EXECUTION COPY AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among FIRECOM, INC. a New York corporation, FCI MERGER CORP. a Delaware corporation, and SYNERGX SYSTEMS INC. a Delaware corporation January 22, 2010
Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and
among
FIRECOM,
INC.
a New
York corporation,
FCI
MERGER CORP.
a
Delaware corporation,
and
a
Delaware corporation
January
22, 2010
i
Table of
Contents
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS
|
1 | ||
Section
1.01
|
Definitions. For
purposes of this Agreement:
|
1 | |
Section
1.02
|
Interpretation.
|
2 | |
ARTICLE
II THE MERGER
|
3 | ||
Section
2.01
|
The
Merger.
|
3 | |
Section
2.02
|
Closing.
|
3 | |
Section
2.03
|
Effective
Time.
|
3 | |
Section
2.04
|
Effect
of the Merger.
|
3 | |
Section
2.05
|
Certificate
of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
|
3 | |
Section
2.06
|
Directors
and Officers of the Surviving Corporation..
|
3 | |
Section
2.07
|
Further
Assurances.
|
3 | |
ARTICLE
III EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT
CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
|
4 | ||
Section
3.01
|
Effect
on Capital Stock.
|
4 | |
Section
3.02
|
Exchange
of Certificates.
|
5 | |
Section
3.03
|
Stock
Options
|
6 | |
ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
6 | ||
Section
4.01
|
Organization,
Standing and Corporate Power..
|
6 | |
Section
4.02
|
Subsidiaries.
|
6 | |
Section
4.03
|
Capital
Structure..
|
6 | |
Section
4.04
|
Authority.
|
7 | |
Section
4.05
|
Company
SEC Documents.
|
7 | |
Section
4.06
|
Operational
Matters.
|
7 | |
Section
4.07
|
Voting
Requirements.
|
7 | |
Section
4.08
|
Brokers
and Other Advisors.
|
7 | |
Section
4.09
|
Opinion
of Financial Advisors.
|
7 | |
Section
4.10
|
Schedule
13E-3/Proxy Statement; Other Information.
|
7 | |
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB | 8 | ||
Section
5.01
|
Organization,
Standing and Corporate Power.
|
8 | |
Section
5.02
|
Authority;
Noncontravention
|
8 | |
Section
5.03
|
Capital
Structure; Operations.
|
8 | |
Section
5.04
|
Financing.
|
8 | |
Section
5.05
|
Brokers.
|
8 | |
Section
5.06
|
Schedule
13E-3/Proxy Statement; Other Information.
|
8 | |
Section
5.07
|
Absence
of Arrangements with Management.
|
8 | |
Section
5.08
|
Access
to Information and Investigation by Parent.
|
8 | |
Section
5.09
|
Solvency.
|
8 | |
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS; NO SOLICITATION 17 | 9 | ||
Section
6.01
|
Conduct
of Business by the Company.
|
9 | |
Section
6.02
|
Limits
on Solicitation.
|
10 | |
ARTICLE
VII ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
|
12 | ||
Section
7.01
|
Preparation
of the Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3- Stockholders’
Meeting.
|
12 | |
Section
7.02
|
Access
to Information; Confidentiality.
|
12 | |
Section
7.03
|
Reasonable
Best Efforts.
|
13 | |
Section
7.04
|
Indemnification
Exculpation and Insurance.
|
14 | |
Section
7.05
|
Fees
and Expenses.
|
14 | |
Section
7.06
|
Public
Announcements.
|
15 | |
Section
7.07
|
Bank
Arrangement. .
|
15 | |
Section
7.08
|
Limitation
on Damages. .
|
15 | |
ARTICLE
VIII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
16 | ||
Section
8.01
|
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger.
|
16 | |
Section
8.02
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.
|
16 | |
Section
8.03
|
Conditions
to Obligation of the Company.
|
16 | |
Section
8.04
|
Frustration
of Closing Conditions.
|
16 | |
ARTICLE
IX TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
|
17 | ||
Section
9.01
|
Termination.
|
17 | |
Section
9.02
|
Effect
of Termination..
|
17 | |
Section
9.03
|
Amendment.
|
17 | |
Section
9.04
|
Extension;
Waiver.
|
17 | |
Section
9.05
|
Procedure
for Termination or Amendment.
|
17 | |
ARTICLE
X GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
18 | ||
Section
10.01
|
Nonsurvival
of Representations and Warranties.
|
18 | |
Section
10.02
|
Notices.
|
18 | |
Section
10.03
|
Consents
and Approvals.
|
19 | |
Section
10.04
|
Counterparts.
|
19 | |
Section
10.05
|
Entire
Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
|
19 | |
Section
10.06
|
Governing
Law.
|
19 | |
Section
10.07
|
Assignment..
|
19 | |
Section
10.08
|
Enforcement;
Consent to Jurisdiction.
|
19 | |
Section
10.09
|
Severability.
|
19 | |
Section
10.10
|
No
Recourse.
|
19 | |
Section
10.11
|
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.
|
19 |
ii
INDEX OF
DEFINED TERMS
Term
|
Section
|
Acceptable
Confidentiality Agreement
|
6.02(a)
|
Affiliate
|
1.01
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
Appraisal
Shares
|
3.01(d)
|
Benefit
Plans
|
1.01
|
Business
Day
|
1.01
|
Cancelled
Shares
|
3.01(b)
|
Capitalization
Date
|
4.03
|
Certificate
|
3.01(c)
|
Certificate
of Merger
|
2.03
|
Change
in Recommendation
|
6.02(f)
|
Closing
|
2.02
|
Closing
Date
|
2.02
|
Code
|
3.02(h)
|
Company
|
Preamble
|
Company
Board
|
4.04(b)
|
Company
Board Recommendation
|
4.04(b)
|
Company
Bylaws
|
4.01
|
Company
Charter
|
4.01
|
Company
Stock
|
Recitals
|
Company
Information
|
4.10
|
Company
SEC Documents
|
4.05(a)
|
Company
Stock Option
|
3.03(b)
|
Company
Stock Plan
|
3.03(b)
|
Company
Stock-Based Awards
|
4.03
|
Company
Termination Fee
|
7.05(b)(ii)
|
Contract
|
4.04(c)
|
Converted
Shares
|
3.01(c)
|
DGCL
|
2.01
|
Effective
Time
|
2.03
|
Exchange
Act
|
4.04(c)
|
Exchange
Fund
|
3.02(a)
|
Expenses
|
1.01
|
Filed
Company SEC Documents
|
4.01
|
Financial
Advisor
|
4.09
|
Financing
Agreements
|
7.07(a)
|
GAAP
|
4.05(a)
|
Governmental
Entity
|
4.04(c)
|
Interim
Period
|
6.01(a)
|
Key
Persons
|
6.01(a)(vii)
|
Knowledge
|
1.01
|
Law
|
1.01
|
Liens
|
4.02
|
Material
Adverse Effect
|
1.01
|
Merger
|
Recitals
|
Merger
Consideration
|
Recitals
|
Merger
Sub
|
Preamble
|
Notice
Period
|
6.02(g)(i)
|
Order
|
4.04(c)
|
Outside
Date
|
9.01(b)(i)
|
Parent
|
Preamble
|
Parent
Information
|
5.06
|
Parent
Material Adverse Effect
|
1.01
|
Paying
Agent
|
3.02(a)
|
Person
|
1.01
|
Preferred
Stock
|
4.03
|
Proxy
Statement
|
4.04(c)
|
Representative
|
1.01
|
Schedule
13E-3
|
4.04(c)
|
SEC
|
4.04(c)
|
Section
262
|
3.01(d)
|
Securities
Act
|
4.05(a)
|
Solicitation
Period
|
6.02(b)
|
Solicited
Party
|
6.02(b)
|
Solvent
|
5.09
|
SOX
|
4.05(a)
|
Special
Committee
|
Recitals
|
Stockholder
Approval
|
4.07
|
Stockholders
|
3.01
|
Stockholders’
Meeting
|
7.01(c)
|
Subsidiary
|
1.01
|
Superior
Proposal
|
6.02(a)
|
Surviving
Corporation
|
2.01
|
Takeover
Proposal
|
6.02(a)
|
Tax
|
1.01
|
Taxing
authority
|
1.01
|
iii
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”) is made
and entered into as of January 22, 2010, among FIRECOM, INC., a New York
corporation (“Parent”), FCI MERGER
CORP., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and
SYNERGX SYSTEMS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the board of directors of the Company and of Merger Sub, and a special committee
of the board of directors of the Company (the “Special Committee”),
each has approved and declared advisable, and the board of directors of Parent
has approved, this Agreement and the merger of Merger Sub with and into the
Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation in the merger
(the “Merger”),
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement,
whereby each issued and outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, of the Company (the “Company Stock”),
other than any Appraisal Shares or Cancelled Shares (as defined below), will be
converted into the right to receive sixty ($0.60) cents in cash, per share,
without interest (the “Merger
Consideration”); and
WHEREAS,
Parent, Merger Sub and the Company desire to make certain representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger, and also to
prescribe various conditions to the Merger.
AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement, and subject to the conditions set forth
herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01 Definitions. For
purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Affiliate” of any
Person means another Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such first Person. For purposes hereof, “control” means the possession directly
or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
or policies of a Person by virtue of ownership of voting securities, by contract
or otherwise.
(b) “Benefit Plans” means
all employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) and all employment benefit,
compensation, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, deferred
compensation, retiree medical or life insurance, split dollar insurance,
supplemental retirement, severance, change of control, fringe benefit, bonus,
incentive, employee loan or other employee benefit, arrangements, plans,
policies or programs, in each case, which are provided, maintained, contributed
to or sponsored by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on behalf of current
or former directors, officers, employees, or consultants or for which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any liability, contingent or
otherwise.
1
(c) “Business Day” means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the banks in New York,
New York are authorized by Law or executive order to be closed.
(d) “Expenses” means with
respect to any party hereto, all reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses
(including counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants of
the party, and filing and related fees) incurred by such party on its behalf in
connection with or related to authorization, negotiation, execution and
performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including, inter alia,
the organization of Merger Sub and the preparation of the Proxy Statement and
Schedule 13E-3, as applicable.
(e) “Knowledge” means,
with respect to any matter in question, the actual knowledge of the Company’s
Chief Executive Officer, as well as that knowledge that a reasonably prudent
Chief Executive Officer of a public reporting company would have pertaining to
such matter in the course of performing his duties in a reasonable and diligent
manner.
(f) “Law” means, any
federal, state, local, provincial or foreign statutory or common law, and any
ordinance, rule or regulation of a Governmental Entity.
