UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Rule 14a-101)
Filed by the Registrant x Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
¨ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
¨ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
¨ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
x | Definitive Additional Materials |
¨ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
Dynegy Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x | No fee required. |
¨ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
(5) | Total fee paid: |
¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
¨ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. |
(1) | Amount Previously Paid: |
(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
(3) | Filing Party: |
(4) | Date Filed: |
Exhibit 99.1
SUPPLEMENT TO DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT
EXPLANATORY NOTE
These supplemental disclosures to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed by Dynegy Inc. (the Company) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on October 4, 2010 (the Definitive Proxy Statement) are being made pursuant to a memorandum of understanding regarding the settlement of certain litigation arising out of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement), dated as of August 13, 2010, by and among the Company, Denali Parent Inc., a Delaware corporation (Parent) that was formed by an affiliate of The Blackstone Group L.P. (Blackstone), and Denali Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub), providing for the merger (the Merger) of Merger Sub with and into the Company.
These supplemental disclosures to the Definitive Proxy Statement are dated November 8, 2010 and are first being mailed to our stockholders on or about November 9, 2010.
As previously disclosed on page 66 of the Definitive Proxy Statement, nineteen stockholder lawsuits were filed (one of which was subsequently voluntarily dismissed) in the District Courts of Harris County, Texas between August 13, 2010 and August 24, 2010 against the Company, its directors and Blackstone. Parent, Merger Sub, Blackstone Capital Partners V, L.P. (the Guarantor), NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) and/or certain executive officers of the Company were also named as defendants in certain of these lawsuits. The remaining eighteen Texas state actions were consolidated on September 9, 2010. One stockholder derivative lawsuit was filed in a District Court in Harris County, Texas on September 16, 2010. Three stockholder lawsuits were filed against the Company, its directors, certain of its executive officers, Blackstone, Parent, Merger Sub and/or NRG in the United States District Court in the Southern District of Texas; the first was filed on August 31, 2010, the second was filed on September 16, 2010; a third such stockholder lawsuit was filed on October 7, 2010, after the filing of the Definitive Proxy Statement. Six similar stockholder actions against the Company, its directors, Blackstone, Parent, Merger Sub, the Guarantor and/or certain executive officers of the Company were filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware between August 17, 2010 and August 23, 2010, and were consolidated on August 24, 2010. One of these lawsuits was voluntarily dismissed on August 23, 2010. A Verified Amended Class Action Complaint was filed on September 23, 2010.
Each of the Texas and Delaware complaints generally alleges, among other things, that our board of directors and certain executive officers have violated various fiduciary duties. The federal actions additionally allege violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and the Texas state court actions allege failure to disclose material information. Further, certain of the complaints allege that the Company, Blackstone and/or NRG aided and abetted such alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The plaintiffs seek various remedies, including an injunction against the Merger and/or the stockholder vote, corrective disclosure, declaratory relief with respect to the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, and monetary damages including attorneys fees and expenses. All defendants deny any wrongdoing in connection with the proposed Merger and have vigorously defended against all pending claims.
On November 7, 2010, we entered into a memorandum of understanding (the MOU) with the plaintiffs regarding the settlement of the consolidated stockholder lawsuits filed in Texas state court and the consolidated stockholder lawsuits filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery. Under the terms of the MOU, the plaintiffs have agreed to dismiss the stockholder lawsuits filed in Texas state court and the Delaware Court of Chancery and all of their underlying claims, including claims of alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. A copy of the MOU is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to the Companys Form 8-K dated November 8, 2010 and Exhibit 99.2 to the Companys Definitive Additional Materials also on Schedule 14A dated November 8, 2010.
The Company believes that no further supplemental disclosure is required under applicable laws; however, to avoid the risk of the litigation covered by the MOU delaying or adversely affecting the Merger and to minimize the expense of defending such actions, the Company has agreed, pursuant to the terms of the proposed settlement, to make certain supplemental disclosures related to the proposed Merger, all of which are set forth below. Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, plaintiffs and plaintiffs counsel intend to petition the court for an award of fees and expenses to be paid by Dynegy or its successor(s) in interest. Defendants reserve the right to object to the amount sought in any such petition. The settlement, including the payment of attorneys fees, is conditioned upon, among other things, execution of final settlement documents, court approval and consummation of the Merger.
The MOU does not resolve the stockholder derivative lawsuit filed in Texas state court or the three stockholder lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES
In connection with the settlement of the stockholder lawsuits filed in Texas state court and the Delaware Court of Chancery as described above, the Company has agreed to make these supplemental disclosures to the Definitive Proxy Statement. This supplemental information should be read in conjunction with the Definitive Proxy Statement, which should be read in its entirety. Defined terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement.
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 31 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning contacts with Blackstone regarding a potential transaction involving the Company.
On June 24, 2010, an adviser to Blackstone contacted Mr. Williamson to inquire as to the Companys willingness to permit Blackstone to perform due diligence on the Company in its entirety to determine whether Blackstone could submit an all cash acquisition proposal that would be attractive to the board of directors. On June 25, 2010, Mr. Williamson spoke with a representative of Blackstone, and then spoke individually with the Companys other directors regarding the expression of interest by Blackstone. He also advised the other directors that, to avoid a conflict of interest, he would not intend to remain with the Company following any transaction with Blackstone; the other members of senior management of the Company would be leading any negotiations with Blackstone, and Mr. Williamson would review and consider any transaction with Blackstone in his role as Chairman of the board of directors. During the course of the negotiations, Mr. Williamson provided strategic advice to senior management of the Company and the Companys advisors and participated in certain discussions with representatives of Blackstone and Blackstones advisors, including with respect to the negotiation of consideration for the proposed transaction. On June 28, 2010, Mr. Williamson and Ms. Nichols met with representatives of Blackstone, and agreed that Blackstone would be given access to non-public information of the Company for a limited period of time. On that same date, an affiliate of Blackstone and the Company entered into a confidentiality agreement and Blackstone was given access to non-public information about the Company shortly thereafter. Mr. Williamson informed an adviser to Blackstone that, in the Companys consideration of an all cash acquisition proposal from Blackstone, NRG should not be directly included in such negotiations.
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 31 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning contacts with third parties regarding a potential transaction involving the Company.
