EXHIBIT 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
BY AND AMONG
DIVINE, INC.
KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES ACQUISITION CORP.
AND
ROWECOM INC.
JULY 6, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I The Merger; Effective Time; Closing......................................................1
1.1 The Merger...............................................................................1
1.2 Effective Time...........................................................................2
1.3 Closing..................................................................................2
1.4 Effect of the Merger.....................................................................2
ARTICLE II Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving
Corporation..............................................................................2
2.1 Certificate of Incorporation; Name.......................................................2
2.2 By-Laws..................................................................................2
ARTICLE III Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation......................................2
3.1 Directors................................................................................2
3.2 Officers.................................................................................3
ARTICLE IV Merger Consideration; Conversion or Cancellation of Shares in the
Merger...................................................................................3
4.1 Share Consideration for the Merger; Conversion or Cancellation of Shares in
the Merger...............................................................................3
4.2 Payment for Shares in the Merger.........................................................5
4.3 Cash For Fractional Parent Shares........................................................7
4.4 Transfer of Shares after the Effective Time..............................................7
4.5 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates...................................................7
ARTICLE V Representations and Warranties...........................................................7
5.1 Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub..................................7
5.2 Representations and Warranties of the Company...........................................13
ARTICLE VI Additional Covenants and Agreements.....................................................29
6.1 Conduct of Business of the Company......................................................29
6.2 Conduct by Parent.......................................................................31
6.3 No Solicitation.........................................................................32
6.4 Meeting of Stockholders.................................................................34
6.5 Registration Statement..................................................................34
6.6 Reasonable Efforts......................................................................35
6.7 Access to Information...................................................................35
6.8 Publicity...............................................................................35
6.9 Affiliates of the Company and Parent....................................................36
6.10 Maintenance of Insurance................................................................36
6.11 Representations and Warranties..........................................................36
6.12 Filings; Other Action...................................................................36
6.13 Tax-Free Reorganization Treatment.......................................................36
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
PAGE
6.14 Company Options and Warrants and Purchase Plan..........................................37
6.15 Nasdaq Listing..........................................................................38
6.16 Indemnification.........................................................................38
6.17 Name Rights.............................................................................39
ARTICLE VII Conditions..............................................................................39
7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligations..................................................39
7.2 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company............................................40
7.3 Conditions to the Obligations of Parent.................................................41
ARTICLE VIII Termination.............................................................................43
8.1 Termination by Mutual Consent...........................................................43
8.2 Termination by either the Company or Parent.............................................43
8.3 Termination by the Company..............................................................44
8.4 Termination by Parent...................................................................44
8.5 Effect of Termination; Termination Fee..................................................45
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous and General...............................................................46
9.1 Payment of Expenses.....................................................................46
9.2 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties..........................................47
9.3 Modification or Amendment...............................................................47
9.4 Waiver of Conditions....................................................................47
9.5 Counterparts............................................................................47
9.6 Governing Law...........................................................................47
9.7 Notices.................................................................................47
9.8 Entire Agreement; Assignment............................................................48
9.9 Parties in Interest.....................................................................49
9.10 Certain Definitions.....................................................................49
9.11 Obligation of the Company...............................................................50
9.12 Severability............................................................................50
9.13 Specific Performance....................................................................50
9.14 Recovery of Attorney's Fees.............................................................50
9.15 Captions................................................................................50
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DEFINED TERMS
1998 Options...........................................................................Section 4.1(c)
Agreement................................................................................Introduction
Authorized Representatives................................................................Section 6.7
Bridge Notes...........................................................................Section 7.3(i)
Bridge Warrants........................................................................Section 7.3(i)
Certificate of Merger.....................................................................Section 1.2
Certificates...........................................................................Section 4.2(b)
Chatsworth Agreement...................................................................Section 5.2(k)
Closing...................................................................................Section 1.3
Closing Date..............................................................................Section 1.3
Code.........................................................................................Recitals
Company..................................................................................Introduction
Company Acquisition Agreement..........................................................Section 6.3(b)
Company Acquisition Proposal...........................................................Section 6.3(a)
Company Affiliate.........................................................................Section 6.9
Company Affiliate Letter..................................................................Section 6.9
Company Contract.......................................................................Section 5.2(p)
Company Disclosure Schedule...............................................................Section 5.2
Company Financial Statements.......................................................Section 5.2(h)(ii)
Company Intellectual Property Rights................................................Section 5.2(o)(i)
Company International Employee Plans..............................................Section 5.2(n)(vii)
Company Key Employees..............................................................Section 5.2(p)(ii)
Company Option.........................................................................Section 4.1(c)
Company Option Plans...................................................................Section 5.2(b)
Company SEC Reports.................................................................Section 5.2(h)(i)
Company Scheduled Plans.............................................................Section 5.2(n)(i)
Company Shares.........................................................................Section 4.1(a)
Company Stockholder Meeting...............................................................Section 6.4
Company Superior Proposal..............................................................Section 6.3(a)
Company Termination Fee................................................................Section 8.5(b)
Company Warrant........................................................................Section 4.1(d)
Confidentiality Agreement.................................................................Section 6.7
DGCL......................................................................................Section 1.1
Director Options.......................................................................Section 4.1(c)
Effective Time............................................................................Section 1.2
Employment Agreements........................................................................Recitals
Environmental Costs and Liabilities....................................................Section 5.2(s)
Environmental Laws.....................................................................Section 5.2(s)
ERISA.................................................................................Section 9.10(a)
Exchange Act...........................................................................Section 5.1(g)
Exchange Agent.........................................................................Section 4.2(a)
Exchange Ratio.........................................................................Section 4.1(a)
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Fractional Securities Fund................................................................Section 4.3
Governmental Entity...................................................................Section 9.10(b)
Hazardous Material.....................................................................Section 5.2(s)
HSR Act................................................................................Section 5.1(g)
In the Money Options...................................................................Section 4.1(c)
Indemnification...........................................................................Section 9.9
Indemnified Personnel.................................................................Section 6.16(a)
Insurance Policies.....................................................................Section 5.2(u)
Knowledge.............................................................................Section 9.10(c)
Material Adverse Effect...............................................................Section 9.10(d)
Merger.......................................................................................Recitals
Merger Sub...............................................................................Introduction
MidTerm Loan...........................................................................Section 7.3(n)
Name Rights...............................................................................Section 9.9
NNM.......................................................................................Section 4.3
Non-Consolidated Financial Statements..............................................Section 5.2(h)(ii)
Note Purchase Agreement................................................................Section 7.3(j)
Out of the Money Option................................................................Section 4.1(c)
Outside Date...........................................................................Section 8.2(a)
Parent...................................................................................Introduction
Parent Disclosure Schedule................................................................Section 5.1
Parent Financial Statements........................................................Section 5.1(i)(ii)
Parent Rights..........................................................................Section 5.1(c)
Parent Rights Agreement................................................................Section 5.1(c)
Parent SEC Reports..................................................................Section 5.1(i)(i)
Parent Shares..........................................................................Section 4.1(a)
Parent Termination Fee.................................................................Section 8.5(c)
Parties..................................................................................Introduction
Person................................................................................Section 9.10(e)
Proxy Statement...........................................................................Section 6.5
Plan Affiliate......................................................................Section 5.2(n)(i)
Publisher Notes........................................................................Section 7.3(j)
Restraints.............................................................................Section 7.1(c)
Returns.............................................................................Section 5.1(m)(i)
S-4 Registration Statement................................................................Section 6.5
SEC.................................................................................Section 5.1(i)(i)
Securities Act.........................................................................Section 5.1(g)
Senior Credit Agreement................................................................Section 7.3(g)
Share Consideration....................................................................Section 4.2(a)
Significant Tax Agreement.............................................................Section 9.10(f)
Stock Merger Exchange Fund.............................................................Section 4.2(a)
Subsidiary............................................................................Section 9.10(g)
Substitute Non-Director Option.........................................................Section 4.1(c)
Substitute Non-Director Options........................................................Section 4.1(c)
Substitute Options.....................................................................Section 4.1(c)
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Substitute Warrant.....................................................................Section 4.1(d)
Surviving Corporation.....................................................................Section 1.1
Tax...................................................................................Section 9.10(h)
Taxes.................................................................................Section 9.10(h)
Termination Fee........................................................................Section 8.5(c)
Transaction Expenses......................................................................Section 9.1
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EXHIBITS
Employment Agreements.......................................................................Exhibit A
Company Affiliate Letter....................................................................Exhibit B
Senior Credit Agreement Term Sheet..........................................................Exhibit C
Bridge Note Term Sheet......................................................................Exhibit D
Foreign Financing Terms.....................................................................Exhibit E
Consents....................................................................................Exhibit F
MidTerm Loan Modifications..................................................................Exhibit G
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION (this "Agreement"),
dated as of July 6, 2001, by and among DIVINE, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation and a
direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and ROWECOM INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"). Parent, Merger Sub and the Company are
referred to collectively herein as the "Parties". Capitalized terms used herein
are defined as referenced in the Table of Defined Terms contained herein.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the
Company have determined that it is in the best interests of such corporation and
its respective stockholders that the Company and Parent enter into a business
combination through the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the
"Merger") and, in furtherance thereof, have approved the Merger and declared the
Merger advisable to its respective stockholders;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger, the outstanding shares of common stock
of the Company shall be converted into shares of common stock of Parent at the
rate set forth herein;
WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the
Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution hereof, the Company is
entering into employment agreements attached as Exhibit X-0, X-0, X-0, X-0 and
A-5 hereto with the respective employees identified therein (collectively
referred to as, the "Employment Agreements"), which employment agreements will
become effective only if and when the Merger is consummated.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Parties hereby agree
as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER; EFFECTIVE TIME; CLOSING
1.1 THE MERGER. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the "DGCL"), at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into
the Company, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon
cease and the Company shall be the successor or
surviving corporation. The Company, as the surviving corporation after the
consummation of the Merger, is sometimes hereinafter referred to as the
"Surviving Corporation."
1.2 EFFECTIVE TIME. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the
Parties shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing the certificate of
merger of Merger Sub and the Company (the "Certificate of Merger") with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in such form as required by, and
executed in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the DGCL as soon as
practicable on or before the Closing Date, and shall take all other action
required by law to effect the Merger. The Merger shall become effective upon
such filing or at such time thereafter as is provided in the Certificate of
Merger (the "Effective Time").
1.3 CLOSING. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated and the
transactions herein contemplated shall have been abandoned pursuant to Article
VIII, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place at 10:00 a.m.,
local time, at the offices of counsel for Parent, on the second business day
after all of the conditions to the obligations of the Parties to consummate the
Merger as set forth in Article VII have been satisfied or waived, or such other
date, time or place as is agreed to in writing by the Parties (the "Closing
Date").
1.4 EFFECT OF THE MERGER. At the Effective Time, the effect of the
Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of
the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto,
at the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises
of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all
debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the
debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE II
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
2.1 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION; NAME. At the Effective Time, the
Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation,
until thereafter amended as provided therein and by applicable law, and the name
of the Surviving Corporation shall be the Company's name.
2.2 BY-LAWS. At the Effective Time, the by-laws of Merger Sub in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the by-laws of the Surviving
Corporation, until thereafter amended as provided therein and by applicable law.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
3.1 DIRECTORS. The directors of Merger Sub shall be the initial
directors of the Surviving Corporation, until their respective successors have
been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death,
resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws.
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3.2 OFFICERS. The officers of Merger Sub shall be the initial officers
of the Surviving Corporation, until their successors have been duly elected or
appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in
accordance with the Surviving Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation and
by-laws.
ARTICLE IV
MERGER CONSIDERATION; CONVERSION OR CANCELLATION OF SHARES IN THE MERGER
4.1 SHARE CONSIDERATION FOR THE MERGER; CONVERSION OR CANCELLATION OF
SHARES IN THE MERGER. At the Effective Time, the manner of converting or
canceling shares of the Company and Parent shall be as follows:
(a) CONVERSION OF COMPANY STOCK. Subject to Section 4.3 hereof, each
share of common stock, $0.01 par value ("Company Shares"), of the
Company issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(excluding any Company Shares described in Section 4.1(e)), shall, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder
thereof, be converted automatically into the right to receive 0.75
shares of Class A common stock, $0.001 par value, of Parent
(collectively, "Parent Shares"). All Company Shares to be converted
into Parent Shares pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) shall, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders thereof,
cease to be outstanding, be canceled and cease to exist, and each
holder of a certificate representing any such Company Shares shall
thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such Company
Shares, except the right to receive for each of the Company Shares,
upon the surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 4.2,
the number of Parent Shares specified above and cash in lieu of
fractional shares. The ratio of Company Shares per share of Parent
Shares is sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio."
(b) STOCK OF MERGER SUB. Each share of common stock, $0.01 par
value, of Merger Sub 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 automatically into and
exchanged for one (1) validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
share of common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Surviving Corporation.
Each stock certificate representing any shares of Merger Sub shall
continue to represent ownership of such shares of capital stock of the
Surviving Corporation.
