|
UNITED STATES |
|
|
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
|
|
Washington, D.C. 20549 |
|
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULE 13D |
|
(Rule 13d-101)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO
RULE 13d-1(a) AND \
AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(a)
Under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934
(Amendment No. 4)*
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
367905106
(CUSIP Number)
Michael G. Smith
TRT Holdings, Inc.
600 East Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 1900
Irving, Texas 75039
Telephone: (214) 283-8500
Facsimile: (214) 283-8514
Copy To:
Glen J. Hettinger, Esq.
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2800
Dallas, Texas 75201
Telephone: (214) 855-8000
Facsimile: (214) 855-8200
and
Neil J. Wertlieb, Esq.
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
601 South Figueroa Street, 30th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90017-5735
Telephone: (213) 892-4000
Facsimile: (213) 892-4710
(Name, Address and
Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
March 9, 2009
(Date of Event Which
Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. o
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
CUSIP No. 367905106 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
1. |
Names of Reporting Persons |
|||
|
|||||
|
2. |
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) |
|||
|
|
(a) |
o |
||
|
|
(b) |
o |
||
|
|||||
|
3. |
SEC Use Only |
|||
|
|||||
|
4. |
Source of Funds (See
Instructions) |
|||
|
|||||
|
5. |
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
6. |
Citizenship or Place of Organization |
|||
|
|||||
Number of |
7. |
Sole Voting Power |
|||
|
|||||
8. |
Shared Voting Power |
||||
|
|||||
9. |
Sole Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
10. |
Shared Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
|
11. |
Aggregate Amount
Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person |
|||
|
|||||
|
12. |
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
13. |
Percent of Class
Represented by Amount in Row (11) |
|||
|
|||||
|
14. |
Type of Reporting Person
(See Instructions) |
|||
2
CUSIP No. 367905106 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
1. |
Names of Reporting Persons |
|||
|
|||||
|
2. |
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) |
|||
|
|
(a) |
o |
||
|
|
(b) |
o |
||
|
|||||
|
3. |
SEC Use Only |
|||
|
|||||
|
4. |
Source of Funds (See
Instructions) |
|||
|
|||||
|
5. |
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
6. |
Citizenship or Place of Organization |
|||
|
|||||
Number of |
7. |
Sole Voting Power |
|||
|
|||||
8. |
Shared Voting Power |
||||
|
|||||
9. |
Sole Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
10. |
Shared Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
|
11. |
Aggregate Amount
Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person |
|||
|
|||||
|
12. |
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
13. |
Percent of Class
Represented by Amount in Row (11) |
|||
|
|||||
|
14. |
Type of Reporting Person
(See Instructions) |
|||
3
CUSIP No. 367905106 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
1. |
Names of Reporting Persons |
|||
|
|||||
|
2. |
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) |
|||
|
|
(a) |
o |
||
|
|
(b) |
o |
||
|
|||||
|
3. |
SEC Use Only |
|||
|
|||||
|
4. |
Source of Funds (See
Instructions) |
|||
|
|||||
|
5. |
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
6. |
Citizenship or Place of Organization |
|||
|
|||||
Number of |
7. |
Sole Voting Power |
|||
|
|||||
8. |
Shared Voting Power |
||||
|
|||||
9. |
Sole Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
10. |
Shared Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
|
11. |
Aggregate Amount
Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person |
|||
|
|||||
|
12. |
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
13. |
Percent of Class
Represented by Amount in Row (11) |
|||
|
|||||
|
14. |
Type of Reporting Person
(See Instructions) |
|||
4
CUSIP No. 367905106 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
1. |
Names of Reporting Persons |
|||
|
|||||
|
2. |
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) |
|||
|
|
(a) |
o |
||
|
|
(b) |
o |
||
|
|||||
|
3. |
SEC Use Only |
|||
|
|||||
|
4. |
Source of Funds (See
Instructions) |
|||
|
|||||
|
5. |
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
6. |
Citizenship or Place of Organization |
|||
|
|||||
Number of |
7. |
Sole Voting Power |
|||
|
|||||
8. |
Shared Voting Power |
||||
|
|||||
9. |
Sole Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
10. |
Shared Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
|
11. |
Aggregate Amount
Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person |
|||
|
|||||
|
12. |
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
13. |
Percent of Class
Represented by Amount in Row (11) |
|||
|
|||||
|
14. |
Type of Reporting Person
(See Instructions) |
|||
5
CUSIP No. 367905106 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
1. |
Names of Reporting Persons |
|||
|
|||||
|
2. |
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) |
|||
|
|
(a) |
o |
||
|
|
(b) |
o |
||
|
|||||
|
3. |
SEC Use Only |
|||
|
|||||
|
4. |
Source of Funds (See
Instructions) |
|||
|
|||||
|
5. |
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
6. |
Citizenship or Place of Organization |
|||
|
|||||
Number of |
7. |
Sole Voting Power |
|||
|
|||||
8. |
Shared Voting Power |
||||
|
|||||
9. |
Sole Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
10. |
Shared Dispositive Power |
||||
|
|||||
|
11. |
Aggregate Amount
Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person |
|||
|
|||||
|
12. |
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) o |
|||
|
|||||
|
13. |
Percent of Class
Represented by Amount in Row (11) |
|||
|
|||||
|
14. |
Type of Reporting Person
(See Instructions) |
|||
6
CUSIP No. 367905106 |
The Schedule 13D filed on July 21, 2008 by TRT Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (TRT Holdings), and Robert B. Rowling, an individual resident of the State of Texas and Chairman of the Board of TRT Holdings (Mr. Rowling), relating to the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Shares), of Gaylord Entertainment Company, a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on January 15, 2009, Amendment No. 2 filed on January 23, 2009, and Amendment No. 3 filed on January 28, 2009 (the Schedule 13D), is hereby amended and supplemented as set forth below by this Amendment No. 4 to the Schedule 13D (Amendment No. 4). |
|
|
|
Item 2. |
Identity and Background |
Item 2 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: |
|
In connection with the Settlement Agreement (as described and defined in Item 4 below), TRT Holdings has withdrawn the nominations of Messrs. Rowling, Dickman, Johnson and Langdale (the Original Four Nominees) for election to the Board of Directors of the Issuer (the Board) at the Issuers next meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (the 2009 Annual Meeting). Accordingly, Messrs. Dickman, Langdale and Johnson are no longer members of the Section 13(d) group and shall cease to be Reporting Persons immediately after the filing of this Amendment No. 4. The remaining Reporting Persons will continue to file as a group statements on Schedule 13D with respect to their beneficial ownership of securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. |
|
|
|
Item 4. |
Purpose of Transaction |
Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: |
|