During the period from late June to early July 2010, at the direction of the Company, representatives from Goldman Sachs, acting on behalf of the Company, contacted two private equity firms to assess their interest in a potential transaction with the Company. Subsequent to these preliminary discussions, senior management of the Company determined not to pursue additional discussions regarding a potential transaction with either private equity firm based on its perception of the firms limited financial capacities and their lack of experience with transactions of a size similar to the one involving the Company.
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 31 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning the non-binding expression of interest provided by representatives from Blackstone to representatives from the Company on July 21, 2010.
In this letter, Blackstone acknowledged its understanding that Mr. Williamson had elected not to have a continuing role with the Company following any such acquisition and noted: Blackstone seeks to align the interests of management and employees with those of shareholders, and we anticipate establishing a meaningful performance-based option pool for the benefit of management and employees. In addition, in light of the substantial change-in-control payments potentially available to management, we would expect to put in place a retention program for certain key managers to ensure business continuity and safety of operations.
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 32 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning the review of strategic alternatives at the meeting of the board of directors held on July 29, 2010.
In connection with its review of the Companys strategic alternatives at this meeting, and generally at each meeting of the board of directors described below, senior management of the Company reviewed with the board of directors, and responded to inquiries and requests for additional information from the board of directors with respect to, senior managements assessment of the past and current business operations, financial condition and future prospects of the Company, including with respect to the forecasts described in The Merger Certain Company Forecasts beginning on page 53. At this meeting, senior management of the Company provided information to the board of directors that supported senior managements belief that each of the strategic alternatives available to the Company, including a sale of the Companys coal generating facilities or gas fired assets (including those gas fired assets located in the western region of the United States), could potentially create extrinsic value but would not increase the intrinsic value of the Company based on discounted cash flow and sum-of-the-parts analyses. Due to the fact that the board of directors believed that on the whole the strategic alternatives available to the Company (including potential asset sales) were not of themselves likely to yield long-term value to our stockholders, the Company did not attempt to contact any buyers to see if there was interest in buying the Companys coal generating facilities or gas fired assets (including those gas fired assets located in the western region of the United States) on a standalone basis.
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 32 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning the analyses and information discussed by representatives of Greenhill and Goldman Sachs with the board of directors at the meeting of the board of directors held on July 29, 2010.
In preparing this joint preliminary financial analysis, and generally in connection with each analysis prepared by Greenhill and Goldman Sachs for the board of directors consideration regarding a transaction with Blackstone, including those analyses described in The Merger Opinions of Financial Co-Advisors beginning on page 30, representatives from Greenhill and Goldman Sachs held discussions with members of the senior management of the Company regarding their assessment of the past and current business operations, financial condition and future prospects of the Company, including with respect to the forecasts described in The Merger Certain Company Forecasts beginning on page 53.
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 33 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning the discussion between representatives of Sullivan & Cromwell and the board of directors at the meeting of the board of directors held on August 3, 2010.
In particular, representatives from Sullivan & Cromwell discussed with the board of directors the potential for events to develop that would allow such a structure to be challenged by creditors of the Company as constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 34 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning the go-shop process.
Of the 42 parties that representatives from Greenhill and Goldman Sachs contacted (including the two private equity firms previously contacted by representatives from Goldman Sachs during the period between late June and early July 2010), 21 parties requested and were provided with draft confidentiality agreements. Eight of those parties entered into confidentiality agreements with the Company and were subsequently provided with access to certain confidential information regarding the Company through an on-line data room.
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 37 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning potential repurchases of the Companys indebtedness.
| the fact that although a substantial majority of the Companys indebtedness is trading at a discount to its principal amount, with an aggregate discount of approximately $800 million or approximately $6.63 per share of common stock outstanding as of August 10, 2010, the Companys limited financial flexibility and past experience with debt repurchases (most recently, the Companys December 2009 debt repurchase for which it paid an amount above the par amount for the repurchased debt) suggested that fully capturing this discount for the benefit of the holders of common stock would likely not occur in practice; |
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 55 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning the financial forecasts prepared by management of the Company.
The projections provided to the Companys financial advisors included certain information with respect to an additional fiscal year, 2016, but that information was not included in their analyses. Based on June 2010 pricing forecasts, the 2016 EBITDA projection was $654 million.
The following disclosure supplements the Summary Financial Forecasts at page 55 of the Definitive Proxy Statement as the note to a new footnote (6), which is deemed to be inserted immediately following the row heading Operating Cash Flow less Total Capital Expenditures and Debt Amortization Amounts.
(6) If the commodity pricing assumptions used are updated to reflect September 7, 2010 price curves, and all other assumptions described below are held constant, the Companys projected total Operating Cash Flow less Total Capital Expenditures and Debt Amortization Amounts for the fiscal years 2011 to 2015 would be approximately $(1.6) billion.
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 66 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning the stockholder litigation.
In connection with the settlement of the stockholder lawsuits filed in Texas state court and the Delaware Court of Chancery, the Company has agreed to disclose certain opinions asserted by the expert retained by the plaintiffs in this Definitive Proxy Statement. Although the Company has agreed to this disclosure, the Company strongly disagrees with the opinions asserted by the expert retained by the plaintiffs. The expert retained by the plaintiffs contends that:
| The financial analyses prepared by the financial co-advisors derive their implied equity values by deducting the book values of the Companys debt from market value estimates of the Companys enterprise value and the market value of the Companys debt, rather than the book value of this debt, should have been deducted from market value estimates of the Companys enterprise value in the computation of the Companys implied equity values. The expert retained by the plaintiffs further contends that using market value of debt significantly increases the valuation ranges. |
| The financial analyses prepared by the financial co-advisors used the market value of the Companys debt to compute the weighted average cost of capital, and the financial co-advisors applied a 14.5% cost of debt for this purpose and that an 11.39% cost of debt should be used rather than a 14.5% cost of debt. The expert retained by the plaintiffs further contends that the Companys weighted average cost of debt consistent with its market value does not exceed 11.39 percent. The expert further contends that using this weighted average cost of debt in the analysis would result in a lower WACC calculation. |
| The expert retained by the plaintiffs further contends that if the WACC adopted what he contends is the industry average for its target capital structure, the resulting effect on the debt to value ratio, when applied with the WACC and unlevered betas for the comparables, would yield a WACC not exceeding 10.3%. |
| If the financial analyses had been performed in accordance with his opinions described above that the illustrative per share value indications would exceed the illustrative per share value indications calculated by the financial co-advisors. |
The following disclosure supplements the discussion at page 70 of the Definitive Proxy Statement concerning claims made in the stockholder litigation.
