FORM OF VOTING AGREEMENT

EX-10.1 3 t1602071_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

FORM OF
VOTING AGREEMENT

 

This VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is dated as of August 24, 2016, by and between BERRY PLASTICS GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and [●] (“Stockholder”).

 

WHEREAS, in connection with Parent, Holdings, Merger Sub, Merger Sub LLC and Purchaser entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the “Merger Agreement”), with Berry Plastics Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Parent has requested Stockholder, and Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this Agreement with respect to all shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) that Stockholder beneficially owns (such shares, together with all other shares of Company Common Stock acquired (whether beneficially or of record) by Stockholder after the date hereof and prior to the earlier of the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and the Expiration Time (but excluding any shares of the Company sold or transferred on or after the date hereof in compliance with Section 4.01(b)), the “Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, Stockholder acknowledges that Parent, Holdings, Merger Sub and Merger Sub LLC are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements of Stockholder set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

 

Article I

 

Voting Agreement

 

Section 1.01    Voting Agreement.  From the date hereof until the earlier of (i) the time the Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained and (ii) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.02, Stockholder hereby agrees to vote or, as applicable, cause or direct to be voted, all Shares at the time of any vote (A) to approve and adopt the Merger

 

 

 

 

Agreement and the Integrated Mergers at the Company Stockholders’ Meeting, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, at which such Merger Agreement is submitted for the consideration and vote of the stockholders of the Company and (B) against any other action, agreement or transaction that would reasonably be expected to materially impede, interfere with, delay or postpone any of the Transactions.  Stockholder further agrees that it will not vote or, as applicable, cause or direct to be voted, any Shares in favor of and will vote against the approval of any Takeover Proposal.  Stockholder hereby revokes any and all previous proxies or powers of attorney granted with respect to the Shares.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, except as specifically set forth in this Agreement, each Stockholder will continue to hold and shall have the right to exercise all voting rights related to such Stockholder’s Shares and, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to qualify, amend, impede, prevent or otherwise affect such Stockholder’s right to make any election with respect to the Merger Consideration, as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

Section 1.02    Grant of Irrevocable Proxy; Appointment of Proxy.

 

(a)    Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints Parent as its proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), to vote or, as applicable, cause or direct to be voted (including by proxy, if applicable), the Shares in accordance with Section 1.01 above at the Company Stockholders’ Meeting or other annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, at which any of the matters described in Section 1.01 above is to be considered, in each case prior to the Expiration Time; provided, however, that such irrevocable proxy shall be effective (automatically and without any further action by any of the parties hereto) only upon written notice from Parent to Stockholder no later than five (5) business days prior to the Company Stockholder Meeting notifying Stockholder of Parent’s election to effect the proxy described in this Section 1.02 (the “Parent Proxy Election”), it being understood that Stockholder may exercise voting rights in the ordinary course prior to such notice in a manner consistent with Section 1.01.  Stockholder represents that all proxies, powers of attorney, instructions or other requests given by Stockholder prior to the execution of this Agreement in respect of the voting of any of the Shares, if any, are not irrevocable. Stockholder shall take such further action or execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy.

 

(b)    Stockholder affirms that, if the Parent Proxy Election is made pursuant to Section 1.02(a),  such irrevocable proxy is given in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties of Stockholder

 

 

 

under this Agreement.  Stockholder further affirms that such irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and is intended to be irrevocable during the term of this Agreement.  If for any reason any proxy granted herein is not irrevocable, then Stockholder agrees to vote the Shares in accordance with Section 1.01 above.  The parties hereto agree that the foregoing is a voting agreement.  

 

(c)    The proxy granted by each Stockholder in this Section 1.02, following effectiveness, shall remain valid until the earlier of (i) the time that the Company Shareholder Approval has been obtained and (ii) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.02, in each case immediately upon which each such proxy shall automatically terminate without any further action required by any person.

 

Article II

 

Representations and Warranties of Stockholder

 

Stockholder represents and warrants to Parent that:

 

Section 2.01    Authorization.  Stockholder has the full legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and perform Stockholder’s obligations hereunder.  Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereby by Parent, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Stockholder.

