Exhibit 2.1
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AGREEMENT AND
PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
CB XXXXXXX XXXXX SERVICES, INC.,
XXXX XX HOLDING CORP.
and
XXXX XX CORP.
February 23, 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS...................................................................... 1
1.1. Definitions..................................................................... 1
ARTICLE 2 THE MERGER....................................................................... 7
2.1. The Merger...................................................................... 7
2.2. Organizational Documents........................................................ 7
2.3. Directors and Officers.......................................................... 8
ARTICLE 3 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES AND RELATED MATTERS..................................... 8
3.1. Capital Stock of Acquiror....................................................... 8
3.2. Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Acquiror Owned Shares........................ 8
3.3. Conversion of Company Shares.................................................... 8
3.4. Exchange of Certificates........................................................ 8
3.5. Company Stock Options........................................................... 10
3.6. Deferred Compensation Plan...................................................... 10
3.7. Capital Accumulation Plan....................................................... 11
3.8. Dissenting Shares............................................................... 11
ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.................................... 12
4.1. Corporate Existence and Power................................................... 12
4.2. Corporate Authorization......................................................... 12
4.3. Governmental Authorization...................................................... 13
4.4. Non-Contravention............................................................... 13
4.5. Capitalization.................................................................. 13
4.6. Subsidiaries.................................................................... 14
4.7. Company SEC Documents........................................................... 15
4.8. Financial Statements; No Material Undisclosed Liabilities....................... 15
4.9. Absence of Certain Changes...................................................... 16
4.10. Litigation...................................................................... 16
4.11. Taxes........................................................................... 17
4.12. Employee Benefits............................................................... 17
4.13. Compliance with Laws; Licenses, Permits and Registrations....................... 20
4.14. Title to Properties............................................................. 20
4.15. Intellectual Property........................................................... 20
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4.16. Finders' Fees; Opinions of Financial Advisor.................................... 21
4.17. Labor Matters................................................................... 21
4.18. Material Contract Defaults...................................................... 21
4.19. Required Vote; Board Approval................................................... 22
4.20. Information to Be Supplied...................................................... 22
4.21. Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties.............................. 23
ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDING AND ACQUIROR........................... 23
5.1. Corporate Existence and Power................................................... 23
5.2. Corporate Authorization......................................................... 23
5.3. Governmental Authorization...................................................... 24
5.4. Non-Contravention............................................................... 24
5.5. Financing....................................................................... 24
5.6. Information to Be Supplied...................................................... 25
5.7. No Breach....................................................................... 26
5.8. Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties.............................. 26
ARTICLE 6 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY......................................................... 26
6.1. Company Interim Operations...................................................... 26
6.2. Stockholder Meeting............................................................. 29
6.3. Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation..................................... 29
ARTICLE 7 COVENANTS OF HOLDING AND ACQUIROR................................................ 31
7.1. Director and Officer Liability.................................................. 31
7.2. Employee Benefits............................................................... 33
7.3. Severance Plan.................................................................. 34
7.4. Conduct of Holding and Acquiror................................................. 34
7.5. Transfer Taxes.................................................................. 34
7.6. Investment Banking Fee.......................................................... 34
7.7. Financing Arrangements.......................................................... 34
7.8. Contribution and Voting Agreement............................................... 35
7.9. Board Member.................................................................... 35
ARTICLE 8 COVENANTS OF HOLDING, ACQUIROR AND THE COMPANY................................... 35
8.1. Efforts and Assistance.......................................................... 35
8.2. Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3.............................................. 37
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8.3. Public Announcements............................................................ 38
8.4. Access to Information; Notification of Certain Matters.......................... 38
8.5. Further Assurances.............................................................. 39
8.6. Registration Statement.......................................................... 39
8.7. Disposition of Litigation....................................................... 40
8.8. Confidentiality Agreements...................................................... 40
8.9. Resignation of Directors........................................................ 40
8.10. Senior Subordinated Notes....................................................... 40
ARTICLE 9 CONDITIONS TO MERGER............................................................. 42
9.1. Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party..................................... 42
9.2. Conditions to the Obligations of the Company.................................... 42
9.3. Conditions to the Obligations of Acquiror....................................... 43
ARTICLE 10 TERMINATION...................................................................... 44
10.1. Termination..................................................................... 44
10.2. Effect of Termination........................................................... 45
10.3. Fees and Expenses............................................................... 46
ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS.................................................................... 46
11.1. Notices......................................................................... 46
11.2. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants after the Effective Time.. 47
11.3. Amendments; No Waivers.......................................................... 47
11.4. Successors and Assigns.......................................................... 47
11.5. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Third Party Beneficiaries.......................... 48
11.6. Governing Law................................................................... 48
11.7. Jurisdiction.................................................................... 48
11.8. Enforcement..................................................................... 48
11.9. Entire Agreement................................................................ 48
11.10. Authorship...................................................................... 48
11.11. Severability.................................................................... 49
11.12. Waiver of Jury Trial............................................................ 49
11.13. Headings; Construction.......................................................... 49
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into this 23rd day of February 2001, by and among CB Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), XXXX XX Holding Corp., a
Delaware corporation ("Holding"), and XXXX XX Corp., a Delaware corporation
wholly owned by Holding ("Acquiror").
WHEREAS, a Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
has (i) determined that the Merger (as defined herein) is advisable and in the
best interest of the Company's stockholders (other than the members of the
Buying Group (as defined herein)), and (ii) approved the Merger and recommended
approval of the Merger by the Board of Directors of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company, subsequent to the
recommendation of the Special Committee, has (i) determined that the Merger is
advisable and in the best interest of the Company's stockholders (other than the
members of the Buying Group), and (ii) approved the Merger;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of Holding and Acquiror has
determined that the Merger is advisable and in the best interest of its
stockholders;
WHEREAS, Holding, Acquiror and certain stockholders of the Company
(the "Buying Group") have entered into a contribution and voting agreement, a
copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Contribution and Voting
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Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other things, those stockholders have
agreed to vote their Company Shares in favor of adopting and approving this
Agreement and the Merger; and
WHEREAS, by resolutions duly adopted, the respective Boards of
Directors of the Company, Holding and Acquiror have approved and adopted this
Agreement and the transactions and other agreements contemplated hereby.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and promises
contained herein, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto agree as
set forth below.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1. Definitions. (a) As used herein, the following terms have the
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meanings set forth below:
"Acquiror Share" means one share of common stock of Acquiror, $0.01
par value per share.
"Acquisition Proposal" means any offer or proposal (whether or not in
writing) from any Third Party regarding any of the following: (a) a transaction
pursuant to which a Third Party acquires or would acquire beneficial ownership
of more than fifteen percent (15%) of the outstanding shares of any class of
Equity Interests of the Company, whether from the Company or pursuant to a
tender offer or exchange offer or otherwise, (b) a merger, consolidation,
business combination, reorganization, sale of substantially all assets,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the
Company, or (c) any transaction which would result in a Third Party acquiring
15% or more of the fair market value on a consolidated basis of the assets
(including, without limitation, the capital stock of Subsidiaries) of the
Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction (whether by
purchase of assets, acquisition of stock of a Subsidiary or otherwise).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person,
directly or indirectly, controlling, controlled by, or under common control
with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term "control"
(including the correlative terms "controlling", "controlled by" and "under
common control with") means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
"Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or one on
which banks are authorized by Law to close in New York, New York.
"Capital Accumulation Plan" means the Capital Accumulation Plan of the
Company as amended through the date of this Agreement.
"Code" means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Company Balance Sheet" means the Company's consolidated balance sheet
included in the Company 10-K relating to its year ended on December 31, 1999.
"Company Material Adverse Effect" means any material adverse effect on
(a) the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the
ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the
other agreements and transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that
this definition shall exclude any material adverse effect arising out of any
change or development resulting from (v) U.S. or global general economic or
political conditions, (w) conditions generally affecting the industry in which
the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, (x) changes in U.S. or global
financial markets or conditions, (y) any generally applicable change in Law or
GAAP or interpretation of any thereof and/or (z) the announcement of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the Company's performance
of its obligations under this Agreement and compliance with the covenants set
forth herein.
"Company Share" means one share of common stock of the Company, $0.01
par value per share.
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"Company SEC Documents" means (a) the annual report on Form 10-K of
the Company (the "Company 10-K"), for the years ended December 31, 1998 and
1999, (b) the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarters
ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 1999 and 2000, (c) the Company's proxy
statements relating to meetings of, or actions taken without a meeting by, the
Company Stockholders, since January 1, 1999, and (d) all other reports, filings,
registration statements and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC
since January 1, 1999; in each case including all exhibits, appendices and
attachments thereto, whether filed therewith or incorporated by reference
therein.
"Company Stockholders" or "Stockholders" means the stockholders of the
Company as of the date hereof, as of the record date for the Company Stockholder
Meeting and as of the Closing Date, as applicable.
"Deferred Compensation Plan" means the Deferred Compensation Plan of
the Company, as amended and restated as of November 1, 1999, and as further
amended through the date of this Agreement.
"Equity Interest" means with respect to any Person, any and all
shares, interests, participations, rights in, or other equivalents (however
designated and whether voting or non-voting) of, such Person's capital stock or
other equity interests (including, without limitation, partnership or membership
interests in a partnership or limited liability company or any other interest or
participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the
profits and losses, or distributions of assets, of the issuing Person) whether
outstanding on the date hereof or issued after the date hereof.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Governmental Entity" means any federal, state or local governmental
authority, any transgovernmental authority or any court, administrative or
regulatory agency or commission or other governmental authority or agency,
domestic or foreign.
"Holding Material Adverse Effect" means any change or effect that
would prevent or materially impair the ability of Holding or Acquiror to
consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
"Joint Venture" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or
other entity (including a division or line of business of such corporation or
other entity) (a) of which such Person and/or any of its Subsidiaries
beneficially owns a portion of the Equity Interests that is insufficient to make
such corporation or other entity a Subsidiary of such Person, and (b) that is
engaged in the same business as such Person or its Subsidiaries or in a related
or complementary business. "Company Joint Venture" means a Joint Venture of the
Company.
"Knowledge" means, with respect to the matter in question, if any of
the executive officers of the Company listed in Section 1.1 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule has actual knowledge of the matter.
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"Law" means any federal, state, local or foreign law, rule,
regulation, judgment, code, ruling, statute, order, decree, injunction or
ordinance or other legal requirement.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of an asset;
provided, however, that the term "Lien" shall not include (a) liens for
utilities and current Taxes not yet due and payable, (b) mechanics', carriers',
workers', repairers', materialmen's, warehousemen's and other similar liens
arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business or (c) liens for Taxes
being contested in good faith.
"Material Joint Venture" means a Company Joint Venture in which the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries, collectively, have invested, or committed
to invest, at least $3.0 million.
"Material Subsidiary" means a Company Subsidiary with more than $25.0
million in consolidated revenue during the Company's fiscal year ended December
31, 2000.
"Non-U.S. Competition Laws" means all (a) non-U.S. Laws intended to
prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of
monopolization or restraint of trade, (b) antitrust Laws by antitrust
authorities outside of the United States and (c) takeover Laws of jurisdictions
outside of the United States.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust or any other entity or organization, including
any Governmental Entity.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto.
"Proxy Statement" means the proxy statement relating to the Company
Stockholder Meeting, together with any amendments or supplements thereto.
"RCBA" means RCBA Strategic Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership and the sole stockholder of Holding as of the date hereof.
"Registration Statement" means the Registration Statement on Form S-1
or comparable form, together with any supplements thereto, registering shares of
common stock of Holding for issuance to employees of the Company under the
Securities Act.
"Schedule 13E-3" means the Statement on Schedule 13E-3 to be filed by
the Company and Holding concurrently with the filing of the Proxy Statement
pursuant to the Exchange Act, together with any amendments or supplements
thereto.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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"Special Committee" means the Special Committee of the Board of
Directors appointed by resolution of the Company's Board of Directors adopted on
November 10, 2000.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or
other entity (including joint ventures) of which securities or other ownership
interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of
directors or other Persons performing similar functions are directly or
indirectly owned, by such Person. "Company Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of
the Company.
"Superior Proposal" means any of the transactions described in the
definition of Acquisition Proposal (with all of the percentages included in the
definition of Acquisition Proposal increased to 51% for purposes of this
definition) that is on terms which a majority of the disinterested members of
the Company's Board of Directors or the Special Committee determines in good
faith, after considering the advice of outside legal counsel and financial
advisors (a) represents a financially superior transaction for the Company's
Stockholders (other than Holding, Acquiror and the members of the Buying Group
and each of their respective Affiliates) to the transactions contemplated
hereby; (b) would result in a transaction, if consummated, that would be more
favorable to the Company's Stockholders (other than Holding, Acquiror and the
members of the Buying Group and each of their respective Affiliates) (taking
into account all facts and circumstances, including all legal, financial,
regulatory and other aspects of the proposal and the identity of the offeror)
than the transactions contemplated hereby; and (c) is reasonably capable of
being consummated (including, without limitation, the availability of committed
financing).
"Taxes" means all United States federal, state, local or foreign
income, profits, estimated gross receipts, windfall profits, environmental
(including taxes under Section 59A of the Code), severance, property, intangible
property, occupation, production, sales, use, license, excise, emergency excise,
franchise, capital gains, capital stock, employment, withholding, social
security (or similar), disability, transfer, registration, stamp, payroll, goods
and services, value added, alternative or add-on minimum tax, estimated, or any
other tax, custom, duty or governmental fee, or other like assessment or charge
of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, penalties, fines, related
liabilities or additions to tax that may become payable in respect therefore
imposed by any Governmental Entity, whether disputed or not.