| with respect to the Selected Companies Analysis, the multiples and rent-adjusted enterprise values used in the analysis; how the companies were selected and why they are appropriate comparables; the Illustrative Per Share Value Indications of the variation in the Companys debt value (book to observed market) resulting from the analysis; the manner in which the Company calculated the 10% discount rate it used in estimating future rent expenses for its Central Hudson lease; and whether any other calculations of this rate were considered. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
In connection with the Merger, the Company filed the Definitive Proxy Statement with the SEC on October 4, 2010 and commenced mailing the Definitive Proxy Statement and form of proxy to the stockholders of Dynegy. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, THE COMPANYS STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE MERGER CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. The Companys stockholders are able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the Definitive Proxy Statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. The Companys stockholders are also able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the Definitive Proxy Statement and other relevant documents by directing a request by mail or telephone to Dynegy Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5800, Houston, Texas 77002, telephone: (713) 507-6400, or from Dynegys website, http://www.dynegy.com.
PARTICIPANTS IN SOLICITATION
Dynegy and its directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Companys stockholders with respect to the Merger. Information about the Companys directors and executive officers and their ownership of the Companys common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for the Companys 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 2, 2010. Stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of the Company and its directors and executive officers in the Merger, which may be different than those of the Companys stockholders generally, by reading the Definitive Proxy Statement and other relevant documents regarding the Merger when filed with the SEC.
Exhibit 99.2
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into as of November 7, 2010, by and among the parties to the action styled Colleen Witmer, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, 234th Judicial District (the Texas Action), and to the action styled In re Dynegy Inc. Shareholders Litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery (the Delaware Action).
WHEREAS, the parties to the Texas Action and the Delaware Action (collectively, the Actions) have reached an agreement in principle providing for the settlement of the Actions and the dismissal of the Actions with prejudice on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below;
WHEREAS, the Actions are styled as class actions on behalf of certain shareholders of Dynegy Inc. (Dynegy) challenging a proposed merger (the Proposed Transaction) between Dynegy and an affiliate of The Blackstone Group L.P. (Blackstone), whereby, among other things, Blackstone will acquire Dynegy;
WHEREAS, on August 13, 2010, Dynegy issued a press release announcing the Proposed Transaction;
WHEREAS, between August 13, 2010 and August 24, 2010, nineteen putative shareholder class actions were filed in the District Courts of Harris County, Texas (Initial Texas Actions), against Dynegy, its directors, Blackstone and, in some cases, Holli Nichols, NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG), Denali Merger Sub Inc., Denali Parent Inc., and/or Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P. (collectively, the Original Texas Defendants), alleging, among other things, that the Original Texas Defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Proposed Transaction and/or aided and abetted such breaches, and seeking, among other things, to enjoin the Proposed Transaction;
WHEREAS, the Initial Texas Actions were styled:
1. | Cause No. 2010-50609; Colleen Witmer, Individually, and On Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 234th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
2. | Cause No. 2010-50590; Jack Bauer, Jr., Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 152nd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
3. | Cause No. 2010-50782; Frederic Elliot, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Bruce A. Williamson, et al.; In the 165th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
4. | Cause No. 2010-50776; Evan Lucas, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 133rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
5. | Cause No. 2010-50666; Stanley L. Moskal and Barbara A. Moskal, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 129th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
6. | Cause No. 2010-50846; Edward Ross, On Behalf of Himself and All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 281st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
7. | Cause No. 2010-50863; Edward Tansey, On Behalf of Himself and All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 157th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
8. | Cause No. 2010-51004; Rajesh Ralli, Individually and On Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 334th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
9. | Cause No. 2010-51099; Yung L. Gibson, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 133rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
10. | Cause No. 2010-51101; Glen Snider, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 127th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
11. | Cause No. 2010-51100; William B. Federman Living Trust No. 1, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 157th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
12. | Cause No. 2010-51408; Daniel Thompson and Deanna Thompson, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Bruce A. Williamson, et al.; In the 164th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
13. | Cause No. 2010-51143; Randy Laughlin, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 234th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
14. | Cause No. 2010-51721; Stephen Cheseldine, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situation v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 127th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
15. | Cause No. 2010-51737; Irving S. Braun and Judith Braun, Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship; Irving S. Braun, IRA; Judith Braun, IRA; and Judith Braun, Roth IRA, Individually and on behalf of All Other Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 165th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
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16. | Cause No. 2010-52085; Don Vander Bos and John W. Oldner, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situation v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 164th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
17. | Cause No. 2010-52136; Richard Bores, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situation v. David W. Biegler, et al.; In the 333rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; and |
18. | Cause No. 2010-53093; Kevin Hendricks, Individually and on Behalf of All Other Similarly Situated Shareholders of Dynegy Inc. v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the 234th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; |
19. | Cause No. 2010-50680; Robert Lang, on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated shareholders of Dynegy Inc. v. Bruce A. Williamson, et al.; In the 11th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, which was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice on August 30, 2010; |
WHEREAS, between August 17, 2010 and August 23, 2010, six nearly identical putative shareholder class actions (the Initial Delaware Actions) were also filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, against Dynegy, its directors and Blackstone and, in some cases, Denali Merger Sub Inc., Denali Parent Inc., and/or Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P. (collectively, the Original Delaware Defendants), alleging, among other things, that the Original Delaware Defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Proposed Transaction and/or aided and abetted such breaches, and seeking, among other things, to enjoin the Proposed Transaction;
WHEREAS, the Initial Delaware Actions were styled:
1. | Civil Action No. 5739-VCL; Ariel Holdings LLC, On Behalf of Itself and All Others Similarly Situated v. Bruce A. Williamson, et al.; In the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; |
2. | Civil Action No. 5740-VCL; Libby Kaiman, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated v. The Blackstone Group L.P., et al.; In the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; |
3. | Civil Action No. 5742-VCL; Robert Lang, on Behalf of Himself and All Others Similarly Situated v. Bruce A. Williamson, et al.; In the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; |
