VOTING AGREEMENT by and among MARK WATTLES ENTERPRISES, LLC WILLIAM J. PEARSE, and BARBARA A. PEARSE Dated as of January 11, 2005
Exhibit 9.1
by and among
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ENTERPRISES, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Dated as of January 11, 2005
This VOTING AGREEMENT, dated as of January 11, 2005 (the “Agreement”), among ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (collectively, the “Stockholders”) and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Investor”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Option Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the parties hereto (the “Option Agreement”).
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is the sole record holder and beneficial owner of 11,334 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (“Common Stock”), of Ultimate Electronics, Inc. (the “Company”);
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ are the joint record holders and beneficial owners of 1,792,990 shares of Common Stock (together with the shares held solely by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, the “Original Shares”, and the Original Shares, together with any other shares of capital stock of the Company or other voting securities of the Company acquired (of record or beneficially) by the Stockholders during the term of this Agreement (including through the exercise of any warrants, stock options or similar instruments), being collectively referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each Stockholder is entering into an Option Agreement with the Investor, pursuant to which the Stockholders have granted an option (the “Option”) to the Investor to acquire the Subject Shares, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders. Each of the Stockholders hereby represents and warrants to the Investor as follows:
(a) Enforceability. Such Stockholder has all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms.
(b) No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with the provisions of this Agreement will not, (A) conflict with, or result in any violation of, any United States or foreign Law (as hereinafter defined) applicable to such Stockholder or by which any property or asset of such Stockholder is bound or affected or (B) result in any breach of, or constitute a
default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to a loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any liens in or upon any of the properties or assets of such Stockholder, pursuant to any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, sublease, easement, covenant, condition, restriction, contract, instrument, permit, concession, franchise license or other instrument or obligation. As used herein, the term “Law” means any statute, law (including common law), ordinance, rule or regulation.
(c) Consents, Approvals, Etc. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any governmental authority or body is required by or with respect to such Stockholder in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder or the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of such reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) Absence of Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no suit, action or proceeding (“Proceeding”) pending or, to the knowledge of such Stockholder, threatened against such Stockholder, or any property or asset of such Stockholder, before any governmental authority or body that seeks to delay or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) The Subject Shares. Such Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, which meaning will apply for all purposes of this Agreement) of, and has good and marketable title to Original Shares shown as owned by such Stockholder on Schedule A hereto, free and clear of any and all liens, claims and encumbrances. Other than as set forth on Schedule A hereto or as otherwise reported in such Stockholder’s filings pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, such Stockholder does not own (of record or beneficially) any shares of capital stock of the Company or any options, warrants, rights or other similar instruments to acquire any capital stock or other voting securities of the Company. Such Stockholder has the sole right to vote and Transfer (as hereinafter defined) the Original Shares shown as owned by such Stockholder on Schedule A hereto, and such Stockholder is not subject to any proxies, voting trusts or other agreements, understandings, arrangements or restrictions with respect to the voting or the Transfer of the Pearse Shares, except as set forth in Sections 4 and 5.
SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties of the Investor. The Investor represents and warrants to each Stockholder as follows:
(a) Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investor and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms.
(b) No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with the provisions of this Agreement shall not conflict with, or result in any violation of, any United States or foreign Law applicable to the Investor or by which any property or asset of the Investor is bound or affected.
(c) Consents, Approvals, Etc. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any governmental authority or body is required by or with respect to the Investor in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Investor or the consummation by the Investor of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the filing with the SEC of such reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Stockholders. Each Stockholder covenants and agrees that, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date as of which the Option shall have expired and been terminated in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement:
(a) Voting; Investor Instructions. At any meeting of the stockholders of the Company called to vote upon any matter whatsoever submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company (a “Covered Matter”), or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval with respect to a Covered Matter is sought by the Company, the Investor or any other Person (as hereinafter defined), such Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares in accordance with the written instructions delivered to such Stockholder by the Investor. The Investor may deliver to such Stockholder written instructions of the type contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence at any time or from time to time, and if requested such Stockholder shall acknowledge receipt thereof.
(b) Voting; Frustrating Transactions. At any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval is sought, unless otherwise instructed by the Investor pursuant to paragraph (a) above, such Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) all of the Subject Shares against any amendment of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other proposal, action or transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its stockholders, which amendment or other proposal, action or transaction would in any manner impede, frustrate, prevent or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Option Agreement or this Agreement (collectively, “Frustrating Transactions”). Such Stockholder shall not commit to or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing or that would otherwise facilitate a Frustrating Transaction.
(c) Transfer Restrictions. Such Stockholder shall not (i) sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of (including by gift) (collectively, “Transfer”), or consent to or permit any Transfer of, any Subject Shares or any interest therein, or enter into any loan or credit agreement, bond, debenture, note, mortgage, indenture, lease or
other contract, commitment, agreement, option, instrument, arrangement, understanding, obligation or undertaking, with respect to the Transfer (including any profit sharing or other derivative arrangement) of any Subject Shares or any interest therein, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization or governmental entity or department, agency or political subdivision thereof (collectively, a “Person”), in each case except as required by the express terms of this Agreement or the Option Agreement, (ii) enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise, with respect to any Subject Shares and shall not commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions, other than pursuant to this Agreement or (iii) take any other action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance by such Stockholder of their obligations under this Agreement or the Option Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Such Stockholder shall not, nor shall such Stockholder permit any entity under their control to, deposit any Subject Shares in a voting trust.
