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Exhibit 99.2
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
DSC COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION,
ALCATEL ALSTHOM
and
NET ACQUISITION, INC.
Dated as of June 3, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
SECTION 1.1 The Merger....................................................................2
SECTION 1.2 Effect on Common Stock........................................................2
SECTION 1.3 Exchange of Certificates......................................................3
SECTION 1.4 Transfer Taxes; Withholding...................................................6
SECTION 1.5 Stock Options; Employee Stock Purchase Plan...................................7
SECTION 1.6 Lost Certificates.............................................................8
SECTION 1.7 Merger Closing................................................................9
ARTICLE II
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]............................................9
ARTICLE III
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
SECTION 3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation..........................................................9
SECTION 3.2 By-laws........................................................................9
SECTION 3.3 Officers and Directors.........................................................9
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 4.1 Corporate Existence and Power.................................................10
SECTION 4.2 Corporate Authorization.......................................................10
SECTION 4.3 Consents and Approvals; No Violations.........................................11
SECTION 4.4 Capitalization................................................................13
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SECTION 4.5 Subsidiaries..................................................................14
SECTION 4.6 SEC Documents.................................................................15
SECTION 4.7 Financial Statements..........................................................15
SECTION 4.8 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities............................................15
SECTION 4.9 Proxy Statement; Form F-4.....................................................16
SECTION 4.10 Absence of Material Adverse Changes, etc......................................16
SECTION 4.11 Taxes.........................................................................18
SECTION 4.12 Employee Benefit Plans........................................................19
SECTION 4.13 Litigation; Compliance with Laws..............................................22
SECTION 4.14 Labor Matters.................................................................22
SECTION 4.15 Certain Contracts and Arrangements............................................23
SECTION 4.16 Environmental Matters.........................................................23
SECTION 4.17 Intellectual Property.........................................................25
SECTION 4.18 Opinion of Financial Advisors.................................................26
SECTION 4.19 Board Recommendation..........................................................26
SECTION 4.20 Rights Plan...................................................................26
SECTION 4.21 Tax Treatment.................................................................27
SECTION 4.22 Finders' Fees.................................................................27
SECTION 4.23 Accounting Matters............................................................27
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ALCATEL AND NEWCO
SECTION 5.1 Corporate Existence and Power. ...............................................27
SECTION 5.2 Authorization.................................................................28
SECTION 5.3 Consents and Approvals; No Violations.........................................28
SECTION 5.4 Capitalization................................................................30
SECTION 5.5 SEC Documents.................................................................30
SECTION 5.6 Financial Statements..........................................................30
SECTION 5.7 Absence of Material Adverse Changes, etc......................................30
SECTION 5.8 Proxy Statement; Form F-4.....................................................30
SECTION 5.9 Share Ownership...............................................................31
SECTION 5.10 Newco's Operations............................................................31
SECTION 5.11 Tax Treatment.................................................................31
SECTION 5.12 Finders' Fees.................................................................31
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ARTICLE VI
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]............................................32
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
SECTION 7.1 Conduct of the Business of the Company........................................32
SECTION 7.2 Conduct of the Business of Alcatel............................................32
SECTION 7.3 Stockholders' Meeting; Proxy Material.........................................32
SECTION 7.4 Access to Information; Confidentiality
Agreement..........................................................33
SECTION 7.5 No Solicitation...............................................................34
SECTION 7.6 Director and Officer Liability................................................36
SECTION 7.7 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].......................................................37
SECTION 7.8 Certain Tax Matters...........................................................37
SECTION 7.9 Reasonable Best Efforts.......................................................37
SECTION 7.10 Certain Filings...............................................................37
SECTION 7.11 Public Announcements..........................................................39
SECTION 7.12 Further Assurances............................................................39
SECTION 7.13 Employee Matters..............................................................40
SECTION 7.14 Tax-Free Reorganization Treatment.............................................40
SECTION 7.15 Blue Sky Permits..............................................................41
SECTION 7.16 Listing.......................................................................41
SECTION 7.17 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].......................................................41
SECTION 7.18 State Takeover Laws ..........................................................41
SECTION 7.19 Certain Notifications.........................................................42
SECTION 7.20 Rights Plan...................................................................42
SECTION 7.21 Supplemental Indenture........................................................42
SECTION 7.22 Affiliate Letters; Accounting Matters.........................................42
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ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
SECTION 8.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligations........................................43
SECTION 8.2 Conditions to the Company's Obligation
to Consummate the Merger...........................................44
SECTION 8.3 Conditions to Alcatel's and Newco's
Obligations to Consummate the Merger...............................45
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
SECTION 9.1 Termination...................................................................46
SECTION 9.2 Effect of Termination.........................................................48
SECTION 9.3 Fees..........................................................................48
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.1 Notices.......................................................................50
SECTION 10.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties....................................52
SECTION 10.3 Interpretation................................................................52
SECTION 10.4 Amendments, Modification and Waiver...........................................52
SECTION 10.5 Successors and Assigns........................................................53
SECTION 10.6 Specific Performance..........................................................53
SECTION 10.7 Governing Law.................................................................53
SECTION 10.8 Severability..................................................................53
SECTION 10.9 Third Party Beneficiaries.....................................................54
SECTION 10.10 Entire Agreement..............................................................54
SECTION 10.11 Counterparts; Effectiveness...................................................54
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of June 3, 1998 (this
"Agreement"), by and among DSC Communications Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), Alcatel Alsthom, a corporation organized under the
laws of France ("Alcatel") and Net Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation and
a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcatel ("Newco").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Alcatel, Newco and the
Company, and Alcatel as sole stockholder of Newco, have each approved this
Agreement and the merger of Newco with and into the Company, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein, and in accordance with the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), whereby each issued and outstanding share
of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company
(other than shares of Common Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company
or by Newco immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in Section
1.1(b) hereof)), will, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and
limitations set forth herein, be converted into a fraction of an Alcatel
American Depositary Share (collectively, the "ADSs"), each of which ADS
represents one-fifth of a share, nominal value FF 40 per share of Alcatel (the
"Alcatel Shares") in accordance with the provisions of Article I of this
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, the Merger (as defined in
Section 1.1(a) hereof) is intended to qualify as a reorganization under the
provisions of Section 368(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties,
covenants, agreements and conditions set forth herein, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
SECTION 1.1 The Merger.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and
in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time, Newco shall be merged (the
"Merger") with and into the Company, whereupon the separate existence of Newco
shall cease, and the Company
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shall continue as the surviving corporation (sometimes referred to herein as the
"Surviving Corporation") and shall continue to be governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware and shall continue under the name "DSC Communications
Corporation."
(b) Concurrently with the Closing (as defined in Section 1.7 hereof),
the Company, Alcatel and Newco shall cause a certificate of merger (the
"Certificate of Merger") with respect to the Merger to be executed and filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State")
as provided in the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective on the date and time
at which the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the Secretary of
State or at such other date and time as is agreed between the parties and
specified in the Certificate of Merger, and such date and time is hereinafter
referred to as the "Effective Time."
(c) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
possess all rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises and be subject
to all of the obligations, restrictions, disabilities, liabilities, debts and
duties of the Company and Newco.
SECTION 1.2 Effect on Common Stock. At the Effective Time:
(a) Cancellation of Shares of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock
held by the Company as treasury stock and each share of Common Stock owned by
Newco immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled
and retired and cease to exist, and no consideration or payment shall be
delivered therefor or in respect thereto. All shares of Common Stock to be
converted into ADSs pursuant to this Section 1.2 shall, by virtue of the Merger
and without any action on the part of the holders thereof, cease to be
outstanding, be cancelled and retired and cease to exist; and each holder of a
certificate representing prior to the Effective Time any such shares of Common
Stock shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares of
Common Stock except the right to receive (i) the ADSs representing Alcatel
Shares into which such shares of Common Stock have been converted, (ii) any
dividend and other distributions in accordance with Section 1.3(c) hereof and
(iii) any cash, without interest, to be paid in lieu of any fraction of an ADS
in accordance with Section 1.3(d) hereof.
(b) Capital Stock of Newco. Each share of common stock of Newco issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into
one million shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share of the Surviving
Corporation with the same rights, powers and privileges as the shares so
converted and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Surviving Corporation.
(c) Conversion of Shares of Common Stock. Subject to Section 1.3(d)
hereof, each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time
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(other than shares of Common Stock referred to in the first sentence of Section
1.2(a)hereof) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of the holder thereof, be converted into .815 of an ADS (the "Exchange Ratio").
SECTION 1.3 Exchange of Certificates.
(a) Prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement (as defined in Section
7.3(b) hereof) The Bank of New York or such other bank, trust company, Person or
Persons as shall be designated by Alcatel and reasonably acceptable to the
Company shall act as the depositary and exchange agent for the delivery of the
ADSs in exchange for shares of Common Stock (the "Exchange Agent") in connection
with the Merger. At or promptly following the Effective Time, Alcatel shall
deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent the receipts
("ADRs"), representing ADSs, for the benefit of the holders of shares of Common
Stock which are converted into ADSs pursuant to Section 1.2(c) hereof (together
with cash as required to (i) pay any dividends or distributions with respect
thereto in accordance with Section 1.3(c) hereof and (ii) make payments in lieu
of fractional ADSs, pursuant to Section 1.3(d) hereof, being hereinafter
referred to as the "Exchange Fund")). To the extent required, the Exchange Agent
will requisition from The Bank of New York, as depositary for the ADSs (the
"Depositary"), from time to time, such number of ADSs as are issuable in respect
of shares of Common Stock properly delivered to the Exchange Agent. For purposes
of this Agreement, "Person" means any natural person, firm, individual,
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint venture,
company, business trust, trust or any other entity or organization, whether
incorporated or unincorporated, including a government or political subdivision
or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
(b) As of or promptly following the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail (and to make available for
collection by hand) to each holder of record of a certificate or certificates,
which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of
Common Stock (the "Certificates"), (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
Exchange Agent and which shall be in the form and have such other provisions as
Alcatel and the Company may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use in
effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for a certificate or
certificates representing that number of whole ADSs, if any, into which the
number of shares of Common Stock previously represented by such Certificate
shall have been converted pursuant to this Agreement (which instructions shall
provide that at the election of the surrendering holder, Certificates may be
surrendered, and the ADSs in exchange therefor collected, by hand delivery).
Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together
with a letter of transmittal duly completed and validly executed in accordance
with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may be required
pursuant to such
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instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in
exchange therefor the fraction of an ADS for each share of Common Stock formerly
represented by such Certificate, to be mailed (or made available for collection
by hand if so elected by the surrendering holder) within three business days of
receipt thereof (but in no case prior to the Effective Time), and the
Certificate so surrendered shall be forthwith cancelled. The Exchange Agent
shall accept such Certificates upon compliance with such reasonable terms and
conditions as the Exchange Agent may impose to effect an orderly exchange
thereof in accordance with normal exchange practices. No interest shall be paid
or accrued for the benefit of holders of the Certificates on the cash payable
pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) below upon the surrender of the
Certificates.
(c) No dividends or other distributions with respect to Alcatel Shares
with a record date on or after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of
any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the ADSs represented thereby by
reason of the conversion of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Sections 1.2(c)
hereof and no cash payment in lieu of fractional ADSs shall be paid to any such
holder pursuant to Section 1.3(d) hereof until such Certificate is surrendered
in accordance with this Article I. Subject to the effect of applicable laws,
following surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be paid, without
interest, to the person in whose name the ADSs representing such securities are
registered (i) at the time of such surrender or as promptly after the sale of
the Excess ADSs (as defined in Section 1.3(d) hereof) as practicable, the amount
of any cash payable in lieu of fractional ADSs to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 1.3(d) hereof and the proportionate amount of dividends or
other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore
paid with respect to ADSs, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date or as
promptly as practicable thereafter, the proportionate amount of dividends or
other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to
such surrender and a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with
respect to such ADSs.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no fraction
of an ADS will be issued and no dividend or other distribution, stock split or
interest with respect to Alcatel Shares shall relate to any fractional ADS, and
such fractional interest shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any
rights as a security holder of the ADSs. In lieu of any such fractional
security, each holder of shares of Common Stock otherwise entitled to a fraction
of an ADS will be entitled to receive in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 1.3 from the Exchange Agent a cash payment representing such holder's
proportionate interest in the net proceeds from the sale by the Exchange Agent
on behalf of all such holders of the aggregate of the fractions of ADSs which
would otherwise be issued (the "Excess ADSs"). The sale of the Excess ADSs by
the Exchange Agent shall be executed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE")
through one or more member firms of the NYSE and shall be executed in round lots
to the extent practicable. Until the net proceeds of such sale or sales have
been distributed to the holders of shares of Common Stock, the Exchange Agent
will, subject to Section 1.3(e) hereof, hold such proceeds in trust for the
holders of shares of Common Stock (the "ADS Trust").
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Alcatel shall pay all commissions, transfer taxes (other than those transfer
taxes for which the Company's stockholders are solely liable) and other
out-of-pocket transaction costs, including the expenses and compensation, of the
Exchange Agent incurred in connection with such sale of the Excess ADSs. As soon
as practicable after the determination of the amount of cash, if any, to be paid
to holders of shares of Common Stock in lieu of any fractional ADS interests,
the Exchange Agent shall make available such amounts to such holders of shares
of Common Stock without interest.
(e) Any portion of the Exchange Fund which remains undistributed to the
holders of the Certificates for one year after the Effective Time shall be
delivered to Alcatel, upon demand, and any holders of shares of Common Stock
prior to the Merger who have not thereto fore complied with this Article I shall
thereafter look for payment of their claim, as general creditors thereof, only
to Alcatel for their claim for ADSs, any cash without interest, to be paid, in
lieu of any fractional ADSs and any dividends or other distributions with
respect to ADSs to which such holders may be entitled.
(f) None of Alcatel, Newco or the Company or the Exchange Agent shall be
liable to any Person in respect of any ADSs held in the Exchange Fund (and any
cash, dividends and other distributions payable in respect thereof) delivered to
a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or
similar law. If any Certificates shall not have been surrendered prior to one
year after the Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on
which (i) any ADSs, (ii) any cash in lieu of fractional ADSs or (iii) any
dividends or distributions with respect to ADSs in respect of such Certificate
would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity (as
defined in Section 4.3(b) hereof)), any such ADSs, cash, dividends or
distributions in respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, become the property of Alcatel, free and clear of all claims or
interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.