On March 9, 2009, the Issuer and TRT Holdings entered into a settlement agreement (the Settlement Agreement). Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, among other things, the Issuer agreed to nominate, recommend, and include in the Issuers proxy statement the election to the Board of two of the Original Four Nominees, Messrs. Rowling and Johnson (together, the TRT Nominees), at each of the 2009 Annual Meeting, the Issuers 2010 annual meeting of stockholders (the 2010 Annual Meeting), and the Issuers 2011 annual meeting of stockholders (the 2011 Annual Meeting). The Settlement Agreement also requires the Issuer to nominate seven incumbent directors and two additional independent directors identified by the Boards Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee after consultation with the Issuers stockholders at each of the 2009 Annual Meeting, 2010 Annual Meeting, and 2011 Annual Meeting. The Settlement Agreement provides that one TRT Nominee will serve on each of the Boards Executive Committee, which is being increased in size to five directors, Human Resources Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, the Settlement Agreement provides that the Issuer will not increase the size of its Board to more than eleven directors prior to the Issuers 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. By execution of the Settlement Agreement, TRT Holdings agreed to, among other things, withdraw the nominations of the Original Four Nominees and withdraw its demands requesting the production of certain stockholder list information of the Issuer and requesting inspection of the Issuers books and records that were set forth in letters to the Issuer dated January 15, 2009 and January 23, 2009, respectively. |
|
Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement and concurrently with its execution, the Issuer entered into an amended and restated rights agreement with Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent (the A&R Rights Agreement). The A&R Rights Agreement amends and restates the terms of the Rights Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2008, between the Issuer and Rights Agent to: (1) increase the triggering ownership percentage from 15% to 22% of the outstanding Common Shares and (2) include provisions that define and establish procedures in the event that the Issuer receives a Qualified Offer (as defined in the A&R Rights Agreement). Additionally, in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Board adopted a resolution approving, for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporate Law (Section 203), the acquisition by TRT Holdings and its affiliates of additional Common Shares in excess of 15% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and providing that TRT Holdings and its affiliates will not be an interested stockholder as defined by Section 203. |
|
Under the Settlement Agreement, TRT Holdings has agreed to vote all Common Shares that it is entitled to vote at each of the 2009 Annual Meeting, 2010 Annual Meeting, and 2011 Annual Meeting in favor of the election of the Boards nominees, including the TRT Nominees. In addition, TRT Holdings agreed to vote all Common Shares that it is entitled to vote at each of the 2009 Annual Meeting, 2010 Annual Meeting, and 2011 Annual Meeting and any other meeting of the Issuers stockholders prior to the Termination Date (as defined below): (1) in accordance with the Boards recommendation on any stockholder proposal and (2) in favor of any proposal made by |
7
CUSIP No. 367905106 |
the Issuer unless Mr. Rowling (or any other TRT Nominee that is an affiliate of TRT Holdings) has voted against such proposal in his or her capacity as a member of the Board. These voting obligations will not, however, apply with respect to the voting of TRT Holdings Common Shares in connection with an Extraordinary Transaction (as defined in the Settlement Agreement). |
|
The Settlement Agreement includes a provision restricting TRT Holdings from taking certain actions from the date of the Settlement Agreement through the Termination Date (the Standstill Obligations), including: (1) acquiring beneficial ownership of any voting securities of the Issuer in an amount of 22% or more of the Issuers outstanding voting securities, (2) participating in any solicitation of proxies or making public statements in an attempt to influence the voting of the Issuers securities in opposition to the recommendation of the Board, initiating any shareholder proposals, seeking representation on the Board (except as contemplated by the Settlement Agreement) or effecting the removal of any member of the Board (provided that TRT Holdings will not be restricted from making a public statement regarding how it intends to vote or soliciting proxies in connection with an Extraordinary Transaction not involving TRT Holdings), and (3) acquiring any assets or indebtedness of the Issuer (other than bonds or publicly-traded debt of the Issuer, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Settlement Agreement). The Standstill Obligations are subject to certain exceptions, including if: (1) TRT Holdings has been invited by the Board to participate in a process related to the possible sale of the Issuer, (2) TRT Holdings makes a Qualified Offer, or (3) a third party makes an offer to acquire the Issuer under certain circumstances as set forth in the Settlement Agreement. |
|
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Termination Date is the earliest to occur of (1) the consummation of a Qualified Offer (as defined in A&R Rights Agreement), (2) May 15, 2011, (3) the date of the resignation of the last TRT Nominee remaining on the Board in accordance with the requirement under the Settlement Agreement that TRT Holdings will not be entitled to any representation on the Board if TRT Holdings owns less than 5% of the outstanding Common Shares, and (4) a material breach of the Settlement Agreement by the Issuer that is not cured within 30 days of written notice of such material breach from TRT Holdings to the Issuer (or, if such material breach or lack of cure is disputed by the Issuer, upon the rendering of an arbitral award finding such material breach or lack of cure). |
|
The Settlement Agreement also provides that each of the Issuer and TRT Holdings will not disparage the other party, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Settlement Agreement. |
|
The description of the Settlement Agreement set forth above does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Settlement Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Amendment No. 4, which is incorporated herein by reference. |
|
|
|
Item 6. |
Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer |
Item 6 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: |
|
The information set forth above in Item 4 is incorporated herein by reference. |
|
|
|
Item 7. |
Materials to be Filed as Exhibits |
Item 7 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended to include the following exhibits: |
|
Exhibit 99.1 Settlement Agreement, by and among Issuer and TRT Holdings, dated March 9, 2009 |
8
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned persons, such persons certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated as of: March 11, 2009
|
TRT Holdings, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ James D. Caldwell |
|
Name: |
James D. Caldwell |
|
Title: |
President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Robert B. Rowling |
|
Name: |
Robert B. Rowling |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James D. Caldwell |
|
Name: |
James D. Caldwell |
|
|
As attorney-in-fact for Michael J. Dickman, |
|
|
David W. Johnson and Mark Langdale |
|
ATTENTION. |
|
Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001). |
9
Exhibit 99.1
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT dated this 9th day of March 2009 (this Agreement), by and between TRT Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (TRT), and Gaylord Entertainment Company, a Delaware corporation (the Company).
