Section 8.4 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether at Law, in contract or in tort or otherwise, except as otherwise provided in this Section
8.4) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any
choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware (except that matters relating to (i) the exercise of fiduciary duties by the members of the Company Board or
officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) whether appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights are available to the Company’s shareholders in connection with the Merger, in each case shall be subject to the laws of the State of Louisiana).
Section 8.5 Jurisdiction; Specific Enforcement.
(a) The parties agree that irreparable damage, for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed, or were threatened to be not performed, in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that, in addition to any other remedy that may be available to it at law or in equity, each of the parties
shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions or equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery and any state appellate
court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware), and all such rights and remedies at law or in
equity shall be cumulative, except as may be limited by Section 7.3. The parties further agree that no party to this Agreement shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar
instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section 8.5 and each party waives any objection to the imposition of such relief or any right it may have to
require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.
(b) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder, or for recognition
and enforcement of any judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder brought by the other party hereto or its successors or assigns, shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Delaware Court of
Chancery and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware). Each of the
parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such action or proceeding for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring
any action relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the Transactions in any court other than the aforesaid courts in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 8.5(b). Each of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the
jurisdiction of the above named courts, (ii) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to
judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable Law, any claim that (A) the suit, action or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient
forum, (B) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper or (C) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each of the parties hereto hereby
consents to the service of process in accordance with Section 8.7; provided, however, that nothing herein shall
affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law.
Section 8.6 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND
DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 8.7 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified; (b) when sent
by email (if delivered without receipt of any “bounceback” or similar notice indicating failure of delivery); or (c) when delivered by a courier (with confirmation of delivery), in each case to the party to be notified at the following address:
To Parent or Merger Sub:
IES Holdings, Inc.
Attention: William Albright; Mary Newman; Michael Keasey; Yasin Khan
13131 Dairy Ashford Rd, Suite 500
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Email: [***]
with copies to:
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
1550 Lamar Street, Suite 2000
Attention: Brian Fenske; Thomas Verity
Houston, Texas 77010
Email: [***]
To the Company:
Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.
Attention: Richard Heo; Westley Stockton;
2170 Buckthorne Place, Suite 420
The Woodlands, Texas 77390
E-mail: [***]
with copies to:
Jones Walker LLP
201 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 5100
New Orleans, LA 70170
Attn: Curtis R. Hearn; Alexandra C. Layfield; Thomas D. Kimball
E-mail: [***]
or to such other address as any party shall specify by written notice so given, and such notice shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so telecommunicated or personally delivered. Any party to this
Agreement may notify any other party of any changes to the address or any of the other details specified in this paragraph; provided, however, that such notification
shall only be effective on the date specified in such notice or five (5) business days after the notice is given, whichever is later.
Section 8.8 Assignment; Binding Effect. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by any of the parties hereto
without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided that Parent may assign, or cause to be assigned any rights or obligations of Parent or Merger Sub under this Agreement to any wholly-owned
Subsidiary of Parent without seeking the consent of any other person; as long as such assignment shall not reasonably be expected to have an adverse impact on the Company or shareholders of the Company or reasonably be expected to prevent or impair,
interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of, or Parent’s ability to consummate, the Merger or the other Transactions. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and assigns. Any purported assignment not permitted under this Section 8.8 shall be null and void.
Section 8.9 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is held to be invalid or unenforceable in a court of competent jurisdiction shall be ineffective to the extent
of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement. Upon such a determination, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to
effect the original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the Transactions are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad
as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.
Section 8.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with the exhibits hereto, schedules hereto, and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all
other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and this Agreement is not intended to grant standing to any person other than the parties
hereto.
Section 8.11 Disclosure Schedules. Each of the Company Disclosure Schedule and the Parent Disclosure Schedule (each, a “Disclosure Schedule” and collectively, the “Disclosure
Schedules”) shall be arranged in separate parts corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections set forth in this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement any disclosure set forth in any particular Section or subsection of a Disclosure
Schedule shall be deemed to be an exception to (or, as applicable, a disclosure for purposes of) (a) the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other provisions hereof of the respective party that are contained in the corresponding
Section or subsection of this Agreement, and (b) any other representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other provisions hereof of the respective party that are contained in this Agreement, but in the case of this clause (b) only if
the relevance of that disclosure as an exception to (or a disclosure for purposes of) such representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and other provisions hereof, is reasonably apparent on its face. The headings contained in each Disclosure
Schedule are for reference purposes only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of such Disclosure Schedule. Items disclosed in the Disclosure Schedules are not necessarily limited to the items that this Agreement requires to be
reflected therein, and certain items disclosed in the Disclosure Schedules are included solely for informational purposes or to avoid misunderstanding. Any item of information, matter or document disclosed or referenced in, or attached to, the
Disclosure Schedules will not (a) be used as a basis for interpreting the terms “material,” “Company Material Adverse Effect,” “Parent Material Adverse Effect” or other similar terms in this Agreement, as applicable, or to
establish a standard of materiality, (b) represent a determination that such item or matter did not arise in the ordinary course of business, (c) constitute, or be deemed to constitute, an admission of liability or obligation regarding such matter or
(d) constitute, or be deemed to constitute, an admission to any third party concerning such item or matter. All references in the Disclosure Schedules are not intended to be admissible against any party to this Agreement by any person who is not a
party to this Agreement or give rise to any claim or benefit to any person who is not a party to this Agreement. The disclosure of any allegation, threat, notice or other communication in the Disclosure Schedules shall not be deemed to include
disclosure of the truth of the matter communicated. In addition, the disclosure of any matter in the Disclosure Schedules is not to be deemed an admission or indication that such matter actually constitutes noncompliance with, or any violation or
breach of, applicable Law, any Contract or other topic to which such disclosure is applicable, or that any such noncompliance, violation or breach has actually occurred. In disclosing matters in the Disclosure Schedules, the relevant parties
expressly do not waive any attorney-client privilege or protection afforded by the work-product doctrine with respect to such matters. The information contained in the Disclosure Schedules is confidential, proprietary information of the parties
providing such information, and the other parties to this Agreement shall be obligated to maintain and protect such confidential information in accordance with this Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement. The Company Disclosure Schedule and
Parent Disclosure Schedule shall each be delivered as of the entry into this Agreement, and no amendments or modifications thereto shall be made without the written consent of Parent (in the case of an amendment or modification to the Company
Disclosure Schedule) or the Company (in the case of an amendment or modification to the Parent Disclosure Schedule). Any purported update or modification to the Company Disclosure Schedule or the Parent Disclosure Schedule after the entry into this
Agreement that is not so consented to shall be disregarded.
Section 8.12 Amendments; Waivers. At any time prior to the Effective Time, any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in
writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective; provided, however, that after receipt of Company Shareholder Approval, if any such amendment or waiver shall by applicable Law require further approval of the shareholders of the Company or the stockholders of Parent, as applicable, the
effectiveness of such amendment or waiver shall be subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company or the stockholders of Parent, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by any party hereto in exercising any right
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder.
Section 8.13 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each of the parties agrees that (i) their respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein are solely for the
benefit of the applicable parties hereto, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder,
including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, except in each case, for Section 5.10 (of which the Indemnified Parties are express third party beneficiaries).
Section 8.14 Headings. Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Agreement are for convenience of the parties only and shall be given no substantive or interpretive effect
whatsoever. The table of contents to this Agreement is for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 8.15 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or Section, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used
in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires. The term “or” is not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the
degree to which a subject or other thing extends and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” The term “ordinary course of business” shall mean the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. Except as otherwise indicated, all
references in this Agreement to “Sections,” “Exhibits” and “Schedules” are intended to refer to Sections of this Agreement and Exhibits or Schedules to this Agreement. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in
any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant thereto unless otherwise defined therein. Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all references in this Agreement to “dollars” or “$” shall mean U.S. Dollars and all amounts in this
Agreement shall be paid in U.S. Dollars, and if any amounts. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of
such term. References in this Agreement to specific laws or to specific provisions of laws shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument referred to
herein shall mean such statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including by succession of comparable successor statutes. When calculating the period of time within which, or following which, any action is to be taken pursuant
to this Agreement, the date that is the reference day in calculating such period shall be excluded. References to days shall refer to calendar days unless business days are specified. Each of the parties has participated in the drafting and
negotiation of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement must be construed as if it was drafted by all the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any
party by virtue of authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 8.16 Definitions.
(a) As used in this Agreement:
(i) “Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified person, any other person, whether now in existence or hereafter created, directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under
direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For purposes of this definition and the definition of Subsidiary, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means,
with respect to a person, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of equity interests, including but not limited to voting securities, by contract
or agency or otherwise.
(ii) “Anti-Corruption Laws” means (A) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; (B) the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, as amended; and (C) any other applicable Law relating
to anti-bribery or anti-corruption in any jurisdiction in which any party to this Agreement is located or doing business.
(iii) “Benefit Plan” means any (A) “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA (whether or not subject to ERISA), (B) bonus, incentive or deferred compensation or
equity or equity-based compensation plan, program, policy or arrangement, including employer stock and incentive plans, (C) severance, change in control, employment, individual consulting, pension, retirement, profit sharing, retention or termination
plan, program, agreement, policy or arrangement or (D) other compensation or benefit plan, program, agreement, policy, practice, contract or arrangement and whether or not subject to ERISA, including all bonus, cash or equity-based incentive,
deferred compensation, stock purchase, health, medical, dental, vision, or other health plans, disability, accident, life insurance, or vacation, paid time off, perquisite, fringe benefit, severance, change of control, retention, employment,
separation, retirement, pension, or savings, plans, programs, policies, agreements or arrangements.
(iv) “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday for commercial banks in New York, New York or Houston, Texas.
(v) “CARES Act” means Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, as amended.
(vi) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(vii) “Company Acquisition Proposal” means any bona fide offer or proposal, whether or not in writing, or any bona
fide written indication of interest, received from or made public by a third party (other than an offer, proposal or indication of interest by Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Subsidiaries) relating to any Company Acquisition
Transaction.
(viii) “Company Acquisition Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions (other than the Transactions) pursuant to which any person, other than Parent, Merger Sub
or their respective Affiliates, (A) directly or indirectly acquires (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, and whether through merger, tender offer, exchange offer, business combination, consolidation or otherwise)
beneficial ownership, or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of any business or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose business constitutes fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Company’s consolidated net revenues, net income,
EBITDA or assets (based on their fair market value thereof), (B) directly or indirectly acquires or purchases fifteen percent (15%) or more of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose business constitutes fifteen
percent (15%) or more of the Company’s consolidated net revenues, net income, EBITDA or assets (based on their fair market value thereof), (C) commences a tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any person beneficially
owning fifteen percent (15%) or more of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose business constitutes fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Company’s consolidated net revenues, net income, EBITDA or assets (based
on their fair market value thereof), or (D) directly or indirectly commences any merger, consolidation, business combination, joint venture, partnership, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries whose business constitutes fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Company’s consolidated net revenues, net income, EBITDA or assets (based on their fair market value thereof).
(ix) “Company Benefit Plans” means all Benefit Plans sponsored, maintained, contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of
any current or former directors, officers, employees or other individual service providers of the Company or its Subsidiaries or their dependents, or under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any liability (contingent or otherwise, but
excluding any statutory plan, program, or arrangement that is required under applicable Law, other than the laws of the United States of America, and maintained by any Governmental Entity).
(x) “Company Excluded Stock” shall mean any shares of Company Common Stock held in treasury of the Company or held by Parent or Merger Sub, held by any controlled Affiliate of Parent
or Merger Sub, or held by any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent or Merger Sub, in each case except for any such shares held on behalf of third parties who are not controlled Affiliates of the foregoing.
(xi) “Company Incentive Plan” means the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan.
