EXHIBIT
2.1
EXECUTION
VERSION
by and among
BLUE ACQUISITION HOLDING CORPORATION,
BLUE ACQUISITION SUB, INC.
and
BURGER KING HOLDINGS, INC.
dated as of
September 2, 2010
The Merger Agreement has been provided solely to inform
investors of its terms. The representations, warranties and
covenants contained in the Merger Agreement were made only for
the purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were
made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger
Agreement and may be intended not as statements of fact, but
rather as a way of allocating risk to one of the parties if
those statements prove to be inaccurate. In addition, such
representations, warranties and covenants may have been
qualified by certain disclosures not reflected in the text of
the Merger Agreement and may apply standards of materiality in a
way that is different from what may be viewed as material by
stockholders of, or other investors in, the Company. The
Company’s stockholders and other investors are not
third-party beneficiaries under the Merger Agreement and should
not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any
descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of
facts or conditions of the Company, Parent, Sub or any of their
respective subsidiaries or affiliates.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I The Offer
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1
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Section 1.01
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The Offer
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1
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Section 1.02
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Company Actions
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4
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Section 1.03
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Top-Up
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5
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Section 1.04
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Directors
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6
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ARTICLE II The Merger
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7
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Section 2.01
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The Merger
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7
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Section 2.02
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Closing
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7
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Section 2.03
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Effective Time
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7
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Section 2.04
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Effects of the Merger
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7
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Section 2.05
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Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
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7
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Section 2.06
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Directors
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7
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Section 2.07
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Officers
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8
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Section 2.08
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Taking of Necessary Action
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8
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ARTICLE III Effect of the Merger on the Capital Stock of
the Constituent Corporations
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8
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Section 3.01
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Effect on Capital Stock
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8
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Section 3.02
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Adjustment to Merger Consideration
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9
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Section 3.03
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Exchange Fund
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9
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Section 3.04
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Company Equity Awards
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11
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ARTICLE IV Representations and Warranties of the Company
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11
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Section 4.01
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Organization, Standing and Corporate Power
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12
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Section 4.02
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Subsidiaries
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12
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Section 4.03
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Capital Structure
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12
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Section 4.04
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Authority; Recommendation
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13
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Section 4.05
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Non-Contravention
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14
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Section 4.06
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SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities
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15
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Section 4.07
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Absence of Certain Changes or Events
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16
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Section 4.08
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Litigation
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17
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Section 4.09
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Contracts
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17
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Section 4.10
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[Reserved]
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18
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Section 4.11
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Compliance with Laws
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18
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Section 4.12
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Labor and Employment Matters
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19
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Section 4.13
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Employee Benefit Matters
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19
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Section 4.14
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Taxes
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22
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Section 4.15
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Real Property
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22
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Section 4.16
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Intellectual Property
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23
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Section 4.17
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Environmental Matters
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24
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Section 4.18
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Insurance
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24
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Section 4.19
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Franchise Matters
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25
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Section 4.20
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Quality and Safety of Food & Beverage Products
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26
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Section 4.21
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[Reserved]
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26
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Section 4.22
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Affiliate Transactions
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26
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i
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Page
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Section 4.23
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Certain Business Practices
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26
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Section 4.24
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Company Swaps
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26
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Section 4.25
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Information Supplied
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26
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Section 4.26
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Voting Requirements
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27
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Section 4.27
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State Takeover Statutes
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27
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Section 4.28
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Brokers and Other Advisors
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27
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Section 4.29
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Opinions of Financial Advisors
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27
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Section 4.30
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Solvency
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27
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ARTICLE V Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub
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27
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Section 5.01
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Organization, Standing and Corporate Power
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27
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Section 5.02
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Authority
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27
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Section 5.03
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Non-Contravention
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28
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Section 5.04
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Financing
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28
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Section 5.05
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Limited Guaranty
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29
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Section 5.06
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Litigation
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29
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Section 5.07
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Information Supplied
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29
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Section 5.08
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Operation and Ownership of Sub
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29
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Section 5.09
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Brokers and Other Advisors
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29
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Section 5.10
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No Competing Businesses
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30
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Section 5.11
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Ownership of Company Common Stock
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30
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Section 5.12
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Solvency
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30
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ARTICLE VI Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business
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30
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Section 6.01
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Conduct of Business
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30
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Section 6.02
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Solicitation; Takeover Proposals; Change of Recommendation
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33
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ARTICLE VII Additional Agreements
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37
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Section 7.01
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Preparation of the Proxy Statement; Stockholders’ Meeting
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37
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Section 7.02
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Access to Information; Confidentiality
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38
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Section 7.03
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Reasonable Best Efforts; Approvals; Transaction Litigation
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39
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Section 7.04
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State Takeover Laws
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40
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Section 7.05
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Benefit Plans
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40
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Section 7.06
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Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance
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41
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Section 7.07
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Public Announcements
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42
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Section 7.08
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Financing
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43
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Section 7.09
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Financing Cooperation
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45
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Section 7.10
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Rule 14d-10
Matters
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48
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Section 7.11
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Rule 16b-3
Matters
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48
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Section 7.12
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FIRPTA Certificate
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48
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ARTICLE VIII Conditions Precedent
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48
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Section 8.01
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Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger
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48
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Section 8.02
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Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub to Effect the Merger
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48
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Section 8.03
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Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger
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49
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Section 8.04
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Frustration of Closing Conditions
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49
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ii
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Page
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ARTICLE IX Termination, Amendment and Waiver
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50
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Section 9.01
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Termination
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50
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Section 9.02
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Effect of Termination
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51
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Section 9.03
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Termination Fees and Expenses
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52
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Section 9.04
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Amendment
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53
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Section 9.05
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Extension; Waiver
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53
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ARTICLE X Interpretation
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53
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Section 10.01
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Certain Definitions
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53
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Section 10.02
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Index of Defined Terms
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56
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Section 10.03
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Interpretation
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59
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ARTICLE XI General Provisions
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60
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Section 11.01
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Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties
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60
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Section 11.02
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Expenses
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61
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Section 11.03
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Notices
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61
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Section 11.04
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Entire Agreement
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61
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Section 11.05
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No Third-Party Beneficiaries
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62
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Section 11.06
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Assignment
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62
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Section 11.07
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GOVERNING LAW
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62
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Section 11.08
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Jurisdiction; Service of Process
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62
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Section 11.09
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WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
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63
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Section 11.10
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Specific Performance; Remedies
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63
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Section 11.11
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Maximum Recourse; Limitation on Liability
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64
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Section 11.12
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Severability
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66
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Section 11.13
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Counterparts; Facsimile and Electronic Signatures
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66
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Annex I Conditions to the Offer
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I-1
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iii
This
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this
“
Agreement”), dated as of September 2,
2010, is entered into by and among Blue Acquisition Holding
Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (“
Parent”),
Blue Acquisition Sub, Inc., a
Delaware corporation and a wholly
owned Subsidiary of Parent (“
Sub”), and Burger
King Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the
‘‘
Company”). Each of Parent, Sub and the
Company are referred to herein as a
‘‘
Party” and together as
“
Parties”. Capitalized terms used and not
otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in
Article X.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of each of Parent,
Sub and the Company have unanimously (i) determined that
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Offer and the Merger, are advisable, fair to and
in the best interests of their respective stockholders and
(ii) approved this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the Merger, on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, Parent proposes to cause Sub to commence a tender offer
(as it may be amended from time to time as permitted under this
Agreement, the “Offer”) to purchase all the
outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) at
a price per share of Company Common Stock of $24.00, without
interest (such amount, or any other amount per share paid
pursuant to the Offer and this Agreement, the “Offer
Price”), net to the seller thereof in cash, on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Company has entered into a Sponsor Tender
Agreement with certain investment funds affiliated with Xxxx
Capital Investors, LLC, TPG Capital, L.P. and The Xxxxxxx Sachs
Group, Inc. and their respective Affiliates set forth therein
(collectively, the “Sponsor Tender
Agreements”), pursuant to which, among other things,
such investment funds have irrevocably agreed to tender shares
of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by them in the Offer
(the shares subject to such agreements constituting, in the
aggregate, approximately 31% of the Company Common Stock as of
the date hereof) and to take certain actions and exercise
certain rights, and to refrain from taking other actions or
exercising other rights, in each case, as set forth therein;
WHEREAS, regardless of whether the Offer Closing occurs, Sub
will merge with and into the Company, with the Company
continuing as the surviving corporation in the merger (the
‘‘Merger”), upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement, whereby, except as
expressly provided in Section 3.01, each issued and
outstanding share of Company Common Stock immediately prior to
the effective time of the Merger will be cancelled and converted
into the right to receive the Offer Price; and
WHEREAS Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in
connection with the Offer and the Merger and also to prescribe
various conditions to the Offer and the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and
the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement, and subject to the conditions set
forth herein, as well as other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
The
Offer
Section 1.01 The
Offer.
(a) Commencement of the Offer. As
promptly as reasonably practicable (and, in any event, within
10 business days) after the date of this Agreement, Sub
shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to, commence (within the
meaning of
Rule 14d-2
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together
with the
1
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the
“Exchange Act”)) the Offer to purchase all of
the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock at a price per
share equal to the Offer Price (as adjusted as provided in
Section 1.01(c), if applicable).
(b) Terms and Conditions of the
Offer. The obligations of Sub to, and of
Parent to cause Sub to, accept for payment, and pay for, any
shares of Company Common Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer
are subject only to the conditions set forth in Annex I
(the “Offer Conditions”). The Offer Conditions
are for the sole benefit of Parent and Sub, and Parent and Sub
may waive, in whole or in part, any Offer Condition at any time
and from time to time, in their sole discretion, other than the
Minimum Tender Condition, which may be waived by Parent and Sub
only with the prior written consent of the Company. Parent and
Sub expressly reserve the right to increase the Offer Price or
to waive or make any other changes in the terms and conditions
of the Offer; provided, however, that unless
otherwise provided in this Agreement or previously approved by
the Company in writing, Sub shall not, and Parent shall not
permit Sub to, (i) reduce the number of shares of Company
Common Stock sought to be purchased in the Offer,
(ii) reduce the Offer Price, (iii) change the form of
consideration payable in the Offer, (iv) amend, modify or
waive the Minimum Tender Condition, (v) add to the Offer
Conditions or amend, modify or supplement any Offer Condition,
or (vi) extend the expiration date of the Offer in any
manner other than in accordance with the terms of
Section 1.01(d).
(c) Adjustments to Offer
Price. The Offer Price shall be adjusted
appropriately to reflect the effect of any stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend (including any dividend or
distribution of securities convertible into Company Common
Stock), cash dividend (other than the First Quarter Dividend),
reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination,
exchange of shares or other like change with respect to Company
Common Stock occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to
Sub’s acceptance for payment of, and payment for, Company
Common Stock tendered in the Offer.
(d) Expiration and Extension of the
Offer. The Offer shall initially be scheduled
to expire at midnight, New York City time, on the later of
(x) the 20th business day following the commencement
of the Offer (determined using
Rule 14d-1(g)(3)
under the Exchange Act) and (y) the second business day
following the No-Shop Period Start Date (such later date being
the “Initial Offer Expiration Date”),
provided, however, if at the Initial Offer
Expiration Date, any Offer Condition is not satisfied or waived,
Sub shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to, extend the Offer for
ten (10) business days; provided, further,
that if the only Offer Condition not satisfied at such time is
the Financing Proceeds Condition, then such Initial Offer
Expiration Date may be extended, at Parent’s option, for
less than ten (10) business days. Thereafter, if at any
then scheduled expiration of the Offer, any Offer Condition is
not satisfied or waived, Sub shall, and Parent shall cause Sub
to, extend the Offer on one or more occasions, in consecutive
increments of up to five (5) business days (or such longer
period as the Parties may agree) each; provided,
however, if the Proxy Statement Clearance Date has
occurred on or prior to November 24, 2010, then no such
extension shall be required after November 24, 2010;
provided, further, however, if the Proxy
Statement Clearance Date has not occurred on or prior to
November 24, 2010, then either Parent or the Company may
request, and upon such request, Sub shall extend the Offer in
increments of up to five (5) business days (or such longer
period as the Parties may agree) each until the Proxy Statement
Clearance Date; it being understood that nothing contained
herein shall limit or otherwise affect the Company’s right
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.01(g) in
accordance with the terms thereof. ‘‘Proxy
Statement Clearance Date” means the date on which the
SEC has, orally or in writing, confirmed that it has no further
comments on the Proxy Statement, including the first date
following the tenth calendar day following the filing of the
preliminary Proxy Statement if the SEC has not informed the
Company that it intends to review the Proxy Statement. In
addition, Sub shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to, extend the
Offer on one or more occasions for the minimum period required
by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
or the staff thereof applicable to the Offer; provided,
however, that Sub shall not be required to extend the
Offer beyond the Outside Date and such extension shall be
subject to the right to terminate the Offer in accordance with
Section 1.01(f). The last date on which the Offer is
required to be extended pursuant to this
Section 1.01(d) is referred to as the “Offer
End Date” (it being understood that under no
circumstances shall the Offer End Date occur prior to
November 24, 2010).
2
(e) Payment. On the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer and this Agreement, Sub
shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to, accept for payment, and
pay for, all shares of Company Common Stock validly tendered and
not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer promptly (and in any event
within 3 business days) after the applicable expiration date of
the Offer (as it may be extended in accordance with
Section 1.01(d)) and in any event in compliance with
Rule 14e-1(c)
promulgated under the Exchange Act. The date of payment for
shares of Company Common Stock accepted for payment pursuant to
and subject to the conditions of the Offer is referred to in
this Agreement as the “Offer Closing”, and the
date on which the Offer Closing occurs is referred to in this
Agreement as the “Offer Closing Date”.
(f) Termination of the Offer; Continuing Pursuit of
the Merger. If at any then-scheduled
expiration of the Offer occurring after November 24, 2010
(i) any Offer Condition shall not have been satisfied or
waived, and (ii) the Offer End Date shall have occurred
(the ‘‘Offer Determination Date”), then
Sub may irrevocably and unconditionally terminate the Offer if
the Proxy Statement Clearance Date has occurred on or prior to
such Offer Determination Date. In addition, the Company shall
have the right, exercisable by delivering written notice to
Parent and Sub at any time from and after the Offer
Determination Date to cause Sub to, and upon receipt of such
written notice, Sub shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to,
irrevocably and unconditionally terminate the Offer at the
then-scheduled expiration date of the Offer following the
receipt of such notice from the Company (delivered no less than
one (1) business day of the then -scheduled expiration date
of the Offer). The termination of the Offer pursuant to this
Section 1.01(f) is referred to in this Agreement as
the “Offer Termination”, and the date on which
the Offer Termination occurs is referred to in this Agreement as
the “Offer Termination Date”. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 1.01(f), if
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 9.01, then Sub shall promptly (and, in any
event, within one (1) business day of such termination),
irrevocably and unconditionally terminate the Offer. If the
Offer is terminated or withdrawn by Sub, or this Agreement is
terminated in accordance with Section 9.01, Sub
shall promptly return, and shall cause any depository acting on
behalf of Sub to return, all tendered shares of Company Common
Stock to the registered holders thereof to the extent required
by the terms of the Offer. The Parties hereto acknowledge and
agree that the Offer Termination shall not give rise to a right
of termination of this Agreement unless to the extent expressly
provided for in Section 9.01 and that, absent such
any termination of this Agreement, the obligations of the
Parties hereunder other than those related to the Offer shall
continue to remain in effect, including those obligations with
respect to the Merger.
(g) Offer Documents. On the date
of commencement of the Offer, Parent and Sub shall file with the
SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with respect to
the Offer (together with all amendments and supplements thereto,
and including all exhibits thereto, the
“Schedule TO”), which shall include, as
exhibits, an offer to purchase and a related letter of
transmittal, a summary advertisement and other ancillary Offer
documents pursuant to which the Offer will be made (such
Schedule TO and the documents attached as exhibits thereto,
together with any supplements or amendments thereto, the
“Offer Documents”) and promptly thereafter
shall mail the Offer Documents to the holders of the Company
Common Stock as required by applicable Law. The Company shall
promptly furnish to Parent and Sub all information concerning
the Company that may be required by applicable securities laws
or reasonably requested by Parent or Sub for inclusion in the
Offer Documents. The Company hereby consents to the inclusion in
the Offer Documents of the Recommendation of the Company Board.
Each of Parent, Sub and the Company shall promptly correct any
information provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if and
to the extent that such information shall have become false or
misleading in any material respect. Parent and Sub shall take
all steps necessary to cause the Offer Documents, as so
corrected, to be filed with the SEC and the other Offer
Documents, as so corrected, to be disseminated to the holders of
Company Common Stock, in each case as and to the extent required
by applicable federal securities Laws. Parent and Sub shall
promptly notify the Company upon the receipt of any comments
from the SEC or the staff of the SEC or any request from the SEC
or the staff of the SEC for amendments or supplements to the
Offer Documents, and shall provide the Company with copies of
all correspondence between Parent, Sub and their respective
Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or the staff of
the SEC, on the other hand. Parent and Sub shall use reasonable
best efforts to respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to
any comments of the SEC or the staff of the SEC with respect to
the Offer Documents, and Parent and Sub shall provide the
Company and its counsel a reasonable opportunity to participate
in the formulation of any written response to any such written
comments of the SEC or its staff.
3
Prior to the filing of the Offer Documents (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) or the dissemination thereof to the holders
of Company Common Stock, or responding to any comments of the
SEC or the staff of the SEC with respect thereto, Parent and Sub
shall provide the Company a reasonable opportunity to review and
to propose comments on such document or response.
(h) Funds. Subject to the other
terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Offer Conditions,
Parent shall provide or cause to be provided to Sub on a timely
basis the funds necessary to purchase any shares of Company
Common Stock that Sub becomes obligated to purchase pursuant to
the Offer.
(i) Withholding. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent and Sub shall
be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration
otherwise payable pursuant to the Offer to any holder of shares
of Company Common Stock such amounts as Parent or Sub are
required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of
such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”), or any other provision of tax
Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to
the appropriate taxing authority by Parent or Sub, such withheld
amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as
having been paid to the person in respect of which such
deduction and withholding was made by Parent or Sub.
Section 1.02 Company
Actions.
(a) Schedule 14D-9. On
the date the Offer Documents are filed with the SEC, the Company
shall file with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement
on
Schedule 14D-9
with respect to the Offer (such
Schedule 14D-9,
together with any supplements or amendments thereto, the
‘‘Schedule 14D-9”),
which shall describe and make the Recommendation with respect to
the Offer, and promptly thereafter shall mail the
Schedule 14D-9
to the holders of the Company Common Stock. The Company shall
also include in the
Schedule 14D-9
the Fairness Opinions. Parent and Sub shall promptly furnish to
the Company in writing all information concerning Parent and Sub
that may be required by applicable securities laws for inclusion
in the
Schedule 14D-9.
Each of Parent, Sub and the Company shall promptly correct any
information provided by it for use in the
Schedule 14D-9
if and to the extent that such information shall have become
false or misleading in any material respect. The Company shall
take all steps necessary to cause the
Schedule 14D-9,
as so corrected, to be filed with the SEC and the
Schedule 14D-9,
as so corrected, to be disseminated to the holders of Company
Common Stock, in each case as and to the extent required by
applicable federal securities Laws. The Company shall promptly
notify Parent and Sub upon the receipt of any comments from the
SEC or the staff of the SEC or any request from the SEC or the
staff of the SEC for amendments or supplements to the
Schedule 14D-9,
and shall provide Parent and Sub with copies of all
correspondence between the Company and its Representatives, on
the one hand, and the SEC or the staff of the SEC, on the other
hand. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to respond
as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments of the SEC
or the staff of the SEC with respect to the
Schedule 14D-9,
and the Company shall provide Parent and Sub and their
respective counsel a reasonable opportunity to participate in
the formulation of any written response to any such written
comments of the SEC or its staff. Prior to the filing of the
Schedule 14D-9
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the dissemination
thereof to the holders of Company Common Stock, or responding to
any comments of the SEC or the staff of the SEC with respect
thereto, the Company shall provide Parent and Sub a reasonable
opportunity to review and to propose comments on such document
or response.
(b) Stockholder Lists. In
connection with the Offer and the Merger, the Company shall
cause its transfer agent to furnish Sub promptly with mailing
labels containing the names and addresses of the record holders
of Company Common Stock as of a recent date and of those persons
becoming record holders subsequent to such date, together with
lists, copies of all lists of stockholders, security position
listings, computer files and all other information in the
Company’s possession or control regarding the beneficial
owners of Company Common Stock, and shall furnish to Sub such
information (including updated lists of stockholders, security
position listings and computer files) and assistance as Parent
or Sub may reasonably request in communicating the Offer to the
record and beneficial holders of the Company Common Stock.
Subject to the requirements of applicable Law, and except for
such steps as are necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents
and any other documents necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, Parent and Sub shall
4
not use or disclose the information contained in any such
labels, lists, listings and files other than in connection with
the Offer and the Merger and, if this Agreement shall be
terminated, shall, upon request, deliver to the Company or
destroy all copies of such information then in their possession
or control in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement.
Section 1.03 Top-Up.
(a) Top-Up. The
Company hereby grants to Sub an irrevocable right (the
‘‘Top-Up”),
exercisable on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Section 1.03, to purchase at a price per share equal
to the Offer Price that number of newly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Company Common Stock (the
“Top-Up
Shares”) equal to the lowest number of shares of
Company Common Stock that, when added to the number of shares of
Company Common Stock directly or indirectly owned by Parent and
Sub at the time of the
Top-Up
Closing (after giving effect to the Offer Closing), shall
constitute one share more than 90% of the shares of the Company
Common Stock outstanding immediately after the issuance of the
Top-Up
Shares; provided, however, that the
Top-Up may
not be exercised to purchase an amount of
Top-Up
Shares in excess of the number of shares of Company Common Stock
authorized and unissued (treating shares owned by the Company as
treasury stock as unissued) and not reserved for issuance at the
time of exercise of the
Top-Up. The
Top-Up shall
be exercisable only once, in whole but not in part.
(b) Exercise of
Top-Up;
Top-Up
Closing. If there shall have not been validly
tendered and not validly withdrawn that number of shares of
Company Common Stock which, when added to the shares of Company
Common Stock owned by Parent and its Affiliates, would represent
at least 90% of the shares of the Company Common Stock
outstanding on the Offer Closing Date, Sub shall be deemed to
have exercised the
Top-Up and
on such date shall give the Company prior written notice
specifying the number of shares of Company Common Stock directly
or indirectly owned by Parent and its Subsidiaries at the time
of such notice (giving effect to the Offer Closing). The Company
shall, as soon as practicable following receipt of such notice
(and in any event no later than the Offer Closing), deliver
written notice to Sub specifying, based on the information
provided by Sub in its notice, the number of
Top-Up
Shares. At the closing of the purchase of the
Top-Up
Shares (the
“Top-Up
Closing”), which shall take place at the location of
the Merger Closing specified in Section 2.02, and
shall take place simultaneously with the Offer Closing, the
purchase price owed by Sub to the Company to purchase the
Top-Up
Shares shall be paid to the Company, at Sub’s option,
(i) in cash, by wire transfer of
same-day
funds, or (ii) by (x) paying in cash, by wire transfer
of same-day
funds, an amount equal to not less than the aggregate par value
of the
Top-Up
Shares and (y) executing and delivering to the Company a
promissory note having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
purchase price pursuant to the
Top-Up less
the amount paid in cash pursuant to the preceding clause (x)
(the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note
(i) shall be due on the first anniversary of the
Top-Up
Closing, (ii) shall bear simple interest of 5% per annum,
(iii) shall be full recourse to Parent and Sub,
(iv) may be prepaid, in whole or in part, at any time
without premium or penalty, and (v) shall have no other
material terms. At the
Top-Up
Closing, the Company shall cause to be issued to Sub a
certificate representing the
Top-Up
Shares.
(c) Exemption from
Registration. Parent and Sub acknowledge that
the Top-Up
Shares that Sub may acquire upon exercise of the
Top-Up will
not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
the ‘‘Securities Act”), and will be issued
in reliance upon an applicable exemption from registration under
the Securities Act. Each of Parent and Sub hereby represents and
warrants to the Company that Sub will be, upon the purchase of
the Top-Up
Shares, an “accredited investor”, as defined in
Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. Sub
agrees that the
Top-Up and
the Top-Up
Shares to be acquired upon exercise of the
Top-Up are
being and will be acquired by Sub for the purpose of investment
and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any
distribution thereof (within the meaning of the Securities Act).
(d) No Effect on Appraisal
Rights. Any dilutive impact on the value of
the shares of Company Common Stock as a result of the issuance
of the
Top-Up
Shares will not be taken into account in any determination of
the fair value of any Appraisal Shares pursuant to
Section 262 of the DGCL as contemplated by
Section 3.01(d).
5
Section 1.04 Directors.
(a) Composition of Company Board and Board
Committees. Effective upon the initial
acceptance for payment by Sub of shares of Company Common Stock
pursuant to the Offer (the ‘‘Acceptance
Time,” the use of which term herein shall not, unless
the context otherwise requires, depend upon whether Parent shall
exercise its rights under this Section 1.04(a)) and
from time to time thereafter, Parent shall be entitled to
designate from time to time such number of members of the
Company Board as will give Parent, subject to compliance with
Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and
Rule 14f-1
thereunder, representation equal to at least that number of
directors, rounded up to the next whole number, that is the
product of (i) the total number of directors (giving effect
to the directors elected or appointed pursuant to this sentence)
multiplied by (ii) the percentage that (A) the
number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent and its
Subsidiaries (including shares of Company Common Stock accepted
for payment pursuant to the Offer) bears to (B) the number
of shares of the Company Common Stock then outstanding;
provided, however, that in the event that
Parent’s designees are appointed or elected to the Company
Board, until the Effective Time the Company Board shall have at
least three directors who are members of the Company Board and
who are not officers, stockholders or Affiliates of the Company
or Parent and who will be independent for purposes of
Rule 10A-3
under the Exchange Act (the “Independent
Directors”); provided further that, in
such event, if the number of Independent Directors shall be
reduced below two for any reason whatsoever, any remaining
Independent Directors (or the Independent Director, if there
shall be only one remaining) shall be entitled to designate
persons to fill such vacancies who shall be deemed to be
Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement or, if no
Independent Directors then remain, the other directors shall
designate three persons to fill such vacancies who are not
officers, stockholders or Affiliates of the Company or Parent
and who will be independent for purposes of
Rule 10A-3
under the Exchange Act, and such persons shall be deemed to be
Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement. Subject to
applicable Law, the Company shall take all action requested by
Parent necessary to effect any election or appointment pursuant
to this Section 1.04, including (at the election of
Parent) (x) subject to the Company Certificate of
Incorporation, increasing the size of the Company Board, and
(y) obtaining the resignation of such number of its current
directors as is, in each case, necessary to enable such
designees to be so elected or appointed to the Company Board in
compliance with applicable Law (including, to the extent
applicable prior to the Effective Time,
Rule 10A-3
under the Exchange Act). From time to time after the Acceptance
Time, the Company shall take all action necessary to cause the
individuals so designated by Parent to be directors on the
Company Board to constitute substantially the same percentage
(rounding up where appropriate) as is on the Company Board on
each committee of the Company Board to the fullest extent
permitted by all applicable Law and the rules of the New York
Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), and the Company
shall take all action requested by Parent necessary to effect
any such election or appointment.
