Gaylord Entertainment Company
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 3, 2007 (April 3, 2007)
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
1-13079
|
|
73-0664379 |
|
|
|
|
|
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
|
|
(Commission File Number)
|
|
(I.R.S. Employer |
|
|
|
|
Identification No.) |
|
|
|
One Gaylord Drive
|
|
|
Nashville, Tennessee
|
|
37214 |
|
|
|
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
|
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (615) 316-6000
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General
Instruction A.2. below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 1.01. ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.
On April 3, 2007, Gaylord Entertainment Company (the Company) and its wholly owned
subsidiary, Gaylord Hotels, Inc. (Gaylord Hotels and together with the Company, Gaylord)
entered into a Common Unit Repurchase Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2007 (the Agreement), with
Bass Pro Group, LLC (Bass Pro Group) and, for the limited
purposes set forth therein, Colin Reed,
David Kloeppel, American Sportsman Holdings Co., JLM Partners, LP, KB Capital Partners, LP and
certain subsidiaries of Bass Pro Group. Pursuant to the Agreement, Bass Pro Group will repurchase
from Gaylord Hotels 43,333 common units of Bass Pro Group, representing all of the interests of
Gaylord and its affiliates in Bass Pro Group. Bass Pro Group will repurchase the common units for
an aggregate cash purchase price of $222,000,000 (the Purchase Price).
In addition to payment of the Purchase Price, Bass Pro Group is obligated under the Agreement
to make an additional payment to Gaylord Hotels if, during the 18 months following the date of the
Agreement, there is an IPO or Change of Control Transaction (as such terms are defined in the
Agreement) for a price greater than the per common unit purchase price. The Company, Gaylord
Hotels, and Bass Pro Group have made customary representations, warranties and covenants in the
Agreement. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of calendar year 2007,
and is subject to customary closing conditions, including financing.
The foregoing description of the Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Agreement, which is attached hereto
as Exhibit 2.1.
ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS.
On
April 3, 2007, the Company issued a press release announcing its entry into the Agreement.
A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(d) Exhibits
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
Common Unit Repurchase Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2007, by and among
the Company, Gaylord Hotels, Inc., Bass Pro Group, LLC, and, for the limited purposes
set forth therein, Colin Reed, David Kloeppel, American Sportsman Holdings Co., JLM
Partners, LP, KB Capital Partners, LP and certain subsidiaries of Bass Pro Group,
LLC. |
|
|
99.1 |
|
|
Press release of Gaylord Entertainment Company dated April 3, 2007. |
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
|
|
Date: April 3, 2007 |
By: |
/s/ Carter R. Todd
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Carter R. Todd |
|
|
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary |
|
3
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
|
|
No. |
|
|
Description |
|
2.1 |
|
|
Common Unit Repurchase Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2007, by and among the Company,
Gaylord Hotels, Inc., Bass Pro Group, LLC, and, for the limited
purposes set forth therein,
Colin Reed, David Kloeppel, American Sportsman Holdings Co., JLM Partners, LP, KB Capital
Partners, LP and certain subsidiaries of Bass Pro Group, LLC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
99.1 |
|
|
Press release of Gaylord Entertainment Company dated April 3, 2007. |
4
Ex-2.1
Exhibit 2.1
COMMON UNIT REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS COMMON UNIT REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and entered into as
of April 3, 2007 by and among GAYLORD HOTELS, INC., a Delaware corporation (Gaylord
Hotels), GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (GEC and, together
with Gaylord Hotels, sometimes referred to herein, collectively, as Gaylord), for the
limited purposes set forth in Sections 2.1(d)(iii) and 5.1 of this Agreement, COLIN
REED and DAVID KLOEPPEL, BASS PRO GROUP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
Company), for the limited purposes set forth in Sections 1.5 and
2.2(d)(v) of this Agreement, AMERICAN SPORTSMAN HOLDINGS CO., a Missouri corporation
(American Sportsman), JLM PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (JLM
Partners), KB CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (KB Partners),
and for the limited purposes set forth in Section 1.3(b) of this Agreement, BASS PRO, INC.,
a Delaware corporation (BPI), TRACKER MARINE, L.L.C., a Missouri limited liability
company (Tracker Marine), TRACKER MARINE RETAIL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (Tracker Retail), and BIG CEDAR, L.L.C., a Missouri limited liability company
(Big Cedar) (collectively, and together with other subsidiaries that join in the
execution of this Agreement as contemplated by Section 2.2(d)(vi), the
Guarantors).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Gaylord Hotels, a wholly owned subsidiary of GEC, is the current owner of 43,333
common units of the Company, which common units were originally owned by GEC, pursuant to that
certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as
of December 14, 2005, and subsequently transferred to Gaylord Hotels;
WHEREAS, the Company, Gaylord Hotels, American Sportsman, JLM Partners, KB Partners and
certain other parties are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Operating Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2005, as amended by that certain Joinder of Gaylord
Hotels effective December 31, 2006 (the LLC Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Company, Gaylord Hotels, American Sportsman, JLM Partners, KB Partners and
certain other parties are parties to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
December 14, 2005, as amended by that certain Joinder of Gaylord Hotels effective December 31, 2006
(the Registration Rights Agreement);
WHEREAS, GEC, the Company, American Sportsman and, solely with respect to Section 7 thereof,
BPI are parties to that certain letter agreement, dated December 15, 2005 (the Letter
Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Company desires to repurchase from Gaylord Hotels, and Gaylord Hotels desires to
sell and transfer to the Company, all common units owned by Gaylord Hotels for the consideration
and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Company entered into confidentiality agreements with each of Colin Reed and David
Kloeppel in December 2005 (the Confidentiality Agreements); and
WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, the parties have agreed to terminate each of the
LLC Agreement (except as otherwise provided in Section 1.5 below), Registration Rights
Agreement, Letter Agreement, and Confidentiality Agreements (collectively, the Existing
Agreements) with respect to Gaylord, Colin Reed, and David Kloeppel, as applicable.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON UNITS
ADDITIONAL TRANSACTION PAYMENT;
TERMINATION OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS
1.1 Purchase and Sale. On the Closing Date (as defined below), Gaylord Hotels shall
sell to the Company, and the Company shall purchase from Gaylord Hotels, all 43,333 common units
currently owned or held by or on behalf of Gaylord Hotels or any of its Affiliates (as defined
below) (collectively, the Common Units).
1.2 Consideration and Payment.
(a) In consideration for the Common Units, the Company shall pay to Gaylord Hotels an
aggregate amount of Two Hundred Twenty-Two Million Dollars ($222,000,000) (the Repurchase
Price) in cash.
(b) The Company shall diligently pursue and use its reasonable best efforts to secure
financing for the Repurchase Price upon commercially reasonable terms from third party, commercial
lenders as soon as possible but in any event within 90 days of the date hereof; provided, however,
that in no event shall the Company be obligated to incur or seek to obtain any public or
quasi-public indebtedness to finance the Repurchase Price, including, without limitation, the
issuance of any securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act), or Rule 144A promulgated thereunder, or otherwise entitled or subject to
the right to registration under the Securities Act.
(c) In addition to the Repurchase Price payable under Section 1.2(a), Gaylord Hotels
shall also be eligible to receive an Additional Transaction Payment (as defined below) pursuant to
the terms of Section 1.3.