(g) “Material Adverse
Effect” means any fact, circumstance, change, occurrence or effect that,
individually or in the aggregate with all other facts, circumstances, changes,
occurrences or effects, (1) is, or would reasonably be expected to be,
materially adverse to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results
of operations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (2) that would reasonably be expected to
prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of the
Company to consummate the Merger, except for any such facts, circumstances,
changes, occurrences or effects arising out of or relating to (i) the
announcement or the existence of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, or actions by Parent or the Company required to be taken
pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) changes in general economic or political
conditions or the financial markets (so long as the Company or its Subsidiaries
are not disproportionately affected thereby), (iii) changes in applicable Laws,
rules, regulations or orders of any Governmental Entity or interpretations
thereof by any Governmental Entity or changes in accounting rules or principles
(so long as the Company or its Subsidiaries are not disproportionately affected
thereby), (iv) changes affecting generally the industries in which the Company
or its Subsidiaries conduct business (so long as the Company or its Subsidiaries
are not disproportionately affected thereby), or (v) any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or war or any act of terrorism (so long as the Company or its
Subsidiaries are not disproportionately affected thereby).
(h) “Parent Material Adverse
Effect” means any fact, circumstance, change, occurrence, or effect that,
individually or in the aggregate, that would reasonably be expected to prevent
or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(i) “Person” means an
individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
association, trust, unincorporated organization, or other entity.
(j) “Public
Stockholders” means all of the Stockholders other than
Parent.
(k) “Representative” means
any officer, employee, counsel, investment banker, accountant, consultant, debt
financing source, or other authorized representative of any Person.
(l) “Subsidiary” of any
Person means another Person of which such first Person directly or indirectly
owns an amount of the voting securities, other voting rights or voting
partnership interests sufficient to elect at least a majority of its board of
directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests,
50% or more of the equity interests thereof).
(m) “Tax” means any
federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, property, sales, use
license, excise, franchise employment, payroll, withholding, alternative or add
on minimum, ad valorem, transfer or excise tax, or any other tax, custom, duty,
governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever
(including withholding on amounts paid to or by any Person), together with any
related interest, penalty, addition to tax or additional amount.
(n) “Taxing Authority”
means any federal, state, local or foreign government, any subdivision, agency,
commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising tax
regulatory authority.
Section
1.02 Interpretation. When
a reference is made in this Agreement to an “Article,” or a “Section,” such
reference shall be to an Article or a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. 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. All
terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any
certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise
defined therein. 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. Any Contract,
instrument or Law defined or referred to herein or in any Contract or instrument
that is referred to herein means such Contract, instrument or Law as from time
to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of Contracts
or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of Laws) by succession of
comparable successor Laws and references to all attachments thereto and
instruments incorporated therein. References to a Person are also to its
permitted successors and assigns. The parties have participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement; consequently, in the event of an
ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall
be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or
burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the
authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
2
ARTICLE
II
THE
MERGER
Section
2.01 The
Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), Merger Sub
shall be merged with and into the Company at the Effective Time, as defined
below. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub
shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation in the
Merger (the “Surviving
Corporation”) and shall succeed to and assume all of the rights and
obligations of Merger Sub and the Company in accordance with the
DGCL.
Section
2.02 Closing. The
closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) will take
place at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be specified by the parties, which shall be no
later than the third Business Day after satisfaction or (to the extent permitted
by applicable Law) waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other
than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing,
but subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law)
waiver of those conditions), at the offices of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP,
0 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, at 10:00 am (local time), unless
another time, date or place is agreed to in writing by Parent and the Company;
provided, however, that if all
the conditions set forth in Article VIII shall no longer be satisfied or (to the
extent permitted by applicable Law) waived on such third Business Day, then the
Closing shall take place on the first Business Day on which all such conditions
shall again have been satisfied or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law)
waived unless another time is agreed to in writing by Parent and the Company.
The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to as the “Closing
Date.”
Section
2.03 Effective
Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as soon as
practicable on the Closing Date, the parties shall file with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware a certificate of merger regarding the Merger (the
“Certificate of
Merger”) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL and, as
soon as practicable on or after the Closing Date, shall make or cause to be made
all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL in connection with the
Merger. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of
Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later
time as Parent and the Company shall agree in writing and specify in the
Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective being the “Effective
Time”).
Section
2.04 Effect of the
Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in this
Agreement and in the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and
subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all of the properties, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in
the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company
and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving
Corporation.
Section
2.05 Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
(a) The
certificate of incorporation of the Company in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Time as a
result of the Merger so as to read in its entirety as the form of amended and
restated certificate of incorporation set forth in Exhibit A hereto and, as so
amended and restated, shall be the Surviving Corporation’s certificate of
incorporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable Law.
(b) The
by-laws of the Company, as in effect as of immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Time so as to read in
their entirety as the by-laws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time (except the references to Merger Sub’s name shall be replaced
by references to Synergx Systems Inc.) and, as so amended and restated, shall be
the Surviving Corporation’s by-laws until thereafter changed or amended as
provided therein or by applicable Law.
Section
2.06 Directors and Officers of
the Surviving Corporation. From and after the Effective Time,
the directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
directors of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or
removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as
the case may be. From and after the Effective Time, the officers of the Company
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving
Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may
be.
Section
2.07 Further
Assurances. If at any time after the Effective Time the
Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of
sale, assignments or assurances or any other acts or things are necessary,
desirable or proper (i) to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in
the Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of
the rights, privileges, powers, franchises, properties or assets of either
Merger Sub or the Company or both, or (ii) otherwise to carry out the purposes
of this Agreement, the Surviving Corporation and its proper officers and
directors or their designees shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the
name and on behalf of either Merger Sub or the Company or both, all such deeds,
bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to do, in the name and on behalf
of either Merger Sub or the Company, all such other acts and things as may be
necessary, desirable or proper to vest, perfect or confirm the Surviving
Corporation’s right, title or interest in, to, or under any of the rights,
privileges, powers, franchises, properties or assets of Merger Sub and the
Company, and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
3
ARTICLE
III
EFFECT
OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF
CERTIFICATES
Section
3.01 Effect on Capital
Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action on the part of the Parent, Merger Sub, the Company, or the
holder of any shares of Company Stock (collectively, the “Stockholders”):
(a) Capital Stock of Merger
Sub. Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
Merger Sub that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be converted into one (1) share of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Certain
Stock. Each share of Company Stock that is (i) owned, directly
or indirectly, by Parent or Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time
or (ii) held in the treasury of the Company (together, the “Cancelled Shares”)
shall be automatically canceled and shall cease to exist, and no consideration
shall be delivered in exchange therefore.
(c) Conversion of Company
Stock. Subject to Section 3.01(d), each share of Company Stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time other than the
Cancelled Shares or Appraisal Shares, shall be converted into the right to
receive the Merger Consideration on the terms set forth in this Agreement (the
“Converted
Shares”). As of the Effective Time, subject to Section 3.01(d), all of
the Converted Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
canceled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate or
uncertificated shares representing Company Stock which immediately prior to the
Effective Time represented any such Converted Shares (each a “Certificate”) shall
cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the
Merger Consideration to be issued or paid in consideration therefor upon
surrender of such Certificate and other required documentation in accordance
with Section 3.02 (c). The right of any holder of a Certificate to receive the
Merger Consideration shall be subject to and reduced by the amount of any
withholding that is required under applicable tax Law.
(d) Appraisal
Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, shares (the “Appraisal Shares”) of
Company Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
that are held by any holder who is entitled to demand and properly demands
appraisal of such Appraisal Shares pursuant to, and who complies in all respects
with, the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL (“Section 262”) shall
not become Converted Shares as provided in Section 3.01(c), but instead such
holder shall be entitled to payment of the fair value of such Appraisal Shares
in accordance with the provisions of Section 262. At the Effective Time, all
Appraisal Shares shall no longer be outstanding, shall automatically be canceled
and shall cease to exist, and each holder of Appraisal Shares shall cease to
have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the fair value
of such Appraisal Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 262.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such holder shall fail to perfect or
otherwise shall waive, withdraw or lose the right to appraisal under Section
262, or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is
not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262, then the right of such
holder to be paid the fair value of such holder’s Appraisal Shares under Section
262 shall cease and such Appraisal Shares shall be deemed to be Converted Shares
under Section 3.01(c). The Company shall serve prompt notice to Parent of any
demands for appraisal of any shares of Company Stock, and Parent shall have the
right to participate in and direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect
to such demands. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall not, without the
prior written consent of Parent, voluntarily make any payment with respect to,
or settle or offer to settle, any such demands, or agree to do any of the
foregoing.
(e) Certain
Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
if between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, (i) the
outstanding shares of Company Stock shall have been changed into a different
number of shares or a different class, by reason of the occurrence or record
date of any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization,
split, combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction, (ii) a stock
dividend or dividend payable in any other securities of the Company shall be
declared with a record date within such period, or (iii) any similar event shall
have occurred, then in any such case the Merger Consideration shall be
appropriately adjusted to reflect such action; provided, however that nothing in
this Section 3.01(e) shall be construed to permit the Company to take any action
with respect to its securities that is prohibited by the terms of this
Agreement.
4
Section
3.02 Exchange of
Certificates.
(a) Paying
Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall designate and
enter into an agreement with a bank, trust company or transfer agent that is
reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as paying agent (the “Paying Agent”) for
the payment of the Merger Consideration. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent
shall deposit, or cause the Surviving Corporation to deposit, with the Paying
Agent, for the benefit (from and after the Effective Time) of the holders of
Certificates, cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate Merger
Consideration required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.01(c). All cash
deposited with the Paying Agent pursuant to this Section 3.02(a) shall
hereinafter be referred to as the “Exchange
Fund.”
(b) Exchange
Procedures. As soon as reasonably practicable after the
Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder of
record of a Certificate (i) a form of letter of transmittal (which shall specify
that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates
shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent,
and which shall be in customary form and have such other provisions as Parent
may reasonably specify), and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of
the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Each holder of record
of one or more Certificates shall, upon surrender to the Paying Agent of such
Certificate or Certificates, together with such letter of transmittal, duly
executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Paying
Agent, be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the amount of cash to which
such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.01(c), and the Certificates so
surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership
of Company Stock which is not registered in the transfer records of the Company,
payment of the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 3.02(b) may
be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name the Certificate so
surrendered is registered if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or
otherwise be in proper form for transfer (and accompanied by all documents
required to evidence and effect such transfer) and the Person requesting such
payment shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment
of the Merger Consideration to a Person other than the registered holder of such
Certificate. No payment of Merger Consideration shall be paid to any holder of a
Certificate with respect to the Converted Shares represented by such Certificate
until the holder of such Certificate shall have surrendered such Certificate in
accordance with this Article III. Until surrendered as contemplated by this
Section 3.02(b), each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the
Effective Time to represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration
to which such holder is entitled to receive in respect of such Certificate
pursuant to this Article III. Following the surrender of any Certificate, there
shall be paid to the record holder of the Certificate representing whole shares
of Company Stock issued in exchange therefor, without interest, at the time of
such surrender, the Merger Consideration payable in respect therefor in
accordance with this Article III. No interest shall be paid or will accrue on
any payment to holders of Certificates pursuant to the provisions of this
Article III.
