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EXHIBIT C
AGREEMENT AND PLAN
OF MERGER
BY AND AMONG
TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION,
CAQ CORPORATION
AND
CAMELOT MUSIC HOLDINGS, INC.
DATED AS OF OCTOBER 26, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.01. The Merger ........................................................................................2
Section 1.02. Effective Time.....................................................................................2
Section 1.03. Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of Surviving Corporation..................................2
Section 1.04. Directors and Officers of Surviving Corporation....................................................2
Section 1.05. Stockholders, Meetings.............................................................................3
Section 1.06. Filing of Certificate of Merger....................................................................4
Section 1.07. Further Assurances.................................................................................4
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SHARES
Section 2.01. Shares ............................................................................................5
Section 2.02. Subco Common Stock.................................................................................6
Section 2.03. Exchange of Shares.................................................................................6
Section 2.04. Effect on Company Options and Warrants.............................................................8
Section 2.05. Fractional Shares..................................................................................9
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUBCO
Section 3.01. Organization, Etc.................................................................................10
Section 3.02. Board Recommendation..............................................................................10
Section 3.03. Authority Relative to This Agreement..............................................................10
Section 3.04. No Violations, Etc................................................................................11
Section 3.05. Fairness Opinion..................................................................................12
Section 3.06. Finders or Brokers................................................................................12
Section 3.07. Registration Statement; Joint Proxy Statement.....................................................12
Section 3.08. SEC Filings ......................................................................................13
Section 3.09. Financial Statements..............................................................................14
Section 3.10. Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities................................................................14
Section 3.11. Absence of Changes or Events......................................................................14
Section 3.12. Capitalization....................................................................................14
Section 3.13 Litigation .......................................................................................15
Section 3.14. Tax Treatment: Officer's Certificate as to Tax Matters............................................15
Section 3.15. Taxes ............................................................................................16
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Section 3.16. Accounting Matters................................................................................17
Section 3.17. State Antitakeover Statutes.......................................................................17
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Section 4.01. Organization, Etc.................................................................................18
Section 4.02. Authority Relative to This Agreement..............................................................18
Section 4.03. No Violations, Etc................................................................................19
Section 4.04. Fairness Opinion..................................................................................20
Section 4.05. Board Recommendation..............................................................................20
Section 4.06. State Antitakeover Statutes.......................................................................20
Section 4.07. Affiliates .......................................................................................21
Section 4.08. Finders or Brokers................................................................................21
Section 4.09. Joint Proxy Statement.............................................................................21
Section 4.10. Capitalization....................................................................................21
Section 4.11. Company Reports...................................................................................22
Section 4.12 Financial Statements..............................................................................23
Section 4.13. Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities................................................................23
Section 4.14. Absence of Changes or Events......................................................................23
Section 4.15. Capital Stock of the Company Subsidiaries.........................................................26
Section 4.16. Litigation .......................................................................................26
Section 4.17. Insurance ........................................................................................27
Section 4.18. Contracts and Commitments.........................................................................27
Section 4.19. Labor Matters; Employment and Labor Contracts.....................................................28
Section 4.20. Compliance with Laws..............................................................................28
Section 4.21. Intellectual Property Rights......................................................................29
Section 4.22. Taxes ............................................................................................29
Section 4.23. Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.....................................................................30
Section 4.24. Environmental Matters.............................................................................33
Section 4.25. Tax Treatment; Officer's Certificate as to Tax Matters............................................33
Section 4.25. Accounting Matters................................................................................34
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.01. Conduct of Business of the Company and Parent.....................................................34
Section 5.02. No Solicitation...................................................................................40
Section 5.03. Access to Information.............................................................................42
Section 5.04. Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement..................................................43
Section 5.05. Commercially Reasonable Efforts; other Actions....................................................44
Section 5.06. Public Announcements..............................................................................44
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Section 5.07. Notification of Certain Matters...................................................................44
Section 5.08. Indemnification...................................................................................45
Section 5.09. Expenses .........................................................................................45
Section 5.10. Affiliates .......................................................................................46
Section 5.11. Stock Exchange Listings...........................................................................46
Section 5.12. Letter of the Company's Accountants...............................................................46
Section 5.13. Letter of Parent's Accountants....................................................................46
Section 5.14. Pooling of Interests..............................................................................47
Section 5.15. Employee Benefits and Employment Contracts........................................................47
Section 5.16. Registration Rights Agreement.....................................................................48
Section 5.17. Board Representation..............................................................................48
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT, SUBCO AND THE COMPANY
Section 6.01. Registration Statement............................................................................49
Section 6.02. Stockholder Approval..............................................................................49
Section 6.03. Listing ..........................................................................................49
Section 6.04. Certain Proceedings...............................................................................49
Section 6.05. Tax Matters ......................................................................................50
Section 6.06. Pooling Letter....................................................................................50
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND SUBCO
Section 7.01. Representations and Warranties True...............................................................50
Section 7.02. Performance ......................................................................................51
Section 7.03. Certificates......................................................................................51
Section 7.04. Material Adverse Change...........................................................................51
Section 7.05. Consents, Approvals and Notifications.............................................................51
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY
Section 8.01. Representations and Warranties True...............................................................51
Section 8.02. Performance ......................................................................................52
Section 8.03. Certificates......................................................................................52
Section 8.04. Material Adverse Change...........................................................................52
Section 8.05. Consents, Approvals and Notifications.............................................................52
ARTICLE IX
CLOSING
Section 9.01. Time and Place....................................................................................52
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Section 9.02. Filings at the Closing............................................................................53
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT
Section 10.01. Termination......................................................................................53
Section 10.02. Termination by Parent............................................................................53
Section 10.03. Termination by the Company.......................................................................55
Section 10.04. Procedure for Termination........................................................................55
Section 10.05. Effect of Termination and Abandonment............................................................56
ARTICLE XI
DEFINITIONS
Section 11.01. Terms Defined in This Agreement..................................................................56
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.01. Amendment and Modification.......................................................................58
Section 12.02. Waiver of Compliance; Consents...................................................................58
Section 12.03. Survivability; Investigations....................................................................58
Section 12.04. Notices .........................................................................................59
Section 12.05. Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries............................................................60
Section 12.06. Governing Law....................................................................................60
Section 12.07. Counterparts.....................................................................................60
Section 12.08. Severability.....................................................................................60
Section 12.09. Interpretation...................................................................................61
Section 12.10. Entire Agreement.................................................................................61
Signatures......................................................................................................S-1
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EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Company Affiliate Letter
Exhibit B Form of Company Lock-up Agreement
Exhibit C Form of Parent Lock-up Agreement
Exhibit D Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit E-1 Parent Stockholder Voting Agreement
Exhibit E-2 Company Stockholder Voting Agreement
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 26, 1998
(the "Agreement"), by and among TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, a New
York corporation ("Parent"), CAQ CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Subco"),
which is a newly-formed direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, and CAMELOT
MUSIC HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). Subco and the
Company are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the "Constituent
Corporations."
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Parent and the Company believe it is in the long-term
strategic interests of their respective stockholders to combine their
businesses;
WHEREAS, the combination will be effected by the merger of
Subco with and into the Company pursuant to which stockholders of the Company
will receive Parent Shares (as defined in Section 2.01) and the Company will
become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, all upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, such combination is intended to qualify for Federal
income tax purposes as a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");
WHEREAS, such combination is intended to be accounted for as a
"pooling of interests" under opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and
applicable SEC rules and regulations;
WHEREAS, simultaneous with the execution of this Agreement,
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx has entered into the Parent Stockholder Voting Agreement,
attached hereto as Exhibit E-1 whereby he has agreed to vote in favor of the
Parent Merger Matters (as defined in Section 1.05(b)) at the Parent Special
Meeting (as defined in Section 1.05(b));
WHEREAS, simultaneous with the execution of this Agreement,
certain stockholders of the Company have entered into the Company Stockholder
Voting Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit E-2 whereby each such stockholder
has agreed to vote to approve this Agreement at the Company Special Meeting (as
defined in Section 1.05(a)); and
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WHEREAS, Parent, Subco and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
merger of Subco and the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.01. THE MERGER. (a) In accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement and the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the "Delaware Act"), at the Effective Time (as defined in Section
1.02), Subco shall be merged (the "Merger") with and into the Company, and the
Company shall be the surviving corporation (hereinafter sometimes called the
"Surviving Corporation") and shall continue its corporate existence under the
laws of the State of Delaware. The name of the Surviving Corporation shall be
Camelot Music Holdings, Inc. At the Effective Time the separate existence of
Subco shall cease.
(b) The Merger shall have the effects on Subco and the Company
as constituent corporations of the Merger as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 1.02. EFFECTIVE TIME. The Merger shall become
effective at the time of filing of, or at such later time specified in, a
certificate of merger, in the form required by and executed in accordance with
the Delaware Act, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
accordance with the Delaware Act (the "Certificate of Merger"). The date and
time when the Merger shall become effective is herein referred to as the
"Effective Time."
Section 1.03. CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS OF
SURVIVING CORPORATION. The Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws of the
Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the
Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter amended as provided by law.
Section 1.04. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF SURVIVING CORPORATION.
The directors of Subco immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
initial directors of the Surviving
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Corporation, and the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case
until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Section 1.05. STOCKHOLDERS, MEETINGS. (a) The Company shall
take all action necessary in accordance with applicable law and its Certificate
of Incorporation and by-laws to call and convene a special meeting of its
stockholders (the "Company Special Meeting") as soon as practicable to consider
and vote upon this Agreement. This Agreement shall be submitted to the
stockholders of the Company for purposes of acting upon it as soon as
practicable and, except to the extent enjoined or restrained by court order, in
any event within 45 days of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
regardless of whether the Board of Directors of the Company determines at any
time subsequent to the date hereof that this Agreement is no longer advisable
and recommends that the stockholders of the Company reject it. The Company,
through its Board of Directors, unless the Board of Directors, after consulting
with outside counsel, determines in good faith that other action is required in
order to discharge properly the directors, fiduciary duties, (i) shall recommend
to its stockholders approval of this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby, which recommendation shall be contained in the
joint proxy statement of the Company and Parent with respect to the Merger (the
"Joint Proxy Statement") and (ii) shall use all commercially reasonable efforts
to solicit from its respective stockholders proxies in favor of approval and
adoption of this Agreement.
(b) Parent shall take all action necessary in accordance with
applicable law and its Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws to call and
convene a special meeting of its stockholders (the "Parent Special Meeting" and
together with the Company Special Meeting, the "Special Meetings") as soon as
practicable to consider and vote upon an amendment to its Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Parent Common Stock
and the issuance of Parent Shares in connection with the Merger as required by
the Nasdaq rules (the "Parent Merger Matters"). Parent also intends to submit to
a separate vote of its stockholders at the Parent Special Meeting amendments to
its Certificate of Incorporation to adopt A classified Board of Directors
removable only for cause and provisions relating to the exculpation of members
of Parent's Board of Directors for monetary liability to the fullest extent
permissible under the New York Business Corporation Law (the "Additional
Matters"). The Parent Merger Matters shall be sub-
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mitted to the stockholders of Parent for purposes of acting upon them as soon as
practicable and, except to the extent enjoined or restrained by court order, in
any event within 45 days of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
regardless of whether the Board of Directors of Parent determines at any time
subsequent to the date hereof that the Parent Merger Matters are no longer
advisable and recommends that the stockholders of Parent reject them. Parent,
through its Board of Directors, unless the Board of Directors, after consulting
with outside counsel, determines in good faith that other action is required in
order to discharge properly the directors, fiduciary duties, (i) shall recommend
to its stockholders approval of the Parent Merger Matters, which recommendation
shall be contained in the Joint Proxy Statement and (ii) shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in
favor of approval of the foregoing. Parent may also solicit proxies from its
stockholders for approval of the Additional Matters in the manner set forth
above in the Joint Proxy Statement.
Section 1.06. FILING OF CERTIFICATE OF MERGER. At the Closing
(as defined in Section 9.01), Parent, Subco and the Company shall cause the
Certificate of Merger to be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware, as provided in the Delaware Act, and shall take any and
all other lawful actions and do any and all other lawful things to cause the
Merger to become effective.
Section 1.07. FURTHER ASSURANCES. If, at any time after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any
deeds, bills of sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are
necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the
Surviving Corporation its right, obligation, title or interest in, to or under
any of the rights, properties or assets of either of the Constituent
Corporations acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result
of, or in connection with, the Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement,
the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to
execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of each of the Constituent
Corporations or otherwise, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and
assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of each of the
Constituent Corporations or otherwise, all such other actions and things as may
be necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right,
obligation, title and interest in, to and under such rights, properties or
assets in the Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.
