Merger Without Meeting of Stockholders Notwithstanding Section 2.8, in the event that Parent, the Purchaser and the Parent Subsidiaries shall acquire and then hold at least 90% of the outstanding Shares pursuant to the Offer or otherwise, the parties hereto agree to take all necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become effective as soon as practicable after the acceptance for payment of and payment for Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer without a meeting of stockholders of the Company, in accordance with Section 253 of the DGCL.
Proxy Voting The Adviser will vote, or make arrangements to have voted, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of a Fund may be invested from time to time. Such proxies will be voted in a manner that you deem, in good faith, to be in the best interest of the Fund and in accordance with your proxy voting policy. You agree to provide a copy of your proxy voting policy to the Trust prior to the execution of this Agreement, and any amendments thereto promptly.
Company Stockholders Meeting (a) The Company shall take all action necessary under all applicable Law to call, give notice of and hold a meeting of the holders of Company Common Stock (the “Company Stockholders’ Meeting”) for the purpose of obtaining the Requisite Stockholder Approval. The Company Stockholders’ Meeting shall be held (on a date selected by the Company and Parent) as promptly as practicable after the commencement of the mailing of the Proxy Statement to the Company’s stockholders. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all proxies solicited in connection with the Company Stockholders’ Meeting are solicited in compliance with all applicable Law. Parent shall cause all shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent or Merger Sub, if any, to be voted in favor of the adoption of this Agreement.
(b) Subject to Section 6.2(d), (i) the Proxy Statement shall include a statement to the effect that the board of directors of the Company (A) has unanimously determined and believes that the Merger is advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) has unanimously approved and adopted this Agreement and unanimously approved the Transactions, including the Merger, in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL, and (iii) unanimously recommends that the Company’s stockholders vote to adopt this Agreement at the Company Stockholders’ Meeting. The unanimous determination that the Merger is advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and the unanimous recommendation of the Company’s board of directors that the Company’s stockholders vote to adopt this Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Company Board Recommendation”. The Proxy Statement shall include the opinion of the financial advisors referred to in Section 3.29.
(c) Neither the board of directors of the Company nor any committee thereof shall, except if the terms, conditions and requirements of Section 6.2(d) have been satisfied: (i) withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub the Company Board Recommendation; (ii) recommend the approval, acceptance or adoption of, or approve, endorse, accept or adopt, any Acquisition Proposal; (iii) approve or recommend, or cause or permit any Company Entity to execute or enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other similar document or Contract constituting or relating directly or indirectly to, or that contemplates or is intended or could reasonably be expected to result directly or indirectly in, an Acquisition Transaction, other than a confidentiality agreement referred to in clause (iv)(B) of Section 5.3(b); or (iv) resolve, agree or publicly propose to, or permit any Company Entity or any Representative of any Company Entity to agree or publicly propose to, take any of the actions referred to in this Section 6.2(c).
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6.2(c), at any time prior to the adoption of this Agreement by the Requisite Stockholder Approval, the board of directors of the Company may withdraw or modify the Company Board Recommendation, refuse to reaffirm the Company Board Recommendation, refuse to publicly state that the Merger and this Agreement are in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders, refuse to issue a press release announcing its opposition to an Acquisition Proposal or recommend a Superior Proposal (each of the foregoing being referred to as a “Recommendation Change”), but only if: (A) an unsolicited, bona fide, written Acquisition Proposal is made to the Company and is not withdrawn; (B) such Acquisition Proposal did not result directly or indirectly from a breach of or any action inconsistent with any of the provisions set forth in Section 5.3 or Section 6.2 of this Agreement or in the Confidentiality Agreement; (C) the Company’s board of directors determines in good faith, after having consulted with its independent financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Offer; (D) the Company’s board of directors determines in good faith, after having consulted with the Company’s outside legal counsel, that, in light of such Superior Offer, the failure to make a Recommendation Change would constitute a breach by the Company’s board of directors of its fiduciary obligations to the Company’s stockholders under applicable Delaware law; (E) at least three business days prior to making a Recommendation Change pursuant to this Section 6.2(d), the Company’s board of directors delivers to Parent a written notice (a “Recommendation Change Notice”) (1) stating that the