(c) COMPANY OPTION. Each option to purchase Company Shares (each, a
"Company Option"), other than options issued under the Company's 1999
Non-Employee Director Plan (the "Director Options"), which (i) is
outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time
pursuant to the Company Option Plans in effect on the Closing Date
hereof and (ii) has an exercise price less than or equal to the product
of (A) the closing sale price for a Parent Share, as reported on the
Nasdaq National Market ("NNM") (as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL,
Midwest Edition) on the trading day immediately preceding the Effective
Time and (B) the Exchange Ratio
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(the "In the Money Options"), shall become and represent an option to
purchase the number of Parent Shares (rounded down to the nearest full
share) (a "Substitute Non-Director Option") under the Parent's 1999
Stock Incentive Plan or the Parent's 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, as may
be determined by Parent prior to the Closing, determined by multiplying
(i) the number of Company Shares subject to such Company Option
immediately prior to the Effective Time by (ii) the Exchange Ratio, at
an exercise price per share of Parent Shares (rounded up to the nearest
tenth of a cent) equal to the exercise price per Company Share
immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio.
Each Director Option which (i) is outstanding and unexercised
immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) has an exercise price
less than or equal to the product of (A) the closing sale price for a
Parent Share, as reported on the NNM (as reported in THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL, Midwest Edition) on the trading day preceding the date hereof
and (B) the Exchange Ratio (the "In the Money Director Options"), shall
become and represent an option to purchase the number of Parent Shares
(rounded down to the nearest full share) (a "Substitute Director
Option" and together with the "Substitute Non-Director Options", the
"Substitute Options") under the Parent's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan or
the Parent's 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, as may be determined by Parent
prior to the Closing, determined by multiplying (i) the number of
Company Shares subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the
Effective Time by (ii) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per
Company Share immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by the
Exchange Ratio. Parent shall pay cash to holders of Company Options in
lieu of issuing fractional Parent Shares upon the exercise of
Substitute Options for Parent Shares. After the Effective Time, except
as provided above in this Section 4.1(c), each Substitute Option shall
be exercisable upon the same terms and conditions as were applicable
under the related Company Option immediately prior to the Effective
Time (including that all such Substitute Options shall be immediately
exercisable pursuant to the terms of such Company Option Plan). The
Company agrees that it will not grant any stock appreciation rights or
limited stock appreciation rights and will not permit cash payments to
holders of Company Options in lieu of the substitution therefor of
Substitute Options, as described in this Section 4.1(c). Parent will
reserve a sufficient number of Parent Shares for issuance under this
Section 4.1(c). Any Company Option granted under the Company's Amended
and Restated 1998 Stock Incentive Plan which is not an In the Money
Option shall be hereinafter referred to as an "Out of the Money
Option."
(d) COMPANY WARRANTS. Each outstanding warrant to purchase Company
Shares (each, a "Company Warrant") shall be assumed by Parent (in
accordance with the further provisions contained in Section 6.14) and
each assumed warrant shall be converted into and represent a warrant to
purchase the number of Parent Shares (a "Substitute Warrant") (rounded
down to the nearest full share) at an exercise price, each as
determined in accordance with the terms of such warrant or any
agreement entered into among the Company and the holder of such warrant
pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 4.1(d). In the event a
Company Warrant does not specify that such Company Warrant shall
convert to a warrant to purchase Company Shares upon consummation of a
transaction similar to the Merger, such Company Warrant be converted
into and represent
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a Substitute Warrant to purchase a number of Parent Shares (rounded
down to the nearest full share), determined by multiplying (i) the
number of Company Shares subject to such Company Warrant immediately
prior to the Effective Time by (ii) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise
price equal to the exercise price per Company Share immediately prior
to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio. If any such
Company Warrant requires the consent or agreement of the holder of such
Company Warrant in connection with the Merger or in order for such
Company Warrant to convert into warrants to purchase Parent Shares, the
Company shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such
consent or agreement.
(e) CANCELLATION OF PARENT OWNED AND TREASURY STOCK. All of the
Company Shares that are owned by Parent, any direct or indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent or by the Company as treasury stock
shall automatically cease to be outstanding, shall be canceled and
shall cease to exist and no Parent Shares shall be delivered in
exchange therefor.
(f) ADJUSTMENTS TO THE EXCHANGE RATIO. In the event of any
reclassification, stock split or stock dividend with respect to Parent
Shares, any change or conversion of Parent Shares into other securities
or any other dividend or distribution in Parent Shares with respect to
outstanding Parent Shares (or if a record date with respect to any of
the foregoing should occur) prior to the Effective Time, appropriate
and proportionate adjustments, if any, shall be made to the Exchange
Ratio, and all references to the Exchange Ratio in this Agreement shall
be deemed to be to the Exchange Ratio as so adjusted.
4.2 PAYMENT FOR SHARES IN THE MERGER. The manner of making payment for
Shares in the Merger shall be as follows:
(a) EXCHANGE AGENT. On or prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall
make available to Computershare Investor Services, LLC., or other
entity mutually agreed upon by the Parties (the "Exchange Agent"), for
the benefit of the holders of Company Shares, a sufficient number of
certificates representing the Parent Shares required to effect the
delivery of the aggregate consideration in Parent Shares and cash for
the Fractional Securities Fund required to be issued pursuant to
Section 4.1 (collectively, the "Share Consideration" and the
certificates representing the Parent Shares comprising such aggregate
Share Consideration being referred to hereinafter as the "Stock Merger
Exchange Fund"). The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable
instructions, deliver the Share Consideration out of the Stock Merger
Exchange Fund and the Fractional Securities Fund. The Stock Merger
Exchange Fund and the Fractional Securities Fund shall not be used for
any purpose other than as set forth in this Agreement.
(b) EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. Promptly after the Effective Time, the
Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a certificate or
certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented
outstanding Company Shares (the
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"Certificates") (i) a form of letter of transmittal, in a form
reasonably satisfactory to the Parties (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 (ii) instructions for use in effecting the
surrender of the Certificates for payment therefor. Subject to Section
4.5, upon surrender of Certificates for cancellation to the Exchange
Agent, together with such letter of transmittal duly executed and any
other required documents, the holder of such Certificates shall be
entitled to receive for each of the Company Shares represented by such
Certificates the Share Consideration, without interest, allocable to
such Certificates and the Certificates so surrendered shall forthwith
be canceled. Until so surrendered, such Certificates shall represent
solely the right to receive the Share Consideration allocable to such
Certificates.
(c) DISTRIBUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO UNEXCHANGED SHARES. 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 Persons entitled by reason of the Merger
to receive Parent Shares until such Persons surrender their
Certificates as provided in Section 4.2(b) above. Upon such surrender,
there shall be paid to the Person in whose name the Parent Shares are
issued any dividends or other distributions having a record date after
the Effective Time and payable with respect to such Parent Shares
between the Effective Time and the time of such surrender. After such
surrender there shall be paid to the Person in whose name the Parent
Shares are issued any dividends or other distributions on such Parent
Shares which shall have a record date after the date of such surrender.
In no event shall the Persons entitled to receive such dividends or
other distributions be entitled to receive interest on such dividends
or other distributions.
(d) TRANSFERS OF OWNERSHIP. If any certificate representing Parent
Shares is to be issued in a name other than that in which the
Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it shall be
a condition of such exchange that the Certificate so surrendered shall
be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that
the Person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange Agent any
transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of
certificates for such Parent Shares in a name other than that of the
registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or shall establish to
the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or
is not applicable.
(e) NO LIABILITY. Neither the Exchange Agent nor any of the Parties
shall be liable to a holder of Company Shares for any Parent Shares, in
accordance with Section 4.3, cash in lieu of fractional Parent Shares
or any dividend to which the holders thereof are entitled, delivered to
a public official pursuant to applicable escheat law. The Exchange
Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any rights of ownership
with respect to the Parent Shares held by it from time to time
hereunder, except that it shall receive and hold all dividends or other
distributions paid or distributed with respect to such Parent Shares
for the account of the Persons entitled thereto.
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(f) TERMINATION OF FUNDS. Subject to applicable law, any portion of
the Stock Merger Exchange Fund and the Fractional Securities Fund which
remains unclaimed by the former stockholders of the Company for one (1)
year after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand
of Parent, and any former stockholder of the Company shall thereafter
look only to Parent for payment of their applicable claim for the Share
Consideration for their Company Shares.
4.3 CASH FOR FRACTIONAL PARENT SHARES. No fractional Parent Shares
shall be issued in the Merger. Each holder of Parent Shares shall be entitled to
receive in lieu of any fractional Parent Shares to which such holder otherwise
would have been entitled pursuant to Section 4.2 (after taking into account all
Parent Shares then held of record by such holder) a cash payment in an amount
equal to the product of (i) the fractional interest of a Parent Share to which
such holder otherwise would have been entitled and (ii) the closing sale price
of a Parent Share on the NNM on the trading day immediately prior to the
Effective Time (the cash comprising such aggregate payments in lieu of
fractional Parent Shares being hereinafter referred to as the "Fractional
Securities Fund").
4.4 TRANSFER OF SHARES AFTER THE EFFECTIVE TIME. All Share
Consideration issued upon the surrender for exchange of Company Shares in
accordance with the terms hereof (including any cash paid in respect thereof)
shall be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights
pertaining to such Company Shares, and no further registration of transfers
shall be made. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the
Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as
provided in this Article IV.
4.5 LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES. In the event any
Certificates evidencing Company Shares shall have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed certificates, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the
holder thereof, such Parent Shares, cash for fractional shares, if any, and any
dividends or other distributions to which the holders thereof are entitled;
provided, however, that Parent may, in its discretion and as a condition
precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or
destroyed certificates to deliver a customary bond in such sum as it may
reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against
Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent with respect to the
certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
5.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB. Parent and
Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to the Company that the statements
contained in this Section 5.1 are true and correct, except to the extent
specifically set forth on the disclosure schedule delivered contemporaneously
with this Agreement by Parent to the Company (the "Parent Disclosure Schedule").
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(a) CORPORATE ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Each of Parent and
each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation and is qualified and in good standing as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction where the properties owned, leased or
operated, or the business conducted, by it require such qualification,
except where failure to be so could not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Each of Parent and its
Subsidiaries has all requisite power and authority to own its
properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.
(b) OPERATIONS OF MERGER SUB. Merger Sub is a direct, wholly-owned
Subsidiary of Parent, was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in
the transactions contemplated hereby, has engaged in no other business
activities and has conducted its operations only as contemplated
hereby.
(c) CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of Parent consists
of (i) 2,500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.001 par value
per share, of which 138,973,759 shares were issued and outstanding on
May 31, 2001, (ii) 100,000,000 shares of Class C common stock, $0.001
par value per share, of which 6,777,777 were issued and outstanding on
the date hereof, 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value
per share, 500,000 shares of which have been designated Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock. No shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding as of the date
hereof. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Parent have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable. The Parent Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger,
upon the exercise of Substitute Warrants and upon exercise of
Substitute Options will include a corresponding number of rights (such
rights being hereinafter referred to collectively as "Parent Rights")
to purchase shares of Series A Junior Participating Stock pursuant to
the Rights Agreement dated as of February 12, 2001 (the "Parent Rights
Agreement") between Parent and Computershare Investor Services, LLC.,
as Rights Agent. The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of
1,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, 1,000 shares of which
are issued and outstanding and held by Parent.
(d) LISTINGS. Parent's securities are not listed, or quoted, for
trading on any U.S. domestic or foreign securities exchange, other than
the NNM.
(e) AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT. The Board of Directors of
Merger Sub has declared the Merger advisable and Merger Sub has the
requisite corporate power and authority to approve, authorize, execute
and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The Board of Directors of Parent has declared the
Merger and the related issuance of Parent Shares advisable and Parent
has the requisite corporate power and authority to approve, authorize,
execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement and the consummation by Parent and
Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and
validly authorized by the Boards of Directors of Parent and Merger Sub
and by Parent as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, and no other
corporate
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proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub (including, in the case
of Parent, any action or approval by its stockholders) are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered
by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming this Agreement constitutes the
valid and binding agreement of the Company, constitutes the valid and
binding agreement of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against Parent
and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject, as to
enforceability, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other
laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
rights and to general principles of equity.
(f) PRESENT COMPLIANCE WITH OBLIGATIONS AND LAWS. Neither Parent nor
any of its Subsidiaries is: (i) in violation of its Certificate of
Incorporation, by-laws or similar documents; (ii) in default in the
performance of any obligation, agreement or condition of any debt
instrument which (with or without the passage of time or the giving of
notice, or both) affords to any Person the right to accelerate any
indebtedness or terminate any right; (iii) in default under or breach
of (with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice) any
other contract to which it is a party or by which it or its assets are
bound; or (iv) in violation of any law, regulation, administrative
order or judicial order, decree or judgment (domestic or foreign)
applicable to it or its business or assets, except where any violation,
default or breach under items (ii), (iii), or (iv) could not reasonably
be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.