SECTION 1.4 Transfer Taxes; Withholding. If any certificate for an ADS
is to be issued to, or cash is to be remitted to, a Person (other than the
Person in whose name the Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is
registered), it shall be a condition of such exchange that the Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer
and that the Person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange Agent any
transfer or other Taxes (as defined in Section 4.11(b) hereof) required by
reason of the issuance of the ADSs (or cash in lieu of fractional ADSs) to a
Person other than the registered holder of the Certificate so surrendered, or
shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Tax either
has been paid or is not applicable. Alcatel or the Exchange Agent shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the ADSs (or cash in lieu of fractional
ADSs) otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of
Common Stock such amounts as Alcatel or the Exchange Agent are required to
deduct and withhold under the Code,
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or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax law, with respect to the making
of such payment. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by Alcatel or the
Exchange Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this
Agreement as having been paid to the holder of shares of Common Stock in respect
of whom such deduction and withholding was made by Alcatel or the Exchange
Agent.
SECTION 1.5 Stock Options; Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(a) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each
option (other than an option described in Section 1.5(c) below) granted to a
Company employee, consultant or director of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company to acquire shares of Common Stock, which is outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time ("Option"), to be cancelled immediately prior to the
Effective Time. Immediately upon such cancellation, each holder of an Option so
cancelled, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, shall receive the number of
ADSs determined by dividing (X) the product of (1) the number of shares of
Common Stock subject to such Option and (2) the excess, if any, of the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger over the
per share exercise price of such Option, by (Y) the fair market value of an ADS
as of immediately prior to the Merger. At the election of Alcatel, in lieu of
the ADSs described in the immediately preceding sentence, immediately prior to
the Effective Time, each holder of a cancelled Option, in exchange for the
cancellation thereof, shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock
determined by dividing (X) the product of (1) the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to such Option and (2) the excess, if any, of the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger over the per
share exercise price of such Option, by (Y) the fair market value of a share of
Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Merger. Schedule 1.5(a) hereto sets
forth a list of Company executives who have agreed to the cancellation of all of
their Options, effective immediately prior to the Effective Time, in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 1.5(a). For purposes of this Section 1.5,
"fair market value" shall mean (i) in the case of the ADSs, the closing price on
the NYSE on the business day immediately preceding the Effective Time and (ii)
in the case of the Common Stock, the closing price on the NASDAQ National Market
("NASDAQ") on the business day immediately preceding the Effective Time.
(b) Each Option which is not cancelled in accordance with Section 1.5(a)
above, as of the Effective Time (other than any Options granted under the 1990
Stock Option and Cash Payment Plan or the Special Celcore Incentive Plan, which
Options shall terminate at the Effective Time), shall become and represent an
option to purchase a number of ADSs (a "Substitute Option"), determined by
multiplying (i) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Option
immediately prior to the Effective Time by (ii) the Exchange Ratio, at an
exercise price per ADS (increased to the nearest whole cent) equal to the
exercise price per share of Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time
divided by the Exchange Ratio;
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provided, however, that in the case of an Option to which Section 421 of the
Code applies by reason of its qualification as an incentive stock option under
Section 422 of the Code, the conversion formula shall be adjusted if necessary
to conform with Section 424(a) of the Code. After the Effective Time, each
Substitute Option shall be exercisable upon the same terms and conditions as
were applicable to the related Option prior to the Effective Time subject to
accelerated vesting if and to the extent provided in the applicable plans as of
the date hereof. Alcatel shall take such corporate action as may be necessary or
appropriate to, at or prior to the Effective Time, file a registration statement
on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate form) with respect to the
ADSs subject to any Substitute Options to the extent such registration is
required under applicable law in order for such ADSs to be sold without
restriction in the United States, and Alcatel shall maintain the effectiveness
of such registration statement for so long as such Substitute Options remain
outstanding.
(c) As of July 31, 1998, the Company's 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Company's International Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPPs") shall
be terminated. If the Effective Time is before July 31, 1998, then as of the
Effective Time each option then outstanding under the ESPPs shall be converted
into an option to acquire ADSs with such adjustments as are appropriate to
preserve the value inherent in such options with no detrimental effect on the
holders thereof.
SECTION 1.6 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
the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such
reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct (but consistent with
past practice of the Company), as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the ADSs to which the
holder thereof is entitled pursuant to this Article I.
SECTION 1.7 Merger Closing. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article VIII hereof, the closing of the Merger (the
"Closing") will take place at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on a date to be
specified by the parties hereto, and no later than the second business day after
the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VIII hereof,
at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, 919 Third Avenue,
New York, New York, unless another time, date or place is agreed to in writing
by the parties hereto (such date, the "Closing Date").
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ARTICLE II
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE III
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
SECTION 3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The
certificate of incorporation of the Company in effect on the date hereof (the
"Certificate of Incorporation"), shall be amended and restated at the Effective
Time to be in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and, as so amended and
restated, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law.
SECTION 3.2 By-laws. The by-laws of Newco in effect at the Effective
Time shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended
in accordance with applicable law, the certificate of incorporation of such
entity and the by-laws of such entity.
SECTION 3.3 Officers and Directors.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, the officers of the Company at
the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Company, until their respective
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with
applicable law.
(b) The Board of Directors of the Company effective as of, and
immediately following, the Effective Time shall consist of the directors of
Newco immediately prior to the Effective Time.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Alcatel and Newco as follows:
SECTION 4.1 Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is a corporation
duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware, and except as set forth on Schedule 4.1 of the disclosure
schedule delivered by the Company to Alcatel concurrently with the execution and
delivery by the Company of this Agreement and attached hereto (the "Company
Disclosure Schedule"), has all corporate powers and all govern mental licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals (collectively, "Licenses") required to
carry on its business as now conducted except for failures to have any such
License which would not, in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse
Effect (as defined below). The Company is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of
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its activities makes such qualification necessary, except in such jurisdictions
where failures to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to, in the
aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, the term
"Company Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
condition (financial or otherwise), business, assets or results of operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is not a result of
general changes in the economy in which such entities operate. The Company has
heretofore made available to Alcatel true and complete copies of the Certificate
of Incorporation and the by-laws of the Company as currently in effect.
SECTION 4.2 Corporate Authorization.
(a) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to approval of the Company's
stockholders, as set forth in Section 4.2 (b) hereof and as contemplated by
Section 7.3 hereof, to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder have
been duly and validly authorized, and this Agreement has been approved, by the
Board of Directors of the Company and no other corporate proceedings, other than
the approval of the Company's stockholders, on the part of the Company are
necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company
and constitutes, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Alcatel and Newco, a valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
(b) Under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and the rules
of the NASDAQ, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
of Common Stock outstanding on the record date, established by the Board of
Directors of the Company in accordance with the by-laws of the Company,
applicable law and this Agreement, is the vote required to approve the Merger
and adopt this Agreement.
SECTION 4.3 Consents and Approvals; No Violations.
(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.3(a) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder will (i) conflict with
or result in any breach of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or
the by-laws of the Company; (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or
give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or
obligation to repurchase, repay, redeem or acquire or any similar right or
obligation) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
mortgage, letter of credit, other evidence of indebtedness, guarantee, license,
lease or agreement or similar instrument or obligation to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is
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a party or by which any of them or any of their assets may be bound or (iii)
assuming that the filings, registrations, notifications, authorizations,
consents and approvals referred to in subsection (b) below have been obtained
or made, as the case may be, violate any order, injunction, decree, statute,
rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is subject, excluding from the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii)
such requirements, defaults, breaches, rights or violations (A) that would not,
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect and would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the
Company to perform its obligations hereunder or (B) that become applicable as a
result of the business or activities in which Alcatel or Newco or any of their
respective affiliates is or proposes to be engaged or any acts or omissions by,
or facts specifically pertaining to, Alcatel or Newco.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.3(b) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, no filing or registration with, notification to, or authorization,
consent or approval of, any government or any agency, court, tribunal,
commission, board, bureau, department, political subdivision or other
instrumentality of any government (including any regulatory or administrative
agency), whether federal, state, multinational (including, but not limited to,
the European Community), provincial, municipal, domestic or foreign (each, a
"Governmental Entity") is required in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement by the Company or the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder, except (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger in
accordance with the DGCL and filings to maintain the good standing of the
Surviving Corporation; (ii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the
Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder (the "HSR Act"), the EC Merger Regulations (as
defined below) or any foreign laws regulating competition, antitrust, investment
or exchange controls; (iii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations thereunder (the "Securities
Act") and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder (the "Exchange Act"); (iv) compliance with any applicable
requirements of state blue sky or takeover laws and (v) such other consents,
approvals, orders, authorizations, notifications, registrations, declarations
and filings (A) the failure of which to be obtained or made would not, in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and
would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to
perform its obligations hereunder or (B) that become applicable as a result of
the business or activities in which Alcatel or Newco or any of their respective
affiliates is or proposes to be engaged or any acts or omissions by, or facts
specifically pertaining to, Alcatel or Newco. For purposes of this Agreement,
"EC Merger Regulations" mean Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 of December
21, 1989 on the Control of Concentrations Between Undertakings, OJ (1989) L
395/1 (as amended) and the regulations and decisions of the Commission of the
European Community or other organs of the European Union or European Community
implementing such regulations.
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SECTION 4.4 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the "Preferred Stock"), of
which 500,000 shares were designated as Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock. As of March 31, 1998, there were (i) 118,752,003 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding and (ii) no shares of Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding. All shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and were not
issued in violation of any preemptive rights. As of March 31, 1998, there were
outstanding Options in respect of 11,969,488 shares of Common Stock at option
prices ranging from $2.44 to $40.25 per share of Common Stock. Except as set
forth in this Section 4.4 or Schedule 4.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
and except for changes since March 31, 1998, resulting from the exercise of
Options outstanding on such date and the rights to acquire shares through the
ESPPs based on elections made by employees prior to the date hereof and except
for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 7% Convertible
Subordinated Notes of the Company due 2004 (the "Convertible Notes") issued
pursuant to the Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of August 12, 1997 between
the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"), and Rights
issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement (as such terms are defined in Sections
7.20 and 4.20, respectively) there are outstanding (i) no shares of capital
stock or other voting securities of the Company, (ii) no securities of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for
shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company and (iii) no options
or other rights to acquire from the Company, and no obligation of the Company to
issue, any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of the Company (the items in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to collectively as the "Company
Securities"). Except as set forth in Schedule 4.4 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, there are no outstanding obligations of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Securities.
No Subsidiary of the Company owns any capital stock or other voting securities
of the Company.
SECTION 4.5 Subsidiaries.
(a) Each Subsidiary of the Company that is actively engaged in any
business or owns any material assets (each, an "Active Company Subsidiary") (i)
is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) has all corporate powers and
all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals
required to carry on its business as now conducted and (iii) is duly qualified
to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction where the character of the property owned or leased by it or the
nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for failures
of this representation and warranty to be true which would not, in the
aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Subsidiary" means with respect to any Person, any corporation or
other legal entity of which such Person owns, directly or indirectly, more than
50% of the outstanding stock
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or other equity interests, the holders of which are entitled to vote for the
election of the board of directors or other governing body of such corporation
or other legal entity. All Active Company Subsidiaries and their respective
jurisdictions of incorporation are identified in Schedule 4.5 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.5(b) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary of
the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable,
and such shares are owned by the Company or by a Subsidiary of the Company free
and clear of any Liens (as defined hereafter) or limitation on voting rights.
Except as set forth in Schedule 4.5(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there
are no subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, convertible securities
or other agreements or commitments of any character relating to the issuance,
transfer, sale, delivery, voting or redemption (including any rights of
conversion or exchange under any outstanding security or other instrument) for
any of the capital stock or other equity interests of any of such Subsidiaries.
There are no agreements requiring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make
contributions to the capital of, or lend or advance funds to, any Subsidiaries
of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Lien" means, with respect to
any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance
of any kind in respect of such asset.
SECTION 4.6 SEC Documents. The Company has filed all required reports,
proxy statements, registration statements, forms and other documents with the
SEC since January 1, 1995 (the "Company SEC Documents"). As of their respective
dates, and giving effect to any amendments thereto, (a) the Company SEC
Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the applicable rules
and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder and (b) none of the Company
SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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.
SECTION 4.7 Financial Statements. The financial statements of the
Company (including, in each case, any notes and schedules thereto) included in
the Company SEC Documents (a) were prepared from the books and records of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, (b) comply as to form in all material respects
with all applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the
SEC with respect thereto, (c) are in conformity with United States generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), applied on a consistent basis (except
in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q as filed with the
SEC under the Exchange Act) during the periods involved and (d) 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
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(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments which were not and are not expected to be, individually or in the
aggregate, material in amount).
SECTION 4.8 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or in the Company SEC Documents
filed prior to the date hereof, and except for liabilities and obligations
incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent
consolidated balance sheet included in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent
or otherwise) except for those that would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.9 Proxy Statement; Form F-4.
(a) None of the information contained in the Proxy Statement (and any
amendments thereof or supplements thereto) will at the time of the mailing of
the Proxy Statement to the stockholders of the Company and at the time of the
Special 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 were
made, not misleading, except that no representation is made by the Company with
respect to statements made or omitted in the Proxy Statement relating to Alcatel
or Newco based on information supplied by Alcatel for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects
with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, except that no representation is made by the Company
with respect to the statements made or omitted in the Proxy Statement relating
to Alcatel or Newco based on information supplied by Alcatel for inclusion in
the Proxy Statement.
