and
vice versa. Words importing the use of any gender shall include all genders.
1.4 Date for Any Action
If any date on which any action is required to be taken under this
Agreement is not a Business Day, such action shall be required to be taken on
the next succeeding Business Day.
1.5 Payments
All payments to be made hereunder will be made without interest.
Acquiror and Pubco shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any dividend or
consideration otherwise payable to any holder of Exchangeable Shares such
amounts as Acquiror or Pubco is required or permitted to deduct and withhold
with respect to such payment under the Income Tax Act (Canada), the United
States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any provision of provincial, state,
local or foreign tax law, in each case, as amended. To the extent that amounts
are so withheld, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes hereof
as having been paid to the holder of the shares in respect of which such
deduction or withholding was made, provided that such withheld amounts are
actually remitted to the appropriate taxing authority. To the extent that the
amount so required or permitted to be deducted or withheld from any payment to a
Holder exceeds the cash portion of the consideration otherwise payable to the
holder, Acquiror and Pubco are hereby authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of
such portion of the consideration as is necessary to provide sufficient funds to
Acquiror and Pubco, as the case may be, to enable it to comply with such
deduction or withholding requirement and Acquiror and Pubco shall notify the
Holder thereof and remit any unapplied balance of the net proceeds of such sale.
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ARTICLE 2
PURPOSE OF AGREEMENT
The purpose of this Agreement is to create the Trust for the benefit
of the Holders, as herein provided. The Trustee will hold the Voting Share in
order to enable the Trustee to exercise the Voting Rights as trustee for and on
behalf of the Holders as provided in this Agreement.
ARTICLE 3
VOTING SHARE
3.1 Issuance and Ownership of the Voting Share
Pubco hereby issues to and deposits with the Trustee the Voting Share
to be hereafter held of record by the Trustee as trustee for and on behalf of,
and for the use and benefit of, the Holders and in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. Pubco hereby acknowledges receipt from the Trustee
as trustee for and on behalf of the Holders of good and valuable consideration
(and the adequacy thereof) for the issuance of the Voting Share by Pubco to the
Trustee. During the term of the Trust and subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, the Trustee shall possess and be vested with full legal
ownership of the Voting Share and shall be entitled to exercise all of the
rights and powers of an owner with respect to the Voting Share, provided that
the Trustee shall:
(a) hold the Voting Share and the legal title thereto as trustee solely
for the use and benefit of the Holders in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement; and
(b) except as specifically authorized by this Agreement, have no power or
authority to sell, transfer, vote or otherwise deal in or with the
Voting Share, and the Voting Share shall not be used or disposed of by
the Trustee for any purpose other than the purposes for which this
Trust is created pursuant to this Agreement.
3.2 Legended Share Certificates
Amalco will cause each certificate representing Exchangeable Shares to
bear an appropriate legend notifying the Holders of their right to instruct the
Trustee with respect to the exercise of the Voting Rights.
3.3 Safe Keeping of Certificate
The certificate representing the Voting Share shall at all times be
held in safe keeping by the Trustee or its agent.
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3.4 Holders' Benefit
For greater certainty, the Trustee holds the benefit of the Voting
Rights for the Holders, but all other rights in respect of the Voting Share,
including without limitation any rights to receive dividends on the Voting
Share, are for benefit of Pubco.
ARTICLE 4
EXERCISE OF VOTING RIGHTS
4.1 Voting Rights
The Trustee, as the holder of record of the Voting Share, shall be
entitled to all of the Voting Rights, including the right to consent to or to
vote in person or by proxy the Voting Share, on any matter, question or
proposition whatsoever that may properly come before the stockholders of Pubco
at a Pubco Meeting or in connection with a Pubco Consent (in each case, as
hereinafter defined). The Voting Rights shall be and remain vested in and
exercised by the Trustee. The Trustee shall exercise the Voting Rights only on
the basis of instructions received pursuant to this Article 4 from Holders
entitled to instruct the Trustee as to the voting thereof at the time at which a
Pubco Consent is sought or a Pubco Meeting is held. To the extent that no
instructions are received from a Holder with respect to the Voting Rights to
which such Holder is entitled, the Trustee shall not exercise or permit the
exercise of such Holder's Voting Rights.
4.2 Number Of Votes
With respect to all meetings of stockholders of Pubco at which holders
of shares of Pubco Common Stock are entitled to vote (a "Pubco Meeting") and
with respect to all written consents sought by Pubco from its stockholders
including the holders of shares of Pubco Common Stock (a "Pubco Consent"), each
Holder shall be entitled to cast and exercise, in the manner instructed, a
number of votes equal to the Equivalent Vote Amount for each Exchangeable Share
owned of record by such Holder on the record date established by Pubco or by
applicable law for such Pubco Meeting or Pubco Consent, as the case may be (the
"Stockholder Votes") in respect of each matter, question or proposition to be
voted on at such Pubco Meeting or to be consented to in connection with such
Pubco Consent.
4.3 Mailings To Holders Of Exchangeable Shares
With respect to each Pubco Meeting and Pubco Consent, Pubco will mail
or cause to be mailed (or otherwise communicate in the same manner as Pubco
utilizes in communications to holders of Pubco Common Stock) to each of the
Holders named in the List (as defined below) on the same day as the initial
mailing or notice (or other communication) with respect thereto is given by
Pubco to its stockholders:
(a) a copy of such notice, together with any proxy or information
statement and related materials to be provided to stockholders of
Pubco;
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(b) a statement of the number of Stockholder Votes that the Holder is
entitled to exercise;
(c) a statement that such Holder is entitled to instruct the Trustee as to
the exercise of the Stockholder Votes with respect to such Pubco
Meeting or Pubco Consent, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 4.7
hereof, to attend such Pubco Meeting and to exercise personally the
Stockholder Votes thereat;
(d) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given
to the Trustee, including an express indication that instructions may
be given to the Trustee to give: (i) a proxy to such Holder or such
Holder's designee to exercise personally the Stockholder Votes, or
(ii) a proxy to a designated agent or other representative of the
management of Pubco to exercise such Stockholder Votes;
(e) a statement that if no voting instructions are received from the
Holder, the Stockholder Votes to which such Holder is entitled will
not be exercised;
(f) a form of direction whereby the Holder may so direct and instruct the
Trustee as contemplated herein; and (g) a statement of (i) the time
and date by which such instructions must be received by the Trustee in
order to be binding upon it, which in the case of a Pubco Meeting
shall not be later than the close of business on the second Business
Day prior to such meeting, and (ii) the method for revoking or
amending such proxies.
The materials referred to above are to be provided by Pubco to the Holders and
the Trustee.
For the purpose of determining Stockholder Votes to which a Holder is
entitled in respect of any such Pubco Meeting or Pubco Consent, the number of
Exchangeable Shares owned of record by the Holder shall be determined at the
close of business on the record date established by Pubco or by applicable law
for purposes of determining stockholders entitled to vote at such Pubco Meeting
or to give written consent in connection with such Pubco Consent. Pubco will
notify the Trustee in writing of any decision of the board of directors of Pubco
with respect to the calling of any such Pubco Meeting or the seeking of any such
Pubco Consent and shall provide all necessary information and materials to the
Trustee in each case promptly and in any event in sufficient time to enable the
Trustee to perform its obligations contemplated by this Section 4.3.