BACKGROUND
TRT (i) has submitted to the Company notice by letter dated January 28, 2009 (the Notice) of its intention to nominate four individuals for election to the Companys Board of Directors (the Board) at the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (the 2009 Annual Meeting) and to solicit proxies for the election of its nominees (the Proxy Solicitation) and (ii) has taken certain actions in furtherance thereof, including, but not limited to, requesting production of stockholder list information pursuant to a letter dated January 15, 2009 and other communications related thereto, and requesting to inspect the Companys books and records pursuant to Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL) pursuant to a letter dated January 23, 2009 (such letters and related requests, the Demand).
TRT and the Company have agreed that it is in their mutual interests to enter into this Agreement, which, among other things, sets forth their agreement regarding the nomination of certain candidates for election to the Board at the 2009 Annual Meeting and the voting by TRT of any shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (Common Stock) that TRT may own from time to time.
AGREEMENT
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants, agreements, and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and, intending to be legally bound, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Board Action; Board Composition; Recommendation; Company Proxy.
(1) The Company will, and the Company covenants and agrees to, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, enter into the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the Rights Agent) in the form attached hereto as Schedule A (the A&R Rights Agreement) and deliver a copy of the A&R Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company and the Rights Agent.
(2) The Company will, and the Company covenants and agrees to, deliver to TRT a duly adopted, binding resolution of the Board, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to TRT, (x) expressly approving, for purposes of Section 203 of the DGCL (Section 203), the acquisition by TRT and its affiliates and associates (as those terms are defined in Section 203), in a single transaction or in a series of transactions, of additional shares of Common Stock such that TRT and its affiliates and associates (as defined in Section 203) may own (as defined in Section 203) in excess of 15% of the issued
and outstanding Common Stock of the Company, and (y) providing that neither TRT nor any of its affiliates or associates (as defined in Section 203) will be or be deemed to be an interested stockholder (as defined in Section 203) if TRT and its affiliates or associates (as defined in Section 203) become the owners (as defined in Section 203) of more than 15% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock.
(3) In order that TRT and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company and its Affiliates, on the other (each of TRT and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company and its Affiliates, on the other, being a Renouncing Party), be able to conduct their business without any liability to the other party arising out of any claim against any of them for an interest in or expectancy of participation in the business opportunity of the Renouncing Party, each Renouncing Party does hereby irrevocably, subject only to the following sentence, renounce (which action has been duly taken by each Renouncing Partys Board of Directors) any interest or expectancy of each Renouncing Party in or in being offered any opportunity to participate in, the business opportunities of the other party or any of its Affiliates that are presented to the Renouncing Party or one or more of such Renouncing Partys respective officers, directors, or stockholders to the fullest extent permissible under Section 122(17) of the DGCL. Notwithstanding the foregoing renunciation for the purposes of Section 122(17) of the DGCL, TRT and the Company agree that in the event that (i) any Permitted Recipient has (directly or indirectly) communicated Confidential Information about a particular business opportunity to TRT or any TRT Controlled Party (other than a Permitted Recipient) or has used any Confidential Information in breach of this Agreement in connection with a particular business opportunity; and (ii) such Confidential Information influenced the manner in which such business opportunity was pursued by TRT or such TRT Controlled Party to the detriment of the Company, then the renunciation in the foregoing sentence will not be effective with respect to such business opportunity, and each party will have all such rights, defenses, claims, remedies, and liabilities as though such renunciation had never occurred. The parties agree that the foregoing renunciation pursuant to Section 122(17) of the DGCL does not affect any other rights or remedies that may be available to the Company against TRT or any TRT Controlled Party for wrongful disclosure of information and will not be deemed to constitute the standard for establishing the breach of any other duty owed by Rowling to the Company or any defense available to TRT, Rowling, or any TRT Controlled Party. In addition, the Company represents and warrants that the Board has affirmed that no action taken or omitted to be taken by TRT or any TRT Controlled Party in connection with any business opportunity (other than with respect to communication or use in breach of this Agreement of Confidential Information as set forth above) will constitute the basis for the removal of any TRT Nominee from the Board for cause in accordance with Article VII(B)(5) of the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
(4) The Company will, and the Company covenants and agrees to, deliver to TRT a duly adopted resolution of the Board, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to TRT, (x) affirming that the Board has carefully considered this Agreement and its terms and, as a result of such consideration, concluded that the Companys execution and performance of this Agreement are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and (y) approving the Companys execution of this Agreement.