(c) No Further Ownership Rights in
Company Stock. The Merger Consideration paid upon the
surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms of this Article III shall
be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the
shares of Company Stock formerly represented by such Certificates. At the close
of business on the day on which the Effective Time occurs, the share transfer
books of the Company shall be closed, and there shall be no further registration
of transfers on the share transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the
Company Stock. If, after the Effective Time, any Certificate is presented to the
Surviving Corporation or Parent for transfer, it shall be canceled against
delivery of the Merger Consideration as provided in this Article
III.
(d) Termination of the Exchange
Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund which remains
undistributed to the holders of the Certificates for twelve (12) months after
the Effective Time shall, upon the demand of Parent, be delivered to the
Surviving Corporation. Any holders of the Certificates who have not
theretofore complied with this Article III shall thereafter look only to the
Surviving Corporation for payment of their claim for the Merger Consideration in
accordance with this Article III.
(e) No Liability. None
of Parent, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent or any of
their respective Affiliates shall be liable to any Person in respect of any
Merger Consideration properly delivered to a public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any Certificate shall
not have been surrendered immediately prior to the date on which any Merger
Consideration would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any
Governmental Entity, any such Merger Consideration shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation,
free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled
thereto.
(f) Investment of Exchange
Fund. The Paying Agent shall invest the cash included in the
Exchange Fund as directed by Parent prior to the Effective Time and by the
Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time. If for any reason (including
losses) the cash in the Exchange Fund shall be insufficient to fully satisfy all
of the payment obligations to be made in cash by the Paying Agent hereunder, the
Surviving Corporation shall promptly deposit or cause to be deposited into the
Exchange Fund an amount in cash which is equal to such deficiency in order to
fully satisfy such cash payment obligations. Any interest and other income
resulting from such investments shall be payable to Parent prior to the
Effective Time and to the Surviving Corporation after the Effective
Time.
(g) Lost
Certificates. If any Certificate has been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming
such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the
Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, the entering into of an indemnity or
the posting of a bond as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it
with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent shall deliver in exchange for
such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration pursuant to
this Article III.
(h) Withholding
Rights. The Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Certificates such amounts as the
Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent is required to deduct and withhold
with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any provision of state, local or foreign tax
Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate
Taxing Authority by the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, such withheld
amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid
to the holder of Certificates in respect of which such deduction and withholding
was made by the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent.
5
Section
3.03 Stock
Options.
(a) Prior to
the Effective Time, the Company shall take such action as is necessary to cause
each unvested Company Stock Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time to become fully vested and exercisable. Prior to the Closing
Date, the Company shall (i) cancel, immediately prior to the Effective Time,
each then-outstanding Company Stock Option (provided that, if required under the
Company Stock Plan and/or any Company Stock Option, the Company shall obtain
from the holder of such Company Stock Option any consent, in writing, required
to effect such cancellation) in exchange for an amount in cash (less any
applicable withholding required by Law) payable at or as soon as practicable
after the Effective Time, equal to the product of (A) the total number of shares
of Company Stock underlying such Company Stock Option and (B) the excess, if
any, of the Merger Consideration over the per share exercise price of such
Company Stock Option, and (ii) make any amendments to the Company Stock Plans
that may be necessary or desirable to implement the
foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall cause
each holder of Company Stock Options listed on Schedule 3.03(a) to
agree that his unexercised Company Stock Options shall be cancelled immediately
prior to the Effective Time.
(b) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Company Stock Option”
means any option or right to purchase Company Stock granted under one or more of
the Company Stock Plans. “Company Stock Plans”
mean the Company 1997 Stock Option Plan and the 2004 Stock Option
Plan.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except
(i) as disclosed in, and clearly apparent from, the Company SEC Documents filed
by the Company and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement
(“Filed Company SEC
Documents”) and only as and to the extent disclosed therein (other than
any forward-looking disclosures set forth in any risk factor section, any
disclosures in any section relating to forward-looking statements and any other
disclosures included therein to the extent they are primarily predictive,
cautionary or forward-looking in nature), and provided that, in no event shall
any disclosure in any Filed Company SEC Documents qualify or limit the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 4.03 or
4.04, or (ii) to the extent that the Chief Executive Officer of the Company has
Knowledge otherwise, the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger
Sub as follows:
Section
4.01 Organization, Standing and
Corporate Power. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is
validly existing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
formation, as the case may be. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has all
requisite corporate or similar power and authority and possesses all
governmental licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals necessary to enable
it to use its corporate or other name and to own, lease or otherwise hold and
operate its properties and other assets and to carry on its business as
currently conducted, except where the failure to have such power, authority,
licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals would not have a Material
Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent, prior to
the execution of this Agreement, true, complete and accurate copies of the
Company’s certificate of incorporation (as amended, the “Company Charter”) and
bylaws (as amended, the “Company Bylaws”), as
amended to, and in effect on, the date of this Agreement.
Section
4.02 Subsidiaries. All
of the issued and outstanding capital stock of, or other equity interests in,
each Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized, validly issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable and are directly or indirectly owned by the
Company, free and clear of all pledges, liens, charges, encumbrances or security
interests of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, “Liens”), other than
Liens imposed by or arising under applicable Law or which are not material, and
free of any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such
capital stock or other equity interests. Except as set forth in the Filed
Company SEC Documents and except for the capital stock of, or voting securities
or equity interests in, its Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly or
indirectly, as of the date of this Agreement, any capital stock of, or other
voting securities or equity interests in, any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association or other entity, or any options, warrants, rights or
securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable therefor.
Section
4.03 Capital
Structure. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (the
“Preferred
Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of Company Stock. At the close
of business on December 31, 2009 (the “Capitalization
Date”), (i) 5,210,950 shares of Company were issued and outstanding, (ii)
52,000 shares of Company Stock were subject to outstanding Company Stock Options
with a weighted average exercise price of $2.43 per share, and (iii) no shares
of Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding. Except as set forth above, at the
close of business on the Capitalization Date, no shares of capital stock or
other voting securities or equity interests of the Company were issued, reserved
for issuance (other than with respect to such shares reserved for issuance upon
the exercise of Company Stock Options) or outstanding. There are no outstanding
stock appreciation rights, “phantom” stock rights, restricted stock units,
performance units, rights to receive shares of Company Stock on a deferred basis
or other rights (other than Company Stock Options) that are linked to the value
of Company Stock (collectively, “Company Stock-Based
Awards”). The Company has provided or made available to Parent a true and
complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of each outstanding Company
Stock Option and the exercise price thereof. The Company Stock is not listed on
any national securities exchange. All Company Stock Options were
issued under the Company Stock Plans and Schedule 3.03(a) is a true and correct
list of the outstanding Company Stock Options as of the Capitalization
Date. All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are, and
all shares which may be issued pursuant to the Company Stock Options will be,
when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. There
are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the
right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the
right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders of the Company may vote.
Except as set forth above in this Section 4.03 and except for issuances of
shares of Company Stock pursuant to the exercise of Company Stock Options, (A)
there are not issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding (1) any shares of
capital stock or other voting securities or equity interests of the Company, (2)
any securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for shares of capital stock or other voting securities or equity interests of
the Company, (3) any warrants, calls, options or other rights to acquire from
the Company, and no obligation of the Company to issue, any capital stock,
voting securities, equity interests or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock or voting securities of the
Company, or (4) any Company Stock-Based Awards, and (B) there are not any
outstanding obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any such shares of capital stock, equity interests or other securities
or to register, issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or
sold, any such shares of capital stock, equity interests or other securities.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any voting
Contract with respect to the voting of any such securities.
6
Section
4.04 Authority.
(a) Power and
Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to receipt of the
Stockholder Approval and the governmental filings and other matters referred to
in the last sentence of this Section 4.04(a), to perform its obligations under
this Agreement and to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of the Company or any filing under the
pre-notification rules under the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976 are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject, in the case of
the consummation of the Merger, to the obtaining of the Stockholder Approval.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming
the due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub,
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except that such
enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other
similar laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally, and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity.
(b) Board
Resolutions. Upon the recommendation of the Special Committee,
the board of directors of the Company (the “Company Board”), at a
meeting duly called and held, duly adopted resolutions (i) approving and
declaring this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, advisable and fair to and in the best interest of the Company
and the Public Stockholders, and (ii) recommending that the Stockholders adopt
this Agreement and approve the Merger and any other transaction contemplated by
this Agreement, which resolutions, as of the date of this Agreement, have not
been subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way (the “Company Board
Recommendation”). The members of the Company Board who are not Affiliates
of the Parent or the Merger Sub unanimously approved the Merger.
Section
4.05 Company SEC
Documents.
(a) SEC Filings. The
Company has filed with or furnished to the SEC, on a timely basis, all reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents (including exhibits and other
information incorporated therein) required to be filed or furnished by the
Company since October 1, 2006 (such documents, together with any documents filed
during such period by the Company with the SEC on a voluntary basis on Current
Reports on Form 8-K, the “Company SEC
Documents”). As of their respective filing dates, or, if revised,
amended, supplemented or superseded by a later-filed Company SEC Document filed
prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the date of filing of the last such
revision, amendment, supplement or superseding filing, the Company SEC Documents
complied in all material respects with, to the extent in effect at the time of
filing, the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (including
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Securities Act”), the
Exchange Act and the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 (including the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, “SOX”) applicable to
such Company SEC Documents, and none of the Company SEC Documents contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of
the Company SEC Documents (as revised, amended, supplemented or superseded by a
later-filed Company SEC Document) contains any untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, which individually or in the
aggregate would require an amendment, supplement or corrective filing to such
Company SEC Documents.
(b) Financial
Statements. Each of the financial statements (including the
related notes) of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents complied at
the time it was filed in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto in effect at the time of filing, had been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) (except as
otherwise noted therein and, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted
by the rules and regulations of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during
the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and
fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated financial position of
the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the
consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then
ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent
or otherwise) other than (i) liabilities or obligations reflected or reserved
against on the balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of September
30, 2009 included in the Filed Company SEC Documents (including the notes
thereto), (ii) liabilities or obligations incurred after September 30, 2009 in
the ordinary course of business, or (iii) liabilities or obligations which would
not have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Subsidiaries of the Company are,
or have at any time been, subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Section
4.06 Operational
Matters. Since October 1, 2008, the Company and its
Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary
course of business. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in the
Company SEC Documents, since October 1, 2008, there has not been any event,
fact, violation, circumstance or other matter that has or have had, or would be
reasonably expected to, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in
compliance in all material respects with, and has not received notice of any
violation of, any applicable Law or Order of any Governmental Entity, whereby
the effect of any such violation would be reasonably expected to, either
individually or in the aggregate, cause a Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.07 Voting
Requirements. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Parent and Merger Sub in Article V, the only vote of
Stockholders required to approve this Agreement and the Merger is the
affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of
Company Stock at the Stockholders’ Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof (the “Stockholder
Approval”).