1.3 Additional Transaction Payment.
(a) In the event that during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the
eighteen (18) month anniversary of the date hereof (the Relevant Period), the Company or
BPI consummates or executes definitive documentation or a letter of intent or similar instrument in
respect of a Change of Control Transaction (as defined below) or an IPO (as defined below) (each,
an Additional Transaction) then the Company shall notify Gaylord
2
Hotels in writing of such Additional Transaction and, upon the consummation of such Additional
Transaction, Gaylord Hotels shall be entitled to receive the positive amount, if any, as is equal
to the product of (i) the Supplemental Per Common Unit Payment (as defined below), multiplied by
(ii) 43,333 (such amount, the Additional Transaction Payment). The Additional
Transaction Payment shall be paid to Gaylord Hotels concurrently with the closing of the Additional
Transaction, in immediately available funds and/or in, the case of a Change of Control Transaction,
in such other form of consideration as is payable to the other holders of equity securities of the
Company in connection with the Change of Control Transaction. Gaylord Hotels shall be entitled to
receive an Additional Transaction Payment, if any, in respect of any and all Additional
Transactions during the Relevant Period. No Additional Transaction Payment shall be required upon
the sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of any of the assets or equity securities
of Tracker Marine, Tracker Retail or Big Cedar alone or together and any such sale, lease,
exchange, transfer or other disposition whether alone or together shall not be taken into account
for the purposes of determining whether a Change of Control Transaction has occurred with respect
to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall Gaylord Hotels ever owe the Company
any amount as a result of application of this Section 1.3. In the event that Gaylord
Hotels, GEC or any of their respective Affiliates consummates, executes definitive documentation or
a letter of intent or similar instrument with respect to the financing (debt or equity) of a
Competing Business during the Relevant Period, Gaylord shall no longer be entitled to Additional
Transaction Payments; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall
preclude or prohibit Gaylord Hotels, GEC or their respective Affiliates from maintaining a passive
investment in publicly held entities provided that Gaylord Hotels, GEC or their respective
Affiliates do not have more than a two percent (2%) beneficial ownership in any such entity.
(b) Subject to the limitations set forth in the next sentence of this Section 1.3(b),
each of the Guarantors, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees payment, when due, to
Gaylord Hotels of any Additional Transaction Payment, if any, arising under Section 1.3(a)
of this Agreement. The guarantee obligation set forth in this Section 1.3(b) is one of
collection, and not of payment or performance. Each of the Guarantors hereby absolutely,
unconditionally and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, notice of
acceptance of its guarantee. Any successor to all or a material portion of the Company (on a
consolidated basis) shall expressly assume all obligations and liabilities of a Guarantor set forth
in this Section 1.3(b). Other than as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence,
in the event that a Guarantor is no longer a subsidiary of the Company, such entity shall be
released from its guarantee obligations hereunder without any further action on the part of any
Person.
(c) For the avoidance of doubt, any reference to the Company in this Section 1.3 shall
include any successor to the Company as a result of a Corporate Conversion or otherwise.
(d) For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified
below:
Additional Transaction Price Per Common Unit shall mean the price per common unit or
other equity security for or into which the common units of the Company were previously exchanged
or converted in the Additional Transaction, as applicable, as adjusted for
3
any equity split, equity combination, in-kind equity distribution, dividend, reverse equity
split, or recapitalization, reorganization or similar event which occurs between the date hereof
and the closing of the Additional Transaction so as to be measured in price per common unit on the
date hereof, including (i) any additional amounts paid to any Person at such date under any
non-compete agreements, employment agreements, severance agreements, service agreements, consulting
agreements or other similar ancillary agreements executed specifically in connection with such
transaction, but only to the extent that such additional amounts are on economic terms that are
demonstrably above market for the type of transaction in question or are otherwise intended to be
purchase price and (ii) in connection with a Change of Control Transaction, any dividend or
distribution made by the Company to the Companys equity holders between the Closing (as defined
below) and the closing of a Change of Control Transaction (other than tax distributions made to the
members of the Company in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, including, without
limitation, any distributions made pursuant to Section 1.7 hereof). Subject to the
provisions of this Section 1.3, with respect to (a) any Change of Control Transaction with
respect to the Company that involves the sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of
less than all of the Companys assets (including the sale or disposition of all or less than all of
the assets or equity securities of BPI) or (b) any Change of Control Transaction or IPO with
respect to BPI, then the Additional Transaction Price Per Common Unit shall be determined by
reference to the value in such Additional Transaction of the assets or equity securities actually
being sold or disposed of as a percentage of the fair market value of all the assets of the Company
(on a consolidated basis).
The foregoing notwithstanding, in the event that a series of related transactions (each, a
CoC Component Transaction) are cumulated to give rise to a Change of Control Transaction
(i.e., a series of related transactions), then the Additional Transaction Price Per Common Unit
shall be the average weighted price per common unit received in connection with such Change of
Control Transaction, which shall be calculated as the quotient of (1) the aggregate amount received
from all CoC Component Transactions (with respect to each CoC Component Transaction, such amount
calculated by multiplying the actual price per common unit (or other equity security into which the
common units of the Company were previously exchanged for or converted into) received in such CoC
Component Transaction by the number of common units (or other equity security into which the common
units of the Company were previously exchanged for or converted into) issued, sold or transferred
at such price), divided by (2) the aggregate number of common units (or other equity security into
which the common units of the Company were previously exchanged for or converted into) issued, sold
or transferred in all such CoC Component Transactions (in each case adjusted for any equity split,
equity combination, in-kind equity distribution, dividend, reverse equity split, or
recapitalization, reorganization or similar event which occurs between the date hereof and the
closing of the Additional Transaction so as to be measured in common units on the date hereof),
which, taken together, constitute a Change of Control Transaction.
Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any Person (i) any director, manager, partner,
executive officer or stockholder or member holding 5% or more of the equity (on a fully-diluted
basis) of such Person, (ii) any spouse, parent, sibling or descendant of such Person (or a spouse,
parent, sibling or descendant of any director, manager, partner or officer of such Person), (iii)
any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term control
4
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
Business means the business, as conducted by the Company on the Closing Date, of (a)
the distribution, direct marketing and/or retailing (including, sales from store locations,
catalogs and internet orders) of fishing, hunting, camping, and related outdoor merchandise
(including, without limitation, footwear and apparel) and equipment, (b) the manufacture,
distribution, marketing and/or sale of watercraft, and (c) the sale of all terrain vehicles.
Competing Business means any Person which is engaged, as its principal activity, in
any business or activity that is in direct competition with the Business.
Change of Control Transaction shall mean with respect to the Company or BPI (i) the
sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition (including, without limitation, by merger,
consolidation or otherwise) of 50% or more of the value of the properties or assets of the Company
(but excluding the properties and assets of Tracker Marine, Tracker Retail and Big Cedar) or BPI,
in one or a series of related transactions, to an individual or a corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association or other form of
business or legal entity (each, a Person) or group of Persons (other than an internal
restructuring involving the Company and/or BPI and one or more of their respective Affiliates),
(ii) any merger, consolidation or other business combination, or refinancing or recapitalization,
in one or a series of related transactions, that results in the holders of the issued and
outstanding voting securities of the Company or BPI immediately prior to such transaction owning or
controlling less than 50% of the equity securities of the continuing or surviving entity
immediately following such transaction, or (iii) any Person or Persons acting together or which
would constitute a group for the purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), together or with any Affiliates thereof (other than
any of the holders of the equity securities of the Company or BPI immediately prior to the
consummation of such transaction) beneficially owning (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange
Act) or controlling, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, at least
50% of the total equity securities of the Company or BPI, as applicable.