(g) CONSENTS AND APPROVALS; NO VIOLATION. Neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation by Parent of the
transactions contemplated hereby will (i) conflict with or result in
any breach of any provision of the respective Certificate of
Incorporation (or other similar documents) or by-laws (or other similar
documents) of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) require any
consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or registration or
filing with or notification to, any governmental or regulatory
authority, in each case, by or on behalf of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, except (A) in connection with the applicable
requirements, if any, of the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (B) pursuant to the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the NNM, (C) the
filing of the Certificate of Merger pursuant to the DGCL and
appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in
which Parent is authorized to do business, (D) as may be required by
any applicable state securities laws, (E) the consents, approvals,
orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings
required under the antitrust or competition laws of foreign countries,
or (F) where the failure to obtain such consent, approval,
authorization or permit, or to make such registration, filing or
notification, could not reasonably be expected to, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or adversely
affect the ability of Parent to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby; (iii) result in a violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default
(or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration or lien or other charge or encumbrance) under any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any indenture, note, license, lease,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their assets may be
bound, except for such violations, breaches and defaults (or rights of
termination, cancellation or acceleration or lien or other charge or
encumbrance) as to which requisite waivers or consents have been
obtained or which, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or
adversely affect the ability of Parent to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby; (iv) cause the suspension or revocation of any
authorizations, consents, approvals or licenses currently in effect
which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent; or (v) assuming the
consents, approvals, authorizations or permits and registrations,
filings or notifications referred to in this Section 5.1(g) are duly
and timely obtained or made, violate any order, writ, injunction,
decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries or to any of their respective assets, except for
violations which, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or
adversely affect the ability of Parent to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(h) LITIGATION. Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports filed
prior to the date hereof, there are no actions, suits, claims,
investigations or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent,
threatened against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually
or in the aggregate, could be reasonably likely to result in
obligations or liabilities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that,
individually or in the aggregate, could be reasonably expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or a material adverse effect on the
parties' ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any
outstanding judgment order, writ, injunction or decree which (i) has or
may have the effect of impairing Parent's ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or (ii) individually or in the
aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent.
(i) SEC REPORTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(i) Parent has filed all forms, reports and documents with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") required to be filed
by it pursuant to the federal securities laws and the SEC rules and
regulations thereunder, all of which complied in all material
respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (collectively, the "Parent SEC Reports"). None of the
Parent SEC Reports, including, without limitation, any financial
statements or schedules included therein, at the time filed (or if
amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this
Agreement, then on the date of such filing) contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
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statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. None of Parent's Subsidiaries is required
to file any forms, reports, or other documents with the SEC.
(ii) The consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated
statements of income, stockholders' equity (deficit) and cash flows
(including the related notes thereto) of Parent included in the
Parent SEC Reports (collectively, "Parent Financial Statements")
comply as to form in all material respects with generally accepted
accounting principles and the published rules and regulations of the
SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
consistent throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise
noted therein or, in the case of unaudited interim financial
statements, as may be permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q under the
Exchange Act), and present fairly the consolidated financial
position of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of their
respective dates, and the consolidated results of their operations
and their cash flows for the periods presented therein, except that
the unaudited interim financial statements do not include footnote
disclosure of the type associated with audited financial statements
and were or are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments
which were not or are not expected to be material in amount.
(iii) Since December 31, 2000, there has not been any material
change, by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, in accounting
principles, methods or policies for financial accounting purposes,
except as required by concurrent changes in generally accepted
accounting principles. There are no material amendments or
modifications to agreements, documents or other instruments which
previously had been filed by Parent with the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, which have not yet been filed
with the SEC but which are required to be filed.
(j) NO LIABILITIES. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has
any material indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of any kind
(whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or
to become due or asserted or unasserted) and, to the Knowledge of
Parent, there is no reasonable basis for the assertion of any claim
with respect to any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any nature
against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except for indebtedness,
liabilities or obligation (i) which are fully reflected in, reserved
against or otherwise described in the most recent Parent Financial
Statements, (ii) which have been incurred after the date of the most
recent Parent Financial Statements in the ordinary course of business,
consistent with past practice, (iii) which are obligations to perform
under executory contracts in the ordinary course of business (none of
which is a liability resulting from a breach of contract or warranty,
tort, infringement or legal action), or (iv) which could not reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.
-11-
(k) ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OF EVENTS. Except as described in the
Parent SEC Reports, since December 31, 2000, except with respect to the
actions contemplated by this Agreement, there has not been (i) any
Material Adverse Effect on the Parent; (ii) any damage, destruction or
loss of any assets (whether or not covered by insurance) of the Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries that has had or could reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Parent; or (iii) any other action or event that would have required
the consent of the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 had such action or
event occurred after the date of this Agreement.
(l) S-4 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. None
of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent for inclusion
or incorporation by reference in the S-4 Registration Statement or the
Proxy Statement will (i) in the case of the S-4 Registration Statement,
at the time it becomes effective or at the Effective Time, 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, or (ii) in the case of the Proxy
Statement, at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement, at the
time of the Company Stockholders Meeting and at the Effective Time,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, not misleading. If at any time prior to the Effective
Time any event with respect to Parent, Merger Sub or any of their
respective affiliates, officers and directors or any of its
Subsidiaries should occur which is required to be described in an
amendment of, or a supplement to, the Proxy Statement or the S-4
Registration Statement, Parent shall promptly inform the Company, such
event shall be so described, and such amendment or supplement shall be
promptly filed with the SEC and, as required by law, disseminated to
the stockholders of the Company. The S-4 Registration Statement will
comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Merger Sub make no
representation or warranty with respect to any information supplied by,
or related to, the Company or any of its affiliates or advisors which
is contained in any of the foregoing documents.
(m) TAXES.
(i) Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed (taking
all extensions into account) all federal, state, local and foreign
returns, information statements and reports relating to Taxes
("Returns") required by applicable Tax law to be filed by Parent and
each of its Subsidiaries and has paid all Taxes shown to be due
thereon. All Returns were true and correct in all material respects
when filed. Parent has made accruals for Taxes on the Parent
Financial Statements which are adequate in all material respects to
cover the aggregate Tax liability of Parent and its Subsidiaries
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles through the date of the Parent Financial Statements.
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(ii) Except to the extent that any such failure to withhold could
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, Parent and each of
its Subsidiaries have withheld with respect to its employees,
creditors, independent contractors, shareholders or other parties,
all federal and state income taxes, FICA, FUTA and other Taxes
required to be withheld.
(iii) There is no Tax deficiency outstanding, assessed or, to
Parent's Knowledge, proposed against Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, except for any deficiencies which, individually or in
the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.
(iv) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, on
Parent, to Parent's Knowledge, no federal or state Tax audit or
other examination of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is presently
in progress, nor has Parent or any of its Subsidiaries been notified
in writing of any request for such a federal or material state Tax
audit or other examination.
(v) Parent is not, and has not at any time been, a "United States
real property holding corporation" within the meaning of Section
897(c)(2) of the Code.
(n) TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Except as set forth in the Parent
SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, since the date
of Parent's last proxy statement to its stockholders, no event has
occurred that would be required to be reported by Parent as a Certain
Relationship or Related Transaction, pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation
S-K promulgated by the SEC.
(o) NOT AN INVESTMENT COMPANY. Parent is not an "investment company"
within the meaning of that term as used in the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended.
5.2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that the statements contained
in this Section 5.2 are true and correct, except to the extent specifically set
forth on the disclosure schedule delivered contemporaneously with this Agreement
by the Company to Parent and Merger Sub (the "Company Disclosure Schedule").
(a) CORPORATE ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Each of the Company
and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
incorporation and is qualified and in good standing as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction where the properties owned, leased or
operated, or the business conducted, by it require such qualification,
except where failure to so qualify or be in good standing as a foreign
corporation could not, individually or in the
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aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all requisite
power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to own its properties and
to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. All of the
Subsidiaries of the Company are set forth in Section 5.2(a) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule. The Company has heretofore made available
to Parent complete and correct copies of its Certificate of
Incorporation and by-laws and the charter documents of its
Subsidiaries, each as amended.
(b) CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of (i) 34,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per
share, of which 12,484,644 shares were issued and outstanding on June
30, 2001, and (ii) 23,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par
value per share, none of which are issued or outstanding. All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and its Subsidiaries
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable. The Company has no outstanding stock appreciation
rights, phantom stock or similar rights. All outstanding shares of
capital stock or other equity interests of the Subsidiaries of the
Company are owned by the Company or a direct or indirect wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Company, free and clear of all liens, pledges,
charges, encumbrances, claims and options of any nature. Except for
options to purchase 2,457,706 Company Shares issued pursuant to the
1997 Stock Incentive Plan, the Amended and Restated 1998 Stock
Incentive Plan and the 1999 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan and
801,220 Company Shares to be issued pursuant to the 1999 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (collectively, the "Company Option Plans") and warrants
to purchase 1,370,056 Company Shares, there are no outstanding or
authorized options, warrants, calls, rights (including preemptive
rights), commitments or any other agreements of any character which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or may be bound by,
requiring it to issue, transfer, grant, sell, purchase, redeem or
acquire any shares of capital stock or any of its securities or rights
convertible into, exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to
subscribe for, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. Upon consummation of the Merger, the Company Warrants
shall convert into Substitute Warrants which will entitle the holder to
purchase a number of Parent Shares equal to the number of Company
Shares issuable upon exercise of the Company Warrants immediately prior
to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. There are no
stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or
understandings to which the Company is a party or to which it is bound
relating to the voting of any shares of the capital stock of the
Company. No existing rights with respect to the registration of Company
Shares under the Securities Act, including, but not limited to, demand
rights or piggy-back registration rights, shall apply with respect to
any Parent Shares issuable in connection with the Merger or upon
exercise of Substitute Options or Substitute Warrants. The Company has
provided to Parent a list, as of June 30, 2001 of the outstanding
options and warrants to acquire Company Shares, the name of the holder
of such option or warrant, the exercise price of such option or
warrant, the number of shares as to which such option or warrant will
have vested at such date and whether the exercisability of such option
or warrant will be accelerated in any way by the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the extent of acceleration, if any,
and any
-14-
adjustments to such options or warrants resulting from the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Since June 30, 2001
no options or warrants have been issued or accelerated or had their
terms modified.
(c) FAIRNESS OPINION. The Board of Directors of the Company has
received an oral opinion from Chatsworth Securities, LLC, which shall
be confirmed in writing prior to Closing, and addressed to the Board of
Directors of the Company, to the effect that, as of the date hereof and
based upon and subject to the matters stated therein, the consideration
to be received by the holders of Company Shares in the Merger is fair
to such holders from a financial point of view and a copy of such
opinion will be provided to Parent. As of the date hereof, such opinion
has not been withdrawn, revoked or modified.
(d) AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT. The Board of Directors of
the Company has declared the Merger advisable and the Company has the
requisite corporate power and authority to approve, authorize, execute
and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement and the consummation by the Company
of the 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 transactions contemplated
hereby (other than the approval of this Agreement and the Merger by the
stockholders of the Company in accordance with the DGCL). This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company and, assuming this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding
agreement of Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes the valid and binding
agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general principles of
equity.
(e) PRESENT COMPLIANCE WITH OBLIGATIONS AND LAWS. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is: (i) in violation of its
Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws or similar documents; (ii) in
default in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition of
any debt instrument which (with or without the passage of time or the
giving of notice, or both) affords to any Person the right to
accelerate any indebtedness or terminate any right; (iii) in default
under or breach of (with or without the passage of time or the giving
of notice) any other contract to which it is a party or by which it or
its assets are bound; or (iv) in violation of any law, regulation,
administrative order or judicial order, decree or judgment (domestic or
foreign) applicable to it or its business or assets, except where any
violation, default or breach under items (ii), (iii), or (iv) could not
reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(f) CONSENTS AND APPROVALS; NO VIOLATION. Neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company nor the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) conflict with
or result in any breach of any
-15-
provision of its Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws; (ii) require
any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or registration or
filing with or notification to, any governmental or regulatory
authority, in each case, by or on behalf of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, except (A) in connection with the applicable
requirements, if any, of the HSR Act, (B) pursuant to the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the NNM, (C)
the filing of the Certificate of Merger pursuant to the DGCL and
appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in
which the Company is authorized to do business, (D) as may be required
by any applicable state securities laws, (E) such filings, consents,
approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and
filings as may be required under the antitrust laws of any foreign
country or (F) where the failure to obtain such consent, approval,
authorization or permit, or to make such registration, filing or
notification, could not reasonably be expected to, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or
adversely affect the ability of the Company to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby; (iii) result in a violation or breach
of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration or lien or other charge or encumbrance) under any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any indenture, note, license, lease,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their assets may be
bound, except for such violations, breaches and defaults (or rights of
termination, cancellation, or acceleration or lien or other charge or
encumbrance) as to which requisite waivers or consents have been
obtained or which, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company
or adversely affect the ability of the Company to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby; (iv) cause the suspension or
revocation of any authorizations, consents, approvals or licenses
currently in effect which, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company; or (v) assuming the consents, approvals, authorizations or
permits and registrations, filings or notifications referred to in this
Section 5.2(f) are duly and timely obtained or made, violate any order,
writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to any of their respective
assets, except for violations which could not reasonably be expected
to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company or adversely affect the ability of the Company to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(g) LITIGATION. Except as disclosed in Company SEC Reports filed
prior to the date hereof, there are no actions, suits, claims,
investigations or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to
result in obligations or liabilities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that would have, or that would otherwise have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company or a Material Adverse Effect on the parties' ability to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any outstanding
judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree which (i) has or may have
the effect of prohibiting or impairing any business practice of
-16-
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any acquisition of property
(tangible or intangible) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the
conduct of the business by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
Company's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or
(ii), insofar as can be reasonably foreseen, individually or in the
aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company.