Company has received a Superior Offer that did not result directly or indirectly from a breach of or any action inconsistent with any of the provisions set forth in Section 5.3 or Section 6.2 of this Agreement or in the Confidentiality Agreement, (2) stating the Company’s board of directors’ intention to make a Recommendation Change as a result of such Superior Offer and describing the nature of such intended Recommendation Change, (3) specifying the material terms and conditions of such Superior Offer, including the identity of the Person making such Superior Offer, and (4) attaching copies of the most current and complete draft of any Contract relating to such Superior Offer; and (F) throughout the period between the delivery of such Recommendation Change Notice and any Recommendation Change, the Company engages (to the extent requested by Parent) in good faith negotiations with Parent to amend this Agreement and if such negotiations result in the transaction with Parent being in the best interests of the Company stockholders, the Company and its Representatives shall comply with Section 6.2(c). For purposes of this Section 6.2(d), any materially change in the form of or material decrease in the amount of, the consideration payable in connection with a Superior Offer, and any other materially change to any of the terms of a Superior Offer (including any change that would make it a Superior Offer as compared to this Agreement as modified by any changes negotiated pursuant to clause (F) of this Section 6.2(d)), will be deemed to be a new Superior Offer (or other Acquisition Proposal), requiring a new Recommendation Change Notice and a new advance notice period. The Company agrees to keep confidential, and not to disclose to the public or to any Person, any and all information regarding any negotiations that take place pursuant to clause (F) of this Section 6.2(d) (including the existence and terms of any proposal made on behalf of Parent or the Company during such negotiations), except to the extent such disclosure is required by applicable law or the rules and regulations of any applicable United States Government to which the Company is subject or submits.
(e) The Company’s obligation to call, give notice of and hold the Company Stockholders’ Meeting in accordance with Section 6.2(a) shall not be limited or otherwise affected by the making, commencement, disclosure, announcement or submission of any Superior Offer or other Acquisition Proposal or by any Recommendation Change. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company agrees that (i) unless this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 9.1, the Company shall not submit any Acquisition Proposal to a vote of its stockholders and (ii) the Company shall not (without Parent’s prior written consent) adjourn, postpone or cancel (or propose to adjourn, postpone or cancel) the Company Stockholders’ Meeting, except to the extent required to obtain the Requisite Stockholder Approval.
(f) Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the board of directors of the Company from taking and disclosing to the Company’s stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a) and Rule 14d-9 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the taking or disclosing of such position may constitute a Recommendation Change for purposes of this Agreement.
Company Shareholders Meeting (a) The Company shall take all action necessary under all applicable Legal Requirements to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of the holders of Company Common Stock to consider, act upon and vote upon the approval of this Agreement and of the Merger (the "Company Shareholders' Meeting"). The Company Shareholders' Meeting will be held as promptly as practicable and in any event within 45 days after the Form S-4 Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act. The Company shall ensure that the Company Shareholders' Meeting is called, noticed, convened, held and conducted, and that all proxies solicited in connection with the Company Shareholders' Meeting are solicited, in compliance with all applicable Legal Requirements. The Company's obligation to call, give notice of, convene and hold the Company Shareholders' Meeting in accordance with this Section 5.2(a) shall not be limited or otherwise affected by the withdrawal, amendment or modification of the recommendation of the board of directors of the Company with respect to the Merger, except as is required by applicable law.
(b) Subject to Section 5.2(c): (i) the board of directors of the Company shall unanimously recommend that the Company's shareholders vote in favor of and approve this Agreement and the Merger at the Company Shareholders' Meeting; (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement shall include a statement to the effect that the board of directors of the Company has unanimously recommended that the Company's shareholders vote in favor of and approve this Agreement and the Merger at the Company Shareholders' Meeting; and (iii) neither the board of directors of the Company nor any committee thereof shall withdraw, amend or modify, or propose or resolve to withdraw, amend or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the unanimous recommendation of the board of directors of the Company that the Company's shareholders vote in favor of and approve this Agreement and the Merger. For purposes of this Agreement, said recommendation of the board of directors of the Company shall be deemed to have been modified in a manner adverse to Parent if said recommendation shall no longer be unanimous.