Corporate Conversion shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the LLC Agreement.
IPO shall mean the closing of any offering (including any underwriters overallotment
option), whether by the Company or selling equity holders, of the equity securities of the Company
or BPI for sale to the public pursuant to an offering registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act in an amount equal to 35% of the
pre-offering equity securities of the Company or BPI, as the case may be; provided that for the
purposes of this Agreement, the issuance by the Company or BPI of registration rights (or similar
rights that if exercised would cause the Company or BPI to register its equity securities pursuant
to an offering registered with the Commission under the Securities Act) to a financing source shall
not give rise to an Additional Transaction Payment.
5
Repurchase Price Per Common Unit shall mean $5,123.12.
Supplemental Per Common Unit Payment shall mean the positive amount, if any, as is
equal to (i) the Additional Transaction Price Per Common Unit less (ii) the Repurchase Price Per
Common Unit.
1.4 Full and Complete Payment. The parties acknowledge and agree that following the
Closing (a) the Repurchase Price constitutes full and complete payment for the Common Units and all
rights and attributes related thereto (including, without limitation, any amounts due in respect of
any accrued but unpaid dividends or distributions), and (b) except for the Repurchase Price and, if
applicable, the Additional Transaction Payment, Gaylord Hotels shall not be entitled to any other
rights, payments, dividends and/or distributions, whether in cash or property, from the Company or
any other Person in respect of the Common Units or other interests in or with respect to the
Company, whether existing under (i) the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as now or hereafter
amended, (ii) the Companys Certificate of Formation, or (iii) any of the Existing Agreements,
except, in all cases, as provided in Section 1.5 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the
foregoing shall not preclude Gaylord Hotels from bringing an action for (A) fraud, (B) breach of
this Agreement, or (C) breach of the General Release of Claims described in Sections
2.2(d)(iv) or 2.2(d)(v) below; provided that the remedy for any such action shall not
include rescission of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
1.5 Termination of Existing Agreements. Effective upon the Closing, (a) each of the
Existing Agreements shall automatically terminate with respect to Gaylord Hotels, GEC, Colin Reed,
and David Kloeppel, as applicable, and shall cease to be of any further force or effect as between
Gaylord Hotels, GEC, Colin Reed, and David Kloeppel, as applicable, on the one hand, and the other
party(ies) to such agreement, on the other hand, (b) Gaylord Hotels, GEC, Colin Reed, and David
Kloeppel shall have no rights or obligations under any of the Existing Agreements with respect to
the Company or any of the other parties thereto, and (c) neither the Company nor any of the other
parties to any of the Existing Agreements shall have any further rights or obligations under any of
the Existing Agreements with respect to Gaylord Hotels, GEC, Colin Reed, and David Kloeppel,
provided, however, that the provisions of Section 8.11 of the LLC Agreement shall continue in full
force and effect with respect to indemnification of Colin Reed as a manager of the Company and that
the provisions of Section 4.1 of the LLC Agreement shall continue in full force and effect only to
the extent necessary to fully effectuate Section 1.7 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.3 of the LLC Agreement, at the
Closing Gaylord Hotels shall cease to be a Member (as such term is defined in the LLC Agreement) of
the Company. For the avoidance of doubt and as provided under Section 13.1(b) of the LLC Agreement
and Section 11.3 of the Registration Rights Agreement, this Section 1.5 shall be
acknowledged by each of the other parties to each of such agreements to effect the termination of
such agreements with respect to Gaylord Hotels as provided herein. To the extent necessary under
the Existing Agreements, each of Gaylord Hotels, GEC, the Company, American Sportsman, JLM
Partners, KB Partners and the other parties thereto hereby (or concurrently herewith) consent to
(i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and (ii) as of the Closing, the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby. American Sportsman, JLM Partners, KB Partners and the other
parties to the Existing Agreement hereby (or shall concurrently herewith): (i) agree that the
payment of the Repurchase Price and
6
any Additional Transaction Payment shall not constitute a distribution under Section 4.1 of
the LLC Agreement, and (ii) waive any right they may have under the LLC Agreement to any portion of
the Repurchase Price or other payments made to Gaylord pursuant to this Agreement. Gaylord Hotels
and GEC hereby waive any pre-emptive right they may have under Article VI of the LLC Agreement.
Gaylord Hotels and GEC hereby authorize the Company to withhold (or pay to a third party) amounts
from the Repurchase Price and any Additional Transaction Payment to the extent required by any
applicable Law relating to tax withholding.
1.6 The Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the
Closing) shall take place at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, Sears Tower, Suite
5800, Chicago, Illinois 60606 at 10:00 A.M. on the business day following the satisfaction or
waiver of the last to occur of the closing conditions set forth in Article II hereof or on
such other date as is mutually agreeable to Gaylord Hotels and the Company. The date on which the
Closing takes place shall be referred to as the Closing Date.
1.7 Distributions of Cash Sufficient to Pay Taxes. Except to the extent such
distributions have already been made to Gaylord Hotels or GEC pursuant to Section 4.1 of the LLC
Agreement prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall distribute to Gaylord Hotels an amount of
cash sufficient to pay any federal, state or local income taxes with respect to Gaylord Hotels or
GECs respective share of the Companys taxable income with respect to any tax year (or portion
thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall make such distributions to
Gaylord Hotels at the same time that tax distributions for the relevant tax period are made to the
members of the Company pursuant to Section 4.1 of the LLC Agreement, but in no event later than 180
days after the Closing Date.
ARTICLE II
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
2.1 Conditions to the Companys Obligations. The obligation of the Company to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions as of the Closing Date:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Gaylord
Hotels and GEC set forth in Article III hereof shall be true and correct in all material
respects (except for any representations or warranties qualified by materiality, which shall be
true and correct in all respects) at and as of the Closing Date as though then made and as though
the Closing Date was substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout such representations and
warranties.
(b) Covenants. Gaylord shall have performed in all material respects all of the
covenants and agreements required to be performed by Gaylord under this Agreement at or prior to
the Closing.
(c) Governmental Proceedings. No injunction exists or proceeding has been commenced
that is reasonably likely to prevent, delay, make illegal, or otherwise interfere with, the
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
7
hereby, declare unlawful the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or cause such
transactions to be rescinded.
(d) Financing. The Company shall have obtained financing in an amount at least equal
to the Repurchase Price, in accordance with Section 1.2(b).
(e) Consents and Approvals. The Company shall have obtained or made each consent,
approval, authorization, or other order of, action by, filing with or notification to any
governmental authority or third party, each of which shall be in full force and effect on and as of
the Closing.