(h) SEC REPORTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(i) The Company has filed all forms, reports and documents with
the SEC required to be filed by it pursuant to the federal
securities laws and the SEC rules and regulations thereunder, all of
which complied in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (the
"Company SEC Reports"). None of the Company SEC Reports, including,
without limitation, any financial statements or schedules included
therein, at the time filed (or if amended or superseded by a filing
prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of such
filing) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of
the Company's Subsidiaries is required to file any forms, reports or
other documents with the SEC.
(ii) The consolidated balance sheets and the related statements
of income, stockholders' equity or deficit and cash flow (including
the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries included in the Company SEC Reports (collectively, the
"Company Financial Statements") comply as to form in all material
respects with generally accepted accounting principles and the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto,
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a basis consistent throughout the periods
involved (except as otherwise noted therein or, in the case of
unaudited interim financial statements, as may be permitted by the
SEC on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act), and present fairly the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as of their respective dates, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for the periods presented therein,
except that the unaudited interim financial statements do not
include footnote disclosure of the type associated with audited
financial statements and were or are subject to normal and recurring
year-end adjustments which were not or are not expected to be
material in amount. The Company has delivered to Parent the balance
sheets for each non-consolidated Subsidiary of the Company as of
December 31, 2000 and April 30, 2001 and related statement of
income, stockholder's equity or deficit and cash flow (including the
related notes thereto) of each non-consolidated Subsidiaries of the
Company for the twelve and four month periods, respectively, then
ended (collectively, the "Non-Consolidated Financial Statements").
The Non-Consolidated
-17-
Financial Statements of each such Subsidiary fairly present the
financial position, results of operations and cash flow of such
Subsidiary as of the date thereof and for the period then ended and
comply in all material respects with generally accepted accounting
principles.
(iii) Since December 31, 2000, there has not been any material
change, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in accounting
principles, methods or policies for financial accounting purposes,
except as required by concurrent changes in generally accepted
accounting principles. There are no material amendments or
modifications to agreements, documents or other instruments which
previously had been filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, which have not been filed
with the SEC but which are required to be filed.
(i) NO LIABILITIES. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has any indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of any kind (whether
accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to
become due or asserted or unasserted), and, to the Knowledge of the
Company, there is no reasonable basis for the assertion of any claim
with respect to any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any nature
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for
indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities (i) which are fully
reflected in, reserved against or otherwise described in the most
recent Company Financial Statements, (ii) which have been incurred
after the most recent company Financial Statements in the ordinary
course of business, consistent with past practice, (iii) which are
obligations to perform under executory contracts in the ordinary course
of business (none of which is a liability resulting from a breach of
contract or warranty, tort, infringement or legal action) or (iv)
which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(j) ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OF EVENTS. Except as described in the
Company SEC Reports, since December 31, 2000, except with respect to
the actions contemplated by this Agreement, the Company has conducted
its business only in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent
with past practice and, since such date, there has not been (i) any
Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (ii) any damage, destruction or
loss of assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or
not covered by insurance) that has had or could reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company, (iii) any material change by the Company in its accounting
methods, principles or practices; (iv) any material revaluation by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any of its assets, including,
without limitation, writing down the value of capitalized software or
inventory or deferred tax assets or writing off notes or accounts
receivable other than in the ordinary course of business; (v) any labor
dispute or charge of unfair labor practice (other than routine
individual grievances), which, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company, any activity or proceeding by a labor union or
representative thereof to organize any employee of the
-18-
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any campaign being conducted to
solicit authorization from employees to be represented by such labor
union in each case which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company; (vi) any waiver by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
any rights of material value or (vii) any other action or event that
would have required the consent of Parent pursuant to Section 6.1 had
such action or event occurred after the date of this Agreement.
(k) BROKERS AND FINDERS. Except for the fees and expenses payable to
Chatsworth Securities, LLC pursuant to that certain letter agreement
dated March 27, 2001, as amended from time to time prior to the date
hereof (the "Chatsworth Agreement"), a true and complete copy of which
(including all amendments) has been furnished to Parent, or the letter
agreement with Chatsworth Securities, LLC entered into in order to
satisfy the condition set forth in Section 7.3(m) of this Agreement,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has employed any
investment banker, broker, finder, consultant or intermediary in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which
would be entitled to any investment banking, brokerage, finder's or
similar fee or commission in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(l) S-4 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. None
of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in the S-4 Registration
Statement or the Proxy Statement will (i) in the case of the S-4
Registration Statement, at the time it becomes effective or at the
Effective Time, 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, or (ii) in the
case of the Proxy Statement, at the time of the mailing of the Proxy
Statement, at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting and at the
Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading. If at any time prior to the
Effective Time any event with respect to the Company, its officers and
directors or any of its Subsidiaries should occur which is required to
be described in an amendment of, or a supplement to, the Proxy
Statement or the S-4 Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly
inform Parent so that such event may be so described and such amendment
or supplement promptly filed with the SEC and, as required by law,
disseminated to the stockholders of the Company. The Proxy Statement
will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no
representation or warranty with respect to any information supplied by,
or related to, Parent or Merger Sub or any of their affiliates or
advisors which is contained in any of the foregoing documents.
-19-
(m) TAXES.
(i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed
(taking all extensions into account) all Returns required by
applicable Tax law to be filed by the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries and have paid all Taxes shown to be due thereon. All
Returns were true and correct in all material respects when filed.
The Company has made accruals for Taxes on the Company Financial
Statements which are adequate in all material respects to cover the
aggregate Tax liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles through the date of the Company Financial Statements.
(ii) Except to the extent that any such failure to withhold could
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, the Company and
each of its Subsidiaries have withheld with respect to its
employees, creditors, independent contractors, shareholders or other
parties all federal and state income taxes, FICA, FUTA and other
Taxes required to be withheld.
(iii) There is no Tax deficiency outstanding, assessed, or to the
Company's Knowledge, proposed against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have
executed or requested any waiver of any statute of limitations on or
extending the period for the assessment or collection of any federal
or material state Tax that is still in effect. There are no material
liens for Taxes on the assets of Company or of any of its
Subsidiaries other than with respect to Taxes not yet due and
payable.
(iv) To the Company's Knowledge, no federal or state Tax audit or
other examination of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
presently in progress, nor has the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries been notified either in writing or orally of any
request for such a federal or material state Tax audit or other
examination.
(v) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has filed any
consent agreement under Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed to have
Section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of a
subsection (f) asset (as defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code)
owned by the Company.
(vi) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party
to (A) any agreement with a party other than the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries providing for the allocation or payment of Tax
liabilities or payment for Tax benefits with respect to a
consolidated, combined or unitary Return which Return includes or
included the Company or any Subsidiary or (B) any Significant Tax
Agreement other than any Significant Tax Agreement described in (A).
-20-
(vii) Except for the group of which the Company and its
Subsidiaries are now presently members, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries has ever been a member of an affiliated group of
corporations within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code.
(viii) The Company is not, and has not at any time been, a
"United States real property holding corporation" within the meaning
of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.
(n) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
(i) Section 5.2(n)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists
each "employee pension benefit plan" (as such term is defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA), "employee welfare benefit plan" (as such
term is defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), severance agreement,
change of control agreement, employment agreement, consulting
agreement, collective bargaining agreement and other material fringe
benefit, severance, medical, hospital, dental, life, disability,
excess benefit, bonus, stock option, stock purchase, other
incentive, tuition reimbursement, automobile use, club membership,
top hat, deferred compensation plan, policy, program, or arrangement
for the benefit of employees, former employees, directors,
independent contractors, or any beneficiaries or dependents thereof,
of the Company or any current Plan Affiliate, with respect to which
the Company or any current Plan Affiliate has any liability (whether
accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to
become due or asserted or unasserted)(all such plans, policies,
programs, agreements, or arrangements, other than the Company
International Employee Plans, are referred to in this Agreement as
"Company Scheduled Plans"). A "Plan Affiliate" is each entity which
is or has ever been treated as a single employer with the Company
pursuant to Section 4001, of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code. The
Company has provided Parent with copies of all employee manuals of
the Company and its Subsidiaries that include personnel policies
applicable to any of their respective employees.
(ii) The Company has made available to Parent a complete and
accurate copy of each written Company Scheduled Plan, together with,
if applicable, a copy of audited financial statements, actuarial
reports and Form 5500 Annual Reports (including required schedules),
if any, for the three (3) most recent plan years, the most recent
IRS determination letter or IRS recognition of exemption; each other
material letter, ruling or notice issued by a governmental body with
respect to each such plan during the last three (3) years; a copy of
each trust agreement, insurance contract or other funding vehicle,
if any, with respect to each such plan; the current summary plan
description and summary of material modifications thereto with
respect to each such plan. Section 5.2(m) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule contains a description of the material terms of any
-21-
unwritten Company Scheduled Plan as understood by the Company as of
the date of this Agreement.
(iii) Except in the case of instances of non-compliance which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, each Company Scheduled Plan (1) has been in
compliance and currently complies in form and in operation with all
applicable requirements of ERISA and the Code, and any other legal
requirements; (2) has been and is operated and administered in
compliance with its terms (except as otherwise required by law); (3)
has been and is operated in compliance with applicable legal
requirements in such a manner as to qualify, where intended by the
Company for federal income tax exclusions to its participants,
federally tax-exempt income for its funding vehicle, and the
allowance of federal income tax deductions and credits with respect
to contributions thereto. Each Company Scheduled Plan which is
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has
received a favorable determination letter or recognition of
exemption from the Internal Revenue Service on which the Company on
which the Company can rely.
(iv) With respect to each Company Scheduled Plan, there are no
claims or other proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened with respect to the assets thereof (other than
routine claims for benefits).
(v) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, with respect to each Company Scheduled Plan, no Person: (1)
has entered into any "prohibited transaction," as such term is
defined in ERISA or the Code and the regulations, administrative
rulings and case law thereunder that is not otherwise exempt under
Code Section 4975 or ERISA Section 408 (or any administrative class
exemption issued thereunder); (2) has breached a fiduciary
obligation or violated Sections 402, 403 405, 503, 510 or 511 of
ERISA; (3) has any liability for any failure to act or comply in
connection with the administration or investment of the assets of
such plans; or (4) engaged in any transaction or otherwise acted
with respect to such plans in such a manner which could subject
Parent, or any fiduciary or plan administrator or any other Person
dealing with any such plan, to liability under Section 409 or 502 of
ERISA or Sections 4972 or 4976 through 4980B of the Code. No Company
Scheduled Plan is a "multi-employer plan" as defined in Section 4001
of ERISA, a "multi-employer plan" within the meaning of Section
3(37) of ERISA, a "multiple employer plan" within the meaning of
Section 413(c) of the Code, a "multiple employer welfare
arrangement" within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA or a plan
that is subject to Title IV of ERISA.
(vi) No Company Scheduled Plan provides retiree health coverage
to any person for any reason, except as may be required by COBRA or
applicable state insurance laws, and neither the Company nor any
Plan Affiliate has any liability (whether accrued, absolute,
contingent or otherwise, and whether due or
-22-
to become due or asserted or unasserted) to any current or former
employee, consultant or director (either individually or as a group)
to provide retiree health coverage, except to the extent required by
applicable continuation coverage statutes.
(vii) Except in the case of instances of non-compliance which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company: (1) each Company Scheduled Plan that as to
which the Company or any Plan Affiliate will or may have any
liability, for the benefit of the Company Employees who perform
services outside the United States (the "Company International
Employee Plans") has been established, maintained and administered
in compliance with its terms and conditions and with the
requirements prescribed by any and all statutory or regulatory laws
that are applicable to such Company International Employee Plan; and
(2) no Company International Employee Plan has unfunded liabilities,
that, as of the Effective Time, will not be offset by insurance or
fully accrued.
(viii) Neither the Company nor any current Plan Affiliate has any
liability (including, but not limited to, any contingent liability)
with respect to any plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412
of the Code, or any plan maintained by any former Plan Affiliate.
(ix) Other than as a result of the provisions of this Agreement
or by reason of actions taken following the Closing, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will
not, under any Company Scheduled Plan, (1) entitle any current or
former employee of the Company to severance pay, unemployment
compensation or any other payment, (2) accelerate the time of
payment or vesting of any payment (other than for a terminated or
frozen tax-qualified plan, pursuant to a requirement herein to
freeze or terminate such plan), cause the forgiveness of any
indebtedness, or increase the amount of any compensation due to any
such employee or former employee, (3) result in any prohibited
transaction described in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code for which an exemption is not available, or (4) give rise to
the payment of any amount that would not be deductible pursuant to
the terms of Section 280G of the Code.
(o) COMPANY INTANGIBLE PROPERTY.
(i) The Company and its Subsidiaries own, or are licensed or
otherwise possess legally enforceable rights to use, all patents,
trademarks, trade names, domain names, service marks, copyrights,
trade secrets and mask works, all applications for and registrations
of such patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights
and mask works, and all processes, formulae, methods, schematics,
technology, know-how, computer software programs or applications and
tangible or intangible proprietary information or material that are
used, sold,
-23-
distributed or licensed in or as part of the business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted (the "Company
Intellectual Property Rights").
(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or will
be as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
consummation of the Merger or the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement, in breach in any material respect of any
license, sublicense or other agreement relating to the Company
Intellectual Property Rights or any license, sublicense or other
agreement pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is authorized to use any third party patents, trademarks or
copyrights, including software, which are used in the manufacture
of, incorporated in, or form a part of any product of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. Neither execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the consummation of the Merger nor the performance of the
Company's obligations under this Agreement will give any party the
right to modify, terminate or limit the ability of the Company to
conduct its business or otherwise use or provide the use of the
Company Intellectual Property Rights to others.