4. | Civil Action No. 5749-VCL; Noam Mayraz, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Bruce A. Williamson, et al.; In the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, which was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice on August 23, 2010; |
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5. | Civil Action No. 5751-VCL; Joshua Teitelbaum, on Behalf of Himself and All Others Similarly Situated v. Dynegy Inc., et al.; In the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware; and |
6. | Civil Action No. 5754-VCL; William H. Opp, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Bruce A Williamson, et al.; In the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; |
WHEREAS, between August 31, 2010 and October 7, 2010, three putative class actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the Federal Actions), against Dynegy, its directors, Blackstone, Denali Parent Inc. and Denali Merger Sub Inc. and in one case, NRG (collectively, the Federal Action Defendants), containing substantially similar allegations and alleging, among other things, that the Federal Action Defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Proposed Transaction and/or aided and abetted in such breaches, and further alleging violations of Sections 14A and 20A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act);
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2010, a shareholder derivative action containing substantially similar allegations was filed in the 152nd Judicial District Court, Harris County Texas, and later transferred to the 234th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas;
WHEREAS, between August 17, 2010 and September 1, 2010, various parties and counsel in the Initial Texas Actions filed motions to consolidate the Initial Texas Actions and applications for lead counsel;
WHEREAS, on August 23, 2010, Labaton Sucharow LLP and Gardy & Notis, LLP filed a motion to consolidate the Initial Delaware Actions and an application for lead counsel;
WHEREAS, on August 24, 2010, the Delaware Court of Chancery ordered that the Initial Delaware Actions be consolidated into the Delaware Action and appointed Labaton Sucharow LLP and Gardy & Notis, LLP, counsel for Plaintiff Ariel Holdings, LLC (and together with Plaintiff Kevin Hendricks, Plaintiffs), as lead counsel for the Delaware Actions, with authority to speak for all plaintiffs in the Delaware Action in matters regarding pre-trial procedure, trial, and settlement negotiations;
WHEREAS, on September 3, 2010, Dynegy filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a preliminary proxy statement in connection with the Proposed Transaction (the Preliminary Proxy Statement);
WHEREAS, on September 9, 2010, the 234th Judicial District Court of Harris County ordered that the Initial Texas Actions be consolidated into the Texas Action and appointed Susman Godfrey, L.L.P., counsel for Plaintiff Kevin Hendricks (Plaintiff), as lead counsel for the Texas Actions, with authority to speak for all plaintiffs in the Texas Action in matters regarding pre-trial procedure, trial and settlement negotiations;
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WHEREAS, on September 17, 2010, Plaintiff in the Texas Action sought third-party document discovery from Dynegys financial advisors, Greenhill & Co., LLC (Greenhill) and Goldman, Sachs & Co. (Goldman Sachs);
WHEREAS, on September 21, 2010, Plaintiff in the Texas Action filed his First Amended Consolidated Class Action Petition and Request for a Temporary Injunction (Petition), which included similar allegations to and requested substantially the same relief as his initial petition, and also included various claims that the Preliminary Proxy Statement was false and misleading and failed to provide Dynegy shareholders with material information needed for shareholders to cast an informed vote on the Proposed Transaction;
WHEREAS, on September 21, 2010, Plaintiff in the Texas Action served Plaintiffs First Request for the Production of Documents to All Defendants in the Texas Action;
WHEREAS, on September 24, 2010, the 234th Judicial District Court in the Texas Action signed an Agreed Docket Control Order on Temporary Injunction pertaining to the scheduling of the Texas Action;
WHEREAS, beginning on September 24, 2010, Defendants produced to Plaintiff in the Texas Action the core documents concerning the litigation, including relevant board minutes and board decks;
WHEREAS, on October 4, 2010, Dynegy filed its Definitive Proxy Statement (Definitive Proxy Statement) with the SEC;
WHEREAS, on October 6, 2010, the parties to the Texas Action entered into and filed with the Court and the Court ordered an Agreed Confidentiality Agreement and Protective Order (the Protective Order) governing the production and exchange of confidential information;
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2010, Greenhill and Goldman Sachs served their objections and responses to Plaintiffs discovery requests, and began rolling production of documents thereafter;
WHEREAS, Plaintiff has already engaged in additional documentary discovery, including the review and analysis of over 600,000 pages of documents produced by Defendants, Greenhill, and Goldman Sachs to Plaintiff in connection with the Texas Action, third party discovery, and the depositions of:
1. | David I. Foley, Senior Managing Director of Blackstone, taken October 14, 2010; |
2. | Victor Grijalva, Dynegy Director, taken October 20, 2010; |
3. | Patricia A. Hammick, Dynegy Lead Director, taken October 21, 2010; |
4. | Chad S. Plotkin, Director of Strategy and M&A for NRG, taken October 21, 2010; |
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5. | Bruce A. Williamson, Dynegy CEO, taken October 22, 2010; |
6. | Holli C. Nichols, Dynegy CFO, taken October 25, 2010; |
7. | Scott Bok, Co-CEO for Greenhill & Co, taken October 27, 2010; |
8. | Michael J. Carr, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs, taken October 27, 2010; and |
9. | Dynegys expert Daniel R. Fischel, President and Chairman of Compass Lexecon, taken November 6, 2010. |
WHEREAS, on October 23, 2010, Defendants took the deposition of Kevin Hendricks;
WHEREAS, on October 29, 2010, Defendants took the deposition of Plaintiffs expert;
WHEREAS, counsel for Defendants (Defendants Counsel) and class counsel for Plaintiffs in the Texas Action and the Delaware Action (Plaintiffs Counsel) engaged in arms length discussions and negotiations regarding a potential resolution of the claims asserted in the Actions;
WHEREAS, in connection with such discussions and negotiations, Plaintiffs Counsel made various demands to Defendants Counsel for Dynegy to provide various supplemental disclosures that Plaintiffs Counsel believe should be included in supplements to the Definitive Proxy Statement and provided to Dynegy shareholders sufficiently in advance of the shareholder vote;
WHEREAS, Defendants have denied, and continue to deny all allegations of wrongdoing, fault, liability or damage to any of the respective plaintiffs in any of the Actions or the Class (defined below), deny that they engaged in any wrongdoing, deny that they committed any violation of law, deny that the Preliminary Proxy Statement or Definitive Proxy Statement are in any way deficient, deny that they acted improperly in any way, believe that they acted properly at all times, believe the Actions have no merit, and maintain that they have committed no disclosure violations or any other breach of duty whatsoever in connection with the Proposed Transaction or any public disclosures, but wish to settle for the reasons set forth herein;
WHEREAS, Plaintiffs in the Actions brought their claims in good faith and continue to believe that their claims have legal merit, but believe that the Supplemental Disclosures (defined below) satisfy their concerns with respect to the Proposed Transaction;
WHEREAS, the entry by Plaintiffs in the Actions into this Memorandum of Understanding (the MOU) is not an admission as to the lack of any merit of any claims asserted in the Actions;
WHEREAS, the parties hereto (the Parties) recognize the time and expense that would be incurred by further litigation and the uncertainties inherent in such litigation;
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WHEREAS, the Parties have reached an agreement in principle set forth in this MOU providing for settlement of the Actions on the terms and conditions set forth below, which would include, but not be limited to, a release of all claims which were or could have been asserted in the Actions; and
WHEREAS, Plaintiffs Counsel have concluded that the terms contained in this MOU are fair and adequate to Dynegy, its shareholders, and the members of the Class (as defined below), and the Parties believe that it is reasonable to pursue the settlement of the Actions before the Court based upon the procedures and terms outlined herein and the benefits and protections offered hereby, and the Parties wish to document their agreement in this MOU.