(b) Section 14(f) of the Exchange
Act. The Company shall mail to its
stockholders the Information Statement containing the
information required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act
and
Rule 14f-1
thereunder, and the Company agrees to make such mailing either
(i) concurrently with the mailing of the
Schedule 14D-9
or (ii) if not included in the
Schedule 14D-9,
if Parent shall have requested, within three (3) calendar
days following such request, which request shall not be
delivered prior to ten (10) calendar days following the
mailing of the
Schedule 14D-9
(provided that, in each case, Parent and Sub shall have provided
to the Company on a timely basis all information required to be
included in the Information Statement with respect to such
designees and with respect to Parent’s officers, directors
and Affiliates, and if not then as soon as practicable
thereafter).
(c) Required Approvals of Independent
Directors. Following the election or
appointment of Parent’s designees pursuant to
Section 1.04(a) and prior to the Effective Time, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Independent Directors then
in office shall be required for the Company to consent
(i) to amend or terminate this Agreement, (ii) to
waive or elect to enforce any of the Company’s rights or
remedies under this Agreement, (iii) to extend the time for
the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of
Parent or Sub, or (iv) to any other matter under this
Agreement.
6
(d) Effects on Continued
Listing. After the Acceptance Time, the
Company shall, upon Parent’s request, take all action
reasonably necessary to elect to be treated as a
“controlled company” as defined by Rule 303A of
the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.
ARTICLE II
The
Merger
Section 2.01
The
Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with
the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the
‘‘
DGCL”), Sub shall be merged with and
into the Company at the Effective Time. Following the Effective
Time, the separate corporate existence of Sub shall cease, and
the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation in the
Merger (the “
Surviving Corporation”).
Section 2.02 Closing. The
closing of the Merger (the “Merger Closing”)
will take place at (a) if the Offer Closing shall have not
occurred at or prior to the Merger Closing, 10:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the second business day after satisfaction or
(to the extent permitted by Law) waiver of the conditions set
forth in Article VIII (other than those conditions
that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Merger Closing,
but subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by
Law) waiver of those conditions), or (b) if the Offer
Closing shall have occurred on or prior to the Merger Closing,
on the date of, and immediately following the Offer Closing (or
the Top-Up
Closing if the
Top-Up has
been exercised), in either case at the offices of
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP, located at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, unless another time, date or place is
agreed to in writing by Parent and the Company. The date on
which the Merger Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement
as the “Merger Closing Date”.
Section 2.03
Effective
Time. Subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, as promptly as reasonably practicable on the Merger
Closing Date, the Parties shall file a certificate of merger
(the “
Certificate of Merger”) in such form as
is required by, and executed and acknowledged in accordance
with, the relevant provisions of the DGCL, and shall make all
other filings and recordings required under the DGCL. The Merger
shall become effective on such date and time as the Certificate
of Merger is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware or at such other date and time as Parent and the
Company shall agree and specify in the Certificate of Merger.
The date and time at which the Merger becomes effective is
referred to in this Agreement as the ‘‘
Effective
Time”.
Section 2.04 Effects
of the Merger. The Merger shall have the
effects set forth in the applicable provisions of the DGCL.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from and after
the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall possess all
properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the
Company and Sub, and all of the claims, obligations,
liabilities, debts and duties of the Company and Sub shall
become the claims, obligations, liabilities, debts and duties of
the Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.05 Certificate
of Incorporation and By-Laws.
(a) At the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation
of Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
(which shall not be amended by Sub from the date hereof until
such time except as otherwise contemplated hereby) shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter changed or amended (subject to
Section 7.06(a)) as provided therein or by
applicable Law; provided, however, that at the
Effective Time the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation shall be amended so that the name of the Surviving
Corporation shall be “Burger King Holdings, Inc.”
(b) The by-laws of Sub as in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be the by-laws of the Surviving
Corporation until thereafter changed or amended (subject to
Section 7.06(a)) as provided therein or by
applicable Law.
Section 2.06 Directors. The
directors of Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be the directors of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier
of their resignation or removal or until their respective
successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.
7
Section 2.07 Officers. The
officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, until the
earlier of their resignation or removal or until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the
case may be.
Section 2.08 Taking
of Necessary Action. If at any time after the
Effective Time any further action is necessary or desirable to
carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the
Surviving Corporation with full right, title and possession to
all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises
of the Company and Sub, the Surviving Corporation, the board of
directors of the Surviving Corporation and officers of the
Surviving Corporation shall take all such lawful and necessary
action, consistent with this Agreement, on behalf of the
Company, Sub and the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE III
Effect of
the Merger on the Capital Stock of
the
Constituent Corporations
Section 3.01 Effect
on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
holder of any shares of Company Common Stock or any shares of
capital stock of Parent or Sub:
(a) Capital Stock of Sub. Each
share of capital stock of Sub issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become
one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned
Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
that is directly owned by the Company as treasury stock, or by
Parent or Sub at such time, shall automatically be canceled and
shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in
exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Company Common
Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(excluding shares to be canceled in accordance with
Section 3.01(b) and, except as provided in
Section 3.01(d), the Appraisal Shares) shall be
converted into the right to receive the Offer Price in cash,
without interest (the ‘‘Merger
Consideration”). At the Effective Time, all such shares
of Company Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and each
holder of a certificate (or evidence of shares in book-entry
form) that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented
any such shares of Company Common Stock (each, a
‘‘Certificate”) shall cease to have any
rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the
Merger Consideration and any dividends declared from and after
the date hereof in accordance with Section 6.01(a)
with a record date prior to the Effective Time that remain
unpaid at the Effective Time and that are due to such holder.
(d) Appraisal
Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Common Stock issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that are
held by any holder who is entitled to demand and properly
demands appraisal of such shares pursuant to, and who complies
in all respects with, the provisions of Section 262 of the
DGCL (the ‘‘Appraisal Shares”) shall not
be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration
as provided in Section 3.01(c), but instead such
holder shall be entitled to payment of the fair value of such
shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 262 of
the DGCL. At the Effective Time, the Appraisal Shares shall no
longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and
shall cease to exist, and each holder of Appraisal Shares shall
cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right
to receive the fair value of such Appraisal Shares in accordance
with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such holder shall fail to
perfect or otherwise shall waive, withdraw or lose the right to
appraisal under Section 262 of the DGCL or a court of
competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not
entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL,
then the right of such holder to be paid the fair value of such
holder’s Appraisal Shares under Section 262 of the
DGCL shall cease and such Appraisal Shares shall be deemed to
have been converted at the Effective Time into, and shall have
become, the right to receive the Merger Consideration as
provided in Section 3.01(c), without
8
any interest thereon. The Company shall give prompt notice to
Parent of any demands for appraisal of any shares of Company
Common Stock or written threats thereof, withdrawals of such
demands and any other instruments served pursuant to the DGCL
received by the Company, and Parent shall have the right to
participate in and direct all negotiations and proceedings with
respect to such demands. Prior to the Effective Time, the
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
voluntarily make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer
to settle, any such demands, or agree to do or commit to do any
of the foregoing.
Section 3.02 Adjustment
to Merger Consideration. Without limiting the
other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the
period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective
Time, if there shall be any stock split, reverse stock split,
stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of
securities convertible into Company Common Stock), cash dividend
(other than the First Quarter Dividend), reorganization,
recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of
shares or other like change with respect to Company Common Stock
occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Effective
Time, the Merger Consideration as provided in
Section 3.01(c) shall be equitably adjusted by
Parent to reflect the effect thereof.
Section 3.03 Exchange
Fund.
(a) Paying Agent. Prior to the
Merger Closing Date, Parent shall appoint a bank or trust
company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as paying
agent (the “Paying Agent”) for the payment of
the Merger Consideration in accordance with this
Article III and, in connection therewith, shall
enter into an agreement with the Paying Agent in the form
reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Paying Agency
Agreement”). At or prior to the Effective Time, Parent
shall deposit with the Paying Agent cash in an amount sufficient
to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration as required to be paid
pursuant to this Agreement (such cash being hereinafter referred
to as the “Exchange Fund”).
(b) Certificate Exchange
Procedures. As promptly as reasonably
practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the
Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record of a Certificate
(i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that
delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the
Certificates to the Paying Agent and which shall otherwise be in
customary form (including customary provisions with respect to
delivery of an “agent’s message” with respect to
shares held in book-entry form)), and (ii) instructions for
use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange
for the Merger Consideration. Each holder of record of a
Certificate shall, upon surrender to the Paying Agent of such
Certificate, together with such letter of transmittal, duly
executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required
by the Paying Agent, be entitled to receive in exchange therefor
the amount of cash which the number of shares of Company Common
Stock previously represented by such Certificate shall have been
converted into the right to receive pursuant to
Section 3.01(c), and the Certificate so surrendered
shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of
ownership of Company Common Stock which is not registered in the
transfer records of the Company, payment of the Merger
Consideration and any dividends declared in accordance with
Section 6.01(a) with a record date prior to the
Effective Time that remain unpaid at the Effective Time with
respect to such Company Common Stock may be made to a person
other than the person in whose name the Certificate so
surrendered is registered if such Certificate shall be properly
endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the
person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other
similar taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger
Consideration and any such dividends to a person other than the
registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the
reasonable satisfaction of Parent that such tax has been paid or
is not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this
Section 3.03(b), each Certificate shall be deemed at
any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to
receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration which the
holder thereof has the right to receive in respect of such
Certificate pursuant to this Article III and any
dividends declared in accordance with
Section 6.01(a) with a record date prior to the
Effective Time that remain unpaid at the Effective Time and that
are due to such holder. No interest shall be paid or will accrue
on any cash payable to holders of Certificates pursuant to the
provisions of this Article III.
9
(c) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common
Stock. All cash paid upon the surrender of
Certificates in accordance with the terms of this
Article III shall be deemed to have been paid in
full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of
Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificates,
subject, however, to the Surviving
Corporation’s obligation to pay all dividends declared in
accordance with Section 6.01(a) with a record date
prior to the Effective Time that remain unpaid at the Effective
Time. At the close of business on the day on which the Effective
Time occurs, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be
closed, and there shall be no further registration of transfers
on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the
shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, any
Certificate is presented to the Surviving Corporation for
transfer, it shall be canceled against delivery of cash to the
holder thereof as provided in this Article III.
(d) Termination of the Exchange
Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that
remains undistributed to the holders of the Certificates for six
(6) months after the Effective Time shall be delivered to
Parent, upon demand, and any holders of the Certificates who
have not theretofore complied with this Article III
shall thereafter look only to Parent for, and Parent shall
remain liable for, payment of their claims for the Merger
Consideration pursuant to the provisions of this
Article III and any dividends declared in accordance
with Section 6.01(a) with a record date prior to the
Effective Time that remain unpaid at the Effective Time and that
are due to any such holder.
(e) No Liability. None of Parent,
Sub, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent
shall be liable to any person in respect of any cash from the
Exchange Fund delivered to a public official in compliance with
any applicable state, federal or other abandoned property,
escheat or similar Law. If any Certificate shall not have been
surrendered prior to the date on which the related Merger
Consideration would escheat to or become the property of any
Governmental Authority, any such Merger Consideration shall, to
the extent permitted by applicable Law, immediately prior to
such time become the property of Parent, free and clear of all
claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
(f) Investment of Exchange
Fund. The Paying Agent shall invest the cash
in the Exchange Fund as directed by Parent; provided,
however, that such investments shall be in obligations of
or guaranteed by the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof and backed by the full faith and credit
of the United States of America, in commercial paper obligations
rated A 1 or P 1 or better by Xxxxx’x Investors Service,
Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Corporation,
respectively, or in certificates of deposit, bank repurchase
agreements or banker’s acceptances of commercial banks with
capital exceeding $5.0 billion (based on the most recent
financial statements of such bank that are then publicly
available). Any interest and other income resulting from such
investments shall be paid solely to Parent. Nothing contained
herein and no investment losses resulting from investment of the
Exchange Fund shall diminish the rights of any holder of
Certificates to receive the Merger Consideration or any holder
of a Company Equity Award to receive the holder’s Equity
Award Amount, in each case as provided herein.
(g) Lost Certificates. If any
Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such
Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
Parent, the posting by such person of a bond in such reasonable
amount as Parent may direct as indemnity against any claim that
may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the
Paying Agent shall deliver in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificate the applicable Merger Consideration and
any dividends declared in accordance with
Section 6.01(a) with a record date prior to the
Effective Time that remain unpaid at the Effective Time with
respect thereto.
(h) Withholding
Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, Parent, the Surviving Corporation or
the Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from
the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement
to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock (or any holder
of a Company Equity Award) such amounts as Parent, the Surviving
Corporation or the Paying Agent are required to deduct and
withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the
Code or any provision of tax Law. To the extent that amounts are
so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority by
Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, such
withheld amounts shall be treated for
10
all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder
of the shares of Company Common Stock or the holder of the
Company Equity Award, as the case may be, in respect of which
such deduction and withholding was made by Parent, the Surviving
Corporation or the Paying Agent.
Section 3.04 Company
Equity Awards. As soon as reasonably
practicable following the date of this Agreement, and in any
event prior to the expiration of the Offer, the Company Board
(or, if appropriate, any committee administering the Company
Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions and take such other
actions as may be required to provide that, at the earlier to
occur of the time of the Offer Closing and the Effective Time
(such earlier time, the “Acceleration Time”):
(a) each unexercised Company Stock Option, whether vested
or unvested, that is outstanding immediately prior to the
Acceleration Time shall be canceled, with the holder thereof
becoming entitled to receive (subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in Section 7.05(d)(II) of the
Company Disclosure Letter), on the date which the Acceleration
Time occurs, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to
(i) the excess, if any, of (A) the Offer Price over
(B) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock
subject to such Company Stock Option multiplied by
(ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject
to such Company Stock Option;
(b) each Company RSU that is outstanding immediately prior
to the Acceleration Time shall be fully vested and, at the
Acceleration Time, canceled, with the holder thereof becoming
entitled to receive (subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in Section 7.05(d)(II) of the Company
Disclosure Letter), on the date which the Acceleration Time
occurs, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to
(i) the Offer Price multiplied by (ii) the
number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company
RSU at the Acceleration Time;
(c) each Company PSU that is outstanding immediately prior
to the Acceleration Time shall be vested as to the number of
shares of Company Common Stock issuable pursuant to such Company
PSU upon attainment of the target level of performance
applicable to such Company PSU (the “PSU
Shares”), and, at the Acceleration Time, canceled, with
the holder thereof becoming entitled to receive (subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in
Section 7.05(d)(II) of the Company Disclosure
Letter), on the date which the Acceleration Time occurs, an
amount in cash, without interest, equal to (i) the Offer
Price multiplied by (ii) the number of PSU
Shares attributable to such Company PSU; and
(d) with respect to each member of the Company Board, in
connection with the cessation of such person’s service as a
member of the Company Board as of the Acceleration Time, each
Company DSU that is outstanding immediately prior to the
Acceleration Time shall, at the Acceleration Time, be vested and
canceled, with the holder thereof becoming entitled to receive,
on the date which the Acceleration Time occurs, an amount in
cash, without interest, equal to (i) the Offer Price
multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of
Company Common Stock subject to such Company DSU at the
Acceleration Time.
(e) The payment of all Equity Award Amounts hereunder shall
be subject to appropriate withholding for taxes in accordance
with Section 3.03(h). The term “Equity Award
Amounts” means, collectively, all amounts payable
pursuant to this Section 3.04.
ARTICLE IV
Representations
and Warranties of the Company
Except (i) as disclosed in any report, schedule, form,
statement or other document filed with, or furnished to, the SEC
by the Company, or incorporated by reference into such document,
within the two (2) years preceding the date hereof and
publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement
(collectively, the “Filed SEC Documents”),
other than any disclosures contained under the captions
“Risk Factors” or “Forward Looking
Statements” and any other disclosures contained therein
that are predictive, cautionary or forward looking in nature,
but being understood that this clause (i) shall not be
applicable to Section 4.03,
Section 4.04, Section 4.25,
Section 4.26, Section 4.27,
Section 4.28 and Section 4.29, or
(ii) subject to Section 10.03(g), as
11
set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company
represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:
Section 4.01 Organization,
Standing and Corporate Power. Each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries is duly organized and validly
existing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization and
has all requisite corporate or other entity power and authority
to carry on its business as presently conducted, except (other
than with respect to the Company’s due organization and
valid existence) as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or
licensed to do business and is in good standing (where such
concept is recognized under applicable Law) in each jurisdiction
where the nature of its business or the ownership, leasing or
operation of its properties makes such qualification or
licensing necessary, other than where the failure to be so
qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. True and complete copies of the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the
“Company Certificate of Incorporation”) and the
Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (the
“Company By-Laws”), in each case as in effect
on the date of this Agreement, are included in the Filed SEC
Documents.
Section 4.02 Subsidiaries. Section 4.02
of the Company Disclosure Letter lists, as of the date of this
Agreement, each Subsidiary of the Company and the jurisdiction
of organization thereof. All the outstanding shares of capital
stock of, or other equity interests in, each Subsidiary of the
Company have been validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable and are owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Company free and clear of all pledges, liens, charges,
mortgages, encumbrances or security interests of any kind or
nature whatsoever (collectively,
‘‘Liens”), other than Permitted Liens.
Except for its interests in its Subsidiaries and equity
interests in any person organized outside the United States that
is not a Subsidiary in which the Company’s and its
Subsidiaries’ invested capital is less than $2 million
as of the date of this Agreement, the Company does not own,
directly or indirectly, any capital stock of, or other equity
interests in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association or other entity. There are no options, warrants,
rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based
performance units, Contracts or undertakings of any kind to
which any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or by which any
of them is bound (i) obligating any such Subsidiary to
issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or
sold, additional shares of capital stock or other voting
securities of or equity interests in, or any security
convertible or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock or
other voting securities of or equity interest in, any Subsidiary
of the Company, (ii) obligating any such Subsidiary to
issue, grant or enter into any such option, warrant, right,
security, unit, Contract or undertaking, or (iii) that give
any person the right to receive any economic interest of a
nature accruing to the holders of capital stock of any of the
Company’s Subsidiaries.
Section 4.03 Capital
Structure.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
300,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the “Company Preferred Stock”). At the
close of business on August 31, 2010,
(i) 136,333,333 shares of Company Common Stock were
issued and outstanding, (ii) 1,467,523 shares of
Company Common Stock were reserved and available for issuance
pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Equity
Incentive Plan and 2006 Omnibus Incentive Plan (collectively,
the “Company Stock Plans”), and pursuant to
such Company Stock Plans (A) 7,651,238 shares of
Company Common Stock were subject to outstanding options to
acquire shares of Company Common Stock (such options, together
with any options granted thereunder after August 31, 2010,
the “Company Stock Options”),
(B) 1,264,357 shares of Company Common Stock were
subject to restricted stock unit awards that were subject to
service-based vesting or delivery requirements (the
“Company RSUs”), (C) 196,691 shares
of Company Common Stock were subject to restricted stock unit
awards that were subject to performance-based vesting or
delivery requirements, assuming settlement of such awards based
on the attainment of performance goals at target levels (the
“Company PSUs”), and
(D) 191,568 shares of Company Common Stock were
subject to deferred stock unit awards (the “Company
DSUs” and, together with the Company Stock Options,
Company RSUs and Company PSUs, the ‘‘Company Equity
Awards”), (iii) 3,088,996 shares of Company
Common Stock were owned by the Company as treasury stock, and
(iv) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were outstanding.
Except as set forth above, at the close of business on
August 31, 2010, no shares of
12
capital stock or other voting securities of or equity interests
in the Company were issued, reserved for issuance or
outstanding. Section 4.03(a) of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth the aggregate amount of Company
Equity Awards outstanding as of August 31, 2010, including
(to the extent applicable) the Company Stock Plan under which
each such Company Equity Award was granted, the price at which
such Company Equity Award may be exercised (if any) and status
of each such Company Equity Award. From August 31, 2010
(and except for the issuance for any
Top-Up
Shares), (x) there have been no issuances by the Company of
shares of capital stock or other voting securities of or equity
interests in the Company (including Company Equity Awards),
other than issuances of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant
to Company Equity Awards outstanding on August 31, 2010 or
the Company’s Amended and Restated Savings Plan (the
“Company 401(k) Plan”), and (y) there have
been no issuances by the Company of options, warrants, rights,
convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based performance
units or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of the
Company or other rights that give the holder thereof any
economic interest of a nature accruing to the holders of Company
Common Stock, other than issuances pursuant to Company Equity
Awards outstanding on August 31, 2010 or the Company 401(k)
Plan.
(b) All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are, and
all such shares that may be issued prior to the Effective Time
will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights.
There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of
the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or
exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any
matters on which holders of Company Common Stock may vote
(“Voting Company Debt”). Except for any
obligations pursuant to this Agreement or as otherwise set forth
above, as of August 31, 2010, there were no options,
warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities,
stock-based performance units, Contracts or undertakings of any
kind to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is
bound (1) obligating the Company to issue, deliver or sell,
or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of
capital stock or other voting securities of or equity interests
in, or any security convertible or exchangeable for any shares
of capital stock or other voting securities of or equity
interest in, the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries or any
Voting Company Debt, (2) obligating the Company to issue,
grant or enter into any such option, warrant, right, security,
unit, Contract or undertaking, or (3) that give any person
the right to receive any economic interest of a nature accruing
to the holders of Company Common Stock, and since
August 30, 2010, none of the foregoing has been issued.
There are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company
to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital
stock or options, warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable
securities, stock-based performance units or other rights to
acquire shares of capital stock of the Company, other than
pursuant to the Company Stock Plans and the Company 401(k) Plan.
(c) The Company does not have any stockholder rights plan
in effect.
Section 4.04 Authority;
Recommendation.
(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
subject, in the case of the Merger, if required by applicable
Law, to receipt of the Stockholder Approval. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by, and compliance with the
provisions of, this Agreement by the Company have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, subject, in the case of the Merger, if required by
applicable Law, to receipt of the Stockholder Approval. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company
and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by
each of Parent and Sub, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to
bankruptcy, insolvency and other Laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
equity principles.
(b) The board of directors of the Company (the
“Company Board”), at a meeting duly called and
held at which all directors of the Company were present, duly
and unanimously adopted resolutions (i) authorizing and
approving the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
(ii) approving and declaring advisable this Agreement, the
Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, (iii) declaring that the terms of this
Agreement and the transactions
13
contemplated hereby, including the Merger, the Offer and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, on the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to and
in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company,
(iv) directing that the adoption of this Agreement be
submitted to a vote at a meeting of the stockholders of the
Company unless the adoption of this Agreement by the
Company’s stockholders is not required by applicable Law,
(v) recommending that the stockholders of the Company
accept the Offer and tender their shares of Company Common Stock
pursuant to the Offer and adopt this Agreement (this clause (v),
the “Recommendation”), and
(vi) irrevocably approving for all purposes each of Parent,
Sub and their respective Affiliates and this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby (including the Offer, the
Top-Up and
the Merger) to exempt such persons, agreements and transactions
from, and to elect for the Company, Parent, Sub and their
respective Affiliates not to be subject to, any
“moratorium,” “control share acquisition,”
“business combination,” “fair price” or
other form of anti-takeover Laws (collectively,
‘‘Takeover Laws”) of any jurisdiction that
may purport to be applicable to the Company, Parent, Sub or any
of their respective Affiliates or this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby (including the Offer, the
Top-Up and
the Merger) with respect to any of the foregoing, which
resolutions, as of the date of this Agreement, have not been
rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way.
Section 4.05
Non-Contravention. The
execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement do not,
and the consummation of the Offer, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with
the provisions of this Agreement will not, conflict with, or
result in any violation or breach of, or default (with or
without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to
a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
obligation or to the loss of a benefit under, or result in the
creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries under (other than any such
Lien created as a result of any action taken by Parent or Sub),
any provision of (a) the Company Certificate of
Incorporation, the Company By-Laws or the comparable
organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries, or
(b) subject to the filings and other matters referred to in
the immediately following sentence, and assuming the accuracy of
the representations and warranties of Parent and Sub set forth
in
Section 5.10, (i) any written contract,
lease, permit, authorization, indenture, note, bond, mortgage,
franchise or other agreement or instrument, commitment,
obligation or binding arrangement, with respect to which there
are continuing rights, liabilities or obligations (a
“
Contract”) to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their respective
properties or assets are bound, (ii) any supranational,
federal, national, state, provincial or local statute, law
(including common law), ordinance, rule or regulation of any
Governmental Authority (“
Law”) or any judgment,
order or decree of any Governmental Authority
(“
Judgment”), in each case applicable to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties or assets, or (iii) any Authorizations of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, other than, in the case of
clause (b) above, any such conflicts, violations, defaults,
rights, losses or Liens that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. No consent, approval, order, waiver or authorization of,
action or nonaction by, registration, declaration or filing
with, or notice to, any supranational, federal, national, state,
provincial or local, whether domestic or foreign, government,
any court of competent jurisdiction or any administrative,
regulatory (including any stock exchange) or other governmental
agency, commission or authority (each, a “
Governmental
Authority”) is required to be obtained or made by or
with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the Company or the consummation by the Company of the Offer, the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
except for (A) the filing of a premerger notification and
report form by the Company under the
Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “
HSR
Act”), and the filings and receipt, termination or
expiration, as applicable, of such other approvals or waiting
periods as may be required under the competition, merger
control, antitrust or similar Law of any jurisdiction
(collectively, the “
Foreign Merger Control
Laws”), (B) the filing with the SEC of
(w) the
Schedule 14D-9,
(x) if required by applicable Law, the Proxy Statement,
(y) any information statement required in connection with
the Offer under
Rule 14f-1
under the Exchange Act (together with any amendments or
supplements thereto, the “
Information
Statement”), and (z) such reports under the
Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(C) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware and of appropriate
documents with the relevant authorities of other jurisdictions
in which the Company or any of
14
its Subsidiaries is qualified to do business, (D) any
filings or notices required under the rules and regulations of
the NYSE, and (E) such other consents, approvals, orders,
waivers, authorizations, actions, nonactions, registrations,
declarations, filings and notices the failure of which to be
obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.06 SEC
Documents; Financial Statements; Undisclosed
Liabilities.
(a) The Company has filed all material reports, schedules,
forms, statements and other documents with the SEC required to
be filed by the Company pursuant to the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act since July 1, 2008 (the “SEC
Documents”). As of their respective effective dates (in
the case of SEC Documents that are registration statements filed
pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act) and as of
their respective dates of filing (in the case of all other SEC
Documents), the SEC Documents complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable
thereto, and except to the extent amended or superseded by a
subsequent filing with the SEC prior to the date of this
Agreement, as of such respective dates, none of the SEC
Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
None of the Company’s Subsidiaries is subject to the
periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. As of the
date hereof, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in
comment letters from the SEC staff with respect to any of the
SEC Documents. To the Knowledge of the Company, as of the date
hereof, none of the SEC Documents is the subject of ongoing SEC
review or outstanding SEC investigation.