(c) Nothing in Section 5.2(b) shall prevent the board of directors of the Company from withdrawing, amending or modifying its unanimous recommendation in favor of the Merger at any time prior to the approval of this Agreement by the Required Company Shareholder Vote if (i) a Superior Offer is made to the Company and is not withdrawn, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Representatives shall have violated any of the restrictions set forth in Section 4.4, and (iii) the board of directors of the Company concludes in good faith, after consultation with its outside counsel, including discussion of applicable legal standards
Parent Stockholders’ Meeting (a) Promptly as reasonably practicable after the resolution of SEC staff comments and the filing of the Definitive Proxy Statement, Parent shall take all action necessary under applicable Law to call, give notice of and hold a meeting of the holders of Parent Common Stock for the purpose of seeking approval of (i) the issuance of Parent Common Stock or other securities of Parent that represent (or are convertible into) more than twenty percent (20%) of the shares of Parent Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger to the holders of Company Capital Stock, Company Options and Company Warrants in connection with the Contemplated Transactions and the change of control of Parent resulting from the Contemplated Transactions, in each case pursuant to the Nasdaq rules; (ii) in accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the applicable SEC rules issued thereunder, seeking advisory approval of a proposal to Parent’s stockholders for a non-binding, advisory vote to approve certain compensation that may become payable to Parent’s named executive officers in connection with the completion of the Merger, if applicable; and (iii) any other proposals the Parties deem necessary or desirable to consummate the Contemplated Transactions (the matters contemplated by this Section 5.3(a)(i) are collectively referred to as the “Parent Stockholder Matters,” and the matters contemplated by this Section 5.3(a)(ii) and (iii) are collectively referred to herein as, the “Other Parent Stockholder Matters,” and such meeting, the “Parent Stockholders’ Meeting”).
(b) The Parent Stockholders’ Meeting shall be held as promptly as practicable after the filing of the Definitive Proxy Statement with the SEC. Parent shall take reasonable measures to ensure that all proxies solicited in connection with the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting are solicited in compliance with all applicable Laws. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if on the date of the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting, or a date preceding the date on which the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting is scheduled, Parent reasonably believes that (i) it will not receive proxies sufficient to obtain the Required Parent Stockholder Vote, whether or not a quorum would be present, or (ii) it will not have sufficient shares of Parent Common Stock represented (whether in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting, Parent may make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting as long as the date of the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting is not postponed or adjourned more than an aggregate of sixty (60) calendar days in connection with any postponements or adjournments.
(c) Parent agrees that, subject to Section 5.3(d): (i) the Parent Board shall recommend that the holders of Parent Common Stock vote to approve the Parent Stockholder Matters and the Other Parent Stockholder Matters, (ii) the Proxy Statement shall include a statement to the effect that the Parent Board recommends that Parent’s stockholders vote to approve the Parent Stockholder Matters and the Other Parent Stockholder Matters (the recommendation of the Parent Board with respect to the Parent Stockholder Matters being referred to as the “Parent Board Recommendation”); and (iii) the Parent Board Recommendation shall not be withheld, amended, withdrawn or modified (and the Parent Board shall not publicly propose to withhold, amend, withdraw or modify the Parent Board Recommendation) in a manner adverse to the Company (the actions set forth in the foregoing clause (iii), collectively, a “Parent Board Adverse Recommendation Change”).
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if at any time prior to the approval of the Parent Stockholder Matters at the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting by the Required Parent Stockholder Vote:
(i) if Parent has received a written Acquisition Proposal (which Acquisition Proposal did not arise out of a material breach of Section 4.4) from any Person that has not been withdrawn and after consultation with outside legal counsel, the Parent Board shall have determined, in good faith, that such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Offer, (x) the Parent Board may make a Parent Board Adverse Recommendation Change or (y) Parent may terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(j) to enter into a Permitted Alternative Agreement with respect to such Superior Offer, if and only if all of the following apply: (A) the Parent Board determines in good faith, after consultation with Parent’s outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Parent Board to Parent’s stockholders under applicable Law; (B) Parent shall have given the Company prior written notice of its intention to consider making a Parent Board Adverse Recommendation Change or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(j) at least three (3) Business Days prior to making any such Parent Board Adverse Recommendation Change or termination (a “Determination Notice”) (which notice shall not constitute a Parent Board Adverse Recommendation Change); and (C) (1) Parent shall have provided to the Company a summary of the material terms and conditions of the Acquisition Proposal in accordance with Section 4.4(b), (2) Parent shall have given the Company the three (3) Business Days after the Determination Notice to propose revisions to the terms of this Agreement or make another proposal and shall have made its Representatives reasonably available to negotiate in good faith with the Company (to the extent the Company desires to negotiate) with respect to such proposed revisions or other proposal, if any, and (3) after considering the results of any such negotiations and giving effect to the proposals made by the Company, if any, after consultation with outside legal counsel, the Parent Board shall have determined, in good faith, that such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Offer and that the failure to make the Parent Board Adverse Recommendation Change or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(j) would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Parent Board to Parent’s stockholders under applicable Law. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 5.3(d)(i) shall also apply to any material change to the facts and circumstances relating to such Acquisition Proposal and require a new Determination Notice, except that the references to three (3) Business Days shall be deemed to be two (2) Business Days.