NOW THEREFORE, the Parties have reached the following agreement in principle which, when reduced to a settlement agreement (the Settlement Agreement), is intended to be a full and final resolution of the Released Claims (defined below) (the Settlement). The parties agree to use their best efforts to agree upon and execute the Settlement Agreement no later than 14 days after the date of the signing of this MOU. The Settlement through the Settlement Agreement shall provide for and encompass the following and other customary terms:
1. | Supplemental Disclosures. In consideration for the full settlement and release of all Released Claims (defined below), Dynegy will make supplemental disclosures (the Supplemental Disclosures) in a supplement to the Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K and as Definitive Additional Materials on Schedule 14A and will disseminate them to shareholders through the filing of a Form 8-K and Definitive Additional Materials on Schedule 14A with the SEC. Defendants acknowledge that the filing and prosecution of the Delaware Action and the Texas Action, discussions with Plaintiffs Counsel, and litigation efforts were the cause of the Supplemental Disclosures. The Supplemental Disclosures shall contain substantially similar information to that reflected in Exhibit A hereto. |
2. | Certification of Class. The Settlement Agreement shall provide for the conditional certification in the Texas Action, for settlement purposes only, of a non-opt out class that includes any and all record and beneficial holders of Dynegy common stock, their respective successors in interest, successors, predecessors in interest, predecessors, representatives, trustees, executors, administrators, estates, heirs, assigns or transferees, immediate and remote, and any person or entity acting for or on behalf of, or claiming under, any of them, and each of them, together with their predecessors in interest, predecessors, successors in interest, successors, and assigns, who held any such Dynegy common stock at any time between and including August 13, 2010 and the date of consummation of the Merger, but excluding Defendants and any firm, trust, corporation or other entity controlled by any Defendant (the Class). |
3. | Representations of the Parties & Counsel. Defendants deny and continue to deny that they have committed or aided or abetted in the commission of any unlawful or wrongful act alleged in any of the Actions, and maintain that they diligently and scrupulously complied with their fiduciary duties (to the extent such duties exist), and are entering into this MOU solely because the proposed settlement will eliminate the burden of litigation. Plaintiffs Counsel believe that Plaintiffs claims have merit but that Defendants would |
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assert legal and factual defenses to Plaintiffs claims such that, as a result, the terms of this MOU and the terms of the Settlement are fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interest of all members of the Class. Plaintiffs Counsel further represent that Plaintiffs have been continuous shareholders of Dynegy throughout the period referenced in paragraph 2 and that they have not assigned, encumbered, or otherwise transferred, in whole or in part, the claims in the Actions. Each of the undersigned attorneys affirms that he or she has been duly empowered and authorized to enter into this MOU and, for the purposes of this MOU, the Plaintiff in the Delaware Action authorizes Interim Class Counsel in the Texas Action to execute this MOU on its behalf. |
4. | Stay Pending Court Approval. Pending negotiation, execution and Final Approval of the Settlement Agreement and Settlement by the Court, Plaintiffs agree to stay the proceedings in the Texas Action and the Delaware Action and not to initiate any other proceedings other than those incident to the Settlement itself. The Parties respective deadlines to respond to any filed or served pleadings or discovery requests are extended pending completion of the settlement proceedings. As used in this MOU, the term Final Approval of the Settlement means that the Court has entered a final order and judgment approving the Settlement, dismissing the Texas Action with prejudice on the merits and with each party to bear its own costs (except those costs set forth in paragraphs 6 and 7 below) and providing for such release language as set forth in paragraph 5 below, and that such final order and judgment is final and no longer subject to further appeal or review by the Texas Supreme Court, whether by affirmance on or exhaustion of any possible appeal or review, lapse of time or otherwise; provided, however, and notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this MOU, Final Approval shall not include (and the Settlement is expressly not conditioned on) the approval of attorneys fees and the reimbursement of expenses to Plaintiffs Counsel as provided in paragraph 7 below, and any appeal related thereto. The Parties also agree to use their best efforts to prevent, stay or seek dismissal of or oppose entry of any interim or final relief in favor of any member of the Class in any other litigation against any of the Parties to this MOU that challenges the Settlement, the Proposed Transaction, including any transactions contemplated thereby, or otherwise involves, directly or indirectly, a Released Claim (defined below). |
5. | Dismissal With Prejudice, Waiver & General Release. The Settlement Agreement shall provide, among other things: |
a) for the full and complete discharge, dismissal with prejudice on the merits, settlement and release of, and a permanent injunction barring, any and all manner of claims, demands, rights, liabilities, losses, obligations, duties, damages, costs, debts, expenses, interest, penalties, sanctions, fees, attorneys fees, actions, potential actions, causes of action, suits, agreements, judgments, decrees, matters, issues and controversies of any kind, nature or description whatsoever, whether known or unknown, disclosed or undisclosed, accrued or unaccrued, apparent or not apparent, foreseen or unforeseen, matured or not matured, suspected or unsuspected, liquidated or not liquidated, fixed or contingent, including Unknown Claims (defined below), that Plaintiffs or any or all other members of the Class ever had, now have, or may have, whether direct, derivative, individual, class, representative, legal, equitable or of any other type, or in any other