4.4 Copies Of Stockholder Information
Pubco will deliver to the Trustee copies of all proxy materials
(including notices of Pubco Meetings, but excluding proxies to vote shares of
Pubco Common Stock), information
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statements, reports (including without limitation all interim and annual
financial statements) and other written communications that are to be
distributed from time to time to holders of Pubco Common Stock. Pubco will mail
or otherwise send to each Holder, at the expense of Pubco, copies of all such
proxy materials (and all materials specifically directed to the Holders or to
the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders by Pubco), to the extent possible, at
the same time as such materials are first sent to holders of Pubco Common Stock.
Pubco will make copies of all such materials available for inspection by any
Holder at Pubco's principal transfer office in the city of Vancouver, British
Columbia.
4.5 Other Materials
Immediately after receipt by Pubco or any stockholder of Pubco of any
material sent or given generally to the holders of Pubco Common Stock by or on
behalf of a third party, including without limitation dissident proxy and
information circulars (and related information and material) and tender and
exchange offer circulars (and related information and material), Pubco shall use
its best efforts to send such material (unless the same has been provided
directly to Holders by such third party), at the expense of Pubco, to each
Holder and the Trustee as soon as practicable after receipt thereof. Pubco will
also make copies of all such materials available for inspection by any Holder at
Pubco's principal office in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia.
4.6 List Of Persons Entitled To Vote
Amalco shall (a) prior to each annual, general and special Pubco
Meeting or the seeking of any Pubco Consents and (b) forthwith upon each request
made at any time by the Trustee or Pubco in writing, prepare or cause to be
prepared a list (a "List") of the names and addresses of the Holders arranged in
alphabetical order and showing the number of Exchangeable Shares held of record
by each such Holder, in each case at the close of business on the date specified
by the Trustee or Pubco in such request or, in the case of a List prepared in
connection with a Pubco Meeting or a Pubco Consent, at the close of business on
the record date established by Pubco or pursuant to applicable law for
determining the holders of Pubco Common Stock entitled to receive notice of
and/or to vote at such Pubco Meeting or to give consent in connection with such
Pubco Consent. Each such List shall be delivered to Pubco promptly after receipt
by Amalco of such request or the record date for such meeting or seeking of
consent, as the case may be, and in any event within sufficient time as to
enable Pubco to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Pubco agrees to
give Amalco written notice (with a copy to the Trustee) of the calling of any
Pubco Meeting or the seeking of any Pubco Consent, together with the record
dates therefor, sufficiently prior to the date of the calling of such meeting or
seeking of such consent so as to enable Amalco to perform its obligations under
this Section 4.6.
4.7 Entitlement to Direct Votes
Any Holder named in a List prepared in connection with any Pubco
Meeting or any Pubco Consent will be entitled (i) to instruct the Trustee in the
manner described in Section
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4.3 hereof with respect to the exercise of the Stockholder Votes to which such
Holder is entitled or (ii) to attend such meeting and personally to exercise
thereat (or to exercise with respect to any written consent), as the proxy of
the Trustee, the Stockholder Votes to which such Holder is entitled.
4.8 Voting by Trustee, and Attendance of Trustee Representative, at
Meeting
(a) In connection with each Pubco Meeting and Pubco Consent, the Trustee
shall exercise, either in person or by proxy, in accordance with the
instructions received from a Holder pursuant to Section 4.7 hereof,
the Stockholder Votes as to which such Holder is entitled to direct
the vote (or any lesser number thereof as may be set forth in the
instructions); provided, however, that such written instructions are
received by the Trustee from the Holder prior to the time and date
fixed by it for receipt of such instructions in the notice given by
Pubco to the Holder pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof.
(b) The Trustee shall cause such representatives as are empowered by it to
sign and deliver, on behalf of the Trustee, proxies for Voting Rights
to attend each Pubco Meeting. Upon submission by a Holder (or its
designee) of identification satisfactory to the Trustee's
representatives, and at the Holder's request, such representatives
shall sign and deliver to such Holder (or its designee) a proxy to
exercise personally the Stockholder Votes as to which such Holder is
otherwise entitled hereunder to direct the vote, if such Holder
either:
(i) has not previously given the Trustee instructions pursuant to
Section 4.7 hereof in respect of such Pubco Meeting, or
(ii) submits to the Trustee's representatives written revocation of
any such previous instructions.
At such Pubco Meeting, the Holder exercising such Stockholder Votes
shall have the same rights as the Trustee to speak at the meeting in respect of
any matter, questions or proposition, to vote by way of ballot at the meeting in
respect of any matter, question or proposition and to vote at such meeting by
way of a show of hands in respect of any matter, question or proposition.
4.9 Distribution Of Written Materials
Any written materials to be distributed by Pubco to the Holders
pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered or sent by mail (or otherwise
communicated in the same manner as Pubco utilizes in communications to holders
of Pubco Common Stock subject to Pubco's ability to provide this method of
communication) to each Holder at its address as shown on the books of Amalco.
Amalco shall provide or cause to be provided to Pubco for this purpose, on a
timely basis and without charge or other expense:
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(a) current lists of the Holders; and
(b) on the request of Pubco, mailing labels to enable Pubco to carry out
its duties under this Agreement.
The materials referred to above are to be provided by Amalco to Pubco.
4.10 Termination Of Voting Rights
Except as provided herein or in the Exchangeable Share provisions, all
of the rights of a Holder with respect to the Stockholder Vote exercisable in
respect of each Exchangeable Share held by such Holder, including the right to
instruct the Trustee as to the voting of or to vote personally such Stockholder
Votes, shall be deemed to be surrendered by the Holder to Pubco and such
Stockholder Votes and the Voting Rights represented thereby shall cease
immediately upon the delivery by such Holder to Pubco of the certificates
representing such Exchangeable Shares in connection with the exercise by the
Holder of the Exchange Put Right or the Exchange Right or the occurrence of the
automatic exchange of Exchangeable Shares for shares of Pubco Common Stock, as
specified in Article 5 hereof (unless in any case Pubco or Amalco shall not have
delivered the Exchangeable Share Consideration deliverable in exchange therefore
to the Holders), or upon the redemption of Exchangeable Shares pursuant to the
Exchangeable Share Provisions, or upon the effective date of the liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of Amalco or any other distribution of assets of
Amalco among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs pursuant
to the Exchangeable Share Provisions, or upon the purchase of Exchangeable
Shares from the holder thereof by Pubco pursuant to the exercise by Pubco of the
Retraction Call Right, the Redemption Call Right or the Liquidation Call Right.