(b) Each of the audited consolidated financial statements
and the unaudited quarterly financial statements (including, in
each case, the notes thereto) of the Company included in the SEC
Documents when filed complied as to form in all material
respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC
with respect thereto, have been prepared in all material
respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”) (except, in the case of
unaudited quarterly statements, to the extent permitted by
Form 10-Q
of the SEC or other rules and regulations of the SEC) applied on
a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present in all
material respects the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates
thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and
cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of
unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year end adjustments
and the absence of footnotes).
(c) Except for matters reflected or reserved against in the
most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company (or the
notes thereto) included in the Filed SEC Documents, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or
obligations (whether absolute, accrued, contingent, fixed or
otherwise) of any nature that would be required under GAAP, as
in effect on the date of this Agreement, to be reflected on a
consolidated balance sheet of the Company (including the notes
thereto), except liabilities and obligations that (A) were
incurred since the date of such balance sheet in the Ordinary
Course of Business, (B) are incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (C) would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Internal Controls.
(i) The Company and its Subsidiaries have established and
maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting
(as defined in
Rule 13a-15
under the Exchange Act). Such internal controls provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the
Company’s financial reporting and the preparation of
Company financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with GAAP. Since July 1, 2009, the Company’s principal
executive officer and its principal financial officer have
disclosed to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee
of the Company Board (i) all known significant deficiencies
and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal
controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to
adversely affect in any material respects the Company’s
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information, and (ii) any known fraud, whether or not
material, that involves management or other employees who have a
significant role in the Company’s internal controls and the
Company has provided to Parent copies of any material written
materials relating to each of the foregoing. The Company has
made
15
available to Parent all such disclosures made by management to
the Company’s auditors and audit committee from
July 1, 2009 to the date of this Agreement.
(ii) The Company has established and maintains disclosure
controls and procedures (as such term is defined in
Rule 13a-15
under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures
are designed to ensure that material information relating to the
Company required to be included in reports filed under the
Exchange Act, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is made
known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its
principal financial officer, and such disclosure controls and
procedures are effective in timely alerting the Company’s
principal executive officer and its principal financial officer
to material information required to be disclosed by the Company
in the reports that it files or submits to the SEC under the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported
within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the
SEC.
(iii) Since May 17, 2006, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries has made any prohibited loans to any
executive officer of the Company (as defined in
Rule 3b-7
under the Exchange Act) or director of the Company. There are no
outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any executive officer (as
defined in
Rule 3b-7
under the Exchange Act) or director of the Company.
(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has or
is subject to any “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement” (as
defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of
Regulation S-K
promulgated under the Securities Act).
Section 4.07 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events. Between
July 1, 2010 and the date of this Agreement, (i) there
has not been any change, effect, event or occurrence that has
had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, and (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have
conducted their businesses only in the Ordinary Course of
Business, and, except as set forth in Section 4.07
of the Company Disclosure Letter, there has not been:
(a) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any
dividend on, or making of any other distribution (whether in
cash, stock or property) in respect of, any capital stock of the
Company, other than the declaration by the Company on
August 19, 2010 of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0625 per
share of Company Common Stock (the “First Quarter
Dividend”);
(b) any split, combination or reclassification of any
capital stock of the Company or any issuance or the
authorization of any issuance of any other securities in lieu of
or in substitution for shares of capital stock of the Company;
(c) any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any shares of capital
stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any options,
warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities,
stock-based performance units or other rights to acquire such
shares or other rights that give the holder thereof any economic
interest of a nature accruing to the holders of such shares,
other than (i) the acquisition by the Company of shares of
Company Common Stock in connection with the surrender of shares
of Company Common Stock by holders of Company Stock Options in
order to pay the exercise price thereof, (ii) the
withholding of shares of Company Common Stock to satisfy tax
obligations with respect to awards granted pursuant to the
Company Stock Plans, (iii) the acquisition by the Company
of Company Stock Options, Company RSUs, Company PSUs and Company
DSUs in connection with the forfeiture of such awards, and
(iv) the acquisition by the trustee of the Company 401(k)
Plan of shares of Company Common Stock in order to satisfy
participant investment elections under the Company 401(k) Plan;
(d) except (i) as reasonably required by applicable
Law, (ii) in the Ordinary Course of Business or
(ii) as required pursuant to the terms of any Company
Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement or other written
agreement, in the Company Disclosure Letter, in each case in
effect as of June 30, 2010, (A) any granting to any
director or member of the Company Executive Team any increase in
compensation, (B) any granting to any director or member of
the Company Executive Team any increase in severance or
termination pay, (C) any entry by the Company into any
employment, consulting, severance, retention or termination
agreement with any (x) director or member of the Company
Executive Team or
16
(y) other employee pursuant to which the total annual
compensation or the aggregate severance benefits under such
agreement, solely in the case of clause (y), in excess of
$2,000,000, (D) any establishing, adopting, entry into or
amending in any material respect any material collective
bargaining agreement or material Company Benefit Plan or
material Company Benefit Agreement, or (E) any acting to
accelerate any rights or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan
or Company Benefit Agreement;
(e) any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries materially
affecting the consolidated assets, liabilities or results of
operations of the Company, except as required (i) by GAAP
(or any interpretation thereof), including pursuant to
standards, guidelines and interpretations of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or any similar organization, or
(ii) by Law, including
Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act; or
(f) any material tax election, any change of annual
accounting period, any entering into of a material “closing
agreement” or any settlement of a material claim or
assessment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each
case, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business.
Section 4.08 Litigation. There
is no suit, claim (or counterclaim), litigation, action, charge,
complaint, arbitration, mediation, grievance or other proceeding
brought, conducted or heard by or before any court or other
Governmental Authority, arbitrator or mediator or arbitration or
mediation panel (each, a “Litigation”) pending
or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that,
individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no Judgment
outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that,
individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. This Section 4.08
does not relate to tax matters, which are the subject of
Section 4.14, or environmental matters, which are
the subject of Section 4.17.
Section 4.09 Contracts.
(a) Except for this Agreement and for Contracts filed as an
exhibits to the Filed SEC Documents, Section 4.09 of
the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete
list of, as of the date of this Agreement:
(i) each Contract that would be required to be filed by the
Company as a “material contract” pursuant to
Item 601(b)(10) of
Regulation S-K
under the Securities Act;
(ii) each loan and credit agreement, note, debenture, bond,
indenture and other similar Contract pursuant to which any
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each
case in excess of $10,000,000, is outstanding or may be
incurred, other than any such Contract between or among any of
the Company and any of its Subsidiaries and any letters of
credit;
(iii) each Contract to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party that by its terms calls for aggregate
payments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of more than
$10,000,000 over the remaining term of such Contract, except for
any such Contract entered into in the Ordinary Course of
Business or that may be canceled, without any material penalty
or other material liability to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, upon notice of 90 days or less;
(iv) each Contract to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party entered into since July 1, 2009,
for the acquisition or disposition by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of properties or assets for, in each case,
aggregate consideration of more than $10,000,000, except for
acquisitions and dispositions of properties and assets in the
Ordinary Course of Business (including acquisitions of supplies
and acquisitions and dispositions of inventory and equipment
that is no longer used or useful in the operations of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries);
(v) each Contract that restricts the ability of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to compete, in any material respects,
with any business or in any geographical area or to solicit
customers, in any material respects, except for use or radius
restrictions that may be contained in Contracts entered into in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
17
(vi) each Contract that is a material settlement,
conciliation or similar agreement (A) that is with any
Governmental Authority, (B) pursuant to which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated after the execution date
of this Agreement to pay consideration in excess of $10,000,000,
or (C) that would otherwise materially limit the operation
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, Parent or any of its other Affiliates from and
after the Merger Closing) as currently operated;
(vii) each Contract to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party primarily involving the development or
licensing of any Intellectual Property (except for licenses of
commercially available software) that is material to the conduct
of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, as presently conducted;
(viii) each Contract that grants to any person any right or
first offer or right of first refusal to purchase, lease,
sublease, use, possess or occupy all or a substantial part of
the material assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole; and
(ix) each Contract that relates to a partnership, joint
venture or similar arrangement.
Each Contract set forth on Section 4.09 of the
Company Disclosure Letter or required to be set forth thereon
(but subject to the last sentence of
Section 4.09(b)) is referred to herein as a
“Specified Contract”.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has made
available to Parent true and complete copies of each Specified
Contract. Each of the Specified Contracts is valid and binding
on the Company or the Subsidiary of the Company party thereto
and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto,
and is in full force and effect, except for such failures to be
valid and binding or to be in full force and effect that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no default under any
Specified Contract by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or,
to the Knowledge of the Company, by any other party thereto, and
no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving
of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, by any other party thereto, in each case except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. This
Section 4.09 does not relate to real property
leases, which are the subject of Section 4.15, or
agreements entered into with franchisees, which are the subject
of Section 4.19, or Company Benefit Plans and
Company Benefit Agreements, which are the subject of
Section 4.13.
Section 4.10 [Reserved].
Section 4.11 Compliance
with Laws.
(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in
compliance with all Laws applicable to its business or
operations (including Franchise Laws and Relationship Laws), in
each case except for instances of noncompliance that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has in effect all approvals, authorizations,
registrations, licenses, exemptions, permits and consents of
Governmental Authorities (collectively,
“Authorizations”) necessary for it to conduct
its business as presently conducted, except for such
Authorizations the absence of which would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. This
Section 4.11 does not relate to the SEC Documents,
financial statements or disclosure controls and procedures,
which are the subject of Section 4.06, employee
benefit matters, which are the subject of
Section 4.13, taxes, which are the subject of
Section 4.14, or environmental matters, which are
the subject of Section 4.17. To the Knowledge of the
Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received notice that any Authorizations will be terminated or
modified or cannot be renewed in the Ordinary Course of
Business, and the Company has no Knowledge of any reasonable
basis for any such termination, modification or nonrenewal,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The term “Franchise Laws” means the
FTC Rule and any other Law regulating the offer or sale of
franchises, including any pre-sale registration or disclosure
Law. The term ‘‘FTC Rule” means the
Federal Trade Commission trade regulation rule entitled
“Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions Concerning
18
Franchising”, 16 CFR Part 436. The term
“Relationship Laws” means any franchise
termination, non-renewal, unfair practices or Relationship Laws,
including the requirements of such Laws with respect to the
notice of default, time to cure and the actual termination of
any franchisee or business opportunity operator.
Section 4.12 Labor
and Employment Matters. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective
bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor
organization, union or association and there are not, to the
Knowledge of the Company, any union organizing activities
concerning any employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of
the date of this Agreement, there are no strikes, slowdowns,
work stoppages, lockouts, or other material labor disputes
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as contemplated
by this Agreement, to the Knowledge of the Company, no director,
member of the Company Executive Team other than the Transition
Executives (as such term is defined in
Section 7.05(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter),
other key employee or group of employees has any present
intention to terminate his, her, or their employment with the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect).
Section 4.13 Employee
Benefit Matters.
(a) Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure
Letter contains a true and complete list, as of the date of this
Agreement, of each material Company Benefit Plan and material
Company Benefit Agreement. Each Company Benefit Plan has been
administered in compliance with its terms and with applicable
Law (including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the Code),
other than instances of noncompliance that, individually or in
the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The Company has made available to Parent true and
complete copies of (to the extent applicable) (A) each
material Company Benefit Plan and each material Company Benefit
Agreement (or, in either case, with respect to any unwritten
material Company Benefit Plan or material Company Benefit
Agreement, a written description thereof), other than any
Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement that the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is prohibited from making
available to Parent as the result of applicable Law relating to
the safeguarding of data privacy, (B) the two most recent
annual report on Form 5500 filed with the Internal Revenue
Service or similar report required to be filed with any
Governmental Authority, in each case with respect to each
material Company Benefit Plan (if any such report was required
by applicable Law), (C) each trust agreement and group
annuity contract or other material contract relating to any
material Company Benefit Plan, (D) the most recent
actuarial reports (if applicable) for each Company Benefit Plan
and (E) the most recent summary plan description, if any,
required under ERISA with respect to each material Company
Benefit Plan and material Company Benefit Agreement.
(c) Each Company Benefit Plan intended to be
“qualified” (or registered) within the meaning of
Section 401(a) of the Code (or any comparable provision
under applicable
non-U.S. laws)
has received a favorable determination or opinion letter as to
such qualification or registration from the Internal Revenue
Service (or any comparable Governmental Authority), and no event
has occurred, either by reason of any action or failure to act,
that could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of any such
qualification, registration or tax-exempt status or the
imposition of any material penalty or tax liability, except
where such loss of qualification, registration or tax-exempt
status or the imposition of any material penalty or tax
liability, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Section 4.13(d) of the Company Disclosure
Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, each
material Company Benefit Plan that provides health or welfare
benefits (whether or not insured) with respect to employees or
former employees (or any of their beneficiaries) of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries after retirement or other termination
of service (other than coverage or benefits (A) required to
be provided under Part 6 of Title I of ERISA, or any
other applicable Law, or (B) the full cost of which is
borne by the employee or former employee (or any of their
beneficiaries)). Each such U.S. plan is amendable and
terminable unilaterally by the Company at any time without
material liability or expense to the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as a result thereof other than
claims incurred prior to the date of such amendment, and no such
plan, plan documentation or agreement, summary plan description
or other written
19
communication distributed generally to employees by its terms
prohibits the Company from amending or terminating any such
Company Benefit Plan.
(e) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, during
the immediately preceding six (6) years, no liability under
Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA has been incurred by
the Company or any trade or business, whether or not
incorporated, that together with the Company would be deemed a
“single employer” within the meaning of
Section 4001(b) of ERISA (“ERISA
Affiliate”) that has not been satisfied in full, and no
condition exists that presents a risk to the Company or any
ERISA Affiliate of incurring any such liability, other than
liability for premiums due the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation (“PBGC”) (which premiums have been
paid when due). Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, the PBGC has not instituted proceedings pursuant to
Section 4042 of ERISA to terminate any Company Benefit Plan
subject to Title IV of ERISA (each, a
“Title IV Plan”) and, to the Knowledge of
the Company, no condition exists that presents a risk that such
proceedings will be instituted by the PBGC.
(f) The Compensation Committee of the Company Board (each
member of which the Company Board has determined is an
“independent director” as defined in Rule 303A.02
of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and is an
“independent director” in accordance with the
requirements of
Rule 14d-10(d)(2)
under the Exchange Act) (the “Compensation
Committee”) has taken all such steps as may be required
to cause to be exempt under
Rule 14d-10(d)
under the Exchange Act any employment compensation, severance or
employee benefit arrangements that have been entered into on or
before the date of this Agreement by the Company or its
Subsidiaries with current or future directors, officers or
employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries and to ensure that
any such arrangements fall within the safe harbor provisions of
such rule.
(g) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect, with respect to any Company
Benefit Plan to which the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any
ERISA Affiliate make, or was required to make, contributions
during the past six (6) years: (i) there does not now
exist, nor do any circumstances exist on the date hereof that
could reasonably be expected to result in any material
accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of
Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA,
whether or not waived, or any liability under Section 4971
of the Code; (ii) the fair market value of the assets of
any such plan equals or exceeds the actuarial present value of
all accrued benefits under such plan (whether or not vested,
each as determined under the assumptions and valuation method of
the latest actuarial valuation of such plan); (iii) no
reportable event within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of
ERISA for which the 30 days notice requirement has not been
waived has occurred, and the consummation of the Merger will not
result in the occurrence of any such reportable event; an
(iv) no material liability or contingent liability
(including liability pursuant to Section 4069 of ERISA)
under Title IV of ERISA has been or is reasonably expected
to be incurred by the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any
ERISA Affiliate.
(h) None of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA
Affiliates or any of their respective predecessors has within
the last six (6) years contributed to, contributes to, has
ever been required to contribute to, or otherwise participated
in or participates in any way, directly or indirectly, has any
liability with respect to any “multiemployer plan”
(within the meaning of Sections 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA or Section 414(f) of the Code).
(i) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, (i) no proceeding has been
threatened, asserted, instituted or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, is anticipated against any of the Company Benefit Plans
or Company Benefit Agreement (other than non-material routine
claims for benefits and appeals of such claims), any trustee or
fiduciary thereof, or any of the assets of any trust of any of
the Company Benefit Plans, (ii) no non-exempt
“prohibited transaction” (within the meaning of
Section 4975 of the Code and Section 406 of ERISA) has
occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to the
Company Benefit Plans, and (iii) no Company Benefit Plan is
under, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received any notice of, an audit or investigation by the
Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, any other Governmental Authority, and
no such completed audit, if any, has resulted in the imposition
of any tax or penalty.
20
(j) The consummation of the Offer or the Merger alone, or
in combination with a termination of any employee, officer or
director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether
current, former or retired) or their beneficiaries, will not
give rise to any material liability under any material Company
Benefit Plan or material Company Benefit Agreement, including
liability for severance pay, unemployment compensation,
termination pay or withdrawal liability, or accelerate the time
of payment or vesting or increase the amount of compensation or
benefits due to any employee, officer or director of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries (whether current, former or retired)
or their beneficiaries. Except as would not have a Material
Adverse Effect, no amount that could be received (whether in
cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of the
consummation of the Merger by any employee, officer or director
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Company
Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement, or otherwise, would
not be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code or
would be subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the
Code. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
indemnity obligation on or after the Effective Time for any
taxes imposed under Section 4999 or 409A of the Code.
(k) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has made
any promises or commitments to create any additional material
Company Benefit Plan or material Company Benefit Agreement or to
modify or change in any material way any existing material
Company Benefit Plan or material Company Benefit Agreement other
than those amendments or modifications required by Law.
(l) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect
(i) any individual who performs services for the Company or
any Company Subsidiary and who is not treated as an employee for
federal income tax purposes by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary is not an employee under applicable Law and is not an
employee for any purpose (including tax withholding purposes or
Company Benefit Plan purposes) and (ii) neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability by reason of an
individual who performs or performed services for the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries in any capacity being improperly
excluded from participating in a Company Benefit Plan. Each
employee of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been properly
classified as “exempt” or “non-exempt” under
applicable Law.
(m) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect,
each Company Benefit Plan that is mandated by a Governmental
Authority other than a Governmental Authority of the United
States or subject to the Laws of a jurisdiction outside of the
United States (each, a “Foreign Company Plan”),
the fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign
Company Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign
Company Plan funded through insurance or the book reserve
established for any Foreign Company Plan, together with any
accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for
the accrued benefit obligations, as of the date of this
Agreement, with respect to all current and former participants
in such Foreign Company Plan according to the actuarial
assumptions and valuations most recently used to determine
employer contributions to such Foreign Company Plan, and no
transaction contemplated by this Agreement shall cause such
assets or insurance obligations to be less than such benefit
obligations. Each Foreign Company Plan has been maintained and
operated in all material respects in accordance with the
applicable plan document and all applicable Laws and other
requirements, and if intended to qualify for special tax
treatment, satisfies all requirements for such treatment.
(n) The term “Company Benefit Agreement”
means each employment, consulting, indemnification, change in
control, severance or termination agreement or arrangement
between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand,
and any current or former employee, officer or director of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand (but
excluding any Company Benefit Plans) pursuant to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any continuing
obligations as of the date of this Agreement, other than any
agreement or arrangement mandated by applicable Law. The term
“Company Benefit Plan” means each bonus,
pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, incentive
compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option,
phantom stock or other equity-based compensation, retirement,
vacation, severance, disability, death benefit, hospitalization,
medical or other employee benefits plan, policy, program,
arrangement or understanding, (but excluding any Company Benefit
Agreement), in each case sponsored, maintained or contributed
to, or required to be sponsored, maintained or contributed to,
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date of this
Agreement, in each case for the benefit of any current or former
employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than (A) any “multiemployer
plan” (within
21
the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA) or (B) any
plan, policy, program, arrangement or understanding mandated by
applicable Law.
Section 4.14 Taxes.
(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely
filed or has caused to be timely filed all U.S. federal
income tax and other material tax returns required to be filed
by it (taking into account any validly obtained extension of
time within which to file), and all such tax returns are true,
complete and accurate in all material respects. Each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries has either paid or caused to be
paid all material taxes due and owing by the Company and its
Subsidiaries, other than taxes that are being contested in good
faith through appropriate proceedings or for which the most
recent financial statements contained in the Filed SEC Documents
reflect an adequate reserve in accordance with GAAP (excluding
any reserves for deferred taxes).
(b) No deficiencies for any material taxes (other than
taxes that are not yet due and payable or that are being
contested in good faith) have been proposed, asserted, assessed
or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which have not
been settled and paid. All assessments for material taxes due
and owing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect
to completed and settled examinations or concluded litigation
have been paid. There is no currently effective agreement or
other document with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries extending the period of assessment or collection of
any material taxes. The U.S. consolidated federal income
tax returns of the Company through the tax year ending
June 30, 2006 have been examined and closed by the Internal
Revenue Service. There are no material Liens for taxes on any of
the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than
statutory Liens for taxes not yet due and payable. None of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been a “controlled
corporation” or a “distributing corporation” in
any distribution that was purported or intended to be governed
by Section 355 of the Code (or any similar provision of
state, local or foreign Law) occurring during the two-year
period ending on the date hereof. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has engaged in any “listed
transaction” within the meaning of Section 6011 of the
Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) The term “taxes” means all
(i) income, profits, capital gains, goods and services,
branch, payroll, unemployment, windfall profits, franchise,
gross receipts, capital, net worth, sales, use, withholding,
value added, ad valorem, registration, employment, social
security, disability, occupation, real property, personal
property (tangible and intangible), stamp, transfer (including
real property transfer or gains), conveyance, severance,
production, excise, duties, levies, imposts, license,
registration and other taxes (including all penalties and
additions to any such taxes and interest thereon) imposed by any
Governmental Authority, whether dispute or not,
(ii) liability for the payment of any amount imposed on any
person of the type described in clause (i) as a result of
being or having been before the Effective Time a member of an
affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group and
(iii) liability for the payment of any amount imposed on
any person of a type described in clause (i) or
clause (ii) as a transferor or successor or a result of any
existing express or implied indemnification agreement or
arrangement. The term ‘‘tax return” means
any return, statement, report, form, or filing, including in
each case any amendments, schedules or attachments thereto,
required to be filed with any Governmental Authority.
(d) Except as provided in Section 4.06(c),
Section 4.07(f) and Section 4.13, this
Section 4.14 represents the sole and exclusive
representations and warranties of the Company regarding tax
matters of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.15 Real
Property.
(a) Section 4.15(a) of the Company Disclosure
Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a true and
complete list of all real property, other than real property
relating to a restaurant, owned by the Company and its
Subsidiaries (individually, an “Owned Real
Property”). Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, the Company or a Subsidiary of the
Company has good and valid fee title to each Owned Real
Property, and all real property
22
owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries relating to a
restaurant, in each case free and clear of all Liens and defects
in title, except for Permitted Liens.
(b) Section 4.15(b) of the Company Disclosure
Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a true and
complete list of all leases of real property (the
“Specified Real Property Leases”) under which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a tenant or a
subtenant, other than (x) leases of real property relating
to a restaurant and (y) leases that do not provide for
annual rent in excess of $150,000 (individually, a
“Specified Leased Real Property”). Except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company has a good and valid
title to a leasehold estate in each Specified Leased Real
Property, and all leases of real property relating to a
restaurant, all Specified Real Property Leases, each Specified
Real Property Sublease and leases of real property relating to a
restaurant are in full force and effect, and neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries that is party to such leases has
received or given any written notice of any material default
thereunder which default continues on the date of this Agreement.
(c) Section 4.15(c) of the Company Disclosure
Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a true and
complete list of all leases, subleases or similar agreements
under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the
landlord or the sublandlord, other than (x) leases,
subleases and similar arrangements with respect to real property
relating to a restaurant and (y) leases, subleases and
similar arrangements that do not provide for annual rent in
excess of $150,000 (such leases, subleases and similar
agreements, collectively, the “Specified Real Property
Subleases”).
Section 4.16 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Section 4.16(a) of the Company Disclosure
Letter sets forth a true and complete (in all material respects)
list, as of the date of this Agreement, of all issued or
registered Intellectual Property (including Internet domain
names) or applications for issuance or registration of any
Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries
(indicating for each, as applicable, the owner(s), jurisdiction
and patent, registration number and date). Except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title
and interest in and to, or has the valid and enforceable right
to use all Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the
conduct of the business of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries as currently conducted (collectively, the
“Company Intellectual Property”) and free and
clear of any Liens, except Permitted Liens. All registrations
owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and set forth in
Section 4.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter for
the trademarks and service marks BURGER KING and WHOPPER in the
United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Germany,
for and to the extent such registrations cover any of the core
products and or services of the Company and any of its
Subsidiaries, are valid, subsisting, and enforceable and in full
force and effect and no loss of such registrations is reasonably
foreseeable. Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall
not impair the right, title, or interest of the Company or any
its Subsidiaries in or to any Company Intellectual Property, and
all of the Company Intellectual Property shall be owned or
available for use by the Company and its Subsidiaries on terms
and conditions identical to those under which the Company and
its Subsidiaries used the Company Intellectual Property
immediately prior to the Merger Closing Date.
(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no
claims or other suits, actions or proceedings are pending or, to
the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries that the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries has infringed, misappropriated, diluted or
otherwise violated any Intellectual Property rights of any other
person, or that contest the validity, use, ownership or
enforceability of any of the Company Intellectual Property.
Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries use of any
Company Intellectual Property, nor the operation of the
Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ respective
businesses, infringes, misappropriates, dilutes or otherwise
violates any Intellectual Property of any other person. As of
the date of this Agreement, no person is infringing,
misappropriating, diluting or otherwise conflicted with the
rights of
23
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any
Company Intellectual Property, except as would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. The Company Intellectual Property owned by the
Company or its Subsidiaries is not subject to any outstanding
consent, settlement, lien, decree, order, injunction, judgment
or ruling restricting the use thereof in a manner that would
reasonably be expected to materially impair the continued
operation of the Company and its Subsidiaries businesses, as
currently conducted.
(c) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken
commercially reasonable steps to maintain and protect the
secrecy and confidentiality of its trade secrets and other
material confidential information.
(d) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and has
been to the extent required by Law, in compliance with its
posted privacy policies and all other related notices, policies
and programs and all applicable data protection, privacy and
other applicable Laws regarding the collection, use, storage,
distribution, transfer, import, export, disposal or disclosure
(in any form or medium) of any personally identifiable
information, except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(e) The term “Intellectual Property” means
all intellectual property and other similar proprietary rights
in any jurisdiction, including such rights in and to:
(i) any patent (including all reissues, divisions,
continuations,
continuations-in-part
and extensions thereof), patent application, patent disclosure
or other patent right, (ii) any trademark, service xxxx,
trade name, business name, brand name, slogan, logo, trade dress
and all other indicia of origin together with all goodwill
associated therewith, and all registrations, applications for
registration, and renewals for any of the foregoing, and
(iii) any copyright, work of authorship (whether or not
copyrightable), design, design registration, database rights,
and all registrations, applications for registration, and
renewals for any of the foregoing (and including in all website
content and software), (iv) any Internet domain names, and
(vi) any trade secrets.
Section 4.17 Environmental
Matters.