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capacity, against any of the Released Parties (defined below), whether based on state, local, foreign, federal, statutory, regulatory, common or other law or rule (including, but not limited to, any claims under federal securities laws, Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or state disclosure law or any claims that could be asserted derivatively on behalf of Dynegy), which, now or hereafter, are based upon, arise out of, relate in any way to, or involve, directly or indirectly, any of the actions, transactions, occurrences, statements, representations, misrepresentations, omissions, allegations, facts, practices, events, claims or any other matters, things or causes whatsoever, or any series thereof, that were, could have been, or in the future can or might be alleged, asserted, set forth, claimed, embraced, involved, or referred to in, or related to, directly or indirectly, any of the Actions or the subject matter of any of the Actions (including the Federal Actions) in any court, tribunal, forum or proceeding, including, without limitation, any and all claims which are based upon, arise out of, relate in any way to, or involve, directly or indirectly, (i) the Proposed Transaction or the issuance of any securities in connection therewith, (ii) any deliberations or negotiations in connection with the Proposed Transaction, including the process of deliberation or negotiation by each of Dynegy, Blackstone, and NRG and any of their respective officers, directors or advisors, (iii) the consideration to be received by Class members in connection with the Proposed Transaction, (iv) the Preliminary Proxy Statement, the Definitive Proxy Statement, or any other disclosures, public filings, periodic reports, press releases, additional soliciting material, investor presentations, proxy statements or other statements issued, made available or filed relating, directly or indirectly, to the Proposed Transaction, including claims under the federal securities laws within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (v) investments in (including, but not limited to, purchases, sales, exercises of rights with respect to and decisions to hold) securities issued by Dynegy, (vi) the fiduciary obligations of the Released Parties (defined below) in connection with the Proposed Transaction, (vii) the sale of certain Dynegy assets by Blackstone to NRG as contemplated by the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated August 13, 2010, or (viii) any of the allegations in any petition, complaint or amendment(s) thereto filed in any of the Actions (collectively, the Released Claims); provided, however, that the Released Claims shall not include the right to enforce this MOU or the Settlement or any claims for statutory appraisal in connection with the Proposed Transaction by Dynegy shareholders who properly perfect such appraisal claims and do not otherwise waive their appraisal rights;
b) whether or not each or all of the following persons or entities were named, served with process or appeared in any of the Actions, that Released Parties means (i) Dynegy Inc.; The Blackstone Group, L.P.; Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P.; Denali Parent Inc.; Denali Merger Sub Inc.; David W. Biegler; the Estate of and Personal Representatives of the Estate of Thomas D. Clark, Jr.; Victor Grijalva; Patricia A. Hammick; Holli Nichols; Howard B. Sheppard; William L. Trubeck; Bruce A. Williamson; and NRG Energy, Inc., (ii) any person or entity which is or was related to or affiliated with any or all of them or in which any or all of them has or had a controlling interest, and which is or was involved in the Proposed Transaction; and (iii) the respective past or present family members, spouses, heirs, trusts, trustees, executors, estates, administrators, beneficiaries, distributees, foundations, agents, employees,
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fiduciaries, partners, partnerships, general or limited partners or partnerships, joint ventures, member firms, limited liability companies, corporations, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, associated entities, shareholders, principals, officers, managers, directors, managing directors, members, managing members, managing agents, predecessors, predecessors-in-interest, successors, successors-in-interest, assigns, financial or investment advisors, advisors, consultants, investment bankers, entities providing any fairness opinion, underwriters, brokers, dealers, lenders, commercial bankers, attorneys, personal or legal representatives, accountants, insurers, co-insurers, reinsurers, and associates, of each and all of the foregoing;
c) that Unknown Claims means any claim that Plaintiffs or any other member of the Class does not know or suspect exists in his, her or its favor at the time of the release of the Released Claims as against the Released Parties, including without limitation those which, if known, might have affected the decision to enter into the Settlement. With respect to any of the Released Claims, the Parties stipulate and agree that upon Final Approval of the Settlement, Plaintiffs shall expressly and each member of the Class shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the final order and judgment by the Court shall have, expressly waived, relinquished and released any and all provisions, rights and benefits conferred by or under Cal. Civ. Code § 1542 or any law of the United States or any state of the United States or territory of the United States, or principle of common law, which governs or limits a persons release of unknown claims and/or is similar, comparable or equivalent to Cal. Civ. Code § 1542, which provides:
A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.