(f) Gaylord Deliveries. Gaylord shall have delivered to the Company each of the
following:
(i) a certificate, duly executed by an authorized officer of Gaylord and GEC,
certifying that the conditions under Sections 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been
satisfied in full;
(ii) a certificate, duly executed by an authorized officer of Gaylord Hotels and GEC,
certifying that attached thereto are true and complete copies of the resolutions of the
Board of Directors of Gaylord Hotels and the Board of Directors of GEC, authorizing and
approving the execution, delivery and performance by Gaylord Hotels and GEC, respectively,
of this Agreement and each of the other documents or instruments contemplated hereby and
that such resolutions are in full force and effect as of the Closing Date;
(iii) a General Release of Claims in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A,
duly executed by Gaylord Hotels, GEC, Colin Reed and David Kloeppel;
(iv) resignation effective as of the Closing Date from Colin Reed, as a manager of the
Company appointed by Gaylord; and
(v) the Advertising Agreement as contemplated by Section 5.2, duly executed by
GEC.
The Company may waive any condition specified in this Section 2.1 if it executes a
writing so stating at or prior to the Closing; provided that if the Closing is consummated, all
such conditions shall be deemed to have been satisfied.
2.2 Conditions to Gaylords Obligations. The obligations of Gaylord to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions as of the Closing Date:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company
set forth in Article IV hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (except
for any representations or warranties qualified by materiality, which shall be true and correct in
all respects) at and as of the Closing Date as though then made and as though the Closing Date was
substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout such representations and warranties.
8
(b) Covenants. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all the
covenants and agreements required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the
Closing.
(c) Governmental Proceedings. No injunction exists or proceeding has been commenced
that is reasonably likely to prevent, delay, make illegal, or otherwise interfere with, the
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby,
declare unlawful the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or cause such transactions to be
rescinded.
(d) Company Deliveries. The Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered,
to Gaylord each of the following:
(i) the Repurchase Price payable by the Company pursuant to Section 1.2(a)
above by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts (and in the amounts)
designated in writing by Gaylord Hotels not less than three (3) business days prior to the
Closing;
(ii) a certificate, duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company, certifying
that the conditions under Sections 2.2(a) and 2.2(b) have been satisfied in
full;
(iii) a certificate, duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company, certifying
that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the (A) the Certificate of Formation
and limited liability company operating agreement, as in effect on the Closing Date and (B)
resolutions of the Board of Managers of the Company authorizing and approving the execution,
delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and each of the other documents or
instruments contemplated hereby and that such resolutions are in full force and effect as of
the Closing Date (it being agreed that the manager appointed by Gaylord shall be entitled to
abstain from voting on such matter);
(iv) a General Release of Claims in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, duly
executed by the Company;
(v) a General Release of Claims in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, duly
executed by each of American Sportsman, JLM Partners, KB Partners and each of the other
parties to the LLC Agreement;
(vi) an Opry Sponsorship Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit D, duly executed by the Company; and
(vii) joinders to this Agreement for the limited purposes set forth in Section 1.3(b)
duly executed by certain material subsidiaries of the Company as shall be mutually agreed
between Gaylord and the Company prior to the Closing (it being agreed that no special
purpose subsidiary of the Company shall be required to join in the execution of this
Agreement).
9
Gaylord Hotels may waive any condition specified in this Section 2.2 if Gaylord Hotels
executes a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing; provided that if the Closing is
consummated, all such conditions shall be deemed to have been satisfied.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GAYLORD
As an inducement to the Company to enter into and perform this Agreement, Gaylord Hotels and
GEC, jointly and severally, hereby make the following representations and warranties to the Company
as of the date hereof:
3.1 Commitments. Except pursuant to this Agreement, the LLC Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement, there are no commitments, options, contracts or other arrangements
whatsoever, whether written or oral, under which Gaylord is or may become obligated to sell,
transfer, pledge, assign, convey or otherwise dispose of the Common Units or any right or interest
therein.
3.2 Title. Gaylord Hotels has good and indefeasible title to the Common Units owned by
it free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, claims, encumbrances, other security
arrangements, preferential arrangements or restrictions of any kind whatsoever (collectively,
Liens), other than restrictions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, the LLC
Agreement, and Liens arising under applicable federal, state and local securities laws by reason of
the sale. Other than the Common Units, neither Gaylord nor any of its Affiliates owns, or has the
right to acquire, any other securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their
respective Affiliates. Upon delivery by the Company to Gaylord Hotels of the Repurchase Price, it
will transfer to the Company good and indefeasible title to the Common Units free and clear of all
Liens, other than Liens arising under applicable federal, state and local securities laws, and
other than any Liens arising from the acts or omissions of the Company.
3.3 Status. Each of Gaylord Hotels and GEC is a duly formed, validly existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of Gaylord Hotels and
GEC has all requisite power and authority to own its properties and assets and to carry on its
business as currently conducted.
3.4 Authority. Each of Gaylord Hotels and GEC has full power, right and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the sale
of the Common Units and the other transactions contemplated hereby. Their execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation by them of the sale of the Common Units and
other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary
corporate action on the part of Gaylord Hotels and GEC.
3.5 Enforceability. This Agreement has been, and the General Release of Claims will
be, duly and validly executed by Gaylord Hotels, GEC, Colin Reed and David Kloeppel and, upon
delivery hereof and thereof by each of such signatories, each will constitute a legally valid and
binding obligation of such signatory enforceable against it or him in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that such enforceability may be subject to, and limited by, applicable
10
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership and similar laws affecting
the enforcement of creditors rights generally, and general equitable principles.
3.6 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation by Gaylord Hotels and GEC of the sale of the Common Units owned by Gaylord Hotels and
other transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms and provisions hereof, does
not and will not: (a) conflict with, violate, result in the breach of, or constitute a default
under any provision of Gaylord Hotels or GECs organizational documents; (b) conflict with,
violate, result in the breach of, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of
acceleration, cancellation or termination of any material right or obligation under, any agreement
or other instrument to which either Gaylord Hotels or GEC is a party or by which either Gaylord
Hotels or GEC or any of their respective properties or assets are bound; or (c) violate any code,
statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, directive, order, decree, ruling, writ, injunction, judgment
or other law or binding pronouncement of any governmental authority (collectively, Laws)
applicable to Gaylord Hotels or GEC, or any of their respective properties or assets.
3.7 Litigation, Etc. There are no claims, demands, actions, investigations, audits,
suits, causes of action, arbitration proceedings or other proceedings pending, or to Gaylords
knowledge, threatened or otherwise being asserted against it, which, directly or indirectly, would
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Common Units owned by it or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
3.8 Consents and Approvals. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not require Gaylord to obtain or make, as
the case may be, any consent, approval, authorization, or other order of, action by, filing with or
notification to any governmental authority or third party.
3.9 Brokerage. No agent, broker, investment banker, intermediary, finder or firm
acting on behalf of Gaylord will be entitled to any brokers or finders fee or any other
commission or similar fee, directly or indirectly, from it in connection with the execution of this
Agreement or upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
3.10 Information. Since the date of its initial investment in BPI, as a result of
having its nominee serve on the Board of Directors or Bass Pro Group, Inc. and, since December
2005, the Board of Managers of the Company and having certain other rights under the BPI
stockholders agreements and the Letter Agreement, Gaylord has received and has read the financial
statements and budgets of BPI and the Company, as applicable, made available to Gaylord, and has
had an opportunity to discuss business, financial affairs and operations of BPI and the Company, as
applicable, with the managers, officers and other management personnel of BPI and the Company, as
applicable. Gaylord has had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers and other
information from the Company and its management regarding the Company, including, without
limitation, its prospects for future growth, and, subject to Section 5.10 below, is making
an informed investment decision.