(a) Except for those matters that would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, (A) each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries is, and has for the past five years been, in
compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, and neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written
communication alleging that the Company is in violation of, or
has any liability under, any Environmental Law, (B) each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries possesses and is in compliance
with all Authorizations required under applicable Environmental
Laws to conduct its business as presently conducted,
(C) there are no Environmental Claims pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, and (D) none of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries has Released or exposed any person to, any
Hazardous Materials, and no Hazardous Materials have been
Released at, on, under or from any of the Owned Real Property or
the Specified Leased Real Property, in a manner that would
reasonably be expected to result in an Environmental Claim
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) The term “Environmental Claims” means
any administrative or judicial actions, suits, orders, claims,
proceedings or written notices of noncompliance by or from any
Governmental Authority or any other person alleging liability
arising out of the Release of any Hazardous Material or the
failure to comply with any Environmental Law or any
Authorization issued thereunder. The term “Environmental
Law” means any Law relating to pollution or protection
of the environment or natural resources or human exposure to
Hazardous Materials. The term ‘‘Hazardous
Materials” means any materials or wastes that are
listed or defined in relevant form, quantity, concentration or
condition as hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, hazardous
materials, extremely hazardous substances, toxic substances,
pollutants, contaminants or terms of similar import under any
applicable Environmental Law. The term
“Release” means any release, spill, emission,
leaking, pumping, emitting, discharging, injecting, escaping,
leaching, dumping, disposing or migrating into or through the
environment.
Section 4.18 Insurance. Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) the Company
and its Subsidiaries maintain insurance in such amounts
24
and against such risks as is sufficient to comply with
applicable Law, (b) all insurance policies of the Company
and its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect, except for
any expiration thereof in accordance with the terms thereof,
(c) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in
breach of, or default under, any such insurance policy, and
(d) no written notice of cancellation or termination has
been received with respect to any such insurance policy, other
than in connection with ordinary renewals.
Section 4.19 Franchise
Matters.
(a) Section 4.19(a)(i) of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all
(i) development agreements in which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries has granted exclusive rights to develop or
operate or license others to develop or operate within one or
more countries, states, provinces or other significant
geographic areas and (ii) master franchise agreements
(collectively, the “Specified Agreements”), in
each case to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its
or their properties is bound (other than any such agreements
between a person and its Subsidiaries or among its Subsidiaries)
and that grant or purport to grant to any person the right to
develop or operate or license others to develop or operate
within one or more countries, states, provinces or other
significant geographic areas any of the following (each, a
“Franchise”): “Burger King”
restaurants, “Whopper Bar” restaurants or “Hungry
Jack’s” restaurants (each, a ‘‘Franchised
Restaurant”). Section 4.19(a)(ii) of the
Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of
the top twenty-five Franchisees based upon the total royalties
paid by each such Franchisee to the Company or its Subsidiaries
during the fiscal year 2010.
(b) Each of the Specified Agreements is valid and binding
on the Company or the Subsidiary of the Company party thereto
and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto,
is in full force and effect, except for such failures to be
valid and binding or to be in full force and effect that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no default under any
Specified Agreement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or, to the Knowledge of the Company, by any other party thereto,
and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the
giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, by any other party thereto, in each case except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution and
delivery by the Company of this Agreement do not, and the
consummation of the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with the
provisions of this Agreement will not, conflict with, or result
in any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse
of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of
a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any
of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries under (other than any such Lien created from any
action taken by Parent or Sub) or any right of rescission or
set-off under, any provision of any Specified Agreement other
than any such conflicts, violations, defaults, rights, losses or
Liens that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Section 4.19(c) of the Company Disclosure
Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all FDDs that the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries have used to offer or sell
Franchises within the United States at any time since
January 1, 2009. The Company has made available to Parent
true and complete copies of each such FDD. Since January 1,
2009, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not, in any such FDD
or in any registration, application or filing with any
Governmental Authority under any United States federal or state
Franchise Law, made 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 made therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
subject to any Judgment with respect to the offer or sale of
Franchises in any jurisdiction.
(e) To the Company’s Knowledge, all funds administered
by or paid to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by or on
behalf of one or more Franchises at any time since
January 1, 2007, including funds that Franchisees
contributed for advertising and promotion and rebates and other
payments made by suppliers and
25
other third parties on account of Franchisees’ purchases
from those suppliers and third parties, have been administered
and spent in accordance in all material respects with the
Franchise Agreements.
(f) Either the FDD or Section 4.19 of the
Company Disclosure Letter contains a summary of all material
Franchise-related arbitrations, litigation, class proceedings,
material complaints or disputes, or other Litigations which are
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened
(i) from any Franchisee or association purporting to
represent a group of Franchisees, or (ii) from any other
Franchisee except where such Litigation, either individually or
in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(g) The term “FDD” means any franchise
disclosure document used by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with the offer or sale of franchises
in the United States. The term “Franchisee”
means a person other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
that is granted a right (whether directly by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or by another Franchisee) to develop or
operate, or is granted a right to license others to develop or
operate, a Franchised Restaurant within a specific geographic
area or at a specific location.
Section 4.20 Quality
and Safety of Food & Beverage
Products. Since January 1, 2008,
(a) there have been no recalls of any food or beverage
product of the Company or any Subsidiary, whether ordered by a
Governmental Authority or undertaken voluntarily by the Company
or a Subsidiary; and (b) to the Knowledge of the Company,
none of the food or beverage products of the Company or any
Subsidiary have been adulterated, misbranded, mispackaged, or
mislabeled in violation of applicable Law, or pose an
inappropriate threat to the health or safety of a consumer when
consumed in the intended manner, except as (a) and (b),
either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.21 [Reserved].
Section 4.22 Affiliate
Transactions. There have not been during the
preceding three (3) years any transactions, Contracts,
agreements, arrangements or understandings or series of related
transactions, Contracts, agreements, arrangements or
understandings, nor are there any of the foregoing currently
proposed, that (if proposed but not having been consummated or
executed, if consummated or executed) would be required to be
disclosed under Item 404 of
Regulation S-K
promulgated under the Securities Act that have not been
disclosed in the Filed SEC Documents filed prior to the date
hereof.
Section 4.23 Certain
Business Practices. To the Knowledge of the
Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (nor
any of their respective officers, directors or employees)
(a) has made or agreed to make any contribution, payment,
gift or entertainment to, or accepted or received any
contributions, payments, gifts or entertainment from, any
government official, employee, political party or agent or any
candidate for any federal, state, local or foreign public
office, where either the contribution, payment or gift or the
purpose thereof was illegal under the laws of any federal,
state, local or foreign jurisdiction; or (b) has engaged in
or otherwise participated in, assisted or facilitated any
transaction that is prohibited by any applicable embargo or
related trade restriction imposed by the United States Office of
Foreign Assets Control or any other agency of the United States
government.
Section 4.24 Company
Swaps. Section 4.24 of the
Company Disclosure Letter contains a complete and correct list
of all interest rate swaps and currency exchange swaps
(“Company Swaps”) entered into by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement. All
such Company Swaps were, and any Company Swaps entered into
after the date of this Agreement will be, entered into in
accordance with applicable Laws, and in accordance with the
investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other
policies, practices and procedures employed by the Company and
its Subsidiaries, and were, and will be, entered into with
counterparties believed at the time to be financially
responsible and able to bear the risks of such Company Swaps.
The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have, and will have,
duly performed in all material respects all of their respective
obligations under the Company Swaps to the extent that such
obligations to perform have accrued.
Section 4.25 Information
Supplied. None of the information supplied or
to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in (i) the Offer Documents, the
Schedule 14D-9
or the Information Statement will, at the time such document is
filed with the SEC, at any time such document is
26
amended or supplemented or at the time such document is first
published, sent or given to the Company’s stockholders,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or
(ii) the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first
mailed to the stockholders of the Company and at the time of the
Stockholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading.
Section 4.26 Voting
Requirements. The affirmative vote of holders
of a majority of all the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholders’ Meeting
or any adjournment or postponement thereof to adopt this
Agreement (the “Stockholder Approval”), unless
Section 253 of the DGCL shall be applicable, is the only
vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of
the Company necessary for the Company to adopt this Agreement
and approve the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.27 State
Takeover Statutes. Assuming the accuracy of
the representations and warranties of Parent and Sub set forth
in Section 5.11, to the Knowledge of the Company, no
state takeover statute applies or purports to apply to the
Company with respect to this Agreement, the Offer, the Merger or
any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.28 Brokers
and Other Advisors. No broker, investment
banker, financial advisor or other person, other than Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated (“Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx”) and Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.
(“Goldman”), the fees and expenses of which
will be paid by the Company, is entitled to any broker’s,
finder’s or financial advisor’s fee or commission in
connection with the Offer, the Merger and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by
or on behalf of the Company. Section 4.28 of the
Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the maximum aggregate fees
(without including reimbursement for expenses) that may become
payable to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Goldman pursuant to any engagement
or fee letters between the Company and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx or Goldman
with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.29 Opinions
of Financial Advisors. The Company Board has
received the opinion of each of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Goldman
(together, the “Fairness Opinions”), in each
case, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as
of such date, the Offer Price to be received by the holders of
shares of Company Common Stock in the Offer and the Merger is
fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.
Section 4.30 Solvency. As
of the date hereof (and for the avoidance of doubt, before
giving effect to the incurrence of the Debt Financing and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and such Debt Financing), the Company is Solvent.
ARTICLE V
Representations
and Warranties of Parent and Sub
Parent and Sub jointly and severally represent and warrant to
the Company as follows:
Section 5.01 Organization,
Standing and Corporate Power. Each of Parent
and Sub is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all
requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business
as presently conducted.
Section 5.02 Authority. Each
of Parent and Sub has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including the Offer, the Merger and the Financing. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by, and compliance
with the provisions of, this Agreement, including the Offer, the
Merger and the Financing, by Parent and Sub have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each
of Parent and Sub, and no other corporate proceedings (including
any stockholder action) on the part of Parent or Sub are
necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
Offer, the
27
Merger and the Financing. This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by each of Parent and Sub and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Company,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and
Sub, enforceable against each of Parent and Sub in accordance
with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to bankruptcy,
insolvency and other Laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity
principles.
Section 5.03
Non-Contravention. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub do
not, and the consummation of the Offer, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
Financing, and compliance with the provisions of this Agreement
will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach
of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or
both) under, or give rise to a right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of
a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any
of the properties or assets of Parent or Sub under (other than
any such Lien created in connection with the Financing), any
provision of (a) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws
of Parent or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Sub
or (b) subject to the filings and other matters referred to
in the immediately following sentence, (i) any Contract to
which Parent or Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a
party or by which any of their respective properties or assets
are bound or (ii) any Law or Judgment, in each case
applicable to Parent or Sub or any of their respective
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets,
other than, in the case of clause (B) above, any such
conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, rights, losses or
Liens that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
No consent, approval, order, waiver or authorization of, action
or nonaction by, registration, declaration or filing with, or
notice to, any Governmental Authority is required to be obtained
or made by or with respect to Parent or Sub or any of their
respective Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub or the consummation
by Parent and Sub of the Offer, the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
Financing, except for (w) the filing of a premerger
notification and report form by Parent and Sub under the HSR Act
and the filings and receipt, termination or expiration, as
applicable, of such other approvals or waiting periods as may be
required under each Foreign Merger Control Law, (x) the
filing with the SEC of the Offer Documents, (y) the filing
of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the
State of
Delaware, and (z) such other consents, approvals,
orders, waivers, authorizations, actions, nonactions,
registrations, declarations, filings and notices the failure of
which to be obtained or made would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 5.04 Financing. Parent
has delivered to the Company true and complete copies of
(i) the executed equity commitment letter, dated as of the
date of this Agreement (the “Equity Financing
Commitment”), pursuant to which 3G Special Situations
Fund II L.P. (“Sponsor”) has committed,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, to invest
in Parent the cash amount set forth therein (the “Equity
Financing”), and (ii) the executed commitment
letter, dated as of the date hereof, among Parent,
X.X. Xxxxxx Chase Bank, N.A., X.X. Xxxxxx Securities
LLC, and Barclays Bank PLC (the “Debt Commitment
Letter”), pursuant to which the lenders party thereto
have agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
thereof, to lend the amounts (which includes up to
$900,000,000.00 in bridge financing (the “Bridge
Financing”) to be utilized in the event the placement
of senior notes (the “High Yield Financing”) is
not consummated) set forth therein for the purposes of financing
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and related fees
and expenses and the refinancing of any outstanding indebtedness
of the Company (including under the Existing Credit Agreement)
(the ‘‘Debt Financing” and, together with
the Equity Financing, the “Financing”). The
Debt Commitment Letter and the related Fee Letter and the Equity
Financing Commitment are referred to collectively in this
Agreement as the “Financing Agreements”. None
of the Financing Agreements has been amended or modified prior
to the date of this Agreement, no such amendment or modification
is contemplated and none of the respective commitments contained
in the Financing Agreements have been withdrawn or rescinded in
any respect. As of the date of this Agreement, the Financing
Agreements are in full force and effect. Except for a fee letter
and fee credit letter relating to fees with respect to the Debt
Financing and an engagement letter (complete copies of which
have been provided to the Company, with only the fee amounts and
certain economic terms of the market flex (none of which would
adversely effect the amount or availability of the Debt
Financing) redacted), as of the date of this Agreement there are
no side letters or other agreements, Contracts or arrangements
related to the funding or investment, as applicable, of the
Financing
28
other than as expressly set forth in the Financing Agreements
delivered to the Company prior to the date hereof. Parent has
fully paid any and all commitment fees or other fees in
connection with the Financing Agreements that are payable on or
prior to the date hereof. The only conditions precedent or other
contingencies related to the obligations of the Sponsor to fund
the full amount of the Equity Financing and lenders to fund the
full amount of Debt Financing are those expressly set forth in
the Equity Financing Commitment and the Debt Commitment Letter,
respectively. As of the date of this Agreement, no event has
occurred which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both,
would constitute a default or breach on the part of Parent, Sub
or any direct investor in Parent under any term, or a failure of
any condition, of the Financing Agreements or otherwise be
reasonably likely to result in any portion of the Financing
contemplated thereby to be unavailable. As of the date of this
Agreement, neither Parent nor Sub has any reason to believe that
it will be unable to satisfy on a timely basis any term or
condition of the Financing Agreements required to be satisfied
by it. Based on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
proceeds from the Financing will be sufficient to provide Parent
and Sub with the funds necessary to pay the aggregate Offer
Price and Merger Consideration, the Equity Awards Amount, any
repayment or refinancing of debt contemplated in this Agreement
or the Financing Agreements (including repayment of indebtedness
under the Existing Credit Agreement), the payment of all other
amounts required to be paid in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to allow
Parent and Sub to perform all of their obligations under this
Agreement and pay all fees and expenses to be paid by Parent or
Sub related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.05 Limited
Guaranty. Concurrently with the execution of
this Agreement, Sponsor has duly executed and delivered to the
Company the limited guarantee by Sponsor, dated as of the date
of this Agreement, in favor of the Company (the “Limited
Guaranty”). The Limited Guaranty is in full force and
effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Sponsor,
enforceable against Sponsor in accordance with its terms,
subject, as to enforceability, to bankruptcy, insolvency and
other Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. There
is no default under the Limited Guaranty by Sponsor, and no
event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of
notice or both would constitute a default thereunder by Sponsor.
Section 5.06 Litigation. There
is no suit, action or proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of
Parent or Sub, threatened against Parent, Sub, Sponsor or any of
their respective Affiliates that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect. There is no Judgment outstanding
against Parent, Sub, Sponsor or any of their respective
Affiliates that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.07 Information
Supplied. None of the information supplied or
to be supplied by or on behalf of Parent or Sub or any of its
Subsidiaries for inclusion or incorporation by reference in
(i) the Offer Documents, the
Schedule 14D-9
or the Information Statement will, at the time such document is
filed with the SEC, at any time such document is amended or
supplemented or at the time such document is first published,
sent or given to the Company’s stockholders, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or
(ii) the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first
mailed to the stockholders of the Company and at the time of the
Stockholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading.
Section 5.08 Operation
and Ownership of Sub. Sub has been formed
solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions
contemplated hereby and, prior to the Effective Time, will not
have engaged in any business activities, other than activities
pursuant to this Agreement. Parent owns, beneficially and of
record, all the outstanding shares of capital stock of Sub, free
and clear of all Liens (other than any Liens created pursuant to
the Financing).
Section 5.09 Brokers
and Other Advisors. No broker, investment
banker, financial advisor or other person, other than Lazard
Frères & Co. LLC, the fees and expenses of which
will be paid by Parent, is entitled
29
to any broker’s, finder’s or financial advisor’s
fee or commission in connection with the Offer, the Merger and
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or Sub.
Section 5.10 No
Competing Businesses. None of Parent’s
Affiliates are engaged in, and neither Parent nor any of its
Affiliates beneficially owns any equity interests or voting
securities (including any equity interests or voting securities
that may be acquired through the conversion or exchange of
securities or the exercise of options, warrants or other rights)
in excess of 5% of the outstanding capital stock of any person
engaged in any business involving (i) the operation or
franchise of quick service or fast food restaurants anywhere in
the world or (ii) the operation of a U.S. soft drink
company or its Affiliates.
Section 5.11 Ownership
of Company Common Stock. Except as disclosed
to the Company in a letter to the Company dated
September 1, 2010, none of Parent, Sub, Sponsor or any of
their Affiliates beneficially owns (within the meaning of
Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder), or will prior to the Merger
Closing Date (other than pursuant to the transactions
contemplated hereby), beneficially own any shares of Company
Common Stock.
Section 5.12 Solvency. Assuming
(i) the satisfaction of the condition set forth in
Section 8.02(d) and (ii) the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
Section 4.30, and after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
Financing, any alternative financing and the payment of the
aggregate Offer Price and Merger Consideration, any repayment or
refinancing of debt contemplated in this Agreement or the
Financing Agreements, the payment of all other amounts required
to be paid in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the payment of
all related fees and expenses, each of Parent and the Surviving
Corporation will be Solvent as of the Effective Time and
immediately after the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. For the purposes of this
Agreement, the term “Solvent” means that, as of
any date of determination and with respect to any person:
(i) the sum of the debt (including contingent liabilities)
of such person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, does not
exceed the present fair saleable value of the present assets of
such person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) the capital of such person and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, is not unreasonably small in relation to the
business of such person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
and (iii) such person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, do not have or intend to incur debts including current
obligations beyond their ability to pay such debt as they mature
in the ordinary course of business; provided,
however, for the purposes hereof, the amount of any
contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount
that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at
such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected
to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of
whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for
accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard
No. 5).
ARTICLE VI
Covenants
Relating to Conduct of Business
Section 6.01 Conduct
of Business.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 6.01 of the
Company Disclosure Letter, contemplated, required or permitted
by this Agreement, required by Law or consented to in writing by
Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), during the period from the date of this Agreement to
the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause each of
its Subsidiaries to, (x) carry on its business in the
Ordinary Course of Business, (y) use reasonable best
efforts to preserve substantially intact its current business
organization and to preserve its relationships with significant
Franchisees, customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees,
distributors, wholesalers, lessors and others having significant
business dealings with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
and (z) comply with Law, in each case consistent with past
practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
except as set forth in Section 6.01 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, expressly contemplated or required by this
Agreement, required by Law or consented to in writing by Parent
(such
30
consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), during the
period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time,
the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to:
(i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any
other distributions (whether in cash, stock or property) in
respect of, any of its capital stock or set any record date
therefor, other than (A) dividends or distributions by a
direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to its
parent and (B) the payment of the First Quarter Dividend;
(ii) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock
or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in
lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock;
(iii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of
its capital stock or any options, warrants or other rights to
acquire any such shares, other than (A) the acquisition by
the Company of shares of Company Common Stock in connection with
the surrender of shares of Company Common Stock by holders of
Company Stock Options in order to pay the exercise price of the
Company Stock Options, (B) the withholding of shares of
Company Common Stock to satisfy tax obligations with respect to
awards granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans, (C) the
acquisition by the Company of Company Stock Options, Company
RSUs, Company PSUs and Company DSUs in connection with the
forfeiture of such awards, and (D) the acquisition by the
trustee of the Company 401(k) Plan of shares of Company Common
Stock in order to satisfy participant elections under the
Company 401(k) Plan;
(iv) issue, deliver or sell any shares of its capital stock
or other voting securities or equity interests, any securities
convertible or exchangeable into any such shares, voting
securities or equity interests, any options, warrants or other
rights to acquire any such shares, voting securities, equity
interests or convertible or exchangeable securities, any
stock-based performance units, any Voting Company Debt or any
other rights that give any person the right to receive any
economic interest of a nature accruing to the holders of Company
Common Stock, other than (A) upon the exercise or
settlement of awards under the Company Stock Plans outstanding
on the date of this Agreement in accordance with their present
terms, and (B) as required to comply with any Company
Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement as in effect on the
date of this Agreement;
(v) (A) amend the Company Certificate of Incorporation
or the Company By-Laws or (B) amend the comparable
organizational documents of any material Subsidiary of the
Company;
(vi) merge or consolidate with, or purchase an equity
interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, any
person or any division or business thereof, if the aggregate
amount of the consideration paid or transferred by the Company
and its Subsidiaries in connection with all such transactions
would exceed $15 million, other than any such action solely
between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(vii) sell, lease, license, abandon or otherwise dispose of
any of its properties or assets (including capital stock of any
Subsidiary of the Company), other than (A) sales or other
dispositions of inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business or
equipment that is no longer used or useful in the operations of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) the licensing
or sublicensing (or abandonment) of Intellectual Property in the
Ordinary Course of Business, (C) leases and subleases of
real property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries and
leases of real property under which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a tenant or a subtenant and voluntary
terminations or surrenders of such leases, in each case, in the
Ordinary Course of Business, and (D) other sales, leases or
other dispositions for aggregate consideration of
$15 million or less;
(viii) (A) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money,
issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to
acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, guarantee any such indebtedness or any debt
securities of another person or enter into any “keep
well” or other agreement to maintain any financial
statement condition of another person (collectively,
“Indebtedness”), other than
(1) Indebtedness incurred, assumed or otherwise entered
into in the Ordinary Course of Business (including any
borrowings under the Company’s existing credit facilities
and in respect of letters of credit) and in no event in excess
of $10,000,000 in the aggregate, (2) Indebtedness incurred
in connection with the refinancing of any Indebtedness existing
on the date of this Agreement or permitted to be
31
incurred, assumed or otherwise entered into hereunder on the
same terms and conditions of such Indebtedness, and
(3) intercompany Indebtedness, other than in the case of
clause (1) or clause (2), for such Indebtedness which would
not permit compliance with, or would constitute a breach of
Section 7.09, (B) make any loans or capital
contributions to, or investments in, any other person, other
than (1) to any Subsidiary of the Company,
(2) pursuant to clause (vi) above or (3) in the
Ordinary Course of Business, or (C) take any action that
would not permit the administrative agent of the lenders under
the Debt Financing to have a perfected first priority security
interest in the Debt Financing;
(ix) except (A) in the Ordinary Course of Business or
as reasonably required by applicable Law, (B) as required
pursuant to the terms of any Company Benefit Plan or Company
Benefit Agreement or other written agreement disclosed to Parent
in the Company Disclosure Letter, in each case in effect on the
date of this Agreement, (C) as otherwise expressly
permitted by this Agreement or (D) as may be required to
avoid adverse treatment under Section 409A of the Code
without increasing any benefit or payment otherwise due or
payable thereunder, (1) grant to any director or member of
the Company Executive Team any increase in compensation,
(2) grant to any director or member of the Company
Executive Team any increase in severance or termination pay,
(3) enter into any employment, consulting, severance,
retention or termination agreement with (x) any director or
member of the Company Executive Team or (y) other employee
pursuant to which the total annual compensation or the aggregate
severance benefits under such agreement, solely in the case of
this clause (y), in excess of $1,000,000 individually or
$3,000,000 in the aggregate, (4) establish, adopt, enter
into or amend in any material respect any material collective
bargaining agreement or Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit
Agreement, or (5) take any action to accelerate any rights
or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit
Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing
clauses (4) and (5) shall not restrict the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries from entering into or making available
to newly hired employees or to employees in the context of
promotions based on job performance or workplace requirements,
other than any director or member of the Company’s
Executive Team, in each case in the Ordinary Course of Business,
plans, agreements, benefits and compensation arrangements
(including incentive grants) that have a value that is
consistent with the past practice of making compensation and
benefits available to newly hired or promoted employees in
similar positions;
(x) settle any claim or Litigation, in each case made or
pending against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other
than (A) the settlement of claims or Litigation in the
Ordinary Course of Business that require payments by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries (net of insurance proceeds) in an
amount not to exceed, individually or in the aggregate,
$10,000,000 and (B) the settlement of claims or Litigation
disclosed, reflected or reserved against in the most recent
financial statements (or the notes thereto) of the Company
included in the Filed SEC Documents for an amount not materially
in excess of the amount so disclosed, reflected or reserved;
provided, however, that the foregoing
clauses (A) and (B) shall not permit the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to settle any claim or Litigation
(x) that would impose any material restrictions or changes
on the business or operations of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or (y) for which such settlement is not
permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(d).
(xi) make any material change in accounting methods,
principles or practices by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries materially affecting the consolidated assets,
liabilities or results of operations of the Company, except as
required (A) by GAAP (or any interpretation thereof),
including pursuant to standards, guidelines and interpretations
of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any similar
organization, or (B) by Law, including
Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act;
(xii) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation,
dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other
reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than reorganizations solely among wholly owned Subsidiaries of
the Company);
(xiii) make any material tax election, settle or compromise
any material tax liability for an amount that exceeds the amount
disclosed, reflected or reserved against in the most recent
consolidated balance sheet of the Company (or the notes thereto)
included in the Filed SEC Documents, change an annual
32
accounting period for tax purposes, or adopt or change any
accounting method for tax purposes, other than in the Ordinary
Course of Business;
(xiv) make any capital expenditures, other than (A) in
accordance with the Company’s capital expenditure plan
previously provided to Parent, and (B) otherwise in an
aggregate amount for all such capital expenditures made pursuant
to this clause (B) not to exceed $5 million; or
(xv) enter into any Contract that restricts the ability of
the Company or any or its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to
compete, in any material respects, with any business or in any
geographic area, or to solicit customers, except for use or
radius restrictions that may be contained in Contracts entered
into in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(xvi) (a) terminate or materially amend or modify any
agreement set forth on Section 6.01(a)(xvi) of the
Company Disclosure Letter or (b) enter into any Contract
that would have been required to be set forth on the following
Sections of the Company Disclosure Letter had such Contract been
entered into prior to the date hereof:
Section 4.09(a)(iii),
Section 4.09(a)(v), Section 4.09(a)(vi)
or Section 4.09(a)(viii);
(xvii) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of,
the foregoing actions in the preceding clause (i) —
(xvi).
(b) Notice of Changes. The Company
shall promptly give Parent written notice upon becoming aware of
any material event, development or occurrence that would
reasonably be expected to give rise to a failure of any Offer
Condition or any condition precedent set forth in
Section 8.01 or Section 8.02. Parent
shall promptly give the Company written notice upon becoming
aware of any material event, development or occurrence that
would reasonably be expected to give rise to a failure of any
condition precedent set forth in Section 8.01 or
Section 8.03.
Section 6.02 Solicitation;
Takeover Proposals; Change of Recommendation.