ARTICLE 5
EXCHANGE RIGHT AND AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE
5.1 Grant of the Exchange Put Right, Exchange Right and Automatic Exchange
Right
Pubco hereby grants to the Holders the Exchange Put Right, the right
(the "Exchange Right") upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Insolvency Event to require Pubco to acquire from each or any Holder all or any
part of the Exchangeable Shares held by the Holders, and the Automatic Exchange
Rights all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the
Exchangeable Share Provisions, as the case may be. Pubco hereby acknowledges
receipt from the Holders of good and valuable consideration (and the adequacy
thereof) for the grant of the Exchange Put Right, the Exchange Right and the
Automatic Exchange Rights by Pubco to the Holders.
5.2 Legended Share Certificates
Amalco will cause each certificate representing the Exchangeable
Shares to bear an appropriate legend notifying the Holders of:
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(a) their right to exercise of the Exchange Put Right and the Exchange
Right in respect of the Exchangeable Shares held by a Holder; and
(b) the Automatic Exchange Rights.
5.3 Purchase Price
The consideration payable by Pubco for each Exchangeable Share to be
purchased by Pubco (i) under the Exchange Put Right shall be the amount
determined under the Exchangeable Share Provisions; and (ii) under the Exchange
Right shall be an amount equal to the Share Price on the last Business Day prior
to the day of closing of the acquisition of such Exchangeable Share under the
Exchange Right. In connection with each exercise of the Exchange Right, Pubco
will provide to the Holder an Officer's Certificate setting forth the
calculation of the applicable Share Price for each Exchangeable Share. The
applicable Share Price for each such Exchangeable Share so purchased may be
satisfied only by Pubco's issuing and delivering or causing to be delivered to
the Holder the applicable Share Consideration representing the total applicable
Share Price.
5.4 Exercise Instructions for Exchange Right
Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, a Holder shall
be entitled, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Insolvency
Event, to exercise the Exchange Right with respect to all or any part of the
Exchangeable Shares registered in the name of such Holder on the books of
Amalco. To effect the exercise of the Exchange Right the Holder shall deliver to
Pubco, in person or by certified or registered mail, at its principal offices in
Vancouver, British Columbia or at such other places in Canada as Pubco may from
time to time designate by written notice to the Holders, the certificates
representing the Exchangeable Shares which such Holder desires Pubco to acquire,
duly endorsed in blank, and accompanied by such other documents and instruments
as may be required to effect a transfer of the Exchangeable Shares under
applicable law and the by-laws of Amalco and such additional documents and
instruments as Pubco may reasonably require, together with:
(a) a duly completed form of notice of exercise of the Exchange Right,
contained on the reverse of or attached to the Exchangeable Share
certificates, stating:
(i) that the Holder wishes to effect the exercise the Exchange Right
so as to require Pubco to acquire from the Holder the number of
Exchangeable Shares specified therein,
(ii) that such Holder has good title to and owns all such Exchangeable
Shares to be acquired by Pubco free and clear of all liens,
claims, encumbrances, security interests and adverse claims or
interests,
(iii)the names in which the certificates representing the Pubco
Common Stock issuable in connection with the exercise of the
Exchange Right are to be issued, and
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(iv) the names and addresses of the persons to whom the Share
Consideration should be delivered; and
(b) payment (or evidence satisfactory to Amalco and Pubco of payment) of
the taxes (if any) payable.
If only a part of the Exchangeable Shares represented by any certificate or
certificates delivered to Pubco are to be acquired by Pubco under the Exchange
Right, a new certificate for the balance of such Exchangeable Shares shall be
issued to the Holder at the expense of Amalco.
5.5 Delivery of Share Consideration; Effect of Exercise
As soon as practicable after receipt by Pubco of the certificates
representing the Exchangeable Shares which the Holder desires Pubco to acquire
under the Exchange Put Right or the Exchange Right (together with such documents
and instruments of transfer and a duly completed form of notice of exercise of
the Exchange Put Right or the Exchange Right), duly endorsed for transfer to
Pubco, Pubco shall immediately thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered to
the Holders of such Exchangeable Shares (or to such other persons, if any,
properly designated by such Holder), the Share Consideration deliverable in
connection with the exercise of the Exchange Put Right or the Exchange Right;
provided, however, that no such delivery shall be made unless and until the
Holder requesting the same shall have paid (or provided evidence satisfactory to
Amalco and Pubco of the payment of) the taxes (if any) payable as contemplated
by Section 5.7 of this Agreement. Immediately upon receipt by Pubco of the
certificates representing the Exchangeable Shares which the Holder desires Pubco
to acquire under the Exchange Put Right or the Exchange Right (together with
such documents and instruments of transfer and a duly completed form of notice
of exercise of the Exchange Put Right or the Exchange Right):
(i) the closing of the transaction of the acquisition contemplated by
the Exchange Put Right or the Exchange Right shall be deemed to
have occurred;
(ii) Pubco shall be required to take all action necessary to permit it
to occur, including delivery to the Holder of the relevant Share
Consideration, no later than the close of business on the third
Business Day following the receipt by Pubco of the certificates
and other documents as aforesaid; and
(iii)the Holder of such Exchangeable Shares shall be deemed to have
transferred to Pubco all of its right, title and interest in and
to such Exchangeable Shares and the related interest in the Trust
Estate, shall cease to be a holder of such Exchangeable Shares
and shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a
holder in respect thereof, other than the right to receive his
proportionate part of the total purchase price therefor, unless
such Share Consideration is not delivered by Pubco to the Holder
by the date specified above, in which case the rights of the
Holder shall
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remain unaffected until such Share Consideration is delivered by
Pubco and any cheque included therein is paid.
Concurrently with such Holder ceasing to be a holder of the Exchangeable Shares,
the Holder shall be considered and deemed for all purposes to be the holder of
the shares of the Pubco Common Stock delivered to it pursuant to the Exchange
Put Right or the Exchange Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, until the Share
Consideration is delivered to the Holder, the Holder shall be deemed to still be
a holder of the Exchangeable Shares for purposes of Voting Rights with respect
thereto.
5.6 Exercise of Exchange Right Subsequent to Retraction
In the event that a Holder has exercised its right under Section 3.5
of the Exchangeable Share Provisions to require Amalco to redeem any or all of
the Exchangeable Shares held by the Holder (the "Retracted Shares") and is
notified by Amalco pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Exchangeable Share Provisions
that Amalco will not be permitted as a result of liquidity or solvency
provisions of applicable law to redeem all such Retracted Shares, subject to
receipt by the Holder of written notice to that effect from Amalco and provided
that Pubco shall not have exercised the Retraction Call Right with respect to
the Retracted Shares and that the Holder has not revoked the retraction request
delivered by the Holder to Amalco pursuant to Section 3.5(a) of the Exchangeable
Share Provisions, the retraction request will constitute and will be deemed to
constitute notice from the Holder to Pubco of the exercise of the Exchange Right
with respect to those Retracted Shares which Amalco is unable to redeem. In any
such event, Amalco hereby agrees with the Holder immediately to notify the
Holder of such prohibition against Amalco's redeeming all of the Retracted
Shares and immediately to forward or cause to be forwarded to the Holder all
relevant materials delivered by the Holder to Amalco or to the transfer agent of
the Exchangeable Shares (including without limitation a copy of the retraction
request delivered pursuant to the Exchangeable Share Provisions) in connection
with such proposed redemption of the Retracted Shares, and the Holder will
thereupon exercise the Exchange Right with respect to the Retracted Shares which
Amalco is not permitted to redeem and will require Pubco to purchase such shares
in accordance with the provisions of this Article 5.