3.11 GEC. Gaylord Hotels is the successor in interest to GEC (an original signatory
to the Existing Agreements and an Affiliate of Gaylord Hotels) with respect to GECs ownership
11
interest in the Company and rights and obligations under the LLC Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement.
3.12 Opry Sponsorship Agreement. The terms and conditions of the Opry Sponsorship
Agreement, taken as a whole, are no less favorable to the Company as the terms and conditions
contained in agreements between Gaylord and any other Opry sponsors, including, without limitation,
any other Partner-Level Sponsors such as Humana, Inc. or Nissan North America, Inc. (or any of
their Affiliates) in existence as of the date hereof and/or as of the Closing Date.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
As an inducement to Gaylord Hotels to enter into and perform this Agreement, the Company
hereby makes the following representations and warranties to Gaylord Hotels as of the date hereof:
4.1 Status. The Company is a duly formed, validly existing limited liability company
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has all requisite power and
authority to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted.
4.2 Authority. The Company has full power, right and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the purchase of the Common
Units, and the other transactions contemplated hereby. The Companys execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the purchase of the Common
Units, and other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and approved by all
necessary limited liability company action on the part of the Company.
4.3 Enforceability. This Agreement has been, and the General Release of Claims will
be, duly and validly executed by the Company and, upon delivery hereof and thereof by the Company,
each will constitute a legally valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be subject
to, and limited by, applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership and
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally, and general equitable
principles.
4.4 No Conflict. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.5, the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the purchase of
the Common Units, and other transactions contemplated hereby, and compliance with the terms and
provisions hereof and thereof, do not and will not: (a) conflict with, violate, result in the
breach of, or constitute a default under any provision of the LLC Agreement or the Certificate of
Formation of the Company; (b) conflict with, violate, result in the breach of, constitute a default
under, or give rise to any right of acceleration, cancellation or termination of any right or
obligation of the Company under, any agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a party
or by which the Company or any of its properties or assets are bound; or (c) violate any Laws
applicable to the Company, or any of its properties or assets.
12
4.5 Consents and Approvals. Except pursuant to the Companys senior credit facility,
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
do not and will not require the Company to obtain or make, as the case may be, any consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, action by, filing with or notification to any
governmental authority or any third party, except for the consent, approval and/or waiver by
Gaylord Hotels or GEC under any of the Existing Agreements, which consent, approval and/or waiver
is hereby granted by Gaylord Hotels and GEC executing this Agreement, subject to the Closing of the
transactions contemplated hereby or the termination hereof.
4.6 Financial Statements; Future Plans.
(a) True, complete and accurate copies of the audited financial statements of the Company
consisting of consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 30, 2006 and December 31,
2005, and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the years then ended
(including the notes and schedules contained therein or annexed thereto), which financial
statements have been reported on, and are accompanied by, the signed, unqualified opinions of the
independent auditors for the Company for such years have been previously provided to Gaylord. All
of such financial statements (including all notes and schedules contained therein or annexed
thereto) fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of
their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, and have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no agreement (or negotiation with respect to an
agreement), or arrangement with a third party that would reasonably be expected to result in
Gaylord Hotels being entitled to payment under Section 1.3 of this Agreement.
4.7 Litigation, Etc. There are no claims, demands, actions, investigations, audits,
suits, causes of action, arbitration proceedings or other proceedings pending, or to the knowledge
of the Company, threatened or otherwise being asserted, affecting the Common Units, or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.8 Solvency. The Company (on a consolidated basis) is not insolvent. Neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, nor the performance of the terms and provisions hereof will result in the insolvency of the
Company (on a consolidated basis) or otherwise violate Section 607 of the Delaware Limited
Liability Company Act. The Company shall be deemed to be insolvent or insolvency shall be deemed
to have resulted with respect to the Company if: (i) its consolidated liabilities (including all
claims against the Company, whether or not contingent, unliquidated or disputed) exceed the fair
market value of its assets; (ii) it retains, on a consolidated basis, unreasonably small capital
for its continuing business; or (iii) it intends to incur, or reasonably believes it will incur
debt beyond its ability to pay such debt as it becomes due. In computing the amount of
unliquidated or contingent liabilities, such liabilities shall be computed at the amount that, in
light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time of determination, represents the
amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
13
4.9 Brokerage. Other than Goldman Sachs & Co., no agent, broker, investment banker,
intermediary, finder or firm acting on behalf of the Company will be entitled to any brokers or
finders fee or any other commission or similar fee, directly or indirectly, from the Company or in
connection with the execution of this Agreement or upon consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and any fees and expenses will be paid solely by the Company.
4.10 Investment Intent. The Company is acquiring the Common Units for its own account
for investment and without intent to make a public distribution thereof.
ARTICLE V
OTHER COVENANTS
5.1 Confidential Information.
(a) Each of Gaylord, Colin Reed and David Kloeppel acknowledges that in connection with
Gaylords ownership of the Common Units, rights pursuant to the Letter Agreement and participation
in and/or observation of the governance and management of BPI and the Company prior to the Closing
Date, including by reason of Gaylords appointment of an individual to the Board of Directors of
BPI and, since December 2005, the Board of Managers of the Company, GEC, together with its Majority
Owned Subsidiaries, Colin Reed and David Kloeppel (collectively, the Gaylord Bound
Parties and each, individually, a Gaylord Bound Party) have received and have had
access to, and may receive and have access to, certain Confidential Information (as defined below)
of the Company and/or its subsidiaries or Affiliates. For the purpose of this Agreement, a
Majority Owned Subsidiary of a Person shall mean any corporation or other legal entity of
which such Person (either alone or through or together with any other Majority Owned Subsidiary or
Majority Owned Subsidiaries) is the general partner or managing entity or of which at least a
majority of the stock or other equity interests the holders of which are generally entitled to vote
for the election of the board of directors or others performing similar functions of such
corporation or other legal entity is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person
(either alone or through or together with any other Majority Owned Subsidiary or Majority Owned
Subsidiaries).
(b) Each of Gaylord, Colin Reed and David Kloeppel shall, and shall cause each other Gaylord
Bound Party to, (i) keep all Confidential Information strictly confidential and safeguarded from
unauthorized disclosure, and (ii) not use such Confidential Information to the detriment of the
Company or its business. This covenant is not intended to, and does not limit in any way any
Gaylord Bound Partys duties and obligations to the Company under statutory and common law not to
disclose or make personal use of the Confidential Information or trade secrets.
(c) At the Closing, each of Gaylord, Colin Reed and David Kloeppel will, and will cause each
other Gaylord Bound Party to, return to the Company or destroy all Confidential Information which
has been provided to any Gaylord Bound Party, including all copies of any analyses, compilations,
studies or other documents prepared by them or for their use containing or reflecting any
Confidential Information; provided, however, Gaylord shall retain one copy of any such document
containing Confidential Information which has been provided to any Gaylord Bound Party to the
extent that such document is otherwise required to be retained by applicable
14
Law, provided further, however, that any such materials so retained shall be kept in a
segregated file under the control of Gaylords legal department, and shall remain subject to the
confidentiality obligations set forth in this Section 5.1 indefinitely. Any Confidential
Information provided to any Gaylord Bound Party after the Closing Date shall be governed by the
terms of this Agreement.