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ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SHARES
Section 2.01. SHARES. (a) Each share of common stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Company Common Stock") issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (except for shares, if any,
owned by the Company as treasury stock or owned by the Company Subsidiaries (as
defined in Section 4.01) or owned by Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries (as
defined in Section 3.04)) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive 1.90
shares ("Parent Shares") of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Parent ("Parent Common Stock") (such 1.90 Parent Shares being referred to herein
as the "Exchange Ratio"); PROVIDED that no Dissenting Shares (as defined in
Section 2.01(c)) will be deemed to be converted into and represent the right to
receive Parent Shares hereunder and holders of Dissenting Shares, if any, will
be entitled to payment solely from the Surviving Corporation of the appraised
value of such Dissenting Shares in accordance with Section 262 of the Delaware
Act.
The Parent Shares to be delivered in exchange for shares of
Company Common Stock pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) are hereinafter sometimes
called the "Closing Consideration." In the event of any change (or the
establishment of a record date prior to the Effective Time with respect to any
change) in Parent Shares or Company Common Stock by reason of any stock split,
readjustment, stock dividend, exchange of shares, reclassification,
recapitalization or otherwise, the Exchange Ratio shall be correspondingly
adjusted.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, at the Effective Time
all shares of Company Common Stock, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holders thereof, shall no longer be outstanding and
shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a
Certificate (as defined in Section 2.03) shall thereafter cease to have any
rights with respect to the number of shares of Company Common Stock evidenced by
such Certificate, except the right to receive the Closing Consideration for such
shares of Company Common Stock specified in the foregoing clause (a) upon the
surrender of such Certificate in accordance with Section 2.03.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.01 or any
other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the shares of Company Common
Stock that are issued and out-
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standing immediately prior to the Effective Time and are held by stockholders
who have not voted such shares in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and
who properly demand appraisal of such shares, in accordance with Section 262 of
the Delaware Act (the "Dissenting Shares"), will not be converted as provided in
Section 2.01(a) and 2.01(b) at or after the Effective Time unless and until the
holder of such Dissenting Shares fails to perfect or effectively withdraws or
loses such right to appraisal and payment under the Delaware Act. If a holder of
Dissenting Shares so fails to perfect or effectively withdraws or loses such
right to appraisal and payment, then as of the Effective Time or the occurrence
of such event, whichever last occurs, such holder's Dissenting Shares will be
converted into and represent solely the rights provided in Section 2.01(a) and
2.01(b).
Section 2.02. SUBCO COMMON STOCK. All shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of Subco issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of the holder thereof, be converted into such number of newly issued shares
of common stock of the Surviving Corporation as shall equal the sum of the
number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time and the number of shares of Company Common Stock underlying
options, warrants, calls, subscriptions or other rights or other agreements or
commitments of the Company assumed by Parent.
Section 2.03. EXCHANGE OF SHARES. (a) At or prior to the
Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with a
bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company (the "Exchange
Agent"), for exchange in accordance with this Article II, certificates
representing the shares of Parent Common Stock and an estimated amount of cash
to be paid pursuant to this Article II in exchange for outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock. Any cash and certificates representing shares of Parent
Common Stock deposited with the Exchange Agent shall hereinafter be referred to
as the "Exchange Fund."
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall mail to
each record holder, as of the Effective Time, of an outstanding certificate or
certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of
Company Common Stock (the "Certificates") a form letter of transmittal (which
shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the
Exchange Agent) and instruc-
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tions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates for exchange. Upon
surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate, together with such letter of
transmittal duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to
receive in exchange therefor that number of Parent Shares that such holder has
the right to receive under this Article II, and such Certificate shall forthwith
be cancelled. If any Parent Shares are to be issued to a person other than the
person in whose name the Certificate surrendered is registered, it shall be
a-condition of exchange that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly
endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting
such exchange shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the
exchange to a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate
surrendered or such person shall establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving
Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered
in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.03, each Certificate shall
represent, for all purposes, the right to receive the Closing Consideration in
respect of the number of shares of Company Common Stock evidenced by such
Certificate. No dividends or other distributions that are declared after the
Effective Time on Parent Shares and payable to the holders of record thereof
after the Effective Time will be paid to holders of Certificates until such
holders surrender their Certificates. Upon such surrender, there shall be paid
to the record holder of the Parent Shares representing Parent Shares issued upon
such exchange, the amount of dividends or other distributions, excluding
interest, that become payable after the Effective Time and were not paid because
of the failure to surrender Certificates for exchange.
(c) From and after the Effective Time, there shall be no
transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares
of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving
Corporation, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Article
II. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the stockholders
of the Company for six months after the Effective Time shall be paid or
delivered to Parent. Any stockholders of the Company who have not theretofore
complied with this Article II shall thereafter look only to Parent for payment
of Parent Shares, cash in lieu of any fractional shares and unpaid dividends and
distributions on the Parent Shares deliverable in respect of each share of
Company Common Stock such stockholder holds as determined pursuant to this
Agreement, in each case, without any interest thereon.
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(d) Neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be
liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock delivered to a public
official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
Section 2.04. EFFECT ON COMPANY OPTIONS AND WARRANTS. (a) As
of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of the holders thereof, all rights with respect to Company Common Stock
pursuant to any Company Common Stock Equivalents (as defined in Section 4.10)
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether or not then
exercisable, shall be converted into and become rights with respect to Parent
Common Stock, and Parent shall assume all of the Company's obligations and
liabilities under or in respect of such Company Common Stock Equivalents in
accordance with the terms of any stock option plan under which they were issued
and any stock option agreement by which they are evidenced, except that (i) each
Company Common Stock Equivalent shall be exercisable for the greatest number of
whole Parent Shares equal to the product of the number of shares of Company
Common Stock subject to such Common Stock Equivalent immediately prior to the
Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio and (ii) the exercise price per
share of Parent Shares shall be an amount equal to the exercise price per share
of Company Common Stock specified under such Company Common Stock Equivalent in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio
(rounded up to the nearest whole cent) (the "Parent Exchange Options").
(b) Prior to and effective as of the Effective Time, Parent
shall take all action necessary or appropriate to reserve for issuance a
sufficient number of Parent Shares for delivery upon exercise of all of the
Parent Exchange Options and (ii) cause all such Parent Shares to be registered
on Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") registration statement Form
S-8 (or any successor form thereto) (the "Parent Form S-8"). From and after the
Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Parent Form S-8 to continue in effect
until all Parent Exchange options have been fully exercised or expired.
(c) As soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days,
following the Effective Time, Parent shall cause to be delivered to each holder
of a Parent Exchange Option a notice setting forth the number of Parent Shares
subject to such Parent Exchange option, the exercise price per Parent Share and
an acknowledgment that all such Parent Exchange Options are fully vested and
exercisable and, except as provided in Section 2.04(a), will continue to be
governed by the terms and condi-
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tions of the Company stock option plans under which the corresponding Company
Common Stock Equivalents were originally granted and any applicable stock option
agreement evidencing such original grants. Parent acknowledges and agrees that
pursuant to the current terms of the Company's stock option plans, all Company
Common Stock Equivalents granted thereunder that are outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall become automatically fully vested and
exercisable as of the Effective Time.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, Company Common
Stock Equivalents that, as of the Effective Time, qualify as "incentive stock
options" under Section 422 of the Code shall be converted into options to
purchase Parent Shares in compliance with the requirements of Section 424 of the
Code such that, immediately following the conversion thereof, such Company
Common Stock Equivalents will continue to qualify as incentive stock options
under the Code.
Section 2.05. FRACTIONAL SHARES. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, each holder of shares of Company Common Stock who,
upon surrender of Certificates, would be entitled to receive a fractional Parent
Share shall not be entitled to receive dividends on or vote such fractional
share and shall receive, in lieu of such fractional share, cash (without
interest) in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Market Value (as
defined below). "Market Value" shall mean, with respect to Parent Shares
issued, the mean between the high and low sale prices of the Parent Shares as
reported by the Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq") on the Nasdaq trading day
immediately prior to the Effective Time (as reported in The Wall Street Journal
or, if not reported therein, in another authoritative source). The fractional
share interests of each Company stockholder will be aggregated, and no Company
stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.05 will receive cash in an amount equal
to or greater than the value of one full share of Parent Shares. All references
in this Agreement to Parent Shares to be issued as Closing Consideration shall
be deemed to include any cash in lieu of fractional shares payable pursuant to
this Section 2.05.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF PARENT AND SUBCO
Except as disclosed in the section and subsection, if able of
the Disclosure Statement, dated as of the date
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hereof, delivered by Parent to the Company (the "Parent Disclosure Statement")
corresponding to the applicable section and subsection of this Article III, each
of Parent and Subco jointly and severally represents and warrants to the Company
as follows:
Section 3.01. ORGANIZATION, ETC. Each of Parent and Subco is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Parent owns directly all of the
outstanding capital stock of Subco.
Section 3.02. BOARD RECOMMENDATION. The Board of Directors of
Parent has, at a meeting of such Board duly held on October 25, 1998, (a)
approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby, (b) determined that this Agreement, the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated hereby are fair and advisable to, and in the
best interests of, the holders of Parent Shares, (c) determined and agreed to
submit the Parent Merger Matters to the stockholders of the Company for purposes
of acting upon them as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 45
days of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, regardless of whether
the Board of Directors of Parent determines at any time subsequent to the date
hereof that the Parent Merger Matters are no longer advisable and recommends
that the stockholders of Parent reject them and (d) resolved to recommend that
holders of Parent Shares approve the Parent Merger Matters in connection with
this Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.03. AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT. Each of
Parent and Subco has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly and validly authorized by the Board of Directors of each of Parent and
Subco and by Parent as the sole stockholder of Subco and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of Parent or Subco are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or to consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated
hereby (other than the approval of the Parent Merger Matters by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock at the
Parent Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof as required by the New York
Business Corporation Law). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by each of Parent and Subco and, assuming the due
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authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Company, constitutes a valid
and binding agreement of each of Parent and Subco, enforceable against each of
them in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that its enforceability
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable principles.
Section 3.04. NO VIOLATIONS, ETC. Except for the filing of the
Certificate of merger as required by the Delaware Act and the filings required
under and in compliance with the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "HSR
Act"), the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (the "Securities Act"), and the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the
"Exchange Act"), no filing with, notification to and no permit, authorization,
consent or approval of, any public body is necessary on the part of Parent or
Subco for the consummation by Subco of the Merger, the other transactions
contemplated hereby or the exercise by Parent and the Surviving Corporation of
full rights to own and operate the business of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby nor
compliance by Parent or Subco with any of the provisions hereof nor the exercise
by Parent and the Surviving Corporation of full rights to own and operate the
business of the-Company and the Company Subsidiaries will (i) subject to
obtaining the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of Parent Common
Stock at the Parent Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof, conflict with or
result in any breach of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or
by-laws of Parent or any person (a) who is a corporation of which the
outstanding capital stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast in the election of directors is owned, directly or indirectly, by Parent,
or (b) who is not a corporation and with respect to which at least a majority of
the voting interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by Parent (the "Parent
Subsidiaries"), (ii) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule
or regulation applicable to Parent, any of the Parent Subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties or assets or (iii) result in a violation or breach
of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, acceleration,
redemption or repurchase) under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of
any (x) note, bond, mortgage, indenture, or
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deed of trust or (y) license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation
to which Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries is a party or by which either
of them or any of their properties or assets may be bound, excluding from the
foregoing clause (iii), violations, breaches or defaults that, individually or
in the aggregate, would not either impair Parent's and Subco's ability to
consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a
material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, financial
condition, prospects or results of operations of Parent and the Parent
Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "Parent Material Adverse Effect").
Section 3.05. FAIRNESS OPINION. Parent has received the
opinion of Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. to the effect that as of the date hereof the
Exchange Ratio is fair to Parent's stockholders from a financial point of view.
Section 3.06. FINDERS OR BROKERS. Except for Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx &
Co., whose fees have been disclosed to the Company, neither Parent nor any
Parent Subsidiary has employed any investment banker, broker, finder or
intermediary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby who might
be entitled to a fee or any commission the receipt of which is conditioned upon
consummation of the Merger.
Section 3.07. REGISTRATION STATEMENT; JOINT PROXY STATEMENT.
