EXHIBIT M
VOTING AGREEMENT
This VOTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
September 13, 2000 among Interactive Technology Holdings, LLC ("ITH")] and
SOFTBANK Capital Partners LP ("Softbank Capital Partners") and SOFTBANK Capital
Advisors Fund LP ("Softbank Capital Advisors" and, together with Softbank
Capital Partners, "Softbank").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on September 13, 2000, ITH and Global Sports, Inc. (the
"Company") entered into that certain Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the
"ITH Purchase Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to sell and
issue to ITH, and ITH has agreed to purchase from the Company, 5,000,000 shares
of the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common
Stock") and warrants to purchase 4,500,000 shares of Common Stock; and
WHEREAS, as an inducement and a condition to consummating the ITH
Purchase Agreement, ITH has required that Softbank agree, and Softbank has
agreed, to enter into this Agreement; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the
mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, intending to be
legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Beneficially Own" or "Beneficial Ownership" with respect to any
securities shall mean having "beneficial ownership" of such securities (as
determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act")), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement
or understanding, whether or not in writing. Without duplicative counting of the
same securities by the same holder, securities Beneficially Owned by a Person
shall include securities Beneficially Owned by all other Persons with whom such
Person would constitute a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act.
(b) "Board Composition Requirement" shall collectively have the
meanings given such term in the ITH Purchase Agreement and that certain Stock
Purchase Agreement dated April 28, 2000 between the Company and Softbank (the
"Softbank Purchase Agreement").
(c) "ITH Designees" shall mean those directors designated by ITH
pursuant to the ITH Purchase Agreement.
(d) "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity.
(e) "Softbank Designees" shall mean those directors designated by
Softbank pursuant to the Softbank Purchase Agreement.
2. Composition and Election of Board of Directors.
2.1 Number of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company shall
consist of nine (9) members. Neither party hereto will take any action to change
the size of the Board of Directors from other than nine (9) members without the
prior written consent of the other party hereto.
2.2 Stockholder Votes.
(a) At any meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected
and with respect to any written consent of stockholders of the Company in lieu
of meeting relating to the election of directors, Softbank shall vote, or
execute and deliver a written consent with respect to, all shares of Common
Stock and any other voting securities of the Company (collectively, the "Voting
Stock") held of record or Beneficially Owned by Softbank in favor of the
elections of the ITH Designees.
(b) At any meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected
and with respect to any written consent of stockholders of the Company in lieu
of meeting relating to the election of directors, ITH shall vote, or execute and
deliver a written consent with respect to, all shares of Voting Stock held of
record or Beneficially Owned by ITH in favor of the elections of the Softbank
Designees.
2.3 Nominating Procedures. In connection with each meeting of
stockholders of the Company at which directors of the Company are to be elected,
the parties hereto shall cause their respective designees on the Board to
nominate a slate of nominees for director which meets the Board Composition
Requirement for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, and the nominees so
selected by the Board of Directors shall be presented and voted upon at the
meeting of stockholders as a slate.
2.4 Removal of Directors.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.4, Softbank agrees
not to take any action to remove from the Board of Directors, with or without
cause, any ITH Designee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ITH shall at all times
have the right to remove and to cause Softbank to remove, with or without cause,
any or all of the ITH Designees.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.4, ITH agrees not to
take any action to remove from the Board of Directors, with or without cause,
any Softbank Designee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Softbank shall at all
times have the right to remove and to cause ITH to remove, with or without
cause, any or all of the Softbank Designees.
2.5 Vacancies. If a vacancy is created on the Board of Directors by
reason of the death, disability, removal or resignation of any one of the
directors, Softbank and ITH shall each promptly take all necessary and
appropriate action, including, to the extent Softbank or ITH have power to do
so, calling a special meeting of stockholders or executing a written consent of
stockholders in lieu of meeting and voting, or executing and delivering a
written consent with respect to, the shares of Voting Stock of the Company then
held of record or Beneficially Owned by Softbank or ITH, as the case may be, in
such a manner to ensure that such vacancy is filled in a manner consistent with
the Board Composition Requirement.