(iii) To the Company's Knowledge, all patents, registered
trademarks, service marks and copyrights held by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries which are material to its business are valid and
enforceable and, to the Company's Knowledge, the Company's use, sale
or distribution of Company Intellectual Property Rights does not
infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been sued in any
suit, action or proceeding which involves a claim of infringement of
any patent, trademark, service xxxx or copyright or the violation of
any trade secret or other proprietary rights of any third party,
which claims if proven, individually or in the aggregate, could be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(iv) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable
security measures to safeguard and maintain their property rights in
all the Company Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company or
its Subsidiaries.
(p) AGREEMENTS, CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS; MATERIAL CONTRACTS.
Except as set forth in the Section 5.2(p) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule or as filed prior to the date hereof as an exhibit to the
Company's SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a party to or is bound by:
(i) any contract relating to the borrowing of money, the guaranty
of another Person's borrowing of money, or the creation of an
encumbrance or lien on the assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and with outstanding obligations in excess of $500,000;
-24-
(ii) any employment or consulting agreement, contract or
commitment with any officer or director level employee or member of
the Company's Board of Directors or any other employee who is one of
the fifty (50) most highly compensated employees, including base
salary and bonuses (the "Company Key Employees"), other than those
that are terminable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on no
more than thirty (30) days notice without liability or financial
obligation or benefits generally available to employees of the
Company, except to the extent general principles of wrongful
termination law may limit the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries'
ability to terminate employees at will;
(iii) any agreement or plan, including, without limitation, any
stock option plan, stock appreciation right plan or stock purchase
plan, any of the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting
of benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the value of
any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(iv) any agreement of indemnification or guaranty by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries not entered into in the ordinary course
of business other than indemnification agreements between the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any of its officers or
directors in standard forms as filed by the Company with the SEC;
(v) any agreement, contract or commitment containing any covenant
limiting the freedom of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
engage in any line of business or conduct business in any
geographical area, compete with any person or granting any exclusive
distribution rights or limits the use or exploitation of the Company
Intellectual Property Rights;
(vi) any joint venture, partnership, and other Contract (however
named) involving a sharing of profits or losses by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries with any other Person;
(vii) any contract for capital expenditures in excess of
$250,000;
(viii) any agreement, contract or commitment currently in force
relating to the disposition or acquisition of assets not in the
ordinary course of business;
(ix) any agreement, contract or commitment for the purchase of
any ownership interest in any corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other business enterprise for consideration in excess of
$500,000, in any case, which includes all escrow and earn-out
agreements with outstanding obligations;
(x) any joint marketing, distribution or development agreement or
other material contract of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
not previously
-25-
filed with the SEC and not otherwise listed in any other section of
the Company Disclosure Schedule; or
(xi) all leases, subleases, rental agreements, contracts of sale,
tenancies or licenses related to any of the real property used by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in their respective
businesses.
A true and complete copy (including all amendments)
of each Company Contract, or a summary of each oral contract, has been
made available to Parent. Each contract set forth in Section
5.2(p)(i)-(xi) of the Company Disclosure Schedule (a "Company
Contract") is in full force and effect. No condition exists or event
has occurred which (whether with or without notice or lapse of time or
both, or the happening or occurrence of any other event) would
constitute a default by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or,
to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto under, or
result in a right in termination of, any Company Contract, except as
could not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(q) UNLAWFUL PAYMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. To the Knowledge of the
Company, neither the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company nor any of
their respective directors, officers, employees or agents has, with
respect to the businesses of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (i) used
any funds for any unlawful contribution, endorsement, gift,
entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity;
(ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or
domestic government official or employee; (iii) violated or is in
violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977, as amended; or (iv) made any unlawful payment to any Person or
entity.
(r) LISTINGS. The Company's securities are not listed, or quoted,
for trading on any U.S. domestic or foreign securities exchange, other
than the NNM.
(s) ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC
Reports filed prior to the date hereof, the Company and its
Subsidiaries and the operations, assets and properties thereof are in
material compliance with all Environmental Laws; (ii) there are no
judicial or administrative actions, suits, proceedings or
investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened
against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company alleging the
violation of any Environmental Law and neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary of the Company has received notice from any governmental
body or Person alleging any violation of or liability under any
Environmental Laws, in either case which could reasonably be expected
to result in material Environmental Costs and Liabilities; (iii) to the
Knowledge of the Company, there are no facts, circumstances or
conditions relating to, arising from, associated with or attributable
to the Company or its Subsidiaries or any real property currently or
previously owned, operated or leased by the Company or its Subsidiaries
that could reasonably be expected to result in material Environmental
Costs and Liabilities; and (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company,
neither
-26-
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has ever generated,
transported, treated, stored, handled or disposed of any Hazardous
Material at any site, location or facility in a manner that could
create any material Environmental Costs and Liabilities under any
Environmental Law, and no such Hazardous Material has been or is
currently present on, in, at or under any real property owned or used
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in a manner that could create
any material Environmental Costs and Liabilities (including without
limitation, containment by means of any underground or aboveground
storage tank). For the purpose of this Section 5.2(s), the following
terms have the following definitions: (X) "Environmental Costs and
Liabilities" means any losses, liabilities, obligations, damages,
fines, penalties, judgments, actions, claims, costs and expenses
(including, without limitation, fees, disbursements and expenses of
legal counsel, experts, engineers and consultants and the costs of
investigation and feasibility studies, remedial or removal actions and
cleanup activities) arising from or under any Environmental Law; (Y)
"Environmental Laws" means any applicable federal, state, local or
foreign law (including common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule,
regulation or other requirement relating to the environment, natural
resources, or public or employee health and safety; and (Z) "Hazardous
Material" means any substance, material or waste regulated by federal,
state or local government, including, without limitation, any
substance, material or waste which is defined as a "hazardous waste,"
"hazardous material," "hazardous substance," "toxic waste" or "toxic
substance" under any provision of Environmental Law and including but
not limited to petroleum and petroleum products.
(t) TITLE TO PROPERTIES; LIENS; CONDITION OF PROPERTIES. The Company
and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid
leasehold interest in, the real and personal property, shown on the
most recent Company Financial Statement or acquired after the date
thereof. None of the property owned by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to any mortgage, pledge, deed of trust, lien
(other than for taxes not yet due and payable), conditional sale
agreement, security title, encumbrance, or other adverse claim or
interest of any kind. Since December 31, 2000, there has not been any
sale, lease, or any other disposition or distribution by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries of any of its assets or properties material to
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except transactions
in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices.
(u) INSURANCE. The Company has delivered to Parent complete and
accurate copies of all insurance policies (including "self-insurance"
programs) now maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the
"Insurance Policies") and all general liability policies maintained by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the past five years with
respect to the Company's business or assets. The Insurance Policies are
in full force and effect, the Company is not in default under any
Insurance Policy, and no claim for coverage under any Insurance Policy
has been denied. The Company has not received any notice of
cancellation or intent to cancel or increase or intent to increase
premiums with respect to such Insurance Policies.
(v) LABOR AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS.
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(i) (A) None of the employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is represented in his or her capacity as an employee of
such company by any labor organization; (B) neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has recognized any labor organization nor
has any labor organization been elected as the collective bargaining
agent of any of their employees, nor has the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries signed any collective bargaining agreement or union
contract recognizing any labor organization as the bargaining agent
of any of their employees; and (C) to the Knowledge of the Company,
there is no active or current union organization activity involving
the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor has
there ever been union representation involving employees of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(ii) The Company has made available to Parent a description of
all written employment policies under which the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries is operating.
(iii) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance
with all Federal, foreign (as applicable), and state laws regarding
employment practices, including laws relating to workers' safety,
sexual harassment or discrimination, except where the failure to so
be in compliance, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(iv) To the Knowledge of the Company, no executive, key employee
or group of employees has any plans to terminate his or her
employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(w) PERMITS. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries hold all
licenses, permits, registrations, orders, authorizations, approvals and
franchises which are required to permit it to conduct its businesses as
presently conducted, except where the failure to hold such licenses,
permits, registrations, orders, authorizations, approvals or franchises
could not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. All such licenses,
permits, registrations, orders, authorizations, approvals and
franchises are now, and will be after the Closing, valid and in full
force and effect, and Surviving Corporation shall have full benefit of
the same, except where the failure to be valid and in full force and
effect or to have the benefit of any such license, permit,
registration, order, authorization, approval or franchise could not
reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company or Surviving Corporation.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
notification of any asserted present failure (or past and unremedied
failure) by it to have obtained any such license, permit, registration,
order, authorization, approval or franchise, except where such failure
could not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or Surviving Corporation.
-28-
(x) TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Except as set forth in the Company
SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, since the date
of Company's last proxy statement to its stockholders, no event has
occurred that would be required to be reported by Company as a Certain
Relationship or Related Transaction, pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation
S-K promulgated by the SEC.
(y) FOREIGN RESTRUCTURING. The reorganization of the Company's
foreign Subsidiaries and operations, including, without limitation, the
transfer of RoweCom France SAS from RoweCom Global Holdings BVI to
RoweCom Reala, the transfer of RoweCom Australia, RoweCom Korea and
RoweCom Taiwan from RoweCom Inc. to RoweCom France SAS, and the
transfer of RoweCom UK and RoweCom Spain from RoweCom Global Holdings
BVI to RoweCom France SAS, has been completed and all governmental
consents, filings, registrations, approvals, and any other actions
required in connection with such reorganization have been obtained,
made or taken.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
6.1 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY. During the period from the date
of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to its terms and the Effective Time, the Company (which for
the purposes of this Section 6.1 shall include the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries) agrees, except to the extent that Parent shall otherwise consent
in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to
carry on its business and to cause each of its Subsidiaries to carry on its
business in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same
manner as heretofore conducted, and to use and cause each of its Subsidiaries to
use all commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practices and
policies to preserve intact its present business organizations, keep available
the services of its present officers and employees and preserve its
relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and
others having business dealings with the Company or any such Subsidiaries, to
the end that the goodwill and ongoing businesses of Company and each of its
Subsidiaries be unimpaired at the Effective Time. Except as expressly provided
for by this Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, prior to the Effective Time or earlier termination of this
Agreement pursuant to its terms, without the prior written consent of Parent
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed):
(a) Except as provided in the benefit plans and agreements of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, accelerate, amend or change the
period of exercisability of options or restricted stock, or reprice
options granted under the Company Option Plans or authorize cash
payments in exchange for any options granted under any of such plans;
(b) Enter into any material partnership arrangements, joint
development agreements or strategic alliances;
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(c) Except as provided in this Agreement or the benefit plans and
agreements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, grant any
severance or termination pay (i) to any executive officer or (ii) to
any other employee except payments made in connection with the
termination of employees who are not executive officers in amounts
consistent with Parent's policies and past practices or pursuant to
written agreements outstanding, or policies existing, on the date
hereof and as previously disclosed in writing to Parent or pursuant to
written agreements consistent with the past agreements of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries under similar circumstances;
(d) Transfer or license to any person or entity or otherwise extend,
amend or modify any rights to the Company Intellectual Property Rights
(including rights to resell or relicense the Company Intellectual
Property Rights) or enter into grants to future patent rights, other
than the standard forms of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices;
(e) Commence any material litigation other than (i) for the routine
collection of bills, (ii) for software piracy, or (iii) in such cases
where the Company in good faith determines that failure to commence
suit would result in the material impairment of a valuable aspect of
the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that
the Company consults with the Parent prior to the filing of such a suit
(except that the Company shall not require the approval of, and shall
not be required to consult with, Parent with respect to any claim, suit
or proceeding by the Company against Parent or any of its affiliates);
(f) Declare or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions
(whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of any of its capital
stock, or split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or
issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of,
in lieu of or in substitution for shares of capital stock of the
Company;
(g) Repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any
shares of its capital stock except from former employees, directors and
consultants in accordance with agreements existing as of the date
hereof requiring the repurchase of shares in connection with any
termination of service to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(h) Issue, deliver, sell or authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery, grant or sale of, any shares of its capital stock of any
class or securities convertible into, or any subscriptions, rights,
warrants or options to acquire, or enter into other agreements or
commitments of any character obligating it to issue any such shares or
other convertible securities, other than (i) the issuance of Company
Shares pursuant to the exercise of Company stock options or warrants
therefor outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (ii) Company
Shares issuable to participants in the Stock Purchase Plan consistent
with the terms of that Plan;
(i) Cause, permit or propose any amendments to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws;
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(j) Sell, lease, license, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of
the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(k) Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money (other than ordinary
course trade payables or pursuant to existing credit facilities in the
ordinary course of business) or guarantee any such prohibited
indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or rights
to acquire debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
guarantee any debt securities of others;
(l) Except as required by law, adopt or amend any Company Scheduled
Plan or increase the salaries or wage rates of any of its employees
(except for wage increases in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practices), including but not limited to (but
without limiting the generality of the foregoing), the adoption or
amendment of any stock purchase or option plan, the entering into of
any employment contract or the payment of any special bonus or special
remuneration to any director or employee;
(m) Revalue any of the assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, including without limitation writing down the value of
inventory, writing off notes or accounts receivable, other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(n) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, pay,
discharge or satisfy in an amount in excess of $100,000 (in any one
case) or $250,000 (in the aggregate), any claim, liability or
obligation (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or
otherwise), including, without limitation, under any employment
contract or with respect to any bonus or special remuneration, other
than the payment, discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary course of
business of liabilities of the type reflected or reserved against in
the Company Financial Statements (or the notes thereto);
(o) Except as required by applicable Tax law, make or change any
material election in respect of Taxes, adopt or change in any material
respect any accounting method in respect of Taxes, enter into any
closing agreement, settle any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes
(except settlements effected solely through payment of immaterial sums
of money), or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation
period applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes; or
(p) Take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any of the
actions described in Section 6.1(a) through (o) above, or any action
which would cause or would be reasonably likely to cause any of the
conditions to the Merger set forth in Sections 7.1 or 7.3, not to be
satisfied.
