AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER among LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH, INC., LION HOLDINGS, INC. and LION MERGER CORP. Dated as of July 8, 2009
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
LIFE
SCIENCES RESEARCH, INC.,
LION
HOLDINGS, INC.
and
LION
MERGER CORP.
Dated as
of July 8, 2009
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
|||
ARTICLE
I
|
The
Merger; Closing; Effective Time
|
1
|
|
1.1
|
The
Merger
|
1
|
|
1.2
|
Closing
|
1
|
|
1.3
|
Effective
Time
|
1
|
|
ARTICLE
II
|
Charter
and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation
|
2
|
|
2.1
|
The
Charter
|
2
|
|
2.2
|
The
Bylaws
|
2
|
|
ARTICLE
III
|
Officers
and Directors of the Surviving Corporation
|
2
|
|
3.1
|
Director
|
2
|
|
3.2
|
Officers
|
2
|
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
Effect
of the Merger on Capital Stock: Exchange of
Certificates
|
2
|
|
4.1
|
Effect
on Capital Stock
|
2
|
|
4.2
|
Exchange
of Certificates
|
3
|
|
4.3
|
Treatment
of Stock Plans and Warrants
|
5
|
|
4.4
|
Adjustments
to Prevent Dilution
|
5
|
|
ARTICLE
V
|
Representations
and Warranties
|
6
|
|
5.1
|
Representations
and Warranties of the Company
|
6
|
|
5.2
|
Representations
and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub
|
20
|
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
Covenants
|
23
|
|
6.1
|
Interim
Operations
|
23
|
|
6.2
|
Acquisition
Proposals
|
25
|
|
6.3
|
Information
Supplied
|
28
|
|
6.4
|
Stockholders
Meeting
|
28
|
|
6.5
|
Filings;
Other Actions; Notification
|
29
|
|
6.6
|
Access
and Reports
|
30
|
|
6.7
|
NYSE
Arca De-listing
|
30
|
|
6.8
|
Publicity
|
31
|
|
6.9
|
Employee
Benefits
|
31
|
|
6.10
|
Expenses
|
31
|
|
6.11
|
Indemnification;
Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance
|
31
|
|
6.12
|
Takeover
Statutes
|
33
|
|
6.13
|
Rule
16b-3
|
33
|
|
6.14
|
Financing
|
33
|
|
6.15
|
Stockholder
Litigation
|
34
|
|
6.16
|
Confidentiality
|
34
|
|
6.17
|
Resignations
|
35
|
|
6.18
|
Capitalization;
Related Matters
|
35
|
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
Conditions
|
35
|
|
7.1
|
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger
|
35
|
|
7.2
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
|
36
|
|
7.3
|
Conditions
to Obligation of the Company
|
36
|
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
Termination
|
37
|
|
8.1
|
Termination
by Mutual Consent; Automatic Termination
|
37
|
|
8.2
|
Termination
by Either Parent or the Company
|
37
|
|
8.3
|
Termination
by the Company
|
37
|
|
8.4
|
Termination
by Parent
|
38
|
|
8.5
|
Effect
of Termination and Abandonment
|
39
|
|
ARTICLE
IX
|
Miscellaneous
|
42
|
|
9.1
|
Survival
|
42
|
|
9.2
|
Modification
or Amendment
|
42
|
|
9.3
|
Extensions;
Waivers
|
43
|
|
9.4
|
Counterparts
|
43
|
|
9.5
|
Governing
Law
|
43
|
|
9.6
|
Arbitration
|
43
|
|
9.7
|
Notices
|
44
|
|
9.8
|
Entire
Agreement
|
44
|
|
9.9
|
No
Third Party Beneficiaries
|
44
|
|
9.10
|
Obligations
of Parent and of the Company
|
45
|
|
9.11
|
Definitions
|
45
|
|
9.12
|
Severability
|
45
|
|
9.13
|
Interpretation;
Construction
|
45
|
|
9.14
|
Assignment
|
46
|
|
Annex
A
|
Defined
Terms
|
A-1
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
Form
of Charter of the Surviving Corporation
|
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER (hereinafter called this “Agreement”),
dated as of July 8, 2009, among Life Sciences Research, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the “Company”),
Lion Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”),
and Lion Merger Corp., a Maryland corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent (“Merger Sub”;
the Company and Merger Sub sometimes being hereinafter collectively referred to
as the “Constituent
Corporations”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the respective boards of directors of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company
have approved and declared advisable the merger of Merger Sub with and into the
Company (the “Merger”)
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and
have approved this Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
the Company, Parent and Merger Sub desire to make certain representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with this
Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
ARTICLE
I
The Merger; Closing;
Effective Time
1.1. The
Merger
Upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the
Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company and the
separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease. The
Company shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes hereinafter
referred to as the “Surviving
Corporation”), and the separate corporate existence of the Company, with
all of its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises, shall continue
unaffected by the Merger, except as set forth in Article II. The Merger shall
have the effects specified in the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”).
1.2. Closing
Unless
otherwise mutually agreed in writing between the Company and Parent, the closing
for the Merger (the “Closing”)
shall take place at a location to be agreed by the parties at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern
Time) on the second business day (the “Closing
Date”) following the day on which the last to be satisfied or waived of
the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by
their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment
or waiver of those conditions) shall be satisfied or waived in accordance with
this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “business
day” shall mean any day ending at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) other than a
Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks are required or authorized to close
in the City of New York, New York.
1.3. Effective
Time
As soon
as practicable following the Closing, the Company and Parent will cause the
Articles of Merger (the “Articles
of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the State
Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland. The Merger shall
become effective at the time when the Articles of Merger have been accepted for
record by the State Department of Assessment and Taxation of Maryland or at such
later time as may be agreed by the parties hereto in writing and specified in
the Articles of Merger, not to exceed thirty (30) days after the Articles of
Merger are accepted for record (the “Effective
Time”).
ARTICLE
II
Charter and
Bylaws
of the Surviving
Corporation
2.1. The
Charter
The
charter of the Company shall be amended as a result of the Merger so as to read
in its entirety as set forth in Exhibit A hereto
and as so amended shall be the charter of the Surviving Corporation (the “Charter”),
until duly amended as provided therein or by applicable Laws.
2.2. The
Bylaws
The
bylaws of the Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation (the “Bylaws”),
until thereafter amended as provided therein, by the Charter of the Surviving
Corporation or by applicable Laws.
ARTICLE
III
Officers and
Directors
of the Surviving
Corporation
3.1. Director
The
director of Merger Sub shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the director
of the Surviving Corporation until such director’s successor shall have been
duly elected and qualify or until his or her earlier death, resignation or
removal in accordance with the Charter and the Bylaws.
3.2. Officers
The
officers of the Company at the Effective Time shall, from and after the
Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until their
successors shall have been duly elected or appointed and qualify or until their
earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Charter and the
Bylaws.
ARTICLE
IV
Effect of the Merger on
Capital Stock:
Exchange of
Certificates
4.1. Effect on Capital
Stock
At the
Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of
the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or the holder of any capital stock of the
Company:
(a) Merger
Consideration. Each share of the voting common stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of the Company (a “Share”
or, collectively, the “Shares”)
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than
Shares owned by Parent, Merger Sub or any other direct or indirect wholly owned
Subsidiary of Parent and Shares owned by any direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, and in each case not held on behalf of third parties)
shall be converted into the right to receive $8.50 per Share in cash (the “Per
Share Merger Consideration”). At the Effective Time, all of
the Shares shall cease to be outstanding, shall be cancelled and shall cease to
exist, each certificate (a “Certificate”)
formerly representing any of the Shares shall thereafter represent only the
right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration, without
interest. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge and
agree that to the extent any Shares have been contributed to Parent prior to or
in connection with the Effective Time, such contribution shall be deemed to have
occurred immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(b) Merger
Sub. At the Effective Time, each share of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be converted into one share of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
4.2. Exchange of
Certificates.
(a) Paying
Agent. At or prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall
deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with a paying agent selected by Parent
with the Company’s prior approval (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed) (unless a paying agent reasonably acceptable to the Parent and
Company is not available on commercially reasonable terms, in which case the
Company shall act as paying agent hereunder) (such paying agent or the Company,
as applicable, the “Paying
Agent”), for the benefit of the holders of Shares, a cash amount in
immediately available funds necessary for the Paying Agent to make payments
under Section 4.1(a) (such cash being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange
Fund”). The Paying Agent shall invest the Exchange Fund as
directed by Parent; provided that such
investments shall be in obligations of or guaranteed by the United States of
America or obligations of an agency of the United States of America which are
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of
America. Any interest and other income resulting from such investment
shall become a part of the Exchange Fund, and any amounts in excess of the
amounts payable under Section 4.1(a) shall be promptly returned to the Surviving
Corporation. To the extent that there are losses with respect to any
such investments, the Exchange Fund diminishes for any reason below the level
required to make prompt cash payment under Section 4.1(a), Parent shall, or
shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, promptly replace, restore or increase
the cash in the Exchange Fund so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is at all
times maintained at a level sufficient to make such payments under Section
4.1(a).
(b) Exchange
Procedures. Promptly after the Effective Time (and in any
event within two (2) business days), the Surviving Corporation shall cause the
Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record of Shares (i) a letter of
transmittal in customary form specifying that delivery shall be effected, and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the
Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof as provided in Section
4.2(e)) to the Paying Agent, such letter of transmittal to be in such form and
have such other provisions as Parent and the Company may reasonably agree, and
(ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates (or
affidavits of loss in lieu thereof as provided in Section 4.2(e)) in exchange
for the Per Share Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a
Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof as provided in Section 4.2(e))
to the Paying Agent in accordance with the terms of such letter of transmittal,
duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in
exchange therefor a cash amount in immediately available funds (after giving
effect to any required Tax withholdings as provided in Section 4.2(g)) equal to
(x) the number of Shares represented by such Certificate (or affidavit of loss
in lieu thereof as provided in Section 4.2(e)) multiplied by (y) the Per Share
Merger Consideration, and such Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be
cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on any amount payable
upon due surrender of the Certificates. In the event of a transfer of
ownership of Shares that is not registered in the transfer records of the
Company, if the Certificate formerly representing such Shares is presented to
the Paying Agent, accompanied by all documents reasonably required to evidence
and effect such transfer and to evidence that any applicable stock transfer
taxes have been paid or are not applicable, the Paying Agent shall deliver to
such transferee an amount of cash in immediately available funds to be exchanged
upon due surrender of such Certificate.
(c) Transfers. All
Per Share Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of
Certificates in accordance with the terms of this Article IV shall be
deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the
Shares formerly represented by such Certificates. From and after the
Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of the
Company of the Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time. If, after the Effective Time, any Certificate is presented to
the Surviving Corporation, Parent or the Paying Agent for transfer, it shall be
cancelled and exchanged for the cash amount in immediately available funds to
which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to this Article
IV. From and after the Effective Time, holders of Certificates shall
cease to have any rights as stockholders of the Company, except as otherwise
provided herein or by Law.
(d) Termination of Exchange
Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including the proceeds
of any investments thereof) that remains unclaimed by the stockholders of the
Company for one year after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the
Surviving Corporation. Any holder of Shares who has not theretofore
complied with this Article IV shall thereafter look only to Parent and the
Surviving Corporation for payment of the Per Share Merger Consideration upon due
surrender of its Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof as provided
in Section 4.2(e)), without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, none of the Surviving Corporation, Parent, the Paying Agent or any
other Person shall be liable to any former holder of Shares for any amount
required to be delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar Laws. For the purposes of this
Agreement, the term “Person”
shall mean any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or
limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust,
association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity of any kind or
nature.
(e) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates. In the event any Certificate shall have been
lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the
Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if
required by Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond in customary amount and
upon such terms as may be required by Parent as indemnity against any claim that
may be made against it or the Surviving Corporation with respect to such
Certificate, the Paying Agent will deliver to such Person cash in immediately
available funds in the amount (after giving effect to any required Tax
withholdings as provided in Section 4.2(g)) equal to the number of Shares
represented by such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate multiplied by the Per
Share Merger Consideration.
(f) Appraisal
Rights. In accordance with the Company’s charter and Section
3-202(c) of the MGCL, no stockholder of the Company shall have any statutory
rights to demand and receive payment of the fair value of the stockholder’s
Shares as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
Merger.
(g) Withholding
Rights. Each of Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Shares such amounts as it is
required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under
the Code, or any other applicable state, local or foreign Tax Law. To
the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving Corporation or Parent,
as the case may be, such withheld amounts shall (i) be remitted by Parent or the
Surviving Corporation, as applicable, to the applicable Governmental Entity and
(ii) be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the
holder of Shares in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by
the Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be. Parent and
Merger Sub agree that no amounts will be withheld pursuant to Code Section 1445
with respect to any amounts payable under this Agreement.
4.3. Treatment of Stock Plans and
Warrants
(a) Options. Except
as may be separately agreed in writing prior to the Effective Time by Parent and
the holder of any option to purchase Shares (a “Company
Option”) (with respect to such holder’s Company Options only), at the
Effective Time, each outstanding Company Option under the Stock Plans shall
become fully exercisable and vested, shall be cancelled and shall only entitle
the holder thereof to receive, as soon as reasonably practicable after the
Effective Time (but in any event no later than three (3) business days after the
Effective Time), an amount in cash equal to (x) the total number of Shares
subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time
multiplied by (y) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Merger Consideration over
the exercise price per Share under such Company Option, less applicable Taxes
required to be withheld with respect to such payment. The Company agrees to use
commercially reasonable efforts to take all actions reasonably sufficient
(including any action reasonably requested by Parent) to effectuate immediately
prior to the Effective Time the cancellation of all Company Stock
Options.
(b) Restricted
Stock. At the Effective Time, each outstanding share of
restricted stock (“Restricted
Stock”) under the Stock Plans shall become fully vested, shall be
cancelled and shall only entitle the holder thereof to receive, as soon as
reasonably practicable after the Effective Time (but in any event no later than
three (3) business days after the Effective Time), an amount in cash equal to
(x) the total number of shares of such Restricted Stock immediately prior to the
Effective Time multiplied by (y) the Per Share Merger Consideration, less
applicable Taxes required to be withheld with respect to such
payment.
(c) Warrants. At
the Effective Time, each outstanding Warrant shall be cancelled and shall only
entitle the holder thereof to receive, as soon as reasonably practicable after
the Effective Time (but in any event no later than three (3) business days after
the Effective Time), an amount in cash equal to (x) the total number of Shares
subject to such Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by
(y) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Merger Consideration over the exercise
price per Share under such Warrant, less applicable Taxes required to be
withheld with respect to such payment.
(d) Corporate
Actions. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company, the
board of directors of the Company (subject to the exercise of the directors’
duties under applicable Law) and the compensation committee of the board of
directors of the Company (subject to the exercise of the directors’ duties under
applicable Law), as applicable, shall adopt resolutions and take all actions
necessary to implement the provisions of Sections 4.3(a), 4.3(b), 4.3(c) and
this Section 4.3(d). Except as otherwise provided herein or agreed to
in writing by Parent and the Company or as may be necessary to administer
Company Options or Restricted Stock remaining outstanding following the
Effective Time, the Stock Plans shall be terminated effective as of the
Effective Time and no participant in the Stock Plans shall thereafter be granted
any rights thereunder to acquire any equity securities of the Company, the
Surviving Corporation, Parent or any Subsidiary of any of the
foregoing.
4.4. Adjustments to Prevent
Dilution
In the
event that the Company changes the number of Shares or securities convertible or
exchangeable into or exercisable for Shares issued and outstanding prior to the
Effective Time as a result of a reclassification, stock split (including a
reverse stock split), stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization, merger,
issuer tender or exchange offer or other similar transaction, the Per Share
Merger Consideration shall be equitably adjusted.