(ii) other than in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, the Parent Board may make a Parent Board Adverse Recommendation Change in response to a Parent Change in Circumstance, if and only if: (A) the Parent Board determines in good faith, after consultation with Parent’s outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Parent Board to Parent’s stockholders under applicable Law; (B) Parent shall have given the Company a Determination Notice at least three (3) Business Days prior to making any such Parent Board Adverse Recommendation Change; and (C) (1) Parent shall have specified the Parent Change in Circumstance in reasonable detail, (2) Parent shall have given the Company the three (3) Business Days after the Determination Notice to propose revisions to the terms of this Agreement or make another proposal, and shall have made its Representatives reasonably available to negotiate in good faith with the Company (to the extent the Company desires to do so) with respect to such proposed revisions or other proposal, if any, and (3) after considering the results of any such negotiations and giving effect to the proposals made by the Company, if any, after consultation with outside legal counsel, the Parent Board shall have determined, in good faith, that the failure to make the Parent Board Adverse Recommendation Change in response to such Parent Change in Circumstance would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Parent Board to Parent’s stockholders under applicable Law. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 5.3(d)(ii) shall also apply to any material change to the facts and circumstances relating to such Parent Change in Circumstance and require a new Determination Notice, except that the references to three (3) Business Days shall be deemed to be two (2) Business Days.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit Parent or the Parent Board from (i) complying with Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, (ii) issuing a “stop, look and listen” communication or similar communication of the type contemplated by Section 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act or (iii) otherwise making any disclosure to Parent’s stockholders; provided however, that in the case of the foregoing clause (iii) the Parent Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure to make such disclosure could be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with applicable Law, including its fiduciary duties under applicable Law.
Company Stockholder Meeting The Company shall cause a meeting of its stockholders (the “Company Stockholder Meeting”) to be duly called and held as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 40 days after the date of mailing of the Proxy Statement (with the record date and meeting date for the Company Stockholder Meeting to be selected with the reasonable consent of Parent), for the purpose of voting on the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger; provided that the Company may postpone or adjourn the Company Stockholder Meeting (i) with the consent of Parent, (ii) for the absence of a quorum or (iii) (A) to allow reasonable additional time for any supplemental or amended disclosure which the Company has determined in good faith (after consultation with outside counsel) is necessary under Applicable Law to be disseminated and reviewed by the Company’s stockholders prior to the Company Stockholder Meeting or (B) once for a period not to exceed fifteen days, for additional solicitation of votes in order to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval. The Company shall comply with all Applicable Laws that are applicable to the Company Stockholder Meeting and, unless the Board of Directors shall have effected an Adverse Recommendation Change pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, Section 6.03, the Board of Directors (acting on the recommendation of the Special Committee) shall (A) include the Company Recommendation in the Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3 and (B) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with Section 10.01, this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby shall be submitted to the Company’s stockholders at the Company Stockholder Meeting whether or not an Adverse Recommendation Change shall have occurred.