None of the information, other than the information provided by the Company,
included or incorporated by reference in (a) the registration statement
registering under the Securities Act the Parent Shares to be issued at the
Effective Time (such registration statement, as amended by any amendments
thereto, being referred to herein as the "Registration Statement") or (b) the
Joint Proxy Statement, shall (i)(A) in the case of the Registration Statement,
at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective and (B) in the case of
the Joint Proxy Statement, on the date the Joint Proxy Statement is first mailed
to stockholders of the Company, and (ii) at the time of the Special Meetings,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading. If, at any time prior to the Effective Time, any event
with respect to Parent or Subco shall occur that is required to be described in
the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement, such event shall be so
described, and an amendment or supplement shall be promptly filed with the SEC
and, as required by law, disseminated to the stockholders of Parent and the
Company. The Registration Statement and the
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Joint Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
Section 3.08. SEC FILINGS. (a) Parent has filed with the SEC
all required forms, reports, registration statements and documents required to
be filed by it with the SEC since January 31, 1998 (collectively, the "Parent
SEC Reports"), all of which complied as to form when filed in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, as the case may be. As of their respective dates, the Parent SEC Reports
(including all exhibits and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by
reference therein) did 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 therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(b) Parent will deliver to the Company as soon as they become
available true and complete copies of any report, registration statement or
statement mailed by it to its security holders generally or filed by it with the
SEC, in each case subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time.
As of their respective dates, such reports and statements (excluding any
information therein provided by the Company, as to which Parent and Subco make
no representation) 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 therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made,
not misleading and will comply in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of law. The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited
consolidated interim financial statements of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries
to be included or incorporated by reference in such reports and statements will
be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States ("U.S. GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
involved (except as set forth therein) and will fairly present the consolidated
financial position of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof
and the consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flow for the
periods then ended (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim financial
statements, to normal year-end adjustments and to the extent they may not
include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements).
20
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Section 3.09. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The audited consolidated
financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of
Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in any
of the required forms, reports, registration statements and documents required
to be filed with the SEC by Parent since January 31, 1998 have been prepared in
accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods
involved (except as set forth therein) and fairly present the consolidated
financial position of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof
and the consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flows for the
periods then ended (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim financial
statements, to normal year-end adjustments and to the extent they may not
include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements). and such audited
financial statements are accompanied by an unqualified opinion thereon by
Parent's independent auditors.
Section 3.10. ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. At August 1,
1998, neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries had any liabilities or
obligations of any nature, whether absolute, accrued, unmatured, contingent or
otherwise, or any unsatisfied judgments or any unusual or extraordinary
commitments, except the liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at August 1, 1998 of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries contained in its
unaudited financial statements for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 1998
and/or reflected in the notes thereto, and except for liabilities or obligations
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect.
Section 3.11. ABSENCE OF CHANGES OR EVENTS. Since January 31,
1998, except as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the date of
this Agreement, including all exhibits filed therewith, there has been no Parent
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.12. CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of
Parent consists of 50,000,000 Parent Shares, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $.01 per share ("Parent Preferred Shares"). As of October 23,
1998, there were 32,718,970 Parent Shares issued and outstanding, 105,432 Parent
Shares held in Parent's treasury and no Parent Preferred Shares outstanding. As
of such date there were (i) 8,550,000 Parent Shares reserved for issuance upon
the exercise of outstanding options and options that may be granted under the
stock option plans of Parent (the "Parent Plans"), (ii) 900,000 Parent Shares
reserved for issuance pursuant to Parent's Re-
21
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stricted Stock Plan (the "Restricted Stock Plan") and (iii) zero Parent Shares
reserved for issuance pursuant to other outstanding options, warrants and/or
rights to acquire Parent Shares (the "Other Plans"). Except for the Parent
Plans, the Restricted Stock Plans and the Other Plans, there were not as of such
date any existing options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, or other rights or
other agreements or commitments obligating Parent to issue, transfer or sell any
shares of its capital stock or any other securities convertible into or
evidencing the right to subscribe for any such shares. At the close of business
on September 15, 1998, Parent consummated a 3 for 2 stock split payable to
shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 1, 1998. All
issued and outstanding Parent Shares are, and all Parent Shares to be issued at
the Effective Time shall be, when issued, duly authorized and validly issued,
fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive rights with respect thereto.
Section 3.13 LITIGATION. There is no (i) claim, action, suit
or proceeding pending or, to the best knowledge of Parent, threatened against or
relating to Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries before any court or
governmental or regulatory authority or body or arbitration tribunal or (ii)
outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree, or application, request
or motion therefor, of any court, governmental agency or arbitration tribunal in
a proceeding to which Parent, any Parent Subsidiary or any of their respective
assets was or is a party except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, such
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, either impair Parent's ability
to consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a
Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.14. TAX TREATMENT: OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE AS TO TAX
MATTERS. Neither Parent nor, to Parent's knowledge, any of its affiliates has
taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent the Merger from
constituting a transaction qualifying under Section 368(a) of the Code. Neither
Parent nor, to Parent's knowledge, any of its affiliates or agents is aware of
any agreement, plan or other circumstances that would prevent the Merger from
qualifying under Section 368(a) of the Code, and, to Parent's knowledge, the
Merger will so qualify. As of the date hereof, Parent knows of no reason why it
will be unable to deliver to Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx and to Cleary, Gottlieb,
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx with respect to Parent and Subco at the Closing a
representation letter in form and substance sufficient to enable such counsel to
render the opinions required by Section 6.05 of this Agreement.
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Section 3.15. TAXES. Parent and each of the Parent
Subsidiaries, and any consolidated, combined, unitary or aggregate group for tax
purposes of which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is or has been a member has
timely filed (or has had timely filed on its behalf) all Tax Returns required to
be filed by it, and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and correct in all
material respects, has paid (or has had paid on its behalf) all Taxes shown
thereon to be due and has provided adequate reserves in its financial statements
in accordance with U.S. GAAP for any Taxes that have not been paid, whether or
not shown as being due on any Tax Returns. (i) No claim for unpaid Taxes has
become a lien against the assets of Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries or
is being asserted against Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries; (ii) no
audit of any Tax Return that includes Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries
is being conducted by a Tax authority; (iii) no extension or waiver of the
statute of limitations on the assessment of any Taxes or with respect to any Tax
Return has been granted by Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries and is
currently in effect; (iv) there is no arrangement with respect to sharing or
allocating Taxes that will require any payment by Parent or any of the Parent
Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement; (v) Parent and the Parent
Subsidiaries have withheld and paid in a timely manner all Taxes required to
have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any
employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other third party;
(vi) neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries has made an election
under-Section 341(f) of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or
foreign law); and (vii) neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries is a
party to any agreement or arrangement that provides for the payment of any
amount, or the provision of any other benefit, that could constitute a
"parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (or any
similar provision of state, local or foreign law). There are no written or, to
Parent's knowledge, oral proposed assessments of Taxes against Parent or any of
the Parent Subsidiaries or written or, to its knowledge, oral proposed
adjustments to the manner in which any Tax of Parent or any of the Parent
Subsidiaries is determined.
"Tax" or "Taxes" means (i) all federal, state, local or
foreign taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies or other assessments, including,
without limitation, all net income, alternative minimum, gross receipts,
capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits,
inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social
security, unemployment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property and
estimated taxes, customs duties, fees, as-
23
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sessments and charges of any kind whatsoever, (ii) all interest, penalties,
fines, additions to tax or other additional amounts imposed by any taxing
authority in connection with any item described in clause (i) and (iii) all
transferee, successor, joint and several or contractual liability (including,
without limitation, liability pursuant to United States Treasury Regulation
("Treas. Reg.") Section 1.1502-6 (or any comparable state, local or foreign
provisions)) in respect of any items described in clause (i) or (ii) above.
"Tax Return" or "Tax Returns" means all returns, declarations,
estimates, information statements and reports and any other filings required to
be filed with respect to Taxes.
Section 3.16. ACCOUNTING MATTERS. Parent has disclosed to its
independent certified public accountants all actions taken by it and the Parent
Subsidiaries that would impact the accounting of the business combination to be
effected by the Merger. As of the date hereof, after consultation with its
independent certified public accountants, Parent believes that the Merger will
qualify as a pooling of interests under opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles
Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations.
Section 3.17. STATE ANTITAKEOVER STATUTES. Parent has granted
all approvals and taken all other steps necessary to exempt the Merger, the
Parent Stockholder Voting Agreement and the other transactions contemplated
hereby from the requirements and provisions of Section 912 of the New York
Business Corporation Law (the "New York Act",) and, to the extent it has the
power to do so, any other state antitakeover statue or regulation such that none
of the provisions of Section 912 of the New York Act or any other "business
combination" or other state antitakeover statute or regulation (x) prohibits or
restricts Parent's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or
its ability to consummate the Merger and the other transactions or void this
Agreement, the Parent Stockholder Voting Agreement or any provision-hereof or
thereof, or (z) would subject the Company to any material impediment or
condition in connection with the exercise of any of its rights under this
Agreement or the Parent Stockholder Voting Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as disclosed in the section and subsection, if
applicable, of the Disclosure Statement, dated as of the date
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hereof, delivered by the Company to Parent (the "Company Disclosure Statement")
corresponding to the applicable section and subsection of this Article IV, the
Company represents and warrants to Parent and Subco that:
Section 4.01. ORGANIZATION, ETC. Each of the Company and each
person (i) who is a corporation of which the outstanding capital stock having at
least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors
is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, or (ii) who is not a
corporation and with respect to which at least a majority of the voting interest
is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (the "Company Subsidiaries"),
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business
as now being conducted. Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in
each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or leased or the
nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for failures
to be so qualified or in good standing that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets,
financial condition, prospects or results of operations of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse Effect"). Neither the
Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the
provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation (or other applicable charter
document) or by-laws. The Company has made available to Parent accurate and
complete copies of the Certificate of Incorporation (or other applicable charter
document) and by-laws, as currently in effect, of each of the Company and each
of the Company Subsidiaries.
Section 4.02. AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT. The
Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement
or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby
(other than the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock at the Company Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof as
required by the Delaware Act). This
25
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Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and,
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Parent and
Subco, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that its
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors,
rights generally or by general equitable principles.
Section 4.03. NO VIOLATIONS, ETC. Except for the filing of the
Certificate of merger as required by the Delaware Act and the filings required
under and in compliance with the HSR Act, the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, no filing with, notification to and no permit, authorization, consent or
approval of, any public body is necessary on the part of the Company for the
consummation by the Company of the Merger, the other transactions contemplated
hereby or the exercise by Parent and the Surviving Corporation of full rights to
own and operate the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries. Except
for the Revolving Credit Agreement dated January 27, 1998, as amended, among
Camelot Music, Inc. (a wholly-owned Company Subsidiary), as borrower, the
several lenders named therein and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as agent (the
"Company Credit Facility"), and except for those leases that will require
consent which the Company reasonably expects to obtain and the failure of which
to obtain, individually, or in the aggregate, will not have a Material Adverse
Effect, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby nor
compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof nor the exercise by
Parent and the Surviving Corporation of full rights to own and operate the
business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries will (i) subject to
obtaining the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock at the Company Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof, conflict with
or result in any breach of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or
by-laws of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, (ii) violate any
order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the
Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties
or assets or (iii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or
without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any
right of termination, cancellation, acceleration, redemption or repurchase)
under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any (x) note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, or deed of trust or (y) license, lease, agreement or other
instrument or obligation to
26
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which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party or by which
either of them or any of their properties or assets may be bound, excluding from
the foregoing clause (iii), violations, breaches or defaults that, individually
or in the aggregate, would not either impair the Company's ability to consummate
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 4.04. FAIRNESS OPINION. The Company has received the
opinion of Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated to the effect that
as of the date hereof the Exchange Ratio is fair to the Company's stockholders
from a financial point of view.
Section 4.05. BOARD RECOMMENDATION. The Board of Directors of
the Company has, at a meeting of such Board duly held on October 25, 1998, (a)
approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby, (b) determined that this Agreement, the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated hereby, taken together, are fair and advisable
to, and in the best interest of the stockholders of the Company, (c) determined
and agreed to submit this Agreement to the stockholders of the Company for
purposes of acting upon it as soon as practicable and in any event within 45
days of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, regardless of whether
the Board of Directors of the Company determines at any time subsequent to the
date hereof that this Agreement is no longer advisable and recommends that the
stockholders of the Company reject it and (d) resolved to recommend that the
holders of shares of Company Common Stock approve and adopt this Agreement, the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.06. STATE ANTITAKEOVER STATUTES. The Company has
granted all approvals and taken all other steps necessary to exempt the Merger,
the Company Stockholder Voting Agreement and the other transactions contemplated
hereby from the requirements and provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware Act
and, to the extent it has the power to do so, any other state antitakeover
statute or regulation such that none of the provisions of Section 203 of the
Delaware Act or any other "business combination," "moratorium," "control share,"
or other state antitakeover statute or regulation (x) prohibits or restricts the
Company's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or its ability
to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (y)
would have the effect of invalidating or voiding this Agreement, the Company
Stockholder Voting Agreements or any provision hereof or
27
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thereof, or (z) would subject Parent or Subco to any material impediment or
condition in connection with the exercise of any of their respective rights
under this Agreement, the Company Stockholder Voting Agreements or their
ownership and operation of the business of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries.