ARTICLE
V
Representations and
Warranties
5.1. Representations and
Warranties of the Company
Except as
set forth in the corresponding sections or subsections of the disclosure letter
delivered to Parent by the Company prior to or concurrently with entering into
this Agreement (the “Company
Disclosure Letter”), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent
and Merger Sub that:
(a) Organization, Good Standing
and Qualification. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is
a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
Laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite
corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and is
qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or
similar entity in each jurisdiction where the ownership, leasing or operation of
its assets or properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except where the failure to be so organized, qualified or in good standing, or
to have such power or authority, are not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The
Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of the
Company’s and its Significant Subsidiaries’ charters and bylaws or comparable
governing documents, each as amended to the date hereof, and each as so made
available is in effect on the date hereof. As used in this Agreement,
the term (i) “Subsidiary”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which at least a majority
of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing
similar functions is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person
and/or by one or more of its Subsidiaries and, unless otherwise indicated
herein, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a
Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) “Significant
Subsidiary” is as defined in Rule 1.02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), and (iii) “Company
Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, development,
change or effect that (i) has a material adverse effect on the financial
condition, properties, assets, liabilities, business or results of operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) would reasonably be
expected to prevent the Company from consummating the Merger or prevent the
Company from performing its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that none of
the following shall constitute or be taken into account in determining whether
there has been or is a Company Material Adverse Effect:
(A) events,
circumstances, developments, changes or effects in the economy or financial
markets generally in the United States or other countries in which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries conduct operations or that are the result of acts of
war or terrorism so long as such events, circumstances, developments, changes or
effects do not adversely affect the Company or its Subsidiaries in a materially
disproportionate manner relative to participants in the pharmaceutical industry
or any industry in which the Company or its Subsidiaries operate;
(B) events,
circumstances, developments, changes or effects that are the result of factors
generally affecting the pharmaceutical industry or any industry in which the
Company and its Subsidiaries operate so long as such events, circumstances,
developments, changes or effects do not adversely affect the Company or its
Subsidiaries in a materially disproportionate manner relative to participants in
either the pharmaceutical industry or any industry in which the Company or its
Subsidiaries operate, respectively;
(C) any
loss or threatened loss of, or adverse change or threatened adverse change in,
the relationship of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with its customers,
employees, financing sources or vendors caused by the pendency or the
announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(D) events,
circumstances, developments, changes or effects arising from the entry into,
actions contemplated by or the performance of obligations required by this
Agreement, including any litigation or other proceeding arising therefrom, and
any actions taken by the Company and its Subsidiaries to obtain approval under
applicable antitrust or competition laws for consummation of the
Merger;
(E) changes
in any Laws or U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”),
or interpretation thereof after the date hereof;
(F) any
failure by the Company to meet any estimates of revenues or earnings for any
period ending on or after June 30, 2008, provided that the
exception in this clause shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination
that any change, effect, circumstance or development underlying such failure has
resulted in, or contributed to, a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(G) a
decline in the price or trading volume of the Company’s voting common stock,
provided that
the exception in this clause shall not prevent or otherwise affect a
determination that any change, effect, circumstance or development underlying
such decline has resulted in, or contributed to, a Company Material Adverse
Effect; and
(H) events,
circumstances, developments, changes or effects arising out of compliance by any
of the parties with Section 6.16.
(b) Capital
Structure.
(i) The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 60,000,000 shares of stock,
of which 50,000,000 shares are classified as voting common stock, par value
$0.01 per share; 5,000,000 shares are classified as non-voting common stock, par
value $0.01 per share, none of which were outstanding as of the date hereof; and
5,000,000 shares are classified as preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share,
none of which were outstanding as of the date hereof. 13,349,095
Shares were outstanding as of the close of business on July 6,
2009. All of the outstanding Shares have been duly authorized and are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. As of July 6, 2009,
other than (i) 1,950,000 Shares reserved for issuance under the 2001 Equity
Incentive Plan and 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Stock
Plans”), (ii) 1,471,900 Shares subject to issuance upon the exercise of
the warrants listed on Section 5.1(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter (the
“Warrants”),
the Company has no Shares reserved for issuance. Section 5.1(b)(i) of
the Company Disclosure Letter contains a correct and complete list of Warrants
and options and restricted stock outstanding under the Stock Plans in each case
as of the date hereof, including the holder, date of grant, term, number of
Shares and, where applicable, exercise price. Each of the outstanding
shares of capital stock or other equity securities of each of the Company’s
Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
and, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, owned by the Company or by a
direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, free and clear of any
lien, charge, pledge, security interest, claim or other encumbrance (each, a
“Lien”).
(ii) There are
no preemptive rights that obligate the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries to issue or sell any shares of capital stock or other equity
securities of the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries. There are no other outstanding rights, options,
warrants, conversion rights, stock appreciation rights, redemption rights,
repurchase rights, agreements, arrangements, calls, commitments or rights of any
kind that obligate the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries to issue
or sell any shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Company or
any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any securities or obligations convertible
or exchangeable into or exercisable for, or giving any Person a right to
subscribe for or acquire, any equity securities of the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries, and no securities or obligations evidencing such
rights are authorized, issued or outstanding, in each case except for the
Warrants and the Company Options. Upon any issuance of any Shares in
accordance with the terms of the Stock Plans or Warrants, as applicable, such
Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and
free and clear of any Liens. The Company does not have outstanding
any bonds, debentures or other obligations the holders of which have the right
to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to
vote) with the stockholders of the Company on any matter. For
purposes of this Agreement, a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company shall
include any Subsidiary of the Company all of the shares of capital stock of
which are owned by the Company (or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company).
(iii) Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary owns an equity interest in any entity, or an
interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for an equity interest,
constituting 50% or less of the total outstanding amount of the equity interests
of such entity (collectively, the “Investments”).
(c) Corporate Authority;
Approval and Fairness.
(i) The
Company has all requisite corporate power and authority and (assuming the
representations of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Section 5.2(i) are true
and correct) has taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute and
deliver this Agreement and, subject only to the approval of the Merger by (A)
the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote on
such matter at a stockholders’ meeting duly called and held for such purpose
(the “Maryland
Law Vote”) and (B) a majority of the votes cast by holders of outstanding
Shares entitled to vote on such matter at a stockholders’ meeting duly called
and held for such purpose, not including for purposes of this clause (B) any
votes cast by Parent, Merger Sub or any Interested Party (the “Neutralized
Vote” and, together with the Maryland Law Vote, the “Company
Requisite Vote”), to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to
consummate the Merger. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
and to general equity principles (the “Bankruptcy
and Equity Exception”). For purposes of this Section
5.1(c)(i), “Interested Party” means
(i) Xxxxxx Xxxxx, (ii) any Person who beneficially owns Shares, if any, that has
entered into an agreement, arrangement or understanding with Parent or Merger
Sub or any of their respective affiliates to (x) provide equity financing for
the Merger or (B) vote or give any consents (or withhold any such votes or
consents) with respect to any Shares in respect of the Merger or any similar
transaction and (iii) any officer, director, partner, member or employee of
Parent or Merger Sub.
(ii) The (A)
board of directors of the Company has (I) determined that the Merger is in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders, approved and declared
advisable this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby and resolved to recommend approval of the Merger to the holders of Shares
(the “Company
Recommendation”), and (II) subject to the terms of this Agreement,
directed that the Merger be submitted to the holders of Shares for their
approval at a stockholders’ meeting duly called and held for such purpose and
(B) special committee of the board of directors of the Company has received the
opinion of its financial advisor to the effect that, based on and subject to the
various assumptions, matters considered and limitations described in such
opinion, the Per Share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of
Shares (other than Parent, any Interested Parties and their respective
affiliates) in the Merger is fair from a financial point of view, as of the date
of such opinion, to such holders. It is agreed and understood that
such opinion is for the benefit of the special committee of the Company’s board
of directors and may not be relied on by Parent or Merger Sub.
(d) Governmental Filings; No
Violations; Certain Contracts.
(i) Other
than the filings and/or notices (A) pursuant to Section 1.3, (B) under the
Exchange Act, including the filing of the Proxy Statement and a Schedule 13E-3
regarding the transactions contemplated hereby (such schedule, including any
amendment or supplement thereto, the “Schedule
13E-3”) and (C) under the rules of NYSE Arca (collectively, the “Company
Approvals”), no notices, reports or other filings are required to be made
by the Company with, nor are any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or
authorizations required to be obtained by the Company from, any Governmental
Entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby, except those that the failure to make or
obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The term “Governmental
Entity” means each U.S. domestic or foreign governmental or regulatory
authority, agency, commission, body, court or other legislative, executive or
judicial governmental entity (including each and every federal, state, local or
foreign court, authority, agency, commission, body or other legislative,
executive or judicial governmental entity with jurisdiction over enforcement of
any applicable antitrust or competition Laws (each a “Government
Antitrust Entity”)). Section 5.1(d)(i) of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and correct list of all consents and waivers
required in respect of any Contract as a result of the Merger (the “Required
Consents”).
(ii) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company do not, and
the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby
will not, constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default
under, the charter or bylaws of the Company or the comparable governing
instruments of any of its Significant Subsidiaries, (B) with or without notice,
lapse of time or both, a breach or violation of, a termination (or right of
termination) or a default under, the creation or acceleration of any obligations
or the creation of a Lien on any of the assets of the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to, any Contract binding upon the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or (C) assuming compliance with the matters referred to
in Section 5.l(d)(i), a violation of any Laws to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is subject, except, in the case of clause (B) or (C) above, for any
such breach, violation, termination, default, creation, acceleration or change
that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have
a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially impair the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
term “Contract”
means any agreement, lease, license, contract, note, mortgage, indenture or
other document to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the
Company or a Subsidiary or any property or asset of the Company or any
Subsidiary is bound (I) not otherwise terminable by the other party thereto on
sixty (60) days’ or less notice and which involves payments to or from the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries of $1.0 million or more in the aggregate
during any year; (II) on which the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
is materially dependent; (III) between the Company or a Subsidiary and any
affiliate thereof (excluding the Company or any other Subsidiary) of the type
that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K (“Regulation
S-K”) promulgated by the SEC; (IV) which, if breached, violated or
terminated, would reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse
Effect; (V) which relates to or evidences Specified Indebtedness (including any
guarantee (to the extent such guarantee itself constitutes Specified
Indebtedness) of Specified Indebtedness of any third party other than a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) with respect to which $1.0 million or
more in principal is outstanding individually with respect to such Specified
Indebtedness; and (VI) which is required to be filed as an exhibit to the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation
S-K promulgated by the SEC. The term “Specified
Indebtedness” means all items constituting Indebtedness under clauses
(i), (ii), (iii), (v), (vi), (vii) and (ix) (but limited in the case of clause
(ix) to guarantees of items otherwise constituting Specified Indebtedness as
defined herein) of the definition of “Indebtedness” in the Financing Agreement
(as in effect on the date thereof).
(iii) As of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date, no Default (as defined in the Financing
Agreement (the “Financing
Agreement”) dated as of March 1, 2006 among a Subsidiary of the Company,
as borrower, the Company, as guarantor, the other guarantors named therein and
the lenders from time to time party thereto, as in effect on the date hereof)
under Section 9.01(a), (g) or (k) of the Financing Agreement or Event of Default
(as defined in the Financing Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) has
occurred and is continuing.
(e) Company Reports; Financial
Statements.
(i) The
Company has filed or furnished, as applicable, on a timely basis all statements
and reports required to be filed or furnished by it with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), since December 31, 2007 (the “Applicable
Date”) (the statements and reports filed or furnished since the
Applicable Date and those filed or furnished subsequent to the date hereof,
including any amendments thereto, the “Company
Reports”). Each of the Company Reports, at the time of its
filing or being furnished, complied or, if not yet filed or furnished, will
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company Reports, except in each case
with respect to such exemptions granted or afforded to the Company or its
Subsidiaries by the SEC or its staff in connection with confidentiality
arrangements. As of their respective dates (or, if amended prior to
the date hereof, as of the date of such amendment), the Company Reports did not,
and any Company Reports filed or furnished with the SEC subsequent to the date
hereof will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements made therein (except in each case with respect to any redactions and
omissions permitted to be made by the Company pursuant to confidentiality
arrangements granted or afforded to the Company or its Subsidiaries by the SEC
or its staff), in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.
(ii) Each of
the consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference into
the Company Reports filed by the Company with the SEC on or prior to the date
hereof (including the related notes and schedules) fairly presents in all
material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of its date, and each of the consolidated
statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows included in or
incorporated by reference into the Company Reports filed by the Company with the
SEC on or prior to the date hereof (including any related notes and schedules)
fairly presents in all material respects the consolidated results of operations,
retained earnings and changes in financial position, as the case may be, of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to notes and year-end
adjustments), in each case in accordance with GAAP, except as may be noted
therein.
(iii) Except as
and to the extent set forth on the consolidated balance sheets of the Company
and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2008 or March 31, 2009,
included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2008 or the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarter ended March 31, 2009, as applicable, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has any liability or obligation of any nature (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise), except for liabilities and obligations (i)
incurred in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with past
practice since Xxxxx 00, 0000, (xx) incurred in connection with the Merger or
any other transaction or agreement contemplated by this Agreement or (iii) that
have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) (A) As of
the date hereof and at the Closing Date (but prior to the Merger), the Company
and its Subsidiaries shall have no outstanding Specified Indebtedness other than
(w) not more than $56.0 million in principal amount of the
loans outstanding under the Financing Agreement, (x) the Indebtedness and
obligations under the Alconbury Leases (as defined in the Financing Agreement as
of the date hereof) and (y) other Specified Indebtedness not to exceed $4.5
million in the aggregate; (B) as of the date hereof, the aggregate amount of
cash and cash equivalents of the Company and its direct and indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiaries (as determined in accordance with GAAP), is not less
than $34.0 million; and (C) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date
(but immediately prior to the Merger), Qualified Cash of the Loan Parties (each
as defined under the Financing Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) shall
be no less than $20,000,000. For purposes of this Section 5.1(e)(iv),
(x) with respect to any assets or liabilities denominated in UK pound sterling,
all amounts expressed in US dollars shall mean the equivalent amount in UK pound
sterling using the current exchange rate between US dollars and UK pound
sterling in effect on the date hereof; and (y) no guarantee of Specified
Indebtedness shall be included in the calculation of Specified Indebtedness if
the underlying Specified Indebtedness subject to such guarantee is itself
included in such calculation.
(v) The
Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15
or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act.
(f) Absence of Certain
Changes. Since March 31, 2009, except for matters expressly
contemplated by this Agreement, the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted
their respective businesses only in, and have not engaged in any material
transaction other than according to, the ordinary course of such businesses and
there has not been:
(i) any
change in the financial condition, properties, assets, liabilities, business or
results of their operations that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or
would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect;
(ii) any
material damage, destruction or other casualty loss with respect to any material
asset or property owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to
the extent not covered by insurance, that, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect;
(iii) any
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution with
respect to any shares of capital stock of the Company;
(iv) any
material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or
(v) any
commitment made by the Company or any agreement entered into by the Company in
each case requiring the Company to take any action that would be prohibited by
Section 6.1(a) hereof if taken after the date hereof.
(g) Litigation.
(i) As of the
date of this Agreement, there are no civil, criminal or administrative actions,
suits, claims, hearings, arbitrations, investigations or other proceedings
pending (in which service of process has been received by an employee of the
Company or any Subsidiary) or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to
or subject to the provisions of any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or
award of any Governmental Entity which, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
The term
“Knowledge”
when used in this Agreement with respect to the Company shall mean the knowledge
of those Persons set forth in Section 5.1(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter
(after reasonable inquiry by such Persons of other Persons that might reasonably
be expected to have knowledge of the subject matter).
(h) Employee
Benefits.