5.7 Stamp or Other Transfer Taxes
Upon any transfer of the Exchangeable Shares to Pubco pursuant to the
Exchange Put Right, the Exchange Right or the Automatic Exchange Rights, the
share certificate or certificates representing the Pubco Common Stock to be
delivered as Share Consideration in connection with the payment of the total
consideration therefor shall be issued in the name of the Holder of the
Exchangeable Shares and so transferred or in such names as such Holder may
otherwise direct in writing without charge to the Holder of the Exchangeable
Shares so sold, provided, however, that such Holder:
(a) shall pay (and none of Pubco or Amalco shall be required to pay) any
documentary, stamp, transfer or other similar taxes that may be
payable in respect
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of any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of such shares to
a person other than such Holder; or
(b) shall have established to the satisfaction of Pubco and Amalco that
such taxes, if any, have been paid.
5.8 Notice of Insolvency Event
Immediately upon the occurrence of an Insolvency Event or any event
which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would be an
Insolvency Event, Amalco and Pubco will mail to each Holder, at the expense of
Pubco, a notice of such Insolvency Event in the form provided by Pubco, which
notice shall contain a brief statement of the right of the Holders with respect
to the Exchange Right.
5.9 Reservation of Shares of the Pubco Common Stock
Pubco hereby represents, warrants and covenants with the Holders that
it has irrevocably reserved for issuance and will at all times keep available,
free from pre-emptive and other rights, out of its authorized and unissued
capital stock such number of shares of the Pubco Common Stock:
(a) as is equal to the sum of
(i) the number of the Exchangeable Shares issued and outstanding from
time to time, and
(ii) the number of the Exchangeable Shares issuable upon the exercise
of all rights to acquire the Exchangeable Shares outstanding from
time to time; and
(b) as are now and may hereafter be required to enable and permit Amalco
to meet its obligations hereunder, under the Certificate of
Incorporation of Pubco, under the Support Agreement, under the
Exchangeable Share Provisions and under any other security or
commitment pursuant to the Amalgamation with respect to which Pubco
may now or hereafter be required to issue shares of the Pubco Common
Stock.
Pubco and Amalco each further covenants and agrees with the Holders that each of
them will use its best efforts to obtain all necessary consents, assignments or
waivers from third parties and amendments or terminations to any instrument or
agreement and take such other measures as may be necessary to fulfill its
obligations under and to carry out the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Support Agreement and the Exchangeable Share Provisions.
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5.10 Automatic Exchange on Liquidation of Pubco
(a) Pubco will give the Holders written notice of each of the following
events (each a "Liquidation Event") at the time set forth below:
(i) in the event of any determination by the board of directors of
Pubco to institute voluntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up proceedings with respect to Pubco or to effect any
other distribution of assets of Pubco among its stockholders for
the purpose of winding-up its affairs, at least 60 days prior to
the proposed effective date of such liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up or other distribution; and
(ii) immediately, upon the earlier of:
A. receipt by Pubco of notice of, and
B. Pubco's otherwise becoming aware of any threatened or
instituted claim, suit, petition or other proceedings with
respect to the involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of Pubco or to effect any other distribution of
assets of Pubco among its stockholders for the purpose of
winding up its affairs.
(b) Such notice shall include a brief description of the automatic
exchange of the Exchangeable Shares for shares of the Pubco Common
Stock provided for in Section 5.10(c) below.
(c) In order that the Holders will be able to participate on a pro rata
basis with the holders of the Pubco Common Stock in the distribution
of assets of Pubco in connection with a Liquidation Event, immediately
prior to the effective time (the "Liquidation Event Effective Time")
of a Liquidation Event, all of then outstanding Exchangeable Shares
shall be automatically exchanged for shares of the Pubco Common Stock.
To effect such automatic exchange, Pubco shall be deemed to have
acquired each Exchangeable Share outstanding immediately prior to the
Liquidation Event Effective Time and held by Holders, and each Holder
shall be deemed to have transferred the Exchangeable Shares held by it
at such time, for a price per share equal to the Share Price
applicable at such time. In connection with such automatic exchange,
Pubco will provide to the Holders an Officer's Certificate setting
forth the calculation of the consideration for each Exchangeable
Share.
(d) The closing of the transaction contemplated by Section 5.11(c) above
shall be deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the Liquidation
Event Effective Time, and each Holder shall be deemed to have
transferred to Pubco all of the Holder's right, title and interest in
and to such Exchangeable Shares and the related interest in the Trust
Estate and shall cease to be a holder of such Exchangeable Shares, and
Pubco shall deliver to the Holder the Share Consideration deliverable
upon the automatic exchange of the Exchangeable Shares. Concurrently
with such Holder's ceasing to be a holder of the
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Exchangeable Shares, the Holder shall be considered and deemed for all
purposes to be the holder of the shares of the Pubco Common Stock
issued to it pursuant to the automatic exchange of the Exchangeable
Shares for the Pubco Common Stock, and the certificates held by the
Holder previously representing the Exchangeable Shares exchanged by
the Holder with Pubco pursuant to such automatic exchange shall
thereafter be deemed to represent the shares of the Pubco Common Stock
issued to the Holder by Pubco pursuant to such automatic exchange.
Upon the request of a Holder and the surrender by the Holder of
Exchangeable Share certificates deemed to represent shares of the
Pubco Common Stock, duly endorsed in blank and accompanied by such
instruments of transfer as Pubco may reasonably require, Pubco shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder certificates
representing the shares of the Pubco Common Stock of which the Holder
is the holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, until each Holder is
actually entered on the register of holders of the Pubco Common Stock,
such Holder shall be deemed to still be a holder of the transferred
the Exchangeable Shares for purposes of all Voting Rights with respect
thereto.
5.11 Restrictions on Resale
(a) All of the Pubco Common Stock obtained by Holders of the Exchangeable
Shares through the exercise of rights related to the Exchangeable
Shares will be subject to the restrictions imposed by all applicable
laws, rules and regulations and other requirements of all regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction. All the Pubco Common Stock obtained
by Holders of the Exchangeable Shares through the exercise of rights
related to the Exchangeable Shares will be subject to a one year hold
period commencing on the date the holders of the Exchangeable Shares
receive shares of the Pubco Common Stock and, in addition to the
resale restrictions contained in the securities laws applicable to
each Holder, each Holder agrees not to sell more than 3% of the Pubco
Common Stock held by them during any three month period from the first
anniversary of the Closing (as defined in the Amalgamation Agreement)
until the second anniversary of the Closing. If the Holder does not
sell their shares of Pubco Common Stock, the additional 3% resale
restriction shall be cumulative from such dates.
(b) The Holders acknowledge that any Pubco Common Stock issued on exchange
of the Exchangeable Shares, pursuant to the terms and conditions set
forth in the Exchangeable Share Provisions, this Agreement and the
Support Agreement, will have such hold periods as are required under
applicable securities laws and as a result may not be sold,
transferred or otherwise disposed, except pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the United States Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "1933 Act"), or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the 1933
Act and in each case only in accordance with applicable state
securities laws.