(a) Solicitation. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, during
the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and
continuing until 11:59 p.m, New York City time, on
October 12, 2010 (the “No-Shop Period Start
Date”), the Company may, directly or through its
Representatives: (i) solicit, initiate or encourage,
whether publicly or otherwise, any Takeover Proposals, including
by way of providing access to non-public information;
provided, however, that the Company shall only
permit such non-public information related to the Company to be
provided pursuant to an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement,
and provided further that (A) the Company
shall promptly provide to Parent any non-public information
concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries to which any person
is provided such access and which was not previously provided to
Parent, and (B) the Company shall withhold such portions of
documents or information, or provide pursuant to customary
“clean-room” or other appropriate procedures, to the
extent relating to any pricing or other matters that are highly
sensitive or competitive in nature if the exchange of such
information (or portions thereof) could reasonably be likely to
be harmful to the operation of the Company in any material
respect; and (ii) engage in and maintain discussions or
negotiations with respect to any inquiry, proposal or offer that
constitutes or may reasonably be expected to lead to any
Takeover Proposal or otherwise cooperate with or assist or
participate in, or facilitate any such inquiries, proposals,
offers, discussions or negotiations or the making of any
Takeover Proposal.
The term “Takeover Proposal” means any inquiry,
proposal or offer from any person or group providing for
(a) any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase, in a
single transaction or a series of related transactions, of
(1) 20% or more (based on the fair market value, as
determined in good faith by the Company Board) of assets
(including capital stock of the Subsidiaries of the Company) of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (2)(A)
shares of Company Common Stock, which together with any other
shares of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by such person
or group, would equal to 20% or more of the outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock, or (B) any other equity securities
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) any tender
offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in
any person or group owning, directly or indirectly, 20% or more
of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or any other
equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
(c) any merger, consolidation, business
33
combination, binding share exchange or similar transaction
involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to
which any person or group (or the shareholders of any person)
would own, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the aggregate
voting power of the Company or of the surviving entity in a
merger or the resulting direct or indirect parent of the Company
or such surviving entity, or (d) any recapitalization,
liquidation, dissolution or any other similar transaction
involving the Company or any of its material operating
Subsidiaries, other than, in each case, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Wherever the term “group” is used in this
Section 6.02, it is used as defined in
Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act.
(b) No Solicitation. From the
No-Shop Period Start Date until the Effective Time, or, if
earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with
Section 9.01, the Company shall not, nor shall it
permit any Representative of the Company to, directly or
indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage
(including by way of providing information) the submission or
announcement of any inquiries, proposals or offers that
constitute or would reasonably be expected to lead to any
Takeover Proposal, (ii) provide any non-public information
concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries related to, or
to any person or group who would reasonably be expected to make,
any Takeover Proposal, (iii) engage in any discussions or
negotiations with respect thereto, (iv) approve, support,
adopt, endorse or recommend any Takeover Proposal, or
(v) otherwise cooperate with or assist or participate in,
or knowingly facilitate any such inquiries, proposals, offers,
discussions or negotiations. Subject to
Section 6.02(c), at the No-Shop Period Start Date,
the Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated
any solicitation, encouragement, discussion or negotiation with
any person or groups (other than a Qualified Go-Shop Bidder)
conducted theretofore by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of
their respective Representatives with respect to any Takeover
Proposal and shall use reasonable best efforts to require any
other parties (other than a Qualified Go-Shop Bidder) who have
made or have indicated an intention to make a Takeover Proposal
to promptly return or destroy any confidential information
previously furnished by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or
any of their respective Representatives.
The term “Qualified Go-Shop Bidder” means any
person or group from whom the Company or any of its
Representatives has received a Takeover Proposal after the
execution of this Agreement and prior to the No-Shop Period
Start Date that the Company Board determines, prior to or as of
the No-Shop Period Start Date, in good faith, after consultation
with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel,
constitutes or could reasonably be expected to result in a
Superior Proposal.
The term “Superior Proposal” means any bona
fide, written Takeover Proposal that if consummated would
result in a person or group (or the shareholders of any person)
owning, directly or indirectly, (a) 75% or more of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or (b) 75% or
more of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, in either case which the Company Board determines in
good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and
outside legal counsel) (x) is reasonably likely to be
consummated in accordance with its terms, and (y) if
consummated, would be more favorable to the stockholders of the
Company from a financial point of view than the Offer and the
Merger, in each case taking into account all financial, legal,
financing, regulatory and other aspects of such Takeover
Proposal (including the person or group making the Takeover
Proposal) and of this Agreement (including any changes to the
terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent pursuant to
Section 6.02(f).
(c) Response to Takeover
Proposals. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in Section 6.02(b) or any other
provisions of this Agreement, if at any time following the
No-Shop Period Start Date and prior to the earlier to occur of
the Offer Closing and obtaining the Stockholder Approval,
(i) the Company has received a bona fide, written
Takeover Proposal from a third party that did not result from a
breach of this Section 6.02, and (ii) the
Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with
its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such
Takeover Proposal constitutes or could reasonably be expected to
result in a Superior Proposal, then the Company may
(A) furnish information with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries to the person making such Takeover Proposal
pursuant to an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement and the
other restrictions imposed by clause (A) and (B) of
Section 6.02(a) related to the sharing of
information, or (B) engage in discussions or negotiations
with the person making such
34
Takeover Proposal regarding such Takeover Proposal. The Company
shall be permitted prior to the earlier to occur of the Offer
Closing and obtaining the Stockholder Approval to take the
actions described in clauses (A) and (B) above with
respect to any Qualified Go-Shop Bidder.
(d) Notice to Parent of Takeover
Proposals. The Company shall promptly (and,
in any event, within one (1) business day) notify Parent in
the event that the Company or any of its Representatives
receives any Takeover Proposal, or any initial request for
non-public information concerning the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries related to, or from any person or group who would
reasonably be expected to make any Takeover Proposal, or any
initial request for discussions or negotiations related to any
Takeover Proposal (including any material changes related to the
foregoing), and in connection with such notice, provide the
identity of the person or group making such Takeover Proposal or
request and the material terms and conditions thereof
(including, if applicable, copies of any written requests,
proposals or offers, including proposed agreements), and
thereafter the Company shall keep Parent reasonably informed of
any material changes to the terms thereof.
(e) Prohibited Activities. Neither
the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall
(i) withdraw or rescind (or modify in a manner adverse to
Parent), or publicly propose to withdraw (or modify in a manner
adverse to Parent), the Recommendation or the findings or
conclusions of the Company Board referred to in
Section 4.04(b), (ii) approve or recommend the
adoption of, or publicly propose to approve, declare the
advisability of or recommend the adoption of, any Takeover
Proposal, (iii) or cause or permit the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries to execute or enter into, any letter of intent,
memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, merger
agreement, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement
related to any Takeover Proposal, other than any Acceptable
Confidentiality Agreement referred to in
Section 6.02(a) or 6.02(c) (an
“Acquisition Agreement”), or (iv) publicly
proposed or announced an intention to take any of the foregoing
actions (any action described in clauses (i), (ii),
(iii) or (iv) being referred to as an “Adverse
Recommendation Change”).
(f) Change of
Recommendation. Notwithstanding any provision
of Section 6.02(e), at any time prior to the earlier
to occur of the Offer Closing and obtaining the Stockholder
Approval, the Company Board may effect an Adverse Recommendation
Change only if the Company Board determines in good faith (after
consultation with its outside legal counsel) that the failure to
take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties
under applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
the Company Board shall not be entitled to exercise its right to
make an Adverse Recommendation Change or, solely with regards to
a Superior Proposal, terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 9.01(f) (x) unless the Company shall
have provided prior written notice to Parent and Sub, at least
three (3) business days in advance, that it will effect an
Adverse Recommendation Change or terminate this Agreement
pursuant to Section 9.01(f) and specifying the
reasons therefor (a “Notice of Intended Recommendation
Change”) and (y):
(i) if such Adverse Recommendation Change is not being made
as a result of a Superior Proposal, during such three
(3) business day period, if requested by Parent, the
Company shall have engaged in good faith negotiations with
Parent to amend this Agreement in such a manner that would
otherwise obviate the need for such Adverse Recommendation
Change; or
(ii) if such Adverse Recommendation Change or termination
is being made as a result of a Superior Proposal:
(1) the Notice of Intended Recommendation Change shall
specify the identity of the party making such Superior Proposal
and the material terms thereof and copies of all relevant
documents relating to such Superior Proposal (it being
understood and agreed that any material amendment to the terms
of any such Superior Proposal (and in any event including any
amendment to any price term thereof), shall require a new Notice
of Intended Recommendation Change and compliance with the
requirements of this Section 6.02(f), except that
the prior written notice period and corresponding references to
a three (3) business day period shall be reduced to a one
(1) business day for any such new Notice of Intended
Recommendation Change);
35
(2) after providing any such Notice of Intended
Recommendation Change, the Company shall, and shall cause its
Representatives to, negotiate with Parent and Sub in good faith
(to the extent Parent and Sub desire to negotiate) during such
three (3) business day period (or one business day period
in the case of a new Notice of Intended Recommendation Change)
to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby; and
(iii) in the case of either clause (i) or clause (ii),
the Company Board shall have considered in good faith any
adjustments to this Agreement (including a change to the price
terms hereof) and the other agreements contemplated hereby that
may be offered in writing by Parent no later than
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day of
such three (3) business day period (or the first business
day of such one (1) business day period for any such new
Notice of Intended Recommendation Change) and shall have
determined that (x) in the case of a Superior Proposal, the
Superior Proposal would continue to constitute a Superior
Proposal if such adjustments were to be given effect, or
(y) in the case of an Adverse Recommendation Change not
being made as a result of a Superior Proposal, no adjustment has
been made that would obviate the need for such Adverse
Recommendation Change, and (y) the findings contemplated by
clause (i) above continue to be applicable such that an
Adverse Recommendation Change should be made the Superior
Proposal would continue to constitute a Superior Proposal if
such adjustments were to be given effect.
(g) Standstills; Confidentiality
Agreements. Notwithstanding any provision of
Section 6.02(e), the Company Board shall not grant
any waiver or release under any standstill agreement with
respect to any class of equity securities of the Company;
provided, however, (i) at any time prior to
the earlier to occur of the Offer Closing and obtaining the
Stockholder Approval, the Company Board may grant a waiver or
release under any standstill agreement with respect to any class
of equity securities of the Company if the Company Board
determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside
legal counsel) that the failure to take such action would be
inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law and
(ii) from the date hereof until the No-Shop Period Start
Date, the Company may grant any such waiver solely to permit any
counterparty to any such agreement to make non-public inquiries,
proposals or offers that constitute or may reasonably be
expected to lead to any Takeover Proposal. The Company shall
provide written notice to Parent of waiver of any standstill by
the Company. Except for the waiver of standstill as contemplated
by this Section 6.02(g), the Company shall enforce,
and shall not release or permit the release of any person from,
or amend, waive, terminate or modify, and shall not permit the
amendment, waiver, termination or modification of, any provision
of, any confidentiality or similar agreement or provision to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or under
which the Company or any of its is a party or under which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any rights. The Company
shall not, and shall not permit any of its Representatives to,
enter into any confidentiality agreement subsequent to the date
of this Agreement which prohibits the Company from providing to
Parent the information specifically required to be provided to
Parent pursuant to this Section 6.02.
(h) Communications With
Stockholders. Nothing contained in this
Section 6.02 shall prohibit the Company from
(i) taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position
contemplated by
Rule 14d-9
or
Rule 14e-2(a)
promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) making any
disclosure to its stockholders as, in the good faith
determination of the Company Board, after consultation with its
outside legal counsel, is required by applicable Laws or
(iii) making any “stop-look-and-listen”
communication to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to
Section 14d-9(f)
promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar
communications to the stockholders of the Company) in which the
Company indicates that it has not changed the Recommendation;
provided, however, that clause (ii) shall not
be deemed to permit the Company Board to make an Adverse
Recommendation Change or take any of the actions referred to in
Section 6.02(e) or Section 6.02(f)
except, in each case, to the extent permitted by
Section 6.02(e)) or Section 6.02(f),
respectively.
36
ARTICLE VII
Additional
Agreements
Section 7.01 Preparation
of the Proxy Statement; Stockholders’ Meeting.
(a) Preparation of Proxy
Statement. As soon as practicable after the
date hereof (and in any event, but subject to Parent’s
timely performance of its obligations under
Section 7.01(b), within 15 business days hereof),
the Company shall prepare and shall cause to be filed with the
SEC in preliminary form a proxy statement relating to the
Stockholders’ Meeting (together with any amendments thereof
or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”).
Except as expressly contemplated by Section 6.02(f),
the Proxy Statement shall include the Recommendation with
respect to the Merger, the Fairness Opinions and a copy of
Section 262 of the DGCL. The Company will cause the Proxy
Statement, at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement or
any amendments or supplements thereto, and at the time of the
Stockholders’ Meeting, to not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that no representation or warranty is made by the Company with
respect to information supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion
or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement. The
Company shall cause the Proxy Statement to comply as to form in
all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and to
satisfy all rules of the NYSE. The Company shall promptly notify
Parent and Sub upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or
the staff of the SEC or any request from the SEC or the staff of
the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement,
and shall provide Parent and Sub with copies of all
correspondence between the Company and its Representatives, on
the one hand, and the SEC or the staff of the SEC, on the other
hand. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to respond
as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments of the SEC
or the staff of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement, and
the Company shall provide Parent and Sub and their respective
counsel a reasonable opportunity to participate in the
formulation of any written response to any such written comments
of the SEC or its staff. Prior to the filing of the Proxy
Statement or the dissemination thereof to the holders of Company
Common Stock, or responding to any comments of the SEC or the
staff of the SEC with respect thereto, the Company shall provide
Parent and Sub a reasonable opportunity to review and to propose
comments on such document or response.
(b) Covenants of Parent with Respect to the Proxy
Statement. Parent shall provide to the
Company all information concerning Parent and Sub as may be
reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the Proxy
Statement and shall otherwise assist and cooperate with the
Company in the preparation of the Proxy Statement and resolution
of comments of the SEC or its staff related thereto. Parent will
cause the information relating to Parent or Sub supplied by it
for inclusion in the Proxy Statement, at the time of the mailing
of the Proxy Statement or any amendments or supplements thereto,
and at the time of the Stockholders’ Meeting, not to
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided, however, that no representation or
warranty is made by Parent or Sub with respect to information
supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Proxy Statement. Each of Parent and Sub will
furnish to the Company the information relating to it required
by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder to be set forth in the Proxy Statement promptly
following request therefor from the Company.
(c) Mailing of Proxy Statement; Stockholders’
Meeting. If the adoption of this Agreement by
the Company’s stockholders is required by applicable Law,
then the Company shall have the right at any time after the
Proxy Statement Clearance Date to (and Parent and Sub shall have
the right, at any time after the later of the Proxy Statement
Clearance Date and November 1, 2010, to request in writing
that the Company, and upon receipt of such written request, the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable and in any event
within ten (10) business days), (x) establish a record
date for and give notice of a meeting of its stockholders, for
the purpose of voting upon the adoption of this Agreement (the
“Stockholders’ Meeting”), and
(y) mail to the holders of Company Common Stock as of the
record date established for the Stockholders’ Meeting a
Proxy Statement (the date the Company elects to take such action
or is required to take such action, the
37
‘‘Proxy Date”). The Company shall duly
call, convene and hold the Stockholders’ Meeting as
promptly as reasonably practicable after the Proxy Date;
provided, however, that in no event shall such
meeting be held later than 35 calendar days following the date
the Proxy Statement is mailed to the Company’s stockholders
and any adjournments of such meetings shall require the prior
written consent of the Parent other than in the case it is
required to allow reasonable additional time for the filing and
mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure which the SEC
or its staff has instructed the Company is necessary under
applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure
to be disseminated and reviewed by the Company’s
stockholders prior to the Stockholders’ Meeting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent may require the Company to
adjourn or postpone the Stockholders’ Meeting one
(1) time (for a period of not more than 30 calendar
days but not past 2 business days prior to the Outside Date),
unless prior to such adjournment the Company shall have received
an aggregate number of proxies voting for the adoption of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including
the Merger), which have not been withdrawn, such that the
condition in Section 8.01(a) will be satisfied at
such meeting. Once the Company has established a record date for
the Stockholders’ Meeting, the Company shall not change
such record date or establish a different record date for the
Stockholders’ Meeting without the prior written consent of
Parent, unless required to do so by applicable Law or the
Company’s By-Laws. Unless the Company Board shall have
withdrawn, modified or qualified its recommendation thereof or
otherwise effected an Adverse Recommendation Change, the Company
shall use reasonable best efforts to solicit proxies in favor of
the adoption of this Agreement and shall ensure that all proxies
solicited in connection with the Stockholders’ Meeting are
solicited in compliance with all applicable Laws and all rules
of the NYSE. Unless this Agreement is validly terminated in
accordance with Section 9.01, the Company shall
submit this Agreement to its stockholders at the
Stockholders’ Meeting even if the Company Board shall have
effected an Adverse Recommendation Change or proposed or
announced any intention to do so. The Company shall, upon the
reasonable request of Parent, advise Parent at least on a daily
basis on each of the last seven business days prior to the date
of the Stockholders’ Meeting as to the aggregate tally of
proxies received by the Company with respect to the Stockholder
Approval. Without the prior written consent of Parent, the
adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby (including the Merger) shall be the only matter (other
than procedure matters) which the Company shall propose to be
acted on by the stockholders of the Company at the
Stockholders’ Meeting.
(d) Amendments to Proxy
Statement. If at any time prior to the
Effective Time any event or circumstance relating to the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their respective officers
or directors should be discovered by the Company which, pursuant
to the Securities Act or Exchange Act, should be set forth in an
amendment or a supplement to the Proxy Statement, they shall
promptly inform Parent. Each of Parent, Sub and the Company
agree to correct any information provided by it for use in the
Proxy Statement which shall have become false or misleading.
Each of the Company and Parent shall cause all documents that
such party is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection
with the Merger to comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act and, as applicable, not to contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
(e) Short
Form Merger. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if, following the Offer Closing and the exercise, if
any, of the
Top-Up,
Parent and its Affiliates shall own at least 90% of the
outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock, the Parties
shall take all necessary and appropriate action, including with
respect to the transfer to Sub of any shares of Company Common
Stock held by Parent or its Affiliates, to cause the Merger to
become effective as soon as practicable after the Offer Closing
without the Stockholders’ Meeting in accordance with
Section 253 of the DGCL.
Section 7.02 Access
to Information; Confidentiality. The Company
shall afford to Parent, and to Parent’s officers,
employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, financial advisors
and other Representatives, reasonable access during normal
business hours during the period prior to the earlier of the
Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement to all of
its and its Subsidiaries’ properties, books and records and
to those employees of the Company to whom Parent reasonably
requests access, and, during such period, the Company shall
furnish to Parent, as promptly as reasonably practicable, all
information concerning its and its
38
Subsidiaries’ business, properties and personnel as Parent
may reasonably request (it being agreed, however, that the
foregoing shall not permit Parent or any such Representatives to
conduct any invasive environmental testing or sampling of the
nature customarily referred to as a Phase II environmental
assessment). Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to provide access
to or disclose information where the Company reasonably
determines that such access or disclosure would jeopardize the
attorney-client privilege of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or conflict with or violate any Law (including
antitrust Laws) or any Contract to which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party. No investigation or access
permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02 shall affect
or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made by
the Company hereunder. Except for disclosures expressly
permitted by the Confidentiality Agreement, Parent shall, in
accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement, keep confidential
and not disclose, and shall cause its officers, employees,
accountants, counsel, consultants, financial advisors and other
Representatives to keep confidential and not disclose, all
Evaluation Material (as defined in the Confidentiality
Agreement) directly or indirectly received from the Company or
its Representatives.
Section 7.03 Reasonable
Best Efforts; Approvals; Transaction
Litigation.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, each of the Parties agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts (unless, with respect to any action,
another standard for performance is expressly provided for
herein) to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do,
or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other
parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to
consummate, as promptly as reasonably practicable, the Offer,
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including using reasonable best efforts to:
(i) take all acts necessary to cause (A) in the case
of the Company, the Offer Conditions and the conditions to the
Merger Closing set forth in Section 8.01 or
Section 8.02 to be satisfied, or (B) in the
case of Parent and Sub, the conditions to the Merger Closing
Section 8.01 or Section 8.03 to be
satisfied, in each case, as promptly as reasonably practicable;
(ii) obtain all necessary consents, approvals, orders,
waivers and authorizations of, actions or nonactions by, any
Governmental Authority or any third party and make all necessary
registrations, declarations and filings with, and notices to,
any Governmental Authorities (including pursuant to the HSR Act
and each Foreign Merger Control Law) and take all reasonable
steps as may be necessary to avoid a suit, action, proceeding or
investigation by, any Governmental Authority; (iii) execute
and deliver any additional instruments necessary to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(iv) vigorously defend or contest any claim, suit, action
or other proceeding that would otherwise prevent or materially
impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of the
Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or any Transaction Litigation. In furtherance of
the foregoing, the Parties agree that, reasonable best efforts
to obtain any approvals necessary under any Foreign Merger
Control Laws shall include offering to hold separate (but not
divest) the business conducted in certain jurisdictions that are
subject to such Foreign Merger Control Laws if such action is
necessary to obtain approval for consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. ‘‘Transaction Litigation” means
any Litigation commenced or threatened against any Party or any
of its Affiliates by any Governmental Authority or any private
party relating to, arising out of or involving this Agreement,
the Offer, the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated hereby or that would otherwise prevent or
materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the
consummation of the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing,
each Party agrees to (i) make an appropriate filing of a
Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
within ten (10) business days of the date of this
Agreement, (ii) supply as promptly as reasonably
practicable any additional information and documentary material
that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act, and
(iii) use its reasonable best efforts to take or cause to
be taken all other actions necessary, proper or advisable
consistent with this Section 7.03 to cause the
expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods, or
receipt of required authorizations, as applicable, under the HSR
Act as soon as practicable. Without limiting the foregoing, the
Parties shall request and shall use reasonable best efforts to
obtain early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act.
39
(c) Subject to applicable Laws and the instructions of any
Governmental Authority, the Company and Parent each shall keep
the other apprised of the status of matters relating to the
completion of the transactions contemplated hereby, including
promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices or other
communications received by Parent or any of its Representatives,
or the Company or any of its Representatives, as the case may
be, from any third party
and/or any
Governmental Authority with respect to the Offer, the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby this Agreement.
(d) Each Party shall keep the other Parties reasonably
informed unless doing so would, in the reasonable judgment of
such Party, jeopardize any privilege of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries with respect thereto regarding any such
Transaction Litigation. The Company shall promptly advise Parent
orally and in writing and the Company shall cooperate fully with
Parent in connection with, and shall consult with and permit
Parent and its Representatives to participate in, the defense,
negotiations or settlement of any Transaction Litigation and the
Company shall give consideration to Parent’s advice with
respect to such Transaction Litigation. The Company shall not,
and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries nor any of its or
their representatives to, compromise, settle, come to a
settlement arrangement regarding any Transaction Litigation
hereby or consent thereto unless Parent shall otherwise consent
in writing, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(e) Prior to the Merger Closing Date, the Company shall
cooperate with Parent and use reasonable best efforts to take,
or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done
all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its
part under applicable Laws and rules and policies of the NYSE to
cause the delisting of the Company and of the Company Common
Stock from the NYSE as promptly as practicable after the
Effective Time and the deregistration of the Company Common
Stock under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after
such delisting.
(f) The Company shall (i) not terminate or amend any
of the Sponsor Tender Agreements or the agreements with senior
management executives entered into as of the date hereof without
Parent’s consent in Parent’s sole discretion and
(ii) enforce its rights under the Sponsor Tender Agreements
and the agreements with senior management executives entered
into as of the date hereof as directed by Parent in
Parent’s sole discretion.
Section 7.04 State
Takeover Laws. If any Takeover Law becomes or
is deemed to be applicable to the Company, Parent or Sub, the
Offer, the Merger or the
Top-Up,
including the acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock
pursuant thereto, or any other transaction contemplated by this
Agreement, then the Company and the Company Board, as
applicable, shall take all action necessary to ensure that the
Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby
may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms
contemplated herein and otherwise act to eliminate, or if not
possible minimize to the maximum extent possible, the effects of
such Takeover Law on this Agreement, the Offer, the Merger, the
Top-Up and
the other transactions contemplated hereby. No Adverse
Recommendation Change shall change the approval of the Company
Board for purposes of causing any Takeover Law to be
inapplicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 7.05 Benefit
Plans.
(a) It is Parent’s intention that, for a period of two
years following the Effective Time, individuals who are employed
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately before the
Effective Time (each, a “Company Employee”)
shall be provided with salaries and benefits that are in the
aggregate approximately equal to the salaries and benefits
(other than equity compensation) those Company Employees
received prior to the Effective Time, it being understood that
Parent shall review the Company’s and its
Subsidiaries’ salaries and benefits from time to time in
order to determine the most appropriate way to compensate and
incentivize Company Employees, and accordingly may make such
changes in the compensation and benefits that Parent determines
to be in the best interests of the Company from time to time.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.05 to the
contrary, nothing contained herein, whether express or implied,
shall be treated as an amendment or other modification of any
Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement, or shall
limit the right of Parent to amend, terminate or otherwise
modify any Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement
following the Effective Time.
40
(b) Each Company Employee shall be given credit for all
service with the Company and its Subsidiaries and their
respective predecessors under any employee benefit plan of
Parent, the Surviving Corporation, or any of their Subsidiaries,
including any such plans providing vacation, sick pay, severance
and retirement benefits maintained by Parent or its Subsidiaries
in which such Company Employees participate for purposes of
eligibility, vesting and entitlement to benefits, including for
severance benefits and vacation entitlement (but not for accrual
of pension benefits), to the extent past service was recognized
for such Company Employees under the comparable Company Benefit
Plans immediately prior to the Effective Time. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7.05 shall be
construed to require crediting of service that would result in
(i) duplication of benefits or (ii) service credit for
benefit accruals under a defined benefit pension plan.
(c) In the event of any change in the welfare benefits
provided to Company Employees following the Effective Time,
Parent shall cause (i) the waiver of all limitations as to
pre-existing conditions, exclusions and waiting periods with
respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to
the Company Employees (and their eligible dependents) under any
welfare benefit plans in which Company Employees participate
following the Effective Time, to the extent that such
conditions, exclusions or waiting periods would not apply in the
absence of such change, and (ii) for the plan year in which
the Effective Time occurs, the crediting of each Company
Employee (or his or her eligible dependents) with any
co-payments and deductibles paid prior to any such change in
satisfying any applicable deductible or
out-of-pocket
requirements after such change.
(d) The Parties acknowledge and agree to the arrangements
set forth in Section 7.05(d) of the Company
Disclosure Letter.
(e) The Parties acknowledge and agree that all provisions
contained in this Section 7.05 are included for the
sole benefit of the Parties, and that nothing in this Agreement,
whether express or implied, (i) shall create any third
party beneficiary or other rights (A) in any other person,
including any employees or former employees of the Company, any
of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any Affiliate of the
Company, any Company Employee, or any dependent or beneficiary
thereof, or (B) to continued employment with Parent or any
of its Affiliates, (ii) shall be treated as an amendment or
other modification of any employee benefit plan of Parent or its
Subsidiaries, or (iii) shall limit the right of Parent or
its Subsidiaries to amend, terminate or otherwise modify any
employee benefit plan of Parent or its Subsidiaries following
the Effective Time.