(xii) “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, change, effect, development or occurrence that has had, or would be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the
aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, property, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any event that creates a prohibition, material impediment, or material
delay in the consummation of the Transactions by the Company, other than any event, change, effect, development, circumstance, condition or occurrence resulting from, relating to or arising out of (A) the announcement or the existence of, compliance
with or performance under, this Agreement or the Transactions, (B) changes or proposed changes in laws, rules or regulations of general applicability to companies in the industries in which the Company and any of its Subsidiaries operate, the LBCA,
the rules and regulations of the SEC, or interpretations thereof by courts or Governmental Entities, (C) any changes in GAAP or accounting standards or interpretations thereof, (D) any failure by the Company to meet any internal or external financial
projections or forecasts or estimates of revenues, earnings or other financial metrics for any period (provided that the exception in this clause (D) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a
determination that any event, change, effect, circumstance, condition, development or occurrence underlying such failure has resulted in, or contributed to, a Company Material Adverse Effect), (E) any changes in the share price or trading volume of
the Company Common Stock or in the credit rating of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (provided that the exception in this clause (E) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any
event, change, effect, development or occurrence underlying such change has resulted in, or contributed to, a Company Material Adverse Effect), (F) any shutdown of a Governmental Entity, including any shutdown of the U.S. federal government, (G)
changes generally affecting the United States or global economy, financial or securities markets, or political conditions, including any tariffs or trade wars, (H) geopolitical conditions, acts of war, sabotage, or terrorism, or military actions, or
the escalation thereof, (I) any hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake or other natural disasters, (J) weather conditions, epidemics, pandemics, disease outbreaks or other public health emergencies (as declared by the World Health Organization or the
Health and Human Services Secretary of the United States) or other force majeure events, or (K) conditions generally affecting any of the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate; except, with respect to subclauses (B), (C)
and (G) through (K), solely to the extent disproportionately affecting the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated companies in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate.
(xiii) “Company Permitted Lien” means any Lien (A) for Taxes not yet due and payable or being contested in good faith through appropriate Tax Proceedings, in each case, for which adequate
accruals or reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (B) that is a carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other similar lien arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet delinquent or
that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (C) not created by the Company or its Subsidiaries that affect the underlying fee interest of a Company Leased Real
Property and that do not impair the use or operation of the Company Leased Real Property to which they relate, (D) recorded servitudes, rights-of-way, declarations, covenants, restrictions, surface or subsurface leases, crossing rights and similar
matters of record (including all amendments, modifications, and supplements thereto) granted in the ordinary course of business that do not and would not reasonably be expected to impair the value (beyond a de
minimis extent), use or operation of the Company Real Property to which such matter relates, (E) the terms and conditions of the leases, subleases, licenses, sublicenses or other occupancy agreements
pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a tenant, subtenant or occupant, provided that the same have been disclosed in accordance with the terms of Section 3.16, (F) defects, irregularities or imperfections of title, or
encroachments that do not and would not reasonably be expected to materially impair the use or value (beyond a de minimis extent) of the Company Real Property to
which any such matter relates, (G) any mineral or mineral rights leased, granted, or retained by current or prior owners of the Company Real Property, (H) servitudes and rights of way for roads, sidewalks and utility lines running through, over or
across the Company Real Property, provided that such servitudes and rights of way for roads, sidewalks, and utility lines are not in conflict with the present use of the Company Real Property and no Company Real Property improvements impermissibly
encroach upon the same, (I) any dispute as to the boundaries of any Company Real Property caused by the change in the location of any water body within or adjacent to the Company Real Property, and any adverse claim to all or part of the Company
Real Property that is or was previously under water, (J) any rights of any Governmental Entity or the public with respect to any banks and water bottoms of any Company Real Property located within or adjacent to a navigable waterway, (K)
that is a non-exclusive Intellectual Property license or (L) that is a gap or defect in chain of title for Intellectual Property that is evident from publicly-available records.
(xiv) “Company Real Property” means, collectively, the Company Owned Real Property and the Company Leased Real Property.
(xv) “Company Required Vote” means the approval of at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by holders of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.
(xvi) “Company RSU Award” means an outstanding award of restricted stock units granted under the Company Incentive Plan covering shares of Company Common Stock.
(xvii) “Company Superior Offer” means a bona fide written Company Acquisition Proposal for a Company Acquisition Transaction (with references in the definition thereof to “fifteen percent
(15%)” being deemed to be replaced with references to “fifty percent (50%)”) on terms that the Company Board, or any committee thereof, determines, in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and its financial advisor, is (A) if
accepted, reasonably likely to be consummated and (B) more favorable to the shareholders of the Company than the Transactions taking into account at the time of determination any proposal by Parent to amend or modify the terms of this Agreement
committed to in writing and after taking into account all aspects of the Company Acquisition Proposal, including the form of consideration, the adequacy and conditionality of any financing, and the timing and likelihood of consummation.
(xviii) “Contract” means any agreement, contract, obligation, promise, understanding or undertaking (whether written or oral) that is legally binding.
(xix) “Environmental Law” means any Law (A) relating to human health and safety (to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials), pollution, the protection, preservation or
restoration of the environment (including air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource or environmental media), or any exposure to or Release of, or the
management of (including the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, registration, production, treatment or disposal of) any Hazardous Materials, or (B) that regulates, imposes liability
(including for enforcement, investigatory costs, cleanup, removal or response costs, natural resource damages, contribution, injunctive relief, personal injury or property damage), or establishes legally binding standards of care, including
recordkeeping, notification, disclosure, reporting, permitting, registration, license, and approval requirements, with respect to any of the foregoing, in each case as in effect as of or prior to the Closing Date, including,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Clean Air Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Hazardous & Solid Waste Amendments Act of 1984, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Hazardous Materials
Transportation Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, any state or local laws and regulations implementing or governing matters similar to the foregoing federal laws, and all other foreign, federal, state or local environmental conservation or
protection laws, all as amended from time to time from enactment or adoption.
(xx) “ERISA” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute, rules and
regulations thereto.
(xxi) “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any person, trade or business, any other person, trade or business (whether or not incorporated), that together with such first person,
trade or business, is, or was at a relevant time, treated as a single employer or under common control, in either case, under or within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
(xxii) “Fraud” means actual fraud as such term is defined by Delaware jurisprudence as of the date of this Agreement in the making of the representations and warranties expressly set
forth in Article III or Article IV, but not constructive fraud, equitable fraud or negligent misrepresentation or omission.
(xxiii) “Governmental Entity” means any federal, tribal, state, local, foreign or multinational government, court of competent jurisdiction, governmental or quasi-governmental agency,
commission or other authority, legislature, executive, or administrative or regulatory body, arbitration or mediation tribunal, or any instrumentality of any of the foregoing.
(xxiv) “Governmental Official” means: (A) any full- or part-time officer or employee of any Governmental Entity, whether elected or appointed; (B) any person acting in an official capacity
or exercising a public function for or on behalf of any Governmental Entity; or (C) any political parties, political party officials, or candidates for political office.
(xxv) “Hazardous Materials” means (A) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, radon, asbestos in any form or condition, lead-based paint, urea formaldehyde, and
polychlorinated biphenyls; (B) materials, substances, wastes, chemicals, compounds, mixtures, products, coproducts or byproducts, impurities, biological agents, pollutants or contaminants that are defined, characterized as, regulated or included in
the definition of “hazardous substances,” “hazardous materials,” “hazardous wastes,” “extremely hazardous wastes,” “restricted hazardous wastes,” “special waste,” “toxic substances,” “pollutants,” “contaminants,” “toxic,” “dangerous,” “corrosive,”
“flammable,” “reactive,” “radioactive,” or words of similar regulatory meaning and effect under any applicable Environmental Law or (C) any other chemical, material or substance that is regulated or for which liability or legally binding standards of
conduct are imposed under any Environmental Law due to its dangerous, deleterious or other properties.
(xxvi) “Intellectual Property” means all past, present, and future intellectual property rights throughout the world, including all: (A) patents and industrial property rights, (B)
Trademarks, trade names, and similar rights, including the goodwill associated with the same, (C) copyrights and all other intellectual property rights in works of authorship, including exclusive exploitation rights, copyrights and moral rights, (D)
mask works, designs, and database rights, (E) trade secrets and all other intellectual property rights in confidential or proprietary information (including intellectual property rights in know-how, technology, data, databases, formulas, algorithms,
compositions, processes and techniques, formulae, research and development information, drawings, models, specifications, diagrams, research records, records of inventions, test information, financial, marketing and business data, pricing and cost
information, business and marketing plans and proposals and customer and supplier lists, and any other materials that embody, contain or reflect any of the foregoing, anywhere in the world), (F) intellectual property rights in Software, (G) rights of
publicity or proprietary rights pertaining to the name, image, and likeness of an individual, and (H) all rights in or relating to registrations, renewals, extensions, combinations, divisions, reissues of, and applications for the registration or
issuance of any of the foregoing.
(xxvii) “Intervening Event” means any event, change, effect, circumstance, development or occurrence regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries that is not known or reasonably foreseeable
(or if known or reasonably foreseeable, the material consequences of which were not known or reasonably foreseeable), to or by the Company Board, as the case may be, as of the date of this Agreement; provided,
however, that such event, change, effect, development or occurrence shall not constitute an Intervening Event if such event, change, effect, circumstance, development or occurrence results from or arises out
of (A) the announcement or the existence of, compliance with or performance under, this Agreement or the Transactions (including the impact thereof on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, with employees, labor unions, customers, suppliers or
partners, and including any lawsuit, action or other proceeding with respect to the Transactions), (B) any Company Acquisition Proposal, (C) any Company Acquisition Transaction or (D) any Company Superior Offer.
(xxviii) “IT Assets” means the computers, software, servers, routers, hubs, switches, circuits, networks, data communications lines and all other information technology infrastructure and
equipment of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are owned or leased by the Company and its Subsidiaries and used by them in connection with the operation of their business.
(xxix) “knowledge” means (A) with respect to Parent and its respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, the actual knowledge, after reasonable investigation of their direct reports, of
the individuals listed in Section 8.16(a)(xxix) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule and (B) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the actual knowledge, after reasonable investigation of their direct reports, of the individuals
listed in Section 8.16(a)(xxix) of the Company Disclosure Schedule (a “Key Company Employee”).
(xxx) “Labor Agreement” means any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a union, works council, labor organization, or other employee representative governing the terms
and conditions of employment of employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(xxxi) “Lien” means any liens, claims, charges, mortgages, deeds of trust, encumbrances, covenants, conditions, restrictions, adverse rights, easements, pledges, security interests of any
kind or nature, equities, options, hypothecations, rights of way, rights of first refusal, prior assignments, licenses, sublicenses, defects in title, encroachments, burdens, options or charges of any kind (whether contingent or absolute) or any
agreement, option, right or privilege (whether by Law, contract or otherwise) capable of becoming any of the foregoing.
(xxxii) “Merger Consideration” means the aggregate Per Share Merger Consideration payable hereunder with respect to all shares of Company Common Stock and Company RSU Awards, on the terms
and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.
(xxxiii) “Parent Acquisition Financing” means a financing arrangement by Parent (or any direct or indirect Affiliate thereof) in connection with the Transactions upon the terms and subject to
conditions acceptable to Parent in its sole discretion.
(xxxiv) “Parent Material Adverse Effect” means any event, change, effect, development or occurrence that, either individually or in the aggregate, is or would be reasonably likely to prevent
or materially impair, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of, or Parent or Merger Sub’s ability to consummate, the Merger or the other Transactions.
(xxxv) “Parent Shares” means shares of the common stock of Parent, par value $0.01.
(xxxvi) “Per Share Merger Consideration” means $12.00, without interest.
(xxxvii) “person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, group (as such term is used in Section 13 of the
Exchange Act) or organization, including a Governmental Entity, and any permitted successors and assigns of such person.
(xxxviii) “Personal Information” means information, in any form, that identifies or relates to or is used to contact or locate a natural person or is “protected health information,”
“personally identifiable information,” “personal information,” “personal data” or similar term under one or more applicable Data Privacy Obligations.
(xxxix) “PPP Lender” means Hancock Whitney Bank.
(xl) “PPP Loan” means the loan disbursed to the Company in connection with the “Paycheck Protection Program”, SBA Loan No.: 3781457104, in the original principal amount of $10,000,000,
approved on April 12, 2020.