"Third Party" means a Person (or group of Persons) other than Holding,
Acquiror or any of their Affiliates (excluding the Company and its controlled
Affiliates).
(b) Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth
opposite such term:
Terms Section
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Acquiror Preamble
Agreement Preamble
Buying Group Preamble
Certificate of Merger 2.1(b)
Certificates 3.4(a)
Claim 7.1(b)
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Closing 2.1(d)
Closing Date 2.1(d)
Commitment Letters 5.5(a)
Company Preamble
Company Employee Plans 4.12(a)
Company Intellectual Property 4.15
Company Option 3.5(a)
Company Preferred Stock 4.5(a)
Company Recommendation 6.2
Company Returns 4.11
Company Securities 4.5(b)
Company Stockholder Approval 4.19(a)
Company Stockholder Meeting 6.2
Confidentiality Agreement 8.4(a)
Contribution and Voting Agreement Preamble
CSFB 5.5(a)
Debt Offer 8.10(a)
DGCL 2.1(a)
DLJ 5.5(a)
Dissenting Shares 3.8(a)
Effective Time 2.1(b)
End Date 10.1(b)(i)
ERISA 4.12(a)
ERISA Affiliate 4.12(a)
Exchange Agent 3.4(a)
Exchange Fund 3.4(a)
Financing 5.5(a)
Financing Agreements 7.7(a)
Foreign Plan 4.12(i)
GAAP 4.8(a)
Holding Preamble
Holding Shares 3.7(a)
HSR Act 4.3
Indemnified Parties 7.1(b)
Indenture 8.10(a)
Letter of Transmittal 8.10(c)
Loan Shares 4.5(a)
Material Contracts 4.18
Merger 2.1(a)
Merger Consideration 3.3
Multiemployer Plan 4.12(b)
Notes 8.10(a)
Offer Documents 8.10(c)
Offer to Purchase 8.10(c)
Permits 4.13(b)
Permitted Actions 6.3(a)
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Phantom Shares 4.5(a)
Plan Proceeds 3.7(a)
Retirement Plan 4.12(b)
Secretary of State 2.1(b)
Share Limit 3.7(a)
Stock Fund Participant 3.7(a)
Surviving Corporation 2.1(a)
Termination Fee 10.2(b)
Transfer Taxes 7.5
Unvested CBC Stock Fund Units 3.6(b)
Vested CBC Stock Fund Units 3.6(a)
ARTICLE 2
THE MERGER
2.1. The Merger.
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(a) At the Effective Time, Acquiror shall be merged with and into the
Company (the "Merger") in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), at which time
the separate corporate existence of Acquiror shall cease and the Company shall
continue its existence. In its capacity as the corporation surviving the Merger,
this Agreement sometimes refers to the Company as the "Surviving Corporation".
(b) As soon as practicable on or after the Closing Date, the Company and
Acquiror will file a certificate of merger or other appropriate documents (the
"Certificate of Merger") with the Delaware Secretary of State (the "Secretary of
State") and make all other filings or recordings required by the DGCL in
connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at the time when
the Certificate of Merger is duly filed with and accepted by the Secretary of
State, or at such later time as is agreed upon by the parties and specified in
the Certificate of Merger (such time as the Merger becomes effective is referred
to herein as the "Effective Time").
(c) From and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects
set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL.
(d) The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall be held at the offices
of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
(or such other place as agreed by the parties) on the later of (a) the date of
the Company Stockholder Meeting, or (b) the day on which all of the conditions
set forth in Article 9 are satisfied or waived, unless the parties hereto agree
to another date. The date upon which the Closing occurs is hereinafter referred
to as the "Closing Date".
2.2. Organizational Documents. The Certificate of Merger shall provide
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that at the Effective Time (a) the Company's certificate of incorporation in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Surviving
Corporation's certificate of incorporation and (b) the
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Company's by-laws in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
Surviving Corporation's by-laws, in each case until amended in accordance with
applicable Law.
2.3. Directors and Officers. From and after the Effective Time (until
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successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified), (a) Acquiror's
directors at the Effective Time shall be the Surviving Corporation's directors
and (b) the Company's officers immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
the Surviving Corporation's officers.
ARTICLE 3
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES AND RELATED MATTERS
3.1. Capital Stock of Acquiror. As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the
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Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any Company Share or
Acquiror Share each Acquiror Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be converted into one share of common stock, $0.01 par
value per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
3.2. Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Acquiror Owned Shares. As of the
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Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
the holder of any Company Share or Acquiror Share, each Company Share held by
the Company as treasury stock or owned by Holding, Acquiror or any Company
Subsidiary immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and
retired, and no payment shall be made or consideration delivered in respect
thereof.
3.3. Conversion of Company Shares. As of the Effective Time, by virtue of
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the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any Company Share
or Acquiror Share, each Company Share issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time (other than (a) shares to be cancelled in accordance with
Section 3.2 and (b) Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into the right to
receive in cash from Acquiror, without interest, an amount equal to $16.00 (the
"Merger Consideration").
3.4. Exchange of Certificates.
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(a) Exchange Agent. Promptly after the date hereof, Acquiror shall appoint
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a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company as an agent (the
"Exchange Agent") for the benefit of holders of Company Shares for the purpose
of exchanging, pursuant to this Article 3, certificates representing the Company
Shares (the "Certificates"). Acquiror will make available to the Exchange Agent,
as needed, the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of Company Shares
pursuant to this Article 3 (the "Exchange Fund"), and except as contemplated by
Section 3.4(f) or Section 3.4(g) hereof, the Exchange Fund shall not be used for
any other purpose. The Exchange Agent shall invest the Merger Consideration as
directed by the Acquiror or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, on a
daily basis. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall
be paid to the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Exchange Procedures. As promptly as practicable after the Effective
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Time, the Surviving Corporation shall send, or shall cause the Exchange Agent to
send, to each record
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holder of Certificates a letter of transmittal and instructions (which shall be
in customary form and specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss
and title shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange
Agent), for use in the exchange contemplated by this Section 3.4. Upon surrender
of a Certificate to the Exchange Agent, together with a duly executed letter of
transmittal, the holder shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the
Merger Consideration as provided in this Article 3 in respect of the Company
Shares represented by the Certificate (after giving effect to any required
withholding Tax). Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.4, each
Certificate shall be deemed after the Effective Time to represent only the right
to receive the Merger Consideration.
(c) No Further Rights in Company Shares. All cash paid upon surrender of
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Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been
issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to Company Shares
represented thereby. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of
Certificates shall cease to have any rights with respect to Company Shares,
except as otherwise provided herein or by Law. As of the Effective Time, the
stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no
further registration of transfers on the Company's stock transfer books of any
Company Shares, other than transfers that occurred before the Effective Time.
If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving
Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in
this Section 3.4.
(d) Alternate Endorsement. If payment of the Merger Consideration in
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respect of Company Shares is to be made to a Person other than the Person in
whose name a surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition to
such payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or
shall be otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting
such payment shall have paid any transfer and other Taxes required by reason of
such payment in a name other than that of the registered holder of the
Certificate surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of the
Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent that such Tax either has been paid
or is not payable.
(e) Return of Merger Consideration. Upon demand by the Surviving
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Corporation, the Exchange Agent shall deliver to the Surviving Corporation any
portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent
pursuant to this Section 3.4 that remains undistributed to holders of Company
Shares six (6) months after the Effective Time. Holders of Certificates who have
not complied with this Section 3.4 prior to the demand by the Surviving
Corporation shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for payment
of any claim to the Merger Consideration.
(f) No Liability. None of Holding, the Surviving Corporation or the
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Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any Company Shares
(or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) for any amounts paid to a
public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or
similar Law.
(g) Withholding Rights. Each of the Surviving Corporation and Acquiror
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shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Merger Consideration otherwise
payable hereunder to any Person any amounts which it is required to deduct and
withhold with respect to payment under any provision of federal, state or local
income tax Law. To the extent that the Surviving Corporation or Acquiror
withholds those amounts, the withheld amounts shall be treated for all
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purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of Company Shares
in respect of which deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving
Corporation or Acquiror, as the case may be.
(h) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate has been or is claimed to have
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been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by
the Person claiming that a Certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed and,
if required by the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond,
in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct, as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against it with respect to that Certificate,
the Exchange Agent will deliver in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate, the proper amount of the Merger Consideration.
3.5. Company Stock Options.
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(a) At the Effective Time, each option to purchase Company Shares (each, a
"Company Option") outstanding under any stock option or compensation plan or
arrangement of the Company, whether or not vested, shall be canceled and in
consideration of such cancellation, the Surviving Corporation shall pay to each
holder of a canceled Company Option, as soon as practicable following the
Effective Time, an amount per Company Share subject to such canceled Company
Option equal to the greater of (i) the excess, if any, of (A) the Merger
Consideration over (B) the exercise price per Company Share subject to such
canceled Company Option and (ii) $1.00.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company, Holding and Acquiror shall
take all commercially reasonable actions to (i) obtain all necessary consents
from the holders of Company Options and (ii) take such other actions (including,
without limitation, amending the terms of any Company stock option or
compensation plan or arrangement), necessary to give effect to the transactions
contemplated by Section 3.5(a).
3.6. Deferred Compensation Plan.
--------------------------
(a) Each participant in the Deferred Compensation Plan who has CBC Stock
Fund Units (as defined in the Deferred Compensation Plan) that are vested as of
the Effective Time ("Vested CBC Stock Fund Units") and are credited to his or
her account as of the Effective Time may elect, prior to the Effective Time, to
(i) convert the value of the Vested CBC Stock Fund Units (based upon the Merger
Consideration) into any of the insurance mutual fund alternatives provided under
the Deferred Compensation Plan, (ii) receive a cash payment on the first
anniversary of the Effective Time equal to the sum of (A) the value of the
Vested CBC Stock Fund Units (based upon the Merger Consideration) and (B)
interest of 10% per annum from the period beginning the day after the Effective
Time and ending on the day immediately prior to the first anniversary of the
Effective Time; provided, however, that if the participant's employment is
terminated for cause or the participant resigns prior to the first anniversary
of the Effective Time, the participant shall forfeit such interest, or (iii)
continue to hold the Vested CBC Stock Fund Units in his or her account under the
Deferred Compensation Plan; provided, however, that each such CBC Stock Fund
Unit shall thereafter represent the right to receive a share of common stock of
Holding.
-10-
(b) Each participant in the Deferred Compensation Plan who has CBC Stock
Fund Units that are not vested as of the Effective Time ("Unvested CBC Stock
Fund Units") and are credited to his or her account prior to the Effective Time
will continue to hold the Unvested CBC Stock Fund Units in his or her account
under the Deferred Compensation Plan subject to the same vesting provisions;
provided, however, that each such CBC Stock Fund Unit shall thereafter represent
the right to receive a share of common stock of Holding.
(c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company, Holding and Acquiror shall
take all commercially reasonable actions (including, without limitation,
amending the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan) necessary to give effect
to the transactions contemplated by Section 3.6(a).
3.7. Capital Accumulation Plan.
-------------------------
(a) In accordance with Section 3.3, at the Effective Time, each
participant in the Company's Capital Accumulation Plan with an account balance
invested in the Company Stock Fund (as defined in the Company's Capital
Accumulation Plan) (a "Stock Fund Participant") shall receive, in consideration
for such participant's Company Shares in the Company Stock Fund, the product of
(i) the number of Company Shares held in the Company Stock Fund at such time
multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration (the "Plan Proceeds"). As of the
Effective Time, provided that the Registration Statement shall have been
declared effective by the SEC prior thereto, each Stock Fund Participant may
invest, pursuant to the terms of the Capital Accumulation Plan, the Plan
Proceeds in shares of the common stock of Holding (the "Holding Shares"), based
on a per share price equal to the Merger Consideration; provided, however, that
the aggregate number of Holding Shares that all Stock Fund Participants will be
entitled to purchase shall not exceed the quotient of (i) fifty percent of the
sum of the Plan Proceeds of all Stock Fund Participants divided by (ii) the
Merger Consideration (the "Share Limit"); provided, further, that Holding may
increase the Share Limit in its sole discretion. In the event that the Stock
Fund Participants request to purchase an aggregate number of Holding Shares in
excess of the Share Limit, the amount subscribed to by each Stock Fund
Participant shall be reduced pro rata based on the number of shares of Holding
each Stock Fund Participant initially requested to purchase.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company and Holding shall take all
commercially reasonable actions (including, without limitation, amending the
terms of the Capital Accumulation Plan) necessary to give effect to the
transactions contemplated by Section 3.7(a).
3.8. Dissenting Shares.
-----------------
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
Company Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and
which are held by Persons who shall have properly demanded in writing appraisal
for such shares in accordance with Section 262 (or any successor provision) of
the DGCL (the "Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into or represent the
right to receive the Merger Consideration as provided hereunder and shall only
be entitled to such rights and consideration as are granted by Section 262 (or
any successor provision) of the DGCL. Such Persons shall be entitled to receive
payment of the appraised
-11-
value of such Company Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 262
(or any successor provision) of the DGCL, except that all Dissenting Shares held
by Persons who shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall have
withdrawn or lost their right to appraisal of such shares under Section 262 (or
any successor provision) of the DGCL shall thereupon be deemed to have been
converted into the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.3 hereto as of the
Effective Time or the occurrence of such event, whichever occurs later.