(i) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Benefit Plans” means all benefit and compensation
plans, contracts, policies or arrangements covering current or former employees
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Employees”)
and current or former directors or independent contractors of the Company and
its Subsidiaries under which there is or may be a continuing financial
obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary, including “employee benefit plans”
within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”),
and deferred compensation, severance, vacation, stock option, stock purchase,
stock appreciation rights, stock based, incentive and bonus plans, other than
Benefit Plans maintained outside of the United States primarily for the benefit
of the Employees working outside of the United States (such plans hereinafter
being referred to as “Non-U.S.
Benefit Plans”). All material Benefit Plans are listed on
Schedule 5.1(h)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and each Benefit Plan that
has received a favorable determination or opinion letter from the Internal
Revenue Service (the “IRS”)
has been separately identified. True and complete copies of the
following have been made available to Parent: (i) all Benefit Plans listed on
Schedule 5.1(h)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (ii) each trust or funding
arrangement prepared in connection with each such Benefit Plan, (iii) the most
recently filed annual report on IRS Form 5500 for each Benefit Plan for which
such reports are required, (iv) the most recently received IRS determination
letter for each Benefit Plan for which such a determination letter has been
received, (v) the most recently prepared actuarial report for each Benefit Plan
for which such a report is required, (vi) the most recent summary plan
description and any summaries of material modification for each Benefit Plan,
and (vii) any employee handbooks.
(ii) All
Benefit Plans, other than “multiemployer plans” within the meaning of Section
3(37) of ERISA (each, a “Multiemplover
Plan”) and Non-U.S. Benefit Plans (collectively, “U.S.
Benefit Plans”), are in substantial compliance with ERISA, the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”),
and other applicable Laws. Each U.S. Benefit Plan which is subject to
ERISA (an “ERISA
Plan”) and that is an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning
of Section 3(2) of ERISA (a “Pension
Plan”) intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, has
received a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS or has applied
to the IRS for such favorable determination or opinion letter under Section
401(b) of the Code, and the Company is not aware of any circumstances likely to
result in the loss of the qualification of such Pension Plan under Section
401(a) of the Code. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has engaged in a transaction that could subject the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to a tax or penalty imposed by either Section 4975 of the Code or
Section 502(i) of ERISA in an amount that, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(iii) Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has or is expected to incur any material
liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any ongoing, frozen or
terminated “single-employer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of
ERISA, currently or formerly maintained or contributed to by any of them, or the
single-employer plan of, or contributed to by, any entity which is considered
one employer with the Company or a Subsidiary under Section 4001 of ERISA or
Section 414 of the Code (an “ERISA
Affiliate”). At no time since December 31 2002, has the
Company, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate, been required to contribute to a
Multiemployer Plan. Neither the Company, a Subsidiary nor any ERISA
Affiliate has incurred any withdrawal liability, within the meaning of Section
4201 of ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan nor does the Company, a Subsidiary or
any ERISA Affiliate have any potential withdrawal liability arising from a
transaction described in Section 4204 of ERISA. Neither the Company,
a Subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate has failed to satisfy the minimum funding
standards (within the meaning of Section 412 or 430 of the Code) with respect to
any employee pension benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA)
or has any liability for unpaid contributions with respect to any such
plan. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.1(h)(iii) does not
apply to Non-U.S. Benefit Plans.
(iv) There is
no material pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened litigation
relating to the Benefit Plans, other than routine claims for
benefits. No material administrative investigation, audit or other
administrative proceeding by the Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue
Service, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other Governmental Entity is
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(v) All
Non-U.S. Benefit Plans comply in all material respects with applicable
Law. All material Non-U.S. Benefit Plans are listed on Schedule
5.1(h)(v) of the Company Disclosure Letter. Each of the material
Non-U.S. Benefit Plans has obtained from the government or governments having
jurisdiction with respect to such plan any material required determinations that
such plans are in compliance with the laws and regulations of any
government. Since January 1, 2003, each material Non-U.S. Benefit
Plan has been administered at all times, in all material respects, in accordance
with its terms. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement will
not result in any accelerated or additional funding obligation with respect to
any Non-U.S. Benefit Plan.
(vi) No
payment which is or may be made by, from or with respect to any Benefit Plan, to
any employee, former employee, director or agent of the Company, a Subsidiary or
any ERISA Affiliate, either alone or in conjunction with any other payment,
event or occurrence, will or could properly be characterized as an “excess
parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code. No Benefit Plan
exists that would reasonably be expected to result in the payment to any
Employee, director or independent contractor of the Company or any Subsidiary of
any money or other property, result in a requirement to fund or accelerate
funding of any trust or other account or plan, result in the forgiveness of
indebtedness or accelerate or provide any other rights or benefits (including
the acceleration of the accrual or vesting of any benefits under any Benefit
Plan or the acceleration or creation of any rights under any severance,
parachute or change in control agreement or the right to receive any transaction
bonus or other similar payment) to any Employee, director or independent
contractor of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of the consummation of
the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement (whether
alone or in connection with any other event).
(vii) No
Benefit Plan (other than the UK Pension Plan) provides post-termination or
retiree medical benefits, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any
obligation to provide any post-termination or retiree medical benefits other
than, in each case, for health care continuation as required by Section 4980B of
the Code or any similar statute. The term “UK
Pension Plan” when used in this Agreement means The LSR Pension and Life
Assurance Scheme, which is provided in the United Kingdom under a Trust Deed and
Rules dated December 14, 2001, as amended.
Notwithstanding
any other representation or warranty in Article V of this Agreement, the
representations and warranties contained in this Section 5.1(h) and in Section
5.1(m) shall constitute the sole representations and warranties of the Company
relating to employee benefit matters and labor relations.
(i) Compliance with Laws;
Licenses.
(A) The
businesses of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been since the
Applicable Date, and are not being, conducted in material violation of any
federal, state, local or foreign law, statute or ordinance, common law,
standard, or any rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree,
arbitration award, agency requirement, license or permit of any Governmental
Entity (collectively, “Laws”). Except
with respect to regulatory matters described in Sections 5.1(d)(i) or 6.5, no
investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened, except for those the outcome of which are not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries each has obtained and is in
material compliance with all material permits, certifications, approvals,
registrations, consents, authorizations, franchises, variances, exemptions and
orders issued or granted by a Governmental Entity (“Licenses”)
necessary to conduct its business as presently conducted. Since
December 31, 2006, the Company has not received any written notice from any
Governmental Entity requiring the termination or suspension or material
modification of any animal study, preclinical study or clinical trial conducted
by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(B) The
Company has disclosed, based on its management’s most recent evaluation of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors
and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company and, to the
extent required to be disclosed therein, in its reports under the Exchange Act
(i) any identified significant deficiencies and material weaknesses (as such
terms are defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Auditing
Standard No. 2) and (ii) any fraud of which the Company has Knowledge that
involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. To the extent
any such disclosure was made, the Company has made available to Parent a summary
of such disclosure.
(C) To
the Knowledge of the Company, since December 31, 2006, the Company has not
received any adverse complaint, allegation, assertion or claim in writing from
its auditors or the SEC regarding the accounting practices, procedures,
methodologies or methods of the Company or its internal control over financial
reporting.
(j) Takeover
Statutes. Assuming that the representations of Parent and
Merger Sub set forth in Section 5.2(i) are true and correct, the board of
directors of the Company has taken all necessary actions to render the
provisions of any “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition” or any
other state anti-takeover or similar statute, including Subtitles 6 and 7 of
Title 3 of the MGCL (collectively, “Takeover
Statutes”), inapplicable to this Agreement, the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(k) Environmental
Matters.
(i) Except
for such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect: (A) the Company and its
Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (B) the
Company and its Subsidiaries possess all permits, licenses, registrations,
identification numbers, authorizations and approvals required under applicable
Environmental Law for the operation of their respective businesses as presently
conducted; (C) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
written claim, notice of violation or citation or notice of potential
responsibility concerning any violation or alleged violation of or alleged or
potential liability under any applicable Environmental Law during the past two
years; (D) there are no writs, injunctions, decrees, orders or judgments
outstanding, or any actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, threatened, concerning compliance by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries with, or liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under,
any Environmental Laws; and (E) to the Knowledge of the Company, there has been
no Release of Materials of Environmental Concern at, on, under or from any of
the properties or facilities currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case which could reasonably be
expected to result in material liability to the Company or its Subsidiaries
under Environmental Law.
(ii) Notwithstanding
any other representation or warranty in Article V of this Agreement, the
representations and warranties contained in this Section 5.1(k) constitute the
sole representations and warranties of the Company relating to any Environmental
Law.
As used
herein, the term “Environmental
Law” means any applicable law, regulation, code, license, permit, order,
judgment, decree or injunction from any Governmental Entity (A) concerning
pollution, the protection of the environment, (including ambient air, indoor
air, water, soil and natural resources) or (B) the Release or threat of Release
of any Materials of Environmental Concern, in each case as presently in
effect.
As used
herein, the term “Materials of Environmental
Concern” means any substance, chemical, waste, material, pollutant,
contaminant, compound or constituent in any form, including petroleum, friable
asbestos, friable asbestos-containing material, and polychlorinated biphenyls
regulated or which could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under
applicable Environmental Laws.
As used
herein, the term “Release”
means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, emitting, discharging,
injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing or migrating into or through
the environment, or within or from any structure or facility.
(l) Taxes.
(i) (A) The
Company and each of its Subsidiaries (1) have prepared in good faith and timely
filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file) all Tax
Returns required to be filed on or before the Closing by any of them and all
such filed Tax Returns are complete and accurate, except where failure to so
prepare or file Tax Returns, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (2) have paid
all Taxes that are required to be paid or that the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries are obligated to withhold from amounts owing to any employee,
creditor or third party, except where failure to so pay or withhold,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, (3) have established adequate reserves in
accordance with GAAP for all Taxes not yet due and payable, (4) have not waived
any statute of limitations with respect to any Taxes or agreed to any extension
of time with respect to any Tax assessment or deficiency and (5) have no
liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any of the Subsidiaries of the
Company) under Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state,
local, or foreign law), or as a transferee or successor, (B) to the Company’s
Knowledge, there are no circumstances in existence on the date hereof which
would cause the disallowance of the carry forward of any material trading losses
of any Subsidiary of the Company under Schedule 20 of the Finance Xxx 0000, and
(C) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, all material claims by
any Subsidiary of the Company for research and development relief or for a
research and development tax credit under and within the meaning of Schedule 20
to the Finance Xxx 0000 have been duly made on a proper basis within any
applicable time limits and HM Revenue & Customs have not disputed or
challenged any Subsidiary’s entitlement to make any such claim and/or the amount
of any such clam. To the Company’s Knowledge, any material
expenditure by any Subsidiary of the Company which has been included in such a
claim constitutes a “qualifying expenditure” for the purposes of Schedule 20 of
the Finance Xxx 0000.
(ii) As of the
date hereof, there are not pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened in writing, any audits, examinations, investigations or other
proceedings in respect of Taxes or Tax matters of the Company. The
Company has made available to Parent true and correct copies of the United
States federal income Tax Returns filed by the Company and its Subsidiaries for
each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
(iii) Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any indemnification, allocation or
sharing agreement relating principally to Taxes.
As used
in this Agreement, (A) the term “Tax”
(including, with correlative meaning, the term “Taxes”)
shall mean all federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, franchise,
gross receipts, environmental, customs duty, capital stock, severances, stamp,
payroll, sales, employment, unemployment, disability, use, property,
withholding, excise, production, value added, occupancy and other taxes, duties
or assessments of any nature whatsoever, together with all interest, penalties
and additions imposed with respect to such amounts and any interest in respect
of such penalties and additions, and (B) the term “Tax
Return” includes all returns and reports (including elections,
declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information returns)
required to be supplied to a Tax authority relating to Taxes.
(m) Labor
Matters.
(i) Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise bound by any
collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor union, trade
union, works council or other labor organization (a “CBA”),
nor is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the subject of any material
proceeding asserting that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has committed
an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it to bargain with any labor union
or labor organization nor is there pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened, nor has there been since the Applicable Date, any labor strike,
walk-out, work stoppage or lockout involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in
compliance with all applicable Laws pertaining to the hiring, employment and
termination of the employment of employees, labor relations, equal employment
opportunities, fair employment practices, terms and conditions of employment,
hours of work and payment of wages or compensation, and granting of leaves of
absences, except for such non-compliance which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(ii) Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by in respect of any of
its directors or any employees employed in the United Kingdom (the “UK
Employees”) any arrangement for the making of any redundancy payments in
addition to statutory redundancy pay;
(iii) No
proceeding is outstanding between the Company or any Subsidiary and any current
or former UK Employee relating to his or her employment or its termination and
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any actual or contingent
liability in connection with any termination of employment of any UK Employees
(including redundancy payments) or for failure to comply with any order for the
reinstatement or re-engagement of any UK Employee, except for such proceedings,
liabilities and other matters which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse
Effect;
(iv) The
Merger and compliance by the Company with the terms of this Agreement will not
enable any UK Employees to receive any material payment or other benefit as a
result of the consummation of the Merger;
(v) There are
no material proceedings against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any
court of competent jurisdiction, in each case in relation to any UK Employee or
former UK Employee and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no such material proceedings
have been threatened and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has current
material disciplinary investigations, proceedings or appeals in respect of any
UK Employee or any former UK Employee and no UK Employee has given the Company
or any Subsidiary written notice of a material grievance which remains
unresolved; and
(vi) In the
last three years, to the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has been a party to a relevant transfer (as defined in the Transfer
of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006) as a result of
which any UK Employee has become an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary
which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result
in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Notwithstanding
any other representation or warranty in Article V of this Agreement, the
representations and warranties contained in this Section 5.1(m) and in Section
5.1(h) constitute the sole representations and warranties of the Company
relating to labor relations and employee benefit matters.
(n) Intellectual
Property.
(i) To the
Knowledge of the Company, (A) the Company and its Subsidiaries have valid rights
to use all Intellectual Property used in its business as presently conducted,
and (B) all of such rights shall survive unchanged the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except in each case as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Company
Material Adverse Effect. No material claim is pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or its Subsidiaries
concerning the ownership, validity, enforceability, infringement or use of any
Intellectual Property which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably
be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of
the Company, no person has engaged in any activity that has infringed upon
material Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has
exclusively licensed any Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
(ii) Section
5.1(n) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list
of all (i) registered trademarks, service marks, trade dress, and domain names,
and applications to register the foregoing, (ii) copyright registrations and
applications, and (iii) patents and patent applications, in each case which are
currently owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Scheduled
Intellectual Property”). All prosecution, maintenance, renewal
and other similar fees for the Scheduled Intellectual Property have been paid
and are current, and all registrations and applications therefor remain in full
force and effect.
(iii) To the
Knowledge of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries use Intellectual
Property under license from third parties only pursuant to valid, effective
written license agreements (collectively, the “Third
Party Licenses”).
(iv) The
Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions to
protect, preserve and maintain its material Intellectual Property and to
maintain the confidentiality and secrecy of and restrict the improper use of
material confidential information, trade secrets and proprietary information
under applicable Law. To the Knowledge of the Company, (i) there has
been no unauthorized disclosure of any material confidential information, trade
secrets or proprietary information of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (ii)
there has been no material breach of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s security
procedures wherein any material Company or Subsidiary confidential information,
trade secrets or proprietary information has been disclosed to a third
Person.
(v) For
purposes of this Agreement, the following term has the following
meaning:
“Intellectual
Property” means all (A) trademarks, service marks, certification marks,
collective marks, Internet domain names, logos, trade dress, trade names,
corporate names, and other indicia of origin, all applications and registrations
for the foregoing, and all goodwill associated therewith and symbolized thereby,
including all renewals of same; (B) inventions and discoveries, and all patents,
registrations, invention disclosures and applications therefor, including
divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part and renewal applications, and
including renewals, extensions and reissues; (C) confidential information, trade
secrets and know-how; and (D) published and unpublished works of authorship,
copyrights therein and thereto, computer software, rights in data, databases,
and registrations and applications therefor, and all renewals, extensions,
restorations and reversions thereof, and (E) all similar rights, however
denominated, throughout the world.