Section 4.07. AFFILIATES. The Company has delivered to Parent
in the Company Disclosure Statement a list identifying all persons who may be
deemed to be "affiliates" of the Company for purposes of Rule 145 under the
Securities Act ("Affiliates"), together in the case of the Company's executive
officers listed thereon with the written agreement of each such person,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Company will deliver to
Parent promptly after the date hereof such written agreements from all
Affiliates not previously delivered.
Section 4.08. FINDERS OR BROKERS. Except for Xxxxxxx Lynch,
Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated and Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxx LLC, whose fees have
been disclosed to Parent, neither the Company nor any of the Company
Subsidiaries has employed any investment banker, broker, finder or intermediary
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby who might be entitled to
a fee or any commission the receipt of which is conditioned u on consummation of
the Merger.
Section 4.09. JOINT PROXY STATEMENT. Except for information
concerning Parent that is provided by Parent for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Joint Proxy Statement, such information, at the date the Joint
Proxy Statement is first mailed to stockholders and at the time of the Special
Meetings, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein not misleading. If, at any time prior to the
Effective Time, any event with respect to the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries shall occur that is required to be described in the Joint Proxy
Statement, such event shall be so described, and an amendment or supplement
shall be promptly disseminated to the stockholders of Parent and the Company.
The Joint Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with
the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act.
Section 4.10. CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of
the Company consists of 30,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and no
preferred stock. As of October 21, 1998, there are 10,178,931 shares of Company
Common Stock outstanding and no treasury shares. Section 4.10 of the Company
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Disclosure Statement identifies and describes the number of shares of Company
Common Stock to be received upon exercise or conversion, and the exercise or
conversion price, of each outstanding option, warrant and convertible or
exchangeable note (the "Company Common Stock Equivalents"). Except for the
Company Common Stock Equivalents, there are no existing options, warrants,
calls, subscriptions or other rights, or other agreements or commitments,
obligating the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell
any shares of capital stock of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or any
other securities convertible into or evidencing the right to subscribe for any
such shares. There are no outstanding stock appreciation rights with respect to
the capital stock of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries. All issued and
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are duly authorized and validly
issued, fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive rights with respect
thereto.
Section 4.11. COMPANY REPORTS. (a) Set forth in Section 4.11
of the Company Disclosure Statement are all forms, reports, registration
statements and documents prepared by the Company for its securityholders
generally since January 27, 1998 or filed by the Company with the SEC since
January 27, 1998 to the date hereof (collectively, the "Company Reports"). As of
their respective dates, the Company Reports (including all exhibits and
schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) did 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 therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) The Company will deliver to Parent as soon as they become
available true and complete copies of any report, registration statement or
statement mailed by it to its securityholders generally or filed by it with the
SEC, in each case subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time.
As of their respective dates, such reports and statements (excluding any
information therein provided by Parent or Subco, as to which the Company makes
no representation) will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made,
not misleading and will comply in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of law. The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited
consolidated interim financial statements of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries to be included or incorporated by refer-
29
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ence in such reports and statements will be prepared in accordance with U.S.
GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as
set forth therein and except as contemplated by SOP 90-7 in connection with the
adoption of "fresh start" reporting) and will fairly present the consolidated
financial position of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of the dates
thereof and the consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flow
for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim
financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments and to the extent they may
not include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements).
Section 4.12 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The audited consolidated
financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference
in any of the Company Reports since January 27, 1998 have been prepared in
accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods
involved (except as set forth therein and except as contemplated by SOP 90-7 in
connection with the adoption of "fresh start" reporting) and fairly present the
consolidated financial position of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as
of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and consolidated
cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of any unaudited
interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments and to the extent
they may not include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and
such audited financial statements are accompanied by an unqualified opinion
thereon by the Company's independent auditors (which opinion includes
explanatory paragraphs discussing the Company's adoption of "fresh start"
reporting and its adoption of SFAS 121, SOP 98-1 and SOP 98-5).
Section 4.13. ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. At May 30,
1998, neither the Company nor the Company Subsidiaries has any liabilities or
obligations of any nature, whether absolute, accrued, unmatured, contingent or
otherwise, or any unsatisfied judgments or any unusual or extraordinary
commitments, except the liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
as of May 30, 1998 of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and/or reflected
in the notes thereto, and except for liabilities or obligations that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.14. ABSENCE OF CHANGES OR EVENTS. Except as
disclosed on SEC registration statement form S-1 (no. 333-56811), as amended by
amendment no. 1 thereto (the "Company
30
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S-1"), since January 27, 1998, neither the Company nor any of the Company
Subsidiaries have, directly or indirectly:
(a) purchased, otherwise acquired, or agreed to purchase or
otherwise acquire, any shares of capital stock of the Company or the
Company Subsidiaries, or declared, set aside or paid any dividend or
otherwise made a distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or
any combination thereof) in respect of their capital stock (other than
dividends or other distributions payable solely to the Company or the
Company Subsidiaries);
(b) authorized for issuance, issued, sold, delivered, granted
or issued any options, warrants, calls, subscriptions or other rights
for, or otherwise agreed or committed to issue, sell or deliver, any
shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for shares of any class of capital stock of the Company
or any of the Company Subsidiaries, other than pursuant to and in
accordance with the terms of the Company Common Stock Equivalents
listed in Section 4.10 of the Disclosure Statement;
(c) except in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with past practice or in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, (i) created or incurred any
indebtedness for borrowed money, (ii) assumed, guaranteed, endorsed or
otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of
any other individual, firm or corporation, other than between or among
the Company and any of the Company Subsidiaries which are wholly-owned,
(iii) made any loans or advances to any other individual, firm or
corporation, (iv) entered into any commitment or transaction material
to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (v)
amended or supplemented any contract, agreement or other instrument in
existence on or prior to January 27, 1998;
(d) instituted any change in their accounting methods,
principles or practices except insofar as may have been required by a
change in U.S. GAAP;
(e) revalued any of their respective assets, including,
without limitation, writing down the value of inventory or writing off
notes or accounts receivables except
31
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in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(f) suffered any damage, destruction or loss, whether covered
by insurance or not, except for such as would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;
(g) suffered a Material Adverse Effect;
(h) Except (x) as may be required under the terms of any
applicable written agreement, plan or arrangement in effect as of
October 26, 1998 and listed in Section 4.14(h) of the Disclosure
Schedule or (y) as may be required to comply with applicable law (i)
increased in any manner the compensation of any of their respective
directors or officers or employees, except in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice; (ii) paid or agreed to pay
any material pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit,
or entered into any contract, agreement or understanding with any of
their respective past or present employees providing for the payment of
any material pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit,
except, in each case, as required under agreements, plans or
arrangements existing at October 26, 1998 and listed in Section 4.14(h)
of the Company Disclosure Statement; (iii) granted any severance or
termination pay to, or entered into any employment, consulting or
severance agreement with, any person; (iv) entered into any material
contract, agreement or understanding with any of the Company's or the
Company Subsidiaries' past or present employees; (v) except in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, or as
may be required to comply with applicable law, become obligated under
any new pension plan, welfare plan, multi-employer plan, employee
benefit plan, written benefit arrangement, or similar legally binding
plan or arrangement that was not in existence on or prior to October
26, 1998 and listed in Section 4.14(h) of the Company Disclosure
Statement, including any bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, stock
purchase, stock option, stock appreciation right, group insurance,
severance pay, retirement or other benefit plan, contract, agreement or
written understanding, or amended any such plans, contracts, agreements
or written understandings in existence at or prior to October 26, 1998
and listed in Section 4.14(h) of the Company Disclosure Statement; or
(vi) except for liens created by the Company Credit Facility and except
as other-
32
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wise expressly contemplated hereby, sold, transferred, leased,
licensed, pledged, mortgaged, or otherwise disposed of, or encumbered,
or agreed to sell, transfer, lease, license, pledge, mortgage or
otherwise dispose of or encumber, any material properties, real,
personal or mixed; and
(i) agreed to (i) do any of the things described in the
preceding clauses (a) through (h) other than as expressly contemplated
or provided for in this Agreement or (ii) take, whether in writing or
otherwise, any action that, if taken prior to the date of this
Agreement, would have made any representation or warranty in this
Article IV untrue or incorrect.
Section 4.15. CAPITAL STOCK OF THE COMPANY SUBSIDIARIES. (a)
Except for pledges of stock of the Company Subsidiaries under the Company Credit
Facility, the Company is directly or indirectly the record and beneficial owner
(including all such qualifying shares) of all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each of the Company Subsidiaries; (b) there are no proxies with
respect to such shares, and there are not any existing options, warrants, calls,
subscriptions, or other rights or other agreements or commitments obligating the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any shares
of capital stock of any such Company Subsidiary or any other securities
convertible into or evidencing the right to subscribe for any such shares; and
(c) all of such shares so owned by the Company are duly authorized and validly
issued, fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive rights with respect
thereto and are owned by the Company free and clear of any claim, lien or
encumbrance of any kind with respect thereto. The Company does not, directly or
indirectly, own any interest in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or
other business association or entity.
Section 4.16. LITIGATION. Except as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, either impair the Company's ability to consummate the Merger
or the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) There is no claim, action, suit or proceeding pending or,
to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against or relating to
the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries before any court or
governmental or regulatory authority or body or arbitration tribunal.
33
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(b) There is no outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction
or decree of any court, governmental agency or arbitration tribunal in
a proceeding to which the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or
any of their respective assets was or is a party.
Section 4.17. INSURANCE. The Company maintains insurance
policies in force on the date hereof covering the businesses, properties and
assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries consistent with industry
practices. All such policies are currently in effect and true and complete
copies of all such policies have been made available to Parent. The Company has
not received notice of the cancellation of any of such insurance in effect on
the date of this Agreement.
Section 4.18. CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS. (a) Except as set
forth in the Company S-1, neither the Company nor any of the Company
Subsidiaries is a party to:
(i) any existing contract, obligation or commitment of any
type that is a material contract (as such term is defined in item
601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC (a "Material Contract"));
(ii) any contract under which any amount payable by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary is dependent upon the revenues or
profits of-the Company or any such Company Subsidiary (other than
leases of real property);
(iii) any contract with any director, officer or employee of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary other than in such person's
capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any such
Company Subsidiary or any contract with any entity in which, to the
best of the Company's knowledge, any director or officer or any
immediate family member of a director or officer has a material
economic interest;
(iv) any contract that limits or restricts where either of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary may conduct its business or the type
or line of business that the Company or any Company Subsidiary may
engage in; or
(v) any material contract containing any agreement with
respect to any change of control (other than leases of real property).
34
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(b) Each Material Contract to which the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries is a party or by which either of them or any of their
properties or assets is bound is valid and binding upon the Company and/or any
such Company Subsidiary, as the case may be (and, to the Company's knowledge, on
all other parties thereto), in accordance with its terms and is in full force
and effect. There is no material breach or violation of or default by the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries (or, to the Company's knowledge, by
the other parties thereto) under any such contract, whether or not such breach,
violation or default has been waived. No event has occurred with respect to the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries which, with notice or lapse of time
or both, would constitute a material breach, violation or default, or give rise
to the right of termination, cancellation, foreclosure, imposition of a lien,
prepayment or acceleration under any such contract.
Section 4.19. LABOR MATTERS; EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR CONTRACTS.
(a) Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party to any
union contract or other collective bargaining agreement. Each of the Company and
the Company Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable laws respecting
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and
wages and hours, except for those failures to comply that, individually or in
the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company's
knowledge, there is no labor strike, slowdown or stoppage pending (or any labor
strike or stoppage threatened) against the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries. To the Company's knowledge, no petition for certification has been
filed and is pending before the National Labor Relations Board with respect to
any employees of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries who are not
currently organized.
(b) Except as set forth in the Company S-1, neither the
Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party to any written
employment, management services, consultation or other written contract or
agreement with any present officer or director or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, any entity affiliated with any present officer or director.
Section 4.20. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Neither the Company nor
any of the Company Subsidiaries has violated or failed to comply with any
statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule or order of any federal or state
government or any other governmental department or agency, or any judgment,
decree or order of any federal or state court, applicable to its business or
operations, except where any such violations or failures to
35
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comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have all permits,
licenses and franchises from federal or state governmental agencies required to
conduct its business as now being conducted, except for such permits, licenses
and franchises the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.21. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. Section 4.21 of
the Company Disclosure Statement discloses all Intellectual Property Rights (as
defined below) which are necessary for the Company and each of the Company
Subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses as they are presently being
conducted, the absence of which would have a Material Adverse Effect. The
Company and the Company Subsidiaries own or have the right to use the
Intellectual Property Rights disclosed in the Company Disclosure Statement.