(xli) “Qualifying Termination” means a termination of employment (A) solely if such termination occurs after the date that is eighteen (18) months following the Closing Date, by the
Surviving Corporation, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries due to a reduction in force or for the convenience of the Surviving Corporation, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries, in each case, other than due to the failure of the
holder to perform or satisfy his or her responsibilities or duties, (B) due to the holder’s death or Disability (as defined in the Company Incentive Plan) or (C) solely if such termination occurs on or prior to the date that is eighteen (18) months
following the Closing Date, (1) by the Surviving Corporation, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries other than for Cause (as defined in the Company Incentive Plan) or (2) by the applicable employee for Good Reason (as defined in the Company
Incentive Plan). For clarity, a Qualifying Termination shall not include (1) a termination of employment for Cause (as defined in the Company Incentive Plan) or a (2) a resignation for Good Reason that occurs following the date that is eighteen (18)
months following the Closing Date.
(xlii) “Regulatory Law” means the HSR Act, the Sherman Act of 1890, as amended, the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, the Federal Trade Commission Act and all other Laws that are
designed or intended to (A) prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization, restraint of trade or lessening competition through merger or acquisition (including all antitrust, competition, merger control and
trade regulation Laws) or (B) protect the national security or the national economy of any nation, or prohibit, restrict or regulate foreign investment.
(xliii) “Release” means any releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, disposing, migrating, or dumping into or through
the indoor or outdoor environment (including soil, surface water, ground water, land surface, subsurface strata, ambient air, wildlife, plants or other natural resources).
(xliv) “Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory that is itself the target of comprehensive Sanctions (as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea,
Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and so-called Luhansk People’s Republic).
(xlv) “Sanctioned Person” means (A) any person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the
Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any Member State of the European Union, or the United Kingdom; (B) any person operating, organized, or resident in a Sanctioned
Country; or (C) any person fifty (50)% or more owned or controlled by any such person or persons or acting for or on behalf of such person or persons.
(xlvi) “Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the United States (including by OFAC or the U.S.
Department of State) and the United Nations Security Council.
(xlvii) “SBA” means the U.S. Small Business Administration.
(xlviii) “Software” means all software, firmware, middleware, computer programs and applications, including any and all software implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies,
whether in source code or object code, and all computerized or electronic databases, and excluding non-exclusive, unmodified “off-the-shelf” software licensed to the Company for internal use purposes on generally standard terms or conditions
involving consideration of less than $50,000, including purchase orders.
(xlix) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or business entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of
which (A) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by that person or one or more Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof, (B) if a partnership (whether general or limited), a general partner interest is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by
that person or one or more Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof or (C) if a limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership
interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that person or one or more Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a person or persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership
interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such person or persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business
entity gains or losses.
(l) “Takeover Laws” means any “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “supermajority,” “affiliate transactions” or “business combination statute or regulation” or other
similar state anti-takeover Laws and regulations.
(li) “Tax” or “Taxes” means any and all U.S. federal, state, local, provincial or non-U.S. taxes, customs, duties, tariffs, fees, assessments and similar charges, including all
net income, gross receipts, capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, escheat, abandoned or unclaimed
property, severance, stamp, occupation, property, estimated or other tax governmental charge, assessment or deficiency, including any and all interest, penalties, fines, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Entity in
connection or with respect thereto.
(lii) “Tax Return” means any return, report, declaration, form, notice, election, estimate, claim for refund or information return (including any attachment, schedule, supplement and
additional or supporting material and including any amendments thereof) filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Entity with respect to any Tax (in each case, whether in written, electronic or other form).
(liii) “Termination Fee” means $7,574,514.24.
(liv) “Trade Controls” means all applicable (A) trade, export control, import, and antiboycott laws and regulations imposed, administered, or enforced by the U.S. government, including
the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. § 1778), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701–1706), Section 999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the U.S. customs laws at Title 19 of the U.S. Code, the Export Control Reform Act of
2018 (50 U.S.C. §§ 4801-4861), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 C.F.R. Parts 120–130), the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774) (“EAR”), including all controls, restrictions and requirements under the EAR
related to Russia, Belarus, or the People’s Republic of China, the U.S. customs regulations at 19 C.F.R. Chapter 1, and the Foreign Trade Regulations (15 C.F.R. Part 30); and (B) non-U.S. trade, export control, and import laws and regulations,
including EU Regulation 2021/821 (as amended), the Export Control Order 2008, or any other applicable export control legislation or regulation imposed, administered, or enforced by any other country, except to the extent inconsistent with U.S. law.
(lv) “Trademarks” means trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, slogans, domain names, social media usernames and other indicia of commercial origin, and all
goodwill associated therewith and symbolized thereby.
(lvi) “Transaction Expenses” means attorneys’ fees, accounting fees, the fees of Johnson Rice, and other costs, expenses or fees of Parent and its Subsidiaries that, based upon
reasonable inquiry, are expected to be paid, incurred or accrued through or on the Effective Time in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions, the Company Shareholder Meeting (including any postponements and adjournments thereof and the
solicitation of proxies or votes thereat) and the other transactions contemplated thereby or incidental or related thereto.
(lvii) “Treasury Regulations” means the regulations (including temporary regulations) promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions
of the Code. All references in this Agreement to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding provisions or provisions of succeeding, similar or substitute, temporary or final Treasury Regulations.
(lviii) “WARN Act” means the U.S. federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended, and similar state, local and foreign Laws related to plant closings,
relocations and mass layoffs.
(lix) “Willful Breach” means a material breach or failure to perform that is the consequence of a deliberate act or omission of the breaching party.
(b) Each of the following terms is defined in the section of this Agreement set forth opposite such term:
Index of Defined Terms
|
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement
|
Section 5.3(b)
|
|
Action
|
Section 5.10(b)
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
|
Articles of Merger
|
Section 1.3
|
|
Balance Sheet Date
|
Section 3.6
|
|
Book-Entry Shares
|
Section 2.2
|
|
Certificate
|
Section 2.2
|
|
Closing
|
Section 1.2
|
|
Closing Date
|
Section 1.2
|
|
Commitment Period
|
Section 5.10(a)
|
|
Company
|
Preamble
|
|
Company 401(k) Plan
|
Section 5.6(c)
|
|
Company Acquisition Agreement
|
Section 5.3(f)(ii)
|
|
Company Articles of Incorporation
|
Section 1.5(a)
|
|
Company Board
|
Recitals
|
|
Company By-laws
|
Section 1.5(b)
|
|
Company Change of Recommendation
|
Section 5.3(f)(iv)
|
|
Company Common Stock
|
Recitals
|
|
Company Disclosure Schedule
|
Preamble to Article III
|
|
Company Leased Real Property
|
Section 3.16(c)
|
|
Company Material Contracts
|
Section 3.19(a)
|
|
Company Measurement Date
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
|
Company Organizational Documents
|
Section 1.5(b)
|
|
Company Owned IP
|
Section 3.15(a)
|
|
Company Owned Real Property
|
Section 3.16(b)
|
|
Company Permits
|
Section 3.7(b)
|
|
Company Real Property Leases
|
Section 3.16(c)
|
|
Company Recommendation
|
Section 3.3(a)
|
|
Company Registered IP
|
Section 3.15(a)
|
|
Company SEC Documents
|
Section 3.4(a)
|
|
Company Securities
|
Section 3.2(a)
|
|
Company Shareholder Approval
|
Section 3.3(a)
|
|
Company Shareholder Meeting
|
Section 3.3(a)
|
|
Company
|
Preamble
|
|
Confidentiality Agreement
|
Section 5.2(b)
|
|
Current Employee
|
Section 5.6(a)
|
|
Data Partners
|
Section 3.21
|
|
Data Privacy Obligations
|
Section 3.21
|
|
Disclosure Schedule
|
Section 8.11
|
|
Effective Time
|
Section 1.3
|
|
End Date
|
Section 7.1(b)
|
|
Environmental Permit
|
Section 3.9(b)
|
|
Exchange Act
|
Section 3.4(a)
|
|
Executory Period
|
Section 5.16
|
|
GAAP
|
Section 3.4(b)
|
|
Hired Person
|
Section 5.1(b)(x)
|
|
HSR Act
|
Section 3.3(b)
|
|
Indemnified Party
|
Section 5.10(b)
|
|
Johnson Rice
|
Section 3.18
|
|
Law or Laws
|
Section 3.7(a)
|
|
LBCA
|
Recitals
|
|
Lessor Required Consents
|
Section 3.16(e)
|
|
Letter of Transmittal
|
Section 2.4(b)(i)
|
|
Maximum Amount
|
Section 5.10(c)
|
|
Merger
|
Recitals
|
|
Merger Sub
|
Preamble
|
|
Merger Sub Member
|
Recitals
|
|
Nasdaq
|
Section 3.3(b)
|
|
Non-U.S. Plan
|
Section 3.10(g)
|
|
Parent
|
Preamble
|
|
Parent Board
|
Recitals
|
|
Parent Disclosure Schedule
|
Preamble to Article IV
|
|
Parent SEC Documents
|
Preamble to Article IV
|
|
Paying Agent
|
Section 2.4(a)
|
|
Payment Fund
|
Section 2.4(a)
|
|
Proxy Statement
|
Section 3.3(b)
|
|
Remedies Exceptions
|
Section 3.3(a)
|
|
Representatives
|
Section 5.2(a)
|
|
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
|
Section 3.5
|
|
SEC
|
Section 3.4(a)
|
|
Securities Act
|
Section 2.6
|
|
Security Incidents
|
Section 3.21
|
|
Significant Customer
|
Section 3.20(a)
|
|
Significant Subsidiaries
|
Section 3.1(b)
|
|
Significant Supplier
|
Section 3.20(b)
|
|
Substitute Award
|
Section 2.5(a)
|
|
Surviving Corporation
|
Section 1.1
|
|
Tax Proceeding
|
Section 3.14(c)
|
|
Terminated Leases
|
Section 3.16(g)
|
|
Termination Date
|
Section 5.1(a)
|
|
Transaction Litigation
|
Section 5.13
|
|
Transactions
|
Recitals
|
|
Vested Substitute Award Payments
|
Section 2.5(a)
|
|
Vested Substitute Awards
|
Section 2.5(a)
|
|
Voting Agreement
|
Recitals
|
|
Warranty
|
Section 3.28
|
|
Withholding Agent
|
Section 2.7
|
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
| |
IES HOLDINGS, INC.
|
| |
|
| |
By:
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/s/ Tracy A. McLauchlin
|
| |
Name:
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Tracy A. McLauchlin
|
| |
Title:
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
| |
IES MERGER SUB, LLC
|
| |
|
| |
By: Gulf Island Fabrication Holdings, LLC, its
sole member
|
| |
|
| |
|
By: IES OpCo Holdings, Inc., its sole member
|
| |
By:
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/s/ Tracy A. McLauchlin
|
| |
Name:
|
Tracy A. McLauchlin
|
| |
Title:
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
| |
GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC.
|
| |
|
| |
By:
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/s/ Richard W. Heo
|
| |
Name:
|
Richard W. Heo
|
| |
Title:
|
President, Chief Executive Officer
|
| |
|
and Chairman of the Board
|
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
EXHIBIT A
Form of Voting Agreement
[See attached]
VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This Voting and Support Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November 7, 2025, by and among IES Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Gulf Island
Fabrication, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the “Company”), and the shareholders of the Company listed on Schedule A hereto (each, a “Shareholder” and, collectively, the “Shareholders”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent, IES Merger Sub, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger
Sub”), and the Company, are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”) that, among other things and subject to the terms and
conditions set forth therein, provides for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company being the surviving corporation in the Merger;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Shareholder is the record and/or “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d‑3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”, as
amended), which meaning will apply for all purposes of this Agreement; provided, that all options, warrants, restricted stock units and other convertible securities are included even if not exercisable within sixty (60) days of the date hereof) of
the number of shares of common stock, no par value per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) as set forth next to such Shareholder’s name on Schedule A hereto, being all of the shares of Company Common Stock owned of
record or beneficially by such Shareholder as of the date hereof (with respect to such Shareholder, the “Owned Shares” and, the Owned Shares together with such Shareholder’s Additional Shares (as defined herein), such Shareholder’s “Covered
Shares”);
WHEREAS, at a meeting duly called and held on or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company Board has (a) determined that the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the transactions
contemplated thereby, including this Agreement, and all exhibits and schedules attached to the Merger Agreement (collectively, the “Transactions”), are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders (excluding the holders of the
Company Excluded Stock), (b) adopted, approved and confirmed in all respects the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, including the Merger, (c) determined that it is advisable for the Company to execute and deliver the Merger
Agreement, to perform its covenants and obligations under the Merger Agreement and to consummate the Merger upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, and (d) determined that it is advisable to submit the Merger Agreement, the
Merger and the Transactions to a vote of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock and resolved to recommend the shareholders of the Company approve and adopt the Merger Agreement; and
WHEREAS, as an inducement and condition for Parent and Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement, each Shareholder has agreed to enter into this Agreement with respect to such Shareholder’s
Covered Shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement. When used in this Agreement,
the following terms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.