Plaintiffs acknowledge, and the members of the Class by operation of law shall be deemed to have acknowledged, that they may discover facts in addition to or different from those now known or believed to be true with respect to the Released Claims, but that it is the intention of Plaintiffs, and by operation of law the members of the Class, to completely, fully, finally and forever extinguish any and all Released Claims, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which now exist, or heretofore existed, or may hereafter exist, and without regard to the subsequent discovery of additional or different facts. Plaintiffs acknowledge, and the members of the Class by operation of law shall be deemed to have acknowledged, that the inclusion of Unknown Claims in the definition of Released Claims was separately bargained for and was a material element of the Settlement and was relied upon by each and all of Defendants in entering into the Settlement Agreement;
d) that Defendants and their respective successors in interest, predecessors, representatives, trustees, executors, administrators, heirs, assigns, or transferees, immediate and remote, and any person or entity acting for or on behalf of or claiming under any of them, and each of them, shall fully, finally and forever release, settle and discharge Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs Counsel from any and all claims arising out of or relating to their filing and prosecution and settlement of the Actions (the Release of Plaintiffs); provided, however, that the Release of Plaintiffs shall not include Defendants rights to enforce the Settlement;
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e) that all the Defendants have vigorously denied, and continue to vigorously deny, any wrongdoing or liability with respect to all claims asserted in the Actions, including that they have committed any violations of law, that they have acted improperly in any way, that they have any liability or owe any damages of any kind to Plaintiffs and/or the Class, and that any additional disclosures (including the additional disclosures made in the Supplemental Disclosures) are required under any applicable rule, regulation, statute, or law, but are entering into this MOU and will execute the Settlement Agreement solely because they consider it desirable that the Actions be settled and dismissed with prejudice in order to, among other things, (i) eliminate the burden, inconvenience, expense, risk and distraction of further litigation, (ii) finally put to rest and terminate all the claims that were or could have been asserted against Defendants in the Actions, and (iii) thereby permit the Proposed Transaction to proceed without risk of injunctive or other relief;
f) that Plaintiffs and their counsel believe that the claims they have asserted have legal merit, although they recognize that there are legal and factual defenses to the claims asserted in the Actions that Defendants have raised and might have raised throughout the pendency of the Actions, and that their claims were brought in good faith, but that they are entering into this MOU and will execute the Settlement Agreement because they believe the Settlement is fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of Plaintiffs, Dynegy, and the Class;
g) that all Defendants shall have the right to withdraw from the Settlement in the event that any court enjoins or otherwise precludes the Proposed Transaction. In the event that any claim related to the subject matter of any of the Actions, the Proposed Transaction, or the Released Claims is commenced or prosecuted against any of the Released Parties in any court prior to Final Approval of the Settlement, Plaintiffs shall cooperate with Defendants in Defendants efforts to secure the dismissal thereof (or a stay thereof in contemplation of dismissal following Final Approval of the Settlement);
h) for entry of a final and binding judgment (the Judgment) dismissing the Texas Action with prejudice (whether voluntary or involuntary) and, except as set forth in paragraphs 6 and 7 herein, without costs to any Party;
i) that, within five (5) business days of the entry of the Judgment and (1) the judgment has become final and unappealable, or (2) if the Judgment is appealed, all appeals and any subsequent proceedings on remand have been fully and finally resolved without any material effect on the terms of the Judgment, the Plaintiff in the Delaware Action shall file appropriate papers in the Delaware Action to dismiss the Delaware Action with prejudice (whether voluntary or involuntary), and without costs to any party therein; and
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j) that the Settlement, including the payment of attorneys fees awarded by the Court is expressly conditioned upon the Proposed Transaction becoming effective under Delaware law.
6. | Notice. Dynegy shall be responsible for providing notice of the proposed Settlement to the members of the Class and Dynegy or its successor(s) in interest shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in providing notice of the Settlement to the members of the Class. NRG shall not be responsible for any such costs or expenses. |
7. | Fees. Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs Counsel in the Texas Action and the Delaware Action intend to petition the Court in the Texas Action for an award of fees and expenses in connection with the litigation of the Texas and Delaware Actions (the Proposed Fee). As set forth in this MOU, including Paragraph 1, Defendants will not object to the filing of such a petition; however, as of the signing of this MOU, the Parties have been unable to reach an agreement as to a Proposed Fee amount. The Parties will continue to negotiate, and in the event they are unable to agree to a non-objectionable Proposed Fee amount to include in Plaintiffs petition, Defendants reserve the right to object to the amount sought in such fee application on any and all applicable grounds. In either case, the petition for the Proposed Fee shall be Plaintiffs and/or Plaintiffs Counsels sole application for an award of fees or expenses in connection with any litigation concerning the Proposed Transaction. Neither Plaintiffs nor Plaintiffs Counsel shall make any application for an award of fees or expenses in any other action, including the Delaware Action. |
Final resolution by the Court of the Proposed Fee petition shall not be a precondition to the dismissal of the Actions in accordance with the Settlement Agreement, and the Settlement Agreement shall provide that the Fee may be considered separately from the proposed Settlement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that any fees and expenses awarded by the Court in the Texas Action to Plaintiffs Counsel shall be paid solely by Dynegy or its successor(s) in interest within ten (10) business days after the later of (a) the entry of an order by the Court approving the Settlement, (b) the entry of an order by the Court awarding attorneys fees and expenses, (c) the entry of an order by the Delaware Court dismissing the Delaware Action, or (d) the consummation of the Proposed Transaction, notwithstanding the existence of any timely-filed objections to the Settlement or to the fees and expenses awarded, or potential for appeal from such objections, or collateral attack on the Settlement or any part thereof, subject to the joint and several obligation of Plaintiffs Counsel to refund, within ten (10) business days, all amounts received, if and when, as a result of any appeal and/or further proceeding on remand, or successful collateral attack, the fee or expense award is reduced or reversed or if the award order does not become final, if the Settlement itself is voided by any Party as provided herein or in the Settlement Agreement, or if the Settlement is later reversed by any court. NRG shall not be responsible for paying any such award.