(b) The Company shall give Acquiror (i) prompt notice of any demands for
appraisal received by the Company, withdrawals of such demands and any other
instruments served pursuant to the DGCL and received by the Company and (ii) the
opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to
demands for appraisal or the payment of the fair cash value of any such shares
under the DGCL. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of
Acquiror, make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal or the
payment of the fair cash value of any such shares or offer to settle or settle
any such demands.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as disclosed in (i) the Company Disclosure Schedule attached hereto
or (ii) the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof or except as
specifically contemplated by this Agreement, the Company represents and warrants
to Acquiror as set forth below.
4.1. Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is a corporation, duly
-----------------------------
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State
of Delaware, and has all corporate powers and authority required to own, lease
and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted. The
Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned, leased
or operated by it or the nature of its activities makes qualification necessary,
except where the failure to be qualified would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.2. Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by
-----------------------
the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated hereby are within the Company's
corporate powers and, except for the Company Stockholder Approval, have been
duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (other than the
Company Stockholder Approval and the filing and recordation of the appropriate
documents with respect to the Merger in accordance with the DGCL). The Board of
Directors of the Company has approved this Agreement and has resolved to
recommend that its stockholders vote their shares in favor of the adoption of
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company, and assuming that
this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Holding and
Acquiror, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
-12-
4.3. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance
--------------------------
by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby will not require any consent, approval, action,
order, authorization, or permit of, or registration or filing with, any
Governmental Entity, other than (a) the filing of (i) the Certificate of Merger
in accordance with the DGCL and (ii) the appropriate documents with respect to
the Company's qualification to do business with the relevant authorities of
other states or jurisdictions in which the Company is qualified to do business;
(b) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx
Antitrust Improvements Act of 0000 (xxx "XXX Xxx") and any Non-U.S. Competition
Laws; (c) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act; (d) such as may be required under any applicable state
securities or blue sky Laws; and (e) other consents, approvals, actions, orders,
authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings and permits which, if not
obtained or made, would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The consummation of the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated hereby will not result in the lapse of
any Permit of the Company or its Subsidiaries or the breach of any authorization
or right to use any Permit of the Company or its Subsidiaries or other right
that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has from a Third Party, except where
such lapses or breaches would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.4. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the
-----------------
Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) contravene or
conflict with the Company's certificate of incorporation or by-laws, (b)
assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.3, contravene or
conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law binding upon
or applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries or by which any of their
respective properties is bound or affected, (c) constitute a default under (or
an event that with notice or lapse of time or both could reasonably be expected
to become a default) or give rise (with or without notice or lapse of time or
both) to a right of termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration under
any agreement, contract, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, franchise,
Permit or other similar authorization or joint venture, limited liability or
partnership agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any
Company Subsidiary, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on
any asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, other than, in the case of
clauses (b), (c) and (d), any items that would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.5. Capitalization.
--------------
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000,000
Company Shares and 8,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per
share ("Company Preferred Stock"). As of February 19, 2001, (i) 21,678,125
Company Shares were issued and outstanding (1,380,094 Company Shares were held
in treasury), all of which have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable and were issued free of preemptive or similar
rights, including (x) 804,911 shares issued pursuant to the Company's 1999
Equity Incentive Plan and 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Loan Shares") and (y)
1,781,837 shares held by the Company's Capital Accumulation Plan, (ii) no
Company Shares were held by Subsidiaries of the Company, (iii) 2,679,893 Company
Shares were issuable upon the exercise of Company Options
-13-
then outstanding, (iv) 1,841,233 Company Shares were issuable as a result of
elections made under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Phantom
Shares"), of which 996,338 were vested, (v) 598,147 Company Shares were issuable
upon the exercise of Company Warrants then outstanding and (vi) no shares of
Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Since September 30, 2000,
the Company has not declared or paid any dividend or distribution in respect of
any of its Equity Interests and has not repurchased or redeemed any shares of
its Equity Interests, and its Board of Directors has not resolved to do any of
the foregoing.
(b) As of the date hereof, except (i) as set forth in this Section 4.5
and (ii) for changes since February 19, 2001, resulting from the exercise of
stock options outstanding on that date, the Company has not issued, or reserved
for issuance, any (x) Equity Interests of the Company, (y) securities of the
Company convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Company or
(z) options, warrants or other rights to acquire from the Company, or
obligations of the Company to issue, any Equity Interests of the Company or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Company
(the items in clauses (x), (y) and (z) being referred to collectively as the
"Company Securities"). There are no outstanding agreements or other obligations
of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any Company Securities.
(c) Section 4.5(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete and accurate list of all outstanding Company Options, Company Warrants
and Loan Shares as of February 19, 2001, which list sets forth the name of the
holders thereof and, to the extent applicable, the exercise price or purchase
price thereof, the number of Company Shares subject thereto, the governing
Company Employee Plan with respect thereto and the expiration date thereof.
4.6. Subsidiaries.
------------
(a) Each Subsidiary of the Company (i) is a corporation duly incorporated
or an entity duly organized, and is validly existing and in good standing under
the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, and has all
powers and authority required to own, lease or operate its properties and to
carry on its business as now conducted, and (ii) has all governmental licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now
conducted and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or
entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the
property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its activities makes
such qualification necessary, in each case with exceptions which would not be
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Material Subsidiary
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable and free of preemptive or similar rights. All of the Equity
Interests in each of its Material Subsidiaries are beneficially owned, directly
or indirectly, by the Company. Such Equity Interests are owned free and clear of
any Lien and free of any other limitation or restriction (including any
limitation or restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of the
stock or other ownership interests) and were issued in compliance with Federal
and state securities laws, in each case with exceptions which
-14-
would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect. There are no outstanding (i) securities of the
Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for Equity Interests in any of its Material Subsidiaries, (ii)
options, warrants or other rights to acquire from the Company or any of its
Material Subsidiaries, or obligations of the Company or any of its Material
Subsidiaries to issue, any Equity Interests in, or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for any Equity Interests in, any of its
Material Subsidiaries or (iii) agreements, obligations or arrangements of the
Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any of its Material Subsidiaries.
(c) Neither the Company, any of its Material Subsidiaries nor, to the
Knowledge of the Company, any Material Joint Venture is in violation of any
provision of its articles or certificate of incorporation or bylaws or
equivalent organizational documents, in each case with exceptions which would
not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
4.7. Company SEC Documents.
---------------------
(a) The Company has made available to Acquiror the Company SEC Documents.
The Company has filed all reports, filings, registration statements and other
documents required to be filed by it with the SEC since January 1, 1999. No
Company Subsidiary is required to file any form, report, registration statement
or prospectus or other document with the SEC.
(b) As of its filing date, each Company SEC Document complied as to form
in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act
and/or the Exchange Act, as the case may be.
(c) No Company SEC Document filed since January 1, 1999 pursuant to the
Exchange Act contained, as of its filing date, any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. No Company SEC Document, as amended or supplemented,
if applicable, filed since January 1, 1999 pursuant to the Securities Act
contained, as of the date on which the document or amendment became effective,
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
4.8. Financial Statements; No Material Undisclosed Liabilities.
---------------------------------------------------------
(a) Each of the audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited
consolidated interim financial statements of the Company included in the Company
SEC Documents were prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis ("GAAP") (except as may be indicated in
the notes thereto) throughout the periods involved, and each fairly presents, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and
its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their consolidated
results of operations and changes in financial position for the periods then
ended (subject to normal year-end adjustments in the case of any unaudited
interim financial statements).
-15-
(b) There are no liabilities or obligations of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, which, individually or in the aggregate, would be material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, of any kind whatsoever, whether
accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise and, in
each case, that are required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated balance
sheet of the Company, other than:
(i) liabilities or obligations disclosed or provided for (A) in
the Company Balance Sheet or disclosed in the notes thereto or (B) in the
Company's consolidated balance sheet or disclosed in the notes thereto
included in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 2000;
(ii) liabilities or obligations incurred after September 30,
2000 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and
(iii) liabilities or obligations under this Agreement or incurred
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.9. Absence of Certain Changes. Since September 30, 2000, except as
--------------------------
otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course consistent
with past practice and there has not been (a) any damage, destruction or other
casualty loss (whether or not covered by insurance) affecting the business or
assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has had or would be
reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (b) any amendment
or change in the Company's certificate of incorporation or by-laws; (c) any
material change by the Company in its accounting methods, principles or
practices (other than changes required by GAAP after the date of this
Agreement); (d) other than in the ordinary course of business, any sale of a
material amount of assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (e) any material
Tax election, any material change in method of accounting with respect to Taxes
or any compromise or settlement of any proceeding with respect to any material
Tax liability or (f) any action, event, occurrence, development or state of
circumstances or facts that has had or would be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.10. Litigation. There is no action, suit, claim, investigation,
----------
arbitration or proceeding pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company
threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective assets or properties before any arbitrator or Governmental Entity
that would be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect (it being understood that the mere filing of
litigation, or mere existence of litigation, by or on behalf of Company
Stockholders or any other Person, that challenges or otherwise seeks damages
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby shall not in and of itself
be deemed to have such effect). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
nor any of their respective properties is or are subject to any order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award having, or which would be
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
4.11. Taxes. Except for matters which would not have or would not be
-----
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
Adverse Effect, (a) all material Tax returns, statements, reports and forms
(collectively, the "Company Returns") required to be
-16-
filed with any taxing authority by, or with respect to, the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries have been filed in accordance with all applicable Laws; (b)
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have timely paid all Taxes due and
payable whether or not shown as being due on any Company Return (other than
Taxes which are being contested in good faith and for which reserves are
reflected on the Company Balance Sheet), and, as of the time of filing, the
Company Returns correctly reflected the facts regarding the income, business,
assets, operations, activities and status of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries; (c) the charges, accruals and reserves for Taxes with respect to
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries reflected on the Company Balance Sheet
are adequate under GAAP to cover the Tax liabilities accruing through the date
thereof; (d) there is no action, suit, proceeding, audit or claim now proposed
or pending against the Company or any Company Subsidiary in respect of any
Taxes; (e) neither the Company nor the Company Subsidiaries are party to, bound
by or have any obligation under, any tax sharing agreement or similar contract
or arrangement or any agreement that obligates them to make any payment computed
by reference to the Taxes, taxable income or taxable losses of any other Person;
(f) there are no Liens with respect to Taxes on any of the assets or properties
of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries other than with respect to Taxes not
due and payable; (g) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries (i)
is, or has been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary
group, other than one of which the Company was the common parent and (ii) has
any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign Law), or as a transferee or successor, by
contract or otherwise; (h) no consent under Section 341(f) of the Code has been
filed with respect to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries; (i)
neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has ever entered into a
closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code; and (j) neither the
Company nor the Company Subsidiaries has agreed to make or is required to make
any adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a change in
accounting method or otherwise.
4.12. Employee Benefits.
-----------------
(a) Except as set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule and except for
any Foreign Plans, neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate (as defined
below) maintains, administers or contributes to any material "employee benefit
plan", as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974 ("ERISA"), or any material employment, severance or similar contract,
plan, arrangement or policy or any other material plan or arrangement (written
or oral) providing for compensation, bonuses, profit-sharing, stock option or
other stock related rights or other forms of incentive or deferred compensation,
vacation benefits, insurance coverage (including any self-insured arrangements),
health or medical benefits, disability benefits, workers' compensation,
supplemental unemployment benefits, severance benefits and post-employment or
retirement benefits (including compensation, pension, health, medical or life
insurance benefits) which covers any employee or former employee or director of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary. The Company has delivered or made
available (i) current, accurate and complete copies (or to the extent no such
copy exists, an accurate description) of each Company Employee Plan (as defined
below and, if applicable, related trust agreements), (ii) all amendments thereto
and written interpretations and (iii) for the two most recent years (A) the Form
5500 and attached schedules, (B) audited financial statements and (C) actuarial
valuation reports. The material plans (other than the Foreign Plans)
-17-
listed on Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule are referred to
collectively herein as the "Company Employee Plans." An "ERISA Affiliate" of any
Person means any other Person which, together with such Person, would be treated
as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
(b) Except as would not have or would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) with
respect to each Company Employee Plan (other than a plan that constitutes a
"multiemployer plan", as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA (a "Multiemployer
Plan")), subject to Title IV of ERISA (a "Retirement Plan"), no "accumulated
funding deficiency", as defined in Section 412 of the Code (whether or not
waived and no "reportable event", as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has been
incurred with respect to any Company Employee Plan which is a Retirement Plan,
whether or not waived, (ii) no condition exists and no event has occurred that
would constitute grounds for termination of any Company Employee Plan which is a
Retirement Plan or, with respect to any Company Employee Plan which is a
Multiemployer Plan, presents a risk of a complete or partial withdrawal under
Title IV of ERISA, (iii) neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has
incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA arising in connection with the
termination of, or complete or partial withdrawal from, any plan covered or
previously covered by Title IV of ERISA and neither the Company nor any ERISA
Affiliate would be subject to any withdrawal liability if, as of the Effective
Time, the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate were to
engage in a complete withdrawal (as defined in ERISA section 4203) or partial
withdrawal (as defined in ERISA section 4205) from any such Multiemployer Plan,
(iv) nothing has been done or omitted to be done and no transaction or holding
of any asset under or in connection with any Company Employee Plan has occurred
that will make the Company or any Subsidiary, or any officer or director of the
Company or any Subsidiary, subject to any liability under Title I of ERISA or
liable for any Tax pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code (assuming the taxable
period of any such transaction expired as of the date hereof) and (v) neither
the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in, or is a successor or parent
corporation to an entity that has engaged in, a transaction described in Section
4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
(c) Each Company Employee Plan which is intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and has been so qualified during the
period from its adoption to date, and each trust forming a part thereof is
exempt from Tax pursuant to Section 501(a) of the Code, except as would not have
or would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has furnished to Acquiror copies of
the most recent Internal Revenue Service determination letters with respect to
each Company Employee Plan. Each Company Employee Plan has been maintained in
compliance with its terms and with the requirements prescribed by any and all
statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including ERISA and the Code, which are
applicable to such Company Employee Plan, except as would not have or would not
be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Except as would not have or would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) no
Company Employee Plan exists that could result in the payment to any present or
former employee of the Company Subsidiaries of any money or other property or
accelerate or provide any other rights or benefits to any present or former
employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries as a result of the
transaction
-18-
contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) there is no contract, agreement, plan or
arrangement covering any employee or former employee of the Company that,
individually or collectively, would be reasonably likely to give rise to the
payment of any amount that would not be deductible pursuant to the terms of
Sections 162(m) or 280G of the Code.