(vi) Notwithstanding
any other representation or warranty in Article V of this Agreement, the
representations and warranties contained in this Section 5.1(n) constitute the
sole representations and warranties of the Company relating to Intellectual
Property related matters.
(o) Insurance. All
material fire and casualty, general liability and business interruption
insurance policies maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Insurance
Policies”) are in full force and effect and all premiums due with respect
to all Insurance Policies have been paid, with such exceptions that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Real
Property. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns
any real property. The Company or its Subsidiaries lease, as lessee,
all of the real properties (including all improvements thereon) listed in Section 5.1(p) of the
Company Disclosure Letter (the “Company
Leases”).
(q) Contracts. (i)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, and to the Company’s
Knowledge, no counterparty is, in violation of or default under any Contract,
except in each case for violations that would not individually or in the
aggregate reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) none of the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any written
claim of default under any Contract or any written notice of an intention to
terminate, not renew or challenge the validity or enforceability of any Contract
which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result
in a Company Material Adverse Effect and (iii) to the Company’s Knowledge, no
event has occurred or condition exists which would result in or constitute a
breach, violation or default of, or a basis for force majeure under, any
Contract (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both), except
for any breach, violation, default or basis which would not individually or in
the aggregate reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse
Effect. A true and complete list of the Contracts in effect on the
date hereof is set forth in Section 5.1(q)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, except for Contracts filed as exhibits to
filings made with the SEC (or incorporated by reference therein) (subject to any
redactions and omissions permitted to be made by the Company or Parent pursuant
to confidentiality arrangements granted or afforded to the Company or its
Subsidiaries by the SEC or its staff).
(r) Related Party
Matters. Except as disclosed in the Company Reports and except
for ordinary course advances to employees, set forth in Section 5.1(r) of the
Company Disclosure Letter is a list of all Contracts entered into by the Company
or any of Subsidiary under which continuing obligations exist with any Person
who is an officer, director or affiliate (the term “affiliate,”
for purposes of this Agreement, has the meaning given to such term in Rule 12b-2
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries.
(s) Brokers and
Finders. Neither the Company nor any of its officers,
directors or employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any
liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders fees in connection with
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated in this Agreement except as
set forth in Section 5.1(s) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(t) Regulatory
Compliance.
(i) The
Company and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all
applicable Laws and regulations of any Governmental Entity (including the United
States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and the
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) and the
European Medicines Agency (“EMEA”)) applicable to
their respective businesses and operations. Neither the Company nor,
to the Company’s Knowledge, any Person acting on behalf of the Company has,
directly or indirectly, on behalf of the Company (i) made or received any
illegal political contribution, (ii) to the Company’s Knowledge, made or
received any payment that was not legal to make or receive, (iii) created or
used any “off-book” bank account or “slush fund” in material violation of
applicable Law or (iv) engaged in any conduct constituting a material violation
of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or any equivalent Laws
applicable in any other jurisdiction.
(ii) All animal
studies and other preclinical tests conducted by the Company and its
Subsidiaries since January 1, 2006 were, and if still pending, are being
conducted in all material respects in accordance with all applicable
experimental protocols, informed consents, procedures and controls of Company
and the relevant Subsidiary and in accordance in all material respects with all
applicable Laws and the regulations of any Governmental Entity (including
without limitation the FDA, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Act
of 1988 ( “CLIA”), the MHRA, the
EMEA and the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Xxx 0000 in the UK, good clinical
practice and good laboratory practice regulations). Since January 1,
2006, the Company has not received any written notice from the FDA, MHRA, EMEA
or any other Governmental Entity requiring the termination or suspension or
material modification of any animal study, preclinical study or clinical trial
conducted by or on behalf of the Company other than such notices which would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The
Company is not subject to any pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened material investigation by the FDA, MHRA or EMEA or any other
Governmental Entity.
(iii) To the
Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has a
relationship with a customer or supplier who is, or is a party to any Contract
with any Person that is, (i) on the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of
Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) list of
specially designated nationals and blocked Persons (the “SDN List”); or (ii)
owned or controlled by or acting on behalf of a Person on the SDN
List.
5.2. Representations and
Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub
Except as
set forth in the corresponding sections or subsections of the disclosure letter
delivered to the Company by Parent prior to or concurrently with entering into
this Agreement (the “Parent
Disclosure Letter” and together with the Company Disclosure Letter,
collectively, the “Disclosure
Letters”), Parent and Merger Sub each hereby represents and warrants to
the Company that:
(a) Organization, Good Standing
and Qualification. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws
of Delaware and Maryland, respectively, and has all requisite corporate or
similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets
and to carry on its business as presently conducted and is qualified to do
business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or similar entity in
each jurisdiction where the ownership, leasing or operation of its assets or
properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where
the failure to be so organized, qualified or in such good standing, or to have
such power or authority, are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to
consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Parent has made available to the Company a complete and
correct copy of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or comparable
governing documents of Parent and Merger Sub.
(b) Corporate
Authority. No vote of holders of capital stock of Parent is
necessary to approve or adopt this Agreement, the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated hereby. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has
all requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action
necessary (including stockholder approval) in order to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate
the Merger. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
each of Parent and Merger Sub and is a valid and binding agreement of Parent and
Merger Sub, enforceable against each of Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with
its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.
(c) Governmental
Filings: No Violations: Etc.
(i) Other
than the filings and/or notices pursuant to Section 1.3 and under the Exchange
Act, including the filing of the Schedule 13E-3 (collectively, the “Parent
Approvals”), no notices, reports or other filings are required to be made
by Parent or Merger Sub with, nor are any consents, registrations, approvals,
permits or authorizations required to be obtained by Parent or Merger Sub from,
any Governmental Entity in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by
Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby, except those that the failure to make or obtain would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the
ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(ii) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub
do not, and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated hereby will not, constitute or result in (A) a
breach or violation of, or a default under, the certificate of incorporation or
bylaws or comparable governing documents of Parent or Merger Sub or the
comparable governing instruments of any of Parent’s Subsidiaries (other than
Merger Sub), (B) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, a breach or
violation of, a termination (or right of termination) or a default under, the
creation or acceleration of any obligations or the creation of a Lien on any of
the assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, any material
agreement, contract or other document binding upon Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries or, assuming that all Parent Approvals have been obtained or made,
any Laws or governmental or non-governmental permit or license to which Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, or (C) any change in the rights or
obligations of any party under any of such agreements, contracts or documents,
except, in the case of clause (B) or (C) above, for any such breach, violation,
termination, default, creation, acceleration or change that, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair
the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) Litigation. There
are no civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings,
arbitrations, investigations or other proceedings pending or, to the knowledge
of the officers of Parent, threatened against Parent or Merger Sub that seek to
enjoin or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of preventing, making
illegal or otherwise interfering with any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Parent and
Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(e) Financing. Section
5.2(e) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth true and complete copies of
(i) the debt financing commitments (collectively, the “Debt
Financing Commitments”), pursuant to which lenders party thereto have
agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to lend the
amounts set forth therein for the purposes of financing the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and related fees and expenses (the “Debt
Financing”), and (ii) the equity financing commitments (collectively, the
“Equity
Financing Commitments” and together with the Debt Financing Commitments,
the “Financing
Commitments”), pursuant to which the investor parties thereto have
committed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to invest the
amount set forth therein (the “Equity
Financing” and together with the Debt Financing, the “Financing”). As
of the date hereof, none of the Financing Commitments has been amended or
modified, no such amendment or modification is contemplated, and the respective
commitments contained in the Financing Commitments have not been withdrawn or
rescinded in any respect. Parent has fully paid any and all
commitment fees or other fees in connection with the Financing Commitments that
are payable on or prior to the date hereof, and the Financing Commitments are in
full force and effect and are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of
Parent and Merger Sub and, to the knowledge of Parent and Merger Sub, the Equity
Financing Commitments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the
other parties thereto. There are no conditions precedent or other
contingencies related to the funding of the full amount of the Financing, other
than as set forth in or contemplated by the Financing Commitments. No
event has occurred which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would
constitute a default on the part of Parent or Merger Sub under any of the
Financing Commitments, and Parent has no reason to believe that any of the
conditions to the Financing contemplated by the Financing Commitments will not
be satisfied or that the Financing will not be made available to Parent on the
Closing Date. Upon the funding of the Financing in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Financing Commitments and this Agreement, and
assuming the accuracy of the representation of the Company set forth in Section
5.1(e)(iv), Parent and Merger Sub will have at and after the Closing funds
sufficient to pay the aggregate Per Share Merger Consideration (and any
repayment, refinancing or replacement of debt contemplated by this Agreement or
the Financing Commitments) and any other amounts required to be paid in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and to
pay all related fees and expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
obligations of Parent and Merger Sub hereunder are not subject to any conditions
regarding Financing, or the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to obtain
Financing.
(f) Capitalization. The
authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists solely of 10,000 shares of
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, all of which are validly issued and
outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
Merger Sub is, and at the Effective Time will be, owned by Parent or a direct or
indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub has not
conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no, and prior to the
Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature
other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. On or prior to the date hereof, Parent has provided to the
Company a summary that is accurate and complete in all material respects as of
the date hereof of the agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect
to the direct and indirect equity interests in, and governance mechanisms with
respect to, Parent, Merger Sub and Guarantor in effect on the date
hereof.
(g) Brokers and
Finders. No agent, broker, finder or investment banker is
entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub for which the Company could have
any liability.
(h) Guarantee. Concurrently
with the execution of this Agreement, Parent has caused LAB Holdings LLC (the
“Guarantor”)
to deliver to the Company a duly executed guarantee (the “Guarantee”)
with respect to certain matters on the terms set forth therein. As of
the date hereof and at all times hereafter until the earlier of the Closing and
the date on which all obligations of the Parent, Merger Sub and Guarantor under
Section 8.5 shall have been satisfied, the Guarantor has and will have funds
sufficient to pay all of the obligations of the Parent, Merger Sub and Guarantor
under Sections 8.5(c) and 8.5(d). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
obligations of Parent and Merger Sub hereunder are not subject to any conditions
regarding Financing, or the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to obtain
Financing. The Guarantee is in full force and effect and is the
valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Guarantor, and no event has
occurred, which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute
a default on the part of the Guarantor under the Guarantee.
(i) Title 3, Subtitle 6 of the
MGCL. To the knowledge of Parent, all prior issuances of
Shares, if any, by the Company directly to Parent and/or Merger Sub or any
affiliate of either of them previously identified to the Company, were duly
approved by the board of directors of the Company. On that basis,
neither Parent nor Merger Sub, nor any affiliate of either of them, is, and at
no time during the last five years has been, an “interested stockholder” of the
Company as defined in Title 3, Subtitle 6 of the MGCL.
(j) Parent Confidentiality
Documents. Parent has delivered to the Company true, correct
and complete copies of all agreements (including the Financing Commitments) to
which Parent or Merger Sub is a party as of the date hereof which contain
confidentiality provisions with respect to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (such agreements, together with the third amendment and
consent to the Financing Agreement entered into on or about the date hereof,
each as in effect on the date hereof, collectively, the “Parent
Confidentiality Documents”).
ARTICLE
VI
Covenants
6.1. Interim
Operations.
(a) The
Company covenants and agrees as to itself and its Subsidiaries that, from the
date of this Agreement until the Effective Time (unless Parent shall otherwise
approve in writing and except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this
Agreement and except as required by applicable Laws), the business of it and its
Subsidiaries shall be conducted in the ordinary and usual course and, to the
extent consistent therewith, it and its Subsidiaries shall use their respective
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the assets and properties of the
Company and to preserve their business organizations intact and maintain
existing relations and goodwill with Governmental Entities, customers, vendors,
employees and business associates. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing and in furtherance thereof, from the date of this Agreement until
the Effective Time, except (A) as otherwise contemplated or required by this
Agreement, (B) as Parent may approve in writing, (C) as required by applicable
Laws or any Governmental Entity or (D) as set forth in Section 6.1(a) of the
Company Disclosure Letter, the Company will not, and will not permit its
Subsidiaries, to:
(i) adopt or
propose any change in its charter or bylaws or other applicable governing
instruments;
(ii) merge or
consolidate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with any other Person, except
for any such transactions among Subsidiaries of the Company, or restructure,
reorganize or completely or partially liquidate the Company;
(iii) acquire
assets outside of the ordinary course of business from any other Person with a
value or purchase price in the aggregate in excess of $1,000,000 in any
transaction or series of related transactions, other than acquisitions pursuant
to agreements, contracts or other documents in effect as of the date of this
Agreement or the creation and ownership of newly formed wholly owned
Subsidiaries;
(iv) issue,
sell, pledge, dispose of, grant, transfer, encumber, or authorize the issuance,
sale, pledge, disposition, grant, transfer or encumbrance of, any shares of
capital stock of the Company or any its Subsidiaries (other than (A) the
issuance of Shares upon the exercise of Company Options or Warrants, and the
settlement of Restricted Stock (and dividend equivalents thereon, if
applicable), in each case pursuant to the terms of the Stock Plans and Warrants
as in effect on the date hereof, (B) the issuance of shares of capital stock by
a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another wholly owned
Subsidiary of the Company or (C) the pledge of shares of capital stock of
Subsidiaries of the Company in connection with the Financing Agreement), or
securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of
such capital stock, or any options, warrants or other rights of any kind to
acquire any shares of such capital stock or such convertible, exchangeable or
exercisable securities;
(v) make any
loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in any Person (other
than the Company or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company) in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate;
(vi) declare,
set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash,
stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its capital stock (except
for dividends paid by any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company to the Company or to any other direct or indirect wholly owned
Subsidiary of the Company) or enter into any agreement with respect to the
voting of its capital stock;
(vii) reclassify,
split, combine, subdivide or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or
indirectly, any of its capital stock or securities convertible or exchangeable
into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock (other than the (A)
acquisition of any Shares tendered by current or former employees or directors
consistent with past practices pursuant to the Stock Plans (including in order
to pay Taxes in connection with the exercise of Company Options or the
settlement of Restricted Stock) or (B) acquisition of any shares of capital
stock of a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company by the Company or any wholly
owned Subsidiary of the Company);
(viii) incur any
Specified Indebtedness or guarantee such Specified Indebtedness of another
Person (other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company), or issue or sell
any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt security of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except in each case for incurrences,
guarantees, issuances or sales of Specified Indebtedness to the extent that
Section 5.1(e)(iv) would not be breached as a result thereof and except for
transactions between or among the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, with or
among the Company and any other Subsidiaries;
(ix) adopt or
enter into a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution,
restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any
Subsidiary (other than this Agreement, the Merger or as otherwise permitted
hereunder pursuant to Section 6.2);
(x) except as
set forth in the capital budgets set forth in Section 6.1(a)(ix) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, make or authorize any capital expenditure in excess of
$1,000,000 in the aggregate;
(xi) make any
material changes with respect to accounting policies or procedures, except as
required by changes in GAAP or a Governmental Entity;
(xii) settle
any litigation or other proceedings before a Governmental Entity for an amount
in excess of $500,000 or any obligation or liability of the Company in excess of
such amount;
(xiii) other
than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, make,
change or rescind any material Tax election, change any method of Tax
accounting, settle or compromise any material Tax liability, file any material
amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement relating to Taxes, or waive
or extend any material Tax statute of limitations;
(xiv) transfer,
sell, lease, license, mortgage, pledge, surrender, encumber, divest, cancel,
abandon or allow to lapse or expire or otherwise dispose of any assets, product
lines or businesses of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including capital stock
of any of its Subsidiaries, in each case which are material to the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, other than (A) in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice, (B) pursuant to agreements,
contracts or other documents in effect prior to the date of this Agreement, and
(C) transactions between or among the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, with
or among the Company and any other Subsidiaries;
(xv) except as
required pursuant to Benefit Plans, agreements, contracts or other documents in
effect prior to the date of this Agreement disclosed or made available to
Parent, or as otherwise required by applicable Laws, (A) grant or provide any
severance or termination payments or benefits to any director or officer of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to any other employee of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries except in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, (B) increase the compensation or make any new equity awards
to any director, officer or other employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, except for increases in compensation to employees that are not
officers in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice,
(C) establish, adopt, terminate or materially amend any Benefit Plan (other than
routine changes to welfare plans for 2009), (D) make any equity-based or other
compensation awards to any director, officer or other employee of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, except pursuant to commitments or agreements in effect
on the date hereof or (E) take any action to fund, or require the funding of,
any compensation or benefits under any Benefit Plan;
(xvi) enter
into or amend in any material respect any transaction or agreement between (i)
the Company or any Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and (ii) any affiliate of the
Company (other than any of the Company’s Subsidiaries), on the other hand, of
the type that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K
promulgated by the SEC;
(xvii) knowingly
take or permit any of its Subsidiaries to take any action that is intended to or
reasonably likely to prevent the consummation of the Merger (other than as
permitted pursuant to Section 6.2); or
(xviii) agree,
authorize or commit to do any of the foregoing.