Section
4.08 Brokers and Other
Advisors. Except for Landenburg Xxxxxxxx & Co., Inc. (the
“Financial
Advisor”), no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or financial advisor’s fees or
commissions in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. The Company has
delivered to Parent true, complete and accurate copies of all written agreements
entered into on or prior to the date of this Agreement with the Financial
Advisor under which any fees or expenses are payable and all indemnification and
contribution related to its engagement are set forth therein.
Section
4.09 Opinion of Financial
Advisors. On January 22, 2010, the Special Committee received
the opinion of the Financial Advisor to the effect that, as of such date, the
Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Public
Stockholders.
Section
4.10 Schedule 13E-3/Proxy
Statement; Other Information. None of the information provided
by the Company for inclusion in the Schedule 13E-3 or the Proxy Statement (the
“Company
Information”) will, in the case of the Schedule 13E-3, as of the date of
its filing and of each amendment or supplement thereto and, in the case of the
Proxy Statement, (i) at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement or any
amendments or supplements thereto, and (ii) at the time of the Stockholders’
Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no
representation or warranty with respect to any information that is contained or
incorporated by reference in the Schedule 13E-3 or the Proxy Statement other
than with respect to the Company Information as forth in this Section 4.11. The
Proxy Statement will comply in all material respects with the requirements of
the Exchange Act.
7
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Parent
and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
Section
5.01 Organization, Standing and
Corporate Power. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is validly
existing under the laws of the States of New York and Delaware, respectively.
Each of Parent and Merger Sub has made available to the Company true, complete
and accurate copies of its respective certificate of incorporation and bylaws.
Each of Parent and Merger Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to
own, operate or lease its respective properties and to carry on its respective
business as it is now being conducted, and is duly qualified or licensed to do
business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction in which the nature of
its respective business or the properties owned, operated or leased by it makes
such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except where the
failure to have such power, authority or to be so qualified, licensed or in good
standing, would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section
5.02 Authority;
Noncontravention
(a) Power and
Authority. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its
obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
necessary entity action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub and no other
proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub (other than approval by Parent
as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, such approval to occur immediately after
the execution of this Agreement) are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub
and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the Company, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and
Merger Sub, enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its
terms, except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting or relating to the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) is subject to general
principles of equity.
(b) No Conflict. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub
do not, and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and compliance by Parent and Merger Sub with the
provisions of this Agreement will not, conflict with, or result in any violation
or breach of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both)
under, require consent under, or give rise to a right of, or result in,
termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration of any obligation or to
the loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien in or upon
any of the properties or other assets of Parent or Merger Sub under (i) the
certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Parent or Merger Sub, (ii) any
Contract to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party or any of their respective
properties or other assets are subject (including any credit facilities or
agreements and any other indebtedness arrangements), or (iii) subject to the
governmental filings and other matters referred to in the following sentence,
any Laws and Orders applicable to Parent or Merger Sub or their respective
properties or other assets, other than, in the case of the immediately preceding
clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults,
consents, rights of termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration,
losses or Liens that would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, action by or in respect of, or
registration, declaration, notice to or filing with, any Governmental Entity is
required by or with respect to Parent or Merger Sub in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub or the
consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, except for (x) the filing (1) an amendment to the Schedule 13D of
Parent and (2) the Schedule 13E-3 with the SEC, (y) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and
appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of the other states in which
Parent and Merger Sub are qualified to do business, and (z) such other consents,
approvals, orders, authorizations, actions, registrations, declarations, notices
and filings the failure of which to be obtained or made would not have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect.
Section
5.03 Capital Structure;
Operations. The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub
consists of 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, all of
which are issued and outstanding and owned by Parent. Merger Sub was
formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has not engaged in any business
activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section
5.04 Financing. Parent
has sufficient capital resources to pay the Merger Consideration and the
payments, if any, in connection with the Appraisal Shares.
Section
5.05 Brokers. No
broker, investment banker or financial advisor or other Person is entitled to
any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s fees or commissions in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub.
Section
5.06 Schedule 13E-3/Proxy
Statement; Other Information. None of the information provided
by Parent or Merger Sub with respect to itself for inclusion in the Schedule
13E-3 or the Proxy Statement (the “Parent Information”)
will, in the case of the Schedule 13E-3, as of the date of its filing and of
each amendment or supplement thereto and, in the case of the Proxy Statement,
(i) at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement or any amendments or
supplements thereto and (ii) at the time of the Stockholders’ Meeting, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Merger Sub make no
representation or warranty with respect to any information that is contained or
incorporated by reference in the Proxy Statement or the Schedule 13E-3 other
than with respect to the Parent Information as set forth in this Section
4.02(f).
Section
5.07 Absence of Arrangements with
Management. Except for this Agreement, as of the date of this
Agreement, there are no contracts, undertakings, commitments, agreements or
obligations or understandings between Parent or any of its Affiliates (other
than the Company), on one hand, and or any member of the Company’s management or
Board or any Stockholder (other than Parent), relating to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section
5.08 Access to Information and
Investigation by Parent. Parent and its
Representatives have received access to such books and records, facilities,
equipment, Contracts and other assets of the Company which it and its
Representatives, as of the date hereof, have requested to review, and that it
and its Representatives have had full opportunity to meet with officers and
other Representatives of the Company for the purpose of investigating and
obtaining information regarding the Company’s business, operations and legal
affairs. Parent has conducted its own independent investigation, review and
analysis of the business, operations, assets, liabilities, results of
operations, financial condition, and prospects of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, which investigation, review and analysis was done by Parent and,
to the extent Parent deemed appropriate, by Parent’s Representatives. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, none of the Company or its
Subsidiaries nor any of their respective Representatives or any other person has
made a representation or warranty to Parent with respect to (i) any projections,
estimates or budgets for the Company or its Subsidiaries or (ii) any material,
documents or information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries made
available to Parent, except as expressly and specifically covered by a
representation or warranty set forth in Article IV.
Section
5.09 Solvency. Assuming
the satisfaction of the conditions to the obligation of Parent to consummate the
Merger, or the waiver of such conditions, and the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article IV hereof,
then immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Surviving Corporation will be Solvent. For purposes of this
Section 5.09, the term “Solvent” with respect
to the Surviving Corporation means that, as of any date of determination, (i)
the amount of the fair saleable value of the assets of the Surviving Corporation
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, exceeds, as of such date, the sum of (A)
the value of all liabilities of the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, including contingent liabilities valued at the amount that is
reasonably expected to become due, as of such date, as such quoted terms are
generally determined in accordance with the applicable federal laws governing
determinations of the solvency of debtors, and (B) the amount that will be
required to pay the liabilities that are reasonably expected to become due of
the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on its
existing debts (including contingent liabilities) as such debts become absolute
and matured, (ii) the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital
for the operation of their businesses in which it is engaged or proposed to be
engaged by Parent following such date, and (iii) the Surviving Corporation and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be able to pay their liabilities,
including contingent and other liabilities, as they mature. For purposes of this
definition, “not have an unreasonably small amount of capital for the operation
of the businesses in which it is engaged or proposed to be engaged” and “able to
pay its liabilities, including contingent and other liabilities, as they mature”
means that the Surviving Corporation will be able to generate enough cash from
operations, asset dispositions or refinancing, or a combination thereof, to meet
its obligations as they become due.
8
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS; NO SOLICITATION
Section
6.01 Conduct of Business by the
Company.
(a) During Interim
Period. During the period from the date of this Agreement to
the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8.01 or the Effective Time (the “Interim Period”),
except as contemplated by this Agreement or as consented to in writing in
advance by Parent, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, carry on its business in all material respects in the ordinary course and,
to the extent consistent therewith, use all commercially reasonable efforts to
preserve intact its current business organizations, to keep available the
services of its current officers, key employees and consultants and to preserve
its relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors
and others having business dealings with it. In addition to and without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, during the Interim Period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, except as contemplated by this Agreement, the
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without
Parent’s prior written consent:
(i) (A) declare,
set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions (whether in
cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of its capital stock, other than
dividends or distributions by a direct or indirect Subsidiary wholly-owned by
the Company to the Company or another directly or indirectly wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, (B) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or
issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu
of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock, or (C) purchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any other securities
thereof or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares or other
securities;
(ii) issue,
deliver, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise encumber or subject to any Lien any
shares of its capital stock, any other voting securities or any securities
convertible into, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such
shares, voting securities or convertible securities, or any “phantom” stock,
“phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights or stock based performance
units (other than the issuance of shares of Company Stock upon the exercise of
Company Stock Options or as required pursuant to Contracts as in effect on the
date of this Agreement in accordance with their respective terms on the date of
this Agreement);
(iii) amend or
waive any provision in the Company Charter or the Company Bylaws or other
comparable charter or organizational documents of any of the Company’s
Subsidiaries, except as may be required by applicable Law or the rules and
regulations of the SEC or, in the case of the Company, enter into any agreement
with any of its Stockholders in their capacity as such;
(iv) directly
or indirectly acquire, (A) by merging or consolidating with, by purchasing a
substantial portion of the assets of, by making an investment in or capital
contribution to, or by any other manner, any Person or division, business or
equity interest of any Person, or (B) any material asset or assets, except for
capital expenditures;
(v) (A) other
than in accordance with Section 7.07 herein, incur, create, assume or otherwise
become liable for, any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such
indebtedness of another Person, issue or sell any debt securities or calls,
options, warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, guarantee any debt securities of another Person,
enter into any “keep well” or other Contract to maintain any financial statement
condition of another Person or enter into any arrangement having the economic
effect of any of the foregoing (other than borrowings under the Company’s
existing loan facilities in the ordinary course of business), or (B) make any
loans or advances to any other Person, except for loans, advances, capital
contributions or investments between any Subsidiary of the Company and the
Company or another Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice;
(vi) except as
required by Law, any judgment or in accordance with Section 7.07 herein, (A)
pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any material claims, liabilities, obligations
or litigation (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or
otherwise), other than the payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction in the
ordinary course of business or in accordance with their terms, of liabilities
disclosed, reflected or reserved against in the most recent financial statements
(or the notes thereto) of the Company included in the Filed Company SEC
Documents (for amounts not in excess of such reserves), or (B) cancel any
material indebtedness;
(vii) except
(x) as required to ensure that any Benefit Plan is not then out of compliance
with applicable Law, or (y) to comply with any Benefit Plan or Contract entered
into prior to the date of this Agreement, (A) adopt, enter into, terminate or
amend (1) any collective bargaining Contract or Benefit Plan or (2) any other
Contract, plan or policy involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as
applied to directors and executive officers of the Company (“Key Persons”) or (B)
increase in any manner the compensation, bonus or fringe or other benefits of,
or pay any discretionary bonus of any kind or amount whatsoever to, any current
or former director, officer, employee or consultant, except in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice to employees of the Company or
its Subsidiaries other than Key Persons.
(viii) adopt or
enter into a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger,
consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of such
entity (other than among wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company);
or
(ix) authorize
any of, or commit, resolve, propose or agree to take any of, the foregoing
actions.