 

Section 2.02    Non-Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not (i) violate any applicable Law, (ii) except as may be required by federal securities laws, require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or to a loss of any benefit to which Stockholder is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding on Stockholder or (iii) result in the imposition of any Lien on any of the Shares, in each case that would reasonably be expected to prevent in any material respect the performance by Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement.  There is no legal or administrative proceeding, claim, suit or action pending against Stockholder or, to the knowledge of Stockholder, any other person or, to the knowledge of Stockholder, threatened against Stockholder or any other person that restricts or prohibits (or, if successful, would restrict or prohibit) the performance by Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

Section 2.03    Ownership of Shares.  Other than as disclosed on the signature page hereto, Stockholder has (except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, including in connection with the Permitted Transfer of any Shares), sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to the Shares, free and clear of any Lien and any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote or otherwise dispose of the Shares), except pursuant to applicable federal securities laws.  None of the Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of such Shares.

 

Section 2.04    Total Shares.  Except for the Shares set forth on the signature page hereto and except for any Options, Restricted Stock and Performance Units held by Stockholder, as of the date hereof, Stockholder does not beneficially own any (i) shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company, (ii) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company or (iii) Options or other rights to acquire from the Company any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of the Company.

 

Article III

 

Representations and Warranties of Parent

 

Parent represents and warrants to Stockholder:

 

Section 3.01    Corporation Authorization.  The execution, delivery and performance by Parent of this Agreement and the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the corporate powers of Parent and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.  Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereby by Stockholder, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Parent.

 

Article IV

 

Covenants of Stockholder

 

After the date hereof, and until the earlier of (i) the time the Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained and (ii) the termination of this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 5.02, Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that:

 

 

 

Section 4.01     No Proxies for or Encumbrances on Shares.  

 

(a)    Except pursuant to and in furtherance of the terms of this Agreement (including pursuant to Section 4.01(b)) or as disclosed on the signature page hereto, Stockholder shall not during the term of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Parent, (i) grant any proxies or enter into any voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of any Shares other than voting in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with Section 1.01, (ii) offer for sale, sell (constructively or otherwise), transfer, assign, tender in any tender or exchange offer, pledge, grant, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of (by merger, testamentary disposition, operation of Law or otherwise) (collectively, “Transfer”), or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the Transfer of any Shares, or any interest therein, including, without limitation, any swap transaction, option, warrant, forward purchase or sale transaction, futures transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any such transaction) or combination of any such transactions, in each case, involving any Shares that grants or has the effect of granting a third party the right to vote or direct the voting of such Shares, or (iii) knowingly take any action that would have the effect of preventing or delaying Stockholder from performing any of its obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, the fact that the Shares are held in a margin account shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 4.01 or Article II.

 

(b)    Any Stockholder that effects a Transfer of any Shares to a Permitted Transferee of such Stockholder shall cause each such Permitted Transferee to execute a signature page to this Agreement and deliver the same to the Parent,  pursuant to which such Permitted Transferee agrees to be a “Stockholder” pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Shares that are the subject of such Transfer.  Permitted Transferee means, with respect to any Stockholder, (A) any other Stockholder, (B) a spouse, lineal descendant or antecedent, brother or sister, adopted child or grandchild or the spouse of any child, adopted child, grandchild or adopted grandchild of such Stockholder, (C) any trust, the trustees of which include only the persons named in clauses (A) or (B) and the beneficiaries of which include only the persons named in clauses (A) or (B), (D) any corporation, limited liability company or partnership, the shareholders, members or general or limited partners of which include only the persons named in clauses (A) or (B), (E) if such Stockholder is a trust, the beneficiary or beneficiaries authorized or entitled to receive distributions from such trust, or (F) to any person by will, for estate or tax planning purposes, for charitable purposes or as charitable gifts or donations. Transfers of Shares to Permitted Transferees made pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) shall not be a breach of this Agreement.

 

 

 

Section 4.02    Other Offers.  Stockholder shall not (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any Takeover Proposal or the making of any proposal that would reasonably be expected to lead to the consummation of any Takeover Proposal, or (ii) enter into or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish any material non-public information relating to the Company or any Company Subsidiary in connection with a Takeover Proposal; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Stockholder may take any actions to the extent the Company is permitted to take such actions under Section 5.2 of the Merger Agreement and nothing herein shall limit or affect any action of Stockholder taken in such Stockholder’s capacity as an officer or director of the Company.