2
(1) nominate and reflect in the 2009 Company Proxy (defined below) the nomination of each of the 2009 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees) for election at the 2009 Annual Meeting as a director of the Company with a term expiring at the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (the 2010 Annual Meeting);
(2) recommend and reflect in the 2009 Company Proxy the recommendation of each of the 2009 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees) for election as directors of the Company at the 2009 Annual Meeting, and cause the Company to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit proxies in favor of the election of each of the 2009 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees); and
(3) cause all proxies received by the Company to be voted in the manner specified by such proxies and cause all proxies for which a vote is not specified to be voted for the 2009 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees).
(1) nominate and reflect in the 2010 Company Proxy (defined below) the nomination of each of the 2010 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees) for election at the 2010 Annual Meeting as a director of the Company with a term expiring at the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (the 2011 Annual Meeting);
3
(2) recommend and reflect in the 2010 Company Proxy the recommendation of each of the 2010 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees) for election as directors of the Company at the 2010 Annual Meeting, and cause the Company to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit proxies in favor of the election of each of the New Independent Nominees; and
(3) cause all proxies received by the Company to be voted in the manner specified by such proxies and cause all proxies for which a vote is not specified to be voted for each of the 2010 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees).
(1) nominate and reflect in the 2011 Company Proxy (defined below) the nomination of each of the 2011 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees) for election at the 2011 Annual Meeting as a director of the Company with a term expiring at the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (the 2012 Annual Meeting);
(2) recommend and reflect in the 2011 Company Proxy the recommendation of each of the 2011 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees) for election as directors of the Company at the 2011 Annual Meeting, and cause the Company to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit proxies in favor of the election of each of the New Independent Nominees; and
(3) cause all proxies received by the Company to be voted in the manner specified by such proxies and cause all proxies for which a vote is not specified to be voted for each of the 2011 Nominees (including the New Independent Nominees).
4
5
6
(k) Without the prior written consent of the Company, TRT shall, and will cause each TRT Nominee and Permitted Recipient to, refrain from, directly or indirectly:
(1) from the date hereof until the first anniversary of the later to occur of (x) the Termination Date or (y) the date of the final TRT Nominees resignation or removal from, or expiration of term of service without re-election to, the Board, disclosing any Confidential Information to any Representative of TRT or any of its Affiliates or any other lodging or hospitality company with which such TRT Nominee is affiliated other than a Permitted Recipient, or otherwise using Confidential Information to the material detriment of the Company and its subsidiaries;
(2) from the date hereof until the later to occur of (x) the Termination Date or (y) the date of the final TRT Nominees resignation or removal from, or expiration of term of service without re-election to, the Board, disclosing any material nonpublic information of TRT or any of its Affiliates, or any other lodging or hospitality company with which such TRT Nominee is affiliated, to the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives; and
(3) otherwise engaging in any communications in any manner, or taking any actions, that violate applicable Legal Requirements with respect to antitrust, unfair competition, or restraint on trade.
7
8
Section 2. Proxy Solicitation; Voting; Company Form 8-K; TRT Schedule 13D; Proxy and Demand.
9
(1) vote all shares of Voting Securities that it is entitled to vote at the 2009 Annual Meeting in favor of the election of each of the 2009 Nominees (including the TRT Nominees) at the 2009 Annual Meeting;
(2) vote all shares of Voting Securities that it is entitled to vote at the 2010 Annual Meeting in favor of the election of each of the 2010 Nominees (including the TRT Nominees) at the 2010 Annual Meeting;
(3) vote all shares of Voting Securities that it is entitled to vote at the 2011 Annual Meeting in favor of the election of each of the 2011 Nominees (including the TRT Nominees) at the 2011 Annual Meeting;
(4) vote all shares of Voting Securities that it is entitled to vote at the 2009 Annual Meeting, the 2010 Annual Meeting and the 2011 Annual Meeting against any stockholder nominations for director which are not approved and recommended by the Board for election at such meetings; and
(5) vote all shares of Voting Securities that it is entitled to vote at the 2009 Annual Meeting, the 2010 Annual Meeting, the 2011 Annual Meeting and any other meeting of the Companys stockholders between the date hereof and the Termination Date (x) in accordance with the recommendation of the Board on any stockholder proposal that is put to a vote of stockholders at any such meeting and (y) in favor of any proposal made by the Company unless Rowling (or any other TRT Nominee that is an Affiliate of TRT or any TRT Controlled Party) has voted against such proposal in his capacity as a member of the Board; provided, however, that TRT and its controlled Affiliates will have no obligation pursuant to this Section 2(c) with respect to the voting of their shares of Voting Securities to the extent necessary to participate in a specific, pending Extraordinary Transaction proposed by a Third Party, with respect to which TRT and its Affiliates may vote, or withhold or abstain from voting, in their sole discretion.
10
Section 3. Standstill.