(b) Advice of Changes;
Filings. The Company, on the one hand, and Parent and Merger
Sub, on the other hand, shall promptly advise the other party in writing if (i)
any representation, warranty, condition or agreement made by it contained in
this Agreement becomes untrue or inaccurate in a manner that would result in the
failure of any one more of the conditions set forth in Section 8.02(a) or 8.02
(b) or Section 8.03(a) or 8.03(b), and (ii) the Company or Parent or Merger Sub
fails to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition
or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement;
provided, however, that no such notification shall affect the representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties (or remedies with respect
thereto) or the conditions precedent to the obligations of the parties under
this Agreement.
(c) Confidential Portions of
Governmental Entity Filings. The Company and Parent shall, to
the extent permitted by Law, promptly provide the other with copies of all
filings made by such party with any Governmental Entity in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than the
portions of such filings that include confidential or proprietary information
not directly related to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(d) Actions Taken at Direction of
CEO. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Company shall not be deemed to be in breach of any agreement,
covenant or obligation hereunder including, without limitation, those set forth
in Articles VI and VII hereof, if the alleged breach is the proximate result of
action taken by the Company at the direction or with the active participation of
its Chief Executive Officer without the approval or direction of the Company
Board (including the affirmative vote or written consent of at least one (1)
director who is a member of the Special Committee), or an authorized committee
thereof.
9
Section
6.02 Limits on
Solicitation.
(a) Certain
Definitions. The following terms in this Section 6.02 have the
meanings ascribed thereto:
“Acceptable Confidentiality
Agreement” means a confidentiality agreement approved by the Special
Committee, provided that such confidentiality agreement shall not prohibit
compliance with Section 6.02(e)(i).
“Superior Proposal”
means any written Takeover Proposal that, if consummated, would result in such
Person or group of Persons (or their equityholders) owning, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of the shares of Company Stock then outstanding (or of
the shares of the surviving entity in a merger or the direct or indirect parent
company of the surviving entity in a merger) or a majority of the assets of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), which the Special Committee
determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside counsel and
financial advisor) would, if consummated, be more favorable to the Stockholders
from a financial point of view than the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (taking into account all the terms and conditions of such Takeover
Proposal and this Agreement, including, but not limited to, (x) the likelihood
and timing of consummation of such transaction on the terms set forth therein
(as compared to the terms herein), (y) all appropriate legal, financial
(including the financing terms of such Takeover Proposal), regulatory and other
aspects of such Takeover Proposal, and (z) any changes to the financial and
other terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent in response to such Takeover
Proposal or otherwise).
“Takeover Proposal”
means any bona fide, written and solicited or unsolicited inquiry, proposal or
offer (including, without limitation, a letter of intent) from any Person or
group of Persons (other than Parent and its Affiliates) relating to, or that is
reasonably likely to lead to, any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase, in
one transaction or a series of related transactions, of assets (including equity
securities of any Subsidiary of the Company) or businesses that constitute 25%
or more of the revenues, net income or assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), or 25% or more of any class of equity
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any tender offer or
exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or group of
Persons beneficially owning 25% or more of any class of equity securities of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any merger, consolidation, business
combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture, binding
share exchange or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries pursuant to which any Person or group of Persons or the
shareholders of any Person or group of Persons would own 25% or more of any
class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each
case other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Permitted
Solicitation. During the period from the date of this
Agreement through February 8, 2010 (the “Solicitation
Period”), the Company and its officers, directors (including members of
the Special Committee) and other Representatives, and the Financial Advisor,
may, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate or solicit or knowingly encourage
(including by way of providing information), the submission of any inquiries,
proposals or offers or any other efforts or attempts that constitute or may
reasonably be expected to lead to, a Takeover Proposal or (ii) (A) engage in
negotiations or discussions with, or furnish access to its properties, books and
records or provide any information or data to, any Person relating to any
Takeover Proposal, (B) approve, endorse or recommend, or propose publicly to
approve, endorse or recommend, any Takeover Proposal, (C) execute or enter
into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, merger agreement,
acquisition agreement or other similar agreement providing for or relating to
any Takeover Proposal, (D) enter into any agreement or agreement in principle
requiring the Company to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or breach its obligations under this
Agreement or (E) publicly propose or agree to do any of the foregoing; provided
that any public notice of solicitation shall be subject to the prior written
consent of Parent which shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, except
that no such consent shall be required if such public notice is necessary for
the Company to comply with applicable Law. For the
avoidance of doubt, telephonic contact by the Company or its officers, directors
(including members of the Special Committee) and other Representatives, or the
Financial Advisor, of Persons listed on a target list compiled by any of the
foregoing shall not be deemed to be a public notice. Any Person which
(i) during the Solicitation Period is solicited by or on behalf of the
Company (including by any member of the Special Committee, any director, officer
or other Representative of the Company, or the Financial Advisor),
or during the Solicitation Period without such
solicitation submits an inquiry, expression of interest, proposal or offer
regarding an interest or potential interest in making a Takeover
Proposal to the Company (including any member of the Special
Committee, any director, officer or other Representative of the Company, or the
Financial Advisor) , and which Person is believed in good faith by the
Special Committee to have the financial capability to effect a Takeover
Proposal, and (ii) executes and delivers to the Company an Acceptable
Confidentiality Agreement during the Solicitation Period or within five (5)
Business Days following the expiration of the Solicitation Period shall be
deemed a "Solicited
Party.” The Company shall promptly advise Parent as to the
identity of each Solicited Party and the nature of the
discussions. The Company agrees that it (x) will not, and will not
allow its officers, directors or Representatives to, disclose any non-public
information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries to any Person or its
Representatives contacted pursuant to this Subsection without entering into an
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, and (y) will promptly provide or make
available to Parent any non-public information concerning the Company or its
Subsidiaries provided to such Person which was not previously provided or made
available to the Parent. Upon the termination of the Solicitation
Period, all discussions (whether written, electronic or oral) regarding Takeover
Proposals with all Persons other than Solicited Parties, and any future contacts
with such Persons other than Solicited Parties regarding a Takeover Proposal or
similar transaction shall be subject to compliance with Sections 6.02(c) and
6.02(d). Not later than six (6) Business Days after the expiration of
the Solicitation Period, the Company shall furnish to the Parent a list of the
Solicited Parties and the status of discussions at such time with respect to any
Takeover Proposal.
(c) No
Solicitation. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, during the period from the termination of the Solicitation Period
to the Effective Time or the date, if any, on which this Agreement is earlier
terminated pursuant to Section 9.01, the Company will not, and will cause its
Subsidiaries not to, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ respective officers, directors, employees and
other Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate or solicit
the submission of any inquiries, that constitute, or may reasonably be expected
to lead to, a Takeover Proposal or (ii) except with respect to a Solicited
Party, (A) encourage (including by way of providing information) the submission
of any proposals or offers or any other efforts or attempts that constitute, or
may reasonably be expected to lead to, a Takeover Proposal, (B) engage in
negotiations or discussions with, or furnish access to its properties, books and
records or provide any information or data to, any Person relating to any
Takeover Proposal, (C) approve, endorse or recommend, or propose publicly to
approve, endorse or recommend, any Takeover Proposal, (D) execute or enter
into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, merger agreement,
acquisition agreement or other similar agreement providing for or relating to
any Takeover Proposal, (E) enter into any agreement or agreement in principle
requiring the Company to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or breach its obligations under this
Agreement or (F) publicly propose or agree to do any of the
foregoing.
10
(d) Receipt of Takeover
Proposal. If after the date of this Agreement and prior to
obtaining Stockholder Approval (i) the Company receives a Takeover Proposal from
a Solicited Party or from a Person, subject to the Company’s
compliance with Section 6.02(c) with respect to such Person, that the Special
Committee believes in good faith to be bona fide following notification of the
receipt thereof to the Company Board, (ii) the Special Committee determines in
good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside counsel,
that such Takeover Proposal constitutes or could reasonably be expected to
result in a Superior Proposal, and (iii) after consultation with its counsel,
the Special Committee determines in good faith that the failure to take such
action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the Stockholders under
applicable Law, then the Company (acting under the direction of the Special
Committee) may (A) participate in discussions or negotiations (including, as a
part thereof, making any counterproposal) with the Person or group of Persons
making the Takeover Proposal regarding such Takeover Proposal, and (B) furnish
information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries to the Person or
group of Persons making the Takeover Proposal; provided that the Company (x)
will not, and will not allow its Representatives to, disclose any non-public
information concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to such Person or
group of Persons without entering into an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement,
and (y) will promptly provide or make available to Parent any non-public
information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries provided to such other
Person or group of Persons which was not previously provided or made available
to Parent.
(e) Notification. From
and after the date of this Agreement, the Company will keep Parent informed on a
current basis of the general status and nature of material discussions related
to a Takeover Proposal, the terms of any Takeover Proposal and of any material
amendments thereto, in each case, in any event no later than forty-eight (48)
hours after the occurrence thereof. Without limiting the foregoing,
the Company shall promptly (within one (1) Business Day) notify Parent orally
and in writing if it determines to begin providing information or to engage in
discussions or negotiations with a Person or group of Persons in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement in connection with any Takeover
Proposal.
(f) Change in
Recommendation. Subject to compliance with its obligations
under Rules 14d-9 or 14e-2 under the Exchange Act, as applicable, neither the
Special Committee nor the Company Board may (i) approve, endorse or recommend
(or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend) any Takeover Proposal or
enter into a definitive agreement with respect to a Takeover Proposal, or (ii)
modify or amend (or publicly propose to modify or amend) in a manner adverse to
Parent or withdraw (or publicly propose to withdraw) the Company Board
Recommendation ((i) or (ii) above being referred to as a “Change in
Recommendation”); provided, however, that the Special Committee or the
Company Board may, at any time prior to obtaining the Stockholder Approval, make
a Change in Recommendation if (i) the Special Committee determines, in good
faith (after consultation with its legal counsel), that the failure to take such
action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of
the Company under applicable Law, or (ii) in response to a Superior Proposal
under the circumstances contemplated in this Section 6.02.
(g) Superior
Proposal. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in this Agreement, if, at any time prior to obtaining the Stockholder Approval,
the Company receives a Takeover Proposal which the Special Committee concludes
in good faith constitutes a Superior Proposal after giving effect to all of the
adjustments which are offered by Parent pursuant to clause (ii) below, the
Company Board may (x) effect a Change in Recommendation and/or (y) terminate
this Agreement (in accordance with Section 9.01(e)) in order to enter into a
definitive agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal, if the Special
Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with its counsel, that
failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to
the Stockholders under applicable Law; provided, however that the Company shall
not terminate this Agreement pursuant to the foregoing clause (y), and any
purported termination pursuant to the foregoing clause (y) shall be void and of
no force or effect, unless concurrently with such termination the Company pays
the Company Termination Fee payable pursuant to Section 7.05(b); provided,
further, that the Company Board may not effect a Change in Recommendation
pursuant to the foregoing clause (x) or terminate this Agreement pursuant to the
foregoing clause (y) unless:
(i) the
Company shall have provided prior written notice to Parent, at least three (3)
calendar days in advance (the “Notice Period”) of
its intention to effect a Change in Recommendation in response to such Superior
Proposal or terminate this Agreement to enter into a definitive agreement with
respect to such Superior Proposal, which notice shall specify the material terms
and conditions of any such Superior Proposal (including the identity of the
Person or group of Persons making such Superior Proposal), and shall have
contemporaneously provided a copy of the relevant proposed transaction
agreements with the Person or group of Persons making such Superior Proposal and
other material documents; and
(ii) prior to
effecting such Change in Recommendation or terminating this Agreement to enter
into a definitive agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal, the Company
shall, and shall cause its financial and legal advisors to, during the Notice
Period, negotiate with Parent in good faith (to the extent Parent desires to
negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this
Agreement so that such Takeover Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior
Proposal.