 

Section 4.03    Appraisal Rights.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Stockholder irrevocably waives and agrees not to exercise any rights to demand appraisal of any Shares which may arise with respect to the Integrated Mergers or dissent from the Integrated Mergers.

 

Section 4.04    Proxy Statement.  Stockholder hereby agrees to permit the Company to publish and disclose in the Proxy Statement (including all documents filed with the SEC in accordance therewith), Stockholder’s identity and beneficial ownership of the Shares or other equity interests of the Company and the nature of Stockholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement to the extent required by applicable Law.

 

Section 4.05    Acquisition of Additional Shares.  During the term of this Agreement, Stockholder shall notify Parent promptly in writing of the direct or indirect acquisition of record or beneficial ownership of additional shares of Company Common Stock after the date hereof, if any, all of which shall be considered Shares and be subject to the terms of this Agreement as though owned by Stockholder on the date hereof.  

 

Article V

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 5.01    Further Assurances.  Parent and Stockholder shall each execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law, to perform each party’s respective obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

Section 5.02    Amendments; Termination.  Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.  This Agreement, and all obligations, terms and conditions contained herein, shall automatically terminate without any further action required by any person upon the earliest to occur of (a) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms; (b) the Effective Time; and (c) except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the making of any material change, by amendment, waiver or other modification to any provision of the Merger Agreement that decreases the amount or changes the form of the consideration to the stockholders of the Company (the “Expiration Time”).  Upon termination of this Agreement, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement.

 

Section 5.03    Expenses.  All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.

 

Section 5.04    Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that, other than as permitted by Section 4.01(b), neither party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other party hereto.

 

Section 5.05    Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

Section 5.06    Specific Performance.  Each party acknowledges that monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any covenant or agreement in this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its terms, and therefore agrees that, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right available to the parties, each party will have the right to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof. Each party agrees not to oppose the granting of such relief in the event a court determines that such a breach has occurred, and to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy. All rights, powers, and remedies provided under this

 

 

 

Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise of any thereof by a party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other such right, power or remedy by a party.

 

Section 5.07    Counterparts; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.  Until and unless each party has received (by electronic communication, facsimile or otherwise) a counterpart hereof signed by the other party hereto, this Agreement shall have no effect and no party shall have any right or obligation hereunder (whether by virtue of any other oral or written agreement or other communication).  Signatures to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) form or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature.

 

Section 5.08     Severability.  If any term, provision or covenant of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions and covenants of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.  If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified.  In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties hereto agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

 

Section 5.09    Capacity.  Stockholder is signing this Agreement solely in Stockholder’s capacity as a stockholder of the Company, and not in any other capacity and this Agreement shall not limit or otherwise affect any actions taken, or required or permitted to be taken, by Stockholder or any Affiliate, employee, designee or Representative of Stockholder or any of its Affiliates in

 

 

 

any other capacity, including, if applicable, as an officer or director of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, including to disclose information acquired solely in such Stockholder’s capacity as a director or officer of the Company, and any actions taken (whatsoever), or failure to take any actions (whatsoever), by such Stockholder in such capacity as a director or officer of the Company shall not be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.10    Non-Recourse.  Each party to this Agreement enters into this Agreement solely on its own behalf, the obligations each Stockholder under this Agreement are several (with respect to itself) and not joint with the obligations of any other Stockholder and each such party shall be liable, severally and not jointly, solely for any breaches of this Agreement by such party and in no event shall any party be liable for breaches of this Agreement by any other party hereto. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Stockholder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the parties as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the parties are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to the obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 5.11    No Agreement Until Executed.  Irrespective of negotiations among the parties of drafts of this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute or be deemed to be evidence of a Contract between the parties hereto unless and until this Agreement and the Merger Agreement is executed by all parties hereto.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Voting Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  BERRY PLASTICS GROUP, INC.
       
    By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

  [STOCKHOLDER]
                                  
    Name:  

  

Class of
Stock
  Shares
Owned
     
Common    
     

 

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