(e) Except as would not have or would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, there has
been no amendment to, written interpretation or announcement (whether or not
written) relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any
Company Employee Plan which would increase the expense of maintaining such
Company Employee Plan above the level of the expense incurred in respect thereof
for the year ended December 31, 1999.
(f) Except as would not have or would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, neither the
Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any obligations to provide retiree health
and life insurance or other retiree death benefits under any Company Employee
Plan, other than benefits mandated by Section 4980B of the Code or under
applicable Law, and each such Company Employee Plan may be amended or terminated
without incurring any material liability thereunder.
(g) Except as would not have or would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) no
Company Employee Plan is under audit or is the subject of an audit or
investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other Governmental Entity, nor, to
the Knowledge of the Company, is any such audit or investigation threatened or
pending and (ii) with respect to any Company Employee Plan, (A) no actions,
suits or claims (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course)
are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened and (B) no facts or
circumstances exist that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any such
actions, suits or claims.
(h) Except as would not have or would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, with
respect to each Retirement Plan, as of the Effective Time, the assets of each
such Retirement Plan are at least equal in value to the present value of the
accrued benefits (vested and unvested) of the participants in such Retirement
Plan on a termination and projected benefit obligation basis, based on the
actuarial methods and assumptions indicated in the most recent actuarial
valuation reports.
(i) Except as would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) all contributions required
to be made by the Company or any Material Subsidiary with respect to a Foreign
Plan have been timely made, (ii) each Foreign Plan has been maintained in
substantial compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all
applicable Laws and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with
the applicable Governmental Entity and (iii) neither the Company nor any
Material Subsidiary has incurred any obligation in connection with the
termination or withdrawal from any Foreign Plan. For purposes hereof, the term
"Foreign Plan" shall mean any plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement
maintained or contributed to by, or entered into with, the Company or any
Material Subsidiary with respect to employees (or former employees) employed
outside the United States.
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4.13. Compliance with Laws; Licenses, Permits and Registrations.
---------------------------------------------------------
(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of,
or has violated, any applicable provisions of any Laws, except for violations
which would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has all permits, licenses,
easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals,
authorizations of and registrations (collectively, "Permits") with and under all
federal, state, local and foreign Laws, and from all Governmental Entities
required by the Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries to carry on their
respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to have
the Permits would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.14. Title to Properties.
-------------------
(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have good title to, or valid
leasehold interests in, all their properties and assets, except for (i) those
which are no longer used or useful in the conduct of their businesses and (ii)
defects in title, easements, restrictive covenants and similar Liens,
encumbrances or impediments that, in the aggregate, would not be reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect. All of these assets and properties, other than assets and properties in
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has leasehold interests, are free
and clear of all Liens, except for Liens that would not be reasonably likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and each of
its Material Subsidiaries are in substantial compliance with the terms of all
leases of their properties or assets to which they are a party, and all such
leases are in full force and effect and (ii) the Company and each of its
Material Subsidiaries enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such
leases.
4.15. Intellectual Property. Except as would not be reasonably likely to
---------------------
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries own or have a valid license or other right
to use each trademark, service xxxx, trade name, domain name, mask work,
invention, patent, trade secret, copyright, know-how (including any
registrations or applications for registration of any of the foregoing) or any
other similar type of proprietary intellectual property right (collectively, the
"Company Intellectual Property") necessary to carry on the business of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as currently conducted. To the
Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received any written notice of infringement of or challenge to, and there are no
claims pending with respect to the rights of others to the use of, any Company
Intellectual Property that, in any such case would be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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4.16. Finders' Fees; Opinions of Financial Advisor.
--------------------------------------------
(a) Except for Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, whose fees and expenses
will be borne by the Company, there is no investment banker, financial advisor,
broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by, or is
authorized to act on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which
might be entitled to any fee or commission from the Company, Holding, Acquiror
or any of their respective Affiliates upon consummation of the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has heretofore
furnished to the Acquiror complete and correct copies of all agreements between
the Company or its Subsidiaries and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated pursuant
to which such firm would be entitled to any payment relating to the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The Special Committee has received the opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated, dated as of the date hereof, to the effect that, as of such date,
and subject to the qualifications stated therein, the Merger Consideration is
fair to the holders of Company Shares (other than Acquiror and the members of
the Buying Group and each of their respective Affiliates) from a financial point
of view.
4.17. Labor Matters. There are no strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages,
-------------
lockouts or other material labor controversies pending or, to the Knowledge of
the Company, threatened by or between the Company or any of its Material
Subsidiaries and any of their respective employees that would be reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound
by, any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other agreement or
understanding with a labor union or labor organization. The Company and each of
its Material Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Laws, agreements,
contracts, and policies relating to employment, employment practices, wages,
hours, and terms and conditions of employment except for failures so to comply,
if any, that would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.18. Material Contract Defaults. To the Knowledge of the Company,
--------------------------
neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is, or has received any
notice that any other party is, in default or unable to perform in any respect
under any material contracts, agreements, commitments, arrangements, leases,
licenses, policies or other instruments to which it or any of its Material
Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its Material Subsidiaries is
bound ("Material Contracts"), except for those defaults which would not be
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
Adverse Effect, and there has not occurred any event that with the lapse of time
or the giving of notice or both would constitute such a default, except for
those defaults which would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received
written notice of the termination of, or intent to terminate any Material
Contract, except for such notices or terminations which would not be reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
4.19. Required Vote; Board Approval.
-----------------------------
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(a) Under the DGCL (including, without limitation, Section 203 thereof),
the Company's certificate of incorporation and by-laws and any other applicable
Law or stock exchange rules, the only votes required of the holders of any class
or series of the Company's Equity Interests necessary to adopt this Agreement
and to approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby are the
following: (i) the approval, assuming a quorum is present, of a majority of the
Company Shares voting in person or by proxy at such meeting, and (ii) the
approval, and not the written consent, of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding
Company Shares which are not owned by any "interested stockholder" (as defined
in Section 203 of the DGCL) (collectively, "Company Stockholder Approval").
(b) The Special Committee and the Company's Board of Directors has (i)
determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger, are in the best interests of the Company and its
Stockholders (other than Holding, Acquiror and the members of the Buying Group
and each of their respective Affiliates), (ii) approved this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and (iii) resolved to
recommend to the Company Stockholders that they vote in favor of adopting and
approving this Agreement and the Merger in accordance with the terms hereof.
4.20. Information to Be Supplied.
--------------------------
(a) The information supplied or to be supplied by the Company for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Registration Statement will,
at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC and at the time it
becomes effective under the Securities Act, not 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 not misleading and (ii) the
Schedule 13E-3 will, at the time it is first filed with the SEC and at any time
it is amended or supplemented, not 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 not misleading.
(b) The Proxy Statement will, at the time of the mailing thereof and at
the time of the Company Stockholder Meeting, not 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 are made, not misleading or omit to state any
material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication
with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Company Stockholder Meeting
which has become untrue or misleading.
(c) The Registration Statement and the Schedule 13E-3 (in each case with
respect to information provided by or incorporated by reference from, the
Company) and the Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects
with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation or
warranty with respect to any statements made or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement or the Schedule 13E-3 based on
information supplied by Holding or Acquiror for inclusion or incorporation by
reference therein.
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4.21. Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties. The Company
--------------------------------------------------
does not make, and has not made, any representations or warranties in connection
with the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby other than those
expressly set forth herein. It is understood that any data, any financial
information or any memoranda or other materials or presentations are not and
shall not be deemed to be or to include representations and warranties of the
Company. Except as expressly set forth herein, no Person has been authorized by
the Company to make any representation or warranty relating to the Company or
any Company Subsidiary or their respective businesses, or otherwise in
connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and, if
made, such representation or warranty may not be relied upon as having been
authorized by the Company.
ARTICLE 5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDING AND ACQUIROR
Except as disclosed in the Holding and Acquiror Disclosure Schedule
attached hereto, Holding and Acquiror, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to the Company that:
5.1. Corporate Existence and Power. Each of Holding and Acquiror is a
-----------------------------
corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the
Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all corporate powers and
authority required to own, lease and operate its properties and carry on its
business as now conducted. Each of Holding and Acquiror is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
where the character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the
nature of its activities makes qualification necessary, except where the failure
to be qualified would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Holding Material Adverse Effect. Each of Holding and Acquiror has
heretofore made available to the Company true and complete copies of its
certificate of incorporation and by-laws as currently in effect. Since the date
of its incorporation, each of Holding and Acquiror has not engaged in any
activities other than in connection with or as contemplated by this Agreement.
5.2. Corporate Authorization.
-----------------------
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by each of Holding and
Acquiror of this Agreement and the consummation by each of Holding and Acquiror
of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby are within the
corporate powers of each of Holding and Acquiror and have been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and no other corporate proceedings
on the part of Holding or Acquiror are necessary to authorize this Agreement or
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
and validly executed and delivered by each of Holding and Acquiror and assuming
that this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company,
this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each of Holding and
Acquiror, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
(b) The Board of Directors of each of Holding and Acquiror has (i)
determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger, are in the best
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interests of such company and its stockholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) resolved to recommend and
recommended to its stockholders that they vote in favor of adopting and
approving this Agreement and the Merger in accordance with the terms hereof.
Holding, in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Acquiror, has approved and
adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Merger. The stockholders of Holding have unanimously approved and adopted this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger.
5.3. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance
--------------------------
by each of Holding and Acquiror of this Agreement and the consummation by
Holding and Acquiror of the transactions contemplated hereby will not require
any consent, approval, action, order, authorization, or permit of, or regulation
or filing with, any Governmental Entity by Holding or Acquiror other than (a)
those set forth in clauses (a) through (d) of Section 4.3 and (b) other
consents, approvals, actions, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations, filings and permits which, if not obtained or made, would not
prevent or materially impair the ability of Holding or Acquiror to consummate
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.4. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by
-----------------
Holding and Acquiror of this Agreement and the consummation by Holding and
Acquiror of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby do not and
will not (a) contravene or conflict with the certificate of incorporation or by-
laws of either of Holding or Acquiror, (b) assuming compliance with the matters
referred to in Section 5.3, contravene or conflict with any provision of Law,
binding upon or applicable to either of Holding and Acquiror or by which any of
their respective properties is bound or affected, (c) constitute a default under
(or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both could reasonably become a
default) or give rise (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) to a
right of termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration under any
agreement, contract, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, franchise,
joint venture, limited liability or partnership agreement or other instrument
binding upon, either of Holding or Acquiror, or (d) result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien on any asset of either of Holding or Acquiror other than,
in the case of clauses (b), (c) and (d), any such items that would not prevent
or materially impair the ability of Holding or Acquiror to consummate the Merger
or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.5. Financing.
---------
(a) Acquiror has received and executed commitment letters dated February
23, 2001 from Credit Suisse First Boston ("CSFB") and DLJ Investment Funding,
Inc. ("DLJ") (collectively, the "Commitment Letters"), pursuant to which CSFB
and DLJ have committed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein,
to provide to the Company the amount of financing set forth in the Commitment
Letters (the "Financing"), to complete the transactions contemplated hereby and
for working capital and general corporate purposes following the Effective Time.
A true and complete copy of each of the Commitment Letters is attached hereto as
Exhibit B. The Commitment Letters have not been amended or modified. Acquiror
---------
has fully paid any and all commitment fees or other fees required by such
Commitment Letters to be paid as of the date hereof (and will duly pay any such
fees after the date hereof). The Commitment Letters are valid and in full force
and effect and no event has occurred which (with or without
-24-
notice, lapse of time or both) would constitute a default thereunder on the part
of Holding or Acquiror.