“Additional Shares” means, with respect to a Shareholder, any additional shares of Company Common Stock or other voting securities of the Company that such Shareholder may acquire record
and/or beneficial ownership of after the date hereof, including any Company Common Stock acquired by the Shareholder pursuant to the vesting of any Company RSU Awards prior to the record date for the Company Shareholder Meeting. In the event of a
stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Company Common Stock by reason of any stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or the like, the terms “Company Common
Stock” and “Covered Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such shares are changed or exchanged or which are received
in such transaction.
“Adverse Amendment” means any amendment to the Merger Agreement, or any waiver of the Company’s or Shareholders’ rights under the Merger Agreement, in each case, that is effected or granted
without the Shareholder’s prior written consent, that (i) reduces the Merger Consideration to be received by the Shareholders, (ii) changes the form of Merger Consideration payable to the Shareholders, or (iii) imposes additional liabilities or
obligations of the Shareholders under the Merger Agreement or otherwise amends or modifies the Merger Agreement in a manner adverse in any material respect to the Shareholders.
“Expiration Time” means the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time; (b) a Company Change of Recommendation; (c) the date that an Adverse Amendment is effected; and (d) such date and time
as the Merger Agreement shall be validly terminated pursuant to Article VII thereof.
“Lien” means any lien, encumbrance, hypothecation, adverse claim, charge, mortgage, security interest, pledge or option, proxy, right of first refusal or first offer, preemptive right, deed of
trust, servitude, voting agreement, voting trust, transfer restriction or any other similar restriction.
“Permitted Lien” means (a) any Lien arising under this Agreement, (b) any applicable restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and (c) with respect to Company RSU Awards, any Lien
created by the terms of any applicable Company Benefit Plan or award agreement thereunder.
2. Agreement to Vote the Covered Shares.
2.1 Subject to Section 4, from the execution and delivery of this Agreement until the Expiration Time, at every meeting of the Company’s shareholders at which any of the following
matters are to be voted on (and at every adjournment or postponement or recess thereof), and in any other circumstance, however called, including in connection with any request for an action by consent of the Company’s shareholders in lieu of a
meeting, each Shareholder shall vote (including by providing proxy) or execute and deliver a consent with respect to, all of such Shareholder’s Covered Shares (or cause the holder(s) of record on any applicable record date to vote (including by
providing proxy) or execute and deliver a consent with respect to all of such Shareholder’s Covered Shares):
(a) in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and approval of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
(b) in favor of the adoption of any amended and restated Merger Agreement or amendment to the Merger Agreement; provided, however that no Shareholder shall be required to
vote in favor of the adoption of any amended and restated Merger Agreement or amendment to the Merger Agreement that is an Adverse Amendment;
(c) in favor of the approval of any proposal to adjourn or postpone the meeting to a later date if there are not sufficient votes present for there to be a quorum or for
the adoption of the Merger Agreement (or any amendment thereto other than an Adverse Amendment) on the date on which such meeting is held, or if the Company or Parent proposes or requests such adjournment or proposal, in each case, in accordance with
the Merger Agreement;
(d) against any Company Acquisition Proposal;
(e) against any action, proposal, transaction, or agreement which could reasonably be expected to result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty, or any
other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Merger Agreement or of Shareholder under this Agreement; and
(f) against any action, proposal, transaction, or agreement that could reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, delay, discourage or adversely affect the
consummation of the Merger or inhibit the timely consummation of the Merger in any respect.
2.2 From the execution and delivery of this Agreement until the Expiration Time, at every meeting of the Company’s shareholders (and at every adjournment or postponement or recess thereof),
each Shareholder shall appear in person at such meeting or shall cause such Shareholder’s Covered Shares to be represented by proxy and shall otherwise cause all of such Shareholder’s Covered Shares to be counted for the purposes of establishing a
quorum at such meeting (or, with respect to any such Covered Shares that such Shareholder owns beneficially but not of record, such Shareholder shall cause the holder(s) of record of such shares as of any applicable record date for determining such
shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting to be represented in person or by such proxy at such meeting as provided herein and to be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum). Each Shareholder hereby appoints Parent and any designee
of Parent, and each of them individually, until the Expiration Time (at which time this proxy shall automatically be revoked), as its proxy and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, to vote or act by written consent
during the term of this Agreement with respect to the Covered Shares in accordance with Section 2.1 hereof in the event the Shareholder fails to comply with its obligation under this Agreement or attempts or purports to vote (or provide
consent with respect to), or cause any other person to vote or provide consent with respect to, the Shareholder’s Covered Shares in a manner inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. This proxy and power of attorney is given to secure the
performance of the duties of the Shareholders under this Agreement. Each Shareholder shall take such further action or execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy. This proxy and power of attorney granted
by each Shareholder shall be irrevocable during the term of this Agreement, shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable proxy, and shall revoke any and all prior proxies granted by such Shareholder with
respect to the Covered Shares. The power of attorney granted by each Shareholder herein is a durable power of attorney and shall survive the bankruptcy, death or incapacity of such Shareholder. The proxy and power of attorney granted hereunder shall
terminate upon the termination of this Agreement.
3. Waiver of Appraisal Rights and Certain Other Actions; No Solicitation.
3.1 To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Shareholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, perfect or exercise any and all rights of
appraisal or rights to dissent (if any) in connection with the Merger that such Shareholder may have by virtue of the ownership of the Covered Shares under the Louisiana Business Corporation Act.
3.2 Subject to Section 4, Shareholder shall not, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates and Representatives not to, take any action that the Company is
prohibited from taking pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Merger Agreement.
4. Fiduciary Duties. Each Shareholder is entering into this Agreement solely in its capacity as the record holder and/or beneficial owner of such Shareholder’s Covered Shares. Without
limiting the terms of the Merger Agreement in any respect, nothing in this Agreement shall in any way attempt to limit or affect any actions taken by any Shareholder or its Affiliates’ designee(s) or beneficial owner(s) serving on the Company Board
(in any such director’s capacity as such) or any such Shareholder, in his or her capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, from complying with his or her fiduciary duties to the extent acting in such
designee’s or beneficial owner’s capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company. Without limiting the terms of the Merger Agreement in any respect, no action taken (or omitted to be taken), including but not limited to any action
contemplated by Section 3 hereof, by any such designee, beneficial owner or Shareholder taken (or omitted to be taken) by such person in his or her capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, shall be
deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Shareholder or its Affiliates from making such filings as are required by the SEC or any other regulatory authority in connection with the entering into of this
Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of the Shareholder. Each Shareholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company and to Parent that:
5.1 Due Authority. Such Shareholder has the full power and capacity to make, enter into and carry out the terms of this Agreement and the other definitive documentations contemplated
hereby. If an entity, such Shareholder is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists) in accordance with the laws of its jurisdiction of formation, as applicable. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the performance of such Shareholder’s obligations hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been validly authorized, and no other consents or authorizations are required to give effect to this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Shareholder, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such Shareholder enforceable against it in accordance with
its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar applicable Laws affecting or relating to creditors’ rights generally and equitable remedies of
specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
5.2 Ownership of the Covered Shares. (a) Such Shareholder is, as of the date hereof, the beneficial and/or record owner of such Shareholder’s Covered Shares, all of which are free and
clear of any Liens, other than Permitted Liens, and (b) subject only to community property laws, if applicable, such Shareholder has sole voting power and sole disposition power over all of such Shareholder’s Covered Shares and no person (other than
such Shareholder and any person under common control with such Shareholder) has a right to acquire any of the Covered Shares held by such Shareholder except as disclosed on Schedule A. Except pursuant to this Agreement, there are no options,
warrants, or other rights, agreements, arrangements, or commitments of any character to which Shareholder is a party relating to the pledge, disposition, or voting of any Covered Shares and there are no voting trusts or other agreements with respect
to the Covered Shares. As of the date hereof, such Shareholder does not own, beneficially or of record, any shares of Company Common Stock or other voting shares of the Company (or any securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for, or
rights to purchase or acquire, any shares of Company Common Stock or other voting shares of the Company) other than the Owned Shares, except as set forth on Schedule A.
5.3 No Conflict: Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Shareholder does not, and the performance by such Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement does not and
will not: (i) violate any Laws applicable to such Shareholder or (ii) result in any breach of or constitute a default under any Contract or obligation to which such Shareholder is a party or by which such Shareholder is subject or (iii) if an entity,
violate the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, operating agreement, limited partnership agreement or any equivalent organizational or governing documents of such Shareholder, in each case of clauses (i) through (iii), except for
such violations, breaches or defaults as would not materially delay or materially impair the ability of such Shareholder to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or, except as required under the HSR Act or in compliance with any applicable requirements
of any other Regulatory Laws, any competition, antitrust and investment laws or regulations of any jurisdiction or by the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act (including as required by Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), filing
with, any Governmental Entity or any other person, is required by or with respect to such Shareholder in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance by such Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement.
5.4 Absence of Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no legal action, suit, investigation or proceeding (whether judicial, arbitral, administrative or otherwise) pending
against, or, to the knowledge of such Shareholder, threatened against or affecting such Shareholder that would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of such Shareholder to perform its obligations under
this Agreement.
6. Representations and Warranties of Parent. Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Shareholder that Parent has the full power and capacity to make, enter into and carry out
the terms of this Agreement. Parent is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in accordance with the laws of its jurisdiction of formation. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of Parent’s obligations
hereunder have been validly authorized, and assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.3(b), no other consents or authorizations are required to give effect to this Agreement. This Agreement has been
duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Parent enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity
whether applied in a court of law or a court of equity and by bankruptcy, insolvency and similar applicable Laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally.
7. Miscellaneous.
7.1 No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent any direct, indirect or beneficial ownership or incidence of ownership of or
with respect to the Covered Shares. Without limiting this Agreement in any manner, rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Covered Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Shareholder, and Parent shall have no authority
to direct any Shareholder in the voting or disposition of any of the Covered Shares, except as expressly provided herein.
7.2 Amendments and Modifications. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by all of
the parties hereto. No waiver by any party of its rights hereunder shall be effective against such party unless the same shall be in writing. No waiver by any party hereto of any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder,
whether intentional or not, shall be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty, covenant or agreement hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent such
occurrence. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to amend, alter or modify, in any respect, any of the provisions of the Merger Agreement.
7.3 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring or required to incur such expenses.
7.4 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified; (b) when sent by email
(if delivered without receipt of any “bounceback” or similar notice indicating failure of delivery); or (c) when delivered by a courier (with confirmation of delivery), in each case to the party to be notified at the following address:
To Parent:
IES Holdings, Inc.
Attention: William Albright; Mary Newman; Michael Keasey; Yasin Khan
13131 Dairy Ashford Rd, Suite 500
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Email: [***]
with copies to:
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
1550 Lamar Street, Suite 2000
Attention: Brian Fenske; Thomas Verity
Houston, Texas 77010
Email: [***]
To the Company:
Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.