(c) The Holders acknowledge that Pubco is not a reporting issuer in any of
the Provinces of Canada and therefore resale of any of the Pubco
Common Stock is restricted except pursuant to an exemption from
applicable securities legislation.
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(d) Each Holder:
(i) hereby represents and warrants that they have executed and
delivered to Pubco prior to the Closing, the Certificate of U.S.
Shareholder in the form attached as Schedule N to the
Amalgamation Agreement;
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(ii) hereby represents and warrants to Pubco that they:
A. are not "U.S. Persons" as such term is defined by Rule 902
of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act (the
definition of which includes, but is not limited to, an
individual resident in the U.S. and an estate or trust of
which any executor or administrator or trust, respectively
is a U.S. Person and any partnership or corporation
organized or incorporated under the laws of the U.S.),
B. were outside the U.S. when the Holders of the Target
approved of the Amalgamation,
C. the Exchangeable Shares and Pubco Common Stock are not being
acquired, directly or indirectly, for the account or benefit
of a U.S. Person or a person in the United States,
D. acknowledge and agree not to engage in hedging transactions
with regard to the Exchangeable Shares and Pubco Common
Stock prior to the expiration of the one (1) year
distribution compliance period set forth in Rule 903(b)(3)
of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, and
E. acknowledge and agree with Pubco that Pubco shall refuse to
register any transfer of the Exchangeable Shares and Pubco
Common Stock not made in accordance with the provisions of
Regulation S, pursuant to registration under the U.S.
Securities Act, or pursuant to an available exemption from
registration under the U.S. Securities Act.
(e) It is understood and agreed by the Holders that they will provide and
execute all such representations and collateral agreements as are
reasonably necessary to ensure that the issuance of the Pubco Common
Stock complies with the requirements of all applicable securities
legislation.
(f) It is understood and agreed that the certificates evidencing the
Exchangeable Shares will bear the following legends:
"THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED ("1933 ACT") OR THE
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SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD
OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE COMPANY OR ASPI EUROPE, INC. OR
ANY SUCCESSOR CORPORATION, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE
WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE 1933 ACT, (III) IN COMPLIANCE WITH
THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE 1933 ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144
THEREUNDER, OR (IV) IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION,
IN EACH CASE AFTER PROVIDING EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH
TRANSFER MAY BE MADE WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE 1933 ACT. HEDGING
TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE
CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE 1933 ACT.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO A HOLD PERIOD IN ALL
PROVINCES IN CANADA AND MAY NOT BE TRADED IN ANY OF THE PROVINCES OF CANADA
EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION.
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN VOTING AND EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT, THE HOLDER OF SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE ENTITLED TO
INSTRUCT THE TRUSTEE WITH RESPECT TO THE EXERCISE OF THEIR VOTING RIGHTS
WITH RESPECT TO THE EXCHANGEABLE SHARES HELD BY SUCH HOLDER.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
OF (I) THAT CERTAIN SUPPORT AGREEMENT AMONG ASPI EUROPE, INC., ASPI ALBERTA
HOLDINGS INC. AND GROWTHEXPERTS GROUP INC., (II) A CERTAIN VOTING AND
EXCHANGE AGREEMENT AMONG THE COMPANY, ASPI EUROPE, INC., THE HOLDER AND
GROWTHEXPERTS GROUP INC., INCLUDING THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE HOLDER'S
RIGHT TO EXERCISE HIS, HER OR ITS EXCHANGE PUT RIGHT AND EXCHANGE RIGHT AND
ASPI EUROPE, INC.'S RIGHT TO EXERCISE ITS AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE RIGHTS (AS
DEFINED THEREIN), AND (III) ARTICLES OF AMALGAMATION FILED WITH THE
PROVINCE OF ALBERTA. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENTS OR DOCUMENTS MAY BE OBTAINED
UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY."
(g) The Pubco Common Stock will bear the following legends:
"THESE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED
STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED ("1933 ACT") OR THE SECURITIES
LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE COMPANY, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED
STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE 1933 ACT,
(III) IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE 1933 ACT
PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER, OR (IV) IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANOTHER
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION, IN EACH CASE AFTER PROVIDING EVIDENCE
SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE MADE WITHOUT
REGISTRATION UNDER THE 1933 ACT. HEDGING
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TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE
CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE 1933 ACT.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO A HOLD PERIOD IN ALL
PROVINCES IN CANADA AND MAY NOT BE TRADED IN ANY OF THE PROVINCES OF CANADA
EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION."
ARTICLE 6
RESTRICTIONS ON ISSUANCE OF PUBCO SPECIAL VOTING STOCK
During the term of this Agreement, Pubco will not issue any shares of
Pubco Special Voting Stock in addition to the Voting Share.
ARTICLE 7
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
7.1 Powers And Duties Of The Trustee
The rights, powers and authorities of the Trustee under this
Agreement, in its capacity as trustee of the Trust, shall include:
(a) receiving and depositing the Voting Share from Pubco as trustee for
and on behalf of the Holders in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement;
(b) granting proxies to Holders as provided in this Agreement;
(c) voting the Stockholder Votes in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement;
(d) holding title to the Trust Estate; and (e) taking such other actions
and doing such other things as are specifically provided in this
Agreement.
In the exercise of such rights, powers and authorities the Trustee shall have
(and is granted) such incidental and additional rights, powers and authority not
in conflict with any of the provisions of this Agreement as the Trustee, acting
in good faith and in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, may deem
necessary or appropriate to effect the purpose of the Trust. Any exercise of
such discretionary rights, powers and authorities by the Trustee shall be final,
conclusive and binding upon all persons. For greater certainty, the Trustee
shall have only those duties as are set out specifically in this Agreement. The
Trustee in exercising its rights, powers, duties and authorities hereunder shall
act honestly and in good faith and in accordance with its fiduciary duties to
the Holders and shall exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably
prudent trustee would exercise in comparable circumstances. The Trustee shall
not be required to take any notice of, or to do or to take any act, action or
proceeding as a result of any default or breach of any provision hereunder,
unless and until notified in writing of such default or breach, which
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notice shall distinctly specify the default or breach desired to be brought to
the attention of the Trustee and, in the absence of such notice, the Trustee may
for all purposes of this Agreement conclusively assume that no default or breach
has been made in the observance or performance of any of the representations,
warranties, covenants, agreements or conditions contained herein.
7.2 No Conflict Of Interest
The Trustee represents to the Acquiror and Pubco that at the date of
execution and delivery of this Agreement there exists no material conflict of
interest in the role of the Trustee as a fiduciary hereunder and the role of the
Trustee in any other capacity. The Trustee shall, within ninety (90) days after
it becomes aware that such a material conflict of interest exists, either
eliminate such material conflict of interest or resign in the manner and with
the effect specified in Article 10. If, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions
of this Section 7.2, the Trustee has such a material conflict of interest, the
validity and enforceability of this Agreement shall not be affected in any
manner whatsoever by reason only of the existence of such materials conflict of
interest. If the Trustee contravenes the foregoing provisions of this Section
7.2, any interested party may apply to the superior court of the province in
which Amalco has its registered office for an order that the Trustee be replaced
as trustee hereunder.