(b) Parent
shall not knowingly take or permit any of its Subsidiaries to take any action
that is intended to or reasonably likely to prevent the consummation of the
Merger.
6.2. Acquisition
Proposals.
(a) Subject
to Sections 6.2(b), 6.2(c), 6.2(d) and 6.2(e), from the date hereof until the
time the Effective Time or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in
accordance with Article VIII, the Company shall not, and shall not direct,
authorize or permit any of its Subsidiaries or any of their directors, officers,
employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and
representatives (such directors, officers, employees, investment bankers,
attorneys, accountants and other advisors and representatives, collectively, the
“Representatives”)
to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage any
inquiries or the making of any inquiry, proposal or offer that constitutes or
would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal (including by
way of providing access to non-public information) (other than an Acquisition
Proposal submitted by an Excluded Party), (ii) engage in or otherwise
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding any proposal or offer
that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition
Proposal (other than an Acquisition Proposal submitted by an Excluded Party) or
(iii) otherwise knowingly facilitate (including taking any action (other than
any action taken prior to the date hereof) to exempt any Person (other than
Parent and Merger Sub and their respective affiliates) from the restrictions on
business combinations contained in Title 3, Subtitle 6 of the MGCL and/or the
restrictions on control share acquisitions contained in Title 3, Subtitle 7 of
the MGCL or otherwise cause such restrictions not to apply) any effort or
attempt to make any proposal or offer that constitutes or would reasonably be
expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal (other than an Acquisition Proposal
submitted by an Excluded Party). The term “Excluded
Party” means any Person submitting any Acquisition Proposal with respect
to which the special committee of the board of directors of the Company has
determined in good faith based on the information then available and after
consultation with its financial advisor and its outside legal counsel that such
Acquisition Proposal either constitutes a Superior Proposal or could reasonably
be expected to result in a Superior Proposal.
(b) Subject
to Sections 6.2(c), 6.2(d) and 6.2(e), on the date hereof, the Company shall,
and shall cause its Subsidiaries and its and their respective Representatives to
(i) immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing solicitation,
initiation, encouragement, discussion or negotiation with any Persons (other
than Parent and its affiliates), (ii) not modify, waive, amend or release any
standstill, confidentiality or similar agreements entered into by the Company
prior to the date hereof and (iii) enforce the provisions of any such
agreements.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, prior to the time the
Company Requisite Vote is obtained the Company may provide information in
response to a request therefor by a Person who has after the date hereof made an
unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal or engage or participate in
any discussions or negotiations with any Person who has made such an unsolicited
bona fide written Acquisition Proposal, if and only to the extent that, in each
case (A) the Company has not breached this Section 6.2, (B) prior to taking any
such action, the special committee of the board of directors of the Company
determines in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel that
failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ duties
under applicable Law, (C) in each such case, the special committee of the board
of directors of the Company has determined in good faith based on the
information then available and after consultation with its financial advisor
that such Acquisition Proposal either constitutes a Superior Proposal or would
reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal and (D) in connection
with providing such information (x) the Company shall have received from the
Person so requesting such information an executed confidentiality agreement on
customary terms (it being understood that such confidentiality agreement need
not prohibit the making, or amendment, of an Acquisition Proposal) and (y) the
Company at least concurrently shall provide to Parent any non-public information
provided to such Person which was not previously provided to
Parent.
(d) The board
of directors of the Company shall not:
(i) withhold,
withdraw, qualify or modify (or publicly propose or resolve to withhold,
withdraw, qualify or modify), in a manner adverse to Parent, the Company
Recommendation with respect to the Merger unless the board of directors of the
Company (prior to obtaining the Company Requisite Vote) determines in good
faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that failure to do so would be
inconsistent with its duties under applicable Law (a “Change
of Recommendation”); or
(ii) subject
to Section 6.2(d)(i) or Section 6.2(e), approve or recommend, or publicly
propose to approve or recommend, an Acquisition Proposal or cause or permit the
Company to enter into any acquisition agreement, merger agreement, letter of
intent or other similar agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal or enter
into any agreement requiring the Company to abandon, terminate or fail to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or resolve, propose or agree to
do any of the foregoing.
(e) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in Section 6.2(d)(ii), prior to the time the
Company Requisite Vote is obtained, if the Company receives an unsolicited bona
fide Acquisition Proposal which the special committee of the board of directors
of the Company concludes in good faith after consultation with outside legal
counsel and its financial advisors constitutes a Superior Proposal after giving
effect to all of the adjustments to the terms of this Agreement which may be
offered by Parent including pursuant to this Section 6.2(e), the Company may
(prior to obtaining the Company Requisite Vote) terminate this Agreement to
enter into a definitive agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal;
provided that the Company shall not terminate this Agreement pursuant to the
foregoing clause, and any purported termination pursuant to the foregoing clause
shall be void and of no force or effect, unless in advance of or concurrently
with such termination the Company pays the Termination Fee, as required by
Section 8.5(b); provided, further, that the
Company shall not terminate this Agreement pursuant to the foregoing clause
unless (A) the Company shall not have materially breached this Section 6.2; (B)
the Company shall have provided prior written notice to Parent, at least five
calendar days (or three calendar days in the event of each subsequent material
revision to such Superior Proposal) in advance (the “Notice
Period”), of its intention to take such action with respect to such
Superior Proposal, which notice shall specify the material terms and conditions
of any such Superior Proposal (the “Alternative
Acquisition Agreement”); and (C) prior to terminating this Agreement to
enter into a definitive agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal, the
Company shall, and shall cause its financial and legal advisors to, during the
Notice Period, negotiate with Parent in good faith (to the extent Parent desires
to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this
Agreement so that such Acquisition Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior
Proposal.
(f) The
Company agrees that it will, from and after the date hereof, promptly (and, in
any event, within 48 hours) notify Parent if any proposals or offers, or
material modifications thereto, with respect to an Acquisition Proposal are
received by, any non-public information is requested from, or any discussions or
negotiations are sought to be initiated or continued with, it or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, any of its Representatives indicating, in connection
with such notice, the material terms and conditions of any proposals or
offers. It is agreed that any violation of the restrictions set forth
in this Section 6.2 by any of the Company’s Representative at the direction of
the Company shall constitute a breach of this Section 6.2 by the
Company.
(g) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Acquisition
Proposal” means any proposal or offer with respect to (i) a merger, joint
venture, partnership, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, tender offer,
recapitalization, reorganization, share exchange, business combination or
similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any
other direct or indirect acquisition, in the case of clause (i) or (ii),
involving 15% or more of the total voting power or of any class of equity
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or 15% or more of the
consolidated net revenue, consolidated net income or consolidated total assets
(including equity securities of its Subsidiaries) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, in each case other than the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(h) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Superior
Proposal” means a bona fide Acquisition Proposal involving (x) more than
50% of the assets (on a consolidated basis) of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or (y) more than 50% of the total voting power of the equity
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that represents 50% or more
of the assets (on a consolidated basis) of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, that the special committee of the board of directors of the
Company has determined in its good faith judgment is reasonably likely to be
consummated in accordance with its terms, taking into account all legal,
financial and regulatory aspects of the proposal, and if consummated, would
result in a transaction more favorable to the Company’s stockholders from a
financial point of view than the transaction contemplated by this Agreement
(taking into account any alterations to this Agreement agreed to by Parent or
Merger Sub in response thereto in accordance with Section
6.2(e)(C)).
(i) Nothing
contained in this Section 6.2 shall be deemed to prohibit the Company or the
board of directors of the Company from (i) complying with its disclosure
obligations under U.S. federal or state Law with regard to an Acquisition
Proposal, including taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position
contemplated by Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act
(or any similar communication to the stockholders of the Company), (ii) making
any disclosures as to factual matters that are required by applicable Law or
which a majority of a committee composed of disinterested members of the board
of directors of the Company, after consultation with legal counsel, determines
in good faith is required in the exercise of its duties under applicable Law or
(iii) making any “stop-look-and-listen” communication to the stockholders of the
Company pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any
similar communications to the stockholders of the Company).
6.3. Information
Supplied. Promptly
after the date of this Agreement, (a) the Company shall prepare and file with
the SEC, a proxy statement in preliminary form relating to the Stockholders
Meeting (such proxy statement, including any amendment or supplement thereto,
the “Proxy
Statement”) and (b) the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall jointly
prepare and file the Schedule 13E-3. The Company agrees, as to itself
and its Subsidiaries, that at the date of mailing to stockholders of the Company
and at the time of the Stockholders Meeting, the Proxy Statement will comply in
all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder. Each of the Parent and the Company
agrees, as to itself and its Subsidiaries, that none of the information supplied
by it or any of its Subsidiaries for inclusion or incorporation by reference in
the Proxy Statement or Schedule 13E-3 will contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except in each case
with respect to any redactions and omissions permitted to be made by the Company
or Parent pursuant to confidentiality arrangements granted or afforded to the
Company or its Subsidiaries by the SEC or its staff).
6.4. Stockholders
Meeting. Subject
to the duties of the Company’s board of directors under applicable Laws, the
Company will take, in accordance with applicable Laws and its charter and
bylaws, all reasonable action necessary to convene a meeting of the holders of
Shares (the “Stockholders
Meeting”) promptly after the filing of the definitive Proxy Statement
with the SEC to consider and vote upon the approval of the Merger pursuant to
this Agreement. Subject to Section 6.2 hereof, the Company shall (i)
take all reasonable lawful action to solicit such approval of the Merger
pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) make the Company Recommendation in the Proxy
Statement and (iii) at the reasonable request of Parent, use customary and
commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in
favor of the approval of the Merger pursuant to this Agreement, provided that if the
board of directors of the Company or a committee thereof determines in good
faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that any of the foregoing
actions would be inconsistent with their duties under applicable Laws, the
Company shall not to be required to take any such action and/or the board of
directors of the Company may withhold, withdraw, qualify, modify or change in a
manner adverse to Parent all or any portion of the Company
Recommendation. The Company shall keep Parent updated with respect to
proxy solicitation results as reasonably requested by Parent. Unless
and until this Agreement is terminated in accordance with it terms, subject to
the provisions of this Agreement (including Section 6.2), the Company shall not
submit to the vote of its stockholders any Acquisition Proposal other than the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.5. Filings; Other Actions;
Notification.
(a) Proxy Statement; Schedule
13E-3. Each party shall promptly notify the other parties of
the receipt of all comments of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement
and/or Schedule 13E-3, and of any request by the SEC for any amendment or
supplement thereto or for additional information and shall promptly provide to
the other parties copies of all correspondence between such party and/or any of
its Representatives and the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement and Schedule
13E-3. The Company and Parent shall each use its reasonable best
efforts to promptly provide responses to the SEC with respect to all comments
received on the Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3 from the SEC, and the Company
shall cause the definitive Proxy Statement to be mailed promptly after the date
the SEC staff advises that it has no further comments on the Proxy Statement and
Schedule 13E-3 or that the Company may commence mailing the Proxy
Statement.
(b) Cooperation. Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company and Parent
shall cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective
Subsidiaries to use) their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or
cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things reasonably
necessary, proper or advisable on its part under this Agreement and applicable
Laws to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement as soon as practicable, including preparing and
filing as promptly as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary
notices, reports and other filings, and to obtain as promptly as practicable all
consents, registrations, approvals, permits and authorizations necessary or
advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in
order to consummate the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. Subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange
of information, Parent and the Company shall have the right to review in
advance, and to the extent practicable each will consult with the other on and
consider in good faith the views of the other in connection with, all of the
information relating to Parent or the Company, as the case may be, and any of
their respective Subsidiaries, that appears in any filing made with, or written
materials submitted to, any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in
connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (including the Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3). In
exercising the foregoing rights, each of the Company and Parent shall act
reasonably and as promptly as practicable.
(c) Information. Subject
to applicable Laws, the Company and Parent each shall, upon request by the
other, furnish the other with all information concerning itself, its
Subsidiaries, directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may
be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the Proxy Statement, the
Schedule 13E-3 or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or
on behalf of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to any
third party and/or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) Status. Subject
to applicable Laws and the instructions of any Governmental Entity, the Company
and Parent each shall keep the other apprised of the status of matters relating
to completion of the transactions contemplated hereby, including promptly
furnishing the other with copies of notices or other communications received by
Parent or the Company, as the case may be, or any of their respective
Subsidiaries, from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity with respect
to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Neither the Company nor Parent shall permit any of its
officers or any other Representatives to participate in any meeting with any
Governmental Entity in respect of any filings, investigation or other inquiry
unless it consults with the other party in advance and, to the extent permitted
by such Governmental Entity, gives the other party the opportunity to attend and
participate thereat.
(e) Antitrust
Matters. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the
Company and Parent shall (i) use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with
each other in (A) determining whether any filings are required to be made
with, or consents, permits, authorizations, waivers, clearances, approvals, and
expirations or terminations of waiting periods are required to be obtained from,
any third parties or other Governmental Entities in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and (B) timely making all such filings and
timely obtaining all such consents, permits, authorizations or approvals; and
(ii) supply to any Governmental Entity as promptly as practicable any additional
information or documents that may be requested pursuant to any applicable Law or
by such Governmental Entity. The Company and Parent shall permit
counsel for the other party reasonable opportunity to review in advance, and
consider in good faith the views of the other party in connection with, any
proposed written communication to any Governmental Entity. Each of
the Company and Parent agrees not to participate in any substantive meeting or
discussion, either in person or by telephone, with any Governmental Entity in
connection with the proposed Merger or the other transactions contemplated
hereby unless it consults with the other party in advance and, to the extent not
prohibited by such Governmental Entity, gives the other party the opportunity to
attend and participate. Subject to and in furtherance and not in
limitation of the covenants of the parties contained in this Section 6.5(e), if
any administrative or judicial action or proceeding, including any proceeding by
a private party, is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging the
Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement as violative of
any applicable Law, each of the Company and Parent shall cooperate in all
respects with each other and Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
contest and resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated, lifted,
reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order, whether
temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits,
prevents or restricts consummation of the Merger or any other transactions
contemplated hereby.