6.2 CONDUCT BY PARENT. During the period from the date of this
Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to its terms and the
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Effective Time, Parent shall not, prior to the Effective Time or earlier
termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms, without the prior written
consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed):
(a) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution,
merger or consolidation (other than any merger or consolidation in
which Parent would not become a Subsidiary of any other person);
(b) adopt any amendments to its Certificate of Incorporation which
would materially adversely affect the terms and provisions of the
Parent Shares or the rights of the holders of such shares; or
(c) take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any of the
actions described in this Section 6.2, or any action which would cause
or would be reasonably likely to cause, any of the conditions to the
Merger set forth in Sections 7.1 or 7.2 not to be satisfied.
6.3 NO SOLICITATION.
(a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective
Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with
its terms, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries or its or their respective directors, officers, investment
bankers, affiliates, representatives and agents to, (i) solicit,
initiate, or encourage (including by way of furnishing information), or
take any other action to facilitate, any inquiries or proposals that
constitute, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Company
Acquisition Proposal, or (ii) engage in, or enter into, any
negotiations or discussions concerning any Company Acquisition
Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that,
notwithstanding compliance with the preceding sentence, the Company
receives a Company Acquisition Proposal that is or reasonably may be
expected to lead to a Company Superior Proposal the Company may, to the
extent that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good
faith (after consultation with its outside counsel) that such action
would, in the absence of the foregoing proscriptions, be required by
its fiduciary duties, participate in discussions regarding any Company
Acquisition Proposal in order to be informed and make a determination
with respect thereto. In such event, the Company shall, (i) no less
than twenty four (24) hours prior to participating in any such
discussions, inform Parent of the material terms and conditions of such
Company Acquisition Proposal, including the identity of the Person
making such Company Acquisition Proposal and (ii) promptly keep Parent
informed of the status including any material change to the terms of
any such Company Acquisition Proposal. As used herein, the term
"Company Acquisition Proposal" shall mean any bona fide inquiry,
proposal or offer relating to any (i) merger, consolidation, business
combination, or similar transaction involving the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) sale, lease or other disposition,
directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, share exchange or
otherwise, of any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company in one or more transactions, (iii) issuance, sale, or other
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disposition of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share
exchange or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or
warrants to purchase such securities, or securities convertible into
such securities) of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iv)
liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization or other similar type of
transaction with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, (v) tender offer or exchange offer for Company securities; in
the case of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above, which transaction
would result in a third party (or its shareholders) acquiring more than
twenty percent (20%) of the voting power of the Company or the assets
representing more than twenty percent (20%) of the net income, net
revenue or assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, (vi)
transaction which is similar in form, substance or purpose to any of
the foregoing transactions, or (vii) public announcement of an
agreement, proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the term "Company Acquisition Proposal" shall
not include the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Company Superior Proposal" means any offer
not solicited by the Company, or by other persons in violation of the
first sentence of this Section 6.3(a), and made by a third party to
consummate a tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation or
similar transaction which would result in such third party (or its
shareholders) owning, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent
(50%) of the Company Shares then outstanding (or of the surviving
entity in a merger) or all or substantially all of the assets of
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken together, and otherwise on terms
which the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith
(after consultation with Chatsworth Securities LLC or another financial
advisor of nationally recognized reputation and considering such other
matters that it deems relevant) would, if consummated, result in a
transaction more favorable to the Company's stockholders from a
financial point of view than the Merger, taking into account, in the
reasonable good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company
after consultation with its financial advisor, the availability to the
person or entity making such Company Superior Proposal of the financial
means to conclude such transaction. The Company will immediately cease
any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any
parties conducted heretofore with respect to any of the foregoing.
(b) Neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor any committee
thereof shall, except as required by their fiduciary duties as
determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside counsel),
(i) withdraw or modify, or propose to withdraw or modify, in a manner
adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the approval or recommendation by the
Board of Directors of the Company or such committee of this Agreement
or the Merger, (ii) approve, recommend, or otherwise support or endorse
any Company Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) cause the Company to enter
into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition
agreement or similar agreement (each a "Company Acquisition Agreement")
with respect to any Company Acquisition Proposal. Nothing contained in
this Section 6.3 shall prohibit the Company from taking and disclosing
to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or 14e-2
promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to the
Company's stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of
Directors of the Company after consultation with its outside counsel),
such disclosure is necessary for the Board of Directors to comply with
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its fiduciary duties under applicable law; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that,
except as required by their fiduciary duties as determined in good
faith and after consultation with its outside counsel,
neither the Company nor its Board of Directors nor any committee
thereof shall withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or
modify, its position with respect to this Agreement or the Merger or
approve or recommend or propose publicly to approve or recommend, a
Company Acquisition Proposal.
(c) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.3, the Company will promptly
(and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours) advise Parent, orally
and in writing, if any Company Acquisition Proposal is made or proposed
to be made or any information or access to properties, books or records
of the Company is requested in connection with a Company Acquisition
Proposal, the principal terms and conditions of any such Company
Acquisition Proposal or potential Company Acquisition Proposal or
inquiry (and will disclose any written materials received by the
Company in connection with such Company Acquisition Proposal, potential
Company Acquisition Proposal or inquiry) and the identity of the party
making such Company Acquisition Proposal, potential Company Acquisition
Proposal or inquiry. The Company will keep Parent advised of the status
and details (including amendments and proposed amendments) of any such
request or Company Acquisition Proposal.
6.4 MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS. Promptly after the date hereof, and
subject to the fiduciary duties of the Company's board of directors under
applicable law, the Company shall take all action necessary in accordance with
the DGCL and its Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws to convene a meeting
of stockholders ("Company Stockholders Meeting") to be held as promptly as
practicable after the S-4 Registration Statement is declared effective by the
SEC for the purposes of voting upon this Agreement and the Merger.
6.5 REGISTRATION STATEMENT. Parent will, as promptly as practicable
(but not earlier than August 1, 2001), prepare and file with the SEC a
registration statement on Form S-4 (the "S-4 Registration Statement"),
containing a proxy statement/prospectus and a form of proxy, in connection with
the registration under the Securities Act of the Parent Shares issuable upon
conversion of the Company Shares and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
The Company will, as promptly as practicable (but not earlier than August 1,
2001), prepare and file with the SEC a proxy statement that will be the same
proxy statement/prospectus contained in the S-4 Registration Statement and a
form of proxy, in connection with the vote of the Company's stockholders with
respect to the Merger (such proxy statement/prospectus, together with any
amendments thereof or supplements thereto, in each case in the form or forms
mailed to the Company's stockholders, is herein called the "Proxy Statement").
The Company and Parent will, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to
cause their accountants and lawyers to, use their commercially reasonable
efforts to have or cause the S-4 Registration Statement declared effective as
promptly as practicable thereafter, including, without limitation, using
commercially reasonable efforts to cause their accountants to deliver necessary
or required instruments such as opinions, consents and certificates, and will
take any other action required or necessary to be taken under federal or state
securities laws or otherwise in connection with the registration
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process, including, in the case of the Company, using commercially reasonable
efforts to cause its tax counsel or accountants to render the tax opinion
referred to in Section 6.13 below on the date the preliminary Proxy Statement is
filed with the SEC. In rendering this opinion, the Company's tax counsel or
accountants will be entitled to require and rely upon the representations set
forth in certificates to be delivered by each of Parent, Merger Sub, and the
Company. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
Proxy Statement to be mailed to its stockholders at the earliest practicable
date after the S-4 Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and
the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to hold such Company
Stockholders Meeting as soon as practicable after the S-4 Registration Statement
is declared effective by the SEC. Parent shall also take any action required to
be taken under state blue sky or other securities laws in connection with the
issuance of Parent Shares in the Merger.
6.6 REASONABLE EFFORTS. The Parties shall: (a) promptly make their
respective filings and thereafter make any other required submissions under all
applicable laws with respect to the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby; and (b) use their reasonable efforts to promptly take, or
cause to be taken, all other actions and do, or cause to be done, all other
things necessary, proper or appropriate to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as practicable.
6.7 ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Upon reasonable notice, Parent, on the one
hand, and the Company, on the other, shall (and shall cause each of their
Subsidiaries to) afford to officers, employees, counsel, accountants and other
authorized representatives of the other such party (the "Authorized
Representatives") reasonable access, during normal business hours throughout the
period prior to the Effective Time, to their properties, assets, books and
records and, during such period, shall (and shall cause each of their
Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to such Authorized Representatives all
information concerning their business, properties, assets and personnel as may
reasonably be requested for purposes of appropriate and necessary due diligence,
provided that no investigation pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall affect or be
deemed to modify any of the representations or warranties made by the Parties.
The Parties each agree to treat (and cause their Authorized Representatives to
treat) any and all information provided pursuant to this Section 6.7 in strict
compliance with the terms of that certain Confidentiality Agreement, entered by
and between the Company and Parent, dated April 25, 2001 (the "Confidentiality
Agreement").
6.8 PUBLICITY. The Parties agree that they will consult with each other
concerning any proposed press release or public announcement pertaining to the
Merger in order to agree upon the text of any such press release or the making
of such public announcement, which agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld,
except as may be required by applicable law or by obligations pursuant to any
listing agreement with a national securities exchange or national automated
quotation system, in which case the party proposing to issue such press release
or make such public announcement shall use reasonable efforts to consult in good
faith with the other party before issuing any such press release or making any
such public announcement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Board
of Directors of Parent or the Company withdraws its recommendation of this
Agreement in compliance herewith, neither party will be
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required to consult with or obtain the agreement of the other in connection with
any press release or public announcement.
6.9 AFFILIATES OF THE COMPANY AND PARENT. The Company has identified to
Parent each person known to the Company to be an "affiliate" of the Company for
purposes of Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act (each, a "Company
Affiliate") and the Company will use its reasonable efforts to obtain as
promptly as practicable from each Company Affiliate written agreements in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Company Affiliate Letter") that such
Company Affiliate will not sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of any
Parent Shares issued to such Company Affiliate pursuant to the Merger, except in
compliance with Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act or an exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
6.10 MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE. Between the date hereof and through the
Effective Time, the Company will maintain in full force and effect all of its
and its Subsidiaries presently existing policies of insurance or insurance
comparable to the coverage afforded by such policies.
6.11 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each of the Company and Parent
shall give prompt notice to the other if it acquires Knowledge of any
circumstances that would cause any of its representations and warranties set
forth in Section 5.1 or 5.2, as the case may be, not to be true and correct in
all material respects at and as of the Effective Time.
6.12 FILINGS; OTHER ACTION. Subject to the terms and conditions herein
provided, the Parties shall: (a) promptly make their respective filings and
thereafter make any other required submissions under the HSR Act and comparable
foreign laws, rules and regulations, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
with respect to the Merger; (b) cooperate in the preparation of such filings or
submissions under the HSR Act and comparable foreign laws, rules and
regulations; and (c) use reasonable efforts promptly 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 as
soon as practicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
nothing in this Agreement will require Parent, whether pursuant to an order of
the Federal Trade Commission or the United States Department of Justice or
otherwise, to dispose of any assets, lines of business or equity interests in
order to obtain the consent of the Federal Trade Commission or the United States
Department of Justice to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all written
consents, assignments, waivers, authorizations, or other certificates necessary
to provide for the continuation in full force and effect of any and all material
contracts and leases of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and for the
Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.13 TAX-FREE REORGANIZATION TREATMENT. Prior to the Effective Time,
and if the Company's tax counsel or accountants deliver the opinion referred to
in Section 7.2(d), then also after the Effective Time the Parties shall use
their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Merger to be treated as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and
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shall not knowingly take or fail to take any action which action or failure to
act would jeopardize the qualification of the Merger as a reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Prior to the Effective Time, and if
the Company's tax counsel or accountants deliver the opinion referred to in
Section 7.2(d), then also after the Effective Time, each of Parent, Merger Sub,
and the Company (i) shall not file any Return or take any position inconsistent
with the treatment of the Merger as a reorganization described in Section 368(a)
of the Code, and (ii) shall comply with the record-keeping and
information-reporting requirements set forth in Treas. Reg. ss. 1.368-3. Prior
to the Effective Time, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts
to obtain the opinion of its tax counsel or accountants to the effect that the
Merger should, or is more likely than not to, constitute a "reorganization"
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering this opinion, the
Company's tax counsel or accountants will be entitled to require and rely upon
the representations set forth in certificates to be delivered by each of Parent,
Merger Sub, and the Company.