Section 7.06 Indemnification,
Exculpation and Insurance.
(a) All rights to indemnification and exculpation from
liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the
Effective Time and rights to advancement of expenses relating
thereto now existing in favor of any person who is or prior to
the Effective Time becomes, or has been at any time prior to the
date of this Agreement, a director, officer, employee or agent
(including as a fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit
plan) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective predecessors (each, an “Indemnified
Party”) as provided in the Company Certificate of
Incorporation, the Company By-Laws, the organizational documents
of any Subsidiary of the Company or any indemnification
agreement between such Indemnified Party and the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries shall survive the Merger and shall not be
amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner that would
adversely affect any right thereunder of any such Indemnified
Party.
(b) Without limiting Section 7.06(a) or any
rights of any Indemnified Party pursuant to any indemnification
agreement set forth in Section 7.06(b) of the
Company Disclosure Letter, from and after the Effective Time, in
the event of any threatened or actual claim, suit, action,
proceeding or investigation (a “Claim”),
whether civil, criminal or administrative, based in whole or in
part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to
(i) the fact that the Indemnified Party is or was a
director (including in a capacity as a member of any board
committee), or officer of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries
or any of their respective predecessors or (ii) this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby,
whether in any case asserted or arising before or after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
(x) indemnify and hold harmless, as and to the fullest
extent permitted by Law, each such Indemnified Party against any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including
reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses in advance of the
final disposition of any claim, suit, proceeding or
investigation to each Indemnified Party to the fullest extent
permitted by Law upon receipt of any undertaking required by
applicable Law), judgments, fines and
41
amounts paid in settlement of or in connection with any such
threatened or actual Claim, and (y) comply with the terms
of each such indemnification agreement with respect to such
Claim. Any determination of entitlement to indemnification under
the preceding sentences shall be made by an independent counsel
selected jointly by the Surviving Corporation and such
indemnified party. None of Parent or the Surviving Corporation
shall settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment
in any threatened or actual Claim for which indemnification has
been sought by an Indemnified Party hereunder, unless such
settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional
release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out
of such Claim or such Indemnified Party otherwise consents in
writing to such settlement, compromise or consent. Parent and
the Surviving Corporation shall cooperate with an Indemnified
Party in the defense of any matter for which such Indemnified
Party has validly sought indemnification under such
indemnification agreement. Parent’s and the Surviving
Corporation’s obligations under this
Section 7.06(b) shall continue in full force and
effect for a period of six (6) years from the Effective
Time; provided, however, that all rights to
indemnification in respect of any Claim asserted or made within
such period shall continue until the final disposition of such
Claim.
(c) The Company may obtain, at or prior to the Effective
Time, prepaid (or “tail”) directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance policies in respect of acts
or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time for six
(6) years from the Effective Time, covering each person who
is covered by such policies on the date of this Agreement on
terms with respect to such coverage and amounts no less
favorable than those of such policies in effect on the date of
this Agreement; provided, however, that the
maximum aggregate annual premium for such insurance policies for
any such year shall not be in excess of the maximum aggregate
annual premium contemplated by the immediately following
sentence; provided, further, that, any such
tail policy may not be amended, modified or cancelled or revoked
by the Company, Parent or the Surviving Corporation. In the
event the Company does not obtain such “tail”
insurance policies, then, for a period of six (6) years
from the Effective Time, Parent shall maintain in effect the
Company’s current directors’ and officers’
liability insurance policies in respect of acts or omissions
occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, covering each
Indemnified Party on terms with respect to such coverage and
amounts no less favorable than those of such policies in effect
on the date of this Agreement; provided, however,
that neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be
required to pay an aggregate annual premium for such insurance
policies in excess of 300% of the annual premium paid by the
Company for coverage for its last full fiscal year for such
insurance (which amount the Company represents and warrants is
set forth in Section 7.06(c) of the Company
Disclosure Letter); and provided further that if
the annual premiums of such insurance coverage exceed such
amount, Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall be obligated
to obtain a policy with the greatest coverage available for a
cost not exceeding such amount; and provided
further that Parent may substitute therefor policies of a
reputable and financially sound insurance company containing
terms, including with respect to coverage and amounts, no less
favorable to any Indemnified Party.
(d) In the event that the Surviving Corporation or any of
its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges
into any other person and is not the continuing or surviving
corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or
(ii) transfers or conveys all or a substantial portion of
its properties and other assets to any person, or if Parent
dissolves the Surviving Corporation, then, and in each such
case, the Surviving Corporation or Parent, respectively, shall
cause proper provision to be made so that the applicable
successors and assigns or transferees expressly assume the
obligations set forth in this Section 7.06 unless
assumed by operation of Law.
(e) From and after the Effective Time (but not prior
thereto), the provisions of this Section 7.06 are
intended to be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by,
each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs. The provisions of
this Section 7.06 are in addition to, and not in
substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or
contribution that any such person may have by contract or
otherwise.
Section 7.07 Public
Announcements.
(a) Parent and the Company shall consult with each other
before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review
and comment upon, any press release or other public statements
with respect to the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the Financing, and
42
shall not issue any such press release or make any such public
statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required
by applicable Law, court process or the rules and regulations of
any national securities exchange or national securities
quotation system and except for any matters referred to in
Section 6.02. The Parties agree that the initial
press release to be issued with respect to the Offer, the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall
be in the form mutually agreed to by the Parties.
(b) Upon Parent’s request, (i) the Company and
Parent shall promptly prepare a mutually acceptable joint
written presentations to RiskMetrics Group recommending this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including
the Offer and Merger, and (ii) the Company shall request a
meeting with RiskMetrics Group to occur after the No-Shop Period
Start Date for purposes of obtaining its recommendation of the
adoption of this Agreement by the Company’s stockholders,
if necessary; provided that the foregoing obligations
shall not apply in the event the Company Board shall have made
an Adverse Recommendation Change.
Section 7.08 Financing.
(a) Each of Parent and Sub shall use, and cause its
Affiliates to use, its reasonable best efforts (unless, with
respect to any action, another standard for performance is
expressly provided for herein) to take, or cause to be taken,
all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and obtain the
Financing on the terms and conditions (including the flex
provisions) set forth in the Financing Agreements and any
related Fee Letter (taking into account the anticipated timing
of the Marketing Period), including using reasonable best
efforts to seek to enforce (including through litigation) its
rights under the Debt Commitment Letter in the event of a
material breach thereof by the Financing sources thereunder, and
shall not permit any amendment or modification to be made to, or
consent to any waiver of any provision or remedy under, the
Financing Agreements or any related Fee Letter, if such
amendment, modification or waiver (i) reduces the aggregate
amount of the Financing (including by changing the amount of
fees to be paid or original issue discount) from that
contemplated in the Financing Agreements, (ii) imposes new
or additional conditions or otherwise expands, amends or
modifies any of the conditions to the receipt of the Financing
in a manner adverse to Parent or the Company,
(iii) decreases the aggregate Equity Financing as set forth
in the Equity Financing Commitment delivered on the date hereof,
(iv) amends or modifies any other terms in a manner that
would reasonably be expected to (x) delay or prevent the
Offer Closing or the Merger Closing Date or (y) make the
timely funding of the Financing or satisfaction of the
conditions to obtaining the Financing less likely to occur or
(v) adversely impact the ability of Parent or Sub to
enforce its rights against the other parties to the Financing
Agreements. For purposes of clarification, the foregoing shall
not prohibit Parent from amending the Debt Commitment Letter and
any related Fee Letter to add additional lender(s) (and
Affiliates of such additional lender(s)) as a party thereto. Any
reference in this Agreement to (A)
‘‘Financing” shall include the financing
contemplated by the Financing Agreements as amended or modified
in compliance with this Section 7.08(a), and
(B) “Financing Agreements” or
“Debt Commitment Letter” shall include such
documents as amended or modified in compliance with this
Section 7.08(a).
(b) Each of Parent and Sub shall use, and cause its
Affiliates to use, its reasonable best efforts (taking into
account the anticipated timing of the Marketing Period) to take,
or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate
and obtain the Financing on the terms and conditions set forth
in the Financing Agreements, including using reasonable best
efforts (i) to maintain in effect the Financing Agreements
in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions
thereof, (ii) to satisfy all conditions and covenants
applicable to Parent and Sub in the Debt Commitment Letter
(including by consummating the financing pursuant to the terms
of the Equity Financing Commitment), (iii) to negotiate and
enter into all definitive agreements with respect to the Debt
Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter on the
terms and conditions (including the flex provisions) contained
in the Debt Commitment Letter and any related Fee Letter,
(iv) to satisfy all conditions to such definitive
agreements that are applicable to Parent and Sub (including by
consummating the financing pursuant to the terms of the Equity
Financing Commitment) and consummate the Financing at or prior
to the Offer Closing (with respect to amounts required to
consummate the Offer, if the Offer Termination has not occurred,
and make other payments due at such time, including, the
payments required by Section 3.01 and the repayment
of the Existing Credit Agreement), and the Merger Closing (with
respect to amounts required to consummate the Merger and make
other payments due at such time in accordance with the terms
hereof), including using its
43
(or causing its Affiliates to use) reasonable best efforts to
cause the lenders and the other persons committing to fund the
Financing and (v) to comply with its obligations under the
Financing Agreements and any related Fee Letter. For the
avoidance of doubt, Parent shall be responsible for timely
provision of any post-Merger Closing pro forma cost savings,
synergies, capitalization, ownership or other pro forma
adjustments desired to be incorporated into any pro forma
financial information to be delivered by the Company pursuant to
Section 7.09. Parent shall keep the Company
reasonably informed on a reasonably current basis and in
reasonable detail of the status of its efforts to arrange the
Financing and provide to the Company copies of all executed
definitive documents related to the Debt Financing (provided
that the Fee Letter may be redacted to omit the numerical fee
amounts and certain economic terms of the market flex provided
therein). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Parent and Sub shall give the Company prompt (and in any event
within two (2) business days) written notice: (i) of
any default or breach (or any event that, with or without
notice, lapse of time or both, would reasonably be expected to
give rise to any default or breach) by any party to any
Financing Agreement or definitive document related to the
Financing of which Parent or its Affiliates becomes aware;
(ii) of the receipt of any written notice or other
communication from any person with respect to any
(x) actual or potential default, breach, termination or
repudiation by any party to any Financing Agreement or any
definitive document related to the Financing of any provisions
of the Financing Agreements or any definitive document related
to the Financing or (y) material dispute or disagreement
between or among any parties to any Financing Agreement or any
definitive document related to the Financing; and (iii) if
for any reason Parent or Sub has determined in good faith that
it will not be able to obtain all or any portion of the
Financing on the terms, in the manner or from the sources
contemplated by the Financing Agreements. As soon as reasonably
practicable, but in any event within three calendar days of the
date the Company delivers Parent or Sub a written request,
Parent and Sub shall provide any information reasonably
requested by the Company relating to any circumstance referred
to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the immediately
preceding sentence.
(c) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
if any portion of the Debt Financing becomes unavailable on the
terms and conditions (including the flex provisions)
contemplated in the Debt Commitment Letter and related Fee
Letter, Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to arrange
promptly to obtain alternative financing from alternative
sources on terms and conditions that are not materially less
favorable, in the aggregate, to Parent and Sub than those
contained in the Debt Commitment Letter and any related Fee
Letter (including flex provisions therein) and in an amount at
least equal to the Debt Financing or such unavailable portion
thereof, as the case may be (the “Alternate Debt
Financing”), and to obtain a new financing commitment
letter with respect to such Alternate Debt Financing (the
“New Debt Commitment Letter”) which shall
replace the existing Debt Commitment Letter, a true, complete
and correct copy of which (together with any related fee letter)
shall be promptly provided to the Company; provided that
neither Parent nor Sub shall be required to execute any New Debt
Commitment Letter or arrange for such Alternate Debt Financing
on terms and conditions (including flex provisions) which are
materially less favorable (unless otherwise determined by
Parent), in the aggregate, to Parent and Sub than those included
in the Debt Commitment Letter that such New Debt Commitment
Letter is replacing. In the event any New Debt Commitment Letter
is obtained, (i) any reference in this Agreement to the
“Financing” or the “Debt
Financing” shall mean the debt financing contemplated
by the Debt Commitment Letters as modified pursuant to
clause (ii) below, (ii) any reference in this
Agreement to the “Financing Agreements” or the
“Debt Commitment Letter” shall be deemed to
include the Debt Commitment Letters that are not superseded by a
New Debt Commitment Letter at the time in question and the New
Debt Commitment Letters to the extent then in effect, and
(iii) any reference in this Agreement to “Fee
Letter” shall be deemed to include any fee letter
relating to the Debt Commitment Letters that are not superseded
by a New Debt Commitment Letter at the time in question and the
New Debt Commitment Letters to the extent then in effect.
Without first obtaining the Company’s prior written consent
(which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed), Parent shall not directly or indirectly take any
action that would or would be reasonably expected to result in
the Financing not being available.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Agreement, nothing contained in this
Section 7.08 shall require, and in no event shall
the reasonable best efforts of Parent or Sub be deemed or
construed to require, either Parent or Sub to (i) seek the
Equity Financing from any source other than those counterparty
to, or in any amount in excess of that contemplated by, the
Equity Financing Commitment, or
44
(ii) pay any material fees in excess of those contemplated
by the Financing Agreements (whether to secure waiver of any
conditions contained therein or otherwise).
(e) In no event shall Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates (for purposes of this Section 7.08(e),
Affiliates shall be deemed to include each direct or indirect
investor in Parent) taking action on behalf of or at the
direction of Sponsor, Parent or Sub, enter into agreement from
and after the date hereof to (i) award any agent, broker,
investment banker or financial advisor except Lazard
Frères & Co. LLC any financial advisory role on
an exclusive basis in connection with the Offer, the Merger or
the other transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) prohibit
or seek to prohibit any bank or investment bank or other
potential provider of debt or equity financing, from providing
or seeking to provide financing or financial advisory services
to any person in connection with a transaction relating to the
Company or its Subsidiaries or in connection with the Offer, the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby. During the
period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the fifteenth
(15th) calendar day after the date of this Agreement, neither
Parent nor any of its Affiliates shall seek or obtain any equity
commitments or equity financing in respect of the Offer, the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby, or
provide any information in respect thereof to any potential
investor in Parent, or any of Parent’s or any such
investor’s financing sources or potential financing sources
or other Representatives who have not been provided any such
information prior to the date of this Agreement, other than as
set forth in the Equity Financing Commitment as in effect on the
date of this Agreement.
(f) Each of Parent and Sub shall use, and cause its
Affiliates to use, commercially reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done,
all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate, or
cause to be consummated, and shall use, or cause to be used, the
proceeds of the Bridge Financing (or any Alternative Debt
Financing) within ten (10) calendar days after the date on
which all of the Offer Conditions (other than the Financing
Proceeds Condition) have been satisfied or waived or, if the
Offer Termination has occurred, all of the conditions set forth
in Section 8.01 (other than Section
8.01(d)) and Section 8.02 (other than the
actual delivery of any officer certificates described therein)
have been satisfied or waived. The obligation to use the Bridge
Financing (or such Alternative Debt Financing) as set forth in
this Section 7.08(f) is referred to as the
“Bridge Take-Down”. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if it shall not be commercially reasonable to
complete the Bridge Take-Down by such tenth (10th) calendar day,
Parent and Sub shall continue to use, and cause its Affiliates
to continue to use, commercially reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done,
all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate, or
cause to be consummated, and shall use, or cause to be used, the
proceeds of such Bridge Financing (or such Alternative Debt
Financing) as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, and without regard to the then market conditions or
other general economic conditions, including the interest rate
and cost of the Debt Financing, and, for the avoidance of doubt,
regardless of whether or not commercially reasonable, if all of
the Offer Conditions (other than the Financing Proceeds
Condition) have been satisfied or waived or, if the Offer
Termination has occurred, all of the conditions set forth in
Section 8.01 (other than Section
8.01(d)) and Section 8.02 (other than the
conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Merger
Closing) have been satisfied or waived, then Parent shall
consummate, or cause to be consummated, and shall use, or cause
to be used, the proceeds of the Bridge Financing (or such
Alternative Debt Financing) no event later than
November 18, 2010.
Section 7.09 Financing
Cooperation.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall, and
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives and each of
its Subsidiaries to, provide to Parent such reasonable
cooperation, at Parent’s sole expense, as may be reasonably
requested by Parent to assist Parent in causing the conditions
in the Debt Commitment Letter to be satisfied and such
cooperation as is otherwise necessary and reasonably requested
by Parent in connection with the Debt Financing, the Debt Payoff
and/or any
defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the Existing Credit
Agreement in accordance with its terms (for the avoidance of
doubt, any references to Debt Financing or Financing in this
Section 7.09
45
shall include the issuance of the Senior Notes (as defined in
the Debt Commitment Letter)), which cooperation shall consist of:
(i) using reasonable best efforts to cause its senior
executive officers to participate in a customary and reasonable
number of meetings, presentations, road shows, due diligence
sessions, drafting sessions and sessions with rating agencies;
(ii) using reasonable best efforts to assist with the
preparation of a customary rating agency presentation, bank
information memoranda and bank syndication materials, offering
documents, private placement memoranda and similar documents
required in connection with the Debt Financing, including the
syndication thereof, provided, that any such bank
information memoranda and bank syndication materials, offering
documents, private placement memoranda and similar documents
shall contain disclosure and pro forma financial statements
reflecting the Surviving Corporation
and/or its
Subsidiaries as the obligor;
(iii) (A) furnishing Parent and its Financing Sources
as promptly as practicable with (x) audited consolidated
balance sheets and related statements of income,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, for fiscal year ended June 30, 2010,
(y) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related
statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for each fiscal quarter
ended after the date hereof but at least 40 days before the
Merger Closing Date; provided that the filing by the
Company of the required financial statements specified in
clause (x) and (y) above in its Annual Report on
Form 10-K
or its Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q,
as applicable, will be deemed to satisfy the foregoing
requirements with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries
for all purposes of this Agreement, and (B) using
reasonable best efforts to furnish all financial statements,
business and other financial data, audit reports and other
information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries of the
type that would be required by
Regulation S-X
and Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act for a
registered public offering of non-convertible debt securities of
the Company (provided that Parent shall be responsible for the
preparation of pro forma financial statements), to the extent
the same is of the type and form customarily included in an
offering memorandum, private placement memorandum, prospectus
and similar documents for private placements of non-convertible
high-yield bonds under Rule 144A promulgated under the
Securities Act or otherwise necessary to receive from the
Company’s independent accountants customary
“comfort” (including “negative assurance”
comfort) with respect to the financial information to be
included in such offering memorandum (all such information in
this clause (iii) (other than pro forma financial statements
which shall be prepared by Parent), the “Required
Information”);
(iv) requesting the auditors of the Company to cooperate
with Parent’s reasonable efforts to obtain customary
comfort letters upon completion of customary procedures in
connection with the offering of the Senior Notes (as defined in
the Debt Commitment Letter);
(v) using reasonable best efforts to assist in Parent
obtaining corporate and facilities ratings for the Debt
Financing;
(vi) using reasonable best efforts to cooperate with
Parent’s efforts to obtain consents, landlord waivers and
estoppels, non-disturbance agreements, non-invasive
environmental assessments, legal opinions, surveys and title
insurance (including providing reasonable access to Parent and
its Representatives to all Owned Real Property and Specified
Leased Real Property) as reasonably requested by Parent;
(vii) reasonably cooperating to permit the prospective
lenders involved in the Financing to evaluate the Company and
its Subsidiaries’ current assets, cash management and
accounting systems, policies and procedures relating thereto for
the purpose of establishing collateral arrangements to the
extent customary and reasonable;
(viii) requesting customary payoff letters, Lien
terminations and instruments of discharge to be delivered at
Merger Closing to allow for the payoff, discharge and
termination in full on the Merger Closing Date of all
indebtedness and Liens under the Existing Credit Agreement (the
“Debt Payoff”); and
46
(ix) furnishing Parent and its Financing Sources promptly,
and in any event at least five (5) days prior to the Merger
Closing Date, with all documentation and other information
required by Governmental Authorities with respect to the
Financing under applicable “know your customer” and
anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the
PATRIOT Act;
provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement (including this
Section 7.09) (1) nothing in this Agreement
(including this Section 7.09) shall require any such
cooperation to the extent that it would (a) require the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives, as
applicable, to waive or amend any terms of this Agreement or
agree to pay any commitment or other fees or reimburse any
expenses prior to the Effective Time, or incur any liability or
give any indemnities or otherwise commit to take any action that
is not contingent upon the Effective Time, (b) unreasonably
interfere with the ongoing business or operations of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, (c) require the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to take any action that will conflict with or
violate the Company’s organizational documents or any Laws
or the Existing Credit Agreement or result in the contravention
of, or that would reasonably be expected to result in a
violation or breach of, or default under, any Contract to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party,
(d) require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to enter
into or approve any financing or purchase agreement for the
Financing, (e) result in any significant interference with
the prompt and timely discharge of the duties of any of the
Company’s executive officers, or (f) result in any
officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
incurring any personal liability with respect to any matters
relating to the Financing, (2) no action, liability or
obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of
their respective Representatives under any certificate,
agreement, arrangement, document or instrument relating to the
Debt Financing shall be effective until the Effective Time,
(3) any bank information memoranda and high-yield offering
prospectuses or memoranda required in relation to the Debt
Financing need not be issued by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and shall contain disclosure and pro forma
financial statements reflecting the Surviving Corporation
and/or its
Subsidiaries as the obligor, (4) notwithstanding anything
to the contrary, the Parties agree that any road shows, ratings
agencies presentations, preparation of documents (including
rating agency presentation, bank information memoranda or other
offer documents in connection with the Debt Financing) and
provision of information with respect to the prospects and plans
for the Company’s business and operations, in each case
under this clause (4), in connection with the Debt Financing
remains the sole responsibility of Parent and Sub and none of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective Representatives shall have any liability or incur any
losses, damages or penalties with respect thereto or be required
to provide any information or make any presentations with
respect to capital structure, or the incurrence of the Debt
Financing or other pro forma information relating thereto or the
manner in which Parent intends to operate, or cause to be
operated, the business of the Surviving Corporation and its
Subsidiaries after the Merger Closing.
(b) Parent shall promptly, upon request by the Company,
reimburse the Company for all of its documented reasonable
out-of-pocket
costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees)
incurred by the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective
Representatives in connection with any cooperation contemplated
by this Section 7.09.
(c) The Company, its Affiliates and their respective
officers, advisors and Representatives shall be indemnified and
held harmless by Parent and Sub for and against any and all
liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest,
awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in
connection with the arrangement of the Debt Financing, the Debt
Payoff
and/or the
provision of information utilized in connection therewith to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.
(d) The Company hereby consents to the use of its and its
Subsidiaries’ trademarks, service marks or logos in
connection with the Financing; provided that such
trademarks, service marks or logos are used solely in a manner
that is not intended to or reasonably likely to harm or
disparage the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the
reputation or goodwill of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or any of their respective intellectual property rights.
(e) All non-public or other confidential information
regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries obtained by
Parent, Sub or their Representatives pursuant to this
Section 7.09 shall be kept confidential in
47
accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement; provided
that, with the Company’s prior written consent (not to be
unreasonably withheld), Parent and Sub shall be permitted to
disclose such information to potential sources of capital,
rating agencies, prospective lenders and investors and their
respective Representatives in connection with the Debt Financing
so long as such persons agree to be bound by the Confidentiality
Agreement or other customary confidentiality undertaking.
(f) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at the
earlier of the Offer Closing and the Merger Closing Date, Parent
shall cause the indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement
to be satisfied and discharged in accordance with the terms
thereof.
Section 7.10 Rule 14d-10
Matters. Prior to the expiration of the
Offer, the Compensation Committee will take all such steps as
may be required to cause to be exempt under
Rule 14d-10(d)
under the Exchange Act any employment compensation, severance or
employee benefit arrangements that have been or will be entered
into after the date of this Agreement by the Company or its
Subsidiaries with current or future directors, officers or
employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries and to ensure that
any such arrangements fall within the safe harbor provisions of
such rule.
Section 7.11 Rule 16b-3
Matters. The Company shall take all
reasonable steps as may be required to cause any dispositions of
Company equity securities (including derivative securities) in
connection with this Agreement by each individual who is a
director or officer of the Company subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act to be exempt under
Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act.
Section 7.12 FIRPTA
Certificate. The Company shall use reasonable
best efforts to deliver to Parent, at the earlier of the Offer
Closing Date and the Effective Time, a properly completed and
executed certificate to the effect that the Common Stock of the
Company is not a U.S. real property interest (such
certificate in the form required by Treasury
Regulation Sections 1.897-2(h)
and 1.1445-2(c)(3)).
ARTICLE VIII
Conditions
Precedent
Section 8.01 Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the
Merger. The respective obligation of each
party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or (to
the extent permitted by Law) waiver at or prior to the Effective
Time of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. If
required by applicable Law, the Stockholder Approval shall have
been obtained.
(b) Regulatory Approvals. The
waiting period applicable to the consummation of the Merger and,
unless the Offer Termination shall have occurred, the Offer
under the HSR Act (or any extension thereof) shall have expired
or early termination thereof shall have been granted. In
addition, the consummation of the Merger and, unless the Offer
Termination shall have occurred, the Offer, is not unlawful
under any Foreign Merger Control Law of any jurisdiction set
forth in Section 8.01(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(c) No Injunctions or
Restraints. No temporary restraining order,
preliminary or permanent injunction, Law or other Judgment
issued by any court of competent jurisdiction (collectively,
“Restraints”) shall be in effect enjoining or
otherwise preventing or prohibiting the consummation of the
Merger.
(d) Purchase of Company Common Stock in the
Offer. Unless the Offer Termination shall
have occurred, Sub shall have accepted for payment all shares of
Company Common Stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn
pursuant to the Offer.
Section 8.02 Conditions
to Obligations of Parent and Sub to Effect the
Merger. Solely if the Offer Termination shall
have occurred or the Offer Closing shall not have occurred, the
obligations of Parent and
48
Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the satisfaction
or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver at or prior to the
Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Company (i) set forth in
Section 4.03, Section 4.04,
Section 4.26 and Section 4.27 shall be
true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Merger Closing Date as though made on
the Merger Closing Date, (ii) set forth in
Section 4.07 shall be true and correct as of the
date of this Agreement and as of the Merger Closing Date as
though made on the Merger Closing Date without disregarding the
“Material Adverse Effect” qualification set forth
therein and (iii) set forth in this Agreement, other than
those described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, shall
be true and correct (disregarding all qualifications or
limitations as to “materiality”, “Material
Adverse Effect” and words of similar import set forth
therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger
Closing Date as though made on the Merger Closing Date, except,
in the case of this clause (iii), where the failure of such
representations and warranties to be so true and correct would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect; provided in each case
that representations and warranties made as of a specific date
shall be required to be so true and correct (subject to such
qualifications) as of such date only. Parent shall have received
a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief
executive officer or chief financial officer thereof to such
effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of the
Company. The Company shall have performed or
complied in all material respects with its obligations required
to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at
or prior to the Merger Closing, and Parent shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief
executive officer or chief financial officer thereof to such
effect.