7.3 Dealings With Third Parties
The Acquiror and Pubco irrevocably authorize the Trustee, from time to
time, to:
(a) consult, communicate and otherwise deal with any respective
registrars, transfer agents or any other person or entity appointed
from time to time by Pubco in connection with any matter relating to
the Exchangeable Shares and Pubco Common Stock; and
(b) requisition, from time to time from any such registrar, transfer agent
payment agent or other person or entity, appointed from time to time
by Pubco, as applicable, any information readily available from the
records maintained by it which the Trustee may reasonably require for
the discharge of its duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.
The Acquiror and Pubco irrevocably authorize their respective agents, or any
other authorized agent appointed from time to time by Pubco to comply with all
such requests.
7.4 Books And Records
The Trustee shall keep available for inspection, during normal
business hours, by Pubco and Amalco, at the Trustee's principal office, correct
and complete books and records of account relating to the Trustee's actions
under this Agreement, including without limitation all information relating
instructions from Holders and all transactions pursuant to the Voting Rights for
the term of this Agreement.
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7.5 Indemnification Prior To Certain Actions By Trustee
The Trustee shall not be required to expend any of its own funds or
otherwise incur any financial liability in the exercise of any of its rights,
powers, duties or authorities, but instead shall be entitled to be fully funded,
given security and indemnity in advance prior to the Trustee being required to
take any actions whatsoever under this Agreement.
7.6 Reliance Upon Declarations
The Trustee shall not be considered to be in contravention of any of
its rights, powers, duties and authorities hereunder if, when required, it acts
and relies in good faith upon lists, notices, statutory declarations,
certificates, opinions, reports or other papers or documents furnished pursuant
to the provisions hereof or required by the Trustee to be furnished to it in the
exercise of its rights, powers, duties and authorities hereunder, and such
lists, notices, statutory declarations, certificates, opinions, reports or other
papers or documents comply with the provisions of Article 7 hereof, if
applicable, and with any other applicable provisions of this Agreement.
7.7 Experts, Advisors And Agents
The Trustee may:
(a) in relation to these presents, act and rely on the opinion or advice
of or information obtained from any solicitor, auditor, accountant,
appraiser, valuer, engineer or other expert, whether retained by the
Trustee or by Amalco and/or Pubco or otherwise, and may employ, at the
expense of Amalco and Pubco, such assistants as may be necessary to
the proper discharge of its powers and duties and determination of its
rights hereunder and may pay proper and reasonable compensation for
all such legal and other advice or assistance as aforesaid; and
(b) at the expense of Amalco and Pubco, employ such agents and other
assistants as it may reasonably require for the proper discharge of
its powers and duties hereunder, and may pay reasonable remuneration
for all services performed for it, (and shall be entitled to receive
reasonable remuneration for all services performed by it) in the
discharge of the trusts hereof and compensation for all disbursements,
costs and expenses made or incurred by it in the discharge of its
duties hereunder and in the management of the Trust.
7.8 Trustee Not Required To Give Security
The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or security in
respect of the execution of the trusts, rights, duties, powers and authorities
of this Agreement or otherwise in respect of the premises.
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7.9 Trustee Not Bound To Act On Demands or Requests
Except as in this Agreement or otherwise specifically provided, the
Trustee is authorized and directed to disregard in its sole discretion any and
all notices and warnings which may be given to it by any of the parties hereto
or by any other person, firm, association or corporation. It will, however, at
its sole discretion, obey the order, judgment or decree of any court of
competent jurisdiction, and it is hereby authorized to comply with and obey such
orders, judgments or decrees and in case of such compliance, it shall not be
liable by reason thereof to any of the parties hereto or to any other person,
firm, association or corporation, even if thereafter any such order, judgment or
decree may be reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or vacated.
In the event the Trust Estate or any documents in connection with the
Voting Rights are attached, garnished or levied upon under any court order, or
if the delivery of such property is stayed or enjoined by any court order or if
any court order, judgment or decree is made or entered affecting such property
or affecting any act by the Trustee, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion,
obey and comply with all writs, orders, judgments or decrees so entered or
issued, whether with or without jurisdiction, notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary. If the Trustee obeys and complies with any such
writs, orders, judgments or decrees, it will not be liable to any of the parties
hereto or to any other person, form or corporation by reason of such compliance,
notwithstanding that such writs, orders, judgments or decrees may be
subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or vacated.
7.10 Trustee Not Bound To Pass Upon Sufficiency Of Any Documents
The Trustee will not be required to pass upon the sufficiency of any
of the documents in connection with the Voting Rights or to ascertain whether or
not the person or persons who have executed, signed or otherwise issued or
authenticated the any documents in connection with the Voting Rights have
authority to so execute, sign or authorize, issue or authenticate the said
documents or any of them, or that they are the same persons named therein or
otherwise to pass upon any requirement of such instruments that may be essential
for their validity.
7.11 Trustee May Interplead
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the
event of any dispute arising between any of the parties hereto, this Agreement
or any matters relating to the Trust Estate, the Trustee may in its sole
discretion deliver and interplead the Voting Share into court and such delivery
and interpleading will be an effective discharge of all obligations and
responsibilities of the Trustee hereunder.
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7.12 Acceptance Of Trust
The Trustee hereby accepts the Trust created and provided for by and
in this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions
set forth herein and to hold all rights, privileges and benefits conferred
hereby and by law in trust for the various persons who shall from time to time
be Holders, subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein.
ARTICLE 8
COMPENSATION
8.1 Fees And Expenses Of The Trustee
Pubco and Amalco jointly and severally agree to pay to the Trustee
reasonable compensation for all of the services rendered by it under this
Agreement and will reimburse the Trustee for all reasonable expenses and
disbursements, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses and the
reasonable compensation and disbursements of all other advisors, agents and
assistants not regularly in its employ and the cost and expense of any suit or
litigation of any character and any proceedings before any governmental agency
reasonably incurred by the Trustee in connection with its rights and duties
under this Agreement; provided that Pubco shall have no obligation to reimburse
the Trustee for any expenses or disbursements paid, incurred or suffered by the
Trustee in any suit or litigation in which the Trustee is determined to have
acted fraudulently or in bad faith or with gross negligence or willful
misconduct.