6.14 COMPANY OPTIONS AND WARRANTS AND PURCHASE PLAN
(a) After the Effective Time, except as provided above, each
Substitute Option and Substitute Warrant shall be subject to the same
terms and conditions as were applicable under the related Company
Option or Company Warrant, as applicable, immediately prior to the
Effective Time. The Company agrees that it will not grant any stock
appreciation rights or limited stock appreciation rights and will not
permit cash payments to holders of Company Options or Company Warrants
in lieu of the substitution therefor of Substitute Options or
Substitute Warrants, as applicable and as described herein. As soon as
practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall deliver to each
holder of a Company Option or Company Warrant, as applicable, an
appropriate notice setting forth such holder's right to acquire Parent
Shares under the Company Options or Company Warrants, as applicable, of
such holder and such Company Option or Company Warrant, as applicable,
shall represent rights to acquire Parent Shares on substantially the
same terms and conditions as contained in the outstanding Company
Options or Company Warrants, as applicable.
(b) Parent will, as promptly as practicable (but not earlier than
the Effective Time), prepare and file with the SEC a registration
statement on Form S-3 in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of the Parent Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Substitute Warrants.
(c) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to
terminate the Company Options, other than the In the Money Options, In
the Money Director Options and Out of the Money Options, and to obtain
from the holders of Company Options, other than In The Money Options
and In the Money Director Options, any agreements necessary to
terminate such Company Options and to obtain from the holders of In the
Money Options and In the Money Director Options, any agreements
necessary to convert such Company Options pursuant to Section 4.1(c) or
Section 7.3(e), as applicable, of this Agreement.
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(d) The Company shall not commence any "offering periods" under its
1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan after the date hereof, and shall
apply all amounts deducted and withheld thereunder to purchase Company
Shares in accordance with the provisions thereof.
(e) Immediately following the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall notify each of the holders of the Out of the Money
Options of (i) the consummation of the Merger and (ii) their right to
exercise their Out of the Money Options to purchase Company Shares
pursuant to the terms of their Out of the Money Options within ten (10)
days of the date of such notice. To the extent the holders of the Out
of the Money Options exercise their rights to purchase Company Shares
in accordance with the notice and pursuant to the terms of the Out of
the Money Options and pay the exercise price for such Company Shares,
the holders of such Out of the Money Options will receive that number
of Parent Shares equal to the number of Company Shares to be issued in
connection with the exercise of such Out of the Money Options by the
holder thereof multiplied by the Exchange Ratio (rounded down to the
nearest whole number). If any such Out of the Money Options are not
exercised within such ten (10) day period, such Out of the Money
Options will terminate.
6.15 NASDAQ LISTING. Parent agrees to authorize for listing on the NNM
the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable, and those required to be reserved
for issuance, in connection with the Merger, upon official notice of issuance.
6.16 INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation
will fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of the Company
to indemnify and hold harmless the Company's and its Subsidiaries'
present and former directors, officers, employees, and agents and their
heirs, executors and assigns (collectively, the "Indemnified
Personnel"). The Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the
Surviving Corporation will contain provisions with respect to
indemnification and elimination of liability for monetary damages at
least as favorable to the Indemnified Personnel as those set forth in
the current certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company,
and for a period of six years from the Effective Time, those provisions
will not be repealed or amended or otherwise modified in any manner
that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of the Indemnified
Personnel, except to the extent, if any, that such modification is
required by applicable law.
(b) After the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will, to the
fullest extent permitted under applicable law indemnify and hold
harmless each of the Indemnified Personnel against any costs or
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with
any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, to the extent arising out of
or pertaining to any actual or alleged action or omission in the
capacity of a director, officer, employee, or
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agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries occurring prior to the
Effective Time (including without limitation actions or omissions
relating to the Merger) for a period of six years after the date
hereof. In the event of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i)
any counsel retained by Parent will be reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Personnel, (ii) after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel,
promptly after statements therefor are received and (iii) the Surviving
Corporation will cooperate in the defense of any such matter; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Surviving Corporation will not be liable for any
settlement effected without its written consent (which consent will not
be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned); and PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that, in the event that any claim or claims for
indemnification are asserted or made within such six-year period, all
rights to indemnification in respect of any such claim or claims will
continue until the disposition of any and all such claims. The
Indemnified Personnel as group may retain only one law firm (in
addition to local counsel) to represent them with respect to any single
action unless there is, under applicable standards of professional
conduct, a conflict of interest on any significant issue between the
positions of any two or more of the Indemnified Personnel.
(c) The Surviving Corporation will secure a "tail" on the Company's
existing directors' and officers', errors and omissions, employment
practices and fiduciary liability insurance policies for a period of at
least six (6) years, provided that the total cost of such "tail" shall
not exceed $700,000.
6.17 NAME RIGHTS. If at any time after the Effective Time, Parent or
the Surviving Corporation decides to discontinue active commercial use of the
name "RoweCom", any related terms including the root term "Xxxx," and/or the
domain name "Xxxx.xxx," then the Surviving Corporation will so inform Xx.
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx (or his legatees, heirs, or assigns) of this and will assign
such name, term(s), and/or domain name, as the case may be, to Xx. Xxxx (or his
legatees, heirs, or assigns). The transferee shall be required to reimburse the
Surviving Corporation for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by it in
connection with such assignment, but no additional consideration shall be
required therefor.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS
7.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATIONS. The respective obligations
of each Party to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver
by each of the Parties of the following conditions:
(a) This Agreement and the Merger shall have been approved and
adopted by the requisite vote under applicable law of the stockholders
of the Company;
(b) The SEC shall have declared the S-4 Registration Statement
effective. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the S-4
Registration Statement or any part
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thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose, and
no similar proceeding in respect of the Proxy Statement, shall have
been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC; and all requests
for additional information on the part of the SEC shall have been
complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the parties hereto;
(c) No judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation, entered, enacted, promulgated, enforced or issued by any
court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction or other
legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the
Merger or making the Merger illegal (collectively, "Restraints") shall
be in effect, and there shall not be pending any suit, action or
proceeding by any Governmental Entity preventing the consummation of
the Merger; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that each of the parties shall have used
reasonable efforts to prevent the entry of such Restraints and to
appeal as promptly as possible any such Restraints that may be entered;
(d) The waiting period(s) under the HSR Act and all applicable
material foreign merger laws, if any, shall have expired or been
terminated; and
(e) The Parent Shares issuable to stockholders and other
securityholders of the Company pursuant to this Agreement and such
other shares required to be reserved for issuance in connection with
the Merger (including the Substitute Options and Substitute Warrants)
shall have been authorized for listing on the NNM upon official notice
of issuance.
7.2 CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. The obligations of
the Company to consummate the Merger are subject to the fulfillment at or prior
to the Effective Time of the following conditions, any or all of which may be
waived in whole or in part by the Company to the extent permitted by applicable
law:
(a) the representations and warranties of Parent set forth in
Section 5.1 that are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse
Effect shall be true and correct and those that are not so qualified
shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of
the date of this Agreement, and as of the Effective Time with the same
force and effect as if made on and as of the Effective Time (except to
the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of
such date), in each case except as permitted or contemplated by this
Agreement (it being understood that for purposes of determining the
accuracy of such representations and warranties any update or
modification to the Parent's Disclosure Schedule made or purported to
have been made without the Company's written consent thereto shall be
disregarded);
(b) Parent shall have performed or complied in all material respects
with its agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied
with under this Agreement as of or prior to the Effective Time;
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(c) Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate to the
effect that each of the conditions specified in Section 7.1 (as it
relates to Parent) and clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 7.2 is
satisfied in all respects; and
(d) The Company shall have received the written opinion of its tax
counsel or accountants, addressed to it, dated as of the Closing Date,
in a form reasonably acceptable to it, and to the effect that in such
counsel's or accountants' opinion, the Merger should, or is more likely
than not to, constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, such tax counsel
or accountants will be entitled to require delivery of and rely on
representations set forth in certificates to be delivered by each of
Parent, Merger Sub, and the Company.
7.3 CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT. The obligation of Parent
to consummate the Merger is subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the
Effective Time of the following conditions, any or all of which may be waived in
whole or in part by Parent to the extent permitted by applicable law:
(a) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
Section 5.2 that are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse
Effect, or in Sections 5.2(a), (b) or (d) shall be true and correct and
those that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all
material respects, in each case as of the date of this Agreement, and
as of the Effective Time with the same force and effect as if made on
and as of the Effective Time (except to the extent expressly made as of
an earlier date, in which case as of such date), in each case except as
permitted or contemplated by this Agreement (it being understood that
for purposes of determining the accuracy of such representations or
warranties any update or modifications to the Company's Disclosure
Schedule made or purported to have been made without Parent's written
consent thereto shall be disregarded);
(b) the Company shall have performed or complied with in all
material respects its agreements and covenants required to be performed
or complied with under this Agreement as of or prior to the Effective
Time;
(c) the Company shall have delivered to Parent a certificate of its
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to the effect that
each of the conditions specified in Section 7.1 and clauses (a) and (b)
of this Section 7.3 has been satisfied in all respects;
(d) the employment of those employees who executed the Employment
Agreements shall not have been terminated;
(e) Prior to the Effective Time, each Company Option, other than In
the Money Options, In the Money Director Options and the Out of the
Money Options, shall have been terminated. To the extent the option
agreement or option plan governing any Company Option does not
currently permit the Company to take any of the actions, or have the
effect upon consummation of the Merger, contemplated by Section 4.1(c)
or the
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foregoing sentence of this Section 7.3(e), the Company shall have
entered into agreements with the holders of such Company Options which
allow the Company to take the actions, or have the effect upon
consummation of the Merger, contemplated by Section 4.1(c) or the
foregoing sentence of this Section 7.3(e), which agreements shall be in
a form reasonably acceptable to Parent;
(f) Each holder of a Company Warrant shall have executed all such
consents or agreements as may be required or necessary (i) pursuant to
the terms of such warrant in order to consummate the Merger and convert
such warrant into a Substitute Warrant, and (ii) to waive (A) the
obligation to maintain the effectiveness of a registration statement
for the shares issuable upon exercise of such Substitute Warrant during
the twenty (20) day period commencing at the Effective Time, or (B) any
penalties resulting from the failure to maintain such effectiveness
during such period, which consent or agreement shall be in form
reasonably acceptable to Parent;
(g) The Company shall have executed a Credit Agreement, in a form
reasonably acceptable to the Parent, providing the Company and its
Subsidiaries with financing for its U.S. operations on terms and
conditions at least as favorable to the Company and its Subsidiaries as
those terms and conditions set forth in the term sheet attached hereto
as Exhibit C (the "Senior Credit Agreement");
(h) All conditions to the funding under the Senior Credit Agreement
shall have been satisfied, no defaults or events of default under the
Senior Credit Agreement shall exist and no event shall have occurred
that, with the passage of time, the giving of notice or both, would
constitute a default or event of default under the Senior Credit
Agreement;
(i) The holders of the series of promissory notes dated May 26, 2000
for an aggregate principal amount of $6,175,000 (the "Bridge Notes")
and the warrants to purchase Company Shares issued in connection with
the issuance of the Bridge Notes or the extension thereof (the "Bridge
Notes') shall have entered into an agreement with the Company, in a
form reasonably acceptable to Parent and on terms and conditions at
least as favorable, in the aggregate, to the Company and its
Subsidiaries as those terms and conditions set forth in the term sheet
attached hereto as Exhibit D;
(j) The Company's French Subsidiaries, RoweCom Reala and RoweCom
France SAS, shall have obtained a credit facility on the terms and
conditions at least as favorable, in the aggregate, to such
Subsidiaries as those contained in such financing documents for the
2000-2001 subscription year, including, without limitation, those terms
set forth on Exhibit E, pursuant to agreements in forms reasonably
acceptable to Parent, and there shall not exist any defaults or events
of default under such credit facility as of the Effective Time, and no
event shall have occurred, including but not limited to, the
consummation of any transaction contemplated hereby, which with the
passage of time, the giving of notice or both would constitute such a
default or event of default and all
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conditions to the funding of such credit facility set forth in such
agreement shall have been satisfied;
(k) The Company shall have received declaratory relief from a court
of competent jurisdiction that the sole owner of RoweCom UK Ltd., a
company organized under the laws of Great Britain, is RoweCom Global
Holdings Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the British Virgin
Islands; and
(l) The compensation committee of the board of directors of the
Company shall have approved the mailing of a notice to the holders of
the Out of the Money Options of their right, upon consummation of the
Merger, to exercise their Out of the Money Options and the termination
of such Out of the Money Options in the event such Out of the Money
Options is not exercised in accordance with terms of such notice.
(m) The Company shall have received all consents, waivers,
authorizations necessary to provide for the continuation in full force
and effect of at least fifty percent (50%) of the contracts and
agreements listed on Exhibit F in accordance with the terms of such
contracts or agreements in effect on date hereof.
(n) RoweCom France SAS shall have obtained a waiver and amendment to
its existing midterm loan with BNP Paribas and Credit Lyonnais (the
"MidTerm Loan"), which waiver and amendment shall contain those
modifications set forth on Exhibit G and shall be in form reasonably
satisfactory to Parent, there shall not exist any defaults or events of
default under the MidTerm Loan as of the Effective Time or arising as a
result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
no event shall have occurred which with the passage of time, the giving
of notice or both would constitute a default or event of default.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
8.1 TERMINATION BY MUTUAL CONSENT. This Agreement may be terminated and
the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, before or
after gaining the requisite approval of the stockholders of the Company, by the
mutual written consent of the Company and Parent.