In the
event of any revision to the Superior Proposal, the Company shall be required to
deliver a new written notice to Parent and to comply with the requirements of
Section 6.02(e) with respect to such new written notice.
(h) Modify
Recommendation. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or
restrict the Company Board, in circumstances not involving a Takeover Proposal,
from amending, modifying or withdrawing the Company Board’s recommendation to
the extent that the Special Committee determines in good faith (after
consultation with its legal counsel) that such action is necessary under
applicable Law in order for the directors to comply with their fiduciary duties
to the Company’s stockholders. The Company shall give Parent written notice of
any such action taken by the Company Board not later than the Business Day next
succeeding the day on which such action is taken, setting forth in reasonable
detail the action taken and the basis therefor.
11
ARTICLE
VII
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
Section
7.01 Preparation of the Proxy
Statement and Schedule 13E-3- Stockholders’ Meeting.
(a) Proxy
Statement. As soon as reasonably practicable following the
date of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare and file the Proxy Statement
with the SEC. The Company shall cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the
Stockholders as promptly as practicable after clearance by the SEC. Parent shall
furnish to the Company all information as may be reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution of the Proxy
Statement. No filing of, or amendment or supplement to, the Proxy Statement will
be made by the Company without providing Parent a reasonable opportunity to
review and comment thereon. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any
information relating to the Company or Parent, or any of their respective
Affiliates, directors or officers, should be discovered by the Company or Parent
which should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement,
so that such document would not include any misstatement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the party
which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other party hereto
and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be
promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to
the stockholders of the Company. The parties shall notify each other promptly of
the receipt of any comments from the SEC or the staff of the SEC and of any
request by the SEC or the staff of the SEC for amendments or supplements to the
Proxy Statement or for additional information and shall supply each other with
copies of all correspondence between it or any of its Representatives, on the
one hand, and the SEC or the staff of the SEC, on the other hand, with respect
to the Proxy Statement or the Merger.
(b) Schedule
13E-3. Concurrently with the filing of the Proxy Statement
with the SEC, Parent and its Affiliates shall prepare and file with the SEC,
together with the Company, the Schedule 13E-3. Parent and the Company shall
cause the Schedule 13E-3 to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by
the SEC and respond promptly to any comments of the SEC or its staff regarding
the Schedule 13E-3. Each party agrees to provide the other party and its counsel
with copies of any comments that such party or its counsel may receive from the
staff of the SEC regarding the Schedule 13E-3 promptly after receipt thereof.
The Company shall promptly furnish to Parent all information concerning the
Company and its executive officers and directors as may reasonably be requested
in connection with the preparation of the Schedule 13E-3. The Company and its
counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the
Schedule 13E-3 and each supplement, amendment or response to comments with
respect thereto prior to filing with or delivering to the SEC.
(c) Stockholders’
Meeting. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts, as
soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement and the receipt of
clearance of the Proxy Statement from the SEC, to establish a record date for,
duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of the Stockholders (the
“Stockholders’
Meeting”) for the purpose of obtaining the Stockholder Approval; provided
that such date may be extended to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the
Company to file and distribute any material amendment to the Proxy Statement as
is required by applicable Law. Subject to Section 6.02, the Company Board shall
recommend to the Stockholders adoption of this Agreement and the Merger and
shall include the Company Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement. A Change
in Recommendation permitted by Section 6.02 will not constitute a breach by the
Company of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but
subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company’s obligations pursuant to
the first sentence of this Section 7.01(c) shall not be affected by the
commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company
of any Takeover Proposal (whether or not a Superior Proposal). In addition,
notwithstanding any Change in Recommendation, unless this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 9.01, this Agreement
shall be submitted to the Stockholders at the Stockholders’ Meeting for the
purpose of adopting this Agreement. The Company may, at the
discretion of the Company Board or the Special Committee, engage one or more
proxy solicitors in connection with the solicitation of proxies or votes from
the Stockholders to be cast at the Stockholders’ Meeting.
Section
7.02 Access to Information;
Confidentiality.
(a) Parent
Access. During the Interim Period, to the extent permitted by
applicable Law, the Company shall afford to Parent, and to Parent’s
Representatives, reasonable access during normal business hours and upon
reasonable prior notice to the Company to all its and its Subsidiaries’
properties, books, Contracts, commitments, personnel and records, and, during
such period, the Company shall furnish promptly to Parent (i) a copy of each
report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed by it during
such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities Laws,
and (ii) all other information concerning its and its Subsidiaries’ business,
properties and personnel as Parent may reasonably request; provided that such
access and inspections shall not unreasonably disrupt the operations of the
Company or its Subsidiaries; and provided further, that the Company shall not be
required to (or to cause any of its Subsidiaries to) so confer, afford such
access or furnish such copies or other information to the extent that doing so
would result in a violation of Law, result in the loss of attorney-client
privilege or violate confidentiality obligations owing to third
parties.
(b) Hold
Confidential. Except for disclosures expressly permitted by
the terms of this Agreement, Parent shall hold, and shall cause its accountants,
counsel, financial advisors and other Representatives to hold, all information
received from the Company, directly or indirectly, in confidence and not make
any public disclosure thereof; provided, that the foregoing shall not prevent
Parent from disclosing such information (i) to the extent required by applicable
Law or by a Governmental Entity (including, inter alia, in any Schedule 13D or
13E-3 filing that Parent is required to make), and (ii) to the extent such
information is or becomes generally available to the public other than by
disclosure by Parent or any Affiliate or Representative of Parent.
12
Section
7.03 Reasonable Best
Efforts.
(a) Actions. Upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the
parties agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with
the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper and advisable to
consummate and make effective, as promptly as practicable, the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using reasonable
best efforts to accomplish the following: (i) that the conditions set forth in
Article VIII are satisfied; (ii) the obtaining of all necessary actions or
nonactions, waivers, consents, clearances, and approvals from Governmental
Entities and non-governmental third parties and the making of all necessary
registrations, notices and filings (including filings with Governmental
Entities); and (iii) the obtaining of all necessary consents, approvals or
waivers from third parties. Subject to first having used all reasonable best
efforts to negotiate a resolution of any objections underlying such lawsuits or
other legal proceedings, the Company and Parent shall use reasonable best
efforts to defend and contest any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether
judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
seeking to have any stay, temporary restraining order, or preliminary injunction
entered by any Governmental Entity vacated or reversed.
(b) Filings. The
Company and Parent shall cooperate and consult with each other in connection
with the making of all such filings, notifications and any other material
actions pursuant to this Section 7.03, subject to applicable Law, by permitting
counsel for the other party to review in advance, and consider in good faith the
views of the other party in connection with, any proposed material written
communication to any Governmental Entity and by providing counsel for the other
party with copies of all filings and submissions made by such party and all
correspondence between such party (and its advisors) with any Governmental
Entity and any other information supplied by such party and such party’s
Affiliates to a Governmental Entity or received from such a Governmental Entity
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided,
however, that material may be redacted (x) as necessary to comply with
contractual arrangements, and (y) as necessary to address good faith legal
privilege or confidentiality concerns. Neither party shall file any such
document or take such action if the other party has reasonably objected (and not
withdrawn its objection) to the filing of such document or the taking of such
action on the grounds that such filing or action would reasonably be expected to
either (i) prevent, materially delay or materially impede the consummation of
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby, or (ii) cause a
condition set forth in Article VIII to not be satisfied in a timely manner.
Neither party shall consent to any voluntary extension of any statutory deadline
or waiting period or to any voluntary delay of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement at the behest of any Governmental
Entity without the consent of the other party.
(c) Advise of
Changes. Each of the Company and Parent will promptly inform
the other party upon receipt of any material communication from any Governmental
Entity regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If the
Company or Parent (or any of their respective Affiliates) receives a request for
additional information or documentary material from any such Governmental Entity
that is related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, then such
party will endeavor in good faith to make, or cause to be made, as soon as
reasonably practicable and after consultation with the other party, an
appropriate response in compliance with such request. The parties agree not to
participate, or to permit their Affiliates to participate, in any substantive
meeting or discussion with any Governmental Entity in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement unless it so consults with the other
party in advance and, to the extent not prohibited by such Governmental Entity,
gives the other party the opportunity to attend and participate. Each party will
advise the other party promptly of any understandings, undertakings or
agreements (oral or written) which the first party proposes to make or enter
into with any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. In furtherance and not in limitation of the
foregoing, each party will use all reasonable efforts to resolve any objections
that may be asserted with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement under any antitrust, competition or trade regulatory Laws, including
(subject to first having used all reasonable efforts to negotiate a resolution
to any such objections) contesting and resisting any action or proceeding and to
have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or
other Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and
that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to have such statute, rule,
regulation, decree, judgment, injunction or other Order repealed, rescinded or
made inapplicable so as to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(d) Limitations or
Actions. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no
party is required to, and the Company may not, without the prior written consent
of Parent, become subject to, consent or agree to, or otherwise take any action
with respect to, any requirement, condition, limitation, understanding,
agreement or Order to sell, to hold separate or otherwise dispose of, or to
conduct, restrict, operate, invest or otherwise change the assets or business of
the Company, Parent, Merger Sub, or any of their Affiliates in any manner which,
individually or in the aggregate with all other such requirements, conditions,
understandings, agreements and Orders could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the combined business, financial condition or results
of operations of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the
Company will, upon the reasonable request of Parent, become subject to, or
consent or agree to or otherwise take any action with respect to, any
requirement, condition, understanding, agreement or Order to sell, to hold
separate or otherwise dispose of, or to conduct, restrict, operate, invest or
otherwise change the assets or business of the Company or any of its Affiliates,
so long as such requirement, condition, understanding, agreement or Order is
binding on the Company only in the event that the Closing occurs. Furthermore,
without the prior written consent of the Parent (determined in its sole
discretion), in no event shall the Company or Parent or any of their respective
Subsidiaries or Affiliates: (i) pay any consideration to, amend or enter into
any agreement with, any non-governmental third party to obtain any consent to
the Merger or to otherwise comply with Section 7.03(e); or (ii) agree to the
imposition of limitations on the ability of Parent or any Affiliate of Parent to
hold, or exercise full rights of ownership of, any shares of capital stock of
the Surviving Corporation, including the right to vote such shares on all
matters properly presented to the stockholders of the Surviving
Corporation.