(d) For the purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information shall mean all
proprietary and confidential information concerning the Business of the Company and financial
affairs of the Company, whether or not in writing and whether or not labeled or identified as
confidential or proprietary, and includes, without limitation, the identity of the Companys
members, the equity or other interest in the Company held by such members, the Companys marketing
plans, studies and activities, pricing information and plans, information related to current and
prospective vendors and customers, inventions, trade secrets, technical information, know-how,
product specifications, research and development activities, designs, software systems, leasing
costs, cost of equipment, customer lists, business or business prospects, plans, proposals, codes,
research, reports, investigations, tax information or other information of similar character.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, Confidential Information shall not include information which: (i) is
or becomes generally available to the public without breach of the commitment provided for in this
Section 5.1, (ii) is developed by a Gaylord Bound Party independently without the use of
Confidential Information, (iii) is or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a source
other than the Company or its advisors; provided that such source was not known by the Gaylord
Bound Party using such information to be bound by any agreement with the Company to keep such
information confidential or to be otherwise prohibited from transmitting the information, (iv) is
required to be disclosed by applicable Law, (v) is information which GEC, in good faith, deems
necessary or advisable to be included in filings with the Commission or related public disclosures;
provided, however, that in any such case, GEC shall notify the Company as early as reasonably
practicable prior to disclosure. As used in this Section 5.1(d), the defined term
Company shall be deemed to refer to and include Bass Pro Group, LLC and each of its direct and
indirect subsidiaries.
5.2 Advertising Agreement. Following the date of this Agreement, GEC and the Company
shall negotiate in good faith the terms and conditions of an agreement to be executed on or prior
to the Closing Date pursuant to which GEC shall commit for a five (5) year period to purchase
advertising in catalogues of the Company published from time to time on usual and customary terms
(the Advertising Agreement) in amounts equal to (but not to exceed) $150,000 on an annual
basis.
5.3 Commission Disclosure.
(a) Whether or not the Closing takes place, GEC agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to,
prior to October 1, 2007 to obtain permission or other applicable relief from the Staff of the
Commission to exclude the audited financial statements of the Company from filings made by GEC with
the Commission. GEC shall cooperate with the Company (and its accountants and legal advisors) with
respect to such process or efforts and shall provide the Company with drafts of any materials to be
provided to the Commission in respect thereof at least five (5) business days prior to submission,
and shall consider in good faith any comments provided by or on behalf of the Company. GEC shall
provide the Company with copies of any
15
correspondence or other communications received from the Commission as soon as possible
following its receipt thereof, and shall endeavor to include the Company (and, as applicable, its
accountants and legal advisors) in any conversations, hearings, telephone calls or other similar
communications with the Commission. To the extent GEC information is provided to the Commission on
a confidential basis, the Company will keep such information confidential to the same extent as
Gaylords obligations in Section 5.1 hereof with respect to Confidential Information.
(b) Whether or not the Closing takes place, if GEC in good faith determines (based on the
advice of its accountants and legal advisors) that it is required to include in GECs filings with
the Commission financial information of the Company, including: (i) the Companys year-end audited
financial statements together with the report of its independent accountants thereon and the
consent of such independent accountants, and (ii) unaudited interim financial statements, in
filings with the Commission (the Bass Pro Financial Information), the Company will
deliver, following request by GEC, such Bass Pro Financial Information to GEC in such a timely
manner as will allow GEC to prepare any required filings and meet any filing deadlines, but in no
event will such Bass Pro Financial Information be provided less than five (5) business days prior
to such filing deadline; provided, however, that the Company shall have no liability to GEC in the
event that, notwithstanding the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, it is not able to obtain
the consent of its independent accountants referred to above. In the event that the Closing occurs
during 2007, the Company shall have no obligations to provide financial information covering any
period subsequent to the Companys 2007 fiscal year.
5.4 Restrictive Covenants. Gaylord and each other Gaylord Bound Party, on the one
hand, and the Company, on the other, agree to comply with the provisions of Sections 5.4(a)
and 5.4(b) below from and after the Closing Date for a period of two (2) years following
the Closing Date:
(a) Non-Solicitation of Employees, Etc. Gaylord and each other Gaylord Bound Party,
on the one hand, and the Company, on the other, agree not to, directly or indirectly, without the
prior express written consent of the other, hire away or otherwise retain the services of any
executive or key employee of, or consultant to, the other party or any of its Majority Owned
Subsidiaries, nor entice or solicit or seek to induce or influence any such Person to leave their
employment with the other party or any of its Majority Owned Subsidiaries; provided however, that
this provision shall not restrict Gaylord, any other Gaylord Bound Party, or the Company from
hiring such employees who respond to advertisements directed at the public in general.
(b) Non-Interference with Supply Relationships. Gaylord and each other Gaylord Bound
Party, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other, agree not to, directly or indirectly, take
any action intended or reasonably likely to cause any supplier of the other party or any of its
Majority Owned Subsidiaries to refrain from doing business with the other party or any of its
Majority Owned Subsidiaries, increase its supply prices applicable to the other party or any of its
Majority Owned Subsidiaries or reduce the amount of trade with the other party or any of its
Majority Owned Subsidiaries; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5.4(b) shall
be deemed to prohibit Gaylord, any other Gaylord Bound Party, or the Company from operating their
business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice.
16
5.5 Remedies. Gaylord acknowledges and agrees that should any Gaylord Bound Party
violate any of its covenants contained in Sections 5.1 or 5.4, respectively, it
will be difficult to determine the resulting damages to the Company and, in addition to any other
remedies it may have, the Company shall be entitled to temporary injunctive relief without being
required to post a bond and permanent injunctive relief without the necessity of proving actual
damage. The Company may elect to seek one or more of these remedies at its sole discretion on a
case by case basis. Failure to seek any or all remedies in one case does not restrict the Company
from seeking any remedies in another situation. Such action by the Company shall not constitute a
waiver of any of its rights. The Company acknowledges and agrees that should the Company violate
its covenants contained in Sections 5.3 and 5.4 it will be difficult to determine
the resulting damages to GEC and, in addition to any other remedies it may have, the Company shall
be entitled to temporary injunctive relief without being required to post a bond and permanent
injunctive relief without the necessity of proving actual damage. GEC may elect to seek one or
more of these remedies at its sole discretion on a case by case basis. Failure to seek any or all
remedies in one case does not restrict GEC from seeking any remedies in another situation. Such
action by GEC shall not constitute a waiver of any of its rights.
5.6 Severability and Modification of Any Unenforceable Covenant. It is the parties
intent that each of the covenants contained herein (the Covenants) be read and
interpreted with every reasonable inference given to its enforceability. However, it is also the
parties intent that if any term, provision or condition of the Covenants is held to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remainder of the provisions thereof shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. Finally, it is also the parties
intent that if it is determined that any of the Covenants are unenforceable because of overbreadth,
then the Covenants shall be modified so as to make it reasonable and enforceable under the
prevailing circumstances.
5.7 Non-Disparagement. The Gaylord Bound Parties, on the one hand, and the Company,
on the other, shall not, and will cause their directors, managers, officers, employees, and agents
not to, orally or in writing (including, without limitation, in electronic or digital form),
intentionally disparage, belittle, ridicule, defame, denigrate or in any way make a negative or
disparaging statement with regard to the other party, its Affiliates, and their respective
directors, managers, officers, employees or agents, unless required to comply with applicable Law
or in a court, arbitration or other proceeding.