(c) No Material Adverse
Effect. Since the date of this Agreement,
there shall not have occurred any change, event or occurrence
that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, and Parent shall have received a certificate
signed on behalf of the Company the chief executive officer or
chief financial officer thereof to such effect.
(d) Pre-Closing Solvency. As of
immediately prior to the Merger Closing Date (and, for the
avoidance of doubt, before giving effect to the incurrence of
the Debt Financing and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and such Debt Financing), the
Company is Solvent, and Parent shall have received a certificate
signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer
or chief financial officer thereof to such effect.
Section 8.03 Conditions
to Obligation of the Company to Effect the
Merger. Solely if the Offer Termination shall
have occurred or the Offer Closing shall not have occurred, then
the obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further
subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law)
waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Parent and Sub set forth in this Agreement shall
be true and correct (disregarding all qualifications or
limitations as to “materiality”, “Parent Material
Adverse Effect” and words of similar import set forth
therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Merger
Closing Date as though made on the Merger Closing Date (except
to the extent such representations and warranties expressly
relate to an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier
date), except where the failure of such representations and
warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect. The Company shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of Parent by an executive officer
thereof to such effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and
Sub. Parent and Sub shall have performed or
complied in all material respects with its obligations required
to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at
or prior to the Merger Closing, and the Company shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by an
executive officer thereof to such effect.
Section 8.04 Frustration
of Closing Conditions. Neither Parent nor Sub
may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in
Sections 8.01 or 8.02 to be satisfied if such
failure was caused by the failure of Parent or
49
Sub to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement. The
Company may not rely on the failure of any condition set forth
in Sections 8.01 or 8.03 to be satisfied if
such failure was caused by its failure to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
Termination,
Amendment and Waiver
Section 9.01 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective
Time, whether before or after receipt of the Stockholder
Approval:
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;
(b) by either of Parent or the Company:
(i) if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or
before March 2, 2011 (the “Outside Date”);
provided, however, that the right to terminate
this Agreement under this Section 9.01(b)(i) shall
not be available to any Party if (x) the Offer Closing
shall have occurred or (y) the failure of such Party to
perform any of its obligations under this Agreement has been a
principal cause of the failure of the Merger to be consummated
on or before such date (it being understood that Parent and Sub
shall be deemed a single party for purposes of the foregoing
proviso);
(ii) if any Restraint shall be in effect enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger shall have
become final and nonappealable; provided, however,
that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9.01(b)(ii) shall not be available to any Party
unless such Party shall have complied with its obligations under
Section 7.03 to prevent, oppose or remove such
Restraint; or
(iii) the Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained
at the Stockholders’ Meeting duly convened therefor or at
any adjournment or postponement thereof;
(c) by Parent, if there shall be any breach or inaccuracy
in any of the Company’s representations or warranties set
forth in this Agreement or the Company has failed to perform any
of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement,
which inaccuracy, breach or failure to perform (i) would
give rise to (x) if the Offer Termination shall have
occurred, the failure of any condition set forth in
Section 8.02(a) or Section 8.02(b) or
(y) if the Offer Termination shall not have occurred, the
failure of any Offer Condition set forth in clauses (iii)
or (iv) of paragraph (d) of Annex I, and (ii)
(A) is not capable of being cured prior to the Outside Date
or (B) is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar days
following Parent’s delivery of written notice to the
Company of such breach; provided that Parent shall not
have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9.01(c) if (x) Parent or Sub is then in
material breach of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements hereunder or (y) the Offer Closing
shall have occurred;
(d) by the Company, if there shall be any breach or
inaccuracy in any of Parent’s or Sub’s representations
or warranties set forth in this Agreement or Parent or Sub has
failed to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth
in this Agreement, which inaccuracy, breach or failure to
perform (i) would (x) give rise to the failure of any
condition set forth in Section 8.03(a) or
Section 8.03(b) or, (y) reasonably be expected
to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect, and (ii) (A) is not capable of being cured
prior to the Outside Date or (B) is not cured within
fifteen (15) calendar days following the Company’s
delivery of written notice to Parent of such breach;
provided that the Company shall not have the right to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9.01(d) if (x) the Company is then in
material breach of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements hereunder or (y) the Offer Closing
shall have occurred;
(e) by Parent, in the event that any of the following shall
have occurred: (i) an Adverse Recommendation Change;
(ii) the Company shall have delivered a notice to parent of
its intent to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change pursuant
to Section 6.02(f) if Parent shall have given the
Company the right to
50
enter into an Acquisition Agreement and such right has been
available to the Company for no less than twenty-four hours,
(iii) the Company failed to include in the Proxy Statement
or the
Schedule 14D-9,
in each case, when mailed, the Recommendation and a statement of
the findings and conclusions of the Company Board referred to in
Section 4.04(b), (iv) if, following the
disclosure or announcement of a Takeover Proposal (other than a
tender or exchange offer described in clause (v) below),
the Company Board shall have failed to reaffirm publicly the
Recommendation within five (5) business days after Parent
requests in writing that such recommendation under such
circumstances be reaffirmed publicly, or (vi) a tender or
exchange offer relating to securities of the Company shall have
been commenced and the Company shall not have announced, within
ten (10) business days after the commencement of such
tender or exchange offer, a statement disclosing that the
Company recommends rejection of such tender or exchange offer
(any such event contemplated by this
Section 9.01(e), a “Triggering
Event”); provided that Parent shall not have the
right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section
9.01(e) if (x) the Offer Closing shall have occurred or
(y) if required by applicable Law, the Stockholder Approval
shall have been obtained;
(f) by the Company, in accordance with
Section 6.02(f) in order to accept a Superior
Proposal and enter into the Acquisition Agreement providing for
such Superior Proposal immediately following or concurrently
with such termination; provided, however, that
payment of the Company Termination Fee pursuant to
Section 9.03(a) shall be a condition to the
termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to this
Section 9.01(f);
(g) by the Company, if (i) (A) all the Offer
Conditions shall have been satisfied or waived as of the
expiration of the Offer, and (B) Parent shall have failed
to consummate the Offer promptly thereafter in accordance with
Section 1.01, or (ii) (A) all the Offer
Conditions (other than the Financing Proceeds Condition) shall
have been satisfied or waived as of the expiration of the Offer,
and (B) Parent shall have failed to consummate the Offer in
accordance with Section 1.01, in the case of both
clause (i) and (ii) hereof, the Company shall have
given Parent written notice at least one (1) business day
prior to such termination stating the Company’s intention
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9.01(g) and the basis for such termination;
provided, however, that the termination right set
forth in Section 9.01(g)(ii) shall only be available from
and after the close of business on November 18,
2010; or
(h) by the Company, after the close of business on
November 18, 2010, if (i) all the conditions set forth
in Section 8.01 (other than
Section 8.01(d), to the extent the Offer Termination
has occurred) and Section 8.02 have been satisfied
(other than those conditions that by their terms are to be
satisfied by actions taken at the Merger Closing, each of which
is capable of being satisfied at the Merger Closing),
(ii) Parent shall have failed to consummate the Merger by
the time set forth in Section 2.02, (iii) the
Company has notified Parent in writing that it stands and will
stand ready, willing and able to consummate the Merger at such
time, and (iv) the Company shall have given Parent written
notice at least one (1) business day prior to such
termination stating the Company’s intention to terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.01(h) and
the basis for such termination.
Any proper termination of this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9.01 shall be effective immediately upon the
delivery of written notice of the terminating Party to the other
Parties.
Section 9.02 Effect
of Termination. In the event of termination
of this Agreement as provided in Section 9.01, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect,
without any liability or obligation on the part of Parent, Sub
or the Company, other than the provisions of the last sentence
of Section 1.02(b), the last sentence of
Section 7.02, Sections 7.09(b),
(c) and (e), Article XI and this
Article IX, which provisions shall survive such
termination; provided, however, that nothing
herein shall relieve any Party from liability for any breach of
any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination;
provided, further, however, that any claim
against a Party for monetary damages shall be subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 11.11.
51
Section 9.03 Termination
Fees and Expenses.
(a) If this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to
Section 9.01(e), then the Company shall pay to the
Sponsor the Company Termination Fee by wire transfer of
same-day
funds within two (2) business days following the date of
such termination of this Agreement.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant
to Section 9.01(f), then the Company shall pay the
Sponsor the Company Termination Fee by wire transfer of
same-day
funds, concurrently with, and as a condition to the
effectiveness of, such termination of this Agreement.
(c) If (i) after the date of this Agreement, a
Takeover Proposal shall have become publicly known and not
withdrawn, (ii) thereafter, this Agreement is terminated
(A) by Parent or the Company pursuant to
Section 9.01(b)(i), (B) by Parent or the
Company pursuant to Section 9.01(b)(iii), or
(C) by Parent pursuant to Section 9.01(c)
(unless the termination fee provided in Section 9.03(e) has
already been paid pursuant to the terms thereof), and
(iii) within 12 months after such termination, the
Company enters into a definitive agreement providing for any
transaction contemplated by any Takeover Proposal (regardless of
when made) (which transaction is thereafter consummated) or
consummates any Takeover Proposal (regardless of when made),
then, in any such case, the Company shall pay to the Sponsor the
Company Termination Fee (less the amount of expenses paid
pursuant to Section 9.03(f)) by wire transfer of
same-day
funds on the date such transaction is consummated. Solely for
purposes of this Section 9.03(c), the term
‘‘Takeover Proposal” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02(a),
except that all references to 20% therein shall be deemed to be
references to 50%.
(d) If this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant
to (i) Section 9.01(d) due to a breach by Parent of
any of its representations or warranties or the failure by
Parent to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth
in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform is the
principal factor in the failure of the Offer or the Merger to be
consummated, (ii) Section 9.01(g) or (iii)
Section 9.01(h), in each case, then Parent shall pay
to the Company the Parent Termination Fee by wire transfer of
same-day
funds as promptly as reasonably practicable (and, in any event,
within two (2) business days following the date of
termination of this Agreement).
(e) If this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to
Section 9.01(c) due to a breach by the Company of
any of its representations or warranties or the failure by the
Company to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth
in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform is the
principal factor in the failure of the Offer or the Merger to be
consummated, then the Company shall pay a termination fee to
Sponsor in an amount equal to $175,000,000 by wire transfer of
same-day
funds as promptly as reasonably practicable (and, in any event,
within two (2) business days following the date of
termination of this Agreement).
(f) If this Agreement is terminated by Parent or the
Company pursuant to Section 9.01(b)(iii), the
Company shall reimburse Parent for all documented
out-of-pocket
fees and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel,
accountants, investment bankers, financing sources (including
commitment fees), experts, consultants and the costs of all
filing fees and printing costs) incurred by Sponsor, Parent or
its Affiliates in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby by payment to Sponsor of the
amount thereof by wire transfer of same day funds as promptly as
reasonably practicable (and, in any event, within two
(2) business days following request therefor);
provided, however, that the maximum aggregate
amount of fees and expenses for which the Company shall be
required to reimburse Sponsor is $15,000,000.
(g) Each of the Company and Parent acknowledges and agrees
that the agreements contained in this Section 9.03
are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and that, without these agreements, neither the
Company nor Parent would have entered into this Agreement;
accordingly, if the Company or Parent, as the case may be, fails
promptly to pay the fee or reimbursement amount due pursuant to
Section 9.03, and, in order to obtain such payment,
Parent or the Company commences arbitration that results in an
award against the other party for such fee, the Company or
Parent, as the case may be, shall pay to the other party its
costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses)
in connection with such arbitration, together with interest on
the amount of the applicable fee from the date such payment was
required
52
to be made until the date of payment at the prime lending rate
as published in The Wall Street Journal in effect on the
date such payment was required to be made.
Section 9.04 Amendment. This
Agreement may be amended by the Parties at any time before or
after the Offer Closing shall have occurred or receipt of the
Stockholder Approval; provided, however, that
(x) after the Offer Closing, there shall be no amendment
that decreases the Offer Price or the Merger Consideration, and
(y) after the Stockholder Approval has been obtained, there
shall be made no amendment that by Law requires further approval
by the stockholders of the Company without such approval having
been obtained. This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties.
Section 9.05 Extension;
Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective
Time, the Parties may (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other
Parties, (b) to the extent permitted by Law, waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained
herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, or
(c) subject to the proviso to the first sentence of
Section 9.04 and to the extent permitted by Law,
waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions
contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any
such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. The
failure of any Party to this Agreement to assert any of its
rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a
waiver of such rights.
ARTICLE X
Interpretation
Section 10.01 Certain
Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) an “Acceptable Confidentiality
Agreement” means a confidentiality and standstill
agreement with terms no less favorable to the Company in any
substantive respect than those contained in the Confidentiality
Agreement; provided that such confidentiality and
standstill agreement shall expressly not prohibit, or adversely
affect the rights of the Company thereunder upon, compliance by
the Company with any provision of this Agreement.
(b) an “Affiliate” of any person means
another person that directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such first person.
(c) “business day” means any day
except a Saturday, a Sunday or any other day on which commercial
banks are required or authorized to close in the City of New
York.
(d) “Company Disclosure Letter”
means the letter dated as of the date of this Agreement
delivered by the Company to Parent and Sub prior to or in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
(e) “Company Executive Team” means,
collectively, the persons set forth in
Section 10.01(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(f) “Company Termination Fee” means
$95,000,000, except if this Agreement is terminated by the
Company pursuant to Section 9.01(f) prior to the
No-Shop Period Start Date, then the Company Termination Fee
means $50,000,000.
(g) “Confidentiality Agreement”
means the Non-Disclosure and Standstill Agreement, dated as of
April 26, 2010, by and between 3G Capital Partners Ltd. and
the Company.
(h) “Existing Credit Agreement”
means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated
February 15, 2006, among Burger King Corporation, the
Company, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as administrative agent, Citicorp North America, Inc., as
syndication agent, and Bank of America, N.A., RBC Capital
Markets and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as
documentation agents, in each case, as amended from time to time.
53
(i) “Financing Sources” means the
entities that have committed to provide or otherwise entered
into agreements in connection with the Debt Financing or
Alternative Debt Financing (in each case, other than the Equity
Financing) in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the lead arranger or arranger or any of the
parties to the Debt Commitment Letters and any joinder
agreements or credit agreements relating thereto.
(j) “Fee Letter” means any fee
letter entered into in connection with the Debt Commitment
Letter.
(k) “Knowledge” means (i) with
respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of any of the
persons set forth in Section 10.01(k) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, and (ii) with respect to Parent or Sub,
the actual knowledge of any of the officers of Parent or Sub.
(l) “Marketing Period” means the
first period of 25 consecutive business days commencing on
September 9, 2010 and throughout which (i) Parent
shall have the Required Information (it being understood that
Parent and Sub hereby acknowledge and agree that, as of the date
hereof, it has received the Required Information and as such the
Marketing Period shall commence on September 9, 2010), and
(ii) nothing has occurred and no condition exists that
would cause any of the conditions set forth in
Section 8.02(a), Section 8.02(b) or
Section 8.02(c) to fail to be satisfied, assuming
that the Merger Closing Date were to be scheduled for any time
during such 25 consecutive-business-day period; provided
that (x) the Marketing Period shall end on any earlier date
that is the date on which the Debt Financing is obtained,
(y) if such 25- consecutive-business day period has
commenced but not ended on or prior to December 16, 2010
then such period may not commence until January 2, 2011,
and (z) the Marketing Period shall not be deemed to have
commenced if, after the date hereof and prior to the completion
of the Marketing Period:
(i) KPMG LLP shall have withdrawn its audit opinion with
respect to any financial statements contained in the
Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on
Form 10-K,
in which case the Marketing Period shall not be deemed to
commence unless and until, at the earliest, a new unqualified
audit opinion is issued with respect to the consolidated
financial statements of the Company for the applicable periods
by KPMG LLP or another independent public accounting firm;
(ii) the Company issues a public statement indicating its
intent to restate any historical financial statements of the
Company or that any such restatement is under consideration or
may be a possibility, in which case the Marketing Period shall
not be deemed to commence unless and until, at the earliest,
such restatement has been completed and the relevant SEC
Document or SEC Documents have been amended or the Company has
announced that it has concluded that no restatement shall be
required in accordance with GAAP; or
(iii) the Company shall have been delinquent in filing any
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q,
in which case the Marketing Period will not be deemed to
commence unless and until, at the earliest, such delinquencies
have been cured.
(m) “Material Adverse Effect” means
any change, effect, event or occurrence that individually or in
the aggregate with all other changes, effects, events or
occurrences, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on (a) the business, condition
(financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities or results of
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole; provided that none of the following shall either
alone or in combination constitute, or be taken into account in
determining whether there has been, a Material Adverse Effect
for purposes of this clause (a): any change, effect, event or
occurrence directly arises out of or directly results from
(i) general economic, credit, capital or financial markets
or political conditions in the United States or elsewhere in the
world, including with respect to interest rates or currency
exchange rates, (ii) any outbreak or escalation of
hostilities, acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage or
terrorism, (iii) any hurricane, tornado, flood, volcano,
earthquake or other natural or man-made disaster occurring after
the date of this Agreement, (iv) any change in applicable
Law or GAAP (or authoritative interpretation or enforcement
thereof) which is proposed, approved or enacted on or after the
date of this Agreement, (v) general conditions in the
industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries primarily
operate, (vi) the failure, in and of itself,
54
of the Company to meet any internal or published projections,
forecasts, estimates or predictions in respect of revenues,
earnings or other financial or operating metrics before, on or
after the date of this Agreement, or changes after the date of
this Agreement in the market price or trading volume of the
Company Common Stock or the credit rating of the Company (it
being understood that the underlying facts giving rise or
contributing to such failure or change may be taken into account
in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse
Effect), (vii) the announcement and pendency of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
(viii) any action taken by the Company or its Subsidiaries
at Parent’s written request or otherwise required by this
Agreement, or (ix) the identity of, or any facts or
circumstances relating to Parent, Sub or their respective
Affiliates, except in the cases of clauses (i), (ii),
(iii) or (iv), to the extent that the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are materially
disproportionately affected thereby as compared with other
participants in the industries in which the Company and its
Subsidiaries primarily operate (in which case the incremental
materially disproportionate impact or impacts may be taken into
account in determining whether there has been, or is reasonably
expected to be, a Material Adverse Effect), or (b) the
ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or to consummate the Merger.
(n) “Ordinary Course of Business”
means the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice.
(o) “Parent Material Adverse
Effect” means any change, effect, event or
occurrence that prevents or materially impedes, interferes with,
hinders or delays (i) the consummation by Parent or Sub of
the Offer, the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement on a timely basis, including with
respect to Financing or the conditions to the drawdown of the
Financing, or (ii) the compliance by Parent or Sub of its
obligations under this Agreement in any material respect.
(p) “Parent Termination Fee” means
$175,000,000.
(q) “PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting
and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools
Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as
amended.
(r) “Permitted Liens” mean
(i) mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s,
warehousemen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens
arising or incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business,
(ii) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental
charges and levies that are not due and payable or that may
thereafter be paid without interest or penalty, (iii) Liens
affecting the interest of the grantor of any easements
benefiting Owned Real Property, (iv) Liens (other than
liens securing indebtedness for borrowed money), defects or
irregularities in title, easements,
rights-of-way,
covenants, restrictions, and other, similar matters that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
materially impair the continued use and operation of the assets
to which they relate, (v) zoning, building and other
similar codes and regulations, (vi) any conditions that
would be disclosed by a current, accurate survey or physical
inspection, and (vii) Liens discharged at or prior to the
Offer Closing or, if the Offer Termination shall occur, the
Offer Closing.
(s) “person” means an individual,
corporation (including
not-for-profit
corporation), general or limited partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, trust, estate, association,
Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization or other
entity of any kind or nature, including the media.
(t) “Representative” means, with
respect to any person, any Subsidiary of such person and such
person’s and each of its respective Subsidiaries’
directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, financial
advisors, attorneys, accountants or other advisors, agents or
representatives.
(u) a “Subsidiary” of any person means
another person, an amount of the voting securities, other voting
rights or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to
elect at least a majority of its board of directors or other
governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, more
than 50% of the equity interests of which) is owned directly or
indirectly by such first person.
55
Section 10.02 Index
of Defined Terms. The following terms have
the meanings ascribed to them, as indicated below:
|
|
|
|
|
Acceleration Time
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|
|
Section 3.04
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|
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement
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|
|
Section 10.01(a)
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Acceptance Time
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|
|
Section 1.04(a)
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|
Acquisition Agreement
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Section 6.02(e)
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Adverse Recommendation Change
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|
Section 6.02(e)
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Affiliate
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Section 10.01(a)
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Agreement
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Preamble
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Alternative Debt Financing
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Section 7.06(b)
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Appraisal Shares
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Section 3.01(d)
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Authorizations
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Section 4.11(a)
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Bridge Financing
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Section 5.04
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Bridge Take-Down
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Section 7.08(f)
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business day
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Section 10.01(c)
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Certificate
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Section 3.01(c)
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Certificate of Merger
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Section 2.03
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Claim
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Section 7.06(b)
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Code
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Section 1.01(i)
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Company
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Preamble
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Company 401(k) Plan
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Section 4.03(a)
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Company Benefit Agreement
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Section 4.13(n)
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Company Benefit Plan
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Section 4.13(n)
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Company Board
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Section 4.04(b)
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Company By Laws
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Section 4.01
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Company Certificate of Incorporation
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Section 4.01
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Company Common Stock
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Recitals
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Company Disclosure Letter
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Section 10.01(d)
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Company DSUs
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Section 4.03(a)
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Company Employee
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Section 7.05(a)
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Company Equity Awards
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Section 4.03(a)
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Company Executive Team
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Section 10.01(e)
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Company Intellectual Property
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Section 4.16(a)
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Company Preferred Stock
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Section 4.03(a)
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Company PSUs
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Section 4.03(a)
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Company RSUs
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Section 4.03(a)
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Company Stock Options
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Section 4.03(a)
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Company Stock Plans
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Section 4.03(a)
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Company Swaps
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Section 4.24
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Company Termination Fee
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Section 10.01(f)
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Compensation Committee
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Section 4.13(f)
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Confidentiality Agreement
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Section 10.01(g)
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Contract
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Section 4.05
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Debt Commitment Letter
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|
|
Section 5.04
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Debt Financing
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Section 5.04
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56
|
|
|
|
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Debt Payoff
|
|
|
Section 7.09(a)(viii)
|
|
DGCL
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Section 2.01
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|
Effective Time
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|
|
Section 2.03
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Environmental Claims
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Section 4.17(b)
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Environmental Law
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Section 4.17(b)
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Equity Award Amounts
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Section 3.04(e)
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Equity Financing
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|
Section 5.04
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Equity Financing Commitment
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Section 5.04
|
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ERISA
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Section 4.13(a)
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ERISA Affiliate
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Section 4.13(e)
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Exchange Act
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Section 1.01(a)
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Exchange Fund
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Section 3.03(a)
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|
Existing Credit Agreement
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|
|
Section 10.01(h)
|
|
Fairness Opinions
|
|
|
Section 4.29
|
|
FDD
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|
|
Section 4.19(g)
|
|
Fee Letter
|
|
|
Section 10.01(h)
|
|
Filed SEC Documents
|
|
|
Article IV
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
Section 5.04
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|
Financing Agreements
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|
|
Section 5.04
|
|
Financing Proceeds Condition
|
|
|
Annex I
|
|
Financing Sources
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|
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Section 10.01(h)
|
|
First Quarter Dividend
|
|
|
Section 4.07(a)
|
|
Foreign Company Plan
|
|
|
Section 4.13(m)
|
|
Foreign Merger Control Laws
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|
|
Section 4.05
|
|
Franchise
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|
Section 4.19(a)
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|
Franchise Laws
|
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|
Section 4.11(b)
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|
Franchised Restaurant
|
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|
Section 4.19(a)
|
|
Franchisee
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|
Section 4.19(g)
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|
FTC Rule
|
|
|
Section 4.11(b)
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|
GAAP
|
|
|
Section 4.06(b)
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|
Xxxxxxx
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|
Section 4.28
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Governmental Authority
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Section 4.05
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group
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|
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Section 6.02(a)
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Hazardous Materials
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Section 4.17(b)
|
|
High Yield Financing
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Section 5.04
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HSR Act
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Section 4.05
|
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Indebtedness
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Section 6.01(a)(viii)
|
|
Indemnified Party
|
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Section 7.06(a)
|
|
Independent Directors
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|
|
Section 1.04(a)
|
|
Information Statement
|
|
|
Section 4.05
|
|
Initial Offer Expiration Date
|
|
|
Section 1.01(d)
|
|
Intellectual Property
|
|
|
Section 4.16(d)
|
|
Judgment
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Section 4.05
|
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Knowledge
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Section 10.01(k)
|
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Law
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Section 4.05
|
|
57
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|
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Liens
|
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Section 4.02
|
|
Limited Guaranty
|
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|
Section 5.05
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Litigation
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Section 4.08
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Marketing Period
|
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Section 10.01(l)
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|
Material Adverse Effect
|
|
|
Section 10.01(m)
|
|
Merger
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
Merger Closing
|
|
|
Section 2.02
|
|
Merger Closing Date
|
|
|
Section 2.02
|
|
Merger Consideration
|
|
|
Section 3.01(c)
|
|
Minimum Tender Condition
|
|
|
Annex I
|
|
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
|
Section 4.28
|
|
New Debt Commitment Letter
|
|
|
Section 7.06(b)
|
|
No-Shop Period Start Date
|
|
|
Section 6.02(a)
|
|
Notice of Intended Recommendation Change
|
|
|
Section 6.02(f)(ii)(1)
|
|
NYSE
|
|
|
Section 1.04(a)
|
|
Offer
|
|
|
6, Recitals
|
|
Offer Closing
|
|
|
Section 1.01(e)
|
|
Offer Closing Date
|
|
|
Section 1.01(e)
|
|
Offer Conditions
|
|
|
Section 1.01(b)
|
|
Offer Determination Date
|
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Section 1.01(f)
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Offer Documents
|
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Section 1.01(g)
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Offer Price
|
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|
Recitals
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Offer Termination
|
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Section 1.01(f)
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Offer Termination Date
|
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Section 1.01(f)
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Ordinary Course of Business
|
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Section 10.01(n)
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Outside Date
|
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Section 9.01(b)(i)
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Owned Real Property
|
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Section 4.15(a)
|
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Parent
|
|
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Preamble
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Parent Group
|
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Section 11.11(e)
|
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Parent Group Member
|
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Section 11.11(e)
|
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Parent Material Adverse Effect
|
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Section 10.01(o)
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Parent Termination Fee
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Section 10.01(p)
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Parties
|
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Preamble
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Party
|
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Preamble
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PATRIOT Act
|
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Section 10.01(q)
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Paying Agency Agreement
|
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Section 3.03(a)
|
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Paying Agent
|
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Section 3.03(a)
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PBGC
|
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Section 4.13(e)
|
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Permitted Liens
|
|
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Section 10.01(r)
|
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person
|
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Section 10.01(s)
|
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Promissory Note
|
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Section 1.03(b)
|
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Proxy Statement
|
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Section 7.01(a)
|
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Proxy Statement Clearance Date
|
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Section 1.01(d)
|
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PSU Shares
|
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Section 3.04(c)
|
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Qualified Go Shop Bidder
|
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Section 6.02(b)
|
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58
|
|
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Recommendation
|
|
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Section 4.04(b)
|
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Relationship Laws
|
|
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Section 4.11(b)
|
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Release
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|
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Section 4.17(b)
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Representative
|
|
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Section 10.01(t)
|
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Required Information
|
|
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Section 7.09(a)(iii)
|
|
Restraints
|
|
|
Section 8.01(c)
|
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Schedule 14D 9
|
|
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Section 1.02(a)
|
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Schedule TO
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|
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Section 1.01(g)
|
|
SEC
|
|
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Section 1.01(d)
|
|
SEC Documents
|
|
|
Section 4.06(a)
|
|
Securities Act
|
|
|
Section 1.03(c)
|
|
Seller Group
|
|
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Section 11.11(e)
|
|
Seller Group Member
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Section 11.11(e)
|
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Solvent
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Section 5.12
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Specified Agreements
|
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Section 4.19(a)
|
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Specified Contract
|
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Section 4.09(a)(ix)
|
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Specified Leased Real Property
|
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Section 4.15(b)
|
|
Specified Real Property Leases
|
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|
Section 4.15(b)
|
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Sponsor
|
|
|
Section 5.04
|
|
Sponsor Tender Agreements
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
Stockholder Approval
|
|
|
Section 4.26
|
|
Stockholders’ Meeting
|
|
|
Section 7.01(c)
|
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Sub
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Preamble
|
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Subsidiary
|
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Section 10.01(u)
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Superior Proposal
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Section 6.02(b)
|
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Surviving Corporation
|
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Section 2.01
|
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tail
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Section 7.06(c)
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Takeover Laws
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Section 4.04(b)
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Takeover Proposal
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Section 6.02(a)
|
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tax return
|
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Section 4.14(c)
|
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taxes
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|
Section 4.14(c)
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Title IV Plan
|
|
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Section 4.13(e)
|
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Top-Up
|
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Section 1.03(a)
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Top-Up
Closing
|
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Section 1.03(b)
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Top-Up Shares
|
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Section 1.03(a)
|
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Transaction Litigation
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|
|
Section 7.03(a)
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Triggering Event
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Section 9.01(e)
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Voting Company Debt
|
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Section 4.03(b)
|
|
Section 10.03 Interpretation.