(b) The Commitment Letters have been obtained, subject to the terms and
conditions thereof, to pay in part the aggregate Merger Consideration pursuant
to the Merger, to refinance in part any indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries that will become due as a result of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, to pay all related fees and expenses, and to provide
additional financing for future working capital and general corporate needs of
the Company and its Subsidiaries. The obligations to fund the commitments under
the Commitment Letters are not subject to any conditions other than as set forth
in the Commitment Letters. It is the good faith belief of Holding and Acquiror,
as of the date hereof, that the Financing will be obtained. Each of Holding and
Acquiror will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Financing to be
completed on the terms set forth in the Commitment Letters.
(c) The Financing, together with the other funds available to Acquiror,
will provide sufficient funds to consummate the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
(d) Immediately after the consummation of the Merger, the Surviving
Corporation (i) will not be insolvent, (ii) will not be left with unreasonably
small capital, and (iii) will not have debts beyond its ability to pay such
debts as they mature.
5.6. Information to Be Supplied.
--------------------------
(a) The Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration
Statement is filed with the SEC and at the time it becomes effective under the
Securities Act, not 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 not misleading.
(b) The information supplied or to be supplied by Holding and Acquiror for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Schedule 13E-3 will, at the
time it is first filed with the SEC and at any time it is amended or
supplemented, not 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 not misleading, and (ii) the Proxy Statement will,
at the time of the mailing thereof and at the time of the Company Stockholder
Meeting, not 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 are made,
not misleading or omit to state any material fact necessary to correct any
statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of
proxies for the Company Stockholder Meeting which has become untrue or
misleading.
(c) The Proxy Statement and the Schedule 13E-3 (in each case with respect
to information relating to Holding and Acquiror) and the Registration Statement
will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
-25-
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Holding nor Acquiror makes any
representation or warranty with respect to any statements made or incorporated
by reference in the Proxy Statement, the Registration Statement or the Schedule
13E-3 based on information supplied by the Company for inclusion or
incorporation by reference therein.
5.7. No Breach. Each Person affiliated with the Buying Group listed on
---------
Section 5.7 of the Holding and Acquiror Disclosure Schedule has reviewed Article
4 of this Agreement and has no actual knowledge as of the date hereof of any
breaches of the representations or warranties contained therein such that the
condition in Section 9.3(a)(ii) would not be satisfied.
5.8. Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties. Holding and
--------------------------------------------------
Acquiror do not make, and have not made, any representations or warranties in
connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby other than
those expressly set forth herein. It is understood that any data, any financial
information or any memoranda or other materials or presentations are not and
shall not be deemed to be or to include representations and warranties of
Holding and Acquiror. Except as expressly set forth herein, no Person has been
authorized by Holding or Acquiror to make any representation or warranty
relating to Holding or Acquiror or their respective businesses, or otherwise in
connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and, if
made, such representation or warranty may not be relied upon as having been
authorized by Holding or Acquiror.
ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
The Company agrees as set forth below.
6.1. Company Interim Operations. Except as set forth in the Company
--------------------------
Disclosure Schedule or as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby, without the
prior consent of Acquiror (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), from the date hereof until the Effective Time, the Company shall, and
shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, conduct their business in all
material respects in the ordinary course consistent with past practice (with
such changes as the Company determines in good faith are necessary or advisable
with respect to (w) changes in U.S. or global economic, industry or political
conditions, (x) changes in U.S. or global financial markets or conditions, (y)
any generally applicable change in Law or interpretation of any thereof and/or
(z) the announcement of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
or the Company's performance of its obligations under this Agreement and
compliance with the covenants set forth herein), and shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to (i) preserve intact its present business organization,
(ii) maintain in effect all material Permits that are required for the Company
or such Material Subsidiary to carry on its business, (iii) keep available the
services of its present key officers and employees, and (iv) preserve existing
relationships with its material customers, lenders, suppliers and others having
material business relationships with it. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule or as
otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, from the date hereof until
the Effective Time, without the prior consent of Acquiror, the Company shall
not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:
-26-
(a) amend the Company's or any Subsidiary's certificate of incorporation
or by-laws (or equivalent organizational documents);
(b) (i) split, combine or reclassify any shares of capital stock of the
Company or amend the terms of any rights, warrants or options to acquire its
securities, (ii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution
(whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of
its Equity Interests, or (iii) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or offer
to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its securities or any rights,
warrants or options to acquire its securities, except for ordinary course
dividends by Company Subsidiaries or, with respect to clause (iii) only,
pursuant to the existing terms of any Company Employee Plan or Foreign Plan or
any agreement executed pursuant thereto;
(c) issue, deliver, sell, or authorize the issuance, delivery or sale of,
its Equity Interests or any securities convertible into or exercisable for, or
any rights, warrants or options to acquire, its Equity Interests, other than,
(i) in connection with directors' qualifying shares, (ii) the issuance of
Company Shares upon the exercise of stock options granted prior to the date
hereof or in accordance with their present terms, and (iii) the issuance of
Company Shares in exchange for CBC Stock Fund Units allocated under the Deferred
Compensation Plan prior to the date hereof, in accordance with the terms of the
Deferred Compensation Plan;
(d) acquire (whether pursuant to merger, stock or asset purchase or
otherwise) in one transaction or series of related transactions any Person, any
Equity Interests of any Person, any division or business of any Person or all or
substantially all of the assets of any Person for consideration having a fair
market value in excess of $5.0 million in any single or series of related
transactions or $15.0 million in the aggregate;
(e) sell, lease, encumber or otherwise dispose of any assets which are
material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than (i)
sales in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii)
equipment and property no longer used in the operation of the Company's
business, (iii) assets related to discontinued operations, and (iv)
contributions or other transfers of assets to any Joint Venture permitted by
Section 6.1(d) hereof; provided, however, that the consent of Acquiror to do any
of the foregoing shall not be unreasonably withheld;
(f) (i) (A) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money, except to fund
working capital in the ordinary course consistent with past practice under the
Company's existing credit facilities, (B) issue or sell any debt securities
(except intercompany debt securities) or warrants or other rights to acquire any
debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) make any loans,
advances (other than to employees of and consultants to the Company in the
ordinary course of business) or capital contributions to, or, except as
permitted by 6.1(d), investments in, any other Person, other than to the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company or (D) assume, guarantee or endorse, or
otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any
Person (other than obligations of Subsidiaries and the endorsements of
negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice), or (ii) enter into or materially amend any
contract, agreement, commitment or arrangements to effect any of the
transactions prohibited by this Section 6.1(f);
-27-
(g) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, (i) materially amend, modify or terminate any material contract,
agreement or arrangement of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries or
(ii) otherwise waive, release or assign any material rights, claims or benefits
of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries thereunder; provided,
however, that the consent of Acquiror to do any of the forgoing shall not be
unreasonably withheld;
(h) (i) except as required by Law or any existing agreement, increase the
amount of compensation of any director or executive officer of the Company, (ii)
except as required by Law, an agreement existing on the date hereof or pursuant
to a Company severance policy existing on the date hereof, grant any severance
or termination pay to any director or senior officer of the Company or any
Material Subsidiary, (iii) adopt any additional material employee benefit plan
or (iv) except as may be required by Law or as necessary to comply with the
terms of this Agreement, amend in any material respect any Company Employee Plan
or Foreign Plan; provided, however, that the consent of Acquiror to do any of
the forgoing shall not be unreasonably withheld;
(i) materially change the Company's methods of accounting in effect at
September 30, 2000, except as required by changes in GAAP or by Regulation S-X
of the Exchange Act, as concurred in by its independent public accountants;
provided, however, that the consent of Acquiror to do any of the forgoing shall
not be unreasonably withheld;
(j) (i) settle, pay or discharge, any litigation, investigation,
arbitration, proceeding or other claim that is material to the business,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) settle, pay or discharge any Claim
against the Company with respect to or arising out of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
(k) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, (i) make any material Tax election or take any position on any Company
Return filed on or after the date of this Agreement or adopt any method therein
that is materially inconsistent with elections made, positions taken or methods
used in preparing or filing similar returns in prior periods, (ii) enter into
any settlement or compromise of any material Tax liability that in either case
is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, (iii) file any amended Company Return with respect to any material Tax,
(iv) change any annual Tax accounting period, (v) enter into any closing
agreement relating to any material Tax or (vi) surrender any right to claim a
material Tax refund;
(l) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger,
consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Merger); and
(m) agree or commit to do any of the foregoing; provided that the
limitations set forth in Sections 6.1(b) through 6.1(g) and Section 6.1(l) shall
not apply to any action, transaction or event occurring exclusively between the
Company and any Company Subsidiary or exclusively between any Company
Subsidiaries.
-28-
6.2. Stockholder Meeting. Subject to Section 6.3, the Company shall cause
-------------------
a meeting of its Stockholders (the "Company Stockholder Meeting") to be duly
called and held as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date hereof for
the purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval. Subject to Section
6.3 hereto, (i) the Company's Board of Directors shall recommend approval and
adoption by its Stockholders of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the Merger (the "Company Recommendation") and (ii) the Company
shall take all other reasonable lawful action to solicit and secure the Company
Stockholder Approval. The Company Recommendation, together with a copy of the
opinion referred to in Section 4.16(b), shall be included in the Proxy
Statement. Holding and Acquiror or their agents shall have the right to solicit
from the Company Stockholders proxies in favor of adoption of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.3. Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation.
-------------------------------------------
(a) The Company agrees that it shall not, nor shall it permit any Company
Subsidiary to, nor shall it authorize or knowingly permit any officer, director,
employee, investment banker, attorney, accountant, agent or other advisor or
representative of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, directly or indirectly,
to (i) solicit or initiate the submission of any Acquisition Proposal, (ii)
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any
Person any information with respect to, or take any other action knowingly to
facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes or that
would reasonably be expected to lead to any Acquisition Proposal, (iii) grant
any waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement with respect to
any class of the Company's equity securities or (iv) enter into any agreement
with respect to any Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that if the Company
receives an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal from a Third Party that the
Company's Board of Directors or the Special Committee determines in good faith
is or could reasonably be expected to lead to the delivery of a Superior
Proposal from that Third Party, the Company may, subject to compliance with the
other provisions of this Section 6.3, furnish information to, and engage in
discussions and negotiations with, such Third Party with respect to its
Acquisition Proposal ("Permitted Actions"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Board of Directors shall not take any Permitted Actions unless the Company
provides Acquiror with reasonable advance notice thereof.
(b) Except as permitted by this Section 6.3(b), neither the Board of
Directors of the Company, the Special Committee nor any committee thereof shall
amend, withdraw, modify, change, condition or qualify in any manner adverse to
Acquiror, the Company Recommendation (it being understood and agreed that a
communication by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Special Committee
to the Company Stockholders pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) of the Exchange Act, or
any similar communication to the Company Stockholders in connection with the
making or amendment of a tender offer or exchange offer, shall not be deemed to
constitute a withdrawal, modification, amendment, condition or qualification of
the Company Recommendation for all purposes of this Agreement, including this
Section 6.3 and Section 10.1(e)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event
that the Board of Directors of the Company or the Special Committee takes the
actions set forth in Section 6.3(e), the Board of Directors of the Company or
the Special Committee may (i) withdraw or modify in any manner adverse to
Acquiror, the Company Recommendation and (ii) approve or recommend, or propose
to approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal.
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(c) Unless the Company's Board of Directors or the Special Committee has
previously withdrawn, or is concurrently therewith withdrawing, the Company
Recommendation in accordance with this Section 6.3, neither the Company's Board
of Directors nor any committee thereof shall recommend any Acquisition Proposal
to the Company Stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in
this Section 6.3(c) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prevent the Company's
Board of Directors or the Special Committee from complying with Rule 14e-2 under
the Exchange Act with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or making any
disclosure required by or otherwise complying with applicable Law.
(d) The Company shall notify Acquiror promptly (but in no event later than
the next Business Day) after receipt by the Company of any Acquisition Proposal
or any request for information relating to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with an Acquisition Proposal or for access to the
properties, books or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
request for a waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement, by
any Person that informs the Board of Directors of the Company or such Subsidiary
that it is considering making, or has made an Acquisition Proposal; provided,
however, that prior to participating in any discussions or negotiations or
furnishing any such information, the Company shall receive from such Person an
executed confidentiality agreement on terms that are not materially less
favorable to the Company than the Confidentiality Agreement. The notice shall
indicate the terms and conditions of the proposal or request and the identity of
the Person making it, and the Company will promptly notify Acquiror of any
material modification of or material amendment to any Acquisition Proposal (and
the terms of such modification or amendment); provided, however, that, without
limiting what changes may be material, any change in the consideration to be
paid with respect to the Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed to be a material
modification or a material amendment. The Company shall keep Acquiror informed,
on a reasonably current basis, of the status of any negotiations, discussions
and documents with respect to such Acquisition Proposal or request.
(e) Holding, Acquiror or the Company may terminate this Agreement, if the
Company's Board of Directors or the Special Committee, after consultation with
its financial and legal advisors, shall have determined (i) to approve or
recommend an Acquisition Proposal after concluding that the Acquisition Proposal
constitutes a Superior Proposal and (ii) to enter into a binding agreement
concerning the Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that the Company may not
exercise its right to terminate under this Section 6.3(e), unless (1) the
Company shall have provided to Acquiror at least three (3) Business Days' prior
written notice that its Board of Directors or the Special Committee has
authorized the termination and intends to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this Section 6.3(e), specifying the material terms and conditions of the
Acquisition Proposal, and (2) Acquiror does not make, within three (3) Business
Days of delivery of the notice, an offer such that a majority of the
disinterested members of the Company's Board of Directors or the Special
Committee determines that the foregoing Acquisition Proposal no longer
constitutes a Superior Proposal. In connection with the forgoing, the Company
agrees that it will not enter into an agreement which binds the Company with
respect to such an Acquisition Proposal unless (x) the Company simultaneously
delivers to Acquiror the notice contemplated by the foregoing proviso, (y) such
agreement is not binding on the Company until three (3) Business Days after
delivery of the notice set forth in this Section 6.3(e) and (z) the Company has
the right under such agreement to unilaterally terminate such
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agreement prior to the termination of this Agreement without any payment or
other liability or obligation of any kind.