(1) acquire, offer or propose to acquire, or agree to acquire (except by way of stock dividends or other distributions), directly or indirectly, whether by purchase, tender or exchange offer, through the acquisition of control of another Person, by joining a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)), or otherwise, any Voting Securities, if, after giving effect to such acquisition, TRT (together with all controlled Affiliates and controlled Associates of TRT) would Beneficially Own 22% or more of the outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that neither TRT nor any TRT Controlled Party will be deemed to be in breach of this provision if the increase in the beneficial ownership of Voting Securities to 22% or more of the outstanding Voting Securities results from a reduction in the number of outstanding Voting Securities (provided that after such reduction neither TRT nor any TRT Controlled Party becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Voting Securities in violation of this Section 3(a)(1) at a time when such parties Beneficially Own 22% or more of the outstanding Voting Securities) or if the Board determines in good faith that the accumulation by TRT or any TRT Controlled Party of Voting Securities in excess of such 22% threshold was inadvertent (provided that TRT or the applicable TRT Controlled Party, as the case may be, will promptly divest a sufficient number of Voting Securities in accordance with Section 4 so that TRT or such TRT Controlled Party would no longer Beneficially Own 22% or more of the Voting Securities then outstanding, it being understood that for the purposes of computing the
11
Beneficial Ownership of TRT or any TRT Controlled Party at the time of any purchase, the number of outstanding Voting Securities will be determined by the amount of such outstanding Voting Securities reported in the latest available Company filing with the SEC, subject to any adjustment for any stock dividends, combinations or splits after the date of the filing and subject to adjustment to include the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which TRT or such TRT Controlled Party would be deemed to Beneficially Own under this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a)(3) (but specifically excluding any Voting Securities issued or awarded to Rowling by the Company due to his service as a director of the Company);
(2) engage, or in any way participate, directly or indirectly, in any solicitation (as such term is defined in Rule 14a-1(l) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act) of proxies or consents (whether or not relating to the election or removal of directors), seek to advise, encourage, or influence any Person with respect to the voting of any Voting Securities (including in connection with the election of directors), in each case in opposition to a recommendation of the Board; initiate, propose or otherwise solicit (as such term is defined in Rule 14a-1(l) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act) stockholders of the Company for the approval of stockholder proposals, whether made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 or Rule 14a-4 under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in opposition to the recommendation of the Board; initiate or propose any stockholder proposal, whether made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 or Rule 14a-4 under the Exchange Act or otherwise, or otherwise seek the election or appointment to, or representation on, or the nomination of any candidate to, the Board except as expressly permitted by this Agreement; effect or attempt to effect the removal of any members of the Board, excluding any TRT Nominees; or induce or attempt to induce any other Person to initiate any such stockholder proposal; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement will limit the ability of TRT or any TRT Controlled Party to issue any communication contemplated by Rule 14a-1(l)(2)(iv) stating how TRT or such TRT Controlled Party intend to vote and the reasons therefor with respect to any Extraordinary Transaction of any kind or nature between the Company and any Third Party;
(3) (x) seek, propose, or make any statements to any Third Party with respect to, any Extraordinary Transaction, other than in connection with any action by TRT or any TRT Controlled Party otherwise permitted by this Section 3, or (y) acquire, offer or propose to acquire, or agree to acquire, ownership of any of the assets, indebtedness or businesses of the Company or any of its Affiliates other than in connection with any action by TRT or any TRT Controlled Party otherwise permitted by this Section 3; provided, however, that nothing in this Section (3)(a)(3) will prohibit TRT or any TRT Controlled Party from (i) owning any Bonds that are owned by TRT or any TRT Controlled Party as of the date of this Agreement, or (ii) acquiring or agreeing to acquire any Bonds or other publicly traded indebtedness of the Company, unless and to the extent all directors of the Company are restricted from acquiring or agreeing to acquire Bonds or other publicly traded indebtedness of the Company under any policy or agreement of the Company disclosed to the directors of the Company;
(4) form, join, or in any way participate in any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) with respect to any Voting Securities in connection with any election contest with respect to the Companys directors, other than a group that (x) includes all or some lesser number of the Persons identified as Reporting Persons (or controlled Affiliates thereof) in the Schedule 13D and the signatories to this
12
Agreement and (y) does not include any other members who are not currently identified as Reporting Persons (or controlled Affiliates thereof) or the signatories to this Agreement;
(5) deposit any Voting Securities in any voting trust or subject any Voting Securities to any arrangement or agreement with respect to the voting of any Voting Securities, except (x) as expressly set forth in this Agreement, (y) for any such trust, arrangement or agreement solely among TRT and any TRT Controlled Party, and (z) in connection with any action by TRT or any TRT Controlled Party otherwise permitted by this Section 3;
(6) make any demand to inspect the books and records of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including pursuant to Section 220(b) of the DGCL;
(7) publicly make any proposal (including publicly disclosing or discussing any proposal) or enter into any understandings with a Third Party regarding any of the foregoing, or publicly make any proposal, statement or inquiry, or publicly disclose any intention, plan, or arrangement (whether written or oral), in each case inconsistent with any of the foregoing, or publicly disclose any request to amend, waive, or terminate any provision of this Agreement;
(8) have any discussions or communications, or enter into any arrangements, understanding, or agreements (whether written or oral) with, or advise, finance, assist, induce, or encourage, any Third Party either in connection or inconsistent with any of the foregoing provisions of this Section 3(a); or
(9) otherwise take or cause any action inconsistent with any of the foregoing provisions of this Section 3(a).