"Intellectual Property Rights" shall mean and include rights
to use trademarks, trade names, copyrights, and all currently pending
applications for any thereof and any trade secrets, know-how, confidentiality
agreements, consulting agreements and software licenses.
Section 4.22. TAXES. The Company and each of the Company
Subsidiaries, and any consolidated, combined, unitary or aggregate group for tax
purposes of which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is or has been a member
has timely filed (or has had timely filed on its behalf) all Tax Returns
required to be filed by it, and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and
correct in all material respects, has paid (or has had paid on its behalf) all
Taxes shown thereon to he due and has provided adequate reserves in its
financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP for any Taxes that have not
been paid, whether or not shown as being due on any Tax Returns. (i) No claim
for unpaid Taxes has become a lien against the assets of the Company or any of
the Company Subsidiaries or is being asserted against the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries; (ii) no audit of any Tax Return that includes the Company
or any of the Company Subsidiaries is being conducted by a Tax authority; (iii)
no extension or waiver of the statute of limitations on the assessment of any
Taxes or with respect to any Tax Return has been granted by the Company or any
of the Company Subsidiaries and is currently in effect; (iv) there is no
arrangement with respect to sharing or allocating Taxes that will require any
payment by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries after the date of this
Agreement; (v) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have withheld and paid
in a timely manner all
36
-30-
Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or
owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other
third party; (vi) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has
made an election under Section 341(f) of the Code (or any similar provision of
state, local or foreign law); and (vii) neither the Company nor any of the
Company Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or arrangement that provides
for the payment of any amount, or the provision of any other benefit, that could
constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code
(or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law). There are no written
or, to the Company's knowledge, oral proposed assessments of Taxes against the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or written or, to its knowledge, oral
proposed adjustments to the manner in which any Tax of the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries is determined.
Section 4.23. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS; ERISA. Except as set
forth in the Company S-1:
(a) There are no "employee pension benefit plans" as defined
in Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended ("ERISA") ("Pension Benefit Plans"), "welfare benefit plans"
as defined in Section 3(l) of ERISA ("Welfare Plans"), or stock bonus,
stock option, restricted stock, stock appreciation right, stock
purchase, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, severance, or
vacation plans, or any other employee benefit plan, program, policy or
arrangement, covering employees (or former employees), maintained or
contributed to by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any
of their ERISA Affiliates (as hereinafter defined), or to which the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA
Affiliates contributes or is obligated to make payments thereunder or
otherwise may have any liability (collectively, the "Employee Benefit
Plans"). For purposes of this Agreement, "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean
any person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that is or has been
treated as a single employer together with the Company or the Company
Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
(b) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries, and each of the
Pension Benefit Plans and Welfare Plans, are in compliance with the
applicable provisions of ERISA, Code and other applicable laws, except
where the failure
37
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to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(c) All contributions to, and payments from, the Pension
Benefit Plans that are required to have been made in accordance with
the Pension Benefit Plans have been timely made, except where the
failure to make such contributions or payments on a timely basis would
not, individually or in the aggregate, either impair the Company's
ability to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby or have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Any Pension Benefit Plans intended to qualify under
Section 401 of the Code have been determined by the Internal Revenue
Service ("IRS") to be so qualified and no: event has occurred and no
condition exists with respect to the form or operation of such Pension
Benefit Plans that would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of
such qualification.
(e) There are (i) no investigations pending by any
governmental entity (including the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation) involving the Pension Benefit Plans or welfare Plans and
(ii) no pending or threatened claims (other than routine claims for
benefits), suits or proceedings against any Pension Benefit or Welfare
Plan, against the assets of any of the trusts under any Pension Benefit
or Welfare Plan or against any fiduciary of any Pension Benefit or
Welfare Plan with respect to the operation of such plan or asserting
any rights or claims to, benefits under any Pension Benefit Plan or
against the assets of any trust under such plan, except for those that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, give rise to any liability
that would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) None of the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or
any employee of the foregoing, nor any trustee, administrator, other
fiduciary or any other "party in interest" or "disqualified person"
with respect to the Pension Benefit Plans or Welfare Plans, has engaged
in a "prohibited transaction" (as such term is defined in Section 4975
of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) that could reasonably be expected
to result in a tax or penalty on the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA,
except any such event that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
either impair the Company's ability to consummate
38
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the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(g) None of the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or
any of their ERISA Affiliates maintains or contributes to any pension
plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or Sections 412 of the Code or 302 of
ERISA.
(h) None of the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or
any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred, or reasonably expects to
incur, any material liability under Title IV of ERISA.
(i) None of the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or
any of their ERISA Affiliates has any material liability (including any
contingent liability under Section 4204 of ERISA) with respect to any
multiemployer plan, within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA.
(j) True, correct and complete copies of the following
documents have been made available to Parent, with respect to all
material Employee Benefit Plans, and will be made available with
respect to all other Employee Benefit Plans: (i) the plan document and
any related trust agreement, including amendments thereto, (ii) any
current summary plan descriptions and other material written
communications to participants relating to the Employee Benefit Plans,
(iii) the most recent Forms 5500, if applicable, and (iv) the most
recent IRS determination letter, if applicable.
(k) None of the Welfare Plans maintained by the Company or any
of the Company Subsidiaries provide for continuing benefits or coverage
for any participant or any beneficiary of a participant following
termination of employment, except as may be required under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended
("COBRA"). The Company and the Company Subsidiaries (to the extent that
any such Company Subsidiary maintains a "group health plan" within the
meaning of Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code) have complied with the
notice and continuation requirements of Section 4980B of the Code,
COBRA, Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and the regulations
thereunder, except where the failure to comply would not, individually
or in the aggregate, either impair the Company's ability to consummate
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a
Material Adverse Effect.
39
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(l) No liability under any Pension Benefit or Welfare Plan has
been funded nor has any such obligation been satisfied with the
purchase of a contract from an insurance company as to which the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has received notice that
such insurance company is in rehabilitation or a comparable proceeding.
(m) Except as provided in this Agreement, the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in an
increase in the amount of compensation or benefits or accelerate the
vesting or timing of payment of any benefits or compensation payable to
or in respect of any employee of the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries.
(n) There are no Foreign Plans. For purposes hereof, the term
"Foreign Plan" shall mean any plan, program, policy, arrangement or
agreement maintained or contributed to by, or entered into with, the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries with respect to employees
(or former employees) employed outside the United States.
Section 4.24. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. The Company and the
Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with all environmental laws, rules and
regulations promulgated, adopted or enforced by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency and by similar agencies in states in which they conduct their
respective businesses, except for any non-compliance that individually or in the
aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any
of the Company Subsidiaries is a party to any suit, action or proceeding now
pending before any court, governmental agency or board or other forum or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened by any person as to which there is a
reasonable likelihood of an adverse determination and which, if adversely
determined, individually or in the aggregate would have a Material Adverse
Effect W for alleged noncompliance with any environmental law, rule or
regulation or (ii) relating to the discharge or release into the environment of
any hazardous material or waste at or on a site presently or formerly owned,
leased or operated by the Company.
Section 4.25. TAX TREATMENT; OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE AS TO TAX
MATTERS. Neither the Company nor, to the Company's knowledge, any of its
affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent the Merger
from constituting a transaction qualifying under Section 368(a) of the Code.
Neither the Company nor, to the Company's knowledge, any of its affiliates or
agents is aware of any agreement, plan or other
40
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circumstance that would prevent the Merger from qualifying under Section 368(a)
of the Code, and to the Company's knowledge, the Merger will so qualify. As of
the date hereof, the Company knows of no reason why it will be unable to deliver
to Cleary, Gottlieb, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx and to Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx at the
Closing representation letters with respect to the Company in form and substance
sufficient to enable such counsel to render the opinions required by Section
6.05 of this Agreement.
Section 4.25. ACCOUNTING MATTERS. The Company has disclosed to
its independent certified public accountants all actions taken by it and the
Company Subsidiaries that would impact the accounting of the business
combination to be effected by the Merger. As of the date hereof, after
consultation with its independent certified public accountants, the Company
believes that the Merger will qualify as a pooling of interests under Opinion 16
of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Except as disclosed in the section and subsection, A
applicable, of the Parent Disclosure Statement or the Company Disclosure
Statement, as applicable, corresponding to the applicable section and subsection
of this Article V, each of Parent and the Company agree to the following
covenants:
Section 5.1. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY AND PARENT.
(a) Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as expressly agreed to in
writing by Parent, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries will each conduct its
operations according to its ordinary and usual course of business consistent
with past practice, and will use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve
intact its business organization, to keep available the services of its officers
and employees in each business function and to maintain satisfactory
relationships with suppliers, distributors, customers and others having business
relationships with it and will not voluntarily take any action that would result
in a breach of a representation or warranty that would adversely affect its
ability to consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as otherwise
expressly provided in or contemplated by this Agreement, prior to the Effective
Time, neither the Com-
41
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pany nor any of the Company Subsidiaries will, without the prior written consent
of Parent:
(1) amend its Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws;
(2) authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver, grant any
options for, or otherwise agree or commit to issue, sell or deliver any
shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for shares of any class of capital stock of the Company
or any of the Company Subsidiaries, other than, in the case of the
Company, pursuant to and in accordance with and subject to the
limitations set forth in the terms of the Company Common Stock
Equivalents listed in Section 4.10 of the Company Disclosure Statement;
(3) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital
stock, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution
(whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in
respect of its capital stock except dividends to the Company or
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its own capital
stock or that of any of its subsidiaries;
(4) except in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with past practice, (A) create or incur indebtedness for borrowed
money; (B) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation
become liable or responsible for the obligations of any other
individual, firm or corporation or make any loans, advances or capital
contributions to or investments in any other individual, firm or
corporation, other than between or among the Company and any of the
Company Subsidiaries that are wholly-owned or (C) enter into any
commitment or transaction material to the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(5) A (I) increase in any manner the compensation of any of
the Company's or the Company Subsidiaries, directors or officers or
employees, except in the case of employees in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice; (II) pay or agree to pay
any material pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit,
or enter into any contract, agreement or understanding with any of the
Company's or the Company Subsidiaries, past or present employees
providing for the payment of any such material pension, retirement
allowance or other em-
42
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ployee benefit, except as required under agreements, plans or
arrangements existing as of October 26, 1998 and listed in Section
4.14(h) of the Company Disclosure Statement; (III) except as required
under agreements, plans or arrangements existing as of October 26, 1998
and listed in Section 4.14(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, grant
any severance or termination pay to, or enter into any employment,
consulting or severance agreement with, any person; (IV) enter into any
contract, agreement or understanding with any of the Company's or the
Company Subsidiaries' past or present officers or other employees,
except in the case of employees other than officers in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practice; and (V) except in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or as
required under agreements, plans or arrangements existing as of October
26, 1998 and listed in Section 4.14(h) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, or as may be required to comply with applicable law, become
obligated under any new pension plan, welfare plan, multiemployer plan,
employee benefit plan, benefit arrangement, or similar plan or
arrangement that was not in existence on or prior to October 26, 1998
and listed in Section 4.14(h) of the Company Disclosure Statement,
including any bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, stock purchase,
stock option, stock appreciation right, group insurance, severance pay,
retirement or other benefit plan, contract, agreement or understanding,
or amend in any material respect any such plans, contracts, agreements
or understandings in existence prior to October 26, 1998 and listed in
Section 4.14(h) of the Company Disclosure Statement or (B) enter into
any employment, consulting, severance or termination agreement with any
director or officer of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries;
(6) except (A) in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice, (B) in connection with the closing of
certain stores pursuant to the Company's Store Closing Statement for
fiscal 1998 previously furnished to Parent, (C) in connection with the
Company Credit Agreement and (D) as otherwise expressly contemplated
hereby, sell, transfer, lease, license, pledge, mortgage or otherwise
dispose of, or encumber, or agree to sell, transfer, lease, license,
pledge, mortgage or otherwise dispose of or encumber, any material
properties, real, personal or mixed;
43
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(7) except in the ordinary course of business otherwise
expressly contemplated hereby, grant or acquire any material licenses
to use any Intellectual Property Rights set forth in Section 4.21 of
the Company Disclosure Statement; provided that the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries shall not grant any material licenses to use any
material Intellectual Property Rights so set forth without the prior
written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld;
(8) except as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby, enter
into any other agreements, commitments or contracts, except agreements,
commitments or contracts for the purchase, sale or lease of goods or
services in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice and having a term of no more than one year;
(9) subject to Section 5.02(1) authorize, recommend, propose
or announce an intention to authorize, recommend or propose, or enter
into any agreement in principle or an agreement with any other person
with respect to, any plan of liquidation or dissolution, any
acquisition of a material amount of assets (other than in the ordinary
course of business) or securities, any disposition of a material amount
of assets or securities or any material change in its capitalization,
or any entry into a material contract or any amendment or modification
of any material contract or any release or relinquishment of any
material contract rights except in each case in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice or as expressly contemplated
by this Agreement;
(10) except as previously approved by the Board of Directors
of the Company prior to the date hereof and as identified to Parent
prior to the date hereof, authorize or commit to make capital
expenditures in excess of $100,000;
(11) permit any insurance policy naming it as a beneficiary or
a loss payee to be cancelled, terminated or materially altered, except
where such insurance as altered, modified or replaced is materially
equivalent, and except in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice and following written notice to Parent;
(12) maintain its books and records in a manner not in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
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(13) enter into any hedging, option, derivative or other
similar transaction;
(14) institute any change in its accounting methods,
principles or practices, except insofar as may have been required by a
change in U.S. GAAP;
(15) pay, discharge or satisfy any material claims,
liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise), other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction of
liabilities (including accounts payable) in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice, or collect, or accelerate
the collection of, any amounts owed (including accounts receivable)
other than the collection in the ordinary course of business;
(16) take, cause or permit to be taken any action, whether
before or after the Effective Time, that could reasonably be expected
to prevent the Merger from constituting a "reorganization" within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or qualifying as a "pooling of
interests" under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board; or
(17) agree to do any of the foregoing.