(f) The Company shall immediately cease, and shall cause any party acting
on its behalf to cease, and cause to be terminated any existing discussions or
negotiations with any Third Party conducted heretofore with respect to any of
the foregoing and shall request any such parties in possession of confidential
information about the Company or its Subsidiaries that was furnished by or on
behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries to return or destroy all such
information in the possession of any such party or the agent or advisor of any
such party.
ARTICLE 7
COVENANTS OF HOLDING AND ACQUIROR
Each of Holding and Acquiror agrees as set forth below.
7.1. Director and Officer Liability.
------------------------------
(a) Holding, Acquiror and the Surviving Corporation agree that the
Surviving Corporation shall adopt on or prior to the Effective Time, in its
certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the same indemnification, limitation
of or exculpation from liability and expense advancement provisions as those set
forth in the Company's certificate of incorporation and by-laws, in each case as
of the date of this Agreement, and that such provisions shall not be amended,
repealed, revoked or otherwise modified for a period of six (6) years after the
Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder
of the individuals who on or prior to the Effective Time were directors,
officers, employees or agents of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or are
otherwise entitled to the benefit of such provisions, unless such modification
is required after the Effective Time by applicable Law.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, commencing at
the Effective Time and continuing for six (6) years thereafter, Holding shall,
and Holding shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, indemnify, defend and hold
harmless, each present and former director, officer or employee of the Company
and each Company Subsidiary and their respective estates, heirs, personal
representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties") against all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and settlement amounts
paid in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation
(whether arising before or after the Effective Time) (each, a "Claim"), arising
out of or pertaining to any action or omission in their capacity as director or
officer of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or their serving at the
request of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company as director, officer,
trustee, partner or fiduciary of another Person, pension or other employee
benefit plan or enterprise in each case occurring on or before the Effective
Time (including the transactions contemplated by this Agreement); provided,
however, that in the event any Claim or Claims for indemnification are made
within such six year period, all rights to indemnification in respect of any
such Claim or Claims shall continue until the final disposition of any and all
such Claims. Without limiting the foregoing, in the event of any Claim, (i)
Holding and the Surviving Corporation shall (x) periodically advance reasonable
fees and expenses (including attorneys fees) with respect to the
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foregoing, (y) pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel selected by each
Indemnified Party, promptly after statements therefor are received and (z)
vigorously assist each Indemnified Party in such defense, and (ii) Holding and
the Surviving Corporation, as applicable, shall cooperate in the defense of any
matter; provided, however, that Holding and the Surviving Corporation shall not
be liable for any settlement effected without its prior written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(c) For six (6) years from the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation
shall, and Holding shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, provide to the
Company's and each Company Subsidiary's directors and officers liability and
fiduciary liability insurance protection with the same coverage and in the same
amount, and on terms no less favorable to the directors and officers than that
provided by the Company's directors' and officers' liability insurance policies
in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that the Surviving Corporation
shall not be obligated to make premium payments for such insurance to the extent
such annual premiums exceed 250% of the annual premiums paid as of the date
hereof by the Company for such insurance; and provided, further, that if the
premiums with respect to such insurance exceed 250% of the annual premiums paid
as of the date hereof by the Company for such insurance, the Surviving
Corporation shall be obligated to obtain such insurance with the maximum
coverage as can be obtained at an annual premium equal to the sum of (i) 250% of
the annual premiums paid by the Company as of the date hereof plus (ii) the
cumulative amount by which the premiums paid after the Effective Time are less
than the product of 250% of the annual premiums paid by the Company as of the
date hereof and the number of years that have expired since the Effective Time.
(d) All rights to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses contained
in any agreement with any Indemnified Parties as in effect on the date hereof
with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the Effective Time (including
the transactions contemplated hereby) shall survive the Merger and continue in
full force and effect.
(e) This Section 7.1 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and is
intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Indemnified
Parties referred to herein, their heirs and personal representatives and shall
be binding on the Surviving Corporation and its successors and assigns and the
covenants and agreements contained herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which an Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law,
contract or otherwise.
(f) If the Surviving Corporation or any of it successors or assigns (i)
consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be 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
assets to any Person, then, and in each case, to the extent necessary, proper
provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving
Corporation shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 7.1.
(g) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or
shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors' and officers' insurance
claims under any policy that is or has
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been in existence with respect to the Company or any of its officers, directors
or employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided
for in this Section 7.1 is not prior to or in substitution for any such claims
under such policies.
7.2. Employee Benefits.
-----------------
(a) For twelve (12) months from the Effective Time, Holding shall provide
(or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to provide) employees of the Company
and the Company Subsidiaries with benefits under employee benefit plans (other
than equity based compensation) that are no less favorable in the aggregate than
those currently provided by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to its
employees. For purposes of any employee benefit plan or arrangement maintained
by Holding or the Surviving Corporation, Holding and the Surviving Corporation
shall recognize (or cause to be recognized) service with the Company and its
Subsidiaries and any predecessor entities (and any other service credited by the
Company under similar benefit plans) for all purposes (including for vesting,
eligibility to participate, severance, and benefit accrual; provided, however,
that solely to the extent necessary to avoid duplication of benefits, amounts
payable under employee benefit plans provided by Holding or the Surviving
Corporation may be reduced by amounts payable under similar employee benefit
plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to the same periods of
service). Any benefits accrued by employees of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary prior to the Effective Time under any defined benefit pension plan of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary that employs a final average pay formula
shall be calculated based on the terms of such plan. From and after the
Effective Time, Holding and the Surviving Corporation shall waive any pre-
existing condition limitations and credit any flexible spending account
balances, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses that are applicable and/or
covered under the Company's and its Subsidiaries' employee benefit plans, and
are incurred by the employees and their beneficiaries during the portion of the
plan year prior to participation in the benefit plans provided by Holding and
the Surviving Corporation. The provisions of this Section 7.2 shall not create
in any employee or former employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary any
rights to employment or continued employment with Holding, Acquiror, the
Surviving Corporation or the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries,
successors or Affiliates. The provisions of this Section 7.2 shall apply to
employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary who are on disability or
leave of absence.
(b) Participants in the Company's 401(k) plan and non-qualified retirement
plans will receive all Company contributions for the partial year ending on the
Closing Date without regard to any last day of the plan year requirement or
service requirement.
7.3. Severance Plan. For one (1) year from the Effective Time, Holding
--------------
shall provide (or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to provide) employees of
the Company and the Company's Subsidiaries with a severance plan that is no less
favorable than the plan currently applicable to the Company's employees. Holding
and the Surviving Corporation shall recognize (or cause to be recognized)
service with the Company and its Subsidiaries or any predecessor entities (and
any other services credited by the Company under similar severance plans) for
all purposes; provided, however, that solely to the extent necessary to avoid
duplication of benefits, amounts payable under other severance plans provided by
Holding or the Surviving Corporation may be reduced by the amounts payable under
the Company's severance plan.
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7.4. Conduct of Holding and Acquiror. Holding will and will take all
-------------------------------
action necessary to cause Acquiror to perform its obligations under this
Agreement to consummate the Merger on the terms and subject to conditions set
forth in this Agreement.
7.5. Transfer Taxes. All state, local or foreign sales, use, real
--------------
property transfer, stock transfer or similar Taxes (including any interest or
penalties with respect thereto) attributable to the Merger (collectively, the
"Transfer Taxes") shall be timely paid by Holding, Acquiror or the Surviving
Corporation.
7.6. Investment Banking Fee. If the Closing shall occur, Holding,
----------------------
Acquiror and the Surviving Corporation shall pay or cause to be paid all fees
and expenses due to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated from the Company pursuant
to the agreement referred to in Section 4.16(a).
7.7. Financing Arrangements.
----------------------
(a) Holding and Acquiror shall use their reasonable best efforts to obtain
the Financing on the terms set forth in Commitment Letters and in an amount at
least equal to the Financing on or prior to the date of the Company Stockholders
Meeting. The Commitment Letters and the definitive agreements contemplated
thereby (along with any other document pursuant to which Holding and Acquiror
intends to obtain financing of all or a portion of the Financing) are referred
to herein collectively as the "Financing Agreements". The Company will be
afforded a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the representations
and warranties contained in the Financing Agreements. Holding and Acquiror shall
use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the representations and warranties
contained in the Financing Agreements shall be consistent with the Commitment
Letters.
(b) Holding or Acquiror shall provide prompt written notice to the Company
of (i) RCBA's, DLJ's or CSFB's refusal or unwillingness to provide the financing
described in the Contribution and Voting Agreement or the Commitment Letters, as
the case may be, and, in each case, the stated reasons therefor (to the extent
known).
(c) In the event that any portion of the Financing becomes unavailable in
the manner or from the sources originally contemplated, Holding and Acquiror
will use their reasonable best efforts to obtain any such portion from
alternative sources on substantially comparable terms, if available. Holding and
Acquiror acknowledge and agree that the condition set forth in Section 9.3(c)
would be satisfied if they were able to obtain financing on terms substantially
comparable to those set forth in the draft commitment letter of CSFB dated
November 9, 2000 previously delivered to the Company.
(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that Holding and Acquiror shall
have the right to seek to obtain alternative debt financing that they believe to
be on more favorable terms than the terms of the Commitment Letters so long as
they simultaneously continue to use their reasonable best efforts to obtain the
Financing on the terms set forth in the Commitment Letters.
-34-
7.8. Contribution and Voting Agreement. Holding and Acquiror shall
---------------------------------
enforce to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws Sections 3.1 and 4.4
of the Contribution and Voting Agreement. Sections 3.1 and 4.4 of the
Contribution and Voting Agreement shall not be amended, modified, terminated or
waived without the prior written approval of the Company and the Special
Committee or a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors.
7.9. Board Member. Holding and Acquiror agree to cause the initial Board
------------
of Directors of Holding after the Effective Time to include one person who is
currently employed by the Company (other than Messrs. Xxxxx and White) as an
active broker of the Company.
ARTICLE 8
COVENANTS OF HOLDING, ACQUIROR AND THE COMPANY
The parties hereto agree as set forth below.
8.1. Efforts and Assistance.
----------------------
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each party will use
commercially reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions,
to file, or caused to be filed, all documents and to do, or cause to be done,
all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable,
including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary consents, waivers,
approvals, authorizations, Permits or orders from all Governmental Entities or
other Third Parties. The Company, Holding and Acquiror shall furnish all
information required to be included in the Proxy Statement, the Schedule 13E-3,
the Registration Statement or for any application or other filing to be made
pursuant to the rules and regulations of any Governmental Entity in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Holding, Acquiror and the
Company shall have the right to review in advance, and to the extent reasonably
practicable each will consult the other on, all the information relating to the
other and each of their respective Subsidiaries, that appear in any filing made
with, or written materials submitted to, any third party or any Governmental
Entity in connection with the Merger. Holding and Acquiror shall act reasonably
and as promptly as reasonably practicable.
(b) Each of the Company and Holding shall make an appropriate filing of a
notification and report form pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby promptly and shall promptly respond to any
request for additional information pursuant to the HSR Act and supply such
information. In addition, the Company and Holding shall each promptly make any
other filing that is required under any Non-U.S. Competition Law. Holding,
Acquiror and the Company shall each use their commercially reasonable efforts to
resolve objections, if any, as may be asserted by any Governmental Entity with
respect to the Merger under any antitrust or trade or regulatory Laws or
regulations of any Governmental Entity, and neither the Company nor any of the
Company Subsidiaries shall agree to do any of the actions set forth in the
foregoing clause without the prior written consent of Acquiror. Holding and
Acquiror shall reasonably consult with the Company and, subject to being
permitted by the Governmental Entity to do so, the Company shall have the right
to attend and participate in any
-35-
telephone calls or meetings that Holding or Acquiror has with any Person with
regard to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) The Company agrees to provide, and will cause its Subsidiaries and its
and their respective officers, employees and advisers to provide, such
cooperation as is reasonably necessary in connection with the arrangement of any
financing to be consummated contemporaneously with or at or after the Closing in
respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i)
participation in meetings, due diligence sessions and road shows, (ii) the
preparation of offering memoranda, private placement memoranda, prospectuses and
similar documents, (iii) the execution and delivery of any commitment or
financing letters, underwriting , purchase or placement agreements, pledge and
security documents, other definitive financing documents, or other requested
certificates or documents and comfort letters and consents of accountants as may
be reasonably requested by Holding and Acquiror and taking such other actions as
are reasonably required to be taken by the Company in the Commitment Letters or
any other financing arrangements contemplated by Section 7.7 hereof; provided,
however, that (A) the terms and conditions of any of the agreements and other
documents referred to in clause (iii) shall be consistent with the terms and
conditions of the financing required to satisfy the condition precedent set
forth in Section 9.3(d), (B) the Company shall be given a reasonable amount of
time to review and comment on the terms and conditions of any of the agreements
and other documents set forth in clause (iii) prior to the execution of those
documents, (C) the terms and conditions of such financing may not require the
payment of any commitment or other fees by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or the incurrence of any liabilities by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, prior to the Effective Time and the obligation to make any such
payment shall be subject to the occurrence of the Closing and (D) the Company
shall not be required to provide any such assistance which would interfere
unreasonably with the business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
In addition, in conjunction with the obtaining of any such financing, the
Company agrees, at the reasonable request of Holding and Acquiror, to call for
prepayment or redemption, or to prepay, redeem and/or renegotiate, as the case
may be, any then existing indebtedness of the Company; provided that no such
prepayment or redemption shall themselves actually be made until
contemporaneously with or after the Effective Time of the Merger.