(e) Action as to
Laws. The Company and the Company Board shall (i) use
reasonable best efforts to ensure that no state takeover Law or similar Law is
or becomes applicable to this Agreement, the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) if any state takeover Law
or similar Law becomes applicable to this Agreement, the Merger or any of the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, use reasonable best efforts
to ensure that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms
contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to minimize the effect of such Law
on this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
13
Section
7.04 Indemnification Exculpation
and Insurance.
(a) Assumption. Parent
acknowledges and agrees that the Surviving Corporation shall by operation of law
assume the obligations with respect to all rights to indemnification, defense
and exculpation from liabilities, including advancement of expenses, for acts or
omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time now existing in favor of
the current or former directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to the same extent as provided in the Company’s or any
of its Subsidiaries’ certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other
organizational documents or any indemnification Contract between such directors,
officers, employees or agents and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (in
each case, as in effect on the date of this Agreement), without further action,
as of the Effective Time and such obligations shall survive the Merger and shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms for a period of
not less than six (6) years from the Effective Time and that all rights to
indemnification, defense or exculpation in respect of any action pending or
asserted or any claim made within such period shall continue until the full,
final and non-appealable disposition of such action or resolution of such
claim.
(b) Effect on
Successor. In the event that the Surviving Corporation or any
of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other
Person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such
consolidation or merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all
of its properties and other assets to any Person, then, and in each such case,
the Surviving Corporation shall cause proper provision to be made so that the
successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation shall expressly assume the
obligations set forth in this Section 7.04.
(c) Insurance. For six
(6) years after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall maintain
(directly or indirectly through the Company’s existing insurance programs) in
effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in respect of acts or
omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, covering each person
currently covered by the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy
maintained by the Company or its Subsidiaries on terms with respect to such
coverage and amounts comparable to the insurance maintained currently by the
Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable; provided that the Surviving
Corporation may substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage
containing terms and conditions which are not less advantageous to the
beneficiaries of the current policies and with carriers having an A.M. Best “key
rating” of AX or better, provided that such substitution shall not result in any
gaps or lapses in coverage with respect to matters occurring prior to the
Effective Time, and provided, further, that the Surviving Corporation shall
obtain at or prior to the Effective Time from such carriers a so-called “tail”
policy providing such coverage and being effective for the full six (6) year
period referred to above.
(d) Benefit. The
provisions of this Section 7.04 (i) are intended to be for the benefit of, and
will be enforceable by, each indemnified party, his or her heirs and his or her
representatives, and (ii) are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any
other rights that any such Person may have by Contract or otherwise, including,
without limitation, rights to indemnification or contribution. It is expressly
agreed that the indemnified parties shall be third party beneficiaries of this
Section 7.04.
Section
7.05 Fees and
Expenses.
(a) By Parties. Except
as otherwise provided in this Section 7.05, all Expenses incurred in connection
with this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such Expenses, whether or not the
Merger is consummated. The Company shall pay any and all Expenses
reasonably incurred and duly documented by the Special Committee or such other
members of the Company Board in connection with the Merger, including but not
limited to the reasonable fees and expenses of the Financial Advisor and counsel
to the Special Committee.
(b) Company Termination
Fee. In the event that:
(i) Subject
to Section 7.05(b)(ii), this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to
Section 9.01(e) (other than with respect to a Superior Proposal by a Solicited
Party) or by Parent pursuant to Section 9.01(f) (except if the action in Section
9.01(f) is taken, or the failure to act in accordance with Section 9.01(f)
occurs, with respect to a Superior Proposal by a Solicited Party);
or
(ii) (A) a
Takeover Proposal (other than by a Solicited Party) shall have been made to the
stockholders of the Company generally or a Takeover Proposal (other than by a
Solicited Party) shall have otherwise become publicly known, disclosed or
proposed or any Person (other than a Solicited Party) shall have publicly
announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make a Takeover Proposal,
(B) thereafter this Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the Company
pursuant to Section 9.01(b)(i) or Section 9.01(b) (ii) or by Parent pursuant to
Section 9.01(c), and (C) within twelve (12) months after such termination, the
Company enters into, or submits to the stockholders of the Company for adoption,
a definitive agreement with respect to any Takeover Proposal (other than by a
Solicited Party), or consummates the transactions contemplated by any Takeover
Proposal (other than by a Solicited Party) (provided that, for purposes of this
Section 7.05(b)(ii), all references to 25% in the definition of Takeover
Proposal shall be deemed to be 50%) with a Person other than a Solicited Party
or an Affiliate of a Solicited Party, which, in each case, need not be the same
Takeover Proposal that shall have been publicly announced or made known at or
prior to termination of this Agreement;
then (in
the case of the occurrence of either or both of matters described in Sections
7.05(b)(i) and 7.05(b)(ii)) the Company shall pay Parent a one-time Company
Termination Fee (exclusive of any Expenses that may previously have
been paid or are payable by the Company to Parent in the circumstances as
provided in Section 7.05(c) below) by transfer of immediately available funds on
the first Business Day following (x) in the case of a payment required by
Section 7.05(b)(i), the date of termination of this Agreement, and (y) in the
case of a payment required by Section 7.05(b)(ii) above, the date of the
consummation of such Takeover Proposal. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Termination
Fee” means an amount equal to $200,000. The Parent’s right to receive,
and the Company’s obligation to pay, the Company Termination Fee pursuant to
this Section 7.05(b) upon the termination of this Agreement by Parent pursuant
to Section 9.01(f) shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, Parent’s and
Merger Sub’s rights under Sections 7.05(c) and 10.08 hereof
14
(c) Parent Expense. In
the event that this Agreement is terminated (A) by Parent, on the one hand, or
the Company, on the other hand, pursuant to Section 9.01(b)(ii) provided the
Parent affirmatively voted its Company Common Stock at the Stockholder Meeting
to approve this Agreement and Merger, or pursuant to a different section of
Section 9.01 at a time when this Agreement was terminable pursuant to Section
9.01(b)(ii) and the Parent affirmatively voted its Company Common Stock at the
Stockholder Meeting to approve this Agreement and Merger, or (B) by Parent
pursuant to Section 9.01(b)(i) or Section 9.01(c) or pursuant to a different
section of Section 9.01 at a time when this Agreement was terminable by Parent
pursuant to Section 9.01(b)(i) or Section 9.01(c) (provided in the case of a
termination pursuant to Section 9.01(b)(i) that a Stockholders’ Meeting at which
the approval of this Agreement is voted upon by the Stockholders shall not have
been duly convened prior to the Outside Date), then in the case of any such
termination of this Agreement, in addition to any Termination Fee payable
hereunder, the Company shall pay to Parent an amount equal to the sum of
Parent’s or Merger Sub’s Expenses (not to exceed $100,000 in the aggregate) for
which Parent has not theretofore been reimbursed by the Company in cash by wire
transfer in immediately available funds, such payment to be made following such
termination within two (2) Business Days following delivery to the Company of
notice of demand for such payment, accompanied by invoices or other
documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company evidencing the Expenses
claimed. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company shall not be obligated under this Section 7.05(c) to pay
any Expenses of Parent in the event that this Agreement is terminated by Parent
or the Merger Sub pursuant to Section 9.01(c) if such termination is based upon
either (1) the breach of any representation or warranty of the Company set forth
in Article IV hereof, or (2) the breach or failure to perform a covenant or
agreement and such breach or failure is the proximate result of action taken, or
inaction, by the Company at the direction or with the active participation of
the Chief Executive Officer of the Company without the approval or direction of
the Company Board (including the affirmative vote or written consent of at least
one (1) director who is a member of the Special Committee), or an authorized
committee thereof.
(d) Company
Expense. In the event the Agreement is terminated by the
Company pursuant to Section 9.01(d) or pursuant to a different section of
Section 9.01 at a time when this Agreement was terminable by the Company
pursuant to Section 9.01(d), then in the case of any such termination of this
Agreement, Parent shall pay to the Company an amount equal to the sum of the
Company’s Expenses (not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate) for which the
Company has not theretofore been reimbursed by Parent in cash by wire transfer
in immediately available funds, such payment to be made following such
termination within two (2) Business Days following delivery to Parent of notice
of demand for such payment accompanied by invoices or other documentation
reasonably satisfactory to Parent evidencing the Expenses claimed.
(e) Nature of
Arrangement. The Company and Parent acknowledge and agree that
the agreements contained in this Section 7.05 are an integral part of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements,
the Company and Parent would not have entered into this
Agreement. Accordingly, if the Company or Parent fails to pay when
due the amount payable by it pursuant to this Section 7.05, and, in order to
obtain such payment, the Company or Parent, as applicable, commences a suit that
results in a judgment against the other party for the amounts set forth in this
Section 7.05, the Company or Parent, as applicable, shall pay to the other party
such party’s costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
expenses) incurred in connection with such suit, together with interest on the
terms set forth in this Section 7.05, from the date such payment was required to
be made until the date of receipt by the party to which payment is to made of
immediately available funds in such amount at the prime rate, published in the
Wall Street Journal, in effect on the date such payment was required to be made
by the Company or Parent, as applicable, to the other.
(f) Acknowledgment. Each
of the parties hereto acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section
7.05 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
that the Company Termination Fee is not a penalty, but rather is liquidated
damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate Parent in the circumstances
in which such Termination Fee is payable for the efforts and resources expended
and opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on
this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, which amount would otherwise be impossible to calculate
with precision.
Section
7.06 Public
Announcements. Except with respect to the announcement of any
Change in Recommendation (or proposed Change in Recommendation) made pursuant
to, and in accordance with, the express terms of Section 6.02 of this Agreement,
Parent and the Company shall consult with each other before issuing, and give
each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or
other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Merger, and shall not issue any such press release or
make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as such party
may reasonably conclude may be required by applicable Law, court process or by
obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities
exchange. The parties agree that the initial press release to be issued with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in the form
heretofore agreed to by the parties provided that in any event it complies with
applicable Law.
Section
7.07 Bank
Arrangement. The Company shall have obtained and thereafter
maintain a forbearance agreement from TD Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”) as to the
enforcement of the Bank’s rights under the credit facility it had extended to
the Company. Such forbearance agreement shall be on terms set forth
in that certain Forbearance Agreement dated January 11, 2010 among the Bank, the
Company, Xxxxx Systems, Inc., Xxxxx Fire Systems Inc. and Xxxxx Systems
Technologies, Inc., or on terms that are otherwise reasonably satisfactory to
Parent. Parent agrees that, at the request of the Bank, Parent shall
furnish a guaranty of the Company’s credit facility. Such guaranty
shall be on terms mutually agreeable to the Bank and Parent, including becoming
effective as of the Closing Date. From the date of this
Agreement until the Closing Date, the Bank shall not have demanded
immediate payment of the obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries nor
shall it have commenced collection action against the Company or the
Subsidiaries on amounts due to the Bank.