SECTION 4. Grant of Irrevocable Proxy; Appointment of Proxy.
(a) Grant of Proxy. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, the Investor and any individual designated in writing by the Investor, as such Stockholder’s proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in the name, place and stead of such Stockholder, to vote all of his, her or its Subject Shares, or grant any consent or approval in respect of such Subject Shares with respect to any Covered Matter.
(b) Revocation of Other Proxies. Each Stockholder represents that any proxies heretofore given in respect of his, her or its Subject Shares are not irrevocable and that all such proxies are hereby revoked.
(c) Proxy Coupled with an Interest. Each Stockholder hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy provided for in this Section 4 is given in connection with the execution of the Option Agreement and the grant of the Option and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties of such Stockholder under this Agreement. Each Stockholder hereby further affirms that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest is intended to be irrevocable in accordance with the provisions of Section 212 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. If for any reason the proxy granted by any Stockholder herein is not binding, effective or irrevocable, then such Stockholder agrees to execute any additional agreement or document required to make such proxy binding, effective and irrevocable. Each Stockholder hereby ratifies and confirms all that such irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
SECTION 5. Further Assurances. Each Stockholder shall use his, her or its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Option Agreement.
No Stockholder shall commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by the Option Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Stockholder shall, from time to time, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further consents, documents and other instruments as the Investor may request for the purpose of effectuating the matters covered by this Agreement, including with respect to the grant of the proxy set forth in Section 4.
SECTION 6. Certain Events. Each Stockholder agrees that this Agreement and the obligations hereunder shall attach to his, her or its Subject Shares and shall be binding upon any Person to which legal or beneficial ownership of the Subject Shares shall pass, whether by operation of law or otherwise, including such Stockholder’s heirs, guardians, administrators or successors. If requested by the Investor, a Stockholder shall cause each certificate representing his, her or its Subject Shares to be inscribed with a legend to such effect. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, merger, reorganization, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company affecting the capital stock of the Company, the number of Original Shares and the number of applicable Subject Shares shall be adjusted appropriately. In addition, in the event that any Stockholder acquires any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or other voting securities of the Company (including through the exercise of any warrants, stock options or similar instruments), the number of applicable Subject Shares shall be adjusted appropriately. This Agreement and the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and obligations hereunder shall attach to any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or other voting securities of the Company issued to or acquired by the Stockholder (including through the exercise of any warrants, stock options or similar instruments).
SECTION 7. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise, by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of each of the other parties; provided, however, that the Investor shall be entitled to assign this Agreement to any Person controlled by ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ without the prior written consent of any other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 7 shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentences of this Section 7, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
SECTION 8. Termination. This Agreement and the proxy granted hereby shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the exercise of the Option under the Option Agreement and the transfer of the shares of Common Stock subject thereto to the Investor or (ii) the expiration of the Option in accordance with the Option Agreement; provided, however, that termination of this Agreement shall not prevent any party hereunder from seeking any remedies (at law or in equity) against any other party hereto for such party’s breach of any of the terms of this Agreement prior to termination.
SECTION 9. General Provisions.
(a) Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by delivery in person, by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested and with postage prepaid thereon) or by cable, telex or facsimile transmission to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in accordance with the terms of this Section 9(b)):
if to the Investor:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Enterprises, LLC
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ #▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facs.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
with copies to:
▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facs.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
if to the Stockholders:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
with copies to:
▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
All notices and other communications hereunder that are addressed as provided in or pursuant to this Section 9(b) shall be deemed duly and validly given (a) if delivered in person, upon delivery, (b) if delivered by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested and with postage paid thereon), 72 hours after being placed in a depository of
the United States mails and (c) if delivered by cable, telex or facsimile transmission, upon transmission thereof and receipt of the appropriate answerback.
(c) Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a party or to a Section or Schedule, such reference shall be to a party to, or a Section of or a Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.
(d) Counterparts; Effectiveness. This 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 and delivered to the other party.
(e) Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) (i) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof; and (ii) other than with respect to the persons specified as proxies in Section 4, is not intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties any rights or remedies hereunder.
(f) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any principles of conflicts of law of such state.
(g) Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.
(h) Non-Waiver. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any right, power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the parties at variance with the terms hereof, shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its right to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand such compliance.
SECTION 10. Stockholders Capacity. Each Stockholder who is a director or officer of the Company does not make any agreement or understanding herein in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company. Such Stockholder signs solely in his or her capacity as the record holder and beneficial owner of the Subject Shares.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has signed this Agreement, all as of the date first written above.
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THE INVESTOR: |
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ENTERPRISES, LLC |
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By: |
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Name: |
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Title: |
President |
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THE STOCKHOLDERS: |
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/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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SCHEDULE A
SHARE OWNERSHIP
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Stockholder Name |
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Number of Shares Owned |
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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11,334 |
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, in joint tenancy |
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1,792,990 |
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