8.2. Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3.
----------------------------------
(a) Reasonably promptly after execution of this Agreement, the Company
shall prepare the Proxy Statement, file the Proxy Statement with the SEC under
the Exchange Act, and use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Proxy
Statement cleared by the SEC. Holding, Acquiror and the Company shall cooperate
with each other in the preparation of the Proxy Statement, and the Company shall
notify Acquiror of the receipt of any comments of the SEC with respect to the
Proxy Statement and of any requests by the SEC for any amendment or supplement
thereto or for additional information and shall provide to Acquiror reasonably
promptly copies of all correspondence between the Company or any representative
of the Company and the SEC. The Company shall give Acquiror and its counsel the
opportunity to review and
-36-
comment on the Proxy Statement and any other documents filed with the SEC or
mailed to the Company Stockholders prior to their being filed with, or sent to,
the SEC or mailed to its Stockholders and shall give Acquiror and its counsel
the opportunity to review and comment on all amendments and supplements to the
Proxy Statement and any other documents filed with, or sent to, the SEC or
mailed to the Company Stockholders and all responses to requests for additional
information and replies to comments prior to their being filed with, or sent to,
the SEC or mailed to its Stockholders. Each of the Company, Holding and Acquiror
agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts, after consultation with the
other parties hereto, to respond promptly to all such comments of and requests
by the SEC. As promptly as practicable after the Proxy Statement has been
cleared by the SEC, the Company shall mail the Proxy Statement to the
Stockholders. Prior to the date of approval of the Merger by the Stockholders,
each of the Company, Holding and Acquiror shall correct promptly any information
provided by it and used in the Proxy Statement that shall have become false or
misleading in any material respect, and the Company shall take all steps
necessary to file with the SEC and have cleared by the SEC any amendment or
supplement to the Proxy Statement as to correct the same and to cause the Proxy
Statement as so corrected to be disseminated to the Stockholders, in each case
to the extent required by applicable Law.
(b) Promptly following the date of this Agreement, Holding, Acquiror and
the Company shall file with the SEC, and shall use all commercially reasonable
efforts to cause any of their respective Affiliates engaging in this transaction
to file with the SEC, a Schedule 13E-3 with respect to the Merger. Each of the
parties hereto agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate
and to provide each other with such information as any of such parties may
reasonably request in connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement and
the Schedule 13E-3. The Schedule 13E-3 shall be filed with the SEC concurrently
with the filing of the Proxy Statement. Each of the Company, Holding and
Acquiror agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts, after consultation
with the other parties hereto, to respond promptly to all such comments of and
requests by the SEC. Each party hereto agrees promptly to supplement, update and
correct any information provided by it for use in the Schedule 13E-3 if and to
the extent that such information is or shall have become incomplete, false or
misleading.
8.3. Public Announcements. The parties shall consult with each other
--------------------
before issuing any press release or making any public statement with respect to
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not issue any
such press release or make any such public statement without the prior consent
of the other parties, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed,
except as may be required by applicable Law or any listing agreement with any
national securities exchange.
8.4. Access to Information; Notification of Certain Matters.
------------------------------------------------------
(a) From the date hereof until the Effective Time and subject to
applicable Law, the Company shall (i) give to Holding and Acquiror, their
counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives
reasonable access to its offices, properties, books and records; (ii) furnish or
make available to Holding and Acquiror, their counsel, financial advisors,
auditors and other authorized representatives any financial and operating data
and other information as those Persons may reasonably request; and (iii)
instruct its employees, counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other
authorized representatives to cooperate with the reasonable requests of Holding
and Acquiror in their investigation. Any investigation pursuant to this Section
shall be conducted in a manner which will not interfere unreasonably with the
conduct of the business
-37-
of the Company and its Subsidiaries and shall be in accordance with any other
existing agreements or obligations binding on the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. Unless otherwise required by Law, each of Holding and Acquiror
will hold, and will cause its respective officers, employees, counsel, financial
advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives to hold any nonpublic
information obtained in any investigation in confidence in accordance with and
agrees to be bound by, the terms of the confidentiality letter, dated December
15, 2000, as amended as of the date hereof (the "Confidentiality Agreement"),
among the Company and the members of the Buying Group. No investigations
pursuant to this Section 8.4(a) shall affect any representations or warranties
of the parties herein or the conditions to the obligations of the parties
hereto.
(b) The Company shall give prompt notice to Holding and Acquiror, and
Holding and Acquiror shall give prompt notice to the Company, of (i) the
occurrence or nonoccurrence of any event the occurrence or nonoccurrence of
which would reasonably be expected to cause any representation or warranty of
such party contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any
material respect; (ii) any failure of the Company or Holding and Acquiror, as
the case may be, to materially comply with or satisfy, or the occurrence or
nonoccurrence of any event, the occurrence or nonoccurrence of which would
reasonably be expected to cause the failure by such party to materially comply
with or satisfy , any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or
satisfied by it hereunder; (iii) any notice or other communication from any
Third Party alleging that the consent of such Third Party is or may be required
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (iv) the
occurrence of any event, development or circumstance which has had or would be
reasonably likely to result in a Company or Holding Material Adverse Effect;
provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section
8.4(b) shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to
the party giving or receiving such notice.
8.5. Further Assurances. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
------------------
this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use their respective reasonable
best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to
be done, all other things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make
effective as promptly as practicable the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, to obtain in a timely manner all necessary waivers, consents and
approvals and to effect all necessary registrations and filings, and otherwise
to satisfy or cause to be satisfied all conditions precedent to its obligations
under this Agreement. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and
directors of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to execute and
deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Acquiror, any deeds, bills
of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf
of the Company or Acquiror, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or
confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right,
title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of
the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result
of, or in connection with, the Merger.
8.6. Registration Statement.
----------------------
(a) Reasonably promptly after execution of this Agreement, Holding shall
prepare and file with the SEC the Registration Statement; provided, however,
that Holding and Acquiror shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to
file the Registration Statement simultaneously
-38-
with the filings of the Schedule 13E-3 and the Proxy Statement. Holding and the
Company agree to cooperate in coordinating such simultaneous filings. Holding
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the
filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary
to offer and sell shares of common stock of Holding to employees of the Company.
Holding and the Company shall also take any action required to be taken under
any applicable state securities or blue sky Laws in connection with the issuance
of shares of common stock of Holding.
(b) Holding and the Company shall cooperate with each other in the
preparation of the Registration Statement, and Holding shall notify the Company
of the receipt of any comments of the SEC with respect to the Registration
Statement and of any requests by the SEC for any amendment thereto or for
additional information and shall provide to the Company reasonably promptly
copies of all correspondence between Holding or any representative of the
Holding and the SEC. Holding shall give the Company and its counsel the
opportunity to review the Registration Statement prior to its being filed with
the SEC and shall give the Company and its counsel the opportunity to review all
amendments to the Registration Statement and all responses to requests for
additional information and replies to comments prior to their being filed with,
or sent to, the SEC. Holding will advise the Company, promptly after it receives
notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement has become effective
or any supplement or amendment has been filed, the issuance of any stop order,
or any request by the SEC for amendment of the Registration Statement or
comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional
information. If at any time prior to the Effective Time, the Company or Holding
discovers any information relating to either party, or any of their respective
Affiliates, officers or directors, that should be set forth in an amendment to
the Registration Statement, so that the document will 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 were
made, not misleading, the party that discovers any misleading information shall
promptly notify the other parties hereto and an appropriate amendment describing
the information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required
by Law, disseminated to the recipients of the Prospectus.
(c) Subject to compliance with applicable securities Laws, Holding and
Acquiror will use their commercially reasonable efforts to provide adequate
information and communications to the employees of the Company concerning the
proposed capitalization of Holding and any proposals of Holding or Acquiror to
allow employees of the Company to purchase shares of common stock of Holding
pursuant to the Registration Statement or to otherwise acquire equity securities
of Holding.
8.7. Disposition of Litigation. The Company will consult with Holding
-------------------------
with respect to any Action by any Third Party to restrain or prohibit or
otherwise oppose the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and, subject to Section 6.3, will resist any such effort to restrain
or prohibit or otherwise oppose the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Holding may participate in (but not control) the
defense of any stockholder litigation against the Company and its directors
relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement at Holding's sole
cost and expense. In addition, subject to Section 6.3, the Company will not
voluntarily cooperate with any Third Party which has sought
-39-
or may hereafter seek to restrain or prohibit or otherwise oppose the Debt
Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
will cooperate with Holding to resist any such effort to restrain or prohibit or
otherwise oppose the Debt Offer, the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
8.8. Confidentiality Agreements. The parties acknowledge that the Company
--------------------------
and the members of the Buying Group entered into the Confidentiality Agreement,
which Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in
accordance with its terms until the earlier of (a) the Effective Time or (b) the
expiration of the Confidentiality Agreement according to its terms. Without the
prior written consent of Acquiror, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the
Company will waive or fail to enforce any provision of any confidentiality or
similar agreement which the Company has entered into since November 10, 2000 in
connection with a business combination relating to the Company.
8.9. Resignation of Directors. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company
------------------------
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Acquiror evidence
satisfactory to Acquiror of the resignation of all directors of the Company
(other than Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx and W. Xxxxx
Xxxxx), effective at the Effective Time.
8.10. Senior Subordinated Notes.
-------------------------
(a) At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company, Holding and Acquiror
will take all actions as may be necessary to (i) repurchase the aggregate
principal amount of the Company's 8-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006
(hereinafter referred to as the "Notes") that are tendered to the Company on the
terms set forth in Section 8.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and such
other customary terms and conditions as are reasonably acceptable to Acquiror
and (ii) obtain the consent of holders of such principal amount of the Notes
outstanding required pursuant to terms of the First Supplemental Indenture dated
as of May 26, 1998 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company
of California, National Association, as Trustee (the "Indenture"), to amend the
terms of the Indenture in the manner set forth in Section 8.10 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule (the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), together the "Debt
Offer"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be
required to take any action that could obligate the Company to repurchase any
Notes or incur any additional obligations to the holders of Notes prior to the
Effective Time.
(b) The Company shall waive any of the conditions to the Debt Offer and
make any other changes in the terms and conditions of the Debt Offer as
reasonably requested by the Acquiror, and the Company shall not, without
Acquiror's prior consent, waive any material condition to the Debt Offer, make
any changes to the terms and conditions of the Debt Offer set forth in Section
8.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or make any other material changes in
the terms and conditions of the Debt Offer. Notwithstanding the immediately
preceding sentence, Acquiror shall not request that the Company make any change
to the terms and conditions of the Debt Offer which decreases the price per Note
payable in the Debt Offer, changes the form of consideration payable in the Debt
Offer (other than by adding consideration) or imposes conditions to the Debt
Offer in addition to those set forth in Section 8.10 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule which are materially adverse to holders of the Notes (it being
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agreed that a request by Acquiror that the Company waive any condition in whole
or in part at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion shall not be
deemed to be materially adverse to any holder of Notes), unless such change was
previously approved in writing by the Special Committee or a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) Promptly following the date of this Agreement, Holding, Acquiror and
the Company shall prepare an offer to purchase the Notes (or portions thereof)
and forms of the related letter of transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal")
(collectively, the "Offer to Purchase") and summary advertisement, as well as
other information and exhibits (collectively, the "Offer Documents"). Holding,
Acquiror and the Company shall cooperate with each other in the preparation of
the Offer Documents. All mailings to the holders of Notes in connection with the
Debt Offer shall be subject to the prior review, comment and reasonable approval
of Acquiror. Provided that this Agreement shall not have been terminated in
accordance with Section 10.1 , the Company shall, promptly after request of
Acquiror (but in no event earlier than twenty calendar days after the date
hereof), commence the Debt Offer and cause the Offer Documents to be mailed to
the holders of the Notes as promptly as practicable following execution of this
Agreement. The Company, Holding and Acquiror agree promptly to correct any
information in the Offer Documents that shall be or have become false or
misleading in any material respect.
(d) In connection with the Debt Offer, if requested by Acquiror, the
Company shall promptly furnish Acquiror with security position listings, any
non-objecting beneficial owner lists and any available listings or computer
files containing the names and addresses of the beneficial owners and/or record
holders of Notes, each as of a recent date, and shall promptly furnish Acquiror
with such additional information (including but not limited to updated lists of
Noteholders, mailing labels, security position listings and non-objecting
beneficial owners lists) and such other assistance as Acquiror or its agents may
reasonably require in communicating the Debt Offer to the record and beneficial
holders of Notes.