Attention: Richard Heo; Westley Stockton;
2170 Buckthorne Place, Suite 420
The Woodlands, Texas 77390
E-mail: [***]
To the applicable Shareholder(s):
at the address(es) listed on the signature pages hereto
with copies to:
Jones Walker LLP
201 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 5100
New Orleans, LA 70170
Attn: Curtis R. Hearn; Alexandra C. Layfield; Thomas D. Kimball
E-mail: [***]
or to such other address as any party shall specify by written notice so given, and such notice shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so telecommunicated or personally delivered. Any party to this
Agreement may notify any other party of any changes to the address or any of the other details specified in this paragraph; provided, however, that such notification shall only be effective on the date specified in such notice or five (5) business
days after the notice is given, whichever is later.
7.5 Governing Law and Venue; Specific Enforcement.
(a) The parties agree that irreparable damage, for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed, or were threatened to be not performed, in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that, in addition to any other remedy that may be available to it at law or in equity,
each of the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions or equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery and
any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware), and all such rights and
remedies at law or in equity shall be cumulative. The parties further agree that no party to this Agreement shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy
referred to in this Section 7.5 and each party waives any objection to the imposition of such relief or any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.
(b) This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether at Law, in contract or in tort or otherwise) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this
Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of
Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware (except that matters relating to (i) the exercise of fiduciary duties by members of the Company Board or officers of
the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) whether appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights are available to the Shareholders in connection with the Merger, in each case shall be subject to the laws of the State of Louisiana).
(c) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder,
or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder brought by the other party hereto or its successors or assigns, shall be brought and determined exclusively in
the Delaware Court of Chancery and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of
Delaware). Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such action or proceeding for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees
that it will not bring any action relating to or arising out of this Agreement in any court other than the aforesaid courts in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 7.5(c). Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives,
and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts, (ii) any
claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment,
execution of judgment or otherwise) and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable Law, any claim that (A) the suit, action or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (B) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding
is improper or (C) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each of the parties hereto hereby consents to the service of process in accordance with Section
7.4; provided, however, that nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law.
7.6 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
7.7 Documentation and Information. Each Shareholder consents to and authorizes the publication and disclosure by the Company or Parent, as applicable, of such Shareholder’s identity
and holding of the Covered Shares, and the terms of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the disclosure of this Agreement), and any other information that the Company reasonably determines is required to be disclosed by applicable
Law, in any press release, the Proxy Statement and any other disclosure document required in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Each Shareholder acknowledges that each of
Parent and the Company, in their sole discretion, may file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Entity. Such Shareholder agrees to promptly give Parent and the Company any information they may reasonably request for
the preparation of any such disclosure documents.
7.8 Further Assurances. Each Shareholder agrees, from time to time, at the reasonable request of the Company and without further consideration, to execute and deliver such additional
documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably required to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.9 Stop Transfer Instructions. At all times commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the Expiration Time, in furtherance of this Agreement,
each Shareholder hereby authorizes the Company or its counsel to notify the Company’s transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Covered Shares (and that this Agreement places limits on the voting and transfer of
the Covered Shares), subject to the provisions hereof and provided that any such stop transfer order and notice will immediately be withdrawn and terminated by the Company following the Expiration Time.
7.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to amend, alter or modify, in any respect, any of the provisions of the Merger Agreement. This Agreement is not intended to grant standing to any person
other than the parties hereto.
7.11 Reliance. Each Shareholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Shareholder’s execution and delivery
of this Agreement.
7.12 Interpretation. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement. The descriptive headings used herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. References to Articles, Sections,
Exhibits, Attachments and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Attachments and Schedules of this Agreement, as applicable, unless otherwise specified. All Exhibits, Attachments and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby
incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit, Attachment or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular
term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Whenever the words
“include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing,” “written” and
comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any statute shall be deemed to refer to such statute and to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
References to any person include the successors and permitted assigns of that person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including such date or through and including such date, respectively. References to
any period of days will be deemed to be to the relevant number of calendar days unless otherwise specified. The parties agree that they have been represented by counsel during the negotiation, drafting, preparation and execution of this Agreement
and, therefore, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto
by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
7.13 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto in whole or in part (whether by operation
of applicable Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties, and any such assignment without such consent shall be null and void. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
7.14 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is held to be invalid or unenforceable in a court of competent jurisdiction shall be ineffective to the extent of such
invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement. Upon such a determination, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in an acceptable manner. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.
7.15 Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto
and hereto were upon the same instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered (by telecopy, electronic delivery or otherwise) to the other parties. The words “execution,”
“execute,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions shall be deemed to include signatures transmitted by electronic mail in
“portable document format” (“.pdf”) form, or by any other electronic means, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may
be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the
Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
7.16 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any schedule, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to
this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement. This Section 7.16 shall not limit any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement that by its terms is to be performed in whole or in part after the
Effective Time or otherwise survive the Effective Time expressly by their terms.
7.17 No Recourse. All claims, obligations, liabilities and causes of action based upon, in respect of, arising under, by reason of, in connection with, or relating in any manner
to this Agreement may be made only against (and are those solely of) the persons that are expressly identified as parties in the preamble and signatories to this Agreement (the “Contracting Parties”). No person who is not a Contracting Party,
including any current, former or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, manager, stockholder, equityholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, representative, financing source, heir or assignee of, or any financial advisor or
lender to, or successor to, any Contracting Party, or any current, former or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, manager, stockholder, equityholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, representative, financing source, heir or
assignee of, or any financial advisor or lender to, or successor to, any of the foregoing (collectively, “Nonparty Affiliates”), shall have any liability, obligations, claims or causes of action based upon, in respect of, arising under, by
reason of, in connection with, or relating in any manner to this Agreement, whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate veil, by or through a claim by or on behalf of any party hereto or otherwise, and, to the maximum extent permitted
by Law, each Contracting Party hereby waives and releases all such liabilities, claims, causes of action and obligations against any such Nonparty Affiliates. Without limiting the foregoing, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, (a) each
Contracting Party hereby waives and releases any and all rights, claims, demands or causes of action that may otherwise be available at Law or in equity, or granted by statute, to avoid or disregard the entity form of a Contracting Party or otherwise
impose liability of a Contracting Party on any Nonparty Affiliate, whether granted by statute or based on theories of equity, agency, control, instrumentality, alter ego, domination, sham, single business enterprise, piercing the veil, unfairness,
undercapitalization, or otherwise and (b) each Contracting Party disclaims any reliance upon any Nonparty Affiliates with respect to the performance of this Agreement or any representation or warranty made by a Nonparty Affiliate in, in connection
with, or as an inducement to this Agreement.
7.18 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each of the parties agrees that (i) their respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein are solely for the benefit
of the applicable parties hereto, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder,
including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein.
7.19 Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate without further action by any of the parties hereto and shall have no further force or effect as of the Expiration Time;
provided that the provisions of this Section 7 shall survive any such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, termination of this Agreement shall not prevent any party hereto from seeking any remedies (at law or in equity) against any
other party for that party’s breach of any of the terms of this Agreement prior to the date of termination; provided, however, that in no event shall any Shareholder have any liability for any monetary damages resulting from a breach of this
Agreement other than in connection with a Willful and Material Breach of this Agreement by such Shareholder. For purposes hereof, “Willful and Material Breach” means a material breach of this Agreement that results from a willful or deliberate act or
failure to act by a party that knows, or could reasonably be expected to have known, that the taking of such act or failure could result in such a material breach.
7.20 No Agreement until Executed. This Agreement shall not be effective unless and until (i) the Company Board and the Parent Board have approved, for purposes of any applicable takeover
Laws, Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and any applicable provision of the certification of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, the Merger Agreement, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, and
following such approval, (ii) the Merger Agreement is executed by all parties thereto and (iii) this Agreement is executed and delivered by all parties hereto.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
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PARENT:
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IES HOLDINGS, INC.
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|
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By:
|
|
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Name:
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Tracy A. McLauchlin
|
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Title:
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Chief Financial Officer
|
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COMPANY:
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GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC.
|
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By:
|
|
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Name:
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Richard W. Heo
|
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Title:
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President, Chief Executive Officer and
|
| |
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Chairman of the Board
|
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SHAREHOLDERS:
|
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|
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RICHARD W. HEO
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|
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Notice Information:
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[***]
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|
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ROBERT M. AVERICK
|
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|
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|
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Notice Information:
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[***]
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PITON CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC
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|
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By: Piton Capital Management LLC, its
managing member
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|
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|
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By: Kokino LLC, its managing member
|
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Name:
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Brian Olson |
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Title:
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Authorized Person |
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Notice Information:
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| |
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[***]
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MICHAEL J. KEEFFE
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|
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Notice Information:
|
| |
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[***]
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| |
|
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JAY R. TROGER
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| |
|
| |
|
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Notice Information:
|
| |
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[***]
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WESTLEY S. STOCKTON
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|
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Notice Information:
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| |
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[***]
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JAMES L. MORVANT
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| |
|
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Notice Information:
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| |
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[***]
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MATTHEW R. OUBRE
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Notice Information:
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[***]
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Schedule A
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Shareholder
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Shares of Company Common Stock
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Richard W. Heo
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924,010
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Robert M. Averick*
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1,849,206*
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Michael J. Keeffe
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42,401
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Jay R. Troger
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19,312
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Westley S. Stockton
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489,341
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James L. Morvant
|
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100,949
|
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Matthew R. Oubre
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45,170
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Piton Capital Partners, LLC*
|
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1,811,894*
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* Note: Robert Averick is a director of the Company and his beneficial ownership of Company Common Stock reflects his role as portfolio manager of Piton Capital Partners LLC, which is a role
held through his employment with Kokino LLC. His beneficial ownership includes 1,811,894 shares held by Piton Capital Partners LLC and 31,333 shares held directly in his name. In accordance with the Agreement’s definition of “Owned Shares” (which
includes restricted stock units regardless of whether they are exercisable within sixty (60) days), his beneficial ownership also includes 5,979 restricted stock units granted to him as an award, with each restricted stock unit being convertible
into one share of Company Common Stock on April 1, 2026.
EXHIBIT B
Form of Articles of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation
[See attached]
ARTICLES OF FOURTH AMENDMENT
AND RESTATEMENT OF THE
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
[SURVIVING CORPORATION]
FIRST: The restatement set forth in Article FOURTH below (the “Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation”) accurately copies the articles
and amendments in effect at the date of this restatement without substantive change except as made by new amendments contained in this restatement, which amendments change the articles to read as set forth in Article FOURTH below.
SECOND: All amendments have been effected in conformity with law, and the amendments and restatement set forth in Article FOURTH below have been duly adopted
by the corporation’s board of directors and shareholders in accordance with 12:1-1006 and 12:1-1007.
THIRD: These Articles of Fourth Amendment and Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation have been executed, acknowledged, and filed in the manner provided
for articles of amendment in 12:1-1006 and for articles of restatement in 12:1-1007 and shall be effective when filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State as of the date and hour filed with such office.
FOURTH: The corporation’s Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation shall read in their entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is [Surviving Corporation] (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Louisiana is 3867 Plaza Tower Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70816. The name of its registered agent at such address is C T Corporation
System.
ARTICLE III
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be formed under the Louisiana Business Corporation Act (the “LBCA”),
as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented.
ARTICLE IV
The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation has authority to issue is [one thousand (1,000) shares of Common Stock, par value one cent ($0.01) per share].
ARTICLE V
The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE VI
Unless and until otherwise provided in the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), all of the corporate powers of the Corporation shall be vested in and all the business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”), which shall consist of one or more members (each, a “Director”), the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution
of the Board of Directors.
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal the Bylaws, without any action on the part of the
shareholders, but the shareholders may make additional Bylaws and may alter, amend or repeal any Bylaw whether adopted by them or otherwise. The Corporation may in its Bylaws confer powers upon its Board of Directors in addition to the foregoing and
in addition to the powers and authorities expressly conferred upon the Board of Directors by applicable law.
Unless or until otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the Directors shall hold office until their successors have been duly elected and qualified, and the number, qualification, classification, terms of
office, manner of election, time and places of meetings and powers and duties of the Board of Directors shall be as from time to time fixed by the Bylaws.