6.6. Access and
Reports. Subject
to applicable Laws, upon reasonable notice, the Company shall (and shall cause
its Subsidiaries to) afford Parent’s officers and other authorized
Representatives reasonable access, during normal business hours throughout the
period prior to the Effective Time, to its employees, properties, books,
contracts and records and, during such period, the Company shall (and shall
cause its Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to Parent all information concerning
its business, properties and personnel as may reasonably be requested, provided that no
investigation pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall affect or be deemed to modify
any representation or warranty made by the Company herein, and provided, further, that the
foregoing shall not require the Company (i) to permit any inspection, or to
disclose any information, that in the reasonable judgment of the Company would
result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties or violate any of
its obligations with respect to confidentiality if the Company shall have used
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of such third party to
such inspection or disclosure or (ii) to disclose any privileged information of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. All requests for information
made pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall be directed to the executive officer of
or other Person designated by the Company. All such information, and
the rights and obligations under this Section 6.6, shall be
governed by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.
6.7. NYSE Arca
De-listing. Prior
to the Closing Date, the Company shall cooperate with Parent and use
commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and
do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on
its part under applicable Laws and rules and policies of NYSE Arca to enable the
delisting by the Surviving Corporation of the Shares from NYSE Arca and the
deregistration of the Shares under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable
after the Effective Time.
6.8. Publicity. The
initial press release regarding the Merger shall be a joint press release and
thereafter the Company and Parent each shall consult with each other prior to
issuing any press releases or otherwise making public announcements with respect
to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
prior to making any filings with any third party and/or any Governmental Entity
(including any securities exchange or interdealer quotation service) with
respect thereto, except as may be required by applicable Laws or by obligations
pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any securities exchange or
interdealer quotation service or by the request of any Government
Entity.
6.9. Employee
Benefits.
(a) During
the period commencing at the Effective Time and ending on the date which is
twelve (12) months following the Effective Time, Parent shall, or
shall cause any of its applicable Subsidiaries, to provide each Employee with
(i) base salary and bonus opportunities (including annual and quarterly bonus
opportunities and long-term incentive opportunities) that are no less than the
base salary and bonus opportunities provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries
to such Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) Benefit Plans
that are no less favorable in the aggregate than those provided to such Employee
by the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time and
(iii) severance benefits that are no less favorable than the benefits set forth
in such Employee’s employment or service agreement and/or severance plan
applicable to such Employee as identified in Section 6.9(c) of the Company
Disclosure Letter.
(b) Nothing
herein shall be deemed to be a guarantee of employment for any Employee, or to
restrict the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate any
Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this
Section 6.9, whether express or implied, (i) shall be treated as an amendment or
other modification of any employee benefit plan, or (ii) shall limit the right
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to amend, terminate or otherwise
modify any Benefit Plan following the Closing Date. Parent, Merger
Sub and the Company acknowledge and agree that all provisions contained in this
Section 6. 9 with respect to Employees are included for the sole benefit of
Parent, Merger Sub and the Company, and that nothing herein, whether express or
implied, shall create any third party beneficiary or other rights (x) in any
other Person, including, without limitation, any Employees, former Employees,
any participant in any Benefit Plan, or any dependent or beneficiary thereof, or
(y) to continued employment with Parent, the Company, and Subsidiary, or any of
their respective affiliates or continued participation in any Benefit
Plan.
6.10. Expenses. Except
as otherwise provided in Section 6.14(b), in the second sentence of Section
8.5(e) or Section 9.6(d), if the Merger is not consummated (it being understood
that Merger Sub’s obligations are being assumed by the Surviving Corporation
upon the consummation of the Merger), all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such
expense.
6.11. Indemnification; Directors’
and Officers’ Insurance.
(a) From and
after the Effective Time until six years following the Effective Time, each of
Parent and the Surviving Corporation agrees that it will indemnify and hold
harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Laws, each present
and former director and officer of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(collectively, the “Indemnified
Parties” and individually, an “Indemnified
Party”) against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’
fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities (collectively,
“Costs”)
incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising
out of or related to such Indemnified Parties’ service as a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Company or its Subsidiaries or services performed by
such Indemnified Parties at the request of the Company or its Subsidiaries at or
prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after
the Effective Time, including the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Each of Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall also
pay expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by an Indemnified Party in
advance of the final disposition of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Laws, provided that the
Person to whom expenses are advanced provides, to the extent permitted by
applicable Laws, an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately
determined that such Person is not entitled to indemnification.
(b) Prior to
the Effective Time, the Company shall, and if the Company is unable to, Parent
shall cause the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Time to, obtain and
fully pay the premium for the extension of (i) the Side A coverage part
(directors’ and officers’ liability) of the Company’s existing directors’ and
officers’ insurance policies and (ii) the Company’s existing fiduciary liability
insurance policies, in each case for a claims reporting or discovery period of
at least six years from and after the Effective Time from an insurance carrier
with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s current insurance carrier
with respect to directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary
liability insurance (collectively, “D&O
Insurance”) with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability
that are at least as favorable as the Company’s existing policies with respect
to any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act,
omission, neglect, breach of duty or any matter claimed against a director or
officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by reason of him or her
serving in such capacity that existed or occurred at or prior to the Effective
Time (including in connection with this Agreement or the transactions or actions
contemplated hereby). If the Company and the Surviving Corporation
for any reason fail to obtain such “tail” insurance policies as of the Effective
Time, the Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving
Corporation to, continue to maintain in effect for a period of at least six
years from and after the Effective Time the D&O Insurance in place as of the
date hereof with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are
at least as favorable as provided in the Company’s existing policies as of the
date hereof, or the Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the
Surviving Corporation to, use reasonable best efforts to purchase comparable
D&O Insurance for such six-year period with terms, conditions, retentions
and limits of liability that are at least as favorable as provided in the
Company’s existing policies as of the date hereof; provided, however, that in no
event shall Parent or the Surviving Corporation be required to expend for such
policies an annual premium amount in excess of 300% of the annual premiums
currently paid by the Company for such insurance; and provided, further, that if the
annual premiums of such insurance coverage exceed such amount, the Surviving
Corporation shall obtain a policy with the greatest coverage available for a
cost not exceeding such amount.
(c) If Parent
or the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective successors or assigns
(i) shall consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such
consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of its
properties and assets to any individual, corporation or other entity, then, and
in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and
assigns of Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall assume all of the
obligations of Parent and the Surviving Corporation set forth in this Section
6.11.
(d) The
provisions of this Section 6.11 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall
be enforceable by, each of the Indemnified Parties.
(e) The
rights of the Indemnified Parties under this Section 6.11 shall be in addition
to any rights such Indemnified Parties may have under the charter or bylaws of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or under any applicable agreements,
contracts or other documents, or Laws. Parent, Merger Sub and the
Surviving Corporation hereby agree that all provisions relating to exculpation,
advancement of expenses and indemnification for acts or omissions occurring
prior to the Effective Time now existing in favor of an Indemnified Party as
provided in the charter or bylaws of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries,
in each case as of the date hereof, shall remain in full force and effect for a
six-year period beginning at the Effective Time.
6.12. Takeover
Statutes. If
any Takeover Statute is or may become applicable to the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Company and its board of
directors shall, to the fullest extent practicable, grant such approvals and
take such actions as are necessary so that such transactions may be consummated
as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and
otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation
on such transactions.
6.13. Rule
16b-3. The
board of directors of the Company (or the compensation committee of such board
of directors) and Parent shall each grant all approvals and take all other
actions required pursuant to Rules 16b-3(d) and 16b-3(e) under the Exchange Act
to cause the disposition in the Merger of the Shares and the Company Options to
be exempt from the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
6.14. Financing.
(a) Parent
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or
advisable to arrange the Financing on the terms and conditions described in the
Financing Commitments (provided that Parent and Merger Sub may replace or amend
the Debt Financing Commitments to add lenders, lead arrangers, bookrunners,
syndication agents or similar entities which had not executed the Debt Financing
Commitments as of the date hereof, or otherwise so long as the terms would not
adversely impact the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to timely consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby or the likelihood of consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby), including using commercially reasonable
efforts to (i) maintain in effect the Financing Commitments, (ii) satisfy on a
timely basis all conditions applicable to Parent and Merger Sub to obtaining the
Financing set forth in the Financing Commitments (including by consummating the
financing pursuant to the terms of the Equity Financing Commitments), (iii)
enter into definitive agreements with respect thereto on the terms and
conditions contemplated by the Financing Commitments or on other terms that
would not adversely impact the ability or likelihood of Parent or Merger Sub to
timely consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) consummate the
Financing at or prior to the Closing. Except in the manner set forth
in the parenthetical to the first sentence of this Section 6.14, neither Parent
nor Merger Sub shall amend or modify any Financing Commitment without the prior
written consent of the Company. Parent shall give the Company prompt
notice of any material breach by any party to the Financing Commitments, of
which Parent or Merger Sub becomes aware, or any termination of the Financing
Commitments. Parent shall keep the Company informed on a reasonably
current basis of the status of its efforts to arrange the Financing and provide
copies of all documents (including amendments thereto, promptly after any such
amendment is made) related to the Financing (other than any ancillary documents
which by their terms are confidential or documents subject to confidentiality
agreements) to the Company.
(b) Prior to
the Closing, the Company shall provide to Parent and Merger Sub, and shall cause
its Subsidiaries to, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the respective officers, employees and advisors, including legal and accounting,
of the Company and its Subsidiaries to, provide to Parent and Merger Sub, all
cooperation reasonably requested in writing by Parent that is necessary in
connection with the Financing, including using commercially reasonable efforts
to (i) participate in meetings, presentations and due diligence sessions, (ii)
assist with the preparation of materials for offering documents, private
placement memoranda, bank information memoranda, prospectuses and similar
documents necessary, proper or advisable in connection with the Financing, (iii)
furnish Parent and Merger Sub with financial and other pertinent information
regarding the Company as may be reasonably requested by Parent and which are
customary for such purposes, (iv) provide and execute documents as may be
reasonably requested by Parent which are customary for transactions similar to
the transactions contemplated hereby and (v) execute and deliver any customary
pledge and security documents and otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts
to facilitate the pledging of collateral; provided, however, that nothing
herein shall require such cooperation to the extent it would, individually or in
the aggregate, materially interfere with the business or operations of the
Company or its Subsidiaries. Parent shall, promptly upon request by
the Company, reimburse the Company for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs
incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with such
cooperation.
(c) To
facilitate the Financing, the Company shall furnish to Parent, promptly upon
such information becoming available, copies of all information delivered to the
lenders pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iii) of the Financing Agreement as in effect
on the date hereof.
(d) Parent
acknowledges and agrees that the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement is not conditional upon the receipt by Parent of the proceeds
of the Financing Commitments and that any failure by Parent to have available at
the time the conditions to Closing set forth in Article VII are satisfied or
capable of satisfaction all funds contemplated by the Financing Commitments
shall constitute a breach of this Agreement by Parent and entitle the Company to
terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.3(f) and to the remedies
and relief set forth in Section 8.5.
6.15. Stockholder
Litigation. In
the event that any stockholder litigation related to this Agreement, the Merger
or the related transactions contemplated hereby is brought, or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, threatened, against the Company and/or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, the members of the Company’s board of directors prior to the Effective
Time, the Company shall promptly notify Parent of any such stockholder
litigation brought, or threatened (to the Knowledge of the Company), against the
Company and/or, to the Knowledge of the Company, members of the Company’s board
of directors and keep Parent reasonably informed with respect to the status
thereof. No settlement of such litigation shall be agreed to without
Parent’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed).
6.16. Confidentiality. Notwithstanding
any provision in this Agreement to the contrary (and regardless of the absence
of a specific reference to this Section 6.16 elsewhere in this Agreement) but
subject to the last sentence of this Section 6.16, each of the Company, Parent
and Merger Sub hereby agrees that no obligation of the Company, Parent or Merger
Sub in this Agreement shall require disclosure of and each of the Company,
Parent and Merger Sub hereby agrees that it shall not disclose, any information
in contravention of the confidentiality provisions of any Parent Confidentiality
Documents, and each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub hereby agrees that it
shall not disclose any information if such disclosure would give any party to a
Parent Confidentiality Document the right to terminate such Parent
Confidentiality Document, except that information may be disclosed to
regulators, courts, securities exchanges (and their regulatory affiliates) or
other governmental authorities to the extent that confidential treatment
(pursuant to a protective order or similar confidentiality arrangement) will be
accorded to the disclosed information (each a “Protected
Disclosure”), in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Parent, and the
parties agree to cooperate to obtain such orders and/or similar confidentiality
arrangement providing that such confidential treatment will be accorded the
disclosed information. Notwithstanding any provision in this
Agreement to the contrary but subject to the last sentence of this Section 6.16,
any breach by Company, Parent and Merger Sub of any covenant or agreement set
forth in this Agreement (other than this Section 6.16) primarily as a result of
compliance with this Section 6.16 shall not be deemed an intentional or willful
breach of this Agreement and may only result in a termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.3(d) or 8.4(c). Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, in the event that any party discloses any information that it
is not permitted to disclose under this Section 6.16 because it is legally
compelled to disclose such information, then such disclosing party shall not be
deemed to have breached this Agreement and shall have no liability or
obligations under this Agreement as a result of such disclosure, provided that
(i) such disclosure shall constitute a breach of this Agreement if such party
shall have failed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with
the other parties to obtain an appropriate protective order or similar
confidentiality arrangement providing that confidential treatment will be
accorded the disclosed information and (ii) unless the applicable disclosure is
a Protected Disclosure, as set forth in Section 8.1 hereof, this Agreement shall
automatically, and without any action required by the parties hereto, terminate
immediately prior to any such disclosure, whereupon the Parent shall promptly
pay to the Company the payments described in Section 8.5(c)(ii).
6.17. Resignations. The
Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and deliver to
Parent at the Closing evidence reasonably satisfactory to Parent of the
resignation effective as of the Effective Time, of those directors of the
Company or any Subsidiary designated by Parent to the Company in writing at
least ten business days prior to the Closing.
6.18. Capitalization; Related
Matters
. (a)
At the request of Parent, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to amend or otherwise modify each outstanding Warrant to provide that (i) the
holders of such Warrants shall not be entitled to require the Surviving
Corporation to assume any obligation thereunder (other than the obligation to
pay the consideration described in the following clause (ii)); and (ii) the only
consideration available to the holders of such Warrants in connection with the
Merger shall be the consideration (if any is payable) set forth in Section
4.3(c) hereof.
(b) Parent
and Merger Sub agree that, as of the Closing Date, the definitive agreements
with respect to the control of Parent, Merger Sub and Guarantor shall be
consistent in all material respects with the information supplied to the Company
on the date hereof unless changes are approved in advance by the Company in
writing (such changes not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed;
it being understood that, among other things, withholding, conditioning or
delaying any approval of any change which would require a modification to the
Proxy Statement or Schedule 13E-3 is not unreasonable).
ARTICLE
VII
Conditions
7.1. Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligation to Effect the Merger. The
respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the
satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the
following conditions:
(a) Stockholder
Approval. The Merger pursuant to this Agreement shall have
been duly approved by holders of Shares constituting the Company Requisite Vote
in accordance with this Agreement and with applicable Laws and the charter and
bylaws of the Company.
(b) Order. No
court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted,
issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law (whether temporary, preliminary
or permanent) that is in effect and restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits
consummation of the Merger (collectively, an “Order”).