3. Other Stockholder Votes. At any meeting of stockholders of the
Company, however called, and with respect to any written consent of stockholders
of the Company in lieu of a meeting, Softbank shall vote, or execute and deliver
a written consent with respect to, all shares of Voting Stock then held of
record or Beneficially Owned by Softbank, (a) against any action or agreement
that would result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation or
warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the ITH
Purchase Agreement, and (b) except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance
by ITH, against the following actions (other than the transactions contemplated
by the ITH Purchase Agreement): (i) a dissolution of the Company or (ii) any
material change in the present capitalization of the Company or any amendment of
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, in each case, which is
intended, or could reasonably be expected, to impede, delay or adversely affect
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the ITH Purchase Agreement.
Softbank agrees that they shall not enter into any agreement or understanding
with any Person the effect of which would be inconsistent or violative of the
provisions and agreements contained in this Section 3.
4. Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Softbank and ITH shall each
vote all shares of Voting Stock then held of record or Beneficially Owned by
each of them, respectively, and shall take all other actions necessary and
appropriate (including, without limitation, removing any director), to ensure
that the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws do not at any time
conflict with the provisions of this Agreement.
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 Duration of Agreement. The rights and obligations of Softbank and
ITH under this Agreement shall terminate on such date as either Softbank or ITH
no longer has the right to designate any directors pursuant to the Softbank
Purchase Agreement or the ITH Purchase Agreement, respectively.
5.2 Modification and Waiver. No amendment or modification of the terms
or provisions of this Agreement shall be binding unless the same shall be in
writing and duly executed by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to or shall constitute a waiver of
any other provisions hereof. No delay on the part of any party in exercising any
right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof.
5.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any
previous agreement or understandings between the parties regarding the subject
matter hereof are merged into and superseded by this Agreement.
5.4 Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
5.5 No Implied Rights. Nothing herein, express or implied, is intended
to or shall be construed to confer upon or give to any person, firm, corporation
or legal entity, other than the parties hereto, any interest, rights, remedies
or other benefits with respect to or in connection with any agreement or
provision contained herein or contemplated hereby.
5.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflict
of law provisions thereof.
5.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
5.8 Successors and Assigns. The provisions hereof shall inure to the
benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the parties
hereto; provided, however, that this Agreement shall only be binding (a) upon a
transferee of shares of Voting Stock of ITH if such transferee is a member of
the Purchaser Group (as defined in the ITH Purchase Agreement), and (b) upon a
transferee of shares of Voting Stock of Softbank if such transferee is a
Softbank Entity (as defined in the Softbank Purchase Agreement).
5.9 Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement
shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of
delivery if delivered personally or on the third business day after mailing or
if mailed to the party to whom notice is to be given by first class mail,
registered or certified, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and
addressed as follows (until any such address is changed by notice duly given):
(a) if to ITH, to:
c/o QVC, Inc.
Studio Park
Mail Code 223
West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380
Telephone: (610) 701-8974
Facsimile: (610) 701-1380
Attn: Neal Grabell, Esq.
with a copy to:
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
One Logan Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone: (215) 988-2794
Facsimile: (215) 988-2757
Attention: Howard A. Blum, Esq.
(b) if to Softbank, to:
c/o SOFTBANK Capital Partners LP
10 Langley Road, Suite 403
Newton Center, Massachusetts 02169
Facsimile: (617) 928-9301
Attention: Administrative Member
with a copy to:
Sullivan & Cromwell
1888 Century Park East
21st Floor
Los Angeles, California
90067-1725
Telephone: (310) 712-6650
Facsimile: (310) 712-8800
Attention: John L. Savva, Esq.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
By:
Name:
Title:
SOFTBANK CAPITAL PARTNERS LP
By: SOFTBANK Capital Partners LLC
Its General Partner
By:
Name: Steven J. Murray
Title: Admin. Member
SOFTBANK CAPITAL ADVISORS FUND LP
By: SOFTBANK Capital Partners LLC
Its General Partner
By:
Name: Steven J. Murray
Title: Admin. Member