Any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors shall be filled for the unexpired term by the remaining members of the Board of Directors though less than a quorum.
Each Director shall hold office until a successor is elected at the annual meeting of shareholders.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings of shareholders may be held within or without the State of Louisiana, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Louisiana at such place or
places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
ARTICLE VIII
A. Limitation of Liability. With respect to any cause of action arising on or before December 31, 2014, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or to its
shareholders for monetary damages for breach of his fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that the foregoing provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer for (1) any breach of his duty of loyalty to the
Corporation or its shareholders; (2) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) liability for unlawful distributions of the Corporation’s assets to, or redemptions or repurchases of
the Corporation’s shares from shareholders of the Corporation, under and to the extent provided in LBCA 92(D); or (4) any transaction from which he derived an improper personal benefit. With respect to any cause of action arising on or after January
1, 2015, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of his fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except as otherwise provided by LBCA 1-832, as heretofore or
hereafter amended. If, after the date hereof, the LBCA is amended to authorize further elimination or limitation of the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or an officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated
or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the LBCA, as so amended.
B. Indemnification. Subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Board of Directors (provided that no change in such limitations may adversely affect any claim to indemnification
that arises prior to such change), the Corporation shall indemnify each of its directors to the full extent from time to time permitted by law, and may so indemnify each of its officers, against any expenses or costs, including attorney’s fees,
actually or reasonably incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending or completed claim action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative against such person or as to which he is involved solely as a
witness or person required to give evidence.
C. Authorization of Further Actions. The Board of Directors may (1) cause the Corporation to enter into contracts with its directors and officers providing for the limitation of liability
set forth in this Article to the fullest extent permitted by law and (2) adopt bylaws or resolutions, or cause the Corporation to enter into contracts, providing for indemnification of directors and officers of the Corporation and other persons
(including but not limited to directors and officers of the Corporation’s direct and indirect subsidiaries) to the fullest extent permitted by law No repeal or amendment of any such bylaws or resolutions limiting the right to indemnification
thereunder shall affect the entitlement of any person to indemnification whose claim thereto results from conduct occurring prior to the date of such repeal or amendment.
D. Subsidiaries. The Board of Directors may cause the Corporation to approve for its direct and indirect subsidiaries limitation of liability and indemnification provisions comparable to the
foregoing.
E. Amendment. In addition to any other votes required by law or these Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be
specified by law or these Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the total number of shares that are entitled to vote shall be required to repeal this Article or to amend this
Article so as to reduce the limitation of liability set forth herein or the rights to indemnification or the powers of the Board of Directors provided in this Article, and any amendment or repeal of this Article shall not adversely affect any
indemnification or limitation of liability of a director or officer of the Corporation under this Article with respect to any action or inaction occurring prior to the time of such amendment or repeal.
ARTICLE IX
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in these Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed
herein and by the laws of the State of Louisiana, and all rights conferred upon shareholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
ARTICLE X
No shareholder of the Corporation shall ever be held liable or responsible for the contracts or faults of the Corporation in any further sum than the unpaid balance of the shares for which he has
subscribed, nor shall any mere informality in organization have the effect of rendering these Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation null or of exposing shareholders to any liability other than as above provided.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, these Articles of Fourth Amendment and Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation of [Surviving Corporation] have been executed and the foregoing is certified by
the undersigned duly acknowledged representative of the Corporation.
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[SURVIVING CORPORATION]
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By:
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Title:
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On this __ day of ________________________ 2025, before me personally appeared ______________________, to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing
instrument, and acknowledged that he executed it as his free act and deed.
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WRITTEN CONSENT TO APPOINTMENT
BY DESIGNATED REGISTERED AGENT
On this ______ day of ____________, 202__, before me, a Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid, personally came and appeared ____________, the ___________ of C T Corporation System, who is to me known to be the person, and who, being duly sworn, acknowledged to me that it does hereby accept appointment as the Registered Agent of [Surviving Corporation], a Louisiana corporation.
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day, month, and year first above set forth
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EXHIBIT C
Form of Bylaws of Surviving Corporation
[See attached]
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
[SURVIVING CORPORATION]
ARTICLE I
OFFICES AND RECORDS
Section 1.01 REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the
Corporation shall be located within the State of Louisiana as set forth in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Directors may at any time change the registered office by making the appropriate filing with the Louisiana
Secretary of State.
Section 1.02 PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of the
Corporation shall be at 13131 Dairy Ashford Rd, Suite 500, Sugar Land, Texas 77478 provided that the Board of Directors shall have the power to change the location of the principal office at any time.
Section 1.03 OTHER OFFICES. The Corporation may also have
other offices at any places, within or without the State of Louisiana, as the Board of Directors may designate, as the business of the Corporation may require or as may be desirable.
Section 1.04 REGISTERED AGENT. The name and address of the
Corporation’s registered agent shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Directors may change the registered agent at any time by making the appropriate filing with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Section 1.05 BOOKS AND RECORDS. Any records maintained by
the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its share ledger, books of account and minute books, may be maintained on any information storage device or method; provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly
legible paper form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall convert any records so kept upon the written request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to applicable law.
ARTICLE II
SHAREHOLDERS
Section 2.01 PLACE OF MEETING. Meetings of the shareholders
shall be held either at the principal office of the Corporation or at another place, either within or without the State of Louisiana, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and designated in the notice of the meeting or executed waiver of
notice. The Board of Directors may determine, in its discretion, that any meeting of the shareholders may be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 2.02 of these Bylaws, without designating a place for a physical
assembly of shareholders.
Section 2.02 REMOTE COMMUNICATION. The Board of Directors may
authorize shareholders to participate in a meeting of shareholders by means of remote communication, subject to the conditions imposed by applicable law and any guidelines and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors.
At any meeting in which shareholders can participate by means of remote communication, the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to:
(a) verify that each person participating as a shareholder or proxy holder remotely is a
shareholder or proxy holder; and
(b) provide such shareholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on
matters submitted to the shareholders, including an opportunity to communicate, and to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting, substantially concurrently with such proceedings.
Section 2.03 ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of
shareholders, for the purpose of electing directors and transacting any other business as may be brought before the meeting, shall be held on the date and time fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Failure to hold the annual meeting of shareholders at the designated time shall not affect the validity of any action taken by the Corporation.
Section 2.04 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the
shareholders may be called by:
(a) the President;
(b) the Board of Directors; or
(c) the holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of all the shares entitled to vote at the
proposed special meeting. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to call a special meeting is the date the first shareholder signs the demand for that meeting.
Only business within the purpose or purposes described in the notice or executed waiver may be conducted at a special meeting of the shareholders.
Section 2.05 RECORD DATE FOR SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETINGS. For the
purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, the record date shall be:
(a) on the date fixed by the Board of Directors in the notice of the meeting;
(b) at the close of business on the day before the first notice is delivered to shareholders, if no
date is fixed by the Board of Directors; or
(c) the date set by the law applying to the type of action to be taken for which a record date must
be set, if no notice of meeting is mailed to shareholders.
A record date fixed under this Section 2.05 may not be more than seventy (70) days before the meeting or action requiring a determination of shareholders. A determination of shareholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at a shareholders’ meeting is effective for any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date.
Section 2.06 NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING. Written or
printed notice of any annual or special meeting of shareholders shall be given to any shareholder entitled to notice not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, except that if the number of authorized
shares is to be increased, at least thirty (30) days’ notice must be given. Such notice shall state:
(a) the time and date of the meeting;
(b) the place of the meeting, if any;
(c) the means of any remote communication, if authorized by the Board of Directors, by which
shareholders may be considered present and may vote at the meeting; and
(d) the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called if (i) the meeting is a special meeting
or (ii) notice of the meeting’s purpose is required by the Louisiana Business Corporation Act (the “BCA”).
Notice to each shareholder entitled to notice shall be given by or at the direction of the President, the Secretary, or the officer or person calling the meeting (x) in physical form by mail or personal
delivery, or (y) by electronic transmission if consented to by the shareholder. If mailed, the notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the shareholder at the shareholder’s address as it appears on the
share transfer records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.
Any person entitled to notice of a meeting may sign a written waiver of notice either before or after the time of the meeting. The participation or attendance at a meeting of a person entitled to notice
constitutes waiver of notice, except where the person attends for the specific purpose of objecting to the lawfulness of the convening of the meeting.
Section 2.07 SHAREHOLDERS’ LIST FOR MEETING. After fixing a
record date for an annual or special meeting of shareholders, the Corporation shall prepare an alphabetical list of the names of all its shareholders who are entitled to notice of the meeting. If the Board of Directors fixes a different record date
under Section 2.05 of these Bylaws to determine the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, the Corporation shall also prepare an alphabetical list of the names of all its shareholders who are entitled to vote at the meeting. A shareholders’
list shall be arranged by voting group, and within each group by class or series of shares (if applicable) and show the address of and number of shares held by each shareholder.
Beginning two (2) business days after notice of the meeting is given and continuing through the meeting, the shareholders’ list for notice shall be available for inspection by any shareholder at (a) the
Corporation’s principal office or (b) the place identified in the meeting notice in the county or city where the meeting will be held.
A shareholders’ list for voting shall also be available for inspection promptly after the record date for voting. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the Corporation shall make the list of
shareholders entitled to vote available at the meeting for inspection by any shareholder, or the shareholder’s agent or attorney, at any time during the meeting or any adjournment.
Section 2.08 QUORUM OF SHAREHOLDERS. A quorum shall be
present for any matter to be presented at that meeting if the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting are represented at the meeting in person or by proxy.
Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, once a quorum is present at a meeting of shareholders, the shareholders represented in person or by proxy at the meeting may
conduct any business as may be properly brought before the meeting until it is adjourned, and the subsequent withdrawal from the meeting of any shareholder or the refusal of any shareholder represented in person or by proxy to vote shall not affect
the presence of a quorum at the meeting. The shareholders represented in person or by proxy at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is not present may adjourn the meeting until a time and place as may be determined by a vote of the holders of
a majority of the shares represented in person or by proxy at that meeting.
Section 2.09 CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. The Board of Directors may
adopt by resolution rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the shareholders, as it deems appropriate. At every meeting of the shareholders, the Chair of the Board, or in their absence or inability to act, a director or officer
designated by the Board of Directors, shall serve as the presiding officer of the meeting. The Secretary or, in their absence or inability to act, the person whom the presiding officer of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting, shall
act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
The presiding officer shall determine the order of business and, in the absence of a rule adopted by the Board of Directors, shall establish rules for the conduct of the meeting. The presiding officer
shall announce the close of the polls for each matter voted upon at the meeting, after which no ballots, proxies, votes, changes or revocations will be accepted. Polls for all matters before the meeting will be deemed to be closed upon final
adjournment of the meeting.
Section 2.10 VOTING OF SHARES. Each outstanding share shall
be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders, except to the extent that the Articles of Incorporation provide for more or less than one vote per share.
If a quorum of a voting group exists, favorable action on a matter, other than the election of directors, will be approved by a voting group if the votes cast within the group favoring the action exceed
the votes cast opposing the action, unless a greater or lesser number of votes is required by law or a greater number of votes is required by the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or a resolution of the Board of Directors requiring receipt of a
greater affirmative vote of the shareholders, including more separate voting groups.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
In each election of directors of the Corporation, shall have the right to multiply the number of votes to which such shareholder may be entitled by the total number of directors to be elected in the
same election by the holders of the class or classes of shares of which such shareholder’s shares are a part, and such shareholder may cast the whole number of such votes for one candidate or such shareholder may distribute them among any two or more
candidates.
Section 2.11 VOTING BY PROXY OR NOMINEE. A shareholder may
vote either in person or by proxy or proxies appointed in writing by the shareholder or their attorney-in-fact. An appointment form sufficient to appoint a proxy includes any transmission that creates a record capable of authentication, including
but not limited to an electronic transmission, providing a written statement for the appointment of the proxy, from which it can be determined that the shareholder transmitted or authorized the transmission for the appointment. An appointment of a
proxy is effective when received by the Secretary or other officer or agent authorized by the Corporation to tabulate votes before the proxy exercises the proxy’s authority under the appointment.