(b) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company
for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the registration statement on
Form F-4 (and/or such other form as may be applicable and used) to be filed with
the SEC in connection with the issuance of ADSs and, if applicable, the deemed
issuance, if any, of shares of Common Stock by reason of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (such registration statement, as it may be
amended or supplemented, is herein referred to as the "Form F-4") will, with
respect to information relating to the Company, at the time the Form F-4 is
filed with the SEC, and at any time it is amended or supplemented or at the time
it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
SECTION 4.10 Absence of Material Adverse Changes, etc. Except as set
forth in the Company SEC Documents filed on or prior to May 29, 1998, since
March 31, 1998,
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there has not been a Company Material Adverse Effect, nor have there been any
event(s) which are reasonably likely in the aggregate to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. Without limiting the foregoing, except as disclosed in the
Company SEC Documents filed by the Company, as set forth in Schedule 4.10 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule or as contemplated by this Agreement, since March
31, 1998 (except in the case of subsection (f) below, as to which the relevant
date will be December 31, 1997), (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have
conducted their business in the ordinary course of business and (ii) there has
not been:
(a) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or
other distribution with respect to any shares of capital stock of the
Company, or any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition by the
Company or any Subsidiary (other than any wholly-owned Subsidiary) of
the Company of any outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity
securities of, or other ownership interests in, the Company or of any
Company Securities;
(b) any amendment of any provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation or by-laws of, or of any material term of any outstanding
security issued by, the Company or any Subsidiary (other than any
wholly-owned Subsidiary) of the Company;
(c) any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company of any indebtedness for borrowed money
other than borrowings under existing short term credit facilities not in
excess of $180,000,000 in the aggregate;
(d) any change in any method of accounting or accounting
practice by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, except for any
such change required by reason of a change in GAAP;
(e) any (i) grant of any severance or termination pay to any
director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, (ii) employment, deferred compensation or other similar
agreement (or any amendment to any such existing agreement) with any
director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company entered into, (iii) increase in benefits payable under any
existing severance or termination pay policies or employment agreements
or (iv) increase in compensation, bonus or other benefits payable to
directors, officers or employees of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company other than, in the case of employees (other than directors and
officers), in the ordinary course of business;
(f) issuance of securities of the Company other than pursuant to
Options, ESPPs, Convertible Notes or rights outstanding as of December
31, 1997;
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(g) acquisition or disposition of assets material to the Company
and its Subsidiaries, except for sales of inventory in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, or any acquisition or
disposition of capital stock of any third party (other than acquisitions
or dispositions of non-controlling equity interests of third parties in
the ordinary course of business where the aggregate cost of all such
acquisitions and dispositions does not exceed $10,000,000), or any
merger or consolidation with any third party, by the Company or any
Subsidiary;
(h) entry by the Company into any joint venture, partnership or
similar agreement with any person other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary;
or
(i) any authorization of, or commitment or agreement to take any
of, the foregoing actions except as otherwise permitted by this
Agreement.
SECTION 4.11 Taxes.
(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.11 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, (1) all federal, state, local and foreign Tax Returns
required to be filed by or on behalf of the Company, each of its Subsidiaries,
and each affiliated, combined, consolidated or unitary group of which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a member (a "Company Group") have been
timely filed, and all returns filed are complete and accurate except to the
extent any failure to file or any inaccuracies in filed returns would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (2)
all Taxes due and owing by the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any
Company Group have been paid, or adequately reserved for in accordance with
GAAP, except to the extent any failure to pay or reserve would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (3) there is no
presently pending and, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated or
scheduled audit examination, deficiency, refund litigation, proposed adjustment
or matter in controversy which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Company Material Adverse Effect with respect to any Taxes due and owing by the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Company Group nor has the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company filed any waiver of the statute of limitations
applicable to the assessment or collection of any Tax which would, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (4) all assessments
for Taxes due and owing by the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any
Company Group with respect to completed and settled examinations or concluded
litigation have been paid; (5) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the
Company is a party to any tax indemnity agreement, tax sharing agreement or
other agreement under which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company could
become liable to another person as a result of the imposition of a Tax upon any
person, or the assessment or collection of such a Tax; and (6) the Company and
each of its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all rules
and regulations relating to the withholding of Taxes.
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(b) For purposes of this Agreement, (i) "Taxes" means all taxes, levies
or other like assessments, charges or fees (including estimated taxes, charges
and fees), including, without limitation, income, corporation, advance
corporation, gross receipts, transfer, excise, property, sales, use,
value-added, license, payroll, withholding, social security and franchise or
other governmental taxes or charges, imposed by the United States or any state,
county, local or foreign government or subdivision or agency thereof, and such
term shall include any interest, penalties or additions to tax attributable to
such taxes and (ii) "Tax Return" means any report, return, statement or other
written information required to be supplied to a taxing authority in connection
with Taxes.
SECTION 4.12 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Except for any plan, fund, program, agreement or arrangement that is
subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States, Schedule
4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of
each material deferred compensation, incentive compensation, and equity
compensation plan; material "welfare" plan, fund or program (within the meaning
of section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA")); material "pension" plan, fund or program (within the meaning
of section 3(2) of ERISA); each material employment, termination or severance
agreement; and each other material employee benefit plan, fund, program,
agreement or arrangement, in each case, that is in writing and sponsored,
maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Company or
by any trade or business, whether or not incorporated (each, an "ERISA
Affiliate"), that together with the Company would be deemed a "single employer"
within the meaning of section 4001(b) of ERISA, or to which the Company or an
ERISA Affiliate is party, whether written or oral, for the benefit of any
employee, consultant, director or former employee, consultant or director of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. The plans, funds, programs, agreements
and arrangements listed on Schedule 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
are referred to herein collectively as the "Plans".
(b) With respect to each Plan, the Company has heretofore delivered or
made available to Alcatel true and complete copies of the Plan and any
amendments thereto (or if the Plan is not a written Plan, a description
thereof), any related trust or other funding vehicle, the most recent reports or
summaries required under ERISA or the Code and the most recent determination
letter received from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each Plan
intended to qualify under section 401 of the Code.
(c) No liability under Title IV or section 302 of ERISA that would
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect has been
incurred by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that has not been satisfied in
full, and no condition exists that presents a material risk to the Company or
any ERISA Affiliate of incurring any such liability, other than liability for
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premiums due the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (which premiums have been
paid when due).
(d) No Plan is a "multiemployer plan," as defined in section 3(37) of
ERISA, nor is any Plan a plan described in section 4063(a) of ERISA.
(e) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.12(e) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, each Plan has been operated and administered in all material respects
in accordance with its terms and applicable law, including, but not limited to,
ERISA and the Code.
(f) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.12(f) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, each Plan intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of section
401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service, and the Company is not aware of any circumstances that
would result in revocation of any such favorable determination letter.
(g) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.12(g) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, no Plan provides medical, surgical, hospitalization, death or similar
benefits (whether or not insured) for employees or former employees of the
Company or any Subsidiary for periods extending beyond their retirement or other
termination of service, other than (i) coverage mandated by applicable law, (ii)
death benefits under any "pension plan," or (iii) benefits the full cost of
which is borne by the current or former employee (or his or her beneficiary),
dependant or other covered person.
(h) There are no pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
or anticipated, claims that would reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect by or on behalf of any Plan, by any employee or
beneficiary covered under any such Plan, or otherwise involving any such Plan
(other than routine claims for benefits).
(i) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.12(i) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
will not, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any
current or former employee or officer of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to
severance pay, unemployment compensation or any other payment, except as
expressly provided in this Agreement, or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or
vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due any such employee or
officer, other than payments, accelerations or increases (x) under any employee
benefit plan that is subject to the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United
States or (y) mandated by applicable law.
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(j) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.12(j) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, no amounts payable under the Plans will fail to be deductible for
federal income tax purposes by virtue of section 280G of the Code.
(k) To the knowledge of the Company, all employee benefit plans that are
subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States are in
material compliance with such applicable laws, including relevant Tax laws, and
the requirements of any trust deed under which they were established, except for
such exceptions to the foregoing which, in the aggregate, would not reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 4.12(k) lists
all material employee pension benefit plans that are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction outside the United States except for such plans that are
governmental or statutory plans.
SECTION 4.13 Litigation; Compliance with Laws.
(a) Except as set forth in either the Company SEC Documents or in
Schedule 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or otherwise fully covered
by insurance, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, or to the
knowledge of the Company threatened against, the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company or any of their respective properties before any court or arbitrator
or any Governmental Entity which would reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.13(b) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable
laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of any federal, state, local or foreign
governmental authority applicable to their respective businesses and operations,
except for such violations, if any, which, in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All
governmental approvals, permits and licenses (collectively, "Permits") required
to conduct the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been obtained,
are in full force and effect and are being complied with except for such
violations and failures to have Permits in full force and effect, if any, which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.14 Labor Matters. Except to the extent set forth in Schedule
4.14 of the Disclosure Schedule as of the date of this Agreement (i) there is no
labor strike, dispute, slowdown, stoppage or lockout actually pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company; (ii) to the knowledge
of the Company, no union organizing campaign with respect to the Company's
employees is underway; (iii) there is no unfair labor practice charge or
complaint against the Company pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened before the National Labor Relations Board or any similar state or
foreign agency; (iv) there is no written grievance pending relating to any
collective bargaining agreement or other grievance procedure; (v) to the
knowledge of the Company, no charges with respect to or relating
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to the Company are pending before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or
any other agency responsible for the prevention of unlawful employment
practices; and (vi) there are no collective bargaining agreements with any union
covering employees of the Company, except for such exceptions to the foregoing
clauses (i) through (vi) which, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.15 Certain Contracts and Arrangements. Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.15 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each material contract or
agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
any of them is bound is in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party
thereto, is in breach of, or default under, any such contract or agreement, and
no event has occurred that with notice or passage of time or both would
constitute such a breach or default thereunder by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto,
except for such failures to be in full force and effect and such breaches and
defaults which, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.16 Environmental Matters.
(a) (i) "Cleanup" means all actions required to: (A) cleanup, remove,
treat or remediate Hazardous Materials (as defined hereafter) in the indoor or
outdoor environment; (B) prevent the Release (as defined hereafter) of Hazardous
Materials so that they do not migrate, endanger or threaten to endanger public
health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment; (C) perform pre-remedial
studies and investigations and post-remedial monitoring and care; or (D) respond
to any government requests for information or documents in any way relating to
cleanup, removal, treatment or remediation or potential cleanup, removal,
treatment or remediation of Hazardous Materials in the indoor or outdoor
environment.
(ii) "Environmental Claim" means any claim, action, cause of action,
investigation or written notice by any Person alleging potential liability
(including, without limitation, potential liability for investigatory costs,
Cleanup costs, governmental response costs, natural resources damages, property
damages, personal injuries, or penalties) arising out of, based on or resulting
from (A) the presence or Release of any Hazardous Materials at any location,
whether or not owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
(B) circumstances forming the basis of any violation of any Environmental Law
(as defined hereafter).
(iii) "Environmental Laws" means all federal, state, local and foreign
laws and regulations relating to pollution or protection of the environment,
including, without limitation, laws relating to Releases or threatened Releases
of Hazardous Materials or otherwise relating to
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the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport or
handling of Hazardous Materials.
(iv) "Hazardous Materials" means all substances defined as Hazardous
Substances, Oils, Pollutants or Contaminants in the National Oil and Hazardous
Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, 40 C.F.R. Section 300.5, or defined as
such by, or regulated as such under, any Environmental Law.
(v) "Release" means any release, spill, emission, discharge, leaking,
pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, dispersal, leaching or migration into the
environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
groundwater and surface or subsurface strata) or into or out of any property,
including the movement of Hazardous Materials through or in the air, soil,
surface water, groundwater or property.
(b) (i) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(b)(i) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its
Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws (which
compliance includes, but is not limited to, the possession by the Company and
its Subsidiaries of all permits and other governmental authorizations required
under applicable Environmental Laws, and compliance with the terms and
conditions thereof), except where failures to be in compliance would not, in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
since January 1, 1996 and prior to the date of this Agreement, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any communication (written or
oral), whether from a Governmental Entity, citizens' group, employee or
otherwise, alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is not in such
compliance, except where failures to be in compliance would not, in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(b)(ii) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, there is no Environmental Claim pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, against any Person whose
liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
or may have retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law that
would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(b)(iii) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, there are no present or, to the knowledge of the Company,
past, actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents,
including, without limitation, the Release or presence of any Hazardous Material
that could form the basis of any Environmental Claim against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, against any
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Person whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries has or may have retained or assumed either contractually or by
operation of law that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) The Company agrees to cooperate with Alcatel to effect the
retention of any permits or other governmental authorizations under
Environmental Laws that will be required to permit the Company to conduct the
business as conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to
the Closing Date.
SECTION 4.17 Intellectual Property.
(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries own or have the right to use all
material Intellectual Property (as defined hereafter) reasonably necessary for
the Company and its Subsidiaries to conduct their business as it is currently
conducted.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.17 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, to the knowledge of the Company: (i) all of the registrations relating
to material Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries are
subsisting and unexpired, free of all liens or encumbrances, have not been
abandoned; (ii) the Company does not infringe the intellectual property rights
of any third party in any respect that would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; (iii) no
judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order has been rendered by Governmental
Entity which would limit, cancel or question the validity of, or the Company's
or its Subsidiaries' rights in and to, any Intellectual Property owned by the
Company in any respect that would reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; and (iv) the Company has
not received notice of any pending or threatened suit, action or adversarial
proceeding that seeks to limit, cancel or question the validity of, or the
Company's or its Subsidiaries' rights in and to, any Intellectual Property,
which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement "Intellectual Property" shall mean
all rights, privileges and priorities provided under U.S., state and foreign law
relating to intellectual property, including without limitation all (x) (1)
proprietary inventions, discoveries, processes, formulae, designs, methods,
techniques, procedures, concepts, developments, technology, new and useful
improvements thereof and proprietary know-how relating thereto, whether or not
patented or eligible for patent protection; (2) copyrights and copyrightable
works, including computer applications, programs, software, databases and
related items; (3) trademarks, service marks, trade names, and trade dress, the
goodwill of any business symbolized thereby, and all common-law rights relating
thereto; (4) trade secrets and other confidential information; (y) all
registrations, applications and recordings for any of the foregoing and (z)
licenses or other similar
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agreements granting to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the rights to use
any of the foregoing.
SECTION 4.18 Opinion of Financial Advisors. The Company has received the
opinion or advice of Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. ("Xxxxxxx Sachs") to the effect that,
as of such date, the consideration to be received by the Company's stockholders
in the Merger is fair to the stockholders of the Company.
SECTION 4.19 Board Recommendation. The Board of Directors of the
Company, at a meeting duly called and held, has approved this Agreement and (i)
determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger, taken together are fair to and in the best interests of
the stockholders of the Company; (ii) taken all actions necessary on the part of
the Company to render the restrictions on business combinations contained in
Section 203 of the DGCL inapplicable to this Agreement, the Merger and Alcatel
and its Subsidiaries following the Effective Time; (iii) resolved to recommend
that the stockholders of the Company adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger
and (iv) determined that Article VI of the Certificate of Incorporation is not
applicable to the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.20 Rights Plan. The Board of Directors of the Company has
approved, and the Company and the Rights Agent referred to below have entered
into, an amendment to the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 25, 1996, by and
between the Company and Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank (formerly, KeyCorp
Shareholder Services, Inc.), as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"),
substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights Amendment"). Pursuant
to the Rights Amendment, neither the execution and delivery and performance of
this Agreement nor the Merger will result in the distribution of separate
certificates representing rights or the occurrence of a Distribution Date (as
defined in Section 3(a) of the Rights Agreement) or a "flip-in" or "flip-over"
event (that is, an event described in Sections 11(a)(ii) and 13(a) of the Rights
Agreement).