8. | Approval. The Settlement Agreement, including the Proposed Fee, is subject to Court approval; provided, however, that the Courts approval of the Settlement is not contingent on its approval of the Fee. The Parties will attempt in good faith and use their best efforts to negotiate and mutually agree promptly upon the content and form of all documentation as may be required to obtain Final Approval of the Settlement and dismissal of the Actions. |
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9. | Binding Effect. The Settlement is subject to the following: (a) the drafting and execution of a definitive Settlement Agreement (and such other documentation as may be required to obtain final approval by the Court of the Settlement) by the Parties; (b) Final Approval of the Settlement by the Court; (c) dismissal with prejudice of the Actions as to all members of the Settlement Class (including Plaintiff) and entry by the Court of a final order and judgment containing such release language as is contained in the Settlement Agreement; and (d) the consummation of the Proposed Transaction. This MOU shall be rendered null and void and of no force and effect in the event that the Court fails to grant Final Approval of the Settlement, or the Proposed Transaction, including the Merger, is not consummated for any reason. In any event of nullification of this MOU, the Parties shall be deemed to be in the position they were in prior to the execution of this MOU and the statements made herein and in connection with the negotiation of the MOU or the Settlement shall not be deemed to prejudice in any way the positions of the Parties with respect to any of the Actions, or to constitute an admission of fact of wrongdoing by any Party, shall not be used or entitle any Party to recover any fees, costs or expenses incurred in connection with any of the Actions, and neither the existence of this MOU nor its contents nor any statements made in connection with the negotiation of this MOU or any settlement communications shall be admissible in evidence or shall be referred to for any purpose in any of the Actions, or in any other litigation or judicial proceeding. |
10. | No Admission. The fact of and provisions contained in this MOU, and all negotiations, discussions, actions and proceedings in connection with this MOU shall not be deemed or constitute a presumption, concession or an admission by any Party in any of the Actions, any signatory hereto or any Released Party of any fault, liability or wrongdoing or lack of any fault, liability or wrongdoing, as to any facts or claims alleged or asserted in any of the Actions, or any other actions or proceedings, and shall not be interpreted, construed, deemed, involved, invoked, offered or received in evidence or otherwise used by any person in any of the Actions, or any other action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal or administrative, except in connection with any proceeding to enforce the terms of this MOU. The fact of and provisions contained in this MOU, and all negotiations, discussions, actions and proceedings leading up to the execution of this MOU, are confidential and intended for settlement discussions only. If the Settlement does not receive Final Approval, the Parties shall revert to their respective litigation positions as if this MOU never existed. |
11. | Choice of Law, Jurisdiction and Venue. THIS MOU, AND THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND SETTLEMENT CONTEMPLATED BY IT, AND ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THIS MOU, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OR THE SETTLEMENT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES. EACH OF THE PARTIES (A) IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF THE COURT AS WELL AS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ALL COURTS TO WHICH AN APPEAL |
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MAY BE TAKEN FROM THE COURT, IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS MOU, THE SETTLEMENT AND/OR THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, (B) AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE BROUGHT, HEARD AND DETERMINED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURT (PROVIDED THAT, IN THE EVENT THAT JURISDICTION IS UNAVAILABLE IN THE COURT, THEN ALL SUCH CLAIMS SHALL BE BROUGHT, HEARD AND DETERMINED EXCLUSIVELY IN ANY OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS), (C) AGREES THAT IT SHALL NOT ATTEMPT TO DENY OR DEFEAT SUCH PERSONAL JURISDICTION BY MOTION OR OTHER REQUEST FOR LEAVE FROM SUCH COURT, AND (D) AGREES NOT TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS MOU, THE SETTLEMENT AND/OR THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN ANY OTHER COURT. Each of the Parties waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding brought in accordance with this paragraph. Each of the Parties further agrees to waive any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party with respect to any action or proceeding, including an appeal thereof. Each of the Parties further consents and agrees that process in any suit, action or proceeding may be served on such Party by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to such Party or such Partys registered agent in the state of its incorporation or organization, or in any other manner provided by law, and in the case of Plaintiff by giving such written notice to Interim Class Counsel Harry P. Susman, Susman Godfrey, L.L.P., 1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5100, Houston, Texas, 77002. |
12. | Miscellaneous. This MOU constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersedes all written or oral communications, agreements or understanding that may have existed prior to the execution of this MOU, and may be modified or amended only by a writing signed by the signatories hereto. This MOU shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective agents, executors, heirs, successors and assigns; provided, that no party shall assign or delegate its rights or responsibilities under this MOU without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto. The Released Parties who are not signatories hereto shall be third party beneficiaries under this MOU entitled to enforce this MOU in accordance with its terms. This MOU may be executed in multiple counterparts by any of the signatories hereto, each of whom represents and warrants that they have the authority from their clients to enter into this MOU, including by facsimile, and so executed shall constitute one agreement. |
[Signatures Appear On The Following Page]
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/s/ Charles W. Schwartz Charles W. Schwartz State Bar No. 17861300 Noelle M. Reed State Bar No. 24044211 Heather A. Lohman State Bar No. 24027008 SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP 1000 Louisiana, Suite 6800 Houston, TX 77002 Tel: (713) 655-5160 Fax: (713) 483-9160
ATTORNEYS FOR BRUCE A. WILLIAMSON, DAVID W. BIEGLER, PATRICIA A. HAMMICK, HOWARD B. SHEPPARD, WILLIAM L. TRUBECK, AND DYNEGY INC. | ||
OF COUNSEL:
Bruce D. Angiolillo Jonathan K. Youngwood SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP 425 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 212-455-2000 |
/s/ Kathy D. Patrick Kathy D. Patrick State Bar No. 15581400 GIBBS & BRUNS LLP Brian T. Ross State Bar No. 24037395 1100 Louisiana, Suite 5300 Houston, TX 77002 Tel: (713) 650-8805 Fax: (713) 750-0903
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS THE BLACKSTONE GROUP L.P., BLACKSTONE CAPITAL PARTNERS V L.P., DENALI PARENT INC. AND DENALI MERGER SUB INC. |
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/s/ David D. Sterling David D. Sterling State Bar No. 19170000 Danny David State Bar No. 24028267 BAKER BOTTS LLP One Shell Plaza 910 Louisiana Street Houston, TX 77002-4995 Tel: (713) 229-1234 Fax: (713) 229-1522
ATTORNEYS FOR NRG ENERGY INC. | ||
/s/ Harry P. Susman Harry P. Susman State Bar No. 24008875 Katherine Ginzburg Treistman State Bar No. 00796632 SUSMAN GODFREY LLP 1000 Louisiana, Suite 5100 Houston, TX 77002-5096 Tel: (713) 651-9366 Fax: (713) 654-6666
INTERIM CLASS COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF |
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OF COUNSEL:
Sidney S. Liebesman (# 3702) LABATON SUCHAROW LLP One Commerce Center 1201 N. Orange Street, Suite 801 Wilmington, DE 19801 Telephone: (302) 573-2530 |
/s/ Michael W. Stocker Michael W. Stocker Christopher J. Keller Ethan D. Wohl LABATON SUCHAROW LLP 140 Broadway New York, NY 10005 Tel.: (212) 907-0700 Fax: (212) 883-7082
INTERIM CO-LEAD COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFFS | |
James S. Notis GARDY & NOTIS, LLP 560 Sylvan Avenue Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Telephone: (201) 567-7377
CO-LEAD COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFFS |
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