Section
7.08 Limitation on
Damages. Neither Parent nor the Merger Sub shall be entitled
to any monetary damages or equitable relief or other remedy arising from either
(a) a breach of any representation or warranty of the Company set forth in
Article IV hereof, except for the right of Parent to terminate the Agreement as
set forth in Section 9.01(c) hereof, or (b) the breach or failure to perform a
covenant or agreement and such breach or failure is the proximate result of the
actions taken, or inaction, by the Company at the direction or with the active
participation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company without the approval
or direction of the Company Board (including the affirmative vote or consent of
at least one (1) director who is a member of the Special Committee), or an
authorized committee thereof.
15
ARTICLE
VIII
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
Section
8.01 Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The
respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the
satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver (except as provided
otherwise in this Section 8.01) by both Parent and the Company on or prior to
the Closing Date of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder
Approval. The Company shall have obtained the Stockholder
Approval. This condition is not waivable by either
party.
(b) No Injunctions or
Restraints. There shall not be in effect any statute,
regulation, order, decree or judgment of any Governmental Entity which makes
illegal or enjoins or prevents the consummation of the Merger.
Section
8.02 Conditions to Obligations of
Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of Parent and Merger
Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the satisfaction or (to the
extent permitted by Law) waiver by Parent on or prior to the Closing Date of the
following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company
contained in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality or Material
Adverse Effect shall be true and correct, and the representations and warranties
of the Company contained in this Agreement that are not so qualified shall be
true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date, except
to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier
date, in which case as of such earlier date. Parent shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief financial officer of
the Company to such effect dated as of the Closing Date.
(b) Performance of Obligations of the
Company. The Company shall have performed in all material
respects all obligations required to be performed by the Company under this
Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date. Parent shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief financial officer of
the Company to such effect dated as of the Closing Date.
(c) Appraisal
Rights. The aggregate number of shares of Company Stock at the
Effective Time, the holders of which have properly exercised appraisal rights
under Section 262 of the DGCL, shall not equal ten (10%) percent or more of the
shares of Company Stock outstanding as of the record date for the Stockholders’
Meeting.
(d) Consents. There
shall not be any consents or approvals of any third parties required in
connection with or as a result of the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and each of the
other transactions contemplated hereby under any Contract to which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or any of their respective properties or
other assets are subject or any Law or Order applicable to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or other assets, except (i) any
such consent or approval as has been obtained and such consents are in full
force and effect and, (ii) any such consents or approvals which would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Fairness
Opinion. The Financial Advisor shall not have withdrawn,
amended or modified its opinion dated January 22, 2010 to the effect that, as of
such date, the Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to
the Public Stockholders
(f) Director
Resignations. The Company shall have received the written
resignation of each director of the Company.
Section
8.03 Conditions to Obligation of
the Company. The obligation of the Company to effect the
Merger is further subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by
Law) waiver by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties of Parent and
Merger Sub contained in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality
shall be true and correct, and the representations and warranties of Parent and
Merger Sub contained in this Agreement that are not so qualified shall be true
and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date, except
to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier
date, in which case as of such earlier date. The Company shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of Parent and Merger Sub by an executive officer of
Parent and Merger Sub, respectively, to such effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent
and Merger Sub. Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed in
all material respects all obligations required to be performed by them under
this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and the Company shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent and Merger Sub by its
respective Chief Executive Officer to such effect dated as of the Closing
Date.
(c) Insurance Tail
Policy. The Company shall have received confirmation from its
insurance agent or carrier that the directors and officers “insurance tail”
policy referred to in Section 7.04(c) has been obtained and paid
for.
Section
8.04 Frustration of Closing
Conditions.
Neither
the Company, on the one hand, nor Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, may
rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 8,01, Section 8.02 or
Section 8.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was caused by
such party’s failure to act in good faith or use its reasonable best efforts to
consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
as required by and subject to Section 7.03.
16
ARTICLE
IX
TERMINATION,
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section
9.01 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after receipt of the Stockholder Approval:
(a) by mutual
written consent of Parent and the Company;
(b) by either
Parent or the Company:
(i) if the
Merger shall not have been consummated on or before April 30, 2010 (the “Outside Date”);
provided, however that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section
9.01(b)(i) shall not be available to any party whose breach of a representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement in this Agreement has (directly or indirectly)
in whole or in material part been a cause of or resulted in the failure of the
Merger to be consummated on or before such date;
(ii) if the
Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at the Stockholders’ Meeting
duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof;
or
(iii) if any
Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued or entered an
injunction or similar legal restraint or order permanently enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger and such injunction, legal
restraint or order shall have become final and non-appealable; provided,
however, that the party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9.01(b)(iii) shall have used such reasonable best efforts as may be
required by Section 7.03 to prevent, oppose and remove such
injunction;
(c) by
Parent, if the Company shall have breached or failed to perform any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this
Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure
of any condition set forth in Section 8.02, and (ii) is uncured or incapable of
being cured by the Company prior to the earlier to occur of (A) ten (10)
calendar days following receipt of written notice of such breach or failure to
perform from Parent, or (B) the Outside Date; provided, however, that Parent
shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section
9.01(c) if it or Merger Sub is then in material breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement that would
cause any of the conditions in Section 8.03 not to be satisfied;
(d) by the
Company, if Parent or Merger Sub shall have breached or failed to perform any of
its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this
Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure
of any condition set forth in Section 8.03, and (ii) is uncured or incapable of
being cured by Parent or Merger Sub prior to the earlier to occur of (A) ten
(10) calendar days following receipt of written notice of such breach or failure
to perform from the Company, or (B) the Outside Date; provided, however, that
the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this Section 9.01(d) if it is then in material breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement that would
cause any of the conditions in Section 8.02 not to be satisfied;
(e) prior to
obtaining the Stockholder Approval, by the Company, in accordance with and
subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 6.02(g); or
(f) by
Parent, in the event that (i) the Special Committee or the Company Board shall
have made a Change in Recommendation (or publicly proposes to make a Change in
Recommendation), or (ii) the Company has failed to comply in any material
respect with Section 6.02 (including the Company approving, recommending or
entering into any actual or proposed acquisition agreement in violation of
Section 6.02), or (iii) the Company shall have failed to comply with Section
7.01(c) to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Proxy
Statement.
Section
9.02 Effect of
Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement by
either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 9.01, this Agreement shall
forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on
the part of Parent or the Company or their directors, officers or stockholders,
under this Agreement, other than the provisions of Section 7.02(b), Section
7.05, this Section 9.02 and Article X, which provisions shall survive such
termination.
Section
9.03 Amendment. This
Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time before or after
receipt of the Stockholder Approval; provided, however, that after the
Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained, there shall be made no amendment
that by applicable Law requires further approval by the stockholders of the
Company without such approval having been obtained. This Agreement may not be
amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
parties hereto.
Section
9.04 Extension;
Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties
may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
acts of the other parties, (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waive
any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in
any document delivered pursuant hereto, or (iii) subject to the proviso to the
first sentence of Section 9.03 and to the extent permitted by applicable Law,
waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein,
except those agreements or conditions, which by their terms are not waivable.
Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver shall be
valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights
under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights
nor shall any single or partial exercise by any party to this Agreement of any
of its rights under this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise of
such rights or any other rights under this Agreement.
Section
9.05 Procedure for Termination or
Amendment. A termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
9.01 or an amendment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.03 shall, in order
to be effective, require, in the case of Parent or Merger Sub, action
by its respective board of directors, and in the case of the Company, action by
the Special Committee or the Company Board.
17
ARTICLE
X
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section
10.01 Nonsurvival of
Representations and Warranties. None of the representations
and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this
Agreement shall survive the Effective Time. This Section 10.01 shall not limit
any covenant or agreement of the parties which by its terms contemplates
performance after the Effective Time.
Section
10.02 Notices. Except
for notices that are specifically required by the terms of this Agreement to be
delivered orally, all notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if
delivered personally, telecopied (which is confirmed) or sent by overnight
courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses
(or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like
notice):
If to
Parent or Merger Sub, to:
Firecom,
Inc.
00-00
00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Vice President, Finance
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
0 Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
If to the
Company, to:
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Sichenzia
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
00
Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile
(000) 000-0000
with
additional copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Certilman
Balin Xxxxx & Xxxxx LLP
00
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile
(000) 000-0000
18
Section
10.03 Consents and
Approvals. For any matter under this Agreement requiring the
consent or approval of any party to be valid and binding on the parties hereto,
such consent or approval must be in writing.
Section
10.04 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including by facsimile or e-mail),
all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by all of the parties
and delivered to the other parties.
Section
10.05 Entire Agreement; No
Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (including the
Schedules) and any agreements entered into contemporaneously herewith constitute
the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings,
both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter of
this Agreement. Except for (i) following the Effective Time, the rights of the
Company’s stockholders to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with
Section 3.01(c), and (ii) the provisions of Section 7.04 hereof, this Agreement
(including the Schedules) is not intended to and do not confer upon any Person
(including, inter alia, the Public Stockholders in their capacity as such) other
than the parties hereto any legal or equitable rights or remedies.
Section
10.06 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
conflict of law principles that would require the application of the law of
another jurisdiction.
Section
10.07 Assignment. Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall
be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the
parties without the prior written consent of the other party, and any assignment
without such consent shall be null and void; provided, however, that Parent may
assign any of its rights, interest and obligations under this Agreement to any
of its Affiliates without the consent of the Company, but no such assignment
shall relieve the assigning party of its obligations hereunder. Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit
of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and
assigns.
Section
10.08 Enforcement; Consent to
Jurisdiction. The parties agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
is accordingly agreed that the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement exclusively in any state
or federal court sitting in the County of New York, State of New
York. Each of the parties hereto (i) irrevocably consents to submit
itself to the personal jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in the
County of New York, State of New York in the event any dispute arises out of
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) agrees
that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion
or other request for leave from any such court, and (iii) agrees that it will
not bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement in any court other than any state or federal court sitting in
the County of New York, State of New York. Any judgment from any such court
described above may, however, be enforced by any party in any other court in any
other jurisdiction.
Section
10.09 Severability. If
any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable
of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and
provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.
Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or
incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to
modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as
closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law in an
acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are fulfilled to the extent possible.
Section
10.10 No
Recourse. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any
claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to
this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement
may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties
hereto, and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee,
incorporator, member, manager, partner, shareholder, agent, attorney or
representative of any party hereto shall have any liability for any obligations
or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in
respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section
10.11 WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND
ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY.
[Signature
Page Follows]
19
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement and Plan of
Merger to be signed by its respective officers hereunto duly authorized, all as
of the date first written above.
FIRECOM,
INC.
|
|||
|
By:
|
/s/ | |
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President, Finance | |||
FCI
MERGER CORP.
|
|||
|
By:
|
/s/ | |
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ | |
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
[Signature
Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger Agreement]