8.2 TERMINATION BY EITHER THE COMPANY OR PARENT. This Agreement may be
terminated and the Merger may be abandoned by action of the Board of Directors
of either the Company or Parent if:
(a) the Merger shall not have been consummated by December 31, 2001
(the "Outside Date"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right to terminate
this Agreement under this Section 8.2(a) shall not be available to any
party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has
been the principal cause of or resulted in the failure of
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the Merger to occur on or before such date and such action or failure
to act constitutes a material breach of this Agreement;
(b) if any Restraint shall be in effect and shall have become final
and nonappealable; or
(c) at the duly held Company Stockholders Meeting (including any
adjournments thereof), the requisite approval of the Company's
stockholders shall not have been obtained; provided, however, that the
Company's right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.2(c)
shall not be available to the Company if the Company has not complied
with its obligations under Sections 6.3 and 6.4.
8.3 TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY. This Agreement may be terminated by the
Company upon written notice to Parent and the Merger may be abandoned at any
time prior to the Effective Time, before or after the approval by holders of the
Company Shares, by action of the Board of Directors of the Company, if Parent
shall have breached or failed to perform any of the representations, warranties,
covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any
representation or warranty shall have become untrue, in either case such that
(i) the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) or (b) would not be satisfied as
of the time of such breach or as of such time as such representation or warranty
shall have become untrue and (ii) such breach or failure to be true has not been
or is incapable of being cured within twenty (20) business days following
receipt by Parent of notice of such failure to comply.
8.4 TERMINATION BY PARENT. This Agreement may be terminated by Parent
upon written notice to the Company and the Merger may be abandoned at any time
prior to the Effective Time, before or after any action of the Board of
Directors of Parent, if:
(a) the Company shall have breached or failed to perform any of the
representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in
this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty shall have become
untrue, in either case such that (i) the conditions set forth in
Section 7.3(a) or (b) would not be satisfied as of the time of such
breach or as of such time as such representation or warranty shall have
become untrue and (ii) such breach or failure to be true has not been
or is incapable of being cured within twenty (20) business days
following receipt by the breaching party of notice of such failure to
comply;
(b) the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof,
shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Parent its
approval or recommendation of the Merger or this Agreement, (ii) the
Company shall have failed to include in the Proxy Statement the
recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Company in favor of
approval to the Merger and this Agreement, (iii) in connection with a
Rule 14d-9 disclosure, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
taken any action other than a rejection of a Rule 14d-9 proposal, (iv)
the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof shall
have recommended any Company Acquisition Proposal, (v) the Company or
any of its officers or directors shall have entered into
-44-
discussions or negotiations in violation of Section 6.3 or (vi) the
Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof shall have
resolved to do any of the foregoing or (vii) any Company Acquisition
Proposal is consummated or an agreement with respect to any Company
Acquisition Proposal is signed;
(c) the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(g) have not been
satisfied, and will not be satisfied, prior to the Outside Date, in
Parent's reasonable judgment and if Parent is obligated to pay the
$1,200,000 termination fee to the Company pursuant to Section 8.5(c)
hereof, Parent shall concurrently pay such termination fee to the
Company.
8.5 EFFECT OF TERMINATION; TERMINATION FEE.
(a) Except as set forth in this Section 8.5, in the event of
termination of this Agreement by either Parent or the Company as
provided in this Article VIII, this Agreement shall forthwith become
void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of the
Parties or their respective affiliates, officers, directors or
stockholders except (x) with respect to the treatment of confidential
information pursuant to Section 6.7, the payment of expenses pursuant
to Section 9.1, and Article IX generally, (y) to the extent that such
termination results from the willful breach of a Party of any of its
representations or warranties, or any of its covenants or agreements or
(z) intentional or knowing misrepresentation in connection with this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) In the event that (i)(1) a Company Acquisition Proposal or the
intention to make a Company Acquisition Proposal shall have been made
directly to the stockholders of the Company generally or otherwise
publicly announced by the Company or the Person making such Company
Acquisition Proposal, (2) such Company Acquisition Proposal or
intention is not irrevocably and publicly withdrawn prior to the vote
of the Company stockholders at the duly held Company Stockholders
Meeting, and (3) thereafter this Agreement is terminated by either the
Company or Parent (x) pursuant to Section 8.2(a) due to the Company
Stockholders Meeting not occurring as a result of such Company
Acquisition Proposal or (y) Section 8.2(c), (ii) this Agreement is
terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 8.4(b) or (iii) the Company
terminates this Agreement, for any reason, other than pursuant to
Section 8.1, 8.2 or 8.3 hereof, then the Company shall promptly, but in
no event later than the date of such termination, pay Parent a fee
equal to $800,000 (the "Company Termination Fee"), payable by wire
transfer of same day funds. The Company acknowledges that the
agreements contained in this Section 8.5(b) are an integral part of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these
agreements, Parent would not enter into this Agreement, and
accordingly, if the Company fails promptly to pay the amount due
pursuant to this Section 8.5(b), and, in order to obtain such payment,
Parent commences a suit which results in a judgment against the Company
for the fee set forth in this Section 8.5(b), the Company shall pay to
Parent its costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses) in connection with such suit, together with
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interest on the amount of the fee at the prime rate of Citibank, N.A.
in effect on the date such payment was required to be made.
(c) In the event that Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.4(c) as a result of the failure of the conditions set forth
in Section 7.3(g), Parent shall pay to the Company (i) $1,200,000 upon
such termination and (ii) an amount equal to the lesser of (1) $250,000
and (2) all Transaction Expenses incurred by the Company prior to such
termination promptly but in no event later than the fifth business day
after receipt of an invoice from the Company for such Transaction
Expenses, including reasonably detailed backup for such Transaction
Expenses (collectively, the "Parent Termination Fee," and collectively
with "Company Termination Fee," a "Termination Fee"). Parent
acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 8.5(c) are
an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and that, without these agreements, the Company would not enter into
this Agreement; accordingly, if Parent fails promptly to pay the amount
due pursuant to this Section 8.5(c), and, in order to obtain such
payment, the Company commences a suit which results in a judgment
against Parent for the fee set forth in this Section 8.5(c), Parent
shall pay to the Company its costs and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses) in connection with such suit, together
with interest on the amount of the fee at the prime rate of Citibank,
N.A. in effect on the date such payment was required to be made.
(d) If this Agreement is terminated under circumstances in which a
party is entitled to receive a Termination Fee, the payment of such
Termination Fee shall (i) survive the termination of this Agreement and
(ii) be the sole and exclusive remedy available to such party, except
in the event of (A) a willful and material breach by the other party of
any provision of this Agreement or (B) an intentional or knowing
material misrepresentation in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, in which event the non-breaching
Party shall have all rights, powers and remedies against the breaching
Party which may be available at law or in equity in respect of such
willful and material breach or intentional or knowing material
misrepresentation. Except as stated in the preceding sentence, all
rights, powers and remedies provided under this Agreement or otherwise
available in respect hereof at law or in equity shall be cumulative and
not alternative, and the exercise of any such right, power or remedy by
any Party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any
other such right, power or remedy by such Party.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
9.1 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Whether or not the Merger shall be
consummated, each Party shall pay its own expenses incident to preparing for,
entering into and carrying out this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby (the "Transaction Expenses"). The filing fee
for any required filing under the HSR Act or any foreign anti-trust or similar
merger control laws shall be borne equally by the Company and Parent.
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9.2 NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations
and warranties made in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 hereof shall not survive beyond the
Effective Time or a termination of this Agreement, except to the extent a
willful breach of such representation or intentional or knowing
misrepresentation formed the basis for such termination. This Section 9.2 shall
not limit any covenant or agreement of the Parties which by its terms
contemplates performance after the Effective Time or after termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, including the payment of any Termination
Fee.
9.3 MODIFICATION OR AMENDMENT. Subject to the applicable provisions of
the DGCL, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto, by
resolution of their respective Board of Directors, may modify or amend this
Agreement, by written agreement executed and delivered by duly authorized
officers of the respective parties; provided, however, that after approval of
the Merger by the stockholders of the Company is obtained, no amendment which
requires further stockholder approval shall be made without such approval of
stockholders. After the Effective Time, no provision as to which any third party
is an intended third-party beneficiary, as identified in Section 9.9 hereof, may
be amended without the prior written consent of all such identified third-party
beneficiaries of such provision.
9.4 WAIVER OF CONDITIONS. The conditions to each of the Parties'
obligations to consummate the Merger are for the sole benefit of such party and
may be waived by such party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by
applicable law.
9.5 COUNTERPARTS. For the convenience of the Parties, this Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being
deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together
constitute the same agreement.
9.6 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof.
9.7 NOTICES. Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be
given hereunder by any party to the other Parties shall be deemed delivered upon
actual receipt and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (effective on the third business
day after dispatch), reputable overnight courier (effective on the next business
day following dispatch), or by facsimile transmission (with a confirming copy
sent by reputable overnight courier) (effective upon dispatch, but only if so
confirmed), addressed as follows:
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(a) if to Parent or Merger Sub, to:
divine, inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(b) if to the Company, to:
RoweCom Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
or to such other Persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the
party to receive such notice.
9.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement, including the
exhibits and schedules hereto (including without limitation the parties'
respective Disclosure Schedules), together with the Confidentiality Agreement,
(i) constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties or
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any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof, and (ii) shall not be
assigned by operation of law or otherwise (and any attempt to do so shall be
void).
9.9 PARTIES IN INTEREST. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
(except as referred to in the following sentence) inure solely to the benefit of
each party hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other
Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by
reason of this Agreement, except that the parties entitled to receive the
consideration payable in the Merger pursuant to Article IV hereof are intended
third-party beneficiaries of the provisions of Article IV and Section 6.13
hereof, the Indemnified Personnel are intended third-party beneficiaries of the
provisions of the provisions of Section 6.16 ("Indemnification") hereof, Xx.
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx and his legatees, heirs, and assigns are intended third-party
beneficiaries of the provisions of Section 6.17 ("Name Rights") hereof.
9.10 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used herein:
(a) "ERISA" means the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.
(b) "Governmental Entity" means the United States or any state,
local or foreign government, or instrumentality, division, subdivision,
agency, department or authority of any thereof.
(c) "Knowledge" with respect to a party hereto shall mean the actual
knowledge of any of the executive officers of such party.
(d) "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any adverse change in the
business, operations, liabilities (contingent or otherwise), results of
operations or financial performance, or condition of Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case
may be, which is material to Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, or the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as the
case may be; provided, however, that no change in the market price or
trading volume of the Company Shares or Parent Shares, as applicable,
after the date hereof shall be deemed to constitute a Material Adverse
Effect.
(e) "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership,
joint venture, trust, unincorporated association, corporation, entity
or Governmental Entity.
(f) "Significant Tax Agreement" is any agreement to which the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party under which the
Company or its Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to be liable to
another party under such agreement in an amount in excess of $25,000 in
respect of Taxes payable by such other party to any taxing authority.
(g) "Subsidiary" shall mean, when used with reference to any entity,
(i) any entity of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding
voting securities or
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interests or (ii) any entity of which 50% of the economic interests,
in the case of partnerships or limited liability companies, are owned
directly or indirectly by such former entity.
(h) "Tax" or "Taxes" refers to any and all federal, state, local and
foreign, taxes, assessments and other governmental charges, duties,
impositions and liabilities relating to taxes, including without
limitation taxes based upon or measured by gross receipts, income,
profits, sales, use and occupation, and value added, ad valorem,
transfer, franchise, net worth, capital stock, withholding, payroll,
recapture, employment, excise and property taxes, together with all
interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts
and including any liability for taxes of a predecessor entity.
9.11 OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY. Whenever this Agreement requires the
Surviving Corporation or Merger Sub to take any action or otherwise to comply
with any provision of this Agreement, such requirement shall be deemed to
include an undertaking on the part of Parent to cause such party to take such
action or comply with such provision and Parent shall be jointly and severally
liable for any failure to take such action or to comply with such provision.
9.12 SEVERABILITY. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, all other provisions of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of
the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially
adverse to any party.
9.13 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto acknowledge that
irreparable damage would result if this Agreement were not specifically
enforced, and they therefore consent that the rights and obligations of the
parties under this Agreement may be enforced by a decree of specific performance
issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. Such remedy shall, however, not be
exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies which any party may
have under this Agreement or otherwise.
9.14 RECOVERY OF ATTORNEY'S FEES. In the event of any litigation
between the parties relating to this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be
entitled to recover its reasonable attorney's fees and costs (including court
costs) from the non-prevailing party, provided that if both parties prevail in
part, the reasonable attorney's fees and costs shall be awarded by the court in
such manner as it deems equitable to reflect the relative amounts and merits of
the parties' claims.
9.15 CAPTIONS. The Article, Section and paragraph captions herein are
for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and
shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.
9.16 NO STRICT CONSTRUCTION. The language used in this Agreement will
be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their
mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be used against any party
hereto.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the duly authorized officers of the Parties hereto and shall be effective as
of the date first hereinabove written.
DIVINE, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Its: Senior Vice President
----------------------------------
KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES
ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Its:
----------------------------------
ROWECOM INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
---------------------------------
Its: Chairman
----------------------------------