(b) Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as expressly
agreed to in writing by the Company, during the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries will each
conduct its operations according to its ordinary and usual course of business
consistent with past practice, and will use all commercially reasonable efforts
to preserve intact its business organization, to keep available the services of
its officers and employees in each business function and to maintain
satisfactory relationships with suppliers, distributors, customers and others
having business relationships with it and will not voluntarily take any action
that would result in a breach of a representation or warranty that would
adversely affect its ability to consummate the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated hereby. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and
except as otherwise expressly provided in or contemplated by this Agreement,
prior to the Effective Time, neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries
will, without the prior written consent of the Company:
(1) with respect to Parent, amend its Certificate of
Incorporation;
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(2) authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver, grant any
options for, or otherwise agree or commit to issue, sell or deliver any
shares of any class of capital stock of Parent or any of the Parent
Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for shares of any class of capital stock of Parent or any
of the Parent Subsidiaries, other than, in the case of Parent, (A)
pursuant to and in accordance with and subject to the limitations set
forth in the terms of the Parent Plans, the Restricted Stock Plan, the
Other Plans and (B) in connection with any acquisition with respect to
which Parent is not required by the rules of Nasdaq to obtain
shareholder approval;
(3) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital
stock, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution
(whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in
respect of its capital stock except dividends to Parent or purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its own capital stock or that
of any of its subsidiaries;
(4) subject to Section 5.02(11), authorize, recommend,
propose or announce an intention to authorize, recommend or propose, or
enter into any agreement in principle or an agreement with any other
person with respect to, any plan of liquidation or dissolution, any
acquisition of a material amount of assets (other than in the ordinary
course of business) or securities, any disposition of a material amount
of assets or securities or any material change in its capitalization,
or any entry into a material contract or any amendment or modification
of any material contract or any release or relinquishment of any
material contract rights except in each case in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice or as expressly contemplated
by this Agreement;
(5) maintain its books and records in a manner not in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
(6) enter into any hedging, option, derivative or other
similar transaction;
(7) institute any change in its accounting methods, principles
or practices except insofar as may have been required by a change in
U.S. GAAP;
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(8) take, cause or permit to be taken any action, whether
before or after the Effective Time, that could reasonably be expected
to prevent the Merger from constituting a "reorganization" within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or qualifying as a "pooling of
interests" under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board; or
(9) agree to do any of the foregoing.
Section 5.02. NO SOLICITATION. (I) (a) The Company agrees
that, prior to the Effective Time, it shall not, and shall not authorize or
permit any of the Company Subsidiaries or any of its or any of the Company
Subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives to,
directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, facilitate or encourage (including by
way of furnishing or disclosing non-public information) any inquiries or the
making of any proposal with respect to any merger, consolidation or other
business combination involving the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or
any acquisition of any kind of a material portion of the assets or capital stock
of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole (an "Acquisition
Transaction") or negotiate, explore or otherwise communicate in any way with any
person who is not a party to this Agreement (a "Third Party") with respect to
any Acquisition Transaction or enter into any agreement, arrangement or
understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the
Merger or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the Company may, prior to the date of
the Company Special Meeting in response to an unsolicited written proposal with
respect to an Acquisition Transaction involving the acquisition of all of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock on a fully diluted basis (or all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries)
from a Third Party (i) furnish or disclose non-public information to such Third
Party and (ii) negotiate, explore or otherwise communicate with such Third
Party, in each case only if (a) after being advised by (x) its outside counsel
with respect to its fiduciary obligations and (y) Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx
& Xxxxx Incorporated with respect to the financial terms of any such proposed
Acquisition Transaction, the Board of Directors of the Company determines
reasonably and in good faith by a majority vote that taking such action is
necessary in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations under applicable law, (b)
prior to furnishing or disclosing any nonpublic information to, or entering into
negotiations with, such Third Party, the Company receives from such Third Party
an exe-
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cuted confidentiality agreement with terms no less favorable in the aggregate to
the Company than those contained in the Company Confidentiality Agreement, but
which confidentiality agreement shall not provide for any exclusive right to
negotiate with the Company or any payments by the Company and (c) the Company
advises Parent of all non-public information delivered to such Third Party
concurrently with such delivery.
(b) The Company shall immediately notify Parent of receipt of
any proposal relating to an Acquisition Transaction or any request for nonpublic
information relating to the Company in connection with an Acquisition
Transaction or for access to the properties, books or records of the Company or
any of the Company Subsidiaries by any person or entity that informs the Board
of Directors of the Company that it is considering making, or has made, a
proposal relating to an Acquisition Transaction. Such notice to Parent shall be
made orally and in writing and shall include a copy of any writing submitted by
such person or entity and shall indicate in reasonable detail the identity of
the offeror and the terms and conditions of such proposal, inquiry or contract.
(c) During the period from the date of this Agreement through
the Effective Time, the Company shall not terminate, amend, modify or waive any
provision of any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which it or any of
the Company Subsidiaries is a party. During such period, the Company shall take
all reasonable steps to seek to enforce, to the fullest extent permitted under
applicable law, the provisions of any such agreement, including, but not limited
to, obtaining injunctions to prevent any breaches of any such agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions thereof in any court of the United
States of America or of any state having jurisdiction.
(II) (a) Parent agrees that, prior to the Effective Time, it
shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of the Parent Subsidiaries or
any of its or any of the Parent Subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees,
agents or representatives to, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate,
facilitate or encourage (including by way of furnishing or disclosing non-public
information) any inquiries or the making of any proposal with respect to any
Acquisition Transaction with respect to Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries or
negotiate, explore or otherwise communicate in any way with any Third Party with
respect to any Acquisition Transaction or enter into any agreement, arrangement
or understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the
Merger or any other trans-
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actions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in the foregoing, Parent may, prior to the date of the Parent Special meeting,
in response to an unsolicited written proposal with respect to an Acquisition
Transaction involving the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Parent
Common Stock on a fully diluted basis (or all or substantially all of the assets
of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries) from a Third Party (i) furnish or
disclose nonpublic information to such Third Party and (ii) negotiate, explore
or otherwise communicate with such Third Party, in each case only if (a) after
being advised by (x) its outside counsel with respect to its fiduciary
obligations and (Y) Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. with respect to the financial terms of
any such proposed Acquisition Transaction, the Board of Directors of Parent
determines reasonably and in good faith by a majority vote that taking such
action is necessary in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations under
applicable law, (b) prior to furnishing or disclosing any non-public information
to, or entering into negotiations with, such Third Party, Parent receives from
such Third Party an executed confidentiality agreement with terms no less
favorable in the aggregate to Parent than those contained in the Parent
Confidentiality Agreement, but which confidentiality agreement shall not provide
for any exclusive right to negotiate with Parent or any payments by Parent and
(c) Parent advises the Company of all non-public information delivered to such
Third Party concurrently with such delivery.
(b) Parent shall immediately notify the Company of receipt of
any proposal relating to an Acquisition Transaction or any request for nonpublic
information relating to Parent in connection with an Acquisition Transaction or
for access to the properties, books or records of Parent or any of the Parent
Subsidiaries by any person or entity that informs the Board of Directors of
Parent that it is considering making, or has made, a proposal relating to an
Acquisition Transaction. Such notice to the Company shall be made orally and in
writing and shall include a copy of any writing submitted by such person or
entity and shall indicate in reasonable detail the identity of the offeror and
the terms and conditions of such proposal, inquiry or contract.
Section 5.03. ACCESS TO INFORMATION. (a) From the date of this
Agreement until the Effective Time, the Company will give Parent and Subco and
their authorized representatives (including counsel, environmental and other
consultants, accountants, auditors and agents) reasonable access upon reasonable
notice during normal business hours to all facilities,
49
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personnel and operations and to all books and records of it and the Company
Subsidiaries, will permit Parent and Subco and their authorized representatives
to conduct inspections as they may reasonably require (including, without
limitation, any air, water, soil or other environmental testing and monitoring
deemed necessary by them) and will cause its officers and those of the Company
Subsidiaries to furnish Parent with such financial and operating data and other
information with respect to its business and properties as Parent may from time
to time request.
(b) Parent will give the Company and its agents (including its
counsel and auditors) access to Parent's books and records for the purpose of
conducting customary due diligence regarding the accuracy of the Parent SEC
Reports and Parent's and Subco's compliance with their respective obligations
under this Agreement.
(c) Parent will hold and will cause the Parent Subsidiaries
and all of their representatives, including consultants and advisors, to hold in
strict confidence pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of
September 22, 1998, between Parent and the Company, all documents and
information (whether oral or written) concerning the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries furnished to Parent or Subco in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "Company Confidentiality Agreement"). The
Company will hold and will cause its representatives, including consultants and
advisors, to hold in strict confidence pursuant to the Confidentiality
Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1998, between the Company and Parent, all
documents and information (whether oral or written) concerning Parent and the
Parent Subsidiaries furnished to the Company in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "Parent Confidentiality Agreement").
Notwithstanding any provision of Article X hereof, nothing herein shall relieve
any party of liabilities for any and all damages to the other party by reason of
any breach of this Section 5.03(c).
Section 5.04. REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT. Parent and the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC as soon as
is reasonably practicable after the date hereof the Registration Statement in
which the Joint Proxy Statement shall be included. Parent and the Company shall
use all commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement
declared effective by the SEC and the Joint Proxy Statement cleared by the staff
of the SEC as promptly as practicable. Parent shall take any action required to
be taken un-
50
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der applicable state blue sky or securities laws in connection with the Parent
Shares to be issued as Closing Consideration. Parent and the Company shall
promptly furnish to each other all information, and take such other actions
(including, without limitation, using all commercially reasonable efforts to
provide any required consents of their respective independent accountants or
auditors, as the case may be), as may reasonably be requested in connection with
any action by any of them in connection with this Section 5.04.
Section 5.05. COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE EFFORTS; OTHER ACTIONS.
Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, Parent, Subco and the
Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all other actions and do, or cause to be done, all other things
necessary, proper or appropriate under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including, without limitation, (i) the filing of Notification and Report Forms
under the HSR Act with the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and the
Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the "Antitrust Division") and
using all commercially reasonable efforts to respond as promptly as practicable
to any inquiries received from the FTC or the Antitrust Division for additional
information or documentation, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary consents,
approvals or waivers and (iii) the lifting of any legal bar to the Merger.
Parent shall cause Subco to perform all of its obligations under this Agreement
and shall not take any action that would cause the Company to fail to perform
its obligations hereunder. The Company shall not take any action that would
cause either Parent or Subco to fail to perform its obligations hereunder.
Section 5.06. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. Before issuing any press
release or otherwise making any public statement with respect to the Merger or
any of the other transactions contemplated hereby, Parent, Subco and the Company
will consult with each other as to its form and substance and shall not issue
any such press release or make any such public statement prior to obtaining the
consent of each of the other parties to this Agreement (which consent will not
be unreasonably withheld), except as may be required by law.