SECTION 4.21 Tax Treatment. Neither the Company nor any of its
affiliates has taken any action or knows of any fact, agreement, plan or other
circumstance that is reasonably likely to prevent the Merger from qualifying as
a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code.
SECTION 4.22 Finders' Fees. Except for Xxxxxxx Sachs, whose fees will be
paid by the Company, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other
intermediary which has been retained by, or is authorized to act on behalf of,
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that would be entitled to any fee
or commission from the Company, any
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Subsidiary of the Company, Alcatel or any of Alcatel's affiliates upon
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.23 Accounting Matters. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Company Disclosure Schedule, to the best knowledge of the Company, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have taken any action or failed to take any
action, which action or failure (without giving effect to any action or failure
to act by Alcatel or any of its Subsidiaries), or knows of any fact which, would
prevent the treatment of the Merger as a pooling of interests under applicable
U.S. accounting standards (including applicable standards of the SEC).
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ALCATEL AND NEWCO
Alcatel and Newco, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the
Company as follows:
SECTION 5.1 Corporate Existence and Power. Each of Alcatel and Newco is
a corporation duly incorporated (or other entity duly organized), validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation, has all corporate or other power, as the case may be, and all
Licenses required to carry on its business as now conducted except for failures
to have any such License which would not, in the aggregate, have a Alcatel
Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). Each of Alcatel and Newco is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its
activities makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions
where failures to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to, in the
aggregate, have a Alcatel Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, the term
"Alcatel Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
condition (financial or otherwise), business, assets or results of operations of
Alcatel and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is not the a result of
general changes in the economies in which such entities operate. Alcatel has
heretofore delivered or made available to the Company true and complete copies
of the governing documents or other organizational documents of like import, as
currently in effect, of each of Alcatel and Newco.
SECTION 5.2 Authorization. Each of Alcatel and Newco has the requisite
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
performance of its obligations hereunder have been duly and validly authorized
by the Boards of Directors of Alcatel and Newco, by Alcatel as the sole
stockholder of Newco, this Agreement has been approved by the Board of
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Directors of Newco, and no other proceedings on the part of Alcatel or Newco are
necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of
Alcatel and Newco and constitutes, assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company, a valid and binding obligation of
each of Alcatel and Newco, enforceable against each of them in accordance with
its terms.
SECTION 5.3 Consents and Approvals; No Violations.
(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.3(a) of the disclosure schedule
delivered by Alcatel to the Company concurrently with the execution and delivery
by Alcatel of this Agreement and attached hereto (the "Alcatel Disclosure
Schedule"), neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
performance by each of Alcatel and Newco of its obligations hereunder will (i)
conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws (or other governing or organizational documents) of
Alcatel or Newco, as the case may be, or (ii) result in a violation or breach
of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration
or obligation to repurchase, repay, redeem or acquire or any similar right or
obligation) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
mortgage, letter of credit, other evidence of indebtedness, guarantee, license,
lease or agreement or similar instrument or obligation to which any of Alcatel
or Newco is a party or by which any of them or any of the respective assets used
or held for use by any of them may be bound or (iii) assuming that the filings,
registrations, notifications, authorizations, consents and approvals referred to
in subsection (b) below have been obtained or made, as the case may be, violate
any order, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation of any Governmental
Entity to which either Alcatel or Newco is subject, excluding from the foregoing
clauses (ii) and (iii) such requirements, defaults, breaches, rights or
violations (A) that would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a Alcatel Material Adverse Effect and would not reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the ability of either Alcatel or Newco to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby or (B) that become applicable as a result
of any acts or omissions by, or facts specifically pertaining to, the Company.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.3(b) of the Alcatel Disclosure
Schedule, no filing or registration with, notification to, or authorization,
consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity is required in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Alcatel and Newco or the
performance by any of them of their respective obligations hereunder, except (i)
the filing of the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL and filings
to maintain the good standing of the Surviving Corporation; (ii) compliance with
any applicable requirements of the HSR Act or the EC Merger Regulations or any
other foreign laws regulating competition, antitrust, investment or exchange
controls; (iii) compliance with any
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applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (iv)
compliance with any applicable requirements of state blue sky or takeover laws
and (v) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, notifications,
registrations, declarations and filings (A) the failure of which to be obtained
or made would not reasonably be expected to have a Alcatel Material Adverse
Effect and would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of either
Alcatel or Newco to perform their respective obligations hereunder or (B) that
become applicable as a result of any acts or omissions by, or facts specifically
pertaining to, the Company.
SECTION 5.4 Capitalization. As of December 31, 1997 the issued share
capital of Alcatel amounted to FF 6,527,963,200 which is divided into
163,199,080 Alcatel Shares. The authorized capital stock of Newco consists of
1,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of which 100 shares are
outstanding, all of which are owned by Alcatel. All ADSs to be issued at the
Effective Time shall be, when issued, duly authorized and validly issued and
fully paid and non-assessable and free of preemptive rights with respect
thereto. As of December 31, 1997, there were outstanding options and securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for 20,239,544 Alcatel Shares
(representing a capital increase of nominal value FF 809,581,760).
SECTION 5.5 SEC Documents. Alcatel has filed all required periodic
reports on Forms 20-F and 6-K with the SEC since January 1, 1995 (the "Alcatel
SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates, and giving effect to any
amendments thereto, (a) the Alcatel SEC documents complied in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the
case may be, and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated
thereunder and (b) none of the reports on Form 20-F contained in the Alcatel SEC
Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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.
SECTION 5.6 Financial Statements. The financial statements of Alcatel
(including, in each case, any notes and schedules thereto) included in the
Alcatel SEC Documents (a) were prepared from the books and records of Alcatel
and its Subsidiaries, (b) comply as to form in all material respects with all
applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto and (c) are in conformity with applicable accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis (except in the case of unaudited statements, as
permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC).
SECTION 5.7 Absence of Material Adverse Changes, etc. Since December 31,
1997 there has not been a Alcatel Material Adverse Effect, nor have there been
any event(s) which are reasonably likely to have a Alcatel Material Adverse
Effect.
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SECTION 5.8 Proxy Statement; Form F-4.
(a) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Alcatel or
Newco, as the case may be, in writing for inclusion in the Proxy Statement (and
any amendments thereof or supplements thereto) will, with respect to information
relating to such entities, at the time of the mailing the Proxy Statement to the
stockholders of the Company and at the time of the Special 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 were made, not misleading.
(b) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Alcatel or
Newco, as the case may be, for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the
Form F-4 will, with respect to information relating to such entities, at the
time the Form F-4 is filed with the SEC, and at any time it is amended or
supplemented or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
SECTION 5.9 Share Ownership. Neither Alcatel nor Newco beneficially owns
shares of Common Stock.
SECTION 5.10 Newco's Operations. Newco was formed solely for the purpose
of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby and has not (i) engaged in
any business activities, (ii) conducted any operations other than in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby or (iii) incurred any liabilities
other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 5.11 Tax Treatment. Neither Alcatel nor any of its affiliates
has taken any action or knows of any fact, agreement, plan or other circumstance
that is reasonably likely to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code.
SECTION 5.12 Finders' Fees. Except for Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., whose fees
will be paid by Alcatel, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other
intermediary that might be entitled to any fee or commission in connection with
or upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based
upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Alcatel or Newco.
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ARTICLE VI
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
SECTION 7.1 Conduct of the Business of the Company. From the date hereof
until the Closing Date, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall conduct their
businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and shall use
their reasonable best efforts to preserve intact their business organizations
and relationships with third parties and to keep available the services of their
present officers and employees. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, the Company will not
(and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to) take any action or knowingly
omit to take any action that would make any of its representations and
warranties contained herein false in any material respect at or prior to the
Closing Date.
SECTION 7.2 Conduct of the Business of Alcatel. From the date hereof
until the Closing Date, Alcatel will not (and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to) take any action or knowingly omit to take any action that would
make any of its representations and warranties contained herein false in any
material respect at or prior to the Closing Date.
SECTION 7.3 Stockholders' Meeting; Proxy Material.
(a) Subject to the last sentence of this Section 7.3(a), the Company
shall, in accordance with applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation
and the by-laws of the Company duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a
special meeting of its stockholders (the "Special Meeting") as promptly as
practicable after the date hereof for the purpose of considering and taking
action upon this Agreement and the Merger. The Board of Directors of the Company
shall recommend approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger by the
Company's stockholders; provided that the Board of Directors of the Company may
withdraw, modify or change such recommendation if but only if (i) it believes in
good faith, based on such matters as it deems relevant, including the advice of
the Company's financial advisors, that a Financially Superior Proposal (as
defined in Section 7.5 hereof) has been made and (ii) it has determined in good
faith, based on the advice of outside counsel, that the failure to withdraw,
modify or change such recommendation is reasonably likely to result in a breach
of the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors of the Company under
applicable law. The Company may, if it receives a bona fide unsolicited
Acquisition Proposal (as defined in Section 7.5 hereof) delay the mailing of
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the Proxy Statement or the holding of the Special Meeting, in each case for such
reasonable period as would provide a reasonable opportunity for the Company's
Board of Directors to consider such Acquisition Proposal and to determine the
effect, if any, on its recommendation in favor of the Merger.
(b) Promptly following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall
prepare a proxy statement relating to the adoption of this Agreement and the
approval of the Merger by the Company's stockholders (the "Proxy Statement"),
and Alcatel shall prepare and file with the SEC, following resolution of any
comments the SEC may have with respect to the Proxy Statement, the Form F-4, in
which the Proxy Statement will be included. Alcatel and the Company shall
cooperate with each other in connection with the preparation of the foregoing
documents. Alcatel and the Company shall each use its reasonable best efforts to
have the Form F-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
practicable after such filing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts
to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the Company's stockholders as
promptly as practicable after the Form F-4 is declared effective under the
Securities Act.
(c) The Company shall as promptly as practicable notify Alcatel of the
receipt of any comments from the SEC relating to the Proxy Statement. Each of
Alcatel and the Company shall as promptly as practicable notify the other of (i)
the effectiveness of the Form F-4, (ii) the receipt of any comments from the SEC
relating to the Form F-4 and (iii) any request by the SEC for any amendment to
the Form F-4 or for additional information. All filings by Alcatel and the
Company with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Proxy Statement, the Form F-4 and any amendment or supplement
thereto, shall be subject to the prior review of the other, and all mailings to
the Company's stockholders in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall be subject to the prior review of Alcatel.
SECTION 7.4 Access to Information; Confidentiality Agreement. Upon
reasonable advance notice, between the date hereof and the Closing Date, the
Company shall (i) give Alcatel, its respective counsel, financial advisors,
auditors and other authorized representatives (collectively, "Alcatel's
Representatives") reasonable access during normal business hours to the offices,
properties, books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) furnish
to Alcatel's Representatives such financial and operating data and other
information relating to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective
operations as such Persons may reasonably request and (iii) instruct the
Company's employees, counsel and financial advisors to cooperate with Alcatel in
its investigation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided
that any information and documents received by Alcatel or Alcatel's
Representatives (whether furnished before or after the date of this Agreement)
shall be held in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement dated October 1,
1997, and the amendment thereto dated
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October 17, 1997, between Alcatel and the Company (as so amended, and after
giving effect to the last sentence of this Section 7.4, the "Confidentiality
Agreement"), which shall remain in full force and effect pursuant to the terms
thereof (subject, however, to potential modifications of the Confidentiality
Agreement set forth in Section 7.5 hereof), notwithstanding the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the termination hereof until the Effective Time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, but, without prejudice to the rights and
obligations of the parties under this Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement
is hereby amended by deleting the second sentence of the language added by
Amendment No.1, dated as of October 17, 1997, to the Confidentiality Agreement.
SECTION 7.5 No Solicitation. From the date hereof until the Effective
Time or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not
(whether directly or indirectly through advisors, agents or other
intermediaries), and the Company shall cause its respective officers, directors,
advisors, representatives or other agents of the Company not to, directly or
indirectly, (a) solicit, initiate or encourage any Acquisition Proposal (as
defined hereafter) or (b) engage in discussions or negotiations with, or
disclose any non-public information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries
or afford access to the properties, books or records of the Company or its
Subsidiaries to, any Person that has made an Acquisition Proposal or has advised
the Company that it is interested in making an Acquisition Proposal; provided
that, if and only if (i) the Company's Board of Directors believes in good
faith, based on such matters as it deems relevant, including the advice of the
Company's financial advisor, that such Acquisition Proposal is a Financially
Superior Proposal or that there is a reasonable likelihood that such Person will
make a Financially Superior Proposal and (ii) the Company's Board of Directors
determines in good faith, based on such matters as it deems relevant, including
the advice of the Company's outside legal counsel, that the failure to engage in
such negotiations or discussions or provide such information is reasonably
likely to result in a breach of the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors
of the Company under applicable law, then the Company may furnish information
with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries and participate in negotiations
regarding such Acquisition Proposal; provided that the Company will not disclose
any information to such Person without entering into an Acceptable
Confidentiality Agreement (as defined below). The Company shall provide Alcatel
with a copy of any written Acquisition Proposal received and a written statement
with respect to any non-written Acquisition Proposal received, which statement
shall include the identity of the parties making the Acquisition Proposal and
the terms thereof. The Company shall keep Alcatel informed on a current basis of
the status and content of any discussions regarding any Acquisition Proposal
with a third party. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquisition Proposal" means
any offer or proposal for a merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation
or other business combination involving the Company or any of its Material
Subsidiaries or the acquisition or purchase of over 30% or more of any class of
equity securities of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or any
tender offer (including self-tenders) or exchange offer that if consummated
would result in
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any Person beneficially owning 30% or more of any class of equity securities of
the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or a substantial portion of the
assets of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, other than
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. As used herein, a "Financially
Superior Proposal" shall mean an Acquisition Proposal which in the reasonable
judgment of the Company's Board of Directors, based on such matters as it deems
relevant, including the advice of the Company's financial advisor, (i) is likely
to result in a transaction providing aggregate value greater than that provided
pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) is reasonably capable of being financed by
the Person making such Proposal. As used herein, "Material Subsidiary" means any
Subsidiary whose consolidated revenues, net income or assets constitutes 30% or
more of the revenues, net income or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole. Nothing contained in this Section 7.5 shall prohibit the
Company or the Company's Board of Directors from taking and disclosing to the
Company's stockholders a position with respect to a tender or exchange offer by
a third party pursuant to Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the
Exchange Act or from making any disclosure required by applicable law. As used
herein, an "Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement" shall mean a confidentiality
agreement substantially similar to the Confidentiality Agreement; provided that
it may contain standstill provisions different than in the Confidentiality
Agreement if the Board of Directors of the Company determines its fiduciary
duties so require; provided further that, if such executed Acceptable
Confidentiality Agreement does not contain any standstill restrictions or
contains standstill restrictions less restrictive than those in the
Confidentiality Agreement or contains standstill restrictions which are then
waived or not enforced by the Company, then Alcatel shall similarly be released
from the standstill restrictions in the Confidentiality Agreement or the
standstill restrictions in the Confidentiality Agreement shall automatically be
modified to be no more restrictive than those contained in the executed
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement or the Company shall waive and not enforce
the standstill restrictions in the Confidentiality Agreement.