No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution unless otherwise provided in the appointment form. A proxy shall be revocable unless the proxy form conspicuously states
that the proxy is irrevocable and the proxy is coupled with an interest.
A person holding shares in a representative or fiduciary capacity may vote such shares without a transfer of such shares into such person’s name. However, the Corporation may (a) request that the person
provide evidence of this capacity acceptable to the Corporation or (b) establish a procedure by which the beneficial owner of shares that are registered in the name of a nominee is recognized by the Corporation as the shareholder.
Section 2.12 ADJOURNMENTS. Any meeting of the shareholders,
annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if
any, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.
If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
If after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for shareholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of the adjourned meeting and
shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of the adjourned meeting.
At the adjourned meeting at which there is a quorum, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 2.13 ACTION BY SHAREHOLDERS WITHOUT A MEETING. Any
action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent or consents, in writing or signed electronically and setting forth the action so taken, shall have been signed by
the holder or holders of all shares entitled to vote with respect to the action that is the subject of the consent.
Any action taken without a meeting shall be evidenced by one or more written consents that describe the action taken, are signed by shareholders having the requisite number of votes and bear the date of
the signatures of such shareholders. Such written consent or consents shall be delivered to the Corporation for inclusion with the records of meetings within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent being delivered to the Corporation.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date to determine shareholders entitled to act by written consent without a meeting. If the Board of Directors does not fix a record date, the record date shall
be:
(a) the first date that a shareholder delivers a signed written consent to the Corporation, if
prior action by the Board of Directors is not required to take action without a meeting; or
(b) at the close of business on the date the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking the
required action, if prior action by the Board of Directors is required to take action.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 3.01 BOARD OF DIRECTORS. All corporate power shall
be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of, the Board of Directors, except such powers expressly conferred upon or reserved to the shareholders, and subject to
any limitations set forth by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Directors need not be residents of the State of Louisiana or shareholders of the Corporation.
Section 3.02 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors
shall initially be one, provided that the number may be increased or decreased from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
No decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director.
Section 3.03 TERM OF OFFICE. At the first annual meeting of
shareholders and at each annual meeting thereafter, the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors shall elect directors to hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting, the director’s successor has been selected and
qualified, or the director’s earlier death, resignation, or removal.
Section 3.04 REMOVAL. Any or all of the directors may be
removed at any time, with or without cause, only if the number of votes cast in favor of removal exceeds the number of votes cast against removal by a vote of the holders of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of the director or
directors, at any meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose. The meeting notice must state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is removal of the director.
Section 3.05 RESIGNATION. A director may resign at any time
by giving notice in the form of an executed resignation to the Board of Directors, its chairperson, or to the President or Secretary of the Corporation. A resignation is effective when the notice is delivered to the Corporation unless the notice
specifies a future date. Acceptance of the resignation shall not be required to make the resignation effective. The pending vacancy may be filled before the effective date in accordance with Section 3.06 of these Bylaws, but the successor shall not
take office until the effective date.
Section 3.06 VACANCIES. Vacancies and newly created
directorships, whether resulting from an increase in the size of the Board of Directors, or due to the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a director or otherwise, may be filled by (a) election at an annual or special meeting of
shareholders called for that purpose or (b) the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though there is less than a quorum.
Section 3.07 MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS. An annual meeting of
directors shall be held immediately and without notice after and at the place of the annual meeting of shareholders. Other regular meetings of the directors may be held at such times and places within or outside Louisiana as the directors may fix.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by (a) the President, (b) the chair of the Board of Directors, or (c) a majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.08 REMOTE COMMUNICATION. The Board of Directors
may permit any or all directors to participate in any meeting by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A director
participating in a meeting by remote communication is considered to be present in person at the meeting. The Board of Directors may also determine that any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee of the board may be held solely by remote
communication.
Section 3.09 NOTICE OF DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS. Regular meetings
of the Board of Directors may be held without notice of the date, time, place, or purpose of the meeting. All special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held upon not less than forty-eight (48) hours’ notice. Such notice shall state:
(a) the time and date of the meeting;
(b) the place of the meeting, if any; and
(c) the means of any remote communication by which directors may participate at the meeting.
Notice to each director shall be given (x) in physical form by mail or personal delivery, or (y) by electronic transmission if consented to by the director.
Any director entitled to notice of a meeting may sign a written waiver of notice either before or after the time of the meeting. Attendance of a director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of
notice of the meeting, except where the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Section 3.10 QUORUM AND ACTION OF DIRECTORS. A majority of
the directors as fixed in these Bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present at the time of the act shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the vote of a greater number is
required by the BCA, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws.
The directors at a meeting for which a quorum is not present may adjourn the meeting until a time and place as may be determined by a vote of the directors present at that meeting. When a meeting is
adjourned, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjourned meeting, or of the business to be transacted at the adjourned meeting, other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.
Section 3.11 COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any
stated salary for their services, but the Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at any meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof. A director shall not be precluded
from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation for services in that capacity.
Section 3.12 ACTION BY DIRECTORS WITHOUT A MEETING. Unless
otherwise provided in these Bylaws or the Articles of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all of the directors in office, or
all of the committee members then appointed, consent to such action in writing. The written consents must be filed with the Secretary, included in the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, and kept as part of the Corporation’s
permanent records.
Section 3.13 COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Board
of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors, may designate one or more directors to constitute one or more committees, to exercise the authority of the Board of Directors to the extent provided in the resolution establishing
the committee and permitted by law. A committee of the Board of Directors does not have the authority to:
(a) authorize or approve distributions, except according to a formula or method, or within limits,
prescribed by the Board of Directors;
(b) approve or propose to shareholders action that the BCA requires to be approved by
shareholders;
(c) fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any of its committees; or
(d) adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws.
The designation of a committee of the Board of Directors and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any member thereof, of any responsibility imposed
by law.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01 POSITIONS AND ELECTION. The officers of the
Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall be a President, a Secretary, and any other officers, including assistant officers and agents, as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may
authorize an officer to appoint one or more officers or assistant officers. Any two or more offices may be held simultaneously by the same person.
Each officer shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified or until the death, resignation or removal of that officer. Vacancies or new offices shall be filled at the next regular or special
meeting of the Board of Directors. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.
Section 4.02 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. Any officer elected or
appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the majority of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting. Any officer or assistant officer appointed by an authorized officer may be
removed at any time with or without cause by any officer with authority to appoint such officer of assistant officer. Removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the officer so removed.
Any officer may resign at any time by delivering notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Secretary of the Corporation. Resignation is effective when the notice is delivered unless the
notice provides a later effective date. Any vacancies may be filled in accordance with Section 4.01 of these Bylaws.
Section 4.03 POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS. The powers and
duties of the officers of the Corporation shall be as provided from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors or by direction of an officer authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the duties of other officers. In the absence of
such resolution, the respective officers shall have the powers and shall discharge the duties customarily and usually held and performed by like officers of corporations similar in organization and business purposes to the Corporation subject to
the control of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.01 PERMISSIBLE INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS.
Except as otherwise provided in this Article V, the Corporation may, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by law, indemnify an individual against liability incurred in a proceeding because such individual is a director after a
determination has been made that indemnification is permissible because the director (a) conducted himself or herself in good faith and (i) in the case of conduct in an official capacity, reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in the best
interest of the Corporation, or (ii) in other cases, reasonably believed that the director’s conduct was at least not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation, or (iii) with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful, or (b) engaged in conduct for which broader indemnification has been made permissible or obligatory under a provision of the Articles of Incorporation for which liability has been eliminated in accordance
with law (specifically, BCA 1-832). Any such determination shall be made by a Determining Body (as defined below), which shall be one of the following: (1) if there are two or more qualified directors (as defined in BCA 1-143(A)(2)), by the Board
of Directors by a majority vote of all qualified directors, a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum, or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more qualified directors appointed by such vote, or (2) by special
legal counsel selected either in the manner prescribed in subclause (1) or, if there are fewer than two qualified directors, by the Board of Directors, in which selection directors who are not qualified directors may participate, or (3) by the
shareholders, except that shares owned by or voted under the control of a director who at the time is not a qualified director may not be voted on the determination. Authorization of indemnification shall be made in the same manner as the
determination that indemnification is permissible except that if there are fewer than two qualified directors, or if the determination is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification shall be made by those entitled to select
special legal counsel under the latter part of subclause (2). The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, is not, of itself, determinative that the director
did not meet the relevant standard of conduct described in this Section 5.01.
Section 5.02 MANDATORY INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS. The
Corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because he or she was a director of the Corporation against expenses incurred by the
director in connection with the proceeding.
Section 5.03 ADVANCE FOR EXPENSES. The Corporation may,
before final disposition of a proceeding, advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding by an individual who is a party to the proceeding because that individual was or is a member of the Board of
Directors if the director delivers to the Corporation (a) a written affirmation of the director’s good faith belief that the relevant standard of conduct as set forth in Section 5.01 has been met by the director or that the proceeding involves
conduct for which liability has been eliminated under the law (specifically, BCA 1-832), and (b) a written undertaking of the director as required by law to repay any funds advanced if the director is not entitled to mandatory indemnification under
Section 5.02 and it is ultimately determined that the director has not met the relevant standard of conduct under Section 5.01. Authorizations for expense advancement under this Section 5.03 shall be made by (i) the Board of Directors in
accordance with law (specifically, BCA 1-853(C)(1)) or (ii) the shareholders, except that shares owned or voted under the control of a director who at the time is not a qualified director may not be voted on the authorization
Section 5.04 COURT-ORDERED INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE FOR EXPENSES. A director who is a party to a proceeding
because he or she is a director may petition the court conducting the proceeding for indemnification or an advance for expenses or, if the indemnification or advance for expenses is beyond the scope of the proceeding or of the jurisdiction of the
court or other forum for the proceeding, may petition another court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 5.05 INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE.
(a) Promptly upon becoming aware of the existence of any proceeding as to which he or she may be
indemnified hereunder, a director (the “Indemnitee”) shall notify the President of the Corporation of the proceeding and whether he or she intends to seek indemnification hereunder. If such notice indicates that Indemnitee does so intend,
the President shall promptly advise the Board of Directors thereof and notify the Board of Directors that the establishment, in accordance with BCA 1-855, of a determining body (the “Determining Body”) with respect to the proceeding will be
a matter presented at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors. Such a meeting is to be held within 90 calendar days of the date of the director’s request. If a meeting of the Board of Directors is not regularly scheduled
within 120 calendar days of such request, the President shall cause a special meeting of the Board of Directors to be called within such period in accordance with these Bylaws. After the Determining Body has been established the President shall
inform the Indemnitee thereof and Indemnitee shall immediately provide the Determining Body with all facts relevant to the proceeding known to him or her. No later than the 60th day (the “Determination Date”) after its receipt of such
information, together with such additional information as the Determining Body may request of Indemnitee, the Determining Body shall determine, and shall advise Indemnitee of its determination, whether indemnification is permissible.
(b) During such 60-day period, Indemnitee shall promptly inform the Determining Body upon his or her
becoming aware of any relevant facts not theretofore provided by him or her to the Determining Body, unless the Determining Body has obtained such facts by other means. The providing of such facts to the Determining Body shall not begin a new
60-day period.
(c) The Determining Body shall have no authority to revoke a determination that indemnification is
permissible unless Indemnitee (i) submits fraudulent information to the Determining Body at any time during the 60 days prior to the Determination Date or (ii) fails to comply with the provisions of subsections (a) or (b) hereof, including without
limitation Indemnitee’s obligation to submit information or documents relevant to the proceeding reasonably requested by the Determining Body prior to the Determination Date.