7.2. Conditions to Obligations of
Parent and Merger Sub. The
obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also subject to
the satisfaction or waiver by Parent at or prior to the Effective Time of the
following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties
of the Company set forth in this Agreement that are qualified by reference to
Company Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and
time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly
speaks as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty
shall be true and correct as of such specific date); (ii) the representations
and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement that are not qualified
by reference to Company Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct as of
the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as
of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and
warranty expressly speaks as of a specific date, in which case such
representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such specific date);
provided, however, that
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the condition set forth in this
Section 7.2(a)(ii) shall be deemed to have been satisfied even if any
representations and warranties of the Company are not so true and correct
(except in the case of Sections 5.1(b)(i), 5.1(b)(ii), 5.1(d)(iii) and
5.1(e)(iv)(C)) unless the failure of such representations and warranties of the
Company to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has had or
would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect; provided, that the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the penultimate
sentence of Section 5.1(b)(i) (other than information relating to number of
shares and exercise price) shall be true and correct in all material respects as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and
as of such date and time; and (iii) Parent shall have received at the Closing a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer of the
Company to the effect that such officer has read this Section 7.2(a) and the
conditions set forth in this Section 7.2(a) have been satisfied.
(b) Performance of Obligations
of the Company. The Company shall have performed in all
material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this
Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time, and Parent shall have received at
the Closing a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an executive
officer of the Company to such effect.
7.3. Conditions to Obligation of
the Company. The
obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the
satisfaction or waiver by the Company at or prior to the Effective Time of the
following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties
of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on
and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation
and warranty expressly speaks as of a specific date, in which case such
representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such specific date);
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
condition set forth in this Section 7.3(a)(i) shall be deemed to have been
satisfied even if any representations and warranties of the Parent and Merger
Sub are not so true and correct unless the failure of such representations and
warranties of the Parent and Merger Sub to be so true and correct, individually
or in the aggregate, prevents or materially impairs, or is reasonably likely to
prevent or materially impair, the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii)
the Company shall have received at the Closing a certificate signed on behalf of
Parent by an executive officer of Parent to the effect that such officer has
read this Section 7.3(a) and the conditions set forth in this Section 7.3(a)
have been satisfied.
(b) Performance of Obligations
of Parent and Merger Sub. Each of Parent and Merger Sub shall
have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time, and the Company
shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by an executive
officer of Parent to such effect.
ARTICLE
VIII
Termination
8.1. Termination by Mutual
Consent; Automatic Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to
the Effective Time, whether before or after the approval of the Merger pursuant
to this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company referred to in Section
7.1(a), by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent by action of their
respective boards of directors. In addition, this Agreement shall
automatically terminate pursuant to and in accordance with the last sentence of
Section 6.16, whereupon the Parent shall pay to the Company the payments
described in Section 8.5(c).
8.2. Termination by Either Parent
or the Company. This
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to
the Effective Time by action of the board of directors of either Parent or the
Company if;
(a) the
Merger shall not have been consummated by December 8, 2009, whether such date is
before or after the date of approval of the Merger pursuant to this Agreement by
the stockholders of the Company referred to in Section 7.1(a) (the “Termination
Date”);
(b) the
approval of the Merger pursuant to this Agreement by the stockholders of the
Company referred to in Section 7.1(a) shall not have been obtained at the
Stockholders Meeting, including any adjournment or postponement thereof;
or
(c) any Order
permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the
Merger shall become final and non-appealable (whether before or after the
approval of the Merger pursuant to this Agreement by the stockholders of the
Company referred to in Section 7.1(a));
provided that the
right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.2 shall not be
available to any party that has breached in any material respect its obligations
under this Agreement in any manner that shall have proximately contributed to
the occurrence of the failure of a condition to the consummation of the
Merger.
8.3. Termination by the
Company. This
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned by the Company at
any time prior to the Effective Time:
(a) at any
time prior to the time the Company Requisite Vote is obtained, if (i) the board
of directors of the Company authorizes the Company, subject to complying with
the terms of this Agreement, to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement
with respect to a Superior Proposal; (ii) immediately prior to or concurrently
with the termination of this Agreement the Company enters into an Alternative
Acquisition Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal; and (iii) the Company
immediately prior to or concurrently with such termination pays to Parent in
immediately available funds any fees required to be paid pursuant to Section
8.5;
(b) if there
has been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by
Parent or Merger Sub in this Agreement, or any such representation and warranty
shall have become untrue after the date of this Agreement, such that Section
7.3(a) or 7.3(b) would not be satisfied, and such breach or failure to be true
is not curable or, if curable, is not cured prior to the earlier of (i) thirty
(30) days after written notice thereof is given by the Company to Parent or (ii)
two (2) business days prior to the Termination Date;
(c) if (i)
the board of directors of the Company shall have made a Change in Recommendation
and (ii) the Company immediately prior to or concurrently with such termination
pays to Parent in immediately available funds any fees required to be paid
pursuant to Section 8.5;
(d) if any
condition set forth in Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3 has not been satisfied or cannot
be satisfied on or prior to the date that is 5 business days prior to the
Termination Date (excluding conditions that, by their terms, cannot be satisfied
until the Closing) primarily as a result of compliance by the Company, Parent or
Merger Sub in all material respects with its obligations under Section
6.16;
(e) if Parent
or Merger Sub shall have willfully or intentionally breached this Agreement,
such that Section 7.3(a) or 7.3(b) would not be satisfied, and such breach or is
not curable or, if curable, is not cured prior to the earlier of (i) thirty (30)
days after written notice thereof is given by the Company to Parent or (ii) two
(2) business days prior to the Termination Date; or
(f) if the
conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 (excluding conditions that, by
their terms, cannot be satisfied until the Closing) have been satisfied or
waived on the date which is five (5) business days prior to the Termination
Date, and Parent or Merger Sub fails to obtain the proceeds pursuant to the
Financing sufficient to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement on such date.
8.4. Termination by
Parent. This
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to
the Effective Time by action of the board of directors of Parent
if:
(a) the board
of directors of the Company shall have (i) made a Change of Recommendation, (ii)
recommended to the stockholders of the Company the approval of an Acquisition
Proposal other than the Merger or (iii) failed to include in the Proxy Statement
distributed to stockholders its recommendation that stockholders approve the
Merger pursuant to this Agreement or failed to call the Stockholders Meeting in
breach of its obligations under this Agreement;
(b) there has
been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the
Company in this Agreement, or any such representation and warranty shall have
become untrue after the date of this Agreement, such that Section 7.2(a) or
7.2(b) would not be satisfied and such breach or failure to be true is not
curable or, if curable, is not cured prior to the earlier of (i) thirty (30)
days after written notice thereof is given by Parent to the Company or (ii) two
(2) business days prior to the Termination Date;
(c) if any
condition set forth in Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3 has not been satisfied or cannot
be satisfied on or prior to the date that is 5 business days prior to the
Termination Date (excluding conditions that, by their terms, cannot be satisfied
until the Closing) primarily as a result of compliance by the Company, Parent or
Merger Sub in all material respects with its obligations under Section
6.16;
(d) if the
Company shall have willfully or intentionally breached this Agreement, such that
Section 7.2(a) or 7.2(b) would not be satisfied and such breach is not curable
or, if curable, is not cured prior to the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days after
written notice thereof is given by Parent to the Company or (ii) two (2)
business days prior to the Termination Date; or
(e) if the
Company shall have breached Section 6.16 in any material respect and such breach
constitutes an Inadvertent Breach.
8.5. Effect of Termination and
Abandonment.
(a) In the
event of termination of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Merger
pursuant to this Article VIII, this Agreement shall become void and of no effect
with no liability to any Person on the part of any party hereto (or of any of
its Representatives or affiliates); provided, however, and
notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, that except as otherwise
provided herein, (i) no such termination shall relieve any party hereto of any
liability or damages to the other party hereto resulting from any willful or
intentional material breach of this Agreement, in which case the provisions of
Section 8.5(d) will apply and shall be the sole remedy therefor (it being agreed
that, other than with respect to an Inadvertent Breach, any other violation or
breach of Section 6.16 by the Company or any violation or breach of Section
6.18(b) shall be deemed a willful and intentional breach of this Agreement by
the Company in the case of Section 6.16 and Parent and Merger Sub in the case of
Section 6.18(b); it being further agreed that any breach by Company, Parent and
Merger Sub of any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement (other than
Section 6.16) primarily as a result of compliance with Section 6.16 shall not be
deemed an intentional or willful breach of this Agreement) and (ii) the
provisions set forth in the second sentence of Section 9.1 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, to the extent that any breach of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement of the Company in this Agreement is as a result of the
action or inaction by Xxxxxx Xxxxx (solely to the extent acting in a manner that
is not (x) at the direction of the Company’s board of directors or a committee
thereof, or (y) as required by the terms of this Agreement or under applicable
Law or pursuant to any requirement of any Governmental Entity), the Company
shall not be deemed to have breached such representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement for all purposes under this Agreement (including in determining
whether any condition has been satisfied hereunder). For purposes of
this Agreement, the term “Inadvertent
Breach” means a violation or breach of Section 6.16 by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries which is not willful and intentional and with respect to
which the applicable disclosure (A) is not made in a public filing, filing with
a regulator or press release by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (B)
is not otherwise publicly available, unless it was not reasonably foreseeable,
at the time the applicable disclosure was made, that the applicable information
disclosed would become publicly available.
(b) In the
event that:
(i) after the
date of this Agreement, a bona fide Acquisition Proposal shall have been made to
the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its stockholders, or any Person
shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make
an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(and such Acquisition Proposal or publicly announced intention shall not have
been publicly withdrawn prior to the Termination Date) and thereafter this
Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the Company pursuant to Section
8.2(a) or 8.2(b);
(ii) this
Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 8.4(a);
(iii) this
Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 8.3(a) or Section
8.3(c); or
(iv) this
Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 8.4(e);
then (x)
if the Termination Fee is payable pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section
8.5(b), the Company shall pay Parent the Termination Fee upon a termination
pursuant to Section 8.3(a) or 8.3(c) in accordance with Section 8.3(a) or
8.3(c), as applicable, by wire transfer of same day funds; (y) if the
Termination Fee is payable pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of this Section
8.5(b), the Company shall pay Parent the Termination Fee promptly following the
date on which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have consummated an
Acquisition Proposal (substituting “50%” for “15%” in the definition thereof) as
long as such Acquisition Proposal (substituting “50%” for “15%” in the
definition thereof) is consummated within twelve (12) months of such
termination; provided, however, that if no
such Acquisition Proposal (substituting “50%” for “15%” in the definition
thereof) is consummated within twelve (12) months of such termination, then the
Company shall not be required to pay, and neither Parent nor Merger Sub shall be
entitled to receive, the Termination Fee; and (z) in the event of termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.4(e), Company shall pay to the Parent the
Applicable Fee by wire transfer of immediately available funds no later than
three business days after such termination by Parent. For purposes of
this Agreement, the term “Termination
Fee” means $2,230,000.
(c) In the
event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to (i) Section 8.3(f) and at the
time of such termination, the Company is not in material breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein and no
representation or warranty of the Company contained herein shall have become
untrue in any material respect, in each case such that any of the conditions set
forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) would not be satisfied on or
prior to the Termination Date (excluding conditions that, by their terms, cannot
be satisfied until the Closing), Parent shall pay to the Company an amount equal
to $2,230,000 (the “Parent
Fee”) by wire transfer of immediately available funds no later than three
business days after such termination by the Company; or (ii) Sections 8.3(d) or
8.4(c) or the last sentence of Section 8.1, Parent shall pay to the Company an
amount equal to $1,000,000 (the “Applicable
Fee”) by wire transfer of immediately available funds no later than three
business days after such termination, provided, that the Applicable
Fee shall not be payable if the Company has breached any of its obligations
under Section 6.16 of this Agreement.
(d) In the
event of termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to
Section 8.3(e), Parent shall promptly (but in no event later than three (3)
business days after the date of such termination) pay, or cause to be paid, to
the Company an amount equal to $4,460,000 (the “Intentional
Breach Fee”), payable by wire transfer of immediately available
funds. In the event of termination of this Agreement by the Parent
pursuant to Section 8.4(d), Company shall promptly (but in no event later than
three (3) business days after the date of such termination) pay, or cause to be
paid, to the Parent an amount equal to the Intentional Breach Fee, payable by
wire transfer of immediately available funds.
(e) Each of
the Company, Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges that the agreements contained in
this Section 8.5 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. In the event that the Company or Parent shall fail to pay
the Termination Fee, Parent Fee, Applicable Fee or Intentional Breach Fee, as
applicable, when due, the Company or Parent, as appropriate, shall reimburse the
other party for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses
actually incurred or accrued by such party (including reasonable and documented
fees and expenses of outside counsel) in connection with the collection under
and the enforcement of this Section 8.5; provided, that the
maximum amount payable by Parent or Company in respect of the Termination Fee,
Parent Fee, Applicable Fee or Intentional Breach Fee, as applicable, plus the foregoing
reimbursement of expenses shall not exceed the amount of the Intentional Breach
Fee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement, each of the parties expressly acknowledges and agrees
that:
(A) payment
of the Termination Fee, Parent Fee, Applicable Fee or Intentional Breach Fee, as
applicable, shall constitute liquidated damages with respect to any claim for
damages or any other claim against Parent, Merger Sub or Company hereunder, as
applicable, and (B) a party’s right to receive payment of the Termination Fee,
Parent Fee, Applicable Fee or Intentional Breach Fee, as applicable, pursuant to
this Section 8.5, if payable pursuant to this Section 8.5, shall be the sole and
exclusive remedy of such party in contract or in tort against the other party or
the Guarantor and their respective equityholders, partners, members, affiliates,
directors, officers, employees, financing sources or agents, and their
respective assets, with respect to this Agreement, the Guarantee and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including any breach by Company,
Parent or Merger Sub or the failure of Parent and Merger Sub to obtain financing
or the failure of any financing parties to provide the Financing), the
termination of this Agreement, the failure to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and any claims or actions under applicable Law
arising out of any such breach, termination or failure, and whether or not the
Termination Fee, Parent Fee, Applicable Fee or Intentional Breach Fee is payable
pursuant to this Section 8.5, Company, Merger Sub, the Guarantor or Parent, and
their respective equityholders, partners, members, affiliates, directors,
officers, employees, financing sources or agents, as the case may be, shall have
no further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement,
the Guarantee or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including any
breach by Company, Parent or Merger Sub or the failure of Parent and Merger Sub
to obtain financing or the failure of any financing parties to provide the
Financing), the termination of this Agreement, the failure to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any claims or actions under
applicable Law arising out of any such breach, termination or
failure;
(B) in light
of the difficulty of accurately determining actual damages with respect to the
foregoing, upon any such termination of this Agreement, the payment of the
Termination Fee, Parent Fee, Applicable Fee or Intentional Breach Fee, as
applicable, in such circumstance: (A) constitutes a reasonable estimate of
the damages that will be suffered by the Company or Parent and Merger Sub, as
applicable, by reason of breach or termination of this Agreement or the
Guarantee, and (B) shall be in full and complete satisfaction of any and
all damages of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub arising out of or related to
this Agreement and the Guarantee, the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (including any breach by Company, Parent or Merger Sub or the failure of
Parent and Merger Sub to obtain financing or the failure of any financing
parties to provide the Financing), the termination of this Agreement, the
failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and any
claims or actions under applicable Law arising out of any such breach,
termination or failure;
(C) in no
event shall the Company be entitled to seek or obtain any recovery or judgment
in addition to the Parent Fee, Applicable Fee or Intentional Breach Fee (plus,
in the case the Parent Fee, Applicable Fee or Intentional Breach Fee is not
timely paid, the amounts described in the second sentence of Section 8.5(e))
against Merger Sub, the Guarantor or Parent, or any of their respective
equityholders, partners, members, affiliates, directors, officers, employees,
financing sources or agents or any of their respective assets, and in no event
shall the Company be entitled to seek or pursue or be granted any specific
performance or other equitable relief or obtain any damages, other
than the Parent Fee, Applicable Fee or Intentional Breach Fee (plus
the amounts described in the second sentence of Section 8.5(e)), as applicable,
of any kind, including compensatory, consequential, special, direct, indirect or
punitive damages or other type of recovery of any kind (whether in contract,
tort or otherwise) for, or with respect to, this Agreement or the Guarantee or
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including any breach by Parent
or Merger Sub or the failure to obtain financing), the termination of this
Agreement, the failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or any claims or actions under applicable Law arising out of any such
breach, termination or failure; and
(D) in no
event shall Parent or Merger Sub be entitled to seek or obtain any recovery or
judgment in addition to the Termination Fee or Intentional Breach Fee (plus, in
the case the Termination Fee or Intentional Breach Fee is not timely paid, the
amounts described in the second sentence of Section 8.5(e)) against Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective equityholders, affiliates,
directors, officers, employees, financing sources or agents or any of their
respective assets, and in no event shall Parent or Merger Sub be entitled to
seek or pursue or be granted any specific performance or other equitable relief
or obtain any damages, other than the Termination Fee or Intentional Breach Fee
(plus the amounts described in the second sentence of Section 8.5(e)), as
applicable, of any kind, including compensatory, consequential, special, direct,
indirect or punitive damages or other type of recovery of any kind (whether in
contract, tort or otherwise) for, or with respect to, this Agreement or the
Guarantee or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, the termination
of this Agreement, the failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or any claims or actions under applicable Law arising out of any
such breach, termination or failure.