(a) When a reference is made in this Agreement to an
Article, a Section, Annex or Exhibit, such reference shall be to
an Article or a Section of, or an Annex or Exhibit to, this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
(b) The table of contents, headings and index of defined
terms contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
59
(c) Whenever the words “include”,
“includes” or “including” are used in this
Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation”. The word “will” shall
be construed to have the same meaning and effect of the word
“shall”. The words “hereof”,
“herein” and “hereunder” and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement. The word “extent” in the phrase “to
the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or
other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply
“if”. The word “or” when used in this
Agreement is not exclusive.
(d) The phrase “made available,” when used in
reference to anything made available to Parent, Sub or their
Representatives shall be deemed to mean uploaded to and made
available to Parent, Sub and their Representatives in the
on-line data room hosted on behalf of the Company in the on-line
workspace captioned “Project Blue” or otherwise being
in the possession of Parent, Sub or their Representatives (and
in such case accessible without limitation to Parent and Sub).
(e) The Parties have participated jointly in negotiating
and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a
question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement
shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule
requiring construction or interpretation against the Party
drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.
(f) References to a person are also to its permitted
successors and assigns. All terms defined in this Agreement
shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or
other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless
otherwise defined therein.
(g) All capitalized terms not defined in the Company
Disclosure Letter shall have the meanings ascribed to them in
this Agreement. Any information set forth in one section or
subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to
apply to and qualify the Section or subsection of this Agreement
to which it corresponds in number and each other Section or
subsection of this Agreement (other than
Section 4.03, Section 4.04,
Section 4.25, Section 4.26,
Section 4.27, Section 4.28 and
Section 4.29, which matters shall only be disclosed
by specific disclosure in the respective corresponding section
of the Company Disclosure Letter) to the extent that it is
reasonably apparent on its face that such information is
relevant to such other Section or subsection. No disclosure in
the Company Disclosure Letter relating to any possible breach or
violation of any contract or Law shall be construed as an
admission or indication that any such breach or violation exists
or has actually occurred.
(h) The definitions contained in this Agreement are
applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such
terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter
genders of such term.
(i) Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or
referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is
referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute
as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented,
including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver
or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of
comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments
thereto and instruments incorporated therein.
(j) Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of the
Company to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to
include an undertaking on the part of the Company to cause such
Subsidiary to take such action and, after the Effective Time, on
the part of Parent and the Surviving Corporation to cause such
Subsidiary to take such action. Whenever this Agreement requires
Sub to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to
include an undertaking on the part of Parent to cause such Sub
to take such action.
ARTICLE XI
General
Provisions
Section 11.01 Nonsurvival
of Representations and Warranties. None of
the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive
the Effective Time. This Section 11.01 shall not
limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by its
terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.
60
Section 11.02 Expenses. Except
as provided in Section 9.03, all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Offer, the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses,
whether or not the Offer, the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated.
Section 11.03 Notices. Except
for notices that are specifically required by the terms of this
Agreement to be delivered orally, all notices, requests, claims,
demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given when received if delivered personally;
when transmitted if transmitted by facsimile (with written
confirmation of transmission); the business day after it is
sent, if sent for next day delivery to a domestic address by
overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties
at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party
as shall be specified by like notice):
if to Parent or Sub, to:
Blue Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
x/x 0X
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Ltd.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax No.:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax No.:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
|
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
if to the Company, to:
Burger King Holdings, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Fax No.:
(000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax No.:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
|
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
and
Holland & Knight LLP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Fax No.: (000)
000-0000
Attention: Xxxx XxxXxxxxxxx, Esq.
Section 11.04 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, together with the
Confidentiality Agreement, the Equity Financing Commitment, the
Limited Guaranty and the Sponsor Tender Agreements, constitute
the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with
61
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and the
Confidentiality Agreement; provided that the
Confidentiality Agreement (including the standstill restrictions
therein) shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement except that the standstill restrictions, restrictions
on contact and restrictions on designations of approved
financing sources in the Confidentiality Agreement shall
terminate (solely with respect to 3G Capital Partners Ltd. and
its Affiliates, including Parent and Sub, and not for any other
person or for purposes of the definition of an Acceptable
Confidentiality Agreement) immediately following the execution
and delivery of this Agreement solely for purposes of permitting
the Offer or any other action contemplated hereby.
Section 11.05 No
Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except for the
provisions of (i) Section 7.06 and (ii) with
respect to the Financing Sources, the provisions of
Section 11.08(c), Section 11.09 and
Section 11.11(e), neither this Agreement nor any
other agreement contemplated hereby are not intended to or shall
confer upon any person other than the Parties hereto and thereto
any legal or equitable rights or remedies. Notwithstanding the
immediately preceding sentence, following the Effective Time,
the provisions of Article II relating to the payment
of the Merger Consideration shall be enforceable by holders of
Certificates or Company Equity Awards. The representations and
warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations
among the Parties and are for the sole benefit of the Parties.
Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are
subject to waiver by the Parties in accordance with
Section 9.05 without notice or liability to any
other person. The representations and warranties in this
Agreement may represent an allocation among the Parties of risks
associated with particular matters.
Section 11.06 Assignment. Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations
hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation
of law or otherwise by any of the Parties without the prior
written consent of the other Parties, and any assignment without
such consent shall be null and void; provided,
however, that, prior to the Merger Closing, Parent and
Sub may assign this Agreement (in whole but not in part) to
Parent or any of its Affiliates
and/or to
any parties providing the Financing pursuant to the terms
thereof (including for purposes of creating a security interest
herein or otherwise assign as collateral in respect of such
Financing). No assignment by any Party shall relieve such Party
of any of its obligations hereunder. Subject to the immediately
preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure
to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their
respective successors and assigns.
Section 11.07
GOVERNING
LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY LITIGATION
(WHETHER AT LAW, IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT) THAT MAY BE DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY BASED UPON, RELATING TO ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT
OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (INCLUDING THE EQUITY
FINANCING COMMITMENT OR THE DEBT COMMITMENT LETTER), OR THE
NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF, SHALL
BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF
DELAWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE LAWS THAT MIGHT
OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF
LAWS THEREOF.
Section 11.08 Jurisdiction;
Service of Process.
(a) Each of the Parties irrevocably submits to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of
Delaware
and to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court
sitting in New Castle County in the State of
Delaware for the
purpose of any Litigation directly or indirectly based upon,
relating to arising out of this Agreement or any transaction
contemplated hereby (including the Equity Financing Commitment
or the Debt Commitment Letter) or the negotiation, execution or
performance hereof or thereof, and each of the Parties hereby
irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect to such action or
proceeding shall be brought in, and may be heard and determined,
exclusively in such state or federal courts. Each of the Parties
irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the
laying of venue in, and any defense of inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of, any action or proceeding so brought. Each of the
Parties agrees that a final judgment in any action or proceeding
shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions
by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.
(b) Each of the Parties irrevocably consents to the service
of the summons and complaint and any other process in any other
action or proceeding relating to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, on behalf of itself or its property, by
personal delivery of copies of such process to such party at the
addresses set
62
forth in Section 11.03. Nothing in this
Section 11.08 shall affect the right of any party to
serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law.
(c) EACH OF THE PARTIES AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT BRING OR
SUPPORT ANY LITIGATION OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION (INCLUDING ANY
CROSS-CLAIM OR THIRD-PARTY CLAIM), WHETHER IN LAW OR IN EQUITY,
WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST ANY OF THE
FINANCING SOURCES IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING
ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THE DEBT
COMMITMENT LETTER OR THE PERFORMANCE THEREOF, IN EACH CASE, IN
ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
COUNTY OF NEW YORK, OR, IF UNDER APPLICABLE LAW EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION IS VESTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS, THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (AND
APPELLATE COURTS THEREOF).
Section 11.09 WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND
AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND
THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BASED UPON, RELATING TO
ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY (INCLUDING THE EQUITY FINANCING COMMITMENT OR THE DEBT
COMMITMENT LETTER) OR THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE
HEREOF OR THEREOF. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
(I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY
HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY
WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE
FOREGOING WAIVER, (II) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS
CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATION OF THIS WAIVER, (III) EACH PARTY
MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN
INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section 11.10 Specific
Performance; Remedies.
(a) The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which
monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate
remedy, would occur in the event that any provision of this
Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are
required of it hereunder to consummate the Merger, the Offer or
the transactions contemplated hereby) is not performed in
accordance with its specific terms or is otherwise breached.
Accordingly, the Parties agree that, prior to the valid
termination of this Agreement in accordance with
Section 9.01 and in all cases subject to the
specific requirements set forth in Section 11.10(b)
(as it relates to obtaining a remedy contemplated by this
Section 11.10(a) with respect to causing the Equity
Financing to be funded) or Section 11.10(c) (as it
relates to obtaining a remedy contemplated by this
Section 11.10(a) with respect to the Bridge
Take-Down), each Party shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions, or any other appropriate form of specific
performance or equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this
Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
hereof in any arbitration or any court of competent
jurisdiction, in each case in accordance with
Section 11.08, this being in addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled under the terms of this
Agreement at law or in equity.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing the right of the Company
to obtain an injunction, or other appropriate form of specific
performance or equitable relief, in each case, solely with
respect to causing Parent and Sub to, or to directly, cause the
Equity Financing to be funded at any time but only
simultaneously with the receipt of the Debt Financing (whether
under this Agreement, the Equity Financing Commitment or the
Limited Guaranty) shall be subject to the requirements that:
(i) with respect to any funding of the Equity Financing to
occur at the Offer Closing, all of the Offer Conditions (other
than the Financing Proceeds Condition) shall have been satisfied
or waived as of the expiration of the Offer, and, with respect
to any funding of the Equity Financing to occur at the Merger
63
Closing, all the conditions set forth in
Section 8.01 (other than
Section 8.01(d), to the extent the Offer Termination
has occurred) and Section 8.02 would have been
satisfied if the Merger Closing were to have occurred at such
time (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be
satisfied by actions taken at the Merger Closing, each of which
shall be capable of being satisfied at the Merger Closing),
(ii) the Debt Financing (or, in the case Alternative Debt
Financing has been obtained in accordance with
Section 7.08(c) for all the Debt Financing, such
Alternative Debt Financing) has been funded or would be funded
in accordance with the terms thereof at the Offer Closing or the
Merger Closing, as applicable, if the Equity Financing is funded
at the Offer Closing or the Merger Closing, as
applicable, and
(iii) the Company has irrevocably confirmed to Parent in
writing that if the Equity Financing and the Debt Financing were
funded, it would take such actions that are within its control
to cause the Merger Closing to occur.
(c) The right of the Company to obtain an injunction, or
other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable
relief, in each case, solely with respect to causing Parent and
Sub to effect a Bridge Take-Down shall be subject to the
requirements set forth in Section 7.08(f).
(d) The Parties agree not to assert that a remedy of
specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to Law
or inequitable for any reason, nor to assert that a remedy of
monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy. Each of the
Company and Parent acknowledges and agrees that, except as set
forth in Section 11.10(b), (i) each party shall
be entitled to seek to specifically enforce the terms and
provisions of this Agreement notwithstanding the availability of
any monetary remedy set forth in Section 9.03,
(ii) the provisions set forth in Section 9.03
(A) are not intended to and do not adequately compensate
for the harm that would result from a breach of this Agreement
and (B) shall not be construed to diminish or otherwise
impair in any respect any party’s right to specific
enforcement, and (iii) the right of specific enforcement is
an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and without that right, neither the Company nor Parent
would have entered into this Agreement.
Section 11.11 Maximum
Recourse; Limitation on
Liability. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, but subject to
Section 11.10:
(a) Company Maximum Liability. The
maximum aggregate liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries
for monetary damages in connection with this Agreement or any of
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be limited to
$175,000,000, and in no event shall Sponsor, Parent or Sub seek
or obtain, nor shall they permit any of their respective
Representatives or any other person on its or their behalf to
seek or obtain, nor shall any person be entitled to seek or
obtain, any monetary recovery or award in excess of $175,000,000
against the Company and its Subsidiaries, and in no event shall
Sponsor, Parent or Sub be entitled to seek or obtain any
monetary damages of any kind in excess of $175,000,000 against
the Company and its Subsidiaries, including consequential,
special, indirect or punitive damages for, or with respect to,
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (including, any breach by the Company), the termination
of this Agreement, the failure to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any claims or actions under
applicable Law arising out of any such breach, termination or
failure; provided, however, that in no event shall
Parent (on behalf of itself and its Affiliates) be entitled to
both (x) the receipt of the Company Termination Fee or the
$175,000,000 fee under Section 9.03(e) or recovery
of monetary damages against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, and (y) specific enforcement of this
Agreement.
(b) Parent and Sub Maximum
Liability. The maximum aggregate liability of
Sponsor, Parent and Sub for monetary damages in connection with
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby
(including the Financing) shall be limited to the amount of the
Parent Termination Fee, and in no event shall the Company seek
or obtain, nor shall it permit any of the Representatives or any
other person on its or their behalf to seek or obtain, nor shall
any person be entitled to seek or obtain, any monetary recovery
or award in excess of the amount of the Parent Termination Fee
against Sponsor, Parent or Sub, and in no event shall the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries be entitled to seek or obtain
any monetary
64
damages of any kind in excess of the amount of the Parent
Termination Fee against Sponsor, Parent or Sub, including
consequential, special, indirect or punitive damages for, or
with respect to, this Agreement or the Limited Guaranty or the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, any
breach by Sponsor, Parent or Sub), the termination of this
Agreement, the failure to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any claims or actions under
applicable Law arising out of any such breach, termination or
failure; provided, however, that in no event shall
the Company be entitled to both (x) the receipt of the
Parent Termination Fee or recovery of monetary damages against
Sponsor, Parent or Sub or any of their Subsidiaries, and
(y) specific enforcement of this Agreement.
(c) Termination Fees. In no event
shall (i) the Company be required to pay any termination
fee (whether the Company Termination Fee or the termination fee
provided in Section 9.03(e)) on more than one
occasion or (ii) Parent be required to pay the Parent
Termination Fee on more than one occasion. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (x) if Parent
receives the Company Termination Fee from the Company pursuant
to Section 9.03 or the termination fee provided in
Section 9.03(e), then any such payment shall be the sole
and exclusive remedy of Parent and Sub against the Company and
its Subsidiaries and any of their respective former, current or
future officers, directors, partners, equity holders, managers,
members or Affiliates and none of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective former, current or
future officers, directors, partners, stockholders, managers,
members or Affiliates shall have any further liability or
obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, (y) if the Company
receives the Parent Termination Fee from Parent pursuant to
Section 9.03, such payment shall be the sole and
exclusive remedy of the Company against any of Sponsor, Parent
or Sub and their respective Subsidiaries and any of their
respective former, current or future officers, directors,
partners, stockholders, managers, members or Affiliates and none
of Sponsor, Parent or Sub and their respective Subsidiaries and
any of their respective former, current or future officers,
directors, partners, stockholders, managers, members or
Affiliates shall have any further liability or obligation
relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby or (z) if Parent or Sub receives any
payments from the Company in respect of any breach of this
Agreement, and thereafter Parent is entitled to receive the
Company Termination Fee under Section 9.03, the
amount of such Company Termination Fee shall be reduced by the
aggregate amount of any payments made by the Company to Parent
or Sub in respect of any such breaches of this Agreement.
(d) Non-Recourse
Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, in no event shall (i) any
Non-Recourse Parent Party (as defined in the Equity Financing
Commitment, which excludes, for the avoidance of doubt, Sponsor,
Parent and Sub) have any liability for monetary damages to the
Company or its Subsidiaries relating to or arising out of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, other than
Sponsor’s obligations under the Limited Guaranty and the
Equity Financing Commitment and any liability of 3G Capital
Partners Ltd. under the Confidentiality Agreement and other than
the obligations of Parent and Sub to the extent expressly
provided herein, or (ii) any former, current or future
general or limited partners, equityholders, directors, officers,
employees, managers, members, Affiliates or agents of the
Company or its Subsidiaries have any liability to Sponsor,
Parent or Sub or any Non-Recourse Parent Party for monetary
damages relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, other than the obligations of
the Company to the extent expressly provided herein. In no event
shall the Company seek or obtain, nor shall they permit any of
the Representatives to seek or obtain, nor shall any person be
entitled to seek or obtain, any monetary recovery or monetary
award against any Non-Recourse Parent Party with respect to,
this Agreement or the Limited Guaranty or the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby (including, any breach by
Sponsor, Parent or Sub), the termination of this Agreement, the
failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or any claims or actions under applicable Law arising
out of any such breach, termination or failure, other than from
Parent or Sub to the extent expressly provided for in this
Agreement or the Sponsor to the extent expressly provided for in
the Limited Guaranty and the Equity Financing Commitment.
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(e) Financing Sources. The
Company’s right to specific performance set forth in
Section 11.10 or as provided in the Equity Financing
Commitment with respect thereto, the Company’s right to
receive payment of an amount up to the Parent Termination Fee
from Parent, and the guarantee thereof pursuant to the Limited
Guaranty (including in respect of any breach by Sponsor, Parent
or Sub) shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Company or
any of its Representatives or Affiliates (collectively, the
“Seller Group” and each, a “Seller
Group Member”), against (i) the Non-Recourse
Parent Parties, (ii) any Financing Source, or
(iii) any of the respective former, current, or future
Affiliates or Representatives of Parent’s Lenders
(collectively, the “Parent Group” and each a
“Parent Group Member”)), for all losses, claims
or liabilities suffered by any Seller Group Member as a result
of any breach of this Agreement by Parent or Sub or any breach
of the other agreements contemplated hereby, including the Debt
Commitment Letter or the Equity Financing Commitment by any
person in the Parent Group party thereto, the failure of the
Offer to be completed or the Merger to be consummated or in any
other respect with respect to this Agreement or any other
agreement contemplated hereby, and, upon payment of the Parent
Termination Fee or monetary damages in an aggregate amount equal
to the Parent Termination Fee paid by the Sponsor, Parent or Sub
or any of their Subsidiaries, none of the Parent Group Members
shall have any further liability or obligation relating to or
arising out of this Agreement, the other agreements contemplated
hereby or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
under any theory or with respect to any claim, whether sounding
in law or equity. Without modifying or qualifying in any way the
preceding sentence or implying any intent contrary thereto, for
the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any Seller Group
Member be entitled to seek or obtain any other damages of any
kind against any such Parent Group Member (including any of the
Financing Sources), including consequential, special, indirect
or punitive damages for, or with respect to, this Agreement or
the Limited Guaranty or the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (including, any breach by Parent or Sub), the
termination of this Agreement, the failure to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any claims or
actions under applicable Law arising out of any such breach,
termination or failure. Immediately following receipt by the
Company of the Parent Termination Fee or monetary damages in an
aggregate amount equal to the Parent Termination Fee paid by the
Sponsor, Parent or Sub or any of their Subsidiaries, the Company
shall cause all Seller Group Members to dismiss with prejudice
any judicial or arbitral proceeding initiated by any of them
with respect to this Agreement or the Limited Guaranty or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby against any Parent Group Member.
For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any Parent Group
Member be subject to, nor shall any Seller Group Member, seek to
recover, nor shall they accept, monetary damages in excess of
the Parent Termination Fee (it being understood that this
limitation shall apply in the aggregate to the entire Seller
Group).
(f) Effect on Limitations. The
Parties acknowledge and agree that nothing in this
Section 11.11 shall be deemed to affect any
Party’s right to specific enforcement pursuant to and in
accordance with Section 11.10.
Section 11.12 Severability. If
any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid,
illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or
public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this
Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so
long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions
contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially
adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or
other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being
enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify
this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the
parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable Law in an acceptable manner to the end that the
transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent
possible.
Section 11.13 Counterparts;
Facsimile and Electronic Signatures. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of
which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall
become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed
by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties. This
Agreement or any counterpart may be executed and delivered by
facsimile copies or delivered by electronic communications by
portable document format (.pdf), each of which shall be deemed
an original.
{Remainder of page intentionally left blank.}
66
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto
duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.
BLUE ACQUISITION HOLDING CORPORATION
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
BLUE ACQUISITION SUB, INC.
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
BURGER KING HOLDINGS, INC.
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive
Officer
[Signature
Page to the Merger Agreement]
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ANNEX I
Conditions
to the Offer
Notwithstanding any other term of the Offer or this Agreement,
Sub shall not be required to, and Parent shall not be required
to cause Sub to, accept for payment or, subject to any
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including
Rule 14e-1(c)
under the Exchange Act (relating to Sub’s obligation to pay
for or return tendered shares of Company Common Stock promptly
after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer), pay for any
shares of Company Common Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer
if: (a) there shall have not been validly tendered and not
validly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer that
number of shares of Company Common Stock which, when added to
the shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent and its
Affiliates, would represent at least 79.1% of the shares of the
Company Common Stock outstanding as of the expiration of the
Offer (the “Minimum Tender Condition”);
(b) the waiting period applicable to the purchase of shares
of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer and the
consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act (or any extension
thereof) shall have neither expired nor terminated;
(c) Parent (either directly or through its Subsidiaries)
shall not have received the proceeds of the Debt Financing (or
any Alternative Debt Financing)
and/or the
lenders party to the Debt Financing Letter (or New Debt
Commitment Letter for any Alternative Debt Financing) shall not
have confirmed to Parent or Sub that the Debt Financing (or any
Alternative Debt Financing) in an amount sufficient to
consummate the Offer and the Merger will be available at the
Offer Closing on the terms and conditions set forth in the Debt
Financing Letter (or New Debt Commitment Letter for any
Alternative Debt Financing) (“Financing Proceeds
Condition”), or (d) any of the following
conditions shall have occurred and be continuing as of the
expiration of the Offer:
(i) there shall be any Restraint in effect enjoining or
otherwise preventing or prohibiting the making of the Offer or
the consummation of the Merger or the Offer;
(ii) the consummation of the Offer is unlawful under any
Foreign Merger Control Law of any jurisdiction set forth in
Section 8.01(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(iii) any of the representations and warranties of the
Company (A) set forth in Section 4.03,
Section 4.04, Section 4.26 and
Section 4.27 shall not be true and correct in all
material respects, (B) set forth in
Section 4.07 shall not be true and correct without
disregarding the “Material Adverse Effect”
qualification set forth therein and (C) set forth in this
Agreement, other than those described in clauses (A) and
(B) above, shall not be true and correct (disregarding all
qualifications or limitations as to “materiality”,
“Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import
set forth therein), except, in the case of this clause (C),
where the failure of such representations and warranties to be
so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and
except, in each case, to the extent such representations and
warranties are made as of a specific date (in which case such
representations and warranties shall not be true and correct
(subject to such qualifications) as of such specific date only);
(iv) the Company shall have failed to perform or comply in
all material respects with its obligations required to be
performed or complied with by it under this Agreement;
(v) since the date of this Agreement, there shall have
occurred any change, event or occurrence that has had or would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(vi) as of immediately prior to the Offer Closing Date
(and, for the avoidance of doubt, before giving effect to the
incurrence of the Debt Financing and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such Debt
Financing), the Company is not Solvent;
(vii) in the event that the exercise of the
Top-Up is
necessary to ensure that Parent or Sub owns at least 90% of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock immediately after the
Acceptance Time, there shall exist under applicable Law or other
Restraint any restriction or legal impediment on Sub’s
ability and right to exercise the
Top-Up, or
the shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Top-Up
together with the shares of Company Common Stock validly
tendered in the Offer and not
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properly withdrawn are insufficient for Sub to owns at least 90%
of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock;
(viii) a Triggering Event shall have occurred; and
(ix) this Agreement shall have been terminated in
accordance with its terms.
At the request of Parent, the Company shall deliver to Parent a
certificate executed on behalf of the Company by the chief
executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company
certifying that none of the conditions set forth in clauses
(d)(iii), (d)(iv), (d)(v) and (d)(vi) above shall have occurred
and be continuing as of the expiration of the Offer.
For purposes of determining whether the Minimum Tender Condition
and the condition set forth in clause (d)(vii) have been
satisfied, Parent and Sub shall have the right to include or
exclude for purposes of its determination thereof shares
tendered in the Offer pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures.
The foregoing conditions shall be in addition to, and not a
limitation of, the rights and obligations of Parent and Sub to
extend, terminate or modify the Offer pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and
Sub and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement
and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, may be
waived by Parent and Sub in whole or in part at any time and
from time to time in their sole discretion (other than the
Minimum Tender Condition). The failure by Parent or Sub at any
time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed
a waiver of any such right and each such right shall be deemed
an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and from time
to time.
The capitalized terms used in this Annex I and not defined
in this Annex I shall have the meanings set forth in the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 2,
2010, by and among Blue Acquisition Holding Corporation, Blue
Acquisition Sub, Inc. and Burger King Holdings, Inc.
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