SECTION 7.6 Director and Officer Liability.
(a) Alcatel and the Company agree that all rights to indemnification and
all limitations on liability existing in favor of any Indemnitee (as defined
hereafter) as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws of the
Company or an agreement between an Indemnitee and the Company or a Subsidiary of
the Company as in effect as of the date hereof shall survive the Merger and
continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.
(b) For six years after the Effective Time, Alcatel shall or shall cause
the Surviving Corporation to indemnify and hold harmless the individuals who on
or prior to the Effective Time were officers or directors of the Company and any
of its Subsidiaries (the "Indemnitees") to the same extent as set forth in
subsection (a) above. In the event any claim in respect of which indemnification
is available pursuant to the foregoing provisions is asserted or
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made within such six-year period, all rights to indemnification shall continue
until such claim is disposed of or all judgments, orders, decrees or other
rulings in connection with such claim are fully satisfied.
(c) For six years after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation
shall provide officers' and directors' liability insurance in respect of acts or
omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time covering each such Person
currently covered by the Company's officers' and directors' liability insurance
policy on terms with respect to coverage and amount no less favorable than those
of such policy in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that in no event
shall the Surviving Corporation be required to expend more than an amount per
year equal to 200% of current annual premiums paid by the Company for such
insurance (the "Maximum Amount") to maintain or procure insurance coverage
pursuant hereto; provided, further, that if the amount of the annual premiums
necessary to maintain or procure such insurance coverage exceeds the Maximum
Amount, the Surviving Corporation shall maintain or procure, for such six-year
period, the most advantageous policies of directors' and officers' insurance
obtainable for an annual premium equal to the Maximum Amount.
(d) The obligations of Alcatel and the Surviving Corporation under this
Section 7.6 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely
affect any Indemnitee to whom this Section 7.6 applies without the consent of
such affected Indemnitee (it being expressly agreed that the Indemnitees to whom
this Section 7.6 applies shall be third party beneficiaries of this Section
7.6).
SECTION 7.7 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
SECTION 7.8 Certain Tax Matters. As soon as practicable after the public
announcement of the Agreement, the Company will provide Alcatel with written
schedules of (i) the taxable years of the Company for which the statutes of
limitations have not expired, (ii) those years for which examinations have been
completed, those years for which examinations are presently being conducted, and
those years for which examinations have not yet been initiated and (iii) the
jurisdictions in which the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is required to
file a Tax Return.
SECTION 7.9 Reasonable Best Efforts. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, each party hereto shall use its reasonable best
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 7.10 Certain Filings.
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(a) The Company and Alcatel shall cooperate with one another (i) in
connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement and the Form F-4
Registration Statement, (ii) in determining whether any action by or in respect
of, or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required, or any actions,
consents, approvals or waivers are required to be obtained from parties to any
material contracts, in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) in seeking any such actions, consents,
approvals or waivers or making any such filings, furnishing information required
in connection therewith or with the Proxy Statement and the Form F-4
Registration Statement and seeking timely to obtain any such actions, consents,
approvals or waivers. Without limiting the provisions of this Section 7.10, each
party hereto shall file with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade
Commission a Pre-Merger Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act in
respect of the transactions contemplated hereby within ten (10) days of the date
of this Agreement, and each party will use its reasonable best efforts to take
or cause to be taken all actions necessary, including to promptly and fully
comply with any requests for information from regulatory Governmental Entities,
to obtain any clearance, waiver, approval or authorization relating to the HSR
Act that is necessary to enable the parties to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the provisions of this Section
7.10, each party hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly make
the filings required to be made by it with all foreign Governmental Entities in
any jurisdiction in which the parties believe it is necessary or advisable.
(b) The Company and Alcatel shall each use its reasonable best efforts
to resolve such objections, if any, as may be asserted with respect to the
Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement under any
Antitrust Law (as defined below). If any administrative, judicial or legislative
action or proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging
the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement as violative
of any Antitrust Law, the Company and Alcatel shall each cooperate to contest
and resist any such action or proceeding, and to have vacated, lifted, reversed
or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order (whether
temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and that restricts,
prevents or prohibits consummation of the Merger or any other transaction
contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, by pursuing all
reasonable avenues of administrative and judicial appeal. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, none of Alcatel, any of its
Subsidiaries or the Surviving Corporation, shall be required (and the Company
shall not, without the prior written consent of Alcatel, agree, but shall, if so
directed by Alcatel, agree) to hold separate or divest any of their respective
assets or operations or enter into any consent decree or licensing or other
arrangement with respect to any of their assets or operations; provided,
however, that to the extent necessary to satisfy the conditions set forth in
Sections 8.1(b) and (c) and 8.3(g) insofar as Antitrust Laws are concerned,
Alcatel shall agree to, and, if so directed by Alcatel, the Company shall agree
to and shall, hold separate and/or divest assets or operations of the Company
with net revenues not greater than $175,000,000 for the year ended December 31,
1997.
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(c) Each of the Company and Alcatel shall promptly inform the other
party of any material communication received by such party from the Federal
Trade Commission, the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, the
Commission of the European Community or any other governmental or regulatory
authority regarding any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) "Antitrust Law" means the Xxxxxxx Act, as amended, the Xxxxxxx Act,
as amended, EC Merger Regulations and all other federal, state and foreign
statutes, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, administrative and judicial
doctrines, and other laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or
regulate competition or actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization
or restraint of trade.
SECTION 7.11 Public Announcements. Neither the Company, Alcatel nor any
of their respective affiliates shall issue or cause the publication of any press
release or other public announcement with respect to the Merger, this Agreement
or the other transactions contemplated hereby without the prior consultation
with the other party, except as may be required by law or by any listing
agreement with, or the policies of, a national securities exchange.
SECTION 7.12 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the
officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to
execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Newco, any
deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name
and on behalf of the Company or Newco, any other actions to vest, perfect or
confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right,
title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of
the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation, as a result
of, or in connection with, the Merger.
SECTION 7.13 Employee Matters.
(a) For a period of one year immediately following the date of the
Closing, Alcatel agrees to cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries
to provide to all active employees of the Company who continue to be employed by
the Company as of the Effective Time ("Continuing Employees") coverage by
benefit plans or arrangements that are, in the aggregate, substantially similar
(including, with respect to eligibility requirements, exclusions and the
employee portion of the cost of such benefit plans or arrangements) to those
provided to the employees of the Company immediately prior to the date of the
Closing (other than stock option or other equity-based plans and other than
employment, severance or similar plans and agreements); provided, however, that
nothing herein shall interfere with the Surviving Corporation's or any of its
Subsidiaries' right to make such changes as are necessary to conform
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with applicable law or to terminate the employment of any employee of the
Surviving Corporation or of any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) The Surviving Corporation shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries
to, honor in accordance with their terms all agreements, contracts,
arrangements, commitments and understandings described in Schedule 7.13 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule.
(c) The Surviving Corporation shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, at any time prior to 90 days following the date of the Closing,
without complying fully with the notice and other requirements of the Worker
Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act of 1988 (the "WARN Act"), effectuate
(a) a "plant closing" as defined in the WARN Act affecting any single site of
employment or one or more facilities or operating units within any single site
of employment of the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries; or (b) a
"mass layoff" as defined in the WARN Act affecting any single site of employment
of the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries; or any similar action
under applicable state, local or foreign law requiring notice to employees in
the event of a plant closing or layoff.
SECTION 7.14 Tax-Free Reorganization Treatment.
(a) The Company, Alcatel and Newco shall each execute and deliver to
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, counsel to Alcatel and Newco, and to
Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx, counsel to the Company, a certificate substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Company Tax Certificate" and the
"Alcatel and Alcatel Subsidiary Tax Certificate", as the case may be) at such
time or times as reasonably requested by either such law firm in connection with
its delivery of an opinion with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby,
and shall provide a copy thereof to Alcatel or the Company, as the case may be.
Whether prior to or following the Effective Time, none of the Company, Alcatel
or Newco shall, or shall permit any Subsidiary thereof, including following the
Effective Time, to, take or cause to be taken any action which would cause to be
untrue (or fail to take or cause not to be taken any action which causes to be
untrue) any of the information, representations or covenants set forth in the
Alcatel and Alcatel Subsidiary Tax Certificate or the Company Tax Certificate,
as the case may be. Alcatel, Newco and the Company agree that Skadden, Arps,
Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP and Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx may rely on the Alcatel and
Alcatel Subsidiary Tax Certificate and the Company Tax Certificate in rendering
their respective opinions as to the qualification of the Merger as a
reorganization under the provisions of section 368(a) of the Code.
(b) Each of Alcatel and the Company shall take all reasonable actions
necessary to cause the Merger to qualify as a reorganization under the
provisions of section 368(a) of the Code and to obtain the opinions of counsel
referred to in Sections 8.2(d) and 8.3(e) hereof, and neither party will take
any action inconsistent therewith.
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SECTION 7.15 Blue Sky Permits. Alcatel shall use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain, prior to the effective date of the Form F-4 Registration
Statement, all necessary state securities laws or "blue sky" permits and
approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Merger, and will pay all expenses incident thereto.
SECTION 7.16 Listing. Alcatel shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the ADSs to be issued in the Merger or upon exercise of Substitute Options
or upon cancellation of Options to be listed on the NYSE, subject to notice of
official issuance thereof, prior to the Closing Date.
SECTION 7.17 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
SECTION 7.18 State Takeover Laws. If any "fair price," "business
combination" or "control share acquisition" statute or other similar statute or
regulation is or may become applicable to the Merger, the Company and Alcatel
shall each take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on
the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the
effects of any such statute or regulation on the Merger.
SECTION 7.19 Certain Notifications. Between the date hereof and the
Effective Time, each party shall promptly notify the other party hereto in
writing after becoming aware of the occurrence of any event which will, or is
reasonably likely to, result in the failure to satisfy any of the conditions
specified in Article VIII.
SECTION 7.20 Rights Plan. Prior to the earlier of (i) the vote of the
stockholders of the Company at the Special Meeting or (ii) October 31, 1998,
without the consent of Alcatel, the Company shall not (a) redeem the rights
issued under the Rights Agreement (the "Rights"), or amend or modify or
terminate the Rights Agreement other than to delay the Distribution Date (as
defined therein) or to render the rights inapplicable to the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and the Merger or (b) permit the Rights to
become non-redeemable at the redemption price currently in effect.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, immediately prior to the Closing, the Company
shall redeem the Rights.
SECTION 7.21 Supplemental Indenture. The Company and the Trustee and, at
its option, Alcatel (or its designee) shall enter into and execute a
supplemental indenture to the Indenture providing that, from and after the
Effective Time, the Convertible Notes will be converted into ADSs on the terms
and ratios provided for in the Indenture.
SECTION 7.22 Affiliate Letters; Accounting Matters.
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(a) The Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the date of the Special
Meeting, deliver to Alcatel a list reasonably satisfactory to Alcatel setting
forth the names and addresses of all persons who at the time of the Special
Meeting are, in the Company's reasonable judgment, "affiliates" of the Company
for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act or under applicable SEC
accounting releases with respect to pooling of interests accounting treatment.
The Company shall furnish such information and documents as Alcatel may
reasonably request for the purpose of reviewing such list. The Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause each person who is identified as an
affiliate on such list to execute a written agreement at least 30 days prior to
the date of the Special Meeting in the form of Exhibit D hereto (collectively,
the "Affiliate Agreements").
(b) The Company shall cooperate with Alcatel and, unless otherwise
requested by Alcatel, shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the Merger to be
accounted for as a pooling of interests under applicable U.S. accounting
standards. Following the date hereof, the Company shall not take any action that
would preclude, or reasonably be expected to preclude, the application of
pooling of interests accounting to the Merger.
(c) As soon as practicable (but in no event later than 45 days after the
end of the first full calendar month in which there are at least 30 days of
combined post-Merger operations), Alcatel shall publish financial results
(including, by filing a press release) which satisfy the requirements of
Accounting Series Release No. 135 so as to permit the disposition by affiliates
of the Company of the ADSs received in the Merger consistent with the
requirements for treating the Merger as a pooling of interests for financial
accounting purposes.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
SECTION 8.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligations. The respective
obligations of the Company, Alcatel and Newco to consummate the Merger are
subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the
waiver on or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:
(a) This Agreement shall have been adopted, and the Merger approved, by
the stockholders of the Company in accordance with applicable law;
(b) Any applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act and the EC Merger
Regulation relating to the Merger shall have expired or been terminated;
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(c) No provision of any applicable law or regulation and no judgment,
injunction, order or decree shall prohibit the consummation of the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(d) The Form F-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act
and shall not be the subject of any stop order or proceedings seeking a stop
order, and any material "blue sky" and other state securities laws applicable to
the registration and qualification of the Common Stock following the Closing
shall have been complied with; and
(e) The ADSs issuable in accordance with the Merger shall have been
approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.
SECTION 8.2 Conditions to the Company's Obligation to Consummate the
Merger. The obligation of the Company to consummate the Merger shall be further
subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the
waiver on or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:
(a) Alcatel and Newco shall each have performed in all material respects
its respective agreements and covenants contained in or contemplated by this
Agreement that are required to be performed by it at or prior to the Effective
Time pursuant to the terms hereof;
(b) The representations and warranties of Alcatel and Newco contained in
Article V hereof, without giving effect to any materiality qualifications or
limitations therein or any references therein to Alcatel Material Adverse
Effect, shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Effective Time (or,
to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date,
they shall be true in all respects as of such earlier date), except (i) as
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) for such failures to be true
and correct which in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have an
Alcatel Material Adverse Effect;
(c) The Company shall have received certificates signed by any senior
executive vice president of Alcatel, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that,
to such officer's knowledge, the conditions set forth in Sections 8.2(a) and
8.2(b) hereof have been satisfied or waived; and
(d) The Company shall have received an opinion of Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx, its
tax counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it, dated the
Closing Date, to the effect that the Merger will constitute a reorganization for
United States federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Code.