(1) subject to Sections 1(h) and 1(k), nothing in this Agreement will (x) limit any actions that may be taken by any TRT Nominee acting as a director of the Company consistent with his fiduciary duties or as otherwise required by Legal Requirements, (y) require TRT or any Affiliate of TRT to vote in any way on matters put to stockholders of the Company for their approval except as expressly set forth in Section 2(c), or (z) in any way limit TRTs, any TRT Controlled Partys, or any of their respective Affiliates ability to privately make suggestions, recommendations, or proposals to the Company, the Board or any of the directors of the Company;
(2) nothing in this Agreement will (x) limit the ability of TRT or any TRT Controlled Party to acquire, offer or propose to acquire, or agree to acquire Voting Securities or assets of the Company in connection with a transaction contemplated by Section 1(p), or (y) limit the ability of TRT or any TRT Controlled Party to make an offer that meets all of the requirements of a Qualified Offer (as such term is defined in the A&R Rights Agreement);
(3) the restrictions set forth in this Section 3 will immediately terminate and will be of no further force and effect in the event that either (x) a publicly
13
announced tender or exchange offer for Voting Securities which, when added to the Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the offering Person and its Affiliates, constitute at least 51% of the Voting Securities of the Company then outstanding, is commenced within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) under the Exchange Act by any Third Party (a Third Party Offer), or (y) any Third Party makes a proposal to the Company or publicly announces a proposal with a view toward the acquisition from the Company or from other Person(s) of Voting Securities of the Company which, when added to the Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the offering Person and its Affiliates, constitute at least 51% of the Voting Securities of the Company then outstanding or the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a Third Party Acquisition) and, in either such case in this clause (y), the Board undertakes material, substantive negotiations with such Third Party or any other Third Party with a view toward the consummation of such Third Party Acquisition or related transaction; provided, however, that, in the event of a Third Party Offer as described in clause (x) above, upon the date that is 90 days following the consummation, withdrawal or expiration of such Third Party Offer, the exception described in this Section 3(b)(3) will no longer apply and the restrictions set forth in Section 3(a) and any restrictions set forth in this Agreement that have been suspended will be reinstated as binding obligations of TRT and any TRT Controlled Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement unless TRT or any TRT Controlled Party, prior to the expiration of such 90-day period, commences within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) under the Exchange Act a tender or exchange offer for Voting Securities which constitute at least 51% of the Voting Securities of the Company then outstanding that are not Beneficially Owned by TRT or any TRT Controlled Party, or otherwise makes a bona fide, fully-financed proposal to the Company with a view toward consummating an Extraordinary Transaction involving the acquisition of the Company or the acquisition of all or substantially all of the outstanding Voting Securities or assets of the Company;
(4) nothing in this Agreement will limit the ability of TRT, any TRT Controlled Party, or any of their respective Affiliates to vote its Voting Securities or engage in or in any way participate, directly or indirectly, in any solicitation (as such term is defined in Rule 14a-1(l) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act) of proxies or consents relating to or in connection with a proposed Extraordinary Transaction between the Company and any Person who is not TRT or a TRT Controlled Party that is being submitted to a vote for the stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that TRT and the TRT Controlled Parties may only participate in any solicitation of proxies or consents relating to or in connection with a proposed Extraordinary Transaction if Rowling or any other TRT Nominee that is an Affiliate of TRT or any TRT Controlled Party has voted against such proposed Extraordinary Transaction in their capacity as members of the Board; and
(5) notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3(b), the remaining terms of this Agreement will remain valid and binding obligations of TRT, enforceable in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.
Section 4. Dispositions of Voting Securities. Without limiting any other remedies that may be available to the Company, if TRT or any TRT Controlled Party acquires any Voting Securities in violation of Section 3(a)(1), it will promptly dispose of such Voting Securities to Persons that are not Affiliates of TRT.
14
Section 5. Representations and Warranties.
(1) TRT has the power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(2) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed, and delivered by TRT, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of TRT and is enforceable against TRT in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding of law or in equity).
(3) TRT, together with all TRT Controlled Parties, has the sole power to vote the number of shares of Common Stock as set forth on Schedule D and such shares of Common Stock constitute all of the Voting Securities of the Company Beneficially Owned by TRT and the TRT Controlled Parties.
(4) To the knowledge of TRT, each of the TRT Nominees is Independent. TRT confirms that it has no knowledge of any fact or circumstance that would prevent either TRT Nominee from serving as an independent director of the Company as contemplated in Section 14 of the Bylaws.
(5) To the knowledge of TRT, each of the TRT Nominees is qualified to serve as a member of the Board.
(1) The Company has the power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(2) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of the Company and is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding of law or in equity).
(3) None of the actions required by the terms of this Agreement to be taken by the Company or TRT through the Termination Date will cause a change of control, default, event of default, or acceleration of any award or benefit under any employee agreements or employee benefit arrangements with any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or under any other material agreement to which the Company or any of its Affiliates is a party or by which any of them is bound.
15
(4) The Company has (x) reviewed the information contained in the Notice, the questionnaires submitted by the TRT Nominees, and the other information provided by TRT and the TRT Nominees, and, (y) assuming the completeness and accuracy of the information provided in the Notice and in the questionnaires, determined that each of the TRT Nominees is Independent, and is independent in accordance with the requirements of the Bylaws, the corporate governance guidelines of the Company and all other applicable rules and policies of the Company and is otherwise qualified to serve as a member of the Board.
Section 6. Specific Performance. Each of TRT and the Company acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury to the other party to this Agreement would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached and that such injury would not be adequately compensable in damages. It is accordingly agreed that TRT and the Company will each be entitled to specific enforcement of, and injunctive relief to prevent any violation of, the terms of this Agreement without the posting of a bond or other security and the other party to this Agreement will not take any action, directly or indirectly, in opposition to the party seeking relief on the grounds that any other remedy or relief is available at law or in equity.
Section 7. Termination and Survival.