5.8 Reasonable Best Efforts. Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, the
Company and Gaylord Hotels each agree to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the conditions in
Article II to be satisfied.
5.9 Construction. Any reference to the Company in this Article V shall
include the Company and/or its Majority Owned Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates.
5.10 Certain Tax Matters. Gaylord Hotels share of the Companys income, gain, loss
and deduction for the taxable year of the Company that includes the Closing Date shall be
determined on the basis of an interim closing of the books of the Company as of the close of
business on the Closing Date. The parties agree that the Repurchase Price and any Additional
Transactional Payment shall constitute distributions under Section 736(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, and Gaylord Hotels shall not be allocated a share of any Company items
17
for any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date except to the extent such allocations
are required by or are consistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
6.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing of the
transactions contemplated hereby as follows:
(a) at any time upon the mutual written consent of Gaylord Hotels and the Company; or
(b) by Gaylord Hotels or the Company if the Closing shall not have occurred by the Outside
Termination Date (as defined below); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement
under this Section 6.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any
obligation under this Agreement shall have been the cause of, or shall have resulted in, the
failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to such date (it being agreed that for the purposes of
this Agreement, the Outside Termination Date shall be ninety (90) days from the date
hereof or such later date as GEC and the Company may mutually agree). Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, provided the Company shall have complied with its obligations under
Section 1.2(b), the failure of the condition to closing set forth in Section 2.1(d)
to be satisfied by the Outside Termination Date shall allow each of Gaylord Hotels and the Company
a right to terminate this Agreement thirty (30) days after the Outside Termination Date.
6.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided
in Section 6.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability
on the part of any party hereto; provided that (a) any such termination shall not relieve any party
from liability for any bad faith, fraud or for breach of this Agreement, and (b) the provisions of
this Section 6.2 , Section 5.3 and Article VII shall remain in full force
and effect and survive any termination of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event
of termination of this Agreement, the Existing Agreements shall remain in full force and effect.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
7.1 Confidentiality and Public Announcements. Neither Gaylord nor the Company shall
make any publicity releases, interviews or other disclosure or dissemination of any information
concerning this Agreement or its terms, or any partys performance hereunder, to any Person without
the prior written approval of the Company or Gaylord, as the case may be; provided, however, that
this provision shall not prevent disclosure: (a) as required by applicable Law; (b) to any partys
Affiliates or financial advisors or legal advisors who are bound by similar terms of
confidentiality; (c) as is, in good faith, deemed necessary or advisable under applicable
securities Laws or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange on which any partys securities
are or may be traded; (d) by the Company in connection with securing any consents or approvals
necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or with respect to financing of the
Company and/or its subsidiaries; (e) by the Company in connection with a Change of Control
Transaction or an IPO.
18
7.2 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed and enforced
to the extent possible or modified in such a way as to make it enforceable, and the invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability thereof shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of
the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
7.3 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES HERETO
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS
PRINCIPLES).
7.4 Arbitration. Any controversy or dispute arising out of this Agreement,
interpretation of any of the provisions hereof, or the action of any party hereunder shall be
submitted to arbitration before the American Arbitration Association under the commercial
arbitration rules then obtaining of said Association. Any award or decision obtained from any such
arbitration proceeding shall be final and binding on the parties, and judgment upon any award thus
obtained may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. No action at law or in equity
based upon any claim arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be instituted in any court
by any party except (i) an action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Section 7.4 or
(ii) an action to enforce an award obtained in an arbitration proceeding in accordance with this
Section 7.4.
7.5 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO COMPEL ARBITRATION AND/OR ENFORCE AN ARBITRATORS
DECISION OR AWARD PURSUANT TO SECTION 7.4 OR TO DEFEND ANY RIGHT, POWER, OR REMEDY UNDER OR
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE RELATED AGREEMENTS OR UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH
ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT, OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED
IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR ARISING FROM ANY RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY RELATED AGREEMENT. THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION CONSTITUTE A
MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT.
7.6 Notices. All notices, requests, instructions, claims, demands, consents and other
communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed
to have been duly given on the date delivered by hand or by courier service such as Federal
Express, or by other messenger (or, if delivery is refused, upon presentment) or upon receipt by
facsimile transmission (with confirmation), or upon delivery by registered or certified mail
(return receipt requested), postage prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses:
(a) if to the Company:
Bass Pro Group, LLC
2500 E. Kearney
Springfield, MO 65898
19
Fax: (417) 832-8365
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) sent simultaneously to:
Latham & Watkins LLP
Sears Tower, Suite 5800
233 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
Fax: (312) 993-9767
Attn: Michael A. Pucker
(b) if to Gaylord Hotels or GEC:
c/o Gaylord Entertainment Company
One Gaylord Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
Fax: (615) 316-6544
Attn: Carter R. Todd
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) sent simultaneously to:
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
315 Deaderick Street, Suite 2700
Nashville, Tennessee 37238-3001
Fax: (615) 742-2775
Attn: F. Mitchell Walker, Jr.
or to such other address as either party has provided prior written notice pursuant to this
Section 7.6. Notice by telecopy shall be deemed personally delivered upon senders receipt
of confirmation, produced by senders fax machine, that transmission was successful.
7.7 Pronouns And Headings. As used herein, all pronouns shall include the masculine,
feminine, neuter, singular and plural thereof wherever the context and facts require such
construction. The headings, titles and subtitles herein are inserted for convenience of reference
only and are to be ignored in any construction of the provisions hereof.
7.8 Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties hereto, and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors
and permitted assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no party hereto may assign any of its rights
or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company, in the case
of an assignment by Gaylord Hotels or GEC, or of Gaylord Hotels and GEC, in the case of an
assignment by the Company, and any purported assignment without such consent shall be void;
provided, however, that the Company may make such an assignment without consent to (i) its
Affiliates as long as the Company shall remain liable to Gaylord Hotels and GEC for its liabilities
and obligations hereunder or (ii) a successor to all or a material portion of its assets or
business, whether in a merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or other transaction, the definitive
20
written agreement for which shall contain an express assumption by the successor or assignee
of the Companys obligations hereunder; provided, further, that Gaylord may make such an assignment
without consent to (i) its Affiliates as long as the assigning Gaylord party shall remain liable to
the Company for its liabilities and obligations hereunder or (ii) a successor to all or a material
portion of its assets or business, whether in a merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or other
transaction, the definitive written agreement for which shall contain an express assumption by the
successor or assignee of the Companys obligations hereunder; provided, further, that
notwithstanding the foregoing, Gaylord shall not have the right to assign this Agreement (or
transfer any interest herein) to any Person engaged in a Competing Business.
7.9 No Waiver. Any extension or waiver of the obligations herein of either party
shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing referring to this section and signed
by the party to be bound thereby. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed as a
waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or a waiver
of any other term or condition, of this Agreement. The failure of any party to assert any of its
rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any of such rights.
7.10 No Oral Modification. Neither this Agreement nor any of its terms or provisions
may be amended, modified, waived, discharged or terminated, except by a written instrument signed
by Gaylord Hotels, GEC and the Company.