Section 5.07. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. Each of the
Company and Parent shall give prompt notice to the other party of (a) any notice
or other communication from any third party alleging that the consent of such
third party is or may be required in connection with the Merger or other
transactions contemplated hereby, (b) any change or prospective change that
51
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is likely to have, respectively, a Material Adverse Effect or Parent Material
Adverse Effect or (c) the occurrence or existence of any event that would, or
could with the passage of time or otherwise, make any representation or warranty
contained herein untrue.
Section 5.08. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) Parent shall, and shall
cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain and perform to the greatest extent
permitted under the Company's existing indemnification and expense advancement
provisions and arrangements (including, without limitation, the indemnity
agreements listed in Section 5.08 of the Company Disclosure Statement) with
respect to present and former directors and officers of the Company for all
losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities arising out of actions or
omissions or alleged actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective
Time, to the extent permitted or required under applicable law, and the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws in effect at the date hereof
(including, without limitation, provisions regarding elimination of liability
and indemnification of directors, officers and employees and regarding
advancement of expenses).
(b) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall cause to be maintained in effect the current
policies of directors, and officers, liability insurance maintained by
the-Company (provided that the Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor
policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and
conditions that are no less advantageous) with respect to claims arising from
facts or events that occurred at or before the Effective Time; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Surviving Corporation shall not be obligated to make annual
premium payments for such insurance to the extent such premiums exceed 200% of
the annual premiums paid as of the date hereof 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 be obligated to
obtain insurance coverage in such amounts as may be generally available for the
maximum premium referred to in the preceding proviso.
Section 5.09. EXPENSES. Except as set forth in Section 10.05,
Parent and Subco, on the one hand, and-the Company, on the other hand, shall
bear their respective expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the
Merger, and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation,
the preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and all fees and
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expenses of investment bankers, finders, brokers, agents, representatives,
counsel and accountants.
Section 5.10. AFFILIATES. (a) The Company shall advise Parent
in writing of any person who becomes an Affiliate after the date hereof and
prior to the Effective Time and shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
cause each such person to deliver to Parent, no later than the date such person
becomes an Affiliate, a written agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto.
(b) Parent shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
cause each of its Affiliates to execute and deliver to Parent a Lockup Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto. To the extent not provided
previously as contemplated by Section 4.07, the Company shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to cause each of its Affiliates who are not
parties to the Registration Rights Agreement to execute and deliver to Parent a
Lockup Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
Section 5.11. STOCK EXCHANGE LISTINGS. Parent shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to have approved for quotation on Nasdaq, upon
official notice of issuance, the Parent Shares to be issued in connection with
the Merger.
Section 5.12. LETTER OF THE COMPANY'S ACCOUNTANTS. The Company
shall use its best efforts to cause to be delivered to Parent a letter from the
Company's independent certified public accountants addressed to the Company and
indicating that it may be delivered to Parent, dated as of the Closing Date,
stating that such independent accountants concur with the conclusion of the
Company's management that no conditions exist with respect to the Company which
would preclude the Company from being a party to a merger accounted for as a
pooling of interests within the meaning of Opinion 16 of the Accounting
Principals Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations.
Section 5.13. LETTER OF PARENT'S ACCOUNTANTS. Parent shall use
its best efforts to cause to be delivered to the Company a letter from Parent's
independent certified public accountants, addressed to Parent and indicating
that it may be delivered to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, stating
that such independent certified public accountants concur with the conclusion of
Parent's management that no conditions exist with respect to Parent which would
preclude Parent from being a party to a merger accounted for as a pooling of
interests
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within the meaning of under opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and
applicable SEC rules and regulations.
Section 5.14. POOLING OF INTERESTS. Each of the Company and
Parent shall use its respective best efforts to cause the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement to be accounted for as a pooling of interests
under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and
regulations, and such accounting treatment to be accepted by each of the
Company's and Parent's independent certified public accountants, respectively,
and each of the Company and Parent agrees that it shall voluntarily take no
action that would cause such accounting treatment not to be obtained.
Section 5.15. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS. (a)
From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall honor, pay
and perform all of the Company's or any Company Subsidiary's liabilities and
obligations under or in respect of (i) each employment, retention, severance,
termination or similar agreement with any director, officer or other employee of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary and (ii) each deferred compensation or
other equity based plan or arrangement covering any director, officer or other
employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, in each case, in accordance
with the terms thereof in effect as of the date hereof. Parent shall cause the
amount of any bonus or other incentive compensation payable to any officer or
other employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary for the fiscal or other
applicable plan year that includes the Effective Time to be determined under the
terms of the applicable bonus or incentive compensation plans of the Company or
a Company Subsidiary as in effect as of the date hereof and without taking into
account any extraordinary charges or other expenses incurred or recognized by
the Company as a result of or in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. Such bonus otherwise shall be payable in
accordance with the terms of such plan, except that (i) any officer or other
employee who was such at the Effective Time shall be entitled to receive a bonus
if any are payable under the plan upon completion of the fiscal or other
applicable plan year and (ii) bonuses shall become payable notwithstanding the
Company's failure to achieve the performance objectives specified in the plan
for the entire fiscal year if such targets have been achieved for periods
completed prior to the Effective Time.
(b) Parent shall cause the Company to offer compensation and
benefits to the Company's employees that are substantially equivalent when taken
as a whole to the compensation
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and benefits that such employees enjoyed before the Effective Time; provided
that nothing in this Section 5.15(b) shall obligate the Company to renew any
employment agreements after their expiration or termination or prohibit the
Company from terminating at any time any employee employed at will.
(c) From and after the Effective Time, if any officer or other
employee becomes eligible to participate in any compensation or benefit plan,
agreement or arrangement maintained by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, Parent
shall cause W all service of such officer or employee completed prior to the
Effective Time with the Company or any Company Subsidiary to be recognized under
such plan, agreement or arrangement for eligibility to participate and vesting
purposes thereof, (ii) to be waived any exclusions for pre-existing conditions
of, any such officer or employee and his or her dependents and (iii) to be
recognized all co-payments, deductibles or similar amounts or costs incurred by
any such officer or employee under a comparable plan, agreement or arrangement
of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or the Surviving Corporation during the
plan year in which such officer or employee commences participation in an
applicable benefit plan, agreement or arrangement of Parent or any Subsidiary
thereof.
(d) The Parent shall cause the Company to maintain for one
year following the Effective Time its severance policies (including constructive
termination described in Schedule 4.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule).
Section 5.16. REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT. Concurrently with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent shall execute and deliver,
and the Company shall use all commercially available efforts to cause each of
the persons listed on Exhibit C to this Agreement to execute and deliver, the
Registration Rights Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit D, together with Annex
A thereto.
Section 5.17. BOARD REPRESENTATION. At the Effective Time,
Parent shall increase its Board size to add two additional directors, who shall
be selected by the Company's current Board of Directors prior to the Effective
Time, at least one of which will not have a term which is scheduled for
reelection at the next annual meeting of stockholders of Parent.
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ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT, SUBCO AND THE COMPANY
The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing (as defined in
Section 9.01) of each of the following conditions:
Section 6.01. REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Registration
Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the
Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued by the SEC and remain in effect. All necessary
state securities and blue sky authorizations shall have been received.
Section 6.02. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. (a) The approval of this
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby by a
majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock cast at the Company
Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof shall have been obtained.
(b) The approval of the Parent Merger Matters by a majority of
the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock cast at the Parent Special Meeting
or any adjournment thereof shall have been obtained.
Section 6.03. LISTING. The Parent Shares issuable in
connection with the Merger shall have been approved for quotation on Nasdaq,
subject to official notice of issuance.
Section 6.04. CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS. (a) No writ, order, decree
or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction or governmental entity shall
have been entered and remain in effect against Parent, Subco or the Company that
prohibits the consummation of the Merger or limits the exercise by Parent and
the Surviving Corporation of full rights to own and operate the business of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries, and any waiting period applicable to the
consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
terminated.
(b) All authorizations, orders, consents, licenses,
confirmations, clearances, permissions and approvals that may be required in any
foreign jurisdiction for the purposes of applicable anti-trust, competition,
takeover or similar legislation in connection with the consummation of the
Merger and the
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other transactions contemplated hereby shall have been received and shall remain
in full force and effect.
Section 6.05. TAX MATTERS. Parent shall have received an
opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, counsel to Parent and Subco, and the Company
shall have received an opinion of Cleary, Gottlieb, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, counsel to
the Company, each such opinion dated as of the Effective Date, and each such
opinion substantially to the effect that (i) the Merger will be treated as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; and (ii) except
for cash received in lieu of fractional Parent Shares, no gain or loss will be
recognized by a stockholder of the Company as a result of the Merger with
respect to the shares of Company Common Stock converted into Parent Shares. In
rendering such opinions, such counsel may receive and rely upon representations
of fact contained in certificates as specified in Section 3.14 and 4.25.
Section 6.06. POOLING LETTER. The Company and Parent shall
have received the letter from Parent's independent certified public accountants
referred to in Section 5.13.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND SUBCO
The obligation of Parent and Subco to effect the Merger and to
perform their other obligations to be performed at or subsequent to the Closing
shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing of the following
additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by Parent or
Subco:
Section 7.01. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES TRUE. The
representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (without regard
to any materiality qualifications, exceptions or provisos therein) shall be true
and correct in all respects on the date of this Agreement and on the date of the
Effective Time as though such representations and warranties were made at and on
such dates (except that representations and warranties that by their terms speak
as of the date of this. Agreement or some other date shall be true and correct
as of such date), except (i) for those untruths or inaccuracies that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not either impair the Company's ability
to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby or have
a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) for changes permitted or contemplated by this
Agreement.
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Section 7.02. PERFORMANCE. The Company shall have performed
and complied in all material respects with all agreements, obligations and
conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on
or prior to the Closing Date, except for those failures to so perform or comply
that, individually or in the aggregate, would not either impair the Company's
ability to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby
or have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 7.03. CERTIFICATES. The Company shall furnish such
certificates of its officers to evidence compliance with the conditions set
forth in Sections 7.01 and 7.02 as may be reasonably requested by Parent or
Subco.
Section 7.04. MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. There shall not have
occurred or become known since the date hereof any material adverse change in
the business, operations, assets, financial condition or prospects of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 7.05. CONSENTS, APPROVALS AND NOTIFICATIONS. All the
consents and approvals, and notifications and disclosures, and filings and
registrations listed in Section 4.03 of the Company Disclosure Statement shall
have been obtained.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY
The obligations of the Company under this Agreement to effect
the Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment on or before the Closing Date of
each of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be
waived by the Company:
Section 8.01. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES TRUE. The
representations and warranties of Parent and Subco contained herein (without
regard to any materiality qualifications, exceptions or provisos therein) shall
be true and correct in all respects on the date of this Agreement and on the
date of the Effective Time as though such representations and, warranties were
made at and on such dates (except that representations and warranties that by
their terms speak as of the date of this Agreement or some other date shall be
true and correct as of such date),. except (i) for those untruths or
inaccuracies that, individually or in the aggregate, would not either impair the
ability of Parent or Subco to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby or have a
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Parent Material Adverse Effect and (ii) for changes permitted or contemplated by
this Agreement.
Section 8.02. PERFORMANCE. Parent and Subco shall have
performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, obligations
and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
them on or prior to the Closing Date except for those failures to so perform or
comply that, individually or in the aggregate, would not either impair the
ability of Parent or Subco to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby or have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 8.03. CERTIFICATES. Parent and Subco shall furnish
such certificates of their respective officers to evidence compliance with the
conditions set forth in Sections 8.01 and 8.02 as may be reasonably requested by
the Company.
Section 8.04. MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. There shall not have
occurred or become known since the date hereof any material adverse change in
the business, operations, assets, financial condition or prospects of Parent and
its Parent Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 8.05. CONSENTS, APPROVALS AND NOTIFICATIONS. All
necessary consents and approvals of, and notifications and disclosures to, and
filings and registration with, any United States or any other governmental
authority or any other third party required on the part of Parent and Subco for
the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby
shall have been obtained or accomplished.
ARTICLE IX
CLOSING
Section 9.01. TIME AND PLACE. Subject to the provisions of
Articles VI, VII, VIII and X, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall
take place at the offices of Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, as soon as practicable but
in no event later than 9:30 A.M., local time, on the first business day after
the date on which each of the conditions set forth in Articles VI, VII and VIII
(other than conditions relating to delivery of opinions, letters with respect to
pooling and certificates at Closing) have been satisfied or waived by the party
or parties entitled to the benefit of such conditions; or at such other place,
at such other time, or on such other date as Parent, Subco and the Company may
mutually agree. The date on
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which the Closing actually occurs is herein referred to as the "Closing Date."