ARTICLE 9
INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
9.1 Indemnification Of The Trustee
Pubco and Acquiror jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold
harmless the Trustee and each of its directors, officers, partners, employees
and agents appointed and acting in accordance with this Agreement (collectively,
the "Indemnified Parties") against all claims, losses, damages, costs,
penalties, fines and reasonable expenses (including reasonable expenses of the
Trustee's legal counsel) which, without fraud, gross negligence, willful
misconduct or bad faith on the part of such Indemnified Party, may be paid,
incurred or suffered by the Indemnified Party by reason of or as a result of the
Trustee's acceptance or administration of the Trust, its compliance with its
duties set forth in this Agreement, or any written or oral instructions
delivered to the Trustee by the Holders, Pubco or Amalco pursuant hereto. In no
case shall Pubco or Amalco be liable under this indemnity for any claim against
any of the Indemnified Parties unless Pubco and Amalco shall be notified by the
Trustee of the written assertion of a claim or of any action commenced against
the Indemnified Parties, promptly after any of the Indemnified Parties shall
have received any such written assertion of a claim or shall have been served
with a summons or other first legal process giving information as to the nature
and basis for the claim. Pubco and Amalco shall be entitled to participate at
their own expense in the defense and, if Pubco and Amalco so elect at any time
after receipt of such notice, either of them may assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such claim. The Trustee shall
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have the right to employ separate counsel in any such suit and participate in
the defense thereof and the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of the Amalco and Pubco This indemnity shall survive the resignation
and/or removal of the Trustee and the termination of the Trust.
In case proceedings should hereafter be taken in any court respecting
the Trustee's acceptance or administration of the Trust, the Trustee will not be
obliged to defend any such action or submit its rights to the court until it has
been indemnified by other good and sufficient security, in addition to the
indemnity given in Article 9, against its costs of such proceedings.
9.2 Limitation Of Liability
The Trustee shall not be held liable for any loss which may occur by
reason of depreciation of the value of any part of the Trust Estate except to
the extent that such loss is attributable to the fraud, gross negligence,
willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee.
ARTICLE 10
CHANGE OF TRUSTEE
10.1 Resignation
The Trustee, or any trustee hereafter appointed, may at any time
resign by giving written notice of such resignation to Pubco and Amalco
specifying the date on which it desires to resign, provided that such notice
shall never be given less than thirty (30) days before such desired resignation
date unless Pubco and Amalco otherwise agree and provided further that such
resignation shall not take effect until the date of the appointment of a
successor trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by the successor
trustee. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, Pubco and Amalco shall
promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument in duplicate, one
copy of which shall be delivered to the resigning trustee and one copy to the
successor trustee. Failing acceptance by a successor trustee, a successor
trustee may be appointed by an order of the superior court of the province in
which Amalco has its registered office upon application of one or more of the
parties hereto.
10.2 Removal
The Trustee, or any trustee hereafter appointed at any time on sixty
(60) days prior notice by written instrument executed by Pubco and Amalco, in
duplicate, one copy of which shall be delivered to the trustee so removed and
one copy to the successor trustee; provided that, in connection with such
removal, provision is made for a replacement trustee similar to that
contemplated in Section 10.1
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10.3 Successor Trustee
Any successor trustee appointed as provided under this Agreement shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to Pubco and Amalco and to its predecessor
trustee an instrument accepting such appointment. Thereupon the resignation or
removal of the predecessor trustee shall become effective and such successor
trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor under this
Agreement with like effect as if originally named as trustee in this Agreement.
However, on the written request of Pubco and Amalco or of the successor trustee,
the trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, execute and deliver an instrument
transferring to such successor trustee all of the rights and powers of the
trustee so ceasing to act. Upon the request of any such successor trustee, Pubco
and Amalco and such predecessor trustee shall execute any and all instruments in
writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor
trustee all such rights and powers.
10.4 Notice Of Successor Trustee
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided
herein, Pubco and Amalco shall cause to be mailed notice of the succession of
such trustee hereunder to each Holder specified in a List. If Pubco or Amalco
shall fail to cause such notice to be mailed within ten (10) days after
acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall
cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of Pubco and Amalco.
ARTICLE 11
PUBCO SUCCESSORS
11.1 Certain Requirements in Respect of Combination, Etc.
Neither Amalco nor Pubco shall enter into any transaction (whether by
way of reconstruction, reorganization, consolidation, merger, transfer, sale,
lease or otherwise) whereby all or substantially all of its undertaking,
property and assets would become the property of any other Person or, in the
case of a merger, of the continuing corporation resulting therefrom, but may do
so if:
(a) such other Person or continuing corporation (the "Pubco Successor"),
by operation of law, becomes, without further action, bound by the
terms and provisions of this Agreement or, if not so bound, executes,
prior to or contemporaneously with the consummation of such
transaction an agreement supplemental hereto and such other
instruments (if any) as are satisfactory to a representative of the
Holders appointed by Exchangeable Holder Approval and in the opinion
of legal counsel to the Holders are necessary or advisable evidence
the assumption by the Pubco Successor of liability for all moneys
payable and property deliverable hereunder, the covenant of such Pubco
Successor to pay and
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deliver or cause to be delivered the same and its agreement to observe
and perform all the covenants and obligations of Pubco under this
Agreement, and
(b) such transaction shall, to the satisfaction of a representative of the
Holders appointed by Exchangeable Holder Approval, be upon such terms
which substantially preserve and do not impair in any material respect
any of the rights, duties, powers and authorities of the Trustee or of
the Holders hereunder. 11.2 Vesting of Powers in Successor
Whenever the conditions of Section 11.1 hereof have been duly observed
and performed, the Holders, if required by Section 11.1 hereof, the Pubco
Successor and Amalco shall execute and deliver the supplemental agreement
provided for in Article 12 hereof, and thereupon the Pubco Successor shall
possess and from time to time may exercise each and every right and power of
Pubco and Amalco under this Agreement in the name of Pubco or otherwise and any
act or proceeding by any provision of this Agreement required to be done or
performed by the board of directors of Pubco or any officers of Pubco may be
done and performed with like force and effect by the directors or officers of
such Pubco Successor.
11.3 Wholly-owned Subsidiaries
Nothing herein shall be construed as preventing the amalgamation or
merger of any wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco with or into Pubco or the
winding-up, liquidation or dissolution of any wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco
provided that all of the assets of such subsidiary are transferred to Pubco or
another wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, and any such transactions are
expressly permitted by this Article 11.
ARTICLE 12
AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS
12.1 Amendments, Modifications, Etc.
Subject to Sections 12.2 and 12.4, this Agreement may not be amended,
modified or waived except by an agreement in writing executed by Amalco, Pubco
and the Trustee and a representative of the Holders appointed by Exchangeable
Holder Approval. No amendment to or modification or waiver of any of the
provisions of this Agreement otherwise permitted hereunder shall be effective
unless made in writing and signed by all of the parties hereto.
12.2 Ministerial Amendments
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12.1 hereof, the parties to
this Agreement may in writing, at any time and from time to time, without the
approval of the Holders, amend or modify this Agreement for the purposes of:
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(a) adding to the covenants of any or all of the parties hereto for the
protection of the Holders hereunder provided that the addition of the
proposed covenant is not prejudicial to the interests of the Holders
as a whole or the Trustee;
(b) making such amendments or modifications not inconsistent with this
Agreement as may be necessary or desirable with respect to matters or
questions which, in the opinion of the board of directors of each of
Pubco and Amalco, having in mind the best interests of the Holders as
a whole, it may be expedient to make, provided that such boards of
directors shall be of the opinion that such amendments and
modifications will not be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders
as a whole;
(c) making such changes or corrections which, on the advice of counsel to
Amalco, Pubco, are required for the purpose of curing or correcting
any ambiguity or defect or inconsistent provision or clerical omission
or mistake or manifest error; provided that the board of directors of
each of Amalco and Pubco shall be of the opinion that such changes or
corrections will not be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders as
a whole; or
(d) making such changes as may be necessary or appropriate to implement or
give effect to any assignment or assumption made pursuant to Section
14.9 hereof.