7.11 Expenses. Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, all costs and
expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and
accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such
cost and expenses. For the avoidance of doubt, the fees and expenses incurred by Goldman Sachs &
Co. shall be paid solely by the Company.
7.12 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the other documents referred to
herein which form a part hereof, and the General Releases of Claims contain the full agreement
between Gaylord Hotels, GEC, the Company, the Guarantors, American Sportsman, JLM Partners, and KB
Partners and any other party that now or hereafter joins in the executions hereof on its subject
matters, and supersedes and renders null and void all prior agreements or understandings, whether
written or oral, which exist or may have existed between the parties with respect to its subject
matters, including, without limitation, the Existing Agreements (to the extent provided in
Section 1.5 above).
7.13 Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties
set forth in Article III and Article IV shall survive the Closing; provided that
the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.6(a) shall survive until the
eighteen (18) month anniversary of the Closing Date. All covenants to be performed following the
Closing Date shall survive the Closing.
7.14 Additional Documents. The parties hereto will, without additional consideration,
execute and deliver such further instruments and take such other action as may be reasonably
requested by any other party hereto in order to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and the
General Releases of Claims.
21
7.15 Legal Representation. Each party hereto has been represented by counsel of its
choice in the negotiation of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been drafted
by each of the parties hereto jointly, and no rule of construction shall be invoked respecting the
authorship hereof.
7.16 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto (and solely as provided in
Section 1.5, the other parties to the Existing Agreements) any rights or remedies of any
nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement. This
Agreement and all of its provisions and conditions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
parties to this Agreement (and solely as provided in Section 1.5 the other parties to the
Existing Agreements) and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
7.17 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
shall be an original, and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same
instrument. The parties agree that telecopied copies of signatures will be sufficient, with
original signature pages to be supplied and exchanged at a later date.
Signature page follows
22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
|
|
|
|
|
|
BASS PRO GROUP, LLC
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Kenneth N. Burroughs
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Kenneth N. Burroughs |
|
|
|
Title: |
President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAYLORD HOTELS, INC.
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Colin V. Reed
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Colin V. Reed |
|
|
|
Title: |
President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Colin V. Reed
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Colin V. Reed |
|
|
|
Title: |
President |
|
|
Acknowledged and agreed to for
the limited purposes of Sections 2.1(f)(iii) and 5.1 and hereof:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Colin V. Reed
|
|
|
Colin Reed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ David Kloeppel
|
|
|
David Kloeppel |
|
|
23
Acknowledged and agreed to for
the limited purposes of Sections 1.5 and 2.2(d)(v) hereof:
|
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN SPORTSMAN HOLDINGS CO.
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Kenneth N. Burroughs
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Kenneth N. Burroughs |
|
|
|
Title: |
President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JLM PARTNERS, LP
|
|
|
By: |
John L. Morris Revocable Living Trust
|
|
|
|
U/A dated October 23, 1986, as |
|
|
|
amended, its general partner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ John L. Morris
|
|
|
|
John L. Morris, not individually, |
|
|
|
but solely in his capacity as Trustee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KB CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Kenneth N. Burroughs
|
|
|
|
Kenneth N. Burroughs, its general partner |
|
|
24
Acknowledged and agreed to for
the limited purposes of Section 1.3(b) hereof:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BASS PRO, INC.
|
|
BIG CEDAR, L.L.C. |
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
Bass Pro Group, LLC, its sole member |
By: |
|
/s/ Toni M. Miller
Name: Toni M. Miller
Title: Vice President, CFO, Treasurer & Secretary
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Toni M. Miller
Name: Toni M. Miller
Title: Vice President, CFO & Treasurer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TRACKER MARINE, L.L.C.
|
|
TRACKER MARINE RETAIL, LLC |
By: |
|
Bass Pro Group, LLC, its sole member |
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Toni M. Miller
Name: Toni M. Miller
Title: Vice President, CFO & Treasurer
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Toni M. Miller
Name: Toni M. Miller
Title: Vice President |
25
Ex-99.1
Exhibit 99.1
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT TO SELL ITS
STAKE IN BASS PRO GROUP
Nashville, Tenn. (April 3, 2007) Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET) (the Company) today
announced that the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Gaylord Hotels, Inc. (Gaylord Hotels
and together with the Company, Gaylord), have entered into an agreement for the sale of all of
their interest in Bass Pro Group, LLC for $222 million. Bass Pro Group, LLC will purchase all
equity interests currently owned by Gaylord pursuant to a Common Unit Repurchase Agreement among
Bass Pro Group, LLC, Gaylord Entertainment, Gaylord Hotels and, for the limited purposes set forth
therein, American Sportsman Holdings Co., JLM Partners, LP, KB Capital Partners, LP, certain
subsidiaries of Bass Pro Group, and certain other parties.
The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of calendar year 2007, and is
subject to customary closing conditions, including financing. Goldman, Sachs & Co. is acting as
financial adviser to Bass Pro Group. Gaylord Entertainment and Bass Pro Group have agreed to enter
into joint marketing agreements that will continue following the closing.
We have been quite pleased with our investment in what has become the premier brand in outdoor
sporting goods. Our shareholders have reaped strong returns from this investment, said Colin V.
Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Gaylord Entertainment. We have said before that we
would consider selling our stake in this business and doing so at this time is consistent with our
strategy to direct Gaylords full resources to our robust and growing hotel business, where there
continues to be a great amount of opportunity for further growth. The net proceeds from this sale
will be appropriately directed to our hotel business so that we can further solidify its full
potential. We are also excited to announce that Bass Pro Group will become a sponsor of the Grand
Ole Opry under a five-year agreement and we look forward to the benefits of advertising through
Bass Pro Groups strong marketing channels.
About Gaylord Entertainment:
Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in
Nashville, Tenn., owns and operates three industry-leading brands Gaylord Hotels
(www.gaylordhotels.com), its network of upscale, meetings-focused resorts, ResortQuest
(www.resortquest.com), the nations largest vacation rental property management company, and the
Grand Ole Opry (www.opry.com), the weekly showcase of country musics finest performers for 80
consecutive years. The companys entertainment brands and properties include the Radisson Hotel
Opryland, Ryman Auditorium, General Jackson Showboat, Gaylord Springs, Wildhorse Saloon, and
WSM-AM. For more information about the company, visit www.gaylordentertainment.com.
|
|
|
Investor Relations Contacts:
|
|
Media Contacts: |
David Kloeppel, CFO
|
|
Elliot Sloane |
Gaylord Entertainment
|
|
Sloane & Company |
(615) 316-6101
|
|
(212) 446-1860 |
dkloeppel@gaylordentertainment.com
|
|
esloane@sloanepr.com |
~or~
|
|
~or~ |
Key Foster, VP Treasury, Strategic |
|
|
Planning & Investor Relations
|
|
Josh Hochberg |
Gaylord Entertainment
|
|
Sloane & Company |
(615) 316-6132
|
|
(212) 446-1892 |
kfoster@gaylordentertainment.com
|
|
jhochberg@sloanepr.com |
~or~ |
|
|
Rob Tanner, Director
|
|
Brian Abrahamson |
Investor Relations
|
|
Corporate Communications |
Gaylord Entertainment
|
|
Gaylord Entertainment |
(615) 316-6572
|
|
(615)316-6302 |
rtanner@gaylordentertainment.com
|
|
babrahamson@gaylordentertainment.com |