(1) if the Termination Date is established pursuant to clause (i), (iii) or (iv) of Section 11(a)(15), then the provisions set forth in this Section 7, Section 6, Section 1(k), Section 9, Section 11, and Sections 13 through 18 and 20 through 24 will survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with their terms; or
(2) if the Termination Date is established pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 11(a)(15), then the provisions set forth in this Section 7, Section 1(g), Section 1(h), Section 1(i), Section 1(j), Section 1(k), Section 1(n), Section 6, Section 9, Section 11 and Sections 13 through 18 and 20 through 24 will survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with their terms.
Section 8. Press Release and Other Public Disclosures. Immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company and TRT will issue the Press Release. None of the parties to this Agreement will (a) make any public statements (including in any filing with the SEC or any other regulatory or governmental agency, including any stock exchange, that are inconsistent with, or otherwise contrary to, the statements in the Press Release issued pursuant to this Section 8; or (b) except as required by applicable law, issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the other party to this Agreement.
16
Section 9. Release.
17
Section 10. Non-Disparagement; Cooperation.
18
Section 11. Construction.
19
(1) Affiliates has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act and will include Persons who become Affiliates of any Person subsequent to the date hereof;
(2) Associates has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act and will include Persons who become Associates of any Person subsequent to the date hereof;
(3) The terms Beneficial Owner and Beneficially Own will have the same meanings as set forth in the A&R Rights Agreement;
(4) Bonds means the Companys 8% Senior Notes due November 15, 2013 and 6.75% Senior Notes due November 15, 2014;
(5) Confidential Information means any nonpublic information relating to the Company and its Affiliates businesses and operations that might be of use to competitors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or harmful to the Company or any of its Affiliates or customers. The term Confidential Information will not include information which (a) is or becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by TRT, any TRT Controlled Party, any TRT Nominee or any Representative of any of the foregoing; (b) was available to TRT, such TRT Controlled Party, such TRT Nominee or such Representative on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates; provided that the source of such information was not known by TRT, such TRT Controlled Party, such TRT Nominee or such Representative, after reasonable inquiry, to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to, the Company or any of its Affiliates; (c) is or becomes available to TRT, such TRT Controlled Party, such TRT Nominee or such Representative on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives; provided that such source was not known by TRT, such TRT Controlled Party, such TRT Nominee or such Representative, after reasonable inquiry, to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to, the Company or any of its Affiliates; or (d) is or was independently developed or discovered by TRT, such TRT Controlled Party, such TRT Nominee or such Representative without use of or reference to the Confidential Information;
(6) Exchange means the New York Stock Exchange or such other principal national securities exchange on which the Companys Common Stock is admitted or listed for trading;
(7) Extraordinary Transaction means any merger, consolidation, business combination, tender or exchange offer, sale or purchase of a substantial amount of assets other than in the ordinary course of business, sale or purchase of securities, dissolution, liquidation, restructuring, recapitalization, or similar transaction with or involving the Company or any of its Affiliates;
20
(8) Independent means that a Person satisfies the requirements for being an independent director of the Company pursuant to applicable requirements of the Exchange and the SEC;
(9) Legal Requirements means (i) rules and regulations of the SEC, (ii) rules and regulations of the Exchange, (iii) applicable law, and (iv) to the extent necessary, case law and statutory law with respect to disinterestedness;
(10) Permitted Recipient means each of Rowling, James D. Caldwell, Michael G. Smith, Brandon Bean, Greg Crooks, and Blake Rowling (and their successors from time to time) and any individual approved of in writing by the General Counsel of the Company from time to time, provided that each such person agrees to be bound to the same extent as Rowling and TRT with respect to the obligations concerning Confidential Information under this Agreement as though a party to this Agreement;
(11) Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, group, syndicate, trust, government or agency thereof, or any other association or entity;
(12) Representative of a Person means that Persons directors, officers, employees, accountants, financial advisors, legal advisors and other agents;
(13) Rowling means Robert B. Rowling, an individual residing in the State of Texas;
(14) SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission;
(15) Termination Date means the earliest to occur of (i) the consummation of a Qualified Offer (as defined in the A&R Rights Agreement), (ii) May 15, 2011, (iii) the date of the resignation of the last TRT Nominee remaining on the Board pursuant to Section 1(n), or (iv) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement that has not been cured within 30 days of written notice of such material breach from TRT to the Company specifying in reasonable detail the nature of such material breach; provided, however, that if the Company notifies TRT within such 30-day period that it disputes either the occurrence of such material breach or whether such material breach has been cured, which notice will be in writing specifying in reasonable detail the basis for the dispute, then the Termination Date pursuant to this clause (iv) will be the rendering of a final arbitration award pursuant to Section 19 finding the occurrence of such material breach and the Companys failure to cure such material breach within such 30-day period;
(16) Third Party means any Person other than (i) TRT, any TRT Controlled Party, the TRT Nominees, the Company, the Board or any director or officer of the Company and (ii) legal counsel to TRT, provided, that any discussions or other communications between TRT and its legal counsel including with respect to matters contemplated by this Agreement will be subject to attorney-client privilege, which privilege will not be waived;
(17) TRT Controlled Party means Rowling, and any Affiliate or Associate of TRT or Rowling over which TRT or Rowling, directly or indirectly, exercises, or has the ability to exercise, control; and
21
(18) Voting Securities means the Companys Common Stock and any other securities of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors, or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.
(1) the word or will not be exclusive;
(2) inclusion of items in a list will not be deemed to exclude other similar terms;
(3) all parties will be considered to have drafted this Agreement together, with the benefit of counsel, and no provision will be strictly construed against any Person by reason of having drafted such provision;
(4) the word include and its derivations means to include without limitation;
(5) use of terms that imply gender will include all genders;
(6) defined terms will have their meanings in the plural and singular case;
(7) reference to Sections, Schedules, and Exhibits, if any, is to the Sections, Schedules, and Exhibits to this Agreement;
(8) the headings in this Agreement are for convenience and reference only and are not part of the substance of this Agreement;
(9) the word will will not be deemed to be a mere prediction of future occurrences; and
(10) any provisions of this Agreement pertaining to the voting of shares of Voting Securities will apply equally to actions to be taken without a meeting by written consent.