ARTICLE
IX
Miscellaneous
9.1. Survival. This
Article IX and the agreements of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in
Article IV and Sections 6.9 (Employee Benefits), 6.10 (Expenses) and 6.11
(Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance) shall survive the
consummation of the Merger. This Article IX and the agreements of the
Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in Section 6.10 (Expenses) and Section
8.5 (Effect of Termination and Abandonment) and the Confidentiality Agreement
shall survive the termination of this Agreement. All other
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall
not survive the consummation of the Merger or the termination of this
Agreement.
9.2. Modification or
Amendment. Subject
to the provisions of applicable Law, at any time prior to the Effective Time,
the parties hereto may modify or amend this Agreement, by written agreement
executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the respective parties;
provided, however, that after
the approval of the Company’s stockholders has been obtained, there shall not be
made any amendment that by Law requires further approval by the stockholders of
the Company without such further approval having been obtained.
9.3. Extensions;
Waivers. At
any time prior to the Effective Time, a party may, by action taken or authorized
by the board of directors of such party (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) to
the extent permitted by applicable law, waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties of the other parties contained in this Agreement
or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) subject to
the proviso of Section 9.2 and to the extent permitted by law, waive
compliance by the other party with any of the agreements or conditions contained
in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or
waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on
behalf of such party. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any
of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of
such rights.
9.4. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by facsimile or
“portable document format,” each such counterpart being deemed to be an original
instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same
agreement.
9.5. Governing
Law. THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL BE
INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE
STATE OF MARYLAND WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES
THEREOF.
9.6. Arbitration. All
disputes, controversies or claims based on, arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the breach, termination or validity thereof (“Disputes”)
shall be resolved exclusively according to the procedures set forth in this
Section 9.6 through binding arbitration pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration
Rules and the Procedures for Complex Cases of the American Arbitration
Association (“AAA”)
then in effect (the “Rules”):
(a) The
arbitration demand shall be delivered to the AAA and respondents in accordance
with the Rules. A single, neutral arbitrator shall be selected by the joint
agreement of all the parties, but if they do not so agree within fifteen (15)
days of receipt by respondent(s) of a copy of the arbitration demand, the
following procedures shall apply. Each party shall appoint one
neutral and impartial arbitrator within thirty (30) days of receipt by
respondent of a copy of the demand for arbitration, and the arbitrators so
appointed shall appoint an arbitrator within fifteen (15) days of the
appointment of the final arbitrator, who shall serve as the arbitrator of the
Dispute. Any arbitrators not timely selected shall be appointed by
the AAA in accordance with the Rules. Any arbitrator appointed by the
AAA shall be a practicing attorney admitted for at least fifteen (15) years,
with significant experience as an arbitrator of large, complex commercial cases,
or be a retired federal judge. In addition, if practicable, any
arbitrator appointed by the AAA shall have experience with mergers and
acquisitions involving public companies. The arbitrator shall have a
conference with the parties within ten (10) days of appointment and shall design
and implement a schedule for the prompt and fair adjudication of the
Dispute. The hearing shall be held as soon as possible, if
practicable, no later than ninety (90) days after the appointment of the
arbitrator. The arbitrator may extend any time limit contained herein
for good cause shown. The award of the arbitrator shall be made in a
written opinion.
(b) This
provision for arbitration shall be specifically enforceable by the parties and
the decision of the arbitrator in accordance herewith shall be final and binding
on the parties and there shall be no right of appeal therefrom, except in
accordance with the provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1, et
seq. The arbitrator shall be instructed to adhere to and be bound by
the terms of this Agreement (including, without limitation, provisions relating
to confidentiality) and Maryland law and may not limit, expand or otherwise
modify the terms of this Agreement. The arbitrator shall be empowered
to (a) determine the scope of his jurisdiction and all questions relating to the
amenability of a Dispute to arbitration under this Agreement, whether or not
arbitration is the exclusive method of dispute resolution, and the authority of
the arbitrator to make any award, and (b) award equitable relief of any nature,
including, without limitation, the types of remedies described elsewhere in this
Section 9.6.
(c) Judgment
upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court having
jurisdiction thereof, and if the award of the arbitrator includes equitable
relief, the judgment may include an order or injunction for such equitable
relief.
(d) Each
party’s costs and expenses of arbitration, including attorneys’ fees and
expenses of the arbitrator, shall be borne entirely by that party; however, at
the discretion of the arbitrator, all or a portion of the prevailing party’s
costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) shall be reimbursed to
it by the non-prevailing party or parties; provided, that the
maximum amount payable by Parent or Company in respect of the foregoing
reimbursement of expenses plus the payment of any fees
and expenses pursuant to Section 8.5 shall not exceed the amount of the
Intentional Breach Fee. The arbitrator shall not be permitted to
award punitive or similar non-compensatory damages under any
circumstances.
(e) The place
of arbitration shall be New York, New York. The language of the
arbitration shall be English.
9.7. Notices. Any
notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any
party hereto to the others shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent
by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile to the address
or facsimile number provided by the parties to each other party in
writing. Any notice, request, instruction or other document given as
provided above shall be deemed given to the receiving party upon actual receipt,
if delivered personally; three (3) business days after deposit in the mail, if
sent by registered or certified mail; upon confirmation of successful
transmission if sent by facsimile (provided that if given by facsimile such
notice, request, instruction or other document shall be followed up within one
(1) business day by dispatch pursuant to one of the other methods described
herein); or on the next business day after deposit with an overnight courier, if
sent by an overnight courier.
9.8. Entire
Agreement. This
Agreement (including any exhibits hereto), the Guarantee, the Company Disclosure
Letter, the Parent Disclosure Letter and the Confidentiality Agreements and the
related letter agreements identified on Section 9.8 of the Parent Disclosure
Letter (the “Confidentiality
Agreements”) constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other
prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties both written
and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter
hereof. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER PARENT AND MERGER SUB NOR
THE COMPANY MAKES ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, AND EACH HEREBY
DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OR AS TO
THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY OTHER INFORMATION, MADE BY, OR MADE
AVAILABLE BY, ITSELF OR ANY OF ITS REPRESENTATIVES, WITH RESPECT TO, OR IN
CONNECTION WITH, THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, NOTWITHSTANDING THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO
THE OTHER OR THE OTHER’S REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER
INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOREGOING.
9.9. No Third Party
Beneficiaries. Except
for the Guarantor (as to whom it is agreed that the Guarantor is an intended
third party beneficiary under this Agreement) and as provided in Section 6.11
(Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance) and Section 8.5(e) (Effect
of Termination and Abandonment) (it being agreed that the Persons expressly
identified in such Sections 6.11 and 8.5(e) are intended third party
beneficiaries of such Sections 6.11 and 8.5(e), as applicable), Parent, Merger
Sub and the Company hereby agree that their respective representations,
warranties and covenants set forth herein are solely for the benefit of the
parties hereto and their permitted assigns (to the extent such assignment is
permitted hereunder), in accordance with and subject to the terms of this
Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any
Person other than the parties hereto (and their permitted assigns (to the extent
such assignment is permitted hereunder)) any rights or remedies hereunder,
including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth
herein. The parties hereto further agree that the rights of third
party beneficiaries under Section 6.11 shall not arise unless and until the
Effective Time occurs. The representations and warranties in this
Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties hereto and are for
the sole benefit of the parties hereto (and their permitted assigns (to the
extent such assignment is permitted hereunder)). Any inaccuracies in
such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the parties hereto
in accordance with Section 9.3 without notice or liability to any other
Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this
Agreement may represent an allocation among the parties hereto of risks
associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the
parties hereto. Consequently, Persons other than the parties hereto
(and their permitted assigns (to the extent such assignment is permitted
hereunder)) may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this
Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date
of this Agreement or as of any other date.
9.10. Obligations of Parent and of
the Company. Whenever
this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of Parent to take any action, such
requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of Parent to
cause such Subsidiary to take such action. Whenever this Agreement
requires a Subsidiary of the Company to take any action, such requirement shall
be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of the Company to cause such
Subsidiary to take such action and, after the Effective Time, on the part of the
Surviving Corporation to cause such Subsidiary to take such action.
9.11. Definitions. Each
of the terms set forth in Annex A is defined in the page of this Agreement set
forth opposite such term.
9.12. Severability. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of
this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is
invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be
substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and
enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision,
and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to
other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or
unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the
validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any
other jurisdiction.
9.13. Interpretation;
Construction.
(a) The table
of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not
constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise
affect any of the provisions hereof. Where a reference in this
Agreement is made to a Section or Exhibit, such reference shall be to a Section
of or Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever
the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they
shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The
definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well
as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the
feminine and neuter genders of such term. References to a Person are
also to its permitted successors and assigns.
(b) The
parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this
Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly
by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or
disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this
Agreement.
(c) Each
party hereto has or may have set forth information in its respective Disclosure
Letter in a section thereof that corresponds to the section of this Agreement to
which it relates. The fact that any item of information is disclosed
in a Disclosure Letter to this Agreement shall not be construed to mean that
such information is required to be disclosed by this Agreement.
9.14. Assignment. This
Agreement shall not be assignable by operation of law or otherwise; provided, however, that prior
to the mailing of the Proxy Statement to the Company’s stockholders, Parent may
designate, by written notice to the Company, another wholly owned direct or
indirect subsidiary of the Parent to be a Constituent Corporation in lieu of
Merger Sub, in which event all references herein to Merger Sub shall be deemed
references to such other subsidiary, except that all representations and
warranties made herein with respect to Merger Sub as of the date of this
Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties made with respect to
such other subsidiary as of the date of such designation, provided that any such
designation shall not impede or delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise materially impede the rights of the
Company or the stockholders of the Company under this Agreement. Any
purported assignment in violation of this Agreement is void.
*************
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement and Plan of Merger has been duly executed and
delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date
first written above.
305.
|
306. LIFE
SCIENCES RESEARCH, INC.
|
307.
|
308.
|
By:
|
310. _____________________________________
|
|
312. Name:
|
|
314TTitle:
|
315.
|
316. LION
HOLDINGS, INC.
|
317.
|
318.
|
By:
|
320. _____________________________________
|
|
322. Name:
|
|
324
Title:
|
|
326.
|
|
328. LION
MERGER CORP.
|
|
330.
|
By:
|
332. _____________________________________
|
|
334. Name:
|
|
336. Title:
|
ANNEX A
DEFINED
TERMS
Terms
|
Page
|
AAA
|
43
|
Acquisition
Proposal
|
28
|
Affiliate
|
19
|
Agreement
|
1
|
Alternative
Acquisition Agreement
|
27
|
Applicable
Date
|
10
|
Applicable
Fee
|
41
|
Articles
of Merger
|
1
|
Bankruptcy
and Equity Exception
|
8
|
Benefit
Plans
|
12
|
Business
Day
|
1
|
Bylaws
|
2
|
CBA
|
17
|
Certificate
|
2
|
Change
of Recommendation
|
27
|
Charter
|
2
|
CLIA
|
20
|
Closing
|
1
|
Closing
Date
|
1
|
Code
|
13
|
Company
|
1
|
Company
Approvals
|
9
|
Company
Disclosure Letter
|
6
|
Company
Leases
|
19
|
Company
Material Adverse Effect
|
6
|
Company
Option
|
5
|
Company
Recommendation
|
9
|
Company
Reports
|
10
|
Company
Requisite Vote
|
8
|
Confidentiality
Agreement
|
45
|
Constituent
Corporations
|
1
|
Contract
|
10
|
Costs
|
32
|
D&O
Insurance
|
32
|
Debt
Financing
|
22
|
Debt
Financing Commitments
|
22
|
Disputes
|
43
|
Disclosure
Letters
|
20
|
Effective
Time
|
1
|
Employees
|
12
|
Environmental
Law
|
15
|
Equity
Financing
|
22
|
Equity
Financing Commitments
|
22
|
EMEA
|
20
|
ERISA
|
12
|
ERISA
Affiliate
|
13
|
ERISA
Plan
|
13
|
Exchange
Act
|
6
|
Exchange
Fund
|
3
|
Excluded
Party
|
26
|
FDA
|
20
|
Financing
|
22
|
Financing
Agreement
|
10
|
Financing
Commitments
|
22
|
GAAP
|
7
|
Government
Antitrust Entity
|
9
|
Government
Entity
|
9
|
Guarantee
|
23
|
Guarantor
|
23
|
Inadvertent
Breach
|
10
|
Indemnified
Parties
|
32
|
Indemnified
Party
|
32
|
Insurance
Policies
|
19
|
Intellectual
Property
|
18
|
Intentional
Breach Fee
|
41
|
Investments
|
8
|
IRS
|
12
|
Knowledge
|
12
|
Laws
|
14
|
Licenses
|
14
|
Lien
|
8
|
Maryland
Law Vote
|
8
|
Materials
of Environmental Concern
|
16
|
Merger
|
1
|
Merger
Consideration
|
2
|
Merger
Sub
|
1
|
MGCL
|
1
|
MHRA
|
20
|
Multiemplover
Plan
|
13
|
Neutralized
Vote
|
8
|
Non-U.S.
Benefits Plan
|
12
|
Notice
Period
|
27
|
OFAC
|
20
|
Order
|
36
|
Parent
|
1
|
Parent
Approvals
|
21
|
Parent
Confidentiality Documents
|
23
|
Parent
Disclosure Letter
|
20
|
Parent
Fee
|
41
|
Paying
Agent
|
3
|
Pension
Plan
|
13
|
Per
Share Merger Consideration
|
2
|
Person
|
4
|
Protected
Disclosure
|
34
|
Proxy
Statement
|
28
|
Release
|
16
|
Regulation
S-K
|
10
|
Representatives
|
26
|
Required
Consents
|
9
|
Restricted
Stock
|
5
|
Rules
|
43
|
SDN
List
|
20
|
SEC
|
10
|
Securities
Act
|
10
|
Schedule
13E-3
|
9
|
Scheduled
Intellectual Property
|
18
|
Share
|
2
|
Shares
|
2
|
Significant
Subsidiary
|
6
|
Specified
Indebtedness
|
10
|
Stock
Plans
|
7
|
Stockholders
Meeting
|
29
|
Subsidiary
|
6
|
Superior
Proposal
|
28
|
Surviving
Corporation
|
1
|
Takeover
Statutes
|
15
|
Tax
|
16
|
Tax
Return
|
17
|
Taxes
|
16
|
Termination
Date
|
38
|
Termination
Fee
|
41
|
Third
Party Licenses
|
18
|
UK
Employees
|
17
|
UK
Pension Plan
|
14
|
U.S.
Benefit Plans
|
13
|
Warrants
|
7
|