SECTION 8.3 Conditions to Alcatel's and Newco's Obligations to
Consummate the Merger. The obligations of Alcatel and Newco to effect the Merger
shall be further subject to
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the satisfaction, or to the extent permitted by applicable law, the waiver on or
prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:
(a) The Company shall have performed in all material respects each of
its agreements and covenants contained in or contemplated by this Agreement that
are required to be performed by it at or prior to the Effective Time pursuant to
the terms hereof;
(b) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in
Article IV hereof, without giving effect to any materiality qualifications or
limitations therein or any references therein to Company Material Adverse
Effect, shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Effective Time (or,
to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date,
they shall be true in all respects as of such earlier date), except (i) as
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) for such failures to be true
and correct which in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect;
(c) Alcatel shall have received a certificate signed by the chief
executive officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that, to
such officer's knowledge, the conditions set forth in Sections 8.3(a) and 8.3(b)
hereof have been satisfied or waived;
(d) All foreign laws regulating competition, antitrust, investment or
exchange control shall have been complied with, and all approvals required under
such foreign laws shall have been received;
(e) Alcatel shall have received an opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, its tax counsel, in form and substance reasonable
satisfactory to it, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the Merger will
constitute a reorganization for United States federal income tax purposes within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code;
(f) All consents, approvals and waivers of third parties in respect of
each item listed on Schedule 4.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall
have been obtained and the representation set forth in Section 4.3(a)(ii) shall
be true and correct in all respects as of the closing without giving effect to
the Company Disclosure Schedule;
(g) No suit, action, proceeding or investigation by any Governmental
Entity, including the European Commission or any organ of the European Union,
shall have been commenced (and be pending) against Alcatel, the Company or Newco
or any of their respective affiliates, partners, associates, officers or
directors, or any officers or directors of such partners, seeking (i) to prevent
or delay the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) material damages in
connection therewith, (iii) any other remedy which would materially impair the
intended benefits to Alcatel of the Merger or otherwise have a Company Material
Adverse Effect or an Alcatel
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Material Adverse Effect or (iv) to impose criminal liability on any of the
foregoing entities or persons (each of (i)-(iv), a "Material Adverse
Consequence") and in each case, other than (iv), which Alcatel reasonably
believes is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Consequence; and
(h) Alcatel shall have received the Affiliate Agreements from each
person set forth on the list referred to in Section 7.22(a).
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
SECTION 9.1 Termination. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, this Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing Date, whether
before or after the Company has obtained stockholder approval:
(a) by the mutual written consent of the Company and Alcatel;
(b) by either the Company or Alcatel, if the Merger has not been
consummated by March 31, 1999, or such other date, if any, as the Company and
Alcatel shall agree upon; provided, that the party seeking to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b) shall not have breached in any
material respect its obligations under this Agreement;
(c) by either the Company or Alcatel, if there shall be any law or
regulation that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement illegal or if any judgment, injunction, order or decree enjoining
Alcatel, Newco or the Company from consummating the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement is entered and such judgment, injunction, order or decree shall
have become final and nonappealable;
(d) by Alcatel, if (i) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
withdrawn or modified or amended in any respect adverse to Alcatel or Newco its
approval or recommendation of the Merger or (ii) the Board of Directors of the
Company shall have recommended to the shareholders of the Company any
Acquisition Proposal or shall have resolved or announced an intention to do so,
or (iii) a tender offer or exchange offer for 30% or more of the outstanding
shares of the Company Common Stock is announced or commenced and, either (A) the
Board of Directors of the Company recommends acceptance of such tender offer or
exchange offer by its shareholders or (B) within ten (10) business days thereof,
the Board of Directors of the Company shall have failed to recommend against
acceptance of such tender offer
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or exchange offer by its shareholders, or (iv) the Company shall have otherwise
breached any of its obligations set forth in Sections 7.3(a), 7.5 or 7.20
hereof;
(e) by either the Company or Alcatel, if the approval of the
stockholders of the Company of the Merger and the adoption of this Agreement
shall not have been obtained at a duly held meeting of stockholders of the
Company or any adjournment thereof;
(f) by the Company, if the average of the daily closing prices per ADS
as reported on the NYSE Composite Tape for the twenty consecutive full NYSE
trading days immediately preceding the second full NYSE trading day prior to the
Special Meeting shall be less than the Floor Price (as hereinafter defined). As
used herein, the term "Floor Price" shall mean $37 unless the average of the
Standard & Poor's 500 Index for such 20 consecutive day period is less than or
equal to 92% of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index immediately following the close
of business on June 3, 1998, in which event the Floor Price shall be $35;
(g) by the Company, after October 31, 1998, for the purpose of accepting
a Financially Superior Proposal, so long as the adoption of this Agreement and
the approval of the Merger by the Company's stockholders at the Special Meeting
shall not have been obtained prior to such termination; or
(h) by the Company, if the Closing does not occur as a result of the
nonfulfillment of the condition set forth in Section 8.3(g) and all other
conditions necessary for the Closing have been satisfied or waived, sixty days
after the Closing would otherwise have been required to occur had Section 8.3(g)
been satisfied or waived.
The party desiring to terminate this Agreement shall give written notice
of such termination to the other party.
SECTION 9.2 Effect of Termination. Except for any breach of this
Agreement by any party hereto (which breach and liability therefor shall not be
affected by the termination of this Agreement or the payment of any Termination
Fee (as defined in Section 9.3(a) hereof) or expenses pursuant to Section 9.3
hereof), if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1 hereof, then
this Agreement shall become void and of no effect with no liability on the part
of any party hereto; provided, however that notwithstanding such termination the
agreements contained in Sections 9.2, 9.3 and 10.7 hereof and the proviso to
Section 7.4 hereof shall survive the termination hereof.
SECTION 9.3 Fees.
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(a) The Company agrees to pay Alcatel in immediately available funds by
wire transfer an amount equal to $120 million (the "Termination Fee")(less, in
the case of (ii) below, any amount previously paid pursuant to Section 9.3(b))
if:
(i) this Agreement is terminated by Alcatel pursuant to Section
9.1(d) hereof;
(ii) this Agreement is terminated by either the Company or
Alcatel pursuant to Section 9.1(e) hereof and an Acquisition Proposal
had been commenced, proposed or disclosed, and had not been irrevocably
withdrawn, prior to the vote of stockholders of the Company and, within
one year of such termination, the Company accepts a written offer or
enters into an agreement to consummate (or there is actually
consummated) (A) an Acquisition Proposal with such party or an affiliate
thereof, or (B) an Acquisition Proposal providing for consideration in
excess of either that contained in the initial Acquisition Proposal or
the consideration provided for pursuant to this Agreement; provided that
for purposes of this subsection (a) and Section 9.3(b), an Acquisition
Proposal shall not be deemed to be irrevocably withdrawn if the offeror
or any related party thereto or affiliate thereof shall have indicated
any intent or evidenced any reasonable likelihood, of resubmitting (or,
within one year after termination of this Agreement, actually makes or
proposes) such proposal or any amended or substitute proposal (or enters
into substantive negotiations with the Company with respect thereto);
(iii) this Agreement is (A) terminated by either the Company or
Alcatel pursuant to Section 9.1(b) hereof, (B) the Special Meeting had
not been held prior to such termination and (C) an Acquisition Proposal
had been commenced, proposed or disclosed, and, at least sixty days
prior to such termination, had not been irrevocably withdrawn; or
(iv) this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to
Section 9.1(g) hereof.
(b) The Company agrees to pay Alcatel in immediately available funds by
wire transfer an amount equal to $60 million (the "Alternative Termination Fee")
if this Agreement is terminated by either the Company or Alcatel pursuant to
Section 9.1(e) hereof and an Acquisition Proposal had been commenced, proposed
or disclosed and had not been irrevocably withdrawn, prior to the vote of the
stockholders of the Company.
(c) The Company shall pay the Termination Fee or Alternative Termination
Fee required to be paid pursuant to Section 9.3(a) or (b) hereof (if all
conditions thereto have been satisfied) (x) prior to the termination of this
Agreement by the Company, (y) not later than one business day after the
termination of this Agreement by Alcatel or (z) in the case of Section
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9.3(a)(ii) hereof, one business day after such fee becomes due; provided that in
the case of Section 9.3(b) hereof, if the Acquisition Proposal is determined not
to have been irrevocably withdrawn by reason of an Acquisition Proposal having
been made or proposed after termination of this Agreement, then such fee will be
payable not later than one business day after such event. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Alcatel shall have the right to treat any termination by the Company
of this Agreement as invalid, and the right to so terminate as waived, if the
Company fails to pay to Alcatel, at the appropriate time specified above, any
Termination Fee required to be so paid pursuant to Section 9.3(a) or 9.3 (b)
hereof.
(d) In the event this Agreement is (i) terminated and the
representations and warranties of the Company are not true in all material
respects at the time of termination, (ii) terminated and there had been a
Company Material Adverse Effect prior to the time of termination or (iii)
terminated (A) pursuant to Section 9.1(b) hereof and the Special Meeting had not
been held prior to such termination, or (B) pursuant to Section 9.1(e) hereof,
the Company agrees to pay Alcatel in immediately available funds an amount equal
to Alcatel's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, but not in any event to exceed
$10,000,000, including expenses of financial advisors, outside legal counsel and
accountants, incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. In no event shall the Company be liable for any payments under this
Section 9.3(d) if it has paid the Termination Fee or the Alternative Termination
Fee pursuant to Section 9.3(a) or 9.3(b) hereof.
(e) Except as provided otherwise in this Section 9.3, all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses.
(f) For purposes of this Section 9.3 only, "Acquisition Proposal" means
any bona fide offer or proposal for a merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
liquidation or other business combination involving the Company or the
acquisition or purchase of over 30% or more of any class of equity securities of
the Company, or any tender offer (including self-tenders) or exchange offer that
if consummated would result in any Person beneficially owning 30% or more of any
class of equity securities of the Company, or 30% of the assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, other than the Merger, in each case
providing for a specific amount, range of amounts or formula for determination
of amount, of consideration to be paid to the Company or its stockholders;
provided, however, that an offer or proposal made prior to the termination of
this Agreement shall not, for purposes of Section 9.3(b) hereof, be deemed to be
an "Acquisition Proposal" if there is no reasonable basis to conclude that it is
capable of being financed by the Person making such proposal; provided further
that the preceding proviso shall not apply in the event that the Company entered
into negotiations with such Person or furnished information to such Person
pursuant to Section 7.5 hereof.
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ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.1 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and other
communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement to any
party hereunder shall be in writing and deemed given upon (a) personal delivery,
(b) transmitter's confirmation of a receipt of a facsimile transmission, (c)
confirmed delivery by a standard overnight carrier or when delivered by hand or
(d) when mailed in the United States by certified or registered mail, postage
prepaid, addressed at the following addresses (or at such other address for a
party as shall be specified by notice given hereunder):
If to the Company, to:
DSC Communications Corporation
0000 Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
with a copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Xxxxx & Xxxx
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
and
Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx
0000 Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
If to Alcatel or Newco, to:
Alcatel Alsthom
00, xxx Xx Xxxxxx
00000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Fax: 00 0 0000 0000
Attention: Xxxx-Xxxxxx Halbron
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with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Xxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
SECTION 10.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties contained herein and in any certificate or other
writing delivered pursuant hereto shall not survive the Effective Time. All
other covenants and agreements contained herein which by their terms are to be
performed in whole or in part, or which prohibit actions, subsequent to the
Effective Time, shall survive the Merger in accordance with their terms.
SECTION 10.3 Interpretation. References in this Agreement to "reasonable
best efforts" shall not require a Person obligated to use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain any consent of a third party to incur out-of-pocket expenses
or indebtedness or, except as expressly provided herein, to institute
litigation. References herein to the "knowledge of the Company" shall mean the
actual knowledge of the officers (as such term is defined in Rule 3b-2
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of the Company. 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 phrase "made
available" when used in this Agreement shall mean that the information referred
to has been made available if requested by the party to whom such information is
to be made available. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliate" shall have
the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are solely
for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the parties
hereto and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. Any matter disclosed pursuant to any Schedule of the Company
Disclosure Schedule or the Alcatel Disclosure Schedule shall not be deemed to be
an admission or representation as to the materiality of the item so disclosed.
SECTION 10.4 Amendments, Modification and Waiver.
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(a) Except as may otherwise be provided herein, any provision of this
Agreement may be amended, modified or waived by the parties hereto, by action
taken by or authorized by their respective Board of Directors, prior to the
Closing Date if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed,
in the case of an amendment, by the Company and Alcatel or, in the case of a
waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective; provided that
after the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company, no such
amendment shall be made except as allowed under applicable law.
(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or
privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or
partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein
provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies
provided by law.
SECTION 10.5 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns; provided that neither the Company nor Alcatel
may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations
under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto.
SECTION 10.6 Specific Performance. The parties acknowledge and agree
that any breach of the terms of this Agreement would give rise to irreparable
harm for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy and accordingly the
parties agree that, in addition to any other remedies, each shall be entitled to
enforce the terms of this Agreement by a decree of specific performance without
the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy.
SECTION 10.7 Governing Law. This Agreement 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) as to all matters, including, but not limited to, matters of
validity, construction, effect, performance and remedies.
SECTION 10.8 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 herein are not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such determination that any term or
other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties
hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect
the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually
acceptable manner.
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51
SECTION 10.9 Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the
benefit of the Company and its successors and permitted assigns, with respect to
the obligations of Alcatel and Newco under this Agreement, and for the benefit
of Alcatel and Newco, and their respective successors and permitted assigns,
with respect to the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, and this
Agreement shall not, except to the extent necessary to enforce the provisions of
Article I and Section 7.6 hereof be deemed to confer upon or give to any other
third party any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, cause of action or
other right.
SECTION 10.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including any exhibits
or schedules hereto and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all other prior agreements or understandings, both written and oral,
between the parties or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof.
SECTION 10.11 Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be signed
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, with
the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall
have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.
46
52
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
DSC COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
ALCATEL ALSTHOM
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
NET ACQUISITION, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx-Xxxxxx Halbron
-----------------------------------------
Xxxx-Xxxxxx Halbron
Chairman of the Board
53
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
DSC COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
(Originally Incorporated as Digital Switch Corporation on September 20, 1976)
FIRST: The name of the corporation is DSC Communications
Corporation.