Section 9.02. FILINGS AT THE CLOSING. Subject to the
provisions of Articles VI, VII, VIII and X, the Company, Parent and Subco shall
cause to be executed and filed at the Closing the Certificate of Merger and
shall cause the Certificate of Merger to be recorded in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Delaware Act and shall take any and-all other
lawful actions and do any and all other lawful things necessary to cause the
Merger to become effective.
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT
Section 10.01. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated
and the Merger may be abandoned any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after approval by the stockholders of the Company:
(a) by mutual consent of the Boards of Directors of Parent and
the Company;
(b) by either Parent or the Company if, without fault of such
terminating party, the Merger shall not have been consummated on or
before April 30, 1999, which date may be extended by mutual consent of
the parties hereto;
(c) by either Parent or the Company, if any court of competent
jurisdiction or other governmental body shall have issued an order
(other than a temporary restraining order), decree or ruling or taken
any other action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the
Merger, and such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have
become final and nonappealable; or
(d) by either Parent or the Company, if either stockholder
approval contemplated in Section 6.02(a) or 6.02(b) is not obtained;
provided that the party seeking termination is not then in material
breach of any provisions of this Agreement.
Section 10.02. TERMINATION BY PARENT. This Agreement may be
terminated and the Merger may be abandoned by action of the Board of Directors
of Parent, at any time prior to the Effective Time, before or after the approval
by the stockholders of the Company, if:
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(a) the Company shall have failed to comply in any respect
(without regard to any materiality qualifications, exceptions or
provisos therein) with any of the covenants or agreements contained in
Articles I and V of this Agreement to be complied with or performed by
the Company at or prior to such date of termination except for those
failures to so perform or comply that, individually or in the aggregate
would not either impair the Company's ability to consummate the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(b) there exists a breach or breaches of any representation or
warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement such that the
Closing condition set forth in Section 7.01 would not be satisfied;
provided, however, that if such breach or breaches are capable of being
cured prior to the Effective Time, such breaches shall not have been
cured within 30 days of delivery to the Company of written notice of
such breach or breaches;
(c) the Board of Directors of the Company (i) fails to
recommend the approval of this Agreement and the Merger to the
Company's stockholders,(ii) withdraws or amends or modifies in a manner
adverse to Parent its recommendation or approval in respect of this
Agreement or the Merger or (iii) makes any recommendation with respect
to an Acquisition Transaction (including making no recommendation or
stating an inability to make a recommendation), other than a
recommendation to reject such Acquisition Transaction, or the Board of
Directors of the Company shall have resolved to take any of the
foregoing actions referred to in this clause and publicly discloses
such resolution;
(d) the Company or its representatives shall furnish or
disclose non-public information or negotiate, discuss, explore or
otherwise communicate in any way with a third party with respect to an
Acquisition Transaction, or the Board of Directors of the Company shall
have resolved to take any of the foregoing actions referred to in this
clause and publicly discloses such resolution; or
(e) the number of Dissenting Shares exceeds the lesser of (p)
10% of the total number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and (q) such number of
Dissenting Shares as Parent shall be advised by its independent
certified public accountants will render them unable to deliver the
letter
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referred to in Section 6.06 given the totality of other circumstances
in existence at the Effective Time.
Section 10.03. TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY. This Agreement may
be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective
Time, before or after the approval by the stockholders of the Company, by action
of the Board of the Directors of the Company, if (a) Parent or Subco shall have
failed to comply in any respect (without regard to any materiality
qualifications, exceptions or provisos therein) with any of the covenants or
agreements contained in Articles I and V of this Agreement to be complied with
or performed by Parent or Subco at or prior to such date of termination except
for those failures to so perform or comply that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not either impair Parent's ability to consummate the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, (b) there exists a breach or breaches of any representation or warranty
of Parent or Subco contained in this Agreement such that the Closing condition
set forth in Section 8.01 would not be satisfied; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
such breach or breaches are capable of being cured prior to the Effective Time,
such breaches shall not be cured within 30 days of delivery to Parent of written
notice of such breach or breaches or (c) the Board of Directors of Parent (i)
fails to recommend the approval of the amendment to Parent's Certificate of
Incorporation increasing the authorized Parent Common Stock and the issuance of
Parent Shares in connection with the Merger, (ii) withdraws or amends or
modifies in a manner adverse to the Company its recommendation or approval in
respect of the amendment to Parent's Certificate of Incorporation increasing the
authorized Parent Common Stock and the issuance of Parent Shares in connection
with the Merger or (iii) makes any recommendation with respect to an Acquisition
Transaction (including making no recommendation or stating an inability to make
a recommendation), other than a recommendation to reject such Acquisition
Transaction unless such Acquisition Transaction is of the type contemplated by
the second proviso of Section 5.02(II)(a), or the Board of Directors of the
Company shall have resolved to take any of the foregoing actions referred to in
this clause and publicly discloses such resolution.
Section 10.04. PROCEDURE FOR TERMINATION. In the event of
termination and abandonment of the Merger by Parent or the Company pursuant to
this Article X, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other.
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Section 10.05. EFFECT OF TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT. (a) In
the event of termination of this Agreement and abandonment of the Merger
pursuant to this Article X, no party hereto (or any of its directors or
officers) shall have any liability or further obligation to any other party to
this Agreement, except (i) as provided in this Section 10.05 and (ii) for any
liability or further obligation arising from or in connection with any willful
breach of its obligations hereunder.
(b) In the event of a termination of this Agreement by the
Company pursuant to Section 10.03(c) or pursuant to Section 10.01(d) if the
Parent stockholder approvals contemplated by 6.02(b) are not obtained, then
Parent shall within two business days of such termination pay the Company by
wire transfer or immediately available funds to an account specified by the
Company (i) up to $3 million to reimburse the Company for its documented fees
and expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel, accountants,
consultants and advisors) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) a cash fee of $18 million. In the
event of a termination of this Agreement by Parent pursuant to Section 10.02(c),
10.02(e) or pursuant to Section 10.01(d) if the Company stockholder approvals
contemplated by 6.02(a) are not obtained, then the Company shall within two
business days of such termination pay Parent by wire transfer or immediately
available funds to an account specified by Parent (i) up to $3 million to
reimburse Parent for its documented fees and expenses (including the fees and
expenses of counsel, accountants, consultants and advisors) incurred in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii)
a cash fee of $18 million.
ARTICLE XI
DEFINITIONS
Section 11.01. TERMS DEFINED IN THIS AGREEMENT. The following
capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed in the
indicated sections.
Acquisition Transaction......................... 5.02
Additional Matters.............................. 1.05(b)
Affiliates...................................... 4.07
Agreement....................................... First Paragraph
Antitrust Division.............................. 5.05
Certificate of Merger........................... 1.02
Certificates.................................... 2.03(b)
Closing......................................... 9.01
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Closing Consideration........................... 2.01
Closing Date.................................... 9.01
COBRA........................................... 4.23
Code............................................ RECITALS
Company......................................... First Paragraph
Company Common Stock............................ 2.01
Company Common Stock Equivalents................ 4.10
Company Confidentiality Agreements.............. 5.03(c)
Company Credit Facility......................... 4.03
Company Disclosure Statement.................... Article IV
Company Reports................................. 4.11
Company S-1..................................... 4.14
Company Special Meeting......................... 1.05(a)
Company Subsidiaries............................ 4.01
Constituent Corporations........................ First Paragraph
Delaware Act.................................... 1.01
Dissenting Shares............................... 2.01(c)
Effective Time.................................. 1.02
Employee Benefit Plans.......................... 4.23
ERISA........................................... 4.23
ERISA Affiliate................................. 4.23
Exchange Act.................................... 3.04
Exchange Ratio.................................. 2.01
Foreign Plan.................................... 4.23
FTC............................................. 5.05
HSR Act......................................... 3.04
Intellectual Property Rights.................... 4.21
IRS............................................. 4.23
Joint Proxy Statement........................... 1.05
Market Value.................................... 2.05
Material Adverse Effect......................... 4.01
Merger.......................................... 1.01
Nasdaq.......................................... 2.05
Other Plans..................................... 3.12
Parent.......................................... First Paragraph
Parent Common Stock............................. 2.01
Parent Confidentiality Agreement................ 5.03(c)
Parent Disclosure Statement..................... Article III
Parent Exchange Options......................... 2.04
Parent Form S-8................................. 2.04
Parent Material Adverse Effect.................. 3.04
Parent Merger Matters........................... 1.05(b)
Parent Plans.................................... 3.12
Parent Preferred Shares......................... 3.12
Parent SEC Reports.............................. 3.08
Parent Shares................................... 2.01
Parent Special Meeting.......................... 1.05(b)
Parent Subsidiaries............................. 3.04
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Pension Benefit Plans........................... 4.23
Registration Statement.......................... 3.07
Restricted Stock Plan........................... 3.12
SEC............................................. 2.04
Securities Act.................................. 3.04
Special Meetings................................ 1.05(a)
Subco........................................... First Paragraph
Surviving Corporation........................... 3.15
Tax............................................. 3.15
Tax Returns..................................... 3.15
Taxes........................................... 3.15
U.S. GAAP....................................... 3.08
Welfare Plans................................... 4.23
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.01. AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION. Subject to
applicable law, this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by
written agreement of Parent, Subco and the Company at any time prior to the
Effective Time with respect to any of the terms contained herein; provided,
however, that after this Agreement is adopted by the stockholders of the
Company, no such amendment or modification shall change the amount or form of
the Closing Consideration.
Section 12.02. WAIVER OF COMPLIANCE; CONSENTS. Any failure of
Parent or Subco, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, to comply
with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by
the Company or Parent or Subco, respectively, only by a written instrument
signed by the party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist
upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition
shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or
other failure. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits consent by or on
behalf of any party hereto, such consent shall be given in writing in a manner
consistent with the requirements for a waiver of compliance as set forth in this
Section 12.02.
Section 12.03. SURVIVABILITY; INVESTIGATIONS. The respective
representations and warranties of Parent, Subco and the Company contained herein
or in any certificates or other documents delivered prior to or at the Closing
shall i not be deemed waived or otherwise affected by any investigation made by
any party hereto and shall not survive the Closing.
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Section 12.04. NOTICES. All notices and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, by next-day
courier or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested),
first class postage prepaid, or telecopied with written confirmation of receipt,
the parties at the addresses specified below (or at such other address for a
party as shall be specified by like notice; provided that notices of a change of
address shall be effective only upon receipt thereof). Any such notice shall be
effective upon receipt, if personally delivered or telecopied, one day after
delivery to a courier for next-day delivery, or three days after mailing, if
deposited in the U.S. mail, first class postage prepaid.
(a) if to the Company, to
Camelot Music Holdings, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Telecopy: (000)000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
with a copy to
Xxxxxx, Halter & Xxxxxxxx LLP
1400 XxXxxxxx Investment Center
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000.
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. XxXxx, Esq.
and a copy to
Cleary, Gottlieb, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx. Esq.
(b) if to Parent or Subco, to
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Trans World Entertainment Corporation
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
with a copy to
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Section 12.05. ASSIGNMENT; THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This
Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns (including, without limitation, any wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent
incorporated under the laws of the United States and substituted for Subco as
provided in Section 1.01), but neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the-parties
hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. This Agreement is
not intended to confer any rights or remedies hereunder upon any other person
except the parties hereto and, with respect to Section 5.08, the officers,
directors and employees of the Company and, with respect to Article I, the
stockholders of the Company.
Section 12.06. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed
by the laws of the State of Delaware (regardless of the laws that might
otherwise govern under applicable Delaware principles of conflicts of law) as to
all matters, including, but not limited to, matters of validity, construction,
effect, performance and remedies.
Section 12.07. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 12.08. SEVERABILITY. In case any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement should be inva-
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lid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect against a party hereto, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall only apply as to such party in the specific
jurisdiction where such judgment shall be made.
Section 12.09. INTERPRETATION. The article and section
headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference,
are not part of the agreement of the parties and shall not in any way affect the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, (i) the
term "person" shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint
venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government
or any department or agency thereof; and (ii) the term "subsidiary" of any
specified corporation shall mean any corporation of which a majority of the
outstanding securities having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the
board of directors is directly or indirectly owned by such specified corporation
or any other person of which a majority of the equity interests therein is,
directly or indirectly, owned by such specified corporation.
Section 12.10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, including the
exhibits hereto and the documents and instruments referred to herein (including
the Parent Disclosure Statement and the Company Disclosure Statement), embodies
the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the
subject matter contained herein. There are no representations, promises,
warranties, covenants, or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or
referred to herein and therein.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Subco and the Company have caused
this Agreement to be signed by their respective duly authorized officers as of
the date first above written.
TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CAQ CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title
CAMELOT MUSIC HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