ARTICLE 9
CONDITIONS TO MERGER
9.1. Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The obligations of the
-------------------------------------------
Company, Holding and Acquiror to consummate the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) the Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained;
(b) any applicable waiting period or required approval under the HSR Act,
Non-U.S. Competition Law or any other similar applicable Law required prior to
the completion of the Merger shall have expired or been earlier terminated or
received;
(c) no Governmental Entity of competent authority or jurisdiction shall
have issued any Law or taken any other action then in effect, which restrains,
enjoins or otherwise prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger;
provided, however, that the parties hereto shall
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use their commercially reasonable efforts to have any such Law or other legal
restraint vacated; and
(d) the Registration Statement shall have been declared by the SEC and
continue to be effective.
9.2. Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the
--------------------------------------------
Company to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of the
following further conditions:
(a) (i) each of Holding and Acquiror shall have performed in all material
respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or
prior to the Effective Time, (ii) (A) the representations and warranties of
Holding and Acquiror contained in this Agreement that are qualified by reference
to a Holding Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct when made and at
and as of the Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time, and (B) all
other representations and warranties of Holding and Acquiror shall have been
true and correct in all material respects when made and at and as of the
Effective Time as if made at and as of such time, and (iii) the Company shall
have received a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or President
of each of Holding and Acquiror to the foregoing effect;
(b) each of Holding and Acquiror shall have obtained or made all consents,
approvals, actions, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations,
announcements and filings contemplated by Section 5.3, which if not obtained or
made (i) would render consummation of the Merger illegal or (ii) (assuming the
Effective Time had occurred) would be reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Holding Material Adverse Effect or a Company Material
Adverse Effect; and
(c) Holding and Acquiror shall have caused the valuation firm which has
delivered a solvency letter to the financial institutions providing the
Financing (or, if no such letter has been provided thereto, a valuation firm
reasonably acceptable to the Company) to have delivered to the Company a letter
addressed to the Special Committee and the Board of Directors in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Special Committee as to the solvency of
the Company and its Subsidiaries after giving effect to the Merger, the
financing arrangements contemplated by Acquiror with respect to the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby.
9.3. Conditions to the Obligations of Acquiror. The obligations of
-----------------------------------------
Acquiror to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of the
following further conditions:
(a) (i) the Company shall have performed in all material respects all of
its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or prior to the
Effective Time, (ii) (A) the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in this Agreement that are qualified by reference to a Company
Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct when made and at and as of the
Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time, and (B) all other
representations and warranties of the Company shall have been true and correct
in all material respects when made and at and as of the time of the Effective
Time, as if made as of such time, and (iii) Acquiror shall have received a
certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of
the Company to the foregoing effect;
-42-
(b) the Company shall have obtained or made all consents, approvals,
actions, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, announcements and
filings contemplated by Section 4.3 which if not obtained or made (i) would
render consummation of the Merger illegal or (ii) would be reasonably likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect;
provided, however, that this condition shall be deemed satisfied if the failure
of this condition is due to willful breach by Holding or Acquiror of any
covenant or willful failure to perform any agreement or a willful breach by
Holding or Acquiror of any representation or warranty contained in any of the
agreements related to the Financing;
(c) the funding contemplated by the Commitment Letters shall have been
obtained on substantially the terms set forth in the Commitment Letters or the
funding of the alternative financing contemplated by Section 7.7 shall have been
obtained; and
(d) the consents of the holders of the Notes required by Section 8.10(a)
shall have been obtained.
ARTICLE 10
TERMINATION
10.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger
-----------
abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by written notice, whether
before or after the Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained:
(a) by mutual written agreement of Holding, Acquiror and the Company, in
each case duly authorized by the Boards of Directors or a duly authorized
committee thereof;
(b) by either Acquiror or the Company, if
(i) the Merger shall not have been consummated by July 20, 2001
(the "End Date"); provided, however, that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this Section 10.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any party
whose breach of any provision of this Agreement has resulted in the failure
of the Merger to occur on or before the End Date;
(ii) there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the
Merger illegal or otherwise prohibited or any judgment, injunction, order
or decree of any Governmental Entity having competent jurisdiction
enjoining the Company or Acquiror from consummating the Merger is entered
and the judgment, injunction, judgment, order or decree shall have become
final and nonappealable and, prior to that termination, the parties shall
have used reasonable best efforts to resist, resolve or lift, as
applicable, the Law, judgment, injunction, order or decree; or
(iii) at the Company Stockholder Meeting (including any
adjournment or postponement thereof), the Company Stockholder Approval
shall not have been obtained;
(c) by the Company, (i) if a breach of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement on the part of Holding or Acquiror set forth in this
Agreement shall have occurred which would cause any of the conditions set forth
in Section 9.2(a) not to be satisfied, and such
-43-
condition shall be incapable of being satisfied by the End Date; or (ii) as
contemplated by Section 6.3(e); provided, however, that termination of this
Agreement pursuant to this clause (ii) shall not be effective until the
Termination Fee has been paid to Acquiror in accordance with Section 10.2(b);
(d) by Acquiror if a breach of or failure to perform any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this
Agreement shall have occurred which would cause any of the conditions set forth
in Section 9.3(a) not to be satisfied, and such condition is incapable of being
satisfied by the End Date; or
(e) by Acquiror if the Board of Directors of the Company or the Special
Committee shall (i) (A) amend, withdraw, modify, change, condition or qualify
the Company Recommendation in a manner adverse to Holding and Acquiror; (B)
approve or recommend to the Company Stockholders an Acquisition Proposal (other
than by Holding, Acquiror or their Affiliates); or (C) approve or recommend that
the Company Stockholders tender their Company Shares in any tender or exchange
offer that is an Acquisition Proposal (other than by Holding, Acquiror or their
Affiliates); (ii) deliver any notice pursuant to Section 6.3(e) that it intends
to terminate this Agreement and such notice is not unconditionally withdrawn
prior to the third Business Day following such delivery; (iii) in the case of
the Board of Directors, the Special Committee or any other duly authorized
committee thereof, approve a resolution or agree to do any of the foregoing (it
being understood and agreed that the delivery of notice pursuant to Section
6.3(e) and any subsequent public announcement of such notice shall not entitle
Acquiror to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(e), provided
such notice is unconditionally withdrawn prior to the third Business Day
following delivery and the Company has previously unconditionally terminated any
agreement entered into in connection with the related Acquisition Proposal); or
(iv) any Person or group (other than Holding, Acquiror or their Affiliates)
acquires beneficial ownership of a majority of the outstanding Company Shares.
10.2. Effect of Termination.
---------------------
(a) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10.1 (including
any termination by way of Section 6.3), there shall be no liability or
obligation on the part of Holding, Acquiror, the Company or any of their
respective officers, directors, Stockholders, agents or Affiliates, except no
such termination shall relieve any party hereto of any liability or damages
resulting from any willful breach of this Agreement; provided that the
provisions of Sections 8.3, 8.8, 10.2 and 10.3 and Article 11 of this Agreement,
shall remain in full force and effect and survive any termination of this
Agreement.
(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by Acquiror pursuant to
Section 10.1(e) or by the Company pursuant to Section 10.1(c)(ii), the Company
shall pay to RCBA by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account
designated by RCBA on the next Business Day following such termination a cash
amount equal to the sum of $7,500,000 plus all reasonable and documented out-of-
pocket expenses and fees incurred by Holding and its stockholders on or prior to
the termination of this Agreement in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of
expenses and fees to be paid by the Company shall not exceed $3,000,000
(collectively, the "Termination
-44-
Fee"). This Section 10.2(b) is intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be
enforceable by, RCBA.
(c) In the event that (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Sections 10.1(b)(iii) or 10.1(d), (ii) an Acquisition Proposal (with all
percentages included in the definition of Acquisition Proposal increased to 51%
for purposes of this definition) has been made prior to the Company Stockholder
Meeting or such termination (and, in the case of Section 10.1(d), prior to the
breach giving rise to termination) and (iii) a transaction contemplated by an
Acquisition Proposal (with all percentages included in the definition of
Acquisition Proposal increased to 51% for purposes of this definition) is
completed or a definitive agreement is executed by the parties thereto with
respect to an Acquisition Proposal (with all percentages included in the
definition of Acquisition Proposal increased to 51% for purposes of this
definition) within twelve (12) months from the date this Agreement is
terminated, the Company shall pay to RCBA by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by RCBA on the next Business Day
following the closing of the transaction contemplated by such Acquisition
Proposal, a cash amount equal to the Termination Fee.
10.3. Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein,
-----------------
all fees and expenses incurred in connection herewith and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring expenses, whether or
not the Merger is consummated.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party
-------
hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile or similar writing) and shall
be given,
if to Holding or Acquiror, to:
x/x XXXX Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, X.X.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
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if to the Company, to:
CB Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Services, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
XxXxxxxxx, Will & Xxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, P.C.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
or such other address or facsimile number as a party may hereafter specify for
the purpose by notice to the other parties hereto. Each notice, request or other
communication shall be effective only (a) if given by facsimile, when the
facsimile is transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section and
the appropriate facsimile confirmation is received or (b) if given by overnight
courier or personal delivery when delivered at the address specified in this
Section.
11.2. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants after the
---------------------------------------------------------------
Effective Time. The representations and warranties contained herein and in any
--------------
certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall not survive the
Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement. The covenants contained in
Articles 2, 3, 7 and 11 shall survive the Effective Time.
11.3. Amendments; No Waivers.
----------------------
(a) Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived prior to the
Effective Time, if, and only if, the amendment or waiver is in writing and
signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company, Holding and Acquiror or in
the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective;
provided, however, that after the Company Stockholder Approval, no such
amendment or waiver shall, without the further approval of the Company
Stockholders, be made that would require such approval under any applicable Law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment or waiver agreed to by the Company
shall be effective only if authorized or approved in writing by the Special
Committee or a majority of the members of the Board of Directors not affiliated
with the Buying Group.
(b) At any time prior to the Effective Time, any party hereto may with
respect to any other party hereto (a) extend the time for the performance of any
of the obligations or other acts of such party and (b) waive any inaccuracies in
the representations and warranties of such party contained herein or in any
document delivered pursuant hereto; provided, however, that any extension or
waiver agreed to by the Company shall be effective only if authorized or
approved in writing by the Special Committee or a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors not affiliated with the Buying Group. No such extension or
waiver shall be deemed or construed as a
-46-
continuing extension or waiver on any occasion other than the one on which such
extension or waiver was granted or as an extension or waiver with respect to any
provision of this Agreement not expressly identified in such extension or waiver
on the same or any other occasion. No failure or delay by any party in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of
any rights or remedies provided by Law.
11.4. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
----------------------
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns; provided, however, that all or any of the rights or
obligations of Holding or Acquiror may be assigned to any direct or indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiary of such party (which assignment shall not relieve such
assigning party of its obligations hereunder); provided, further, that other
than with respect to the foregoing proviso, no party may assign, delegate or
otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without
the consent of the other parties hereto. Any purported assignment in violation
hereof shall be null and void.
11.5. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Third Party Beneficiaries. This
------------------------------------------------------
Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon
the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each party
hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other
parties hereto. Except as set forth in Section 7.1 and Section 10.2(b), no
provision of this Agreement is intended to confer upon any Person other than the
parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
11.6. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
-------------
and governed by the internal Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
contracts executed and fully performed within the state of Delaware.
11.7. Jurisdiction. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
------------
Agreement, the parties hereto agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking
to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in
connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
brought in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or, if
such court does not have jurisdiction over the subject matter of such proceeding
or if such jurisdiction is not available, in the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware, County of New Castle, and each of the parties hereby consents to
the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts (and of the appropriate appellate
courts therefrom) in any suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding in any of
those courts or that any suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any of
those courts has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any suit,
action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether
within or without the jurisdiction of any of the named courts. Without limiting
the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on it by notice as
provided in Section 11.1 shall be deemed effective service of process.
-47-
11.8. Enforcement. 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. It is accordingly agreed that the parties
shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity.
11.9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the exhibits and
----------------
schedules hereto) and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written,
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
11.10. Authorship. The parties agree that the terms and language of this
----------
Agreement were the result of negotiations between the parties and, as a result,
there shall be no presumption that any ambiguities in this Agreement shall be
resolved against any party. Any controversy over construction of this Agreement
shall be decided without regard to events of authorship or negotiation.
11.11. 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 terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless
remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of
the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to
any party. Upon a 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 in an acceptable manner to the end that
transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.
11.12. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
--------------------
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN
ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR
OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
11.13. Headings; Construction. The headings contained in this Agreement
----------------------
are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. In this Agreement (a) words denoting the
singular include the plural and vice versa, (b) "it" or "its" or words denoting
any gender include all genders, (c) the word "including" shall mean "including
without limitation," whether or not expressed, (d) any reference herein to a
Section, Article, Paragraph, Clause or Schedule refers to a Section, Article,
Paragraph or Clause of or a Schedule to this Agreement, unless otherwise stated,
and (e) when calculating the period of time within or following which any act is
to be done or steps taken, the date which is the reference day in calculating
such period shall be excluded and if the last day of such period is not a
Business Day, then the period shall end on the next day which is a Business Day.
* * *
-48-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
XXXX XX HOLDING CORP. CB XXXXXXX XXXXX SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ Claus X. Xxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------- ----------------------------------
Its: President Its: Senior Executive Vice President
-------------------------- ---------------------------------
and General Counsel
---------------------------------
XXXX XX CORP.
By: /s/ Claus X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------
Its: President
--------------------------
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