SECOND: The address of the registered office of the
corporation in the State of Delaware is 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, in the city of
Wilmington, County of New Castle, The name of its registered agent at that
address is The Corporation Trust Company.
THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any
lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the
Delaware Code (the "GCL").
FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is 100,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, each having a par value of one xxxxx ($.01).
FIFTH: The following provisions are inserted for the
management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation,
and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the
Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:
(1) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
(2) The directors shall have concurrent power with the
stockholders to make, alter, amend, change, add to or repeal the
By-Laws of the Corporation.
54
(3) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as
from time to time fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws
of the Corporation. Election of directors need not be by written
ballot unless the By-Laws so provide.
(4) No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation
or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach
of the director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii)
pursuant to Section 174 of the GCL or (iv) for any transaction from
which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal
or modification of this Article SIXTH by the stockholders of the
Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a
director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or
modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such
repeal or modification.
(5) In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or
by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby
empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things
as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless,
to the provisions of the GCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and
any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no
By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any
prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such By-Laws
had not been adopted.
SIXTH: Any merger or consolidation of the corporation with
or into any other corporation, or any sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation to or
with any other corporation, person or other entity, shall require the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least three-fourths of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled
to vote if, as of the record date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice thereof and to vote thereon, such other corporation, person
or entity is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent (5%)
or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote.
2
55
For purposes of this Article SIXTH, a corporation, person or other
entity shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any shares of capital
stock of the corporation (i) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to any
agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or
otherwise, or (ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly
(including shares deemed owned through application of clause (i) of this
paragraph above), by any other corporation, person or other entity (a) with
which it or its "affiliate" or "associate" (as referenced below) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
voting or disposing of capital stock of the corporation or (b) which is its
"affiliate" or "associate" as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For
purposes of this Article SIXTH, the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
corporation shall include shares deemed owned through the application of
clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph but shall not include any other shares
which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion
rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
The Board of Directors of the corporation shall have the power and
duty to determine for the purposes of this Article SIXTH, on the basis of
information then known to it, whether (a) any corporation, person, or other
entity beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote and
(b) any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of part of the assets of the
corporation involves substantially all of the assets of the corporation. Any
such determination by the Board shall be conclusive and binding for all
purposes of this Article SIXTH.
This Article SIXTH may not be amended or rescinded except by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least three-fourths of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled
to vote, at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders if notice of the
proposed alteration or amendment be contained in the notice of the meeting.
SEVENTH: Meetings of stockholders may be held within or
without the State of Delaware, as the By-Laws may provide. The books of the
Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the GCL) outside
the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to
time by the Board of Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.
EIGHTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter,
change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation,
in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, consistent with the
provisions of
3
56
Article SIXTH hereof, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are
granted subject to this reservation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, DSC COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION has caused
this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed and
attested by its duly authorized officers, this [ ] day of June, 1998.
DSC COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By:
-----------------------------------
Attest:
------------------------------
4
57
EXHIBIT B
AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT (the "Amendment"), dated as of ________, 1998, to
the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 25, 1996 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between DSC Communications Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company")
and Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Recitals
I. The Company and the Rights Agent have heretofore
executed and entered into the Rights Agreement.
II. The Company, Alcatel Alsthom, a corporation organized
under the laws of France ("Alcatel") and Net Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Alcatel ("Sub"), contemplate
entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") pursuant
to which, among other things, Sub will merge with and into the Company (the
"Merger").
III. Pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, the
Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement and amend the
Rights Agreement in order to make any change which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable and which shall be consistent with, and for the purposes
of fulfilling, the objectives of the Board of Directors of the Company in
adopting the Rights Agreement.
IV. The Board of Directors of the Company has determined
that an amendment to the Rights Agreement as set forth herein is necessary and
desirable and is consistent with the objectives of the Board of Directors of
the Company in adopting the Rights Agreement, and the Company and the Rights
Agent desire to evidence such amendment in writing.
V. All acts and things necessary to make this Amendment
a valid agreement, enforceable according to its terms, have been done and
performed, and the execution and delivery of this Amendment by the Company and
the Rights Agent have been in all respects duly authorized by the Company and
the Rights Agent.
Accordingly, the parties agree as follows:
A. Amendment of Section 1. Section 1 of the Rights
Agreement is supplemented to add the following definitions in the appropriate
locations:
"'Merger Agreement' shall mean the Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of June 3, 1998, by and among DSC Communications
Corporation, Alcatel Alsthom and Net Acquisition, Inc., as it may be
amended from time to time."
"'Merger' shall have the meaning set forth in the Merger
Agreement."
58
B. Amendment of the definition of "Acquiring Person".
The definition of "Acquiring Person" in Section 1(a) of the Rights Agreement is
amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:
"Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Alcatel Alsthom, Net Acquisition, Inc. and their Affiliates and
Associates shall not, individually or collectively, be deemed to be an
Acquiring Person by virtue of (i) the execution of the Merger
Agreement, (ii) the consummation of the Merger, or (iii) the
consummation of the other transactions contemplated in the Merger
Agreement."
C. Amendment of the definition of "Distribution Date".
The definition of "Distribution Date" in Section 1(i) of the Rights Agreement
is amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:
"Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, a
Distribution Date shall not be deemed to have occurred as the result
of (i) the execution of the Merger Agreement, (ii) the consummation of
the Merger, or (iii) the consummation of the other transactions
contemplated in the Merger Agreement."
D. Amendment of the definition of "Stock Acquisition
Date". The definition of "Stock Acquisition Date" in Section 1(aa) of the
Rights Agreement is amended by adding the following sentence at the end
thereof:
"Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, a
Stock Acquisition Date shall not be deemed to have occurred solely as
the result of (i) the execution of the Merger Agreement, (ii) the
consummation of the Merger, (iii) the consummation of the other
transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement, or (iv) the
announcement of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated in
the Merger Agreement."
E. Amendment of Expiration Date of Rights. Section 7(a)
of the Rights Agreement is amended and restated to read in its entirety as
follows:
"Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become
exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the registered
holder of any Right Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof and except as otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights
evidenced thereby in whole or in part upon surrender of the Right
Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side
thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or agency of
the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of
the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities,
cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are
exercised, at any time which is both after the Distribution Date and
prior to the time (the "Expiration Date") that is the earliest of (i)
the Close of Business on April 25, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date"),
(ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section
23 hereof (the "Redemption Date"), (iii) the time at which such Rights
are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof, or (iv) immediately
prior to the consummation of the Merger."
-2-
59
F. Amendment of Section 29. Section 29 of the Rights
Agreement is amended to add the following sentence at the end thereof:
"Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give any
holder of Rights or any other Person any legal or equitable rights,
remedies or claims under this Agreement by virtue of the execution of
the Merger Agreement or by virtue of any of the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement."
G. Effectiveness. This Amendment shall be deemed
effective as of the date first written above, as if executed on such date.
Except as amended hereby, the Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall be otherwise unaffected hereby.
H. Miscellaneous. This Amendment shall be deemed to be
a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely therein.
This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of such
counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. If any
provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be effected, impaired or invalidated.
-3-
60
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date and year first
above written.
Attest: DSC COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Attest: XXXXXX TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
-4-
61
EXHIBIT C
Form of Alcatel and Alcatel Subsidiary Tax Certificate
_________, 1998
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx
0000 Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
On behalf of Alcatel Alsthom ("Alcatel") and Net Acquisition,
Inc.("Newco"), the undersigned, in connection with the opinions to be delivered
by your firms pursuant to Sections 8.2(d) and 8.3(e) of the Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated June 3, 1998, among Alcatel, Newco and the Company, 1 hereby
certifies and represents that all the facts relating to the Merger, as
described in the Agreement, the Proxy Statement and the Form F-4, and the
representations stated herein are true, correct and complete in all respects as
of the date hereof and will be true, correct and complete in all respects at
the Effective Time:
1. The Merger will be effected for bona fide business reasons and
will be carried out strictly in accordance with the Agreement, and none of the
material terms and conditions therein will be waived or modified at or prior to
the Effective Time.
-----------------------------
1 For purposes of this certificate, capitalized terms used and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in
the Agreement and Plan of Merger and any schedules thereto.
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Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx
__________, 1998
Page 2
2. Prior to the Merger, neither Alcatel nor Newco (nor any other
subsidiary of Alcatel) has acquired or will acquire, or has owned in the past
five years, any shares of Company stock.
3. The payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of ADSs in
the Merger is solely for the purpose of avoiding the expense and inconvenience
to Alcatel of issuing and transferring fractional ADSs and does not represent
separately bargained-for consideration. The total cash consideration that will
be paid in the Merger to holders of Company stock instead of issuing fractional
ADSs is not expected to exceed one percent of the total consideration that will
be issued in the Merger to holders of Company stock.
4. Prior to the Merger, Alcatel will own all the capital stock of
Newco. Alcatel has no plan or intention to cause the Company to issue an
amount of additional shares of its stock that would result in Alcatel owning
less than 80% of the total combined voting power of all classes of Company
stock entitled to vote or less than 80% of the total number of each other class
of Company stock outstanding after the Merger.
5. In the Merger, except for cash paid in lieu of fractional
ADSs, Company stock will be exchanged solely for Alcatel voting stock
represented by ADSs. For purposes of this representation, Company stock
redeemed for cash or other property furnished by the Company will be considered
as acquired by Alcatel.
6. In the Merger, shares of Company stock representing at least
80% of the total combined voting power of all classes of Company stock entitled
to vote that are outstanding at the Effective Time, and at least 80% of the
total number of each other class of Company stock outstanding at the Effective
Time will be exchanged solely for ADSs. For purposes of this representation,
any shares of Company stock exchanged for cash or other property originating
with Alcatel will be treated as outstanding Company stock at the Effective
Time.
7. Alcatel has no plan or intention, following the Merger, to
liquidate the Company, to merge the Company with and into another corporation,
to sell or otherwise dispose of any of its stock of the Company, or to cause
the Company to
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Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx
__________, 1998
Page 3
sell or otherwise dispose of any of the assets held by the Company at the time
of the Merger, except for dispositions of such assets in the ordinary course of
business; provided, however, that Alcatel may transfer or cause the transfer of
assets or stock of the Company in a manner that is consistent with Section
368(a)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and
Treas. Reg. Section 1.368-2(k)(1-2), provided, further, that Alcatel may permit
the issuance by the Company of any amount of stock that will not prevent
Alcatel from losing "control" of the Company within the meaning of Section
368(c) of the Code after such issuances. Alcatel is considering the issuance by
the Company to an affiliate of Alcatel of shares of a separate class of Company
stock which would represent not more than 20 percent of the voting power of all
shares of Company stock entitled to vote and approximately 50 percent of the
value of the Company after such issuance, provided that this issuance will not
cause Alcatel to cease to have control of the Company within the meaning of
Section 368(c) of the Code.
8. Alcatel, Newco and the Company will each pay, and will not be
reimbursed for, their respective expenses, if any, incurred in connection with
the Merger.
9. Following the Merger, Alcatel intends to cause the Company to
continue its historic business or to use a significant portion of its historic
business assets in a business, in each case, within the meaning of section
1.368-1(d) of the Treasury Regulations.
10. Neither Alcatel nor Newco is an investment company as defined
in Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code.
11. Neither Alcatel nor Newco will take any position on any
federal, state or local income or franchise tax return, or will take any other
tax reporting position, that is inconsistent with the treatment of the Merger
as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
12. None of the compensation to be received by any
stockholder-employee of the Company in respect of periods after the Effective
Time represents separate consideration for, or is allocable to, any of their
Company stock. None of
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Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx
__________, 1998
Page 4
the ADSs that will be received by Company stockholder-employees in the Merger
represents separately bargained-for consideration which is allocable to any
employment agreement or arrangement. The compensation paid to any shareholder-
employees will be for services actually rendered and will be determined by
bargaining at arm's-length.
13. No stock of Newco will be issued to Company stockholders in
the Merger.
14. There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between
Alcatel and the Company or between Newco and the Company that was issued or
acquired, or will be settled, at a discount.
15. The Agreement represents the entire understanding of the
Company, Alcatel and Newco with respect to the Merger.
16. Newco is a corporation newly formed for the purpose of
participating in the Merger and at no time prior to the Merger will have any
assets (other than nominal assets contributed upon the formation of Newco,
which assets will be held by the Company following the Merger) or business
operations. Newco will have no liabilities to be assumed by the Company, and
will not transfer to the Company any assets subject to liabilities in the
Merger.
17. Following the Merger, the Company will hold at least 90
percent of the fair market value of the net assets and at least 70 percent of
the fair market value of the gross assets that the Company held immediately
prior to the Merger. For purposes of this representation, Company assets used
to pay its reorganization expenses and all redemptions and distributions
(except for regular, normal dividends) made by the Company immediately
preceding or in contemplation of the Merger will be included as assets of the
Company prior to the Merger.
18. Except for the conversion obligation with respect to the
Convertible Notes of the Company, Alcatel will not assume any liabilities of
the Company, any subsidiaries of the Company or the Company stockholders, and
none of the Company stock will be subject to any liabilities.
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Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx
__________, 1998
Page 5
19. The Company stock will be surrendered pursuant to the Merger
in an arms-length exchange, and the ADSs received in exchange therefor
represent the sole bargained-for consideration therefor. The fair market value
of the ADSs received by each holder of Company stock will be approximately
equal to the fair market value of the Company stock surrendered by such holder
in the Merger.
20. Neither Alcatel nor any person "related" to Alcatel within the
meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.368- 1(e)(3) has any plan or intention,
following the Merger, to reacquire any of the ADSs issued in the Merger.
21. Pursuant to the Merger, "U.S. transferors" (as defined in
Treas. Reg. Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(5)(v)) will, in the aggregate, receive,
actually and constructively, less than 50 percent of both the total voting
power and the total value of the stock of Alcatel.
22. U.S. persons that are either officers or directors of the
Company or that are "five-percent target shareholders" (as defined in Treas.
Reg. Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(5)(iii)) of the Company will own, actually and
constructively, 50 percent or less of both the total voting power and the total
value of the stock of Alcatel after the Merger. For purposes of this
representation, any Alcatel stock owned by such U.S. persons immediately after
the Merger will be taken into account, whether or not it was received in
exchange for stock or securities of the Company.
23. Alcatel will cause the Company to comply with the reporting
requirements contained in Treas. Reg. Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(6).
24. Alcatel or one or more of its "qualified subsidiaries" or
"qualified partnerships" (as defined in Treas. Reg. Section
1.367(a)-3(c)(5) (vii) and (viii)) will have been engaged in an active trade or
business outside the United States, within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section
1.367(a)-2T(b)(2) and (3), for the entire 36-month period immediately preceding
the Merger.