(d) In the case of any proceeding other than a proposed, threatened or pending criminal proceeding,
(i) if indemnification is permissible, in the good faith judgment of the Determining Body, the
Corporation may, in its sole discretion after notice to Indemnitee, assume all responsibility for the defense of the proceeding, and, in any event, the Corporation and the Indemnitee each shall keep the other informed as to the progress of the
defense, including prompt disclosure of any proposals for settlement; provided that if the Corporation is a party to the proceeding and Indemnitee reasonably determines that there is a conflict between the positions of the Corporation and
Indemnitee with respect to the proceeding, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to conduct his or her defense, with counsel of his or her choice; and provided further that Indemnitee shall in any event be entitled at his or her expense to employ
counsel chosen by him or her to participate in the proceeding; and
(ii) the Corporation shall fairly consider any proposals by Indemnitee for settlement of the
proceeding. If the Corporation (A) proposes a settlement acceptable to the person bringing the proceeding, or (B) believes a settlement proposed by the person bringing the proceeding should be accepted, it shall inform Indemnitee of the terms
thereof and shall fix a reasonable date by which Indemnitee shall respond. If Indemnitee agrees to such terms, he or she shall execute such documents as shall be necessary to effect the settlement. If he or she does not agree he or she may
proceed in the defense of the proceeding in any manner he or she chooses, but if he or she is not successful on the merits or otherwise, the Corporation’s obligation to indemnify him or her for any liability incurred following his or her
disagreement shall be limited to the lesser of (1) the total liability incurred by him or her following his or her decision not to agree to such proposed settlement or (2) the amount the Corporation would have paid pursuant to the terms of the
proposed settlement. If, however, the proposed settlement would impose upon Indemnitee any requirement to act or refrain from acting that would materially interfere with the conduct of his or her affairs, Indemnitee may refuse such settlement and
proceed in the proceeding, if he or she so desires, at the Corporation’s expense without regard to the limitations imposed by the preceding sentence. In no event, however, shall the Corporation be obligated to indemnify Indemnitee for any amount
paid in a settlement that the Corporation has not approved.
(e) In the case of a proceeding involving a proposed, threatened or pending criminal proceeding,
Indemnitee shall be entitled to conduct the defense of the claim, and to make all decisions with respect thereto, with counsel of his or her choice; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify Indemnitee for an
amount paid in settlement that the Corporation has not approved.
(f) Any determination by the Corporation with respect to settlements of a proceeding shall be made
by one of the following: (i) if there are two or more qualified directors, by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of all qualified directors, a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum, or by a majority of the members of a
committee of two or more qualified directors appointed by such vote, or (ii) by special legal counsel selected either in the manner prescribed in subclause (i) or, if there are fewer than two qualified directors, by the Board of Directors, in which
selection directors who are not qualified directors may participate.
(g) The Corporation and Indemnitee shall keep confidential, to the extent permitted by law and their
fiduciary obligations, all facts and determinations provided or made pursuant to or arising out of the operation of this Article V, and the Corporation and Indemnitee shall instruct its or his or her agents and employees to do likewise.
Section 5.06 EXPEDITED INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXCULPATED CLAIMS.
A director or officer of the Corporation shall be deemed to have met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in BCA 1-851(A), and therefore entitled to automatic indemnification, upon a determination by special legal counsel pursuant to BCA
1-855(B)(2) that, with respect to the proceeding for which indemnification has been requested (or with respect to any claim, issue, or matter therein) the director or officer engaged in conduct for which liability has been eliminated under BCA
1-832.
Section 5.07 ENFORCEMENT.
(a) The rights provided by this Article V shall be enforceable by Indemnitee in any court of
competent jurisdiction.
(b) In any judicial proceeding described in this subsection, the Corporation shall bear the burden
of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to any expenses sought with respect to any claim.
Section 5.08 SAVING CLAUSE. If any provision of this Article V
is determined by a court having jurisdiction over the matter to require the Corporation to do or refrain from doing any act that is in violation of applicable law, the court shall be empowered to modify or reform such provision so that, as modified
or reformed, such provision provides the maximum indemnification permitted by law, and such provision, as so modified or reformed, and the balance of this Article V, shall be applied in accordance with their terms. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, if any portion of this Article V shall be invalidated on any ground, the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify an Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article V that shall not have been
invalidated and to the full extent permitted by law with respect to that portion that has been invalidated.
Section 5.09 NON-EXCLUSIVITY.
(a) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article V
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee is or may become entitled under any statute, article of incorporation, bylaw, authorization of shareholders or directors, agreement, or otherwise.
(b) It is the intent of the Corporation by this Article V to indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee
to the fullest extent permitted by law, so that if applicable law would permit the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than are currently permitted, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law notwithstanding that the other terms of this Article V would provide for lesser indemnification.
Section 5.10 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Article V shall be
binding upon the Corporation, its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, personal representatives, and assigns and to the benefit of the Corporation, its successors and assigns.
Section 5.11 INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS. The Corporation
may indemnify and advance expenses to an individual who is a party to a proceeding because he or she was or is an officer of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation to the same extent as a director.
Section 5.12 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHER PERSONS. The
Corporation may indemnify any person not covered by Sections 5.01 through 5.09 to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors or a separate section of these Bylaws.
Section 5.13 INSURANCE. The Corporation may purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is a director or officer of the Corporation, or who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, serves at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent
of another domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity, against liability asserted against or incurred by the individual in that capacity or arising from his or her status as a director
or officer, whether or not the individual could be protected against the same liability under the law (specifically, BCA 1-832) and whether or not the Corporation would have power to indemnify or advance expenses to the individual against liability
under this Article X.
Section 5.14 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this
Article V, the definitions set forth in BCA 1-143 and 1-850 shall apply.
ARTICLE VI
SHARE CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFER
Section 6.01 CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING SHARES. If issued,
certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall include:
(a) the name of the Corporation and that the Corporation is organized under the laws of the State
of Louisiana;
(b) the name of the person to whom the certificate is issued;
(c) the number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, which the certificate
represents; and
(d) a conspicuous statement setting forth restrictions on the transfer of the shares, if any.
No share shall be issued until the consideration therefor, fixed as provided by law, has been fully paid.
The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of some or all of the shares of any or all classes or series without certificates. The Corporation shall, within a reasonable time after the issuance or
transfer of uncertificated shares, send to the registered owner of uncertificated shares a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to the BCA. Except as otherwise expressly provided by
law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing shares of the same class and series shall be identical.
Section 6.02 TRANSFER OF SHARES. Shares of the Corporation
shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of shares shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof, by such person’s attorney lawfully made in writing and, in the case
of certificated shares, upon the surrender of the certificate thereof, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate or uncertificated shares shall be issued. No transfer of shares shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until
it shall have been entered in the share records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom the shares were transferred.
Section 6.03 REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS. The Corporation may
treat the holder of record of any shares issued by the Corporation as the holder in fact thereof, for purposes of voting those shares, receiving distributions thereon or notices in respect thereof, transferring those shares, exercising rights of
dissent with respect to those shares, exercising or waiving any preemptive right with respect to those shares, entering into agreements with respect to those shares in accordance with the laws of Louisiana, or giving proxies with respect to those
shares.
Neither the Corporation nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for treating that person as the owner of those shares at that time for those purposes, regardless of
whether that person possesses a certificate for those shares and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express notice thereof,
except as otherwise provided by law.
Section 6.04 LOST OR REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATES. The
Corporation may issue a new certificate for its shares in place of any certificate theretofore issued and alleged by its owner of record or such owner’s authorized representative to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed if the Corporation, transfer
agent, or registrar is not on notice that such certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser. A replacement certificate may be issued if the owner or the owner’s representative:
(a) files with the Secretary and the transfer agent or the registrar, if any, a request for the
issuance of a new certificate, together with an affidavit in form satisfactory to the Secretary and transfer agent or registrar, if any, setting forth the time, place, and circumstances of the loss;
(b) files with the Secretary and the transfer agent or the registrar, if any, a bond with good and
sufficient security acceptable to the Secretary and the transfer agent or the registrar, if any, to indemnify and save harmless the Corporation and the transfer agent or the registrar, if any, from any and all damage, liability, and expense of
every nature whatsoever resulting from the Corporation, the transfer agent, or the registrar issuing a new certificate in place of the one alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed; and
(c) complies with such other reasonable requirements as the chair of the Board of Directors, the
President, the Secretary, or the Board of Directors and the transfer agent or the registrar, if any, shall deem appropriate under the circumstances.
A new certificate may be issued in lieu of any certificate previously issued that has become defaced or mutilated upon surrender for cancellation of a part of the old certificate sufficient, in the
opinion of the Secretary and the transfer agent or the registrar, if any, to identify the owner of the defaced or mutilated certificate, the number of shares represented thereby, and the number of the certificate and its authenticity and to protect
the Corporation and the transfer agent or the registrar against loss or liability. When sufficient identification for such defaced or mutilated certificate is lacking, a new certificate may be issued upon compliance with all of the conditions set
forth in this Section 6.04 in connection with the replacement of lost, stolen, or destroyed certificates.
ARTICLE VII
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 7.01 DECLARATION. The Board of Directors may
authorize, and the Corporation may make, distributions to its shareholders in cash, property, or shares of the Corporation to the extent permitted by the Articles of Incorporation and the BCA.
Section 7.02 RECORD DATE FOR DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. For
the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive a distribution by the Corporation (other than a distribution involving a purchase or redemption by the Corporation of any of its own shares) or a share dividend, the Board of Directors of
the Corporation may, at the time of declaring the dividend or distribution, set a record date no more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the dividend or distribution. If no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled
to receive a distribution (other than a distribution involving a purchase or redemption by the Corporation of any of its own shares) or a share dividend, the record date shall be the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring
the distribution or share dividend is adopted.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 8.01 SEAL. The Corporation may adopt a corporate
seal in a form approved by the Board of Directors. The Corporation shall not be required to use the corporate seal, and the lack of the corporate seal shall not affect an otherwise valid contract or other instrument executed by the Corporation.
Section 8.02 CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC. All checks, drafts, or
other instruments for payment of money or notes of the Corporation shall be signed by an officer or officers, or any other person or persons as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 8.03 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation
shall be as determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 8.04 CONFLICT WITH APPLICABLE LAW OR ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION. Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions of the BCA shall govern the construction of these Bylaws. These Bylaws are adopted subject to any applicable law and the
Articles of Incorporation. Whenever these Bylaws may conflict with any applicable law or the Articles of Incorporation, such conflict shall be resolved in favor of such law or the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 8.05 INVALID PROVISIONS. If any one or more of the
provisions of these Bylaws, or the applicability of any provision to a specific situation, shall be held invalid or unenforceable, the provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it or its application valid and enforceable,
and the validity and enforceability of all other provisions of these Bylaws and all other applications of any provision shall not be affected thereby.
Section 8.06 EMERGENCY BYLAWS. In the event of an emergency, to
the extent not limited or prohibited by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the following provisions regarding the management of the Corporation shall take effect immediately. An “emergency,” for the purposes of this Section
8.06, exists if a quorum of the Board of Directors cannot readily participate in a meeting because of the occurrence of a catastrophic event.
In the event of an emergency, a meeting of the Board of Directors may be called following the attempt of not less than two-hour notice to each director. Said notice may be given by electronic
transmission, including facsimile transmission, transmission to an electronic mail address provided by the director, or by telephone.
The Board of Directors shall approve and maintain a current list of officers or other persons to serve as directors to the extent necessary to provide a quorum at any meeting held and to take over the
duties of any other officer who is rendered incapable of discharging their duties while these emergency bylaws are in effect.
When an emergency, as defined in this Section, arises, the chair of the Board, the President and the Secretary, without the approval of the Board of Directors, shall have the authority to temporarily
change the Corporation’s principal office or designate several alternative principal offices, until such time as the Board of Directors can meet or until the termination of the emergency.
These emergency provisions take effect only in the event of an emergency as defined hereinabove and will no longer be effective after the emergency ends. Any and all provisions of these Bylaws that are
consistent with these emergency provisions remain in effect during an emergency. Any or all actions of the Corporation taken in good faith in accordance with these provisions are binding upon this Corporation and may not be used to impose liability
on a managerial official, employee, or agent of the Corporation.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section 9.01 SHAREHOLDERS. These Bylaws may be amended,
repealed, or otherwise altered exclusively by the shareholders.
EXHIBIT D
Directors of Surviving Corporation
- Exhibit D-119 -