Meeting of Stockholders (a) If required to effect the Merger, the Company shall, consistent with applicable Law and its Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, call and hold a special meeting of Stockholders, as promptly as practicable following acceptance of the shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer, for the purpose of voting upon the adoption or approval of this Agreement (the "Special Meeting"), and shall use all reasonable efforts to hold its Special Meeting as soon as practicable thereafter. At the Special Meeting all of the shares of Company Common Stock then owned by Parent, Merger Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent shall be voted to approve the Merger and this Agreement. The Company shall, subject to the applicable fiduciary duties of its directors, as determined by such directors in good faith after consultation with its outside legal counsel (who may be its regularly engaged outside legal counsel), (1) use all reasonable efforts to solicit from Stockholders proxies in favor of the adoption or approval, as the case may be, of the Merger, (2) take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of Stockholders, as required by the DGCL to obtain such adoption or approvals, and (3) include in the Proxy Statement the recommendation of its Board of Directors in favor of the Merger.
(b) Parent and Merger Sub shall not, and they shall cause their Subsidiaries not to, sell, transfer, assign, encumber or otherwise dispose of the shares of Company Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Offer or otherwise prior to the Special Meeting; provided, however, that this Section 7.3(b) shall not apply to the sale, transfer, assignment, encumbrance or other disposition of any or all of such shares in transactions involving solely Parent, Merger Sub and/or one or more of their wholly-owned Subsidiaries.
(c) Parent shall vote (or consent with respect to) any shares of common stock of Merger Sub beneficially owned by it, or with respect to which it has the power (by agreement, proxy, or otherwise) to cause to be voted (or to provide a consent), in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the Merger at any meeting of the stockholders of Merger Sub at which this Agreement and the Merger shall be submitted for adoption and at all adjournments or postponements thereof (or, if applicable, by any action of the stockholders of Merger Sub by consent in lieu of a meeting).
Merger Without Meeting of Shareholders 10 ARTICLE II
Approval of Stockholders If an option is granted by this Agreement prior to approval of the stockholders of the Plan, the option granted shall be null and void unless stockholder approval is obtained within twelve months after the Plan was adopted.
Meeting of Company Stockholders (a) Promptly after the date hereof, Company will take all action necessary in accordance with the Delaware Law and its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to convene the Company Stockholders' Meeting to be held as promptly as practicable, and in any event (to the extent permissible under applicable law) within 45 days after the declaration of effectiveness of the S-4, for the purpose of voting upon this Agreement and the Merger. Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger and will take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of its stockholders required by the rules of Nasdaq or Delaware Law to obtain such approvals. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Company may adjourn or postpone the Company Stockholders' Meeting to the extent necessary to ensure that any necessary supplement or amendment to the Prospectus/Proxy Statement is provided to Company's stockholders in advance of a vote on the Merger and this Agreement or, if as of the time for which Company Stockholders' Meeting is originally scheduled (as set forth in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement) there are insufficient shares of Company Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the Company Stockholders' Meeting. Company shall ensure that the Company Stockholders' Meeting is called, noticed, convened, held and conducted, and that all proxies solicited by the Company in connection with the Company Stockholders' Meeting are solicited, in compliance with the Delaware Law, its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the rules of Nasdaq and all other applicable legal requirements. Company's obligation to call, give notice of, convene and hold the Company Stockholders' Meeting in accordance with this Section 5.2(a) shall not be limited to or otherwise affected by the commencement, disclosure, announcement or submission to Company of any Acquisition Proposal, or by any withdrawal, amendment or modification of the recommendation of the Board of Directors of Company with respect to the Merger and/or this Agreement.
(b) Subject to Section 5.2(c): (i) the Board of Directors of Company shall unanimously recommend that Company's stockholders vote in favor of and adopt and approve this Agreement and the Merger at the Company Stockholders' Meeting; (ii) the Prospectus/Proxy Statement shall include a statement to the effect that the Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously recommended that Company's stockholders vote in favor of and adopt and approve this Agreement and the Merger at the Company Stockholders' Meeting; and (iii) neither the Board of Directors of Company nor any committee thereof shall withdraw, amend or modify, or propose or resolve to withdraw, amend or modify in a manner adverse to Parent, the unanimous recommendation of the Board of Directors of Company that Company's stockholders vote in favor of and adopt and approve this Agreement and the Merger. For purposes of this Agreement, said recommendation of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to have been modified in a manner adverse to Parent if said recommendation shall no longer be unanimous.
(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Board of Directors of Company from withholding, withdrawing, amending or modifying its unanimous recommendation in favor of the Merger if (i) a Superior Offer (as defined below) is made to the Company and is not withdrawn,