25. At the time of the Merger, neither the transferors of Company
stock nor Alcatel (or, if applicable, the qualified subsidiary or qualified
partnership of Alcatel engaged in the active trade or business) will have an
intention to substantially
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__________, 1998
Page 6
dispose of or discontinue any active trade or business referred to in paragraph
25 of this certificate.
26. Taking into account the rules contained in Treas. Reg. Section
1.367(a)-3(c)(3)(iii)(B), at the time of the Merger, the fair market value of
Alcatel will be greater than the fair market value of the Company.
I understand that Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, as counsel
for Alcatel, and Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx, as counsel for Company, will rely on this
certificate in rendering their respective opinions concerning certain of the
federal income tax consequences of the Merger and hereby commit promptly and
timely to inform Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
in writing if, after signing this certificate, any of the facts described
herein or in the Proxy Statement or Form F-4 or any of the foregoing
representations is or becomes untrue, incorrect or incomplete in any respect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, on behalf of the Company signed
this certificate this __th day of June __, 1998.
ALCATEL ALSTHOM
By:
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
67
Form of Company Tax Certificate
________, 1998
Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx
0000 Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
On behalf of DSC Communications Corporation (the "Company"), the
undersigned, in connection with the opinions to be delivered by your firms
pursuant to Sections 8.2(d) and 8.3(e) of the Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated June 3, 1998, among Alcatel,(1) Newco and the Company, hereby certifies
and represents that all the facts relating to the Merger, as described in the
Agreement, the Proxy Statement and the Form F-4, and the representations stated
herein are true, correct and complete in all respects as of the date hereof and
will be true, correct and complete in all respects at the Effective Time:
1. The Merger will be effected for bona fide business reasons and
will be carried out strictly in accordance with the Agreement, and
none of the material terms and conditions therein will be waived or
modified at or prior to the Effective Time.
----------------------------
(1) For purposes of this certificate, capitalized terms used and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in
the Agreement and Plan of Merger and any schedules thereto.
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Xxxxx & McKenzie
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
_________, 1998
Page 2
2. Prior to and in connection with the Merger, (i) neither
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has redeemed or otherwise acquired
any shares of Company stock, (ii) no person related (as defined in
Treas. Reg. Section 1.368-1(e)(3) determined without regard to Treas.
Reg. Section 1.368-1(e)(3)(i)(A)) to the Company has acquired any
shares of Company stock with consideration other than either Company
stock or ADSs (or other Alcatel stock) and (iii) the Company has not
made an extraordinary distribution (within the meaning of Treas. Reg.
Section 1.368-1T(e)(1)(ii)(A)) with respect to its stock.
3. The Company, the stockholders of the Company, Alcatel and
Newco each has paid and will pay its expenses, and will not be
reimbursed for, their respective expenses, if any, incurred in
connection with the Merger.
4. Following the Merger, the Company will hold at least 90
percent of the fair market value of the net assets and at least 70
percent of the fair market value of the gross assets that the Company
held immediately prior to the Merger. For purposes of this
representation, Company assets used to pay its reorganization expenses
and all redemptions and distributions (except for regular, normal
dividends) made by the Company immediately preceding or in
contemplation of, the Merger will be included as assets of the Company
prior to the Merger.
5. Except as provided in Annex I attached herewith, immediately
prior to the time of the Merger, the Company will not have outstanding
any warrants, options, convertible securities or any other type of
right pursuant to which any person could acquire Company stock.
6. The Company will not issue any additional shares of Company
stock prior to the Merger. There is no plan or intention for the
Company to authorize any additional class of stock prior to the
Merger. The Company has not made any distribution with respect to its
stock in contemplation of or as part of the plan which includes the
Merger, excluding for purposes of this representation regular, normal
dividends.
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7. In the Merger, except for cash paid in lieu of fractional
ADSs, Company stock will be exchanged solely for Alcatel voting stock
represented by ADSs. For purposes of this representation, Company
stock redeemed for cash or other property furnished by the Company
will be considered as acquired by Alcatel.
8. In the Merger, shares of Company stock representing at least
80% of the total combined voting power of all classes of Company stock
entitled to vote that are outstanding at the Effective Time, and at
least 80% of the total number of each other class of Company stock
outstanding at the Effective Time will be exchanged solely for ADSs.
For purposes of this representation, any shares of Company stock
exchanged for cash or other property originating with Alcatel will be
treated as outstanding Company stock at the Effective Time.
9. The Company is not an investment company as defined in Section
368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code").
10. The Company will not take, and the Company is not aware of any
plan or intention of any Company stockholders to take, any position on
any federal, state or local income or franchise tax return, or to take
any other tax reporting position, that is inconsistent with the
treatment of the Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.
11. None of the compensation to be received by any
stockholder-employee of the Company in respect of periods at or prior
to the Effective Time represents separate consideration for, or is
allocable to, any of their Company stock. None of the ADSs that will
be received by Company stockholder-employees in the Merger represents
separately bargained-for consideration which is allocable to any
employment agreement or arrangement. The compensation paid to any
shareholder-employees will be for services actually rendered and will
be determined by bargaining at arm's-length.
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12. There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between
Alcatel and the Company or between Newco and the Company that was
issued or acquired, or will be settled, at a discount.
13. The Company is not under jurisdiction of a court in a Title 11
or similar case within the meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the
Code.
14. The Agreement represents the entire understanding of the
Company, Alcatel and Newco with respect to the Merger.
15. The Company stock will be surrendered pursuant to the Merger
in an arms-length exchange, and the ADSs received in exchange therefor
represent the sole bargained-for consideration therefor. The fair
market value of the ADSs received by each holder of Company stock will
be approximately equal to the fair market value of the Company stock
surrendered by such holder in the Merger.
16. The payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of ADSs in
the Merger is solely for the purpose of avoiding the expense and
inconvenience to Alcatel of issuing and transferring fractional ADSs
and does not represent separately bargained-for consideration. The
total cash consideration that will be paid in the Merger to holders of
Company stock instead of issuing fractional ADSs is not expected to
exceed one percent of the total consideration that will be issued in
the Merger to holders of Company stock.
17. No shares of Company stock are or have previously been held by
any Subsidiary or affiliate of the Company.
18. At the Effective Time, there will be no declared but unpaid
dividends on Company Stock.
19. At the Effective Time, each of the liabilities of the Company
and each of the liabilities to which the acquired assets of the
Company are subject will be associated with the assets of the Company
and will have been incurred by the Company in the ordinary course of
its business.
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20. No assets of the Company have been sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of which would prevent Alcatel from continuing the
historic business of the Company, or from using a significant portion
of its historic assets in a business following the Merger.
21. Pursuant to the Merger, "U.S. transferors" (as defined in
Treas. Reg. Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(5)(v)) will, in the aggregate,
receive, actually and constructively, less than 50 percent of both the
total voting power and the total value of the stock of Alcatel.
22. U.S. persons that are either officers or directors of the
Company or that are "five-percent target shareholders" (as defined in
Treas. Reg. Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(5)(iii)) of the Company will own,
actually and constructively, 50 percent or less of both the total
voting power and the total value of the stock of Alcatel after the
Merger. For purposes of this representation, any Alcatel stock owned
by such U.S. persons immediately after the Merger will be taken into
account, whether or not it was received in exchange for stock or
securities of the Company.
23. The Company will comply with the reporting requirements
contained in Treas. Reg. Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(6).
24. At the time of the Merger, neither the transferors of Company
stock nor Alcatel (or, if applicable, the qualified subsidiary or
qualified partnership of Alcatel engaged in the active trade or
business) will have an intention to substantially dispose of or
discontinue any active trade or business within the meaning of Treas.
Reg. Section 1.367(a)-2T(b)(2) and (3).
25. Taking into account the rules contained in Treas. Reg. Section
1.367(a)-3(c)(3)(iii)(B), at the time of the Merger, the fair market
value of Alcatel will be greater than the fair market value of the
Company.
26. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will cause the
Celcore Promissory Notes to cease to be outstanding.
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I understand that Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx, as counsel for the Company, and
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, as counsel for Alcatel, will rely on
this certificate in rendering their respective opinions concerning certain of
the federal income tax consequences of the Merger, and hereby commit promptly
and timely to inform Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx
LLP in writing if, after signing this certificate, any of the facts described
herein or in the Proxy Statement or Form F-4 or any of the foregoing
representations is or becomes untrue, incorrect or incomplete in any respect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, on behalf of the Company signed
this certificate this __th day of June __, 1998.
DSC Communications Corporation
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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Annex I
Beneficial Owner Shares of Company stock
---------------- -----------------------
74
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF AFFILIATE LETTER FOR AFFILIATES OF DSC COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Alcatel Alsthom
00, xxx Xx Xxxxxx
00000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Attention of [ ]
Gentlemen:
I have been advised that as of the date of this letter I may
be deemed to be an "affiliate" of DSC Communications Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") , as the term "affiliate" is (i) defined for
purposes of paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 145 of the rules and regulations
(the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and/or
(ii) used in and for purposes of Accounting Series Releases 130 and 135, as
amended, of the Commission. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of June 3, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement") among Alcatel Alsthom,
a corporation organized under the laws of France ("Alcatel"), Net Acquisition,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Newco") and the Company, Newco will be merged
with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the Surviving
Corporation (the "Merger"). Capitalized terms used in this letter without
definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Merger Agreement.
As a result of the Merger, I may receive Alcatel American
Depositary Shares (the "ADSs") each of which ADS represents one-fifth of a
share, nominal value FF 40 per share of Alcatel. I would receive such ADSs in
exchange for shares (or upon cancellation of options for shares) owned by me of
common stock, par value $.01 per share of the Company (the "Common Stock").
1. I hereby represent, warrant and covenant to Alcatel
that in the event I receive any ADSs as a result of the Merger:
75
A. I shall not make any sale, transfer or other
disposition of the ADSs in violation of the Act or the Rules and
Regulations.
B. I have carefully read this letter and the Merger
Agreement and discussed the requirements of such documents and other
applicable limitations upon my ability to sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of the ADSs, to the extent I felt necessary, with my counsel
or counsel for the Company.
C. I have been advised that the issuance of the ADSs to
me pursuant to the Merger has been registered with the Commission
under the Act on a Registration Statement on Form F-4. However, I
have also been advised that, because at the time the Merger is
submitted for a vote of the stockholders of the Company, (a) I may be
deemed to be an affiliate of the Company and (b) the distribution by
me of the ADSs has not been registered under the Act, I may not sell,
transfer or otherwise dispose of the ADSs issued to me in the Merger
unless (i) such sale, transfer or other disposition is made in
conformity with the volume and other limitations of Rule 145
promulgated by the Commission under the Act, (ii) such sale, transfer
or other disposition has been registered under the Act or (iii) in the
opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to Alcatel, such sale,
transfer or other disposition is otherwise exempt from registration
under the Act.
D. I understand that Alcatel is under no obligation to
register the sale, transfer or other disposition of the ADSs by me or
on my behalf under the Act or to take any other action necessary in
order to make compliance with an exemption from such registration
available.
E. I also understand that there will be place on the
certificates for the ADSs issued to me, or any substitutions therefor,
a legend stating in substance:
"THE ADSs REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED
IN A TRANSACTION TO WHICH RULE 145 PROMULGATED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 APPLIES. THE ADSs REPRESENTED BY THIS
CERTIFICATE MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT DATED [ ], 1998 BETWEEN THE
REGISTERED HOLDER HEREOF AND ALCATEL, A COPY OF WHICH
AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF ALCATEL."
2
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F. I also understand that unless a sale or transfer is
made in conformity with the provisions of Rule 145, or pursuant to a
registration statement, Alcatel reserves the right to put the
following legend on the certificates issued to my transferee:
"THE ADSs REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT
BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND WERE
ACQUIRED FROM A PERSON WHO RECEIVED SUCH ADSs IN A TRANSACTION
TO WHICH RULE 145 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
APPLIES. THE ADSs HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE HOLDER NOT WITH A
VIEW TO, OR FOR RESALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION
THEREOF WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND
MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933."
G. I further represent to, and covenant with, Alcatel
that I will not, during the 30 days prior to the Effective Time (as
defined in the Merger Agreement), sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
of or reduce my risk (as contemplated by the SEC Accounting Series
Release No. 135) with respect to the Common Stock or ADSs or other
capital stock of Alcatel that I may hold and, furthermore, that I will
not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of or reduce my risk (as
contemplated by SEC Accounting Series Release No. 135) with respect to
the ADSs received by me in the Merger or any other shares of the
capital stock of Alcatel until after such time as results covering at
least 30 days of combined operations of the Company and Alcatel have
been published by Alcatel, consistent with the requirements of SEC
Accounting Release No. 135 (the period commencing 30 days prior to the
Effective Time and ending on the date of the publication of the
post-Merger financial results is referred to herein as the "Pooling
Period"). Alcatel shall notify the "affiliates" of the publications
of such results. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I understand that
during the aforementioned period, subject to providing written notice
to Alcatel, I will not be prohibited from making charitable
contributions or bona fide gifts of the ADSs received by me or the
Common Stock owned by me, subject to the restrictions imposed by the
Securities Laws referred to above and so long as such transfers do not
preclude "pooling of interests" treatment with respect to the Merger.
3
77
H. Execution of this letter should not be considered an
admission on my part that I am an "affiliate" of the Company as
described in the first paragraph of this letter, nor as a waiver of
any rights I may have to object to any claim that I am such an
affiliate on or after the date of this letter.
I. The obligations of the undersigned set forth herein
with respect to the ADSs shall apply equally to any shares of Alcatel
capital stock received in exchange therefor.
2. By Alcatel's acceptance of this letter, Alcatel
hereby agrees that certificates with the legends set forth in paragraphs E and
F above will be substituted by delivery of certificates without such legend if
(i) one year shall have elapsed from the date the undersigned acquired the ADSs
received in the Merger and the provisions of Rule 145(d)(2) are then available
to the undersigned, (ii) two years shall have elapsed from the date the
undersigned acquire the ADSs received in the Merger and the provisions of Rule
145(d)(3) are then applicable to the undersigned, or (iii) Alcatel has received
either an opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to Alcatel, or a "no-action" letter obtained by the undersigned
from the staff of the Commission, to the effect that the restrictions imposed
by Rule 144 and Rule 145 under the Act no longer apply to the undersigned.
Very truly yours,
---------------------------
Agreed and accepted this day
of [ ], 1998, by
ALCATEL ALSTHOM,
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
4