Section 12. Expenses. As promptly as practicable after the date hereof but in no event later than March 13, 2009, the Company will reimburse TRT for one-half of its expenses incurred in connection with the Proxy Solicitation, the Demand, the Delaware Litigation, the preparation of this Agreement, and other related matters, up to a maximum aggregate reimbursement of $200,000.
Section 13. TRT Liability. TRT will be liable for any breach by any TRT Controlled Party, any Permitted Recipient, any TRT Nominee, any non-voting advisory or emeritus director appointed pursuant to Section 1(o) or of any Representative of any of the foregoing of his or its obligations under this Agreement.
22
Section 14. No Waiver; Amendment. Any waiver by any party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement will not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Agreement. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on one or more occasions will not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended and the provisions of this Agreement waived only by a written instrument duly executed by the parties or their respective successors or assigns.
Section 15. Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any right, interest or obligation hereunder may be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, and any attempt to do so will be void. Subject to the preceding sentence, all the terms and provisions of this Agreement will inure to the benefit of and will be enforceable by the successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
Section 16. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the confidentiality agreement, dated as of January 30, 2009 by and between TRT and the Company, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no prior written or prior or contemporaneous oral restrictions, agreements, promises, representations, warranties, covenants, or other undertakings other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement and in such confidentiality agreement.
Section 17. Notices. All notices, demands, and other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) upon sending if sent by electronic mail or facsimile, with electronic confirmation of sending, provided, however, that a copy is sent on the same day by registered mail, return receipt requested, in each case to the appropriate mailing and electronic mail or facsimile addresses set forth below; (c) one day after being sent by nationally recognized overnight carrier to the addresses set forth below; or (d) when actually delivered if sent by any other method that results in delivery (with written confirmation of receipt):
If to the Company:
Gaylord Entertainment Company
One Gaylord Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
Attn: Carter Todd, Esq.
Facsimile: (615) 316-6544
with a copy to (which will not constitute notice):
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
315 Deaderick Street
Suite 2700
Nashville, Tennessee 37238
Attn: F. Mitchell Walker, Jr., Esq.
23
Facsimile: (615) 742-2775
If to TRT:
TRT Holdings, Inc.
600 E. Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 1900
Irving, Texas 75039
Attn: James D. Caldwell, Esq.
Michael G. Smith, Esq.
Facsimile: (214) 283-8501
with a copy to (which will not constitute notice):
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
2200 Ross Avenue
Suite 2800
Dallas, Texas 75201
Attn: Glen J. Hettinger
Facsimile: (214) 855-8200
in each case, or to such other address as the Person to whom notice is given may have previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
Section 18. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Forum. This Agreement, and any claims arising out of, relating to or associated with this Agreement will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the conflict of laws principles or any other principle that could require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction. Each of the parties (a) agrees that, subject to Section 19, it will not bring any suit, action or proceeding arising out of, relating to or associated with this Agreement in any court other than the federal or state courts of the States of Delaware, Tennessee and Texas, (b) in the event of the commencement of any suit, action or proceeding brought by another party to this Agreement in one of the jurisdictions specified in the preceding clause (a), consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the federal or state courts in the state in which such suit, action or proceeding is brought, (c) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and (d) irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, that (1) the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (2) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper or (3) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
Section 19. Arbitration.
24
Section 20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
Section 21. No Admission. Nothing contained herein will constitute an admission by any party of liability or wrongdoing.
Section 22. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force and effect and will in no way be affected, impaired, or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination, the parties will negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent of the parties.
Section 23. Further Assurances. Each party agrees that it will execute and provide, at the request of the other party, any and all such other documents or other written instruments as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 24. Third Party Beneficiaries. Unless otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement, nothing contained in this Agreement will create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any Person that is not a party hereto or a successor or permitted assignee of such party.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
25
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
By: |
/s/ Colin V. Reed |
|
Name: Colin V. Reed |
|
|
Title: Chairman and CEO |
|
TRT HOLDINGS, INC.
By: |
/s/ James D. Caldwell |
|
Name: James D. Caldwell |
|
|
Title: President |
|
[Signature page to Settlement Agreement]
Schedule A
A&R Rights Agreement
[Intentionally omitted]
Schedule B
Board/Committee Appointments
Executive Committee
Chief Executive Officer of the Company
Lead Director
Robert B. Rowling (or if not then a director of the Company, another TRT Nominee)
Two Independent directors
Human Resources Committee
Robert B. Rowling (or if not then a director of the Company, another TRT Nominee)
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
David W. Johnson, or another TRT Nominee
Conflicts Committee
Three Independent directors (excluding any TRT Nominee)
Schedule C
Gaylord Entertainment Company and TRT Holdings Inc.
Settle Proxy Contest
[Intentionally omitted]
Schedule D
Beneficial Ownership of Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share,
of Gaylord Entertainment Company (Common Stock)
As of the date of the Settlement Agreement, TRT, together with all TRT Controlled Parties, has the sole power to vote the number of shares of Common Stock as set forth in the table below and such shares of Common Stock constitute all of the Voting Securities of the Company Beneficially Owned by TRT and the TRT Controlled Parties.
Name |
|
Number of Shares |
|
TRT |
|
6,131,930 |
|