12.3 Meeting to Consider Amendments
Amalco, at the request of Pubco, shall call a meeting or meetings of
the Holders for the purpose of considering any proposed amendment or
modification requiring approval pursuant hereto. Any such meeting or meetings
shall be called and held in accordance with the by-laws of Amalco, the
Exchangeable Share Provisions and all applicable laws.
12.4 Changes in Capital of Pubco and Amalco
At all times after the occurrence of any event effected pursuant to
Section 2.7 or 2.8 of the Support Agreement, as a result of which either the
Pubco Common Stock or the Exchangeable Shares or both are in any way changed,
this Agreement shall forthwith be amended and modified as necessary in order
that it shall apply with full force and effect, mutatis mutandis, to all new
securities into which the Pubco Common Stock or the Exchangeable Shares or both
are so changed, and the parties hereto shall execute and deliver a supplemental
agreement giving effect to and evidencing such necessary amendments and
modifications.
12.5 Execution of Supplemental Agreements
From time to time, Amalco (when authorized by a resolution of its
Board of Directors), Pubco (when authorized by a resolution of its board of
directors) and the Trustee may, subject to the provisions of these presents, and
they shall, when so directed by these presents, execute and deliver by their
proper officers, agreements or other instruments supplemental hereto, which
thereafter shall form part hereof, for any one or more of the following
purposes:
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(a) evidencing the succession of any Pubco Successors to Pubco and the
covenants of and obligations assumed by each such Pubco Successor in
accordance with the provisions of Article 11 and the successor of any
successor Trustee in accordance with the provisions of Article 10;
(b) making any additions to, deletions from or alterations of the
provisions of this Agreement or the Voting Agreement, the Exchange Put
Right, Exchange Right or the Automatic Exchange Rights which will not
be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders as a whole or are
necessary or advisable in order to incorporate, reflect or comply with
any legislation the provisions of which apply to Pubco, Amalco, the
Trustee or this Agreement; and
(c) for any other purposes not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, including without limitation to make or evidence any
amendment or modification to this Agreement as contemplated hereby,
provided that the rights of the Trustee and the Holders as a whole
will not be prejudiced thereby.
ARTICLE 13
TERMINATION
13.1 Term
This Agreement shall continue until the earliest to occur of the
following events:
(a) no outstanding the Exchangeable Shares are held by a Holder; or
(b) each of Amalco and Pubco elects in writing to terminate the Trust and
such termination is approved with Exchangeable Holder Approval.
13.2 Survival of Agreement
This Agreement shall survive any termination of the Trust and shall
continue until there are no Exchangeable Shares outstanding held by a Holder;
provided, however, that the provisions of Articles 8 and 9 hereof shall survive
any such termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 14
GENERAL
14.1 Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this
Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and this
Agreement shall be carried out as nearly as possible in accordance with its
original terms and conditions.
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14.2 Inurement
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and to the
benefit of the Holders.
14.3 Notices to Parties
All notices and other communications between the parties hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if delivered
personally or by confirmed telecopy to the parties at the following addresses
(or at such other address for such party as shall be specified in like notice):
(a) if to Pubco to:
ASPI Europe, Inc.
0000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX X0X 0X0
Attention: President
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(b) if to Amalco to:
GrowthExperts Group Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, XX X0X 0X0
Attention: President
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(c) if to the Trustee to:
Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Barristers & Solicitors
000 - 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX X0X 0X0
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Any notice or other communication given personally shall be deemed to have been
given and received upon delivery thereof, and if given by telecopy shall be
deemed to have been given and received on the date of receipt thereof unless
such day is not a Business Day in which case it shall be deemed to have been
given and received upon the immediately following Business Day.
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14.4 Notice to Holders
Any and all notices to be given and any documents to be sent to any
Holders may be given or sent to the address of such Holder shown on the register
of Holders of the Exchangeable Shares in any manner permitted by the
Exchangeable Share Provisions and shall be deemed to be received (if given or
sent in such manner) at the time specified in such Exchangeable Share
Provisions, the provisions of which Exchangeable Share Provisions shall apply
mutatis mutandis to notices or documents as aforesaid sent to such Holders.
14.5 Risk of Payments by Post
Whenever payments are to be made or documents are to be sent to any
Holder by Amalco or by Pubco or by such Holder to Pubco or Amalco, the making of
such payment or sending of such document sent through the mail shall be at the
risk of Amalco or Pubco, in the case of payments made or documents sent by the
Trustee or Amalco or Pubco, and the Holder, in the case of payments made or
documents sent by the Holder.
14.6 Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
14.7 Jurisdiction
This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada
applicable therein.
14.8 Attornment
Pubco agrees that any action or proceeding arising out of or relating
to this Agreement may be instituted in the courts of British Columbia, waives
any objection which it may have now or hereafter to the venue of any such action
or proceeding, irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts in any
such action or proceeding, agrees to be bound by any judgment of such courts and
agrees not to seek, and hereby waives, any review of the merits of any such
judgment by the courts of any other jurisdiction and hereby appoints Amalco at
its registered office in the Province of Alberta as Pubco's attorney for service
of process.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereby have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first above written.
ASPI EUROPE, INC.
Per: /s/ Xxxxxxx XxXxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
GROWTHEXPERTS GROUP INC.
Per: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
ASPI ALBERTA HOLDINGS INC.
Per: /s/ Xxxxxxx XxXxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
XXXXX, XXXXXX BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS
Per: /s/ [Illegible]
-----------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
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Schedule A
Holders of the Exchangeable Shares of Amalco
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXX XXX F. XXXXXX XXXXXXX III
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXX X. XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXXX X. XXXXX K. XXXXXXXX XXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX SOORANY
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
GHANIA XXXXX XXXXX CATALA
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXX XXXXX XX XXXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXX
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---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXX PETROUNIG XXXXXXXX XXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXX XXXXXX XXXXX HARRADENCE
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXXX RYSACK XXX XXXXXXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXX
000000 XXXXXXX LTD.
Per: ----------------------------- ----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory XXXXX XXXXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
W. XXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX X. XXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXX MICHAIIL
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXX ELIYA
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DIGITAL CONCEPTS INC.
Per: ----------------------------- ----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory XXXXX X. XXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXX XXXXXX XX. XXXX X. XXXXXXX
INSIGHT COMPUTING SOLUTIONS INC.
Per: ----------------------------- ----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory XXX XXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXXX XXX KAMAL XXXXX XXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXXXX XXXXX XX XXXXX XXXX XXXXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXXX XXX XXX XXXXXXXXX
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
276892 ALBERTA LTD.
Per: -----------------------